A New Year, A Remodelling Project?

I remember watching "This Old House" with my wife after we bought our first old house. We loved watching Norm in his woodship, learning about plumbing and electrical work, and watching their landscaper transform the outdoors for clients. From "This Old House" has come a lot of home improvement shows.

Home improvement shows are great in that they provide ideas for homeowners who know they want to improve their homes, they just aren't certain where to start. It's fun, I admit, watching "Property Brothers" or "Fixer Upper" or even "Extreme Makeover" when it was on TV. Everything about those shows is exciting and interesting.

One problem with home makeover shows is that they gloss over what goes on behind the scenes. As a contractor, I know they can't just go into a home and begin knocking down walls; there are meetings to have, permits to pull, supplies to gather before work can start. All of that takes time, which home makeover programs don't show audiences.

Although budget is discussed on those shows, supply costs vary from state to state. It's important to know that in Colorado, construction supply costs are higher compared to other states. Construction costs in Colorado are high primarily due to a combination of high demand for skilled labor, limited availability of workers in the area, resulting in higher wages; this is coupled with the added cost of materials often impacted by supply chain issues and the state's challenging terrain, which can increase construction complexity, making projects more expensive.

It's important to me to do my absolute best to stay within budget. But there are costs outside of control, like permits or subcontractors. Sometimes when my subcontractors and I start looking at wiring, for example, if the home's wiring isn't correct, we will have to rewire it in order for the home to pass its electrical inspection and final inspection. This is especially true in older homes built before such strict building rules were created.

Sometimes clients feel frustrated with the speed of a remodel. Home improvement shows have to fit into a particular time slot, and the contractors' work timeline is vastly different to accomodate the parameters of the show. It's unrealistic to expect a remodel to be complete in a week, especially if more than one room is involved.

Electricians and plumbers are busy and often short-staffed. They must plan for each job, just like I do. My subcontractors and I do our best to finish jobs in reasonable time frames, but life happens. If my electrician is sick, the job is delayed. If my plumber is running late because a prior job took longer than expected, the job is delayed.

Another problem with home makeover shows is how they are often in other states rather than in Colorado. Why does this matter? Different parts of the US have varying challenges with climate, soil, and moisture.

The Front Range, for example, has clay soil with bentonite in it. Bentonite is a soft clay that swells when it has contact with water. Foundations move and crack as do patios, driveways, sidewalks, and basement walls. If I'm building a pergola, for example, I need to make sure the pergola will withstand wind and shifting soil.

Home makeover shows are wonderful entertainment, but clients need to know they aren't necessarily practical. One of the best ways to find ideas for a home remodel is to visit the Home and Garden Show, which will be in Denver February 8-16.

Or talk to me. I know people.