Your home is likely your biggest investment so any renovations should be taken very seriously (courtesy Nip Tuck Remodeling)

Q: We’re stressing over a potential remodel project. Any tips to help us along the way?

A: You’ve made the decision to turn your dream home into a reality. Congratulations. Here’s what you need to know: basic dos and don’ts, with don’ts placed first because, like your remodel, we want you to end on a good note.

DON’T leave any detail unnoticed, no matter how trivial you might think it is. Experienced remodelers will tell you to put together an extensive file with inspiration images and features you envision for your renovation.

DON’T panic over things you can’t control. Dust and dirt happen during a renovation, as do unforeseen circumstances like material and permitting delays, and design changes mid-remodel. You adapt, you move on, and you might even get what you wanted without realizing you wanted it in the first place.

DON’T try to take things on yourself. Your home is likely your biggest investment, and any renovations done within that realm need to be taken accordingly. Performing surgery on yourself? Performing a home remodel? Don’t try either unless you want a ton of painful recuperation.

DO plan ahead. You might be surprised at the waiting list of many Puget Sound remodelers, some of which rival Santa’s annual Naughty or Nice list. If a home remodel is on your wish list this year or next, don’t hesitate—meet with potential remodelers and get a timeline going. They’ll happily walk you through a realistic estimate of how long each aspect of your project will take, which can include permitting and materials availability, depending on the size and scope of what you want done.

DO interview your potential contractors. Treat it like any other working relationship. You need to know you can trust and get along with the person in charge of your sizable investment and that they’ll be able to deliver what you’re asking for—realistically, of course.

DO hire a professional to get the job done right. You might think your non-licensed brother-in-law can do the job for a quarter of the price, but you’ll soon realize that you probably aren’t as handy as you think you are and that your brother-in-law is only about a quarter qualified for the job. Renovations done right will likely cost you, but it’s nothing compared to the safety and sanity you’ll risk trying to go cheap—not to mention the costs to fix things that weren’t done right the first time around.

On that note…

DO visit the Oct. 26 and 27 Remodeled Homes Tour, a free, open-house tour taking place in 15 convenient locations throughout King County. Stops include beautifully remodeled homes in Shoreline, Renton, Queen Anne, and throughout the Eastside, including Issaquah. The Remodeled Homes Tour occurs annually and is produced by professional remodeler members of the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties.

With all homes open 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Saturday and select homes available during the same period Sunday, visitors get a hands-on look at the latest and greatest in residential renovation and in-home technology. Guests can also chat with the remodel pros themselves, all of whom will be on site to talk through their work and answer questions you might have on your own upcoming project.

Remodeled Home Tour tickets are free and available at remodeltour.com/free-tickets.

Cameron Poague is a content specialist at the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties (MBAKS). If you have a home improvement, remodeling, or residential homebuilding question you’d like answered by one of MBAKS’s nearly 3,000 members, write to homework@mbaks.com.

By Howard Chermak, Chermak Construction

Q: I keep hearing the phrase "design-build." What does that mean?

A: There are three approaches to home remodel design. If you are creative and have a good eye for structure and color, you can use design software to create your own model. Another approach is to hire an independent designer or architect to help you think through and visualize what you want to achieve.

A third alternative is to use the services of a design-build remodeling firm. Design-build is a method used in the construction industry to deliver a project where both the design and construction are handled by a single company, instead of using the more traditional architect-and-contractor model.

This approach integrates the role of the designer and the builder to create a single point of responsibility. This helps to minimize risks and overall costs. Using the design-build model also creates a more collaborative bond between the builder and the homeowner.

Let's take a closer look at each of these approaches.

DIY design

For those who are looking to keep costs down, this sounds like a great way to go. After all, do-it-yourself design software can be relatively inexpensive or even free. A person with good design and computer skills and a sense of structure can put together a simple model that will work. The problem with these packages is that they may require a large learning curve to master the program and the inexpensive ones may not have the range of features needed to create plans that are permit-ready. And if you are moving walls or changing electrical or plumbing, you will need a permit.

Building designer or architect

This approach uses an outside professional to help you focus on a design that includes all the things you want in a remodel, and in most cases, the plans can be submitted for building permits. However, building designers/architects can be expensive and, because they are reflecting everything you think you want, the design may exceed your available budget. Building designers/architects can provide rough cost estimates but because they are generally not directly involved in the building trades, there can be construction or cost issues not taken into consideration.

Design-build firm

To get what you want and do it within your budget, many believe this is the best approach—and it is often less expensive than the building designer/architect approach. Benefits of using a design-build firm include:

• A hands-on understanding of current construction techniques and what each locale requires. Designing to permit can involve state, county, and city codes.
• Professional 3D modeling programs more tightly integrate design, structure, and building standards than do-it-yourself programs.
• Use of 3D modeling software, which provides the ability to "walk through" the design before any permitting or construction begins.
• Access to other professionals to address specific issues you may face in your project, such as structural engineering or hazardous materials issues.

Howard Chermak is the president of Chermak Construction and a member of the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties. HomeWork is the group's weekly column. If you have a home improvement, remodeling, or residential homebuilding question, write to homework@mbaks.com.

By Cameron Poague

Q: Our hardwood floors have gone to heck over the winter, and probably long before that. Should we attempt to salvage our floors by refinishing them ourselves or are we asking for trouble?

A: Hardwood floors take the brunt of many blows, including shoe scuffs, heavy furniture scratches, dust, dogs' nails, and all kinds of assorted blotches. These floors, with their alluring old-school charm and increased home value, don't often get the respect they deserve (heck, we walk all over them!) until it's too late.

Let's change that.

How can you tell if your floor needs refinishing? The eye test is probably the most trusted method, but it isn't necessarily the best method. To be certain, isolate the most trafficked area of your floor and spread a few droplets of water onto the section. If droplets form, you're good. If the droplets soak into the wood slowly, it means the finish is starting to wear; when droplets quickly infiltrate the wood, you're due for a refinish.

When you reach the refinishing point, there's an easy way to find out whether you should attempt to take on the process yourself. Just remember: If your floor is less than 3/4-inch thick, get a pro to do the job. How can you find your floor's thickness? Find two floorboards that have a groove between them, enough to fit a business card in between. Push the card as far down as it will go, then mark where the floor surface is. Pull the card out, measure the mark from the edge, and there's your depth.

Other indicators that warrant professional assistance include warped, bent, or soft floorboards and discoloration or stains that won't rub out.

You got this—or do you?

So, you want to go at it alone? Before giving your floor a DIY facelift, you'll need to be aware of a few crucial things. For whole-floor refinishes, you'll be clearing the entire room of furniture, drapes, and any other items that might get in the way. Then cover your vents, lighting fixtures, and doorways with plastic or sheets, taping off the edges so nothing can sneak through.

Next up: Check for protruding nail heads and carpet staples, driving in nails and removing staples if necessary, so they don't tear your sandpaper—when you get to that point. After properly prepping, you'll need to clean the entire area with the right hardwood floor cleaner.

You'll then need to buff and finish your floor. It is paramount to use protection (dust mask, goggles or respirator, gloves, kneepads, etc.) and know with complete confidence how to handle the equipment you are using. Not knowing what you're doing before powering on a sander can lead to exponentially more damage to your floors than you started out with—thereby making moot the whole home-improvement thing you were going for.

Did you know?

It's optimal to wait a week after applying your last layer of finish before putting furniture back onto the floor. Water-based polyurethane finishes take about three hours to dry; oil-based finishes can take eight or more hours. To avoid additional scuffs and scratches, affix felt pads to furniture legs before setting them back in place.

If you couldn't tell by now, the consensus is that it's typically better to hire a professional, especially if your floors are in bad shape or have a lot of historical value. If you decide to go at it yourself, don't skip steps and, above all, be careful.

HomeWork is written by contributing member professionals of the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties. If you have a home improvement, remodeling or residential homebuilding question you'd like answered by one of the MBA's more than 2,800 members, write to homework@mbaks.com.