How to Do Smart Bathroom and Kitchen Renovations in Winter
Most homeowners would shy away at the idea of doing any major home improvements during winter. The winter months are chock full of holidays, what with relatives coming over, massive food preparations, and endless rounds of parties. They have enough on their plates without having to worry about bathroom or kitchen remodeling. However, wintertime is actually the perfect time to do renovations because it is the off-season for renovations and you are more likely to get great deals. As long as you plan it carefully, you should be able to pull it off with just the barest of inconveniences.
Start making a list early
Guests and parties are bound to start coming around in late November, so you need to start planning any major renovations around the early part of November. Start making a list of anything you want to fix or do to make your home ready for your holiday guests, such as brightening up your kitchen with new paint or hardware, or replacing the guest bathroom countertops with granite or marble. Some of the projects you can do yourself, so put that on your calendar. Other things you should leave to professionals, as they can do it better and quicker.
If you make a list at the start, you know what needs to be done, when to do it, and how much wiggle room you have in case something goes wrong. You are not going to overlook anything and prevent rushing around at the last minute trying to get it done.
Focus on the kitchen and bathrooms
The holidays mean lots of parties and people, which is precisely why you need to focus on making improvements in your bathroom and kitchen. These are the rooms guests are most likely to see, and they are the most difficult to renovate. A lick of paint and some colorful pillows are probably all you need to make your dining room and living room guest ready, but bathrooms and kitchens need a bit more doing.
It may not be realistic to do anything major such as rip up the floors or knock down walls as these can take a minimum of four weeks to complete. Unless you are going away for the holidays, that is not a good idea. You will not be able to use your bathroom and/or kitchen while remodeling is going on.
However, you can do some cosmetic changes to these rooms that will transform them in as little as a couple of days if you get a professional contractor to do them. Among these changes may be putting in backsplashes, replacing countertops, putting in new cabinets, and putting in new light fixtures. Any one of these can change the look and feel of your bathroom, and you can do them all without disrupting your holiday schedule too much.
Of course, these changes do come with a price tag, but it may not be as much as you think. The wintertime is often slack season for remodeling companies, so you may be able to pull off these minor upgrades for an incredibly low price.
The point is, if you have a limited budget and time for your winter renovations, your best bet is to put it in making improvements to your kitchen and bathroom. These are where it will have the most impact. Moreover, they represent the most expensive renovations for the home, so you should take advantage of the off-peak prices when you can.
Forget about outside work
Weather conditions may not make any external improvements and repairs feasible. Even if a contractor is willing to do it, it may result in problems with the concrete, paint, roofing material, and the like. Forget about doing anything outside, and concentrate more on making improvements inside.
One of the things you may need to focus on is the pipes, which tend to need repairs when the weather turns cold. You might also want to see to the repair or replacement of some kitchen appliances, the water heater, and the HVAC system. If you are doing renovations in the kitchen and bathroom, this is the perfect time to do all of these things. If you wait for the summer months, your costs could double for inside work.
Save time and money with professionals
Most people try to avoid hiring remodeling contractors to do their renovations to save on money and do it themselves. However, when it comes to bathroom and kitchen renovations, DIY is a bad idea. Hiring professionals ensures you get the job done right the first time, and on time.
As to cost, you may be surprised at how much you can save when you hire a pro. A reputable contractor can give you valuable advice on how to do smart kitchen and bathroom renovations so that you don’t have to spend on anything you don’t need. In most cases, the contractor will work with you to stay in budget with suggestions on how to get the most bang for your buck. You should also keep in mind that you can probably ask for deep discounts from remodeling contractors at this time, so don’t be afraid to ask for one.
Of course, not all contractors will be so forthcoming or helpful. You want to find a contractor that will not only go to your home, discuss the details of your planned renovation, and offer recommendations on the things you should do, and the things you can leave as is. You want one that will also give you a free, detailed cost estimate so you know into what you are getting. Finally, you want a contractor that stays on schedule and budget.
Take the time to find such a contractor by searching online for remodeling contractors in your area and reading the reviews. Get in touch with the reviewers to find out more about their experience.
Conclusion
Kitchen and bathroom renovations are a good way to wow your guests and you can get it done during the winter when your costs are bound to be lower. However, you need to be smart about it, or you could end up with a disaster in your hands. Fortunately, you have a reliable contractor that can help you with smart renovations in wintertime if you live in the DC, MD and Northern Virginia metropolitan areas. Fairfax Kitchen Bath is a Class A, licensed and insured contractor registered in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
When you contract with us, you can be sure you will get a quick turnaround on your products, and receive it much faster than ordering what you need from big box stores. We specialize in fabricating kitchen and bathroom renovations to specifications, and doing them within budget and on time.
We carry the products you need for your kitchen and bathroom renovations, from natural and engineered stone slabs, cabinets, shelves, sinks, faucets tiles, backsplashes, knobs and pulls, and hardwood flooring. We carry only the top brands for these products, such as Schrock Cabinetry, Silestone, Blanco, Kohler, and Mosaic Décor.
You can see the products before you buy so you can decide for yourself if the quality is what you expect. We have a showroom in Fairfax, Virginia that houses all our products, including actual granite, marble and engineered stone slabs from which you can choose.
Our products come with manufacturer warranties that ensure your satisfaction with the quality and installation.
Contact us today to get a free quote and valuable advice for your wintertime kitchen or bathroom renovation!
