In the Spring 2018 edition of the Craftsman newsletter, we share details of a stunning contemporary first floor renovation we recently completed in Wayne, Pa. Inside you will also learn about our latest award, and how to achieve a blemish-free back splash. Plus, we also reveal the newest addition to the Custom Craft family (hint: it’s a boy!)
Tap or click this link or the thumbnail image to read the latest home remodeling news from Custom Craft.
When we meet with homeowners to assess their remodeling needs, lack of storage is a frequent complaint we hear. One of the ways we help our clients resolve these challenges is through the creative use of built-in cabinetry and shelving. Beyond providing storage, built-ins offer a host of benefits. Adding these features to any room of the home will improve the functionality, aesthetics, and organization of the space as well.
Are built-ins the solution for your home? Take this quiz and find out.
If you were able to answer “yes” to any of these questions, then a renovation featuring built-in cabinetry and shelving may be the solution for you. For ideas and inspiration, check out this Houzz Ideabook I prepared. It highlights many clever and subtle ways built-ins can be used throughout the home.
Whether you need a well-designed kitchen pantry, mudroom, laundry room, or home office like the one featured above, Custom Craft Contractors has the expertise to design and build the right solution for your needs. We have been designing and installing built-in cabinetry for clients for more than 30 years. Our talented team stays current on the latest trends and product innovations. We will help you select the right door styles, finishes, mouldings, and features to create a stylish and functional space that will stand the test of time.
If you have questions about how built-ins can enhance your home, I invite you to contact me directly at (610) 584-0665, or feel free to email your questions to me.
We are pleased to announce that we have implemented BuilderTrend software. This cloud-based software application offers many benefits for our team members, vendors, and clients.
BuilderTrend is a construction project management software with features to cover each stage of the project life cycle. Because it is cloud-based, it can be accessed from any location with internet service. The BuilderTrend developers have also created an app for their software which can be used on any mobile device.
One of our favorite features in BuilderTrend is the scheduling tool which adjusts and notifies the necessary parties automatically whenever schedule changes are made. The software allows tasks to be assigned easily to various team members or vendors. A daily log tracks work progress and can be shared with all parties, including photos documenting the work that was completed. It also has real-time commenting features and private messaging.
In short, BuilderTrend is a powerful home remodeling planning and communication tool that we are confident will help our company operate more efficiently than ever before.
One of the ways we keep in touch with our valued clients is through our quarterly newsletter, The Craftsman. Recently, we redesigned the newsletter, taking it from a two-page, to a four-page format. This renovation has allowed us to share more photos and details about the remodeling projects, home improvement trends, and company news items that you enjoy reading about.
To read the newsletter, click on the newsletter thumbnail. If you don’t currently receive this newsletter, and you would like to be added to the mailing list, email us your name and mailing address.
We have selected the first winner in our Royce Yoder Pottery giveaway. Watch the video below to see if your name was selected. If you didn’t win this time around, remember we will be giving away three more pieces of Royce Yoder original, hand-thrown pottery. If you haven’t had a chance to register yet, visit: the contest registration page and complete the form. Good luck!
Don’t miss the latest issue of The Craftsman, our quarterly newsletter. In this issue, we detail how we transformed one couple’s master bathroom, welcome aboard a new employee, and share some happy news about several awards we recently received.
If you would like to receive a hard copy of this newsletter in your mailbox, email your street address to: info@customcraftcontractors.com
At Custom Craft, our goal is to exceed the expectations of our clients by providing quality remodeling services executed with fine craftsmanship and delivered in a timely manner. Yet, how do we know if we are achieving our goal? Until recently, surveying our clients on their satisfaction with our work was something of a challenge. With the help of GuildQuality, the leading independent surveying firm for the remodeling industry, we have been measuring client satisfaction for a little over a year. Thus far, we have surveyed 50 customers and we are very pleased to report that, not only have we achieved high satisfaction ratings, but our team has been recognized by GuildQuality as a 2014 GuildMaster Award winner.
Once a year, GuildQuality bestows an award for exemplary quality and customer service upon a handful of its members. The GuildQuality Guildmaster Award celebrates exemplary service among home builders, remodelers, developers, property managers, home services contractors, and real estate professionals. Award recipients must achieve a recommendation rate of greater than 90% from clients surveyed through GuildQuality to qualify. This honor is particularly meaningful to us, as it is based on the feedback from our clients.
Many thanks to our team members for their hard work and dedication to their craft which enabled us to earn this award. And, special thanks to our customers for their positive feedback and patronage. We pledge to continue to work diligently to deliver the fine craftsmanship and quality services you have come to expect from Custom Craft Contractors.
Feeling good and looking good go hand-in-hand. Nowhere is this more true than in our homes. When we improve our living environment, it has a major impact on how we feel when we are in our homes. Here are a few tips to get you feeling good about your home again.
1. Clear the Clutter
Don’t try to do the whole house at one time, just start with a well-trafficked room you have been wanting to get in shape. Set your timer for 15 minutes and go. Once you feel the glow of accomplishment, you’ll be motivated to tackle another room and then another. Think about how you want each room to function and make sure the things you need for those activities are at hand. Get rid of every item that’s unrelated.
2. Get Inspired
Check out websites like Houzz to see what professional designers are doing and get your own creative juices flowing. You might also consider signing up for a workshop or seminar that offers remodeling tips. Books stores also offer a variety of home improvement books and magazines.
3. Liven Your Lighting
Lighting can make all the difference in how you experience a room. Count the light sources in each room. You’ll want to have three or more per room. Add light dimmers for your overhead lighting. You’ll be amazed at how dramatically this changes the feel of the room.
4. Color Me Wonderful
Touches of color will add pizazz to any room. You don’t have to go color crazy, but a fun touch added here and there will brighten your space and add enjoyment.
5. Choose Quality Over Quantity
Whether you’re purchasing furniture, window treatments, or remodeling, get the best you can afford–even if it means you buy a little less. It’s better to get a little less of what you really want than a lot of something that you’ll be unhappy with in a few months.
6. Maintain Your Home and Your Sanity
Nagging maintenance projects can add unwelcome daily stress. Before they become bigger problems, be sure to schedule your home maintenance projects. There’s no need to do them all on the same day. Whether you will do-it-yourself, or hire a handyman, stagger the projects into reasonable segments over time. Pretty soon your entire home will be ship-shape and you can schedule time for guilt-free relaxation.
7. Explore remodeling
If remodeling your home is an idea you’d like to explore, we’d be delighted to help. Schedule a visit to our selection studio for ideas on custom cabinetry, countertops, tile, paint colors and more. When you’re ready to talk specifics, call and set up a free in-home consultation with Mike Foering. It’s a good way to find out what is feasible for your home and budget.
Custom Craft Contractors has been making remodeling dreams come true since 1982. We would love to help bring your remodeling dreams to life, as well. Give us a call at 610-584-0665 to take the first step toward a happier, more functional home.
Many thanks to C & R Remodeling for providing the inspiration for this article.
Remodeling Magazine released the 26th annual Remodeling Cost vs. Value Report to the public this past January. It contains localized data from the Philadelphia region and compares construction costs of 35 popular remodeling projects against the resale value that these projects could add to your home. The results of this report present the homeowner with an estimate of how much of their cost is recouped at resale.
Read the report by clicking on the image to the right:
In 2013, the top three remodeling projects with the highest return rate are projected to be 1) Entry Door Replacement (steel); 2) Garage Door Replacement; and 3) Deck Addition (wood). As the cost of living continues to improve, the demand for housing will grow. The Remodeling Cost vs. Value report is a beneficial tool that can be utilized in your home-improvement decision-making to help you to determine the next best project for you and your home.
A Remodeling Cost vs. Value iPhone app is available for free download at the AppStore and has been updated with new data. See what your home-improvement project could be worth!
Join us for a free remodeling workshop on Saturday, March 9th and learn the “7 Essential Elements of a Successful Home Renovation”. Our expert panel will include our own Mike Foering, who will be joined by award-winning architect Joseph Augustine, owner of JFA-Architecture, and Mark Glidden, partner with Stone-Glidden–Above and Beyond Home AV.
For complete details, download the seminar flyer.
Creating a workspace at home can be as simple as arranging a kitchen ‘command’ center with space for mail, a calendar, and other household documents. If greater functionality and privacy are required, designating a separate area of the home as an office is generally a better solution. Whatever the need, a few considerations should be addressed when integrating a workspace into the home.
Utility
One of the first questions we ask our clients is: How will the space be used? Understanding who will be using the space and for what purpose can help identify an appropriate location in the home. A homework area for the kids and small household tasks like bill paying might be appropriately integrated into a family space like the kitchen. This way the parent can provide assistance or keep tabs on the family as needed. If more privacy is required for a home-based business, then a dedicated room or outbuilding may be necessary.
Once an area for the workspace is identified, it’s important to make sure the area is functional for users. This means making sure there is adequate desk area for a computer – we recommend a desk about 24” to 30” deep, 30” high, with at least 36” of work area. Also making sure there is plenty of room for storage with file drawers, bookshelves, and closed storage for supplies.
Lighting
Adequate lighting is integral to the functionality and comfort of the space. To some extent, the amount and type of light depends on the work but we recommend maximizing natural light to the space whenever possible. The ambient lighting in the room can often be accommodated through a combination of recessed ceiling fixtures and table lamps. A smaller desk lamp with a multi-directional head can be adjusted based on the specific task.
Power
With all the electronic equipment that we use today, managing the power to the space becomes important. For a home office room, typically a 20 Amp dedicated circuit at 120 V is adequate for power needs. Putting the office on a dedicated circuit minimizes the chances that someone in an adjacent room will overload a shared circuit resulting in a power loss. Locating outlets based on power needs and managing cords also helps to maintain an organized workspace. Surge protectors are another important feature of a home office and should be included to protect the electronic devices kept in this room, from computers to printers.
Whatever your needs are, a functional workspace at home starts with a well thought out design. If you need assistance designing and building your new home office, please contact us at (610) 762-1632. Click here to view photos of a home office renovation we recently completed for one of our clients.
Lansdale, PA—Custom Craft Contractors was recently honored with both local and regional Contractor of the Year (CotY) Awards for a bathroom renovation in the Under $30,000 category. The local awards were presented by the Bucks-Mont Chapter of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) at a ceremony held at the Joseph Ambler Inn in Montgomery Township, PA on Friday, January 27, 2012.
CotY Award winners were selected in a blind judging process by an impartial panel of industry experts. Judging focused on problem solving, functionality, aesthetics, craftsmanship, degree of difficulty and entry presentation. As a regional winner for this project, Custom Craft is in the running for the National Contractor of the Year Award. The National CotY award winners will be announced in April at the NARI Evening of Excellence.
The CotY Award winning bathroom was a collaborative effort between Custom Craft Contractors and Interior Decorator, Pat Nunan, owner of Lifestyles Design. For this project, the two companies teamed to create a barrier free, wheelchair-accessible bathroom for a homeowner diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), often referred to as “Lou Gehrig’s Disease.” By designing and building a beautiful, yet accessible bathroom, they enabled this husband and father of two young sons to live independently and comfortably in his own home for as long as possible.
In addition to the Contractor of the Year Awards, Custom Craft received a Meritorious Award for a kitchen renovation in the $80,000 to $120,000 category. Michael Foering, Vice President of Custom Craft Contractors was also recognized as Committee Chairman of the Year for his role as the Chairman of the Education Committee for the Bucks-Mont NARI chapter.
NARI Chapters are not-for-profit trade associations committed exclusively to the service of the professional remodeling industry. The NARI remodeling contractor is pledged to uphold the Association’s Code of Ethics and is dedicated to the professionalism and integrity of the remodeling industry.
For more information on Custom Craft Contractors, visit www.customcraftcontractors.com or contact Mike Foering at (610) 584-0665.
A modern mudroom can greatly improve the cleanliness and organization of your home by creating a transitional area between the outdoors and the comfort of your living space. Having a place to kick off dirty shoes, hang wet jackets and stow away backpacks and briefcases can greatly reduce the intrusion of clutter, dirt, dust and pollen.
One of the benefits of a mudroom is that it creates additional storage space–something many homes lack at side and rear entry points. By utilizing cabinets, shelves, rods and hooks you can create an area that encourages the entire family to stay organized. Mudrooms are also great places to store those easy to lose items such as keys, sunglasses and handheld electronic devices.
Mudrooms are most often located at an entry to your home that is not the front door. While building an addition is one great way to achieve the space necessary, it is not the only way. Many first floor laundry rooms can be converted to have a dual purpose. Another way to create the space for a mudroom is to renovate the garage.
Before the mud, snow and ice are being tracked all over the house, consider the modern mudroom for your next home improvement project with Custom Craft Contractors. For more information, or to schedule an appointment for a consultation, call us at: (610) 584-0665.
Complete this form to share some details about what you have in mind. One of our team members will respond to your inquiry promptly.
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