If you find yourself having a lot of questions about home remodeling, you’re not alone. It’s perfectly common and even healthy for homeowners to have a lot of questions during the remodeling process. Our team at Lamont Bros. Design & Construction recognizes how important it is for homeowners to have these questions answered before they begin the challenging journey of remodeling their homes. In this video, we’ll cover some of the most common remodeling questions homeowners ask.
What type of projects can you do?
A design-build firm like Lamont Bros. tends to excel in projects that require or benefit from having the design process integrated into the remodeling process. Rather than hire a separate designer or architect to work with your build team, a design-build firm puts both design and construction under one roof. Here are a few types of projects that a design-build firm is well-suited for:
- Outdoor living space
- Structural reinforcements
- Historic home renovations
- Kitchen remodels
- Bathroom remodels
- Floor plan redesigns
- ADA compliant spaces
- Basement conversions
- Accessory Dwelling Units
- Home additions
- Exterior siding & roofing
What work do you do and not do?
One of the most common remodeling questions homeowners ask is, “How much work do you do in-house rather than subcontract out?” Many construction companies subcontract out a lot of their labor to specialized subcontractors. However, our in-house construction teams perform as much of the work on a remodel as possible.
What Work We do in House:
At lamont Bros., we employ an excellent team of remodel carpenters who are expertly trained in a variety of construction trades, including
- Finish carpentry
- Framing
- Window & door setting
- Tile installation
- Foundation work
What Work We Subcontract Out:
While we try to perform as much work in-house as possible, there are some jobs that are best left to specialized tradesmen. For this reason, we subcontract out some of the work during a remodel, including,
- Plumbing
- Electrical
- HVAC
- Drywall
- Concrete
It’s also worth noting that as a renovation company, we do not provide interior decorating. Furniture and decor are best left to a professional interior decorator.
What are my financing options?
It’s common for homeowners to have a lot of questions about financing during a remodeling project. While many of our clients do pay outright in cash, others turn to various lending options in order to afford their remodel. Here are a few of those options:
Home Equity Loan
An equity loan, also known as a second mortgage, allows you to borrow against the equity in your home. So, if you have a home worth $900,000 and you currently owe $400,000, you have $500,000 in equity. You can borrow this equity to finance home improvements without changing the interest rate of your primary mortgage.
Home Renovation Loan
It’s also common for homeowners to finance their remodel using a renovation loan. These lending options are made specifically for financing home renovations. One major benefit of this type of loan is that it allows you to borrow against the completed value of the remodel. This means you don’t need equity in the home in order to fund the project.
Unsecured Personal Loan
At Lamont Bros., we work directly with gap financing lenders to offer financing for up to $200,000 for remodeling projects. Because these loans do not require collateral and are therefore considered “unsecured,” their interest rates tend to be higher than traditional “secured” loans.
What is the process at Lamont Bros?
When you remodel your home with Lamont Bros., we’ll provide you with the team and the tools you’ll need for a successful project. Here are a few of the things you can expect to help make the process easier.
Design Consultant
Throughout the remodeling process, your design consultant will act as your guide. They’ll help you navigate the challenges of remodeling from the early design stages through the end of the project.
Design Build Team
In addition to your design consultant, you’ll have a team of remodeling professionals to help bring the project to life. This includes a designer, project manager, superintendent, and remodeling carpenters.
Project Management Software
At Lamont Bros., we use a project management called BuilderTrend to help our team and our clients throughout the remodeling process. Use it to view your project schedule, make selections, and track the progress of your remodel.
How long will my remodel take?
It’s best to think about a home remodel in terms of phases. Some of these phases take the same amount of time regardless of what type of project you do. For other phases, the timeline can look very different depending on the size and complexity of your remodel.
Step 1: Dream — 1-2 Weeks
This is the phase during which you and your design consultant explore if Lamont Bros. is a good fit for your project. We’ll come to the home and meet with you, then develop a proposal for you to sign.
Step 2 — Define — 2-6 Weeks
Once we’re on the same page regarding your vision and goals, we move on to defining your remodel. During this step, you and your design team will begin to develop the overall concept of the design and identify potential challenges.
Step 3 — Design — 2-12 weeks
During the design stage, you’ll take the outline created in the previous step and add specific features and selections.
This is one phase where the project type greatly affects the timeline. For a small bathroom remodel, it may only take 2-4 weeks.
For a project that involves removing walls, changing floor plans, or updating a large space like a kitchen, it could take 7-8 weeks.
If you’re doing a major renovation project like a home addition, which requires structural engineering, zoning, and municipal inspections, the design phase could last 12 weeks or more.
Step 4 — Prepare — 6-10 Weeks
During the weeks leading up to your remodel, your design-build team will prepare for the project. This involves ordering materials, filing for permits, and prepping the team for the project.
Step 5 — Build — 4-18 Weeks
The construction phase is likewise another phase that depends largely on the complexity of the project.
A small-scale bathroom remodel would likely take about 4 weeks to complete, whereas a typical kitchen remodel can last 10-12 weeks. For major additions, whole-home remodels, or especially complicated projects, the build process can last 16-18 weeks or more.
Step 6 — Delight
Once the remodel is complete, your design-build team may schedule a final photoshoot and offer to sponsor an open house for you to show off your newly remodeled home.
When can you start?
As soon as your ready! Click the button below to schedule a free design meeting with a member of our team. We’ll help you plan out your remodel and develop designs that set you up for a successful project.