"The initial design concepts were excellent... They came up with a whole range of neat ideas, incorporating existing elements which we wanted to keep. We especially enjoyed working with them because they listen. And unlike other contractors we've worked with, they stuck to the schedule. They were always on top of everything. If there was a problem, they were right there to solve it."
- Basement, two baths and a foyer - Bobby's Court, Ridgefield, CT
"From the design stage through to the last bit of trash removal, the job seemed to go like clockwork. Our neighbors commented that there was always a truck or two at the house. The results exceeded our expectations."
- Sleepy Hollow Road, Ridgefield, CT
"Of all the companies we have ever worked with in the various places we have lived, they were the best at translating the concepts to paper, showing us how it would look, and coming up with different options. We were very impressed with the quality of the design process."
- South Olmstead Lane, Ridgefield, CT
"Your staff was the best part of the experience. Their design ideas and responsiveness were exemplary. In addition, the Project Supervisor’s great work was very much appreciated. We believe that the quality of the job can be attributed significantly to him."
- Two Story Addition - Ramapoo Road, Ridgefield, CT
"The designer understood my budget, and I got everything I wanted. He knew how to guide and make sure the result was not overwhelming. He was so easy-going, and knowledgeable."
- Kitchen Addition - Ridgebury Road, Ridgefield, CT
"Our designer was awesome; sensitive to what I wanted in my kitchen. The final design reflected exactly what I had hoped for. There was good communication and our hopes and wishes were fulfilled."
- Kitchen - Salem Road, Wilton, CT
"After the initial brainstorming they came back with a half dozen sketches, which was a great jumping off point. Not only were they good listeners, but they were able to sort through ideas, and translate them into designs that worked for our home."
- Kitchen - Rising Ridge Road, Ridgefield, CT
"The more time I spend in our new kitchen, the more I love it. This would not be so had your talents not been involved in its creation. I thank you. It was a pleasure to work with you."
- Kitchen – Laurel Hill Road, Ridgefield, CT
"You heard us well, captured our input, and found very tasteful, creative, and exciting solutions both in design and in material selections. We’ve both found ourselves pausing and reflecting with deep satisfaction about what we accomplished by working with you and your team."
- Master Bath and Guest Bath - Hillside Drive, Ridgefield, CT
"We love the design (and so do our friends!). Our old sun porch is now a useful room, and the new deck is fantastic. We appreciate your efforts and especially your follow through in getting a permit for the spa."
- Sun Porch and Deck - Tackora Trail, Ridgefield, CT
"Our designer was great to work with throughout our project. We couldn't have been happier with his work and our experience with him. He listened to what we wanted, understood our style preferences and was always responsive. He regularly showed us a great range of options to consider and really helped us through the process."
- Master Bedroom Suite Addition and Garage - Lynlee Lane, Wilton, CT
"Our Designer was excellent in helping me to pull all of my random ideas together into a complete design. It was wonderful to be able shop in your showroom instead of going to many different stores to look at tile, vanities, etc.."
- Two Bathrooms, Two Fireplaces - Buckingham Ridge Road, Wilton, CT
"Our first collaboration with your construction company, three years ago with our bathroom renovations, seemed so effortless and seamless.The design elements that the designer put together were spot on for our taste level, and the execution of the plan went without a hitch. In fact the time line was followed each and every day to the point that we could not believe it seemed like an exact science."
- Repeat Client: Master Bath, MasterBedroom, Hillcrest Court, Ridgefield, CT
"Looking forward starting the designs for our second project in six months. Always a clean work site with dedicated, talented tradespeople who work hard and are nice to have around. We know the results will be as amazing as they were for the first project!"
- Repeat: Bath, Extensive Home Renovations - Weed St, New Canaan, CT
"Thank you for the masterful design. You were able to take tidbits from our casual conversations and come up with the precise bathroom we had in mind. We love it all. The color combinations work perfectly and inspired us to freshen up our bedroom as well. Thank you for your guidance and suggestions."
- Master Bath- Clearview Terrace, Ridgefield, CT
"The designer's ability to capture our wishes and bring them to life is impressive. We are thrilled with the space and shape of our new addition."
- Addition, Sharpe Road, Wilton, CT
"We were hesitant to call a designer for fear our project would cost more using a professional to select the materials for our master bathroom. After finishing the bathroom we both feel we actually saved money and certainly a lot of time given how fast and easy to project moved along."
- Master Bath, Clearview Terrace, Ridgefield, CT
"During the design phase we were presented with several options and varying price points. But they did not present these so we would pick one of these three designs, rather we were able to take the most desirable elements of each and create a fourth design. This willingness to work with us and the genuine dedication to the project was a clear attribute of the staff from the outset."
- Master Bath, Cobblers Lane, Ridgefield, CT
"At each step they were fully engaged in delivering exactly what we wanted. No phone call ever went unanswered, no message went unreturned, no question was left open, and we felt fully comfortable discussing all aspects of the project. After construction completion, they made the extra effort to help pick out towels and accessories that further added to the final product. I would recommend them without reservation."
- Master Bath, Cobblers Lane, Ridgefield, CT
There are three primary areas where DIY projects go astray. You can avoid these potential pitfalls by sticking the three "wells"; Plan well, Design well, and Choose well.
If you are opting to general contract your home improvements, be careful to plan properly. If you're doing anything more interesting than repairs, value good design and get design input. Take care when you choose the craftsman with whom you will work. Your choices matter.
Poor planning often results in long lasting projects that blow the budget.
Homeowners are often so focused on the end result that they don’t invest enough time, thought, and research into what’s involved in getting from the start to the finish of a remodeling project.
If you are going it alone, you need to be able to visualize the whole project. Thinking though the Project Plan helps to make sure that what you’re seeing in your mind is actually going to work in your home and that it can be orchestrated in a reasonable time frame.
Having a defined schedule of activities allows you to identify the order of the process so you don’t get started on one task only to discover that you should have done something else first.
If you’re going to do some tasks yourself and contract some out, your plan helps you determine what to do and when to do so, so that you can plan ahead and fit into workers' schedules. Planning ahead like this means less down time on your project.
You need to create remodeling documentation, such as drawings, takeoffs and material lists, and a schedule, as well as a detailed budget with quotes from the workers.
Once your planning documentation is complete, confirm availability of all items, including tile and fixtures. Order as much as you can as soon as you can. You don’t want to hold up progress because either you forgot to place the order or discovered too late that the items were no longer available. You will want to inspect materials when they come in, allow time for vendor screw ups, and for things to take longer than you expect to arrive.
“Just in time” is not the best way to run a project in your home. Not just because you are doing it - we don't run our jobs at Clark Construction that way either.
We like to allow enough time for something to come, for us to discover it's wrong or damaged and turn around the order again. Fulfillment mistakes and shipping damage happen. It's part of life.
You should also have a contingency plan for those “just in case” situations. Have a second choice for materials, and a backup for your intended workers. They may be committed to another remodeling project which conflicts with when you need them, particularly if the time when you really need them turns out to be different from what you told them upfront.
In addition, if your progress is dependent on Mother Nature’s cooperation, determine how you will handle a sudden bout of bad weather.
By thinking ahead, you’ll be better prepared for whatever comes your way.
It’s easy to miss a design alternative that would have been obvious to a professional designer, or to overlook certain features, like storage space, traffic patterns, and lighting.
When you’re wrapped up in the excitement of a remodeling project, it’s easy to think that you can "be the designer". Be careful if you take on this responsibility yourself.
Don’t underestimate the value of having your space designed by someone who has already done hundreds of projects just like yours. They know what questions to ask and the important design elements to address.
They will have an understanding of project costs and the technical expertise required to successfully design the project you are considering.
We visited a home where the clients had done a DIY kitchen. They had selected cabinets that were just a little too shallow to fit their heirloom plates. Additionally, the silverware drawer was located right in front of the main work station, so every time silverware was needed, anyone working there would need to move. Ouch! These are major functional design flaws that would have easily been avoided by an experienced designer.
For additions, the trained eye of a designer allows for structures that integrate gracefully into the lines of the existing home. When driving around town, it's hard not to notice additions designed without that talent. You want your addition to look like it was always there, whether you design it yourself or someone else collaborates with you.
A designer brings a lot to the table for dealing with finishing details. Their in-depth knowledge of how things go together can be helpful. There are probably things that you would rather do with your time than learn about the intricacies of heating systems, cabinet components, appliance specs, or lighting and plumbing fixtures.
One couple ordered an expensive faucet for their kitchen remodel and then discovered that the window ledge didn’t allow for the added height. In addition to avoiding this mistake, a designer would have the knowledge of current design trends, which allows him/her to be a good source for color and material recommendations.
Another homeowner built a media center that turned out to be one inch too small for his new flat screen television. Sometimes just the fact that there's a second set of eyes to catch silly mistakes like this makes a significant difference in a project's outcome.
Bad choices about who should work on your job can make it difficult for you, and impact the project's progress.
You're inviting people into your home who you will be with day in and day out for a while. It's important that it be a comfortable fit. You're going to conduct the orchestra, so put together a team who can work together and seamlessly pass the baton from one to another. You want to avoid finger pointing as various activities are completed.
Pay fairly. Price based selection is not necessarily the best way to select a tradesperson. Responsiveness to your calls, the quality of craftsmanship, speed of work, timeliness of completion, the ability to stay on your budget, attention to detail, and their interest in standing behind their work can differ significantly from person to person.
We’ve seen trusting homeowners end up with a mess because they failed to ask the right questions and made decisions on the wrong criteria. Be sure you know who you are hiring. Consider things such as: Will they show up when you need them?
How fast do they work? What is their work ethic? What are their other commitments or vacation plans while your project is going on? Are they part of another team? If they work regularly for a general contractor, you may play second fiddle to their regular meal ticket. This may test your patience, but sometimes good people are worth waiting for. Some friends told us that at their summer place they book the mason a year ahead to re-point the fireplace. He's that good and that busy. Hopefully you won't have to wait that long for anyone!
One of the factors that is hard to quantify when you interview candidates is whether they have the abilities and experience to be good problem solvers and think through the complexities of the job.
We have been called in by homeowners on numerous occasions when a "low bid" carpenter/contractor walked away from the project before it was finished.
This can be a nightmare, emotionally and financially. Things are done out of sequence, or details are left unfinished that they haven’t figured out how to address. We have had to reopen walls to put in pipes or wires that have been overlooked. Two steps backwards is costly! Paying a second contractor after you have already paid the first one will certainly drain the budget quickly.
In remodeling, problems happen. Making sure your guys have excelled at recovering when something has gone wrong on previous jobs. Check out their references. You'll be happy you invested this time when everything goes well.
So if you do your homework, planning well, designing well and choosing well, you can expect that, for the most part, your project will come together like you have it planned out, and the journey will be pleasant, and in line with your expectations.
Even if you follow these guidelines and complete a successful DIY project, you may decide that you'd rather have someone else run your next project, get it done fast, to budget and hassle free for you, so that you can play golf or do other things that you love. If so, we'll be here, and we'd love to hear from you.