Category: Home Improvements
Four Steps for the Perfect Fresh Coat of Paint
Staring at the same colored walls can become boring very quickly. Painting is a fast process to add a new light to a room in need. Finding the perfect color is often a difficult process, but the painting job is simple! Here’s what you need to know about painting your walls in order to adda smooth and beautiful look to your home:
Step One: Deciding Which Paint to Use
Paint comes in a variety of sheens. When picking the perfect gloss, it’s important to understand how each may affect the final product. Paints with a higher gloss often result in obvious imperfections and blemishes. By contrast,a glossy trim will add a beautiful touch to flatter your walls. Semi-gloss is a perfect choice for rooms such as kitchens and bathrooms to help ensure the walls are easy to wipe clean. Matte paints are typically used for ceilings and won’t require as many coats to cover the blemishes that may have appeared.
Step Two: Paint Preparations
After picking your new color, we recommend removing all furniture from the room before prepping the walls. Painters must be careful to cover every inch of the room before they begin the project. Drop cloths will be used to cover any remaining furniture and flooring, while painter’s tape is often used to perfect the cuts and creases of the room. Nails and other marks on the walls should be cared for before beginning the paint job, along with cleaning the walls of both dirt and dust.
Step Three: The Perfect Primer
Paint primer is designed to provide a surface that subsequent paint layers will lock onto. It is usually applied to a fresh, clean surface that has not been painted. The paint applied on top of the primer will be more durable and bright in color for a longer period of time. Primer is not only the safest route, but also allows the color coat to do its job of providing a fresh feel to a room and showing the truest color.
Step Four: Get Painting!
After what may seem like a long period of prepping for your new beginning, now comes the easiest part: painting! With a good primer, the painting job will typically need one to two coats to leave your room without any splotches. With the perfect color to compliment the beauty of your home, you are bound to be satisfied with this fresh look. To ensure color clarity and durable finishes, it is imperative to follow each step listed above.
At Rossi Construction, our team is here to provide you with the support you need to for a fresh start in your home. Our team of professional painters in St. Petersburg and Tampa Bay will make sure that your painting job is a job well-done. We are determined to paint your idea of perfection. For more information and questions, feel free to contact us: 813.436.0177
How To Plan A Successful Building Project
A home renovation can be stressful because it requires a lot of time and planning. At Rossi Construction, we’ve been in business for almost 20 years. Our experienced teamknowsthe ins and outs and what it takes to flawlessly execute a home project.
Follow our tips for a successful home remodel or renovation:
Step 1: Have a Plan
Before you meet with contractors, it’s good to have an idea of what you want as well as your budget. Understanding how you want your layout to look or what design elements you want to include will help us to create our plan and ultimately meet your goals.
Step 2: Get the Proper Permits
Often time permits end up slowing down a home project. Make the initiative to start early so that you can get your home remodel done within your expectations. Look into what laws and environmental restrictions are in place where your project is to avoid surprises later!
Step 3: Go Shopping
It’s essential to choose important design elements sooner rather than later. Items like appliances, furniture,flooring and paint options are a necessity for our team to begin our processes. Some items may take weeks or even months to be shipped to the job site,so planning these items ahead of time will help keep your project on time and moving smoothly.
Step 4: Allow Us to Do Our Job
While it’s tempting to want to know every detail of what’s happening each day, try to relax and let us do our job. We will always communicate with you, especially if we have questions or need clarification. As professionals, we know the task at hand and want to make sure we execute it properly without distractions.
If you’re ready to take the next steps and get started on your next home project, we’re here to help! We offer a free consultation and would be happy to review your plans. Reach out today and learn how we can make your dream renovation project a reality!
How to Budget for a Renovation
Preparing for a home construction project is a big task. There is a lot of planning from both a financial and technical standpoint. It is important to have the right team on your side to help you plan accordingly and execute everything within budget.
Before you get started trying to plan your budget, it’s important to ask yourself these questions:
- What do you want this project to accomplish?
- What details are needed to make it happen?
- What are you willing to compromise on?
- What are you willing to splurge on?
With those questions in mind, these are some important budgeting considerations we tell all our clients:
- Expect to spend at least $100 to $200 per square foot on any renovation.
- It’s easier, and potentially more affordable, to prioritize projects by room and build a budget around the cost of each individual project.
- Before you set your budget, decide how you will finance the project (cash, credit, loan, etc.)
To get an estimated idea of what your remodeling budget should be, consider the value of your home as a whole. You don’t want to spend more than 10 to 15% of your home’s value on a single room.Additionally, we always tell clients to set aside 10 to 20% of your available funds for unexpected expenses. While we try to plan for all situations, sometimes things come up in a project that is beyond our control. We’ve also found that sometimes homeowners choose to upgrade certain aspects too. We’d rather have extra funds allotted for these instances rather than being stuck and unable to complete the job.
If you’re currently planning a home remodeling project, we’re here to help. With our experience, we can guide you early in the planning process to help make decisions that will stay within your budget while still accomplishing your desired design. Reach out today and let’s discuss how we can create a plan for making your remodeling dreams a reality! Call today at 813-436-0177.
Top Kitchen Remodeling Trends of 2019
Essential Things to Consider Before Hiring Your Contractor
If you are looking to remodel your home in Tampa Bay or St. Petersburg, finding a reliable and experienced contractor can be the difference between peace of mind and sleepless nights. Our team at Rossi Construction have put together a list of the top things to consider and look for when hiring a contractor.
Have a Solid Vision for Your Space
Spend time researching trends and timeless touches you would like to incorporate into the remodel. Explore what kinds of looks and architectural elements you might be interested in adding as well. By have a solid grasp on what you are looking for in your remodel, you can then compare the work of the contractors you will meet with later.
Compare Rates as Well as Quality
A general number is to compare at least three local contractors before deciding on one to renovate your home. Your goal with this tip is to determine how they stack up against one another. This will give you a clearer idea of the costs and budget required, as well as the caliber of work each contractor can produce. As an example, one contractor might bid a low rate that might equate to low quality work, while a higher bid usually suggests top notch quality. Use this information and your research to determine where you fall on the spectrum, and what will meet your project’s needs as well as your standards.
Do Your Research to Determine if the Contractor is a Good Fit
While contractors of all specializations use the title of contractor, there are subcategories within the industry. Some are considered specialists and some generalists. So, seek to ensure their experience and abilities align with what your goals are for your renovation. The top things to look for when reading reviews and looking over their business website are: Do you see a similarity in their past projects and what you are looking for in yours? Do they exhibit quality workmanship and use quality materials? Do their reviews reflect consistent high levels of client satisfaction?
Be Sure to Read the Fine Print
From establishing a start and completion date, detailing information about building fees and required permits, an explanation for what services are covered (demolition, labor, equipment, etc.) and the consequences of a default by their business – the fine print holds the details. Noting the fine print is especially important for the terms of default as it can include things such as the unexpected departure of a subcontractor or an array of other unforeseen challenges. Be sure you are clearly excluded from liability in these instances and look for contractors who have their terms laid out in a fair and easy to understand manner.
How We Can Help
Rossi Construction has proudly served Florida’s Tampa Bay area for almost two decades. We have helped homeowners create or re-invent their space into one they are proud to come home to. Feel free to reach out and request a consultation to discuss the topics mentioned above! If you are interested in more home remodeling inspiration, head over to our gallery to check out some of our recent work. We look forward to speaking with you and seeing how we can make your home remodeling dream a reality.
Tips to Stay Within Your Kitchen Renovation Budget
It’s no secret that your kitchen is a fantastic choice when deciding where to upgrade your home. From a mini-make over to a full-scale revamp, not only does a kitchen remodel improve you and your families lives, but your resale value will dramatically increase. But where to start when planning and designing your kitchen renovation? We are here to help. Since 2000, we at Rossi construction have been helping folks throughout the Tampa Bay area create the kitchen of their dreams – and we have learned a few things along the way. Here are the top 5 things to consider before taking on the exciting endeavor of renovating your kitchen.
What is Your Budget?
A common first consideration when taking on a large home improvement project. It is easy to start out with good intentions, but there are commonly overlooked considerations that come into play drafting your expense list. The first step to ensuring you stay within your budget begins with planning your renovation. The surest way to spend more than is necessary is to make changes after construction and remodeling gets underway. This in one reason why is it considered best practice to consult with and professional, because we can ensure all aspects of the remodel are detailed and priced out beforehand.
Secondly, another common expense is unforeseen structural or electrical damage that requires upgrades to complete the renovation. Our team of professionals can help you budget for the unexpected and help with a pre-renovation inspection to determine the likelihood of these sorts of challenges.
Finally, consider the overall value of your home. A kitchen remodel is considered the best investment when it comes to reselling your home. A recent study found that an average $15,000 renovation saw a return value of roughly 93%. Further, a kitchen generally accounts for 10-15% of a home’s value. With this information in mind, you should seek to prioritize what changes will have the largest impact on the space and maintain or even increase the value of your home.
Establish Your Splurge-Worthy Investments
Have you been eyeing that side-by-side refrigerator? Or envision marble countertops in your upgraded kitchen? Start researching the big-ticket expenses for your remodel and look into customer reviews. This will help you get a feel for not only the quality of top items on your list, but the price. Pricing out appliances is another area where having an experienced professional on hand can be helpful. From evaluating energy costs to planning out how the space will look cohesively, we can help keep with in your budget while still building out the kitchen to your specifications.
Do You Know Who You Are Hiring?
As mentioned, your contractor will play a huge role in ensuring you stay with in your budget and that your kitchen vision is realized. For this reason, is it essential that you are hiring someone who clearly understands your hopes for your remodel. From ensuring your contractor is insured to establishing a realistic and feasible budget and creating a workable timeline the right contractor can make all the difference. Finally, check out their previous work. What better way to determine if a contractor is a good fit than letting their work speak for itself? From residential, to commercial, we at Rossi construction have designed, managed and built out kitchen renovations in the Tampa Bay area of all kinds.
Let’s Get Your Kitchen Renovation Plans Underway
To learn more about how we can help you begin your kitchen or home remodel, feel free to contact us for more information about our services. If you are searching for some renovation inspiration, have a look at few of our previous projects. We look forward to working with you and turning your kitchen into one you’ll never want to leave!
Tips for Planning Your Bathroom Remodel
A bathroom can be a calming retreat so it is important to get the perfect design for your style and interests. When planning a bathroom remodel, you should know consider some of the below-mentioned things.
Styles
Consider a classic or traditional style for simplistic bathrooms. A traditionally designed modern bathroom remains timeless. Modern bathroom design incorporates bright colors with contrasting textures. An eclectic bathroom style has an assortment of dissimilar elements. A countrified bathroom has the “bringing the outside inside” element. A romantic bathroom has ornate fixtures and beautifully crafted cabinet designs. Continue reading “Tips for Planning Your Bathroom Remodel”
Fall Home Improvement Projects
Now it’s time for summer Netflix binge watching to end and Floridians to emerge from indoors, and that means it’s time to make the focus home improvement projects instead. Autumn definitely creates predictable work in the yard, such as planning and planting a vegetable garden. There are a number of tasks that are less obvious but equally important in order to get your house in top-notch shape before your family makes the most of outdoor spaces.
Check all siding and trim:
Enlist a trusted friend or family member to help you inspect your house for any boards or siding that has been damaged during the wet weather in summer 2016. If a board was damaged and there is visible rot threatening the structural integrity, you should consider replacing it with a low-maintenance options.
Evaluate the state of your deck:
If fall and winter 2015 were rough on your deck, consider replacing it before the calendar flips to late October 2016. Talk to a representative from Rossi Construction, Inc. about using high density polyethylene (HDPE) recycled plastic lumber (RPL) in a deck construction project. This man-made material is:
- Durable.
- Moisture resistant.
- Unfriendly to bugs and rot.
Replace or secure deck railings:
An unstable railing can lead to family members suffering injuries, even if the body of your deck is still sound. This means you should check all elements to make sure they are functioning properly.
Determine if you need to replace doors:
While the weather is mild, you will also want to consider replacing any old doors with more energy efficient exterior doors. This should include patio doors, storm doors and all exterior doors without a storm door. A new door will help keep cool air trapped inside once we move back into the tropical part of our calendar.
Replace windows that are no longer energy efficient:
Did you feel a disproportionate amount of heat next to certain windows during the spring and summer? Have you noticed inexplicable condensation on these windows? Multi-pane glass will typically offer a solution to these problems. Most home owners choose to have a professional swap problem windows with efficient windows that will increase your comfort and decrease your cooling bills next spring!
Home ownership means maintaining both the interior and exterior elements of your home. With improved weather, fall is the perfect time to review, upgrade and improve your home. The problem is that replacement of siding, construction of a new deck and installation of new doors can be a difficult prospect for a home owner. Only you will be able to decide if you’re prepared to take on the responsibility of completing the projects on your own. If you frequently call yourself a master workman, then we wish you well. If you’re navigating a fulltime job, school sport schedules and attempting to get a solid six hours of sleep, it can pay to hire an experienced team to complete repairs, or plan new builds. Call Rossi Construction, Inc. at 813-436-0177 to schedule a free consultation.
3 Questions You Need to Ask Yourself About Remodeling
Home renovation tips are fairly easy to come by with a simple search. However, those can often be generic suggestions, rather than unique and helpful pointers. Chances are, if you’re doing any kind of remodeling construction, you’re going to want to know things like how you should choose a home remodeling service, or how you can tell if something has quality design and construction. For tips on these, read on!
Choosing the right residential renovation contractor.
Different companies boast different talents. While one business may be a general contracting company, they may be especially good at one particular service. Maybe the person they have employed for kitchen remodels is amazing at what they do, and that’s exactly what you need. Check their website and ask around before you make any concrete decisions. Bathroom remodels are the most popular among homeowners, making up 78% of renovations. That make sense, considering the return on investment (ROI) for that type of remodel is 63.6%. This means that many contractors are likely qualified. If this is your choice of remodel, and you can focus more on our next tip.
Does this company utilize quality design and construction?
Unfortunately, some companies follow a business plan that values quantity over quality. Beware of these types of contractors! They may be cheaper and faster, but it will show in their work. Chip in the few extra dollars so that you can take pride in your new room or update, and avoid the frustration of incompetent workers. Check on their portfolio, and ask about the products and tools they use. As long as you do some digging around, you’ll be fine!
What type of renovation are you doing? Can it be done on your own?
Many times, someone’s first instinct is to call someone for help, rather than attempt the project on their own. Obviously if you’re remodeling your entire kitchen, or transforming your basement or attic (which has an ROI of 84.3%), you need to hire a contractor. But if it’s something smaller, like repainting a room, or installing new fixtures, you can probably find step by step directions online. Just keep in mind that what may take a contractor 20 hours, could easily take you 60 — and that’s a lot of Saturdays.
How do you find home renovation tips? Were these helpful? Give us your advice and thoughts in the comments!
What Are The Most Popular Home Design Trends Of 2015?
Surprisingly, repairs and property damage fixes make up a large chunk of home remodeling services (36%!). Even so, an even greater number of Americans are infusing homes with new designs, decor, and furniture to work toward creating a better home. Although homeowners’ ultimate “vision” or design goals vary a great deal, 98% agree that they haven’t achieved them yet. Fifty-four percent of homeowners optimistically concede that they are “half-way there,” according to a 2014 Houzz survey. So what’s on the horizon? What new trends can help homeowners on their way to complete interior design?
Food Isn’t The Only Thing That’s Locally Sourced
Whether you are remodeling the bathroom (the top home improvement project requested by 78% of homeowners), otherwise tweaking your master bathroom design, or making over the attic and transforming it into a new bedroom (a project with a shockingly impressive ROI of 84.3%), one thing is certain: If you can use locally sourced wood and materials for modern furniture, you are one step ahead of the game. Environmentally-conscious consumers are not stopping at locally sourced foods from the grocery store and restaurants with food-to-table models; in fact, many prefer furniture crafted by local businesses from local timber or lumber stores.
A Penchant For The Bizarre
One of the many perks of remodeling your home — especially if you have a sizable budget — is doing whatever you want. And more homeowners are embracing that trend. More consumers are going out of their way to make home improvements, or even just to add touches, that are completely and uniquely their own. Loft bookcases, “sunken” or floor-level baths, glass floors, and textured ceilings are just a few of the extraordinary changes homeowners are making to start conversations or make a statement. Ask home remodeling services about your options — or run a few ideas you have by them.
Whether you are working with home renovation services, a residential renovation contractor, or quality design and construction companies, you can finally achieve the perfect vision of your home. And more people are doing it by opting for locally sourced furniture or adding at least one feature that is markedly different — and something you are unlikely to see anywhere else.