Tag: tampa general contractor
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!
Jason Rossi Makes List of 15 Best General Contractors in St. Petersburg
The city of St. Petersburg is second in size only to Tampa, it maintains a vibrant art scene and vision to become a city of limitless opportunity. St. Petersburg has a population of nearly 245,000 and it continues to grow and, with new growth, comes the need for new construction and remodeling. Local families and both large and small companies in the city are looking to hire general contractors to oversee their design and build needs. The site www.builddirect.com took the guesswork out of hiring a general contractor by building a list of the fifteen best contractors working in and around St. Petersburg. Our own Jason Rossi made that list, take a look at the full article here and do not forget to vote for Jason in the poll.
Tips for updating your kitchen
The decision to renovate your kitchen will add comfort to your life and value to your Tampa home. Here are the some key concepts to consider when you are updating the heart of your home.
Always choose quality components
High-quality drawer slides and door hinges mean cabinets will remain closed, and silverware drawers will not stick. Keep away from drawers that are fabricated using particleboard or held together with staples. For all cabinet interiors, a wood veneer is more durable in our humid weather than laminate, particleboard or medium-density fiberboard (MDF).
Determine height of cabinets using the ceiling
If your kitchen has eight-foot ceilings, you will want to purchase cabinets that reach the ceiling. This height will offer additional storage space, allowing you to use all available wall space for open shelving or art. If your ceilings are taller than eight-feet, you will need to leave 15 – 18 inches above the cabinets.
Make the decision between paint and stain
Stained-wood cabinets will often be more forgiving for a busy Florida family, but finishes become dated and are difficult to alter quickly. Painted cabinets can provide a unique perspective on your personality.
Install an island that respects the space
Consider all potential hazards when placing a bulky cabinet in the center of the updated kitchen. Islands with an open, airy look are preferable in this region. Ideally, the island should remain free of major appliances, but if you want it to house a cooktop or a double sink, make a real effort to maintain a light appearance.
Too much detail can be a bad thing
An accent like a pediment above the stove and plaster mouldings on cabinet fronts look out of place in a modern southern kitchen. Try to keep the style of your kitchen compatible with the rest of the house.
Avoid kitchen cleaning nightmares
Natural surfaces like terra-cotta tiles, slate, brick and certain styles of marble, are more difficult to clean quickly but they hide the odd smudge. Smooth surfaces in light colors, such as white ceramic tiles, are simple for anyone to maintain, but they show every bit of dirt. And, no matter how much we love the look of stainless steel, its tendency to smudge is not a good match for Tampa families with young children.
Always purchase reliable appliances
Instead of buying a lot of kitchen appliances and gadgets, select a few reliable units. For instance, a commercial-quality stainless range provides an interesting focal point for the room and requires less space than a wall oven and range.
If you like any of the tips and concepts shared here, call Rossi Construction at 813-436-0177 for the best kitchen remodeling in Tampa.
The Best Things To Change In Your House
Home and building remodeling can be an expensive endeavor, and deciding whether or not you want to go ahead with the project is the first step towards success. The four most important qualities for successful building remodeling are quality, pricing, energy efficiency, and low-maintenance. In order to plan the best project possible, try to find a building remodeling construction company that comes highly recommended in these four areas. Once you’re satisfied with your contractor, you can go ahead and make the renovations that you’ve been planning!
Here are two home remodeling tips to help you plan some quality design and construction.
1. Room Conversion.
Some of the best building remodeling jobs involve the conversion of a room to something nicer. In fact, attic-to-bedroom conversions are incredibly popular, and are considered to be one of the best values with regards to financial return. Turning a rarely used space into something both well-designed and practical will benefit your home and allow you to create something special. Whether it’s an attic, a basement, or converting an extra bedroom into that entertainment center you’ve always wanted, room conversion can be exactly what you need.
2. Kitchen Remodeling.
Sometimes your kitchen seems out of date and inconvenient, unable to keep up with the rigors of a busy household. Planning a kitchen remodeling and design change can improve one of the most important and highly trafficked rooms in your house. Studies report that almost 70% of all building remodeling projects revolve around the improvement of the kitchen area, and those findings aren’t surprising. The kitchen is crucial to day-to-day activity and family gatherings, and is often a high-traffic area that acts as a hub for the home. Updating your kitchen to provide a better space for your family is a good decision that will do wonders to improve the function of your home.
These two suggestions are relatively simple, but they will provide a baseline for where to start your renovation project. Consider whether your kitchen accomplishes all the tasks you’d like, and think about whether there’s a room in your home that you’d use more, if only it were something else. Remodeling your home is a big project, but it can also be one of the most rewarding.
Rossi Construction, Inc. Selected for Best of Brandon Award
Tampa residential remodeling specialty company, Rossi Construction, Inc. announced on Wednesday that it had been selected for the 2014 Best of Brandon Award in the Custom Home Builders category by the Brandon Award Program.
Each year, the program finds companies that they believe succeeded in achieving marketing success in the local community and their specific business category. All nominees are local companies that build the positive image tied to small business through positive service to their regular customers and local community. These companies help make the local area a better place to live, work and play.
The Brandon Award Program collected and analyzed a number of sources of information in order to find winners in each business category. The 2014 Brandon Award Program focuses specifically on the idea of quality, not quantity in the way a business accomplishes its goals. Winners are actually determined based upon internally gathered info by the Brandon Award Program and certain third parties.
About the Award Program:
The Brandon Award Program is an annual awards program honoring the achievements and accomplishments of local businesses throughout the Brandon area. Recognition is given to those companies that have shown the ability to use their best practices and implemented programs to generate competitive advantages and long-term value.
The Brandon Award Program was put in place to recognize the top local businesses in our community. The organization works exclusively with local business owners, trade groups, professional associations and other business advertising and marketing groups. Their mission is to recognize the small business community’s contributions to the U.S. economy.
About Rossi Construction, Inc.:
Rossi Construction, Inc. is a general contractor located in the Tampa Bay area. Rossi Construction, Inc. specializes in residential and commercial construction and remodeling. Rossi Construction, Inc. has been building excellence by design in Tampa FL since 1979. Rossi Construction, Inc. can be found online by visiting http://www.jrossiconstruction.com.
Become a Carpenter for Rossi Construction, Inc.
Rossi Construction, Inc. is a fast growing construction company doing business around the Tampa Bay area. Rossi Construction, Inc. is currently hiring for the following positions in and around the greater Tampa Bay area. Please express your interest for the position by submitting your work history using our employment tab on our website.
Become a Carpenter for Rossi Construction, Inc.
A Carpenter will construct, erect, install, and repair structures and fixtures of wood, plywood, drywall and wallboard, using carpenter’s hand tools and power tools.
Job Experience Required
A Carpenter must have a minimum of 3 years in all phases of residential construction.
Knowledge Required to Successfully Execute the Job
Carpenters use a variety of tools to accurately measure, cut and join wood, drywall, fiberglass, plastic and other building materials. Depending on the particular jobs, you frame structures and walls and install cabinets, ceilings, doors, floors, fixtures, drywall, prefabricated panels and scaffolding. Many projects require the carpenter to be able to read and act on blueprints and other plan documents.
The candidate will need to be able to:
- Measure and mark cutting lines on materials, using ruler, pencil, chalk, and marking gauge;
- Follow established safety rules and regulations and maintain a safe and clean environment;
- Shape or cut materials to specified measurements, using hand tools, machines or power saw;
- Assemble and fasten materials to make framework or props, using hand tools and wood screws, nails, dowel pins or glue.
If your skills and work experience match our requirements, please express your interest for the position by submitting your work history using our employment tab on our site.
Potentially Deadly Chemicals in a Home
The combination of an economy in recovery and a lack of quality general contractors have made DIY renovations more popular than ever. While this can save you money, it introduces risks that homeowners may not be aware of. A home remodel can release toxic chemicals into the air, which in and of itself presents a very serious health hazard. A couple of common toxins are explained below.
Asbestos
Asbestos is a mineral fiber which was often used in older homes and buildings across Tampa Bay due to its ability to resist heat and its durability. It can be found in roofing and flooring materials, as well as older insulation. The danger in asbestos comes in the form of tiny fibers which enter the body by inhalation and settle in the tissue of the lungs, where they remain dormant for decades before causing disease. Mesothelioma is a cancer often linked to asbestos exposure.
If a home or other building contains asbestos, it should be removed by a professional abatement team before the remodel proceeds. This will greatly reduce the opportunity for exposure to everyone involved. If you are worried your home contains asbestos, call Rossi Construction Inc. at 813.436.0177 for a referral to a professional capable of removing the asbestos.
Lead
Any Tampa home built before 1978 will most likely contain lead, which will always be the most prevalent in older layers of paint. Lead is so dangerous because it can spread from the house into nearby soil, presenting a hazard to kids and pets. Signs of exposure will include nausea, fatigue and headaches.
Like asbestos, it is best to have lead removed by a team of experts before the remodeling project begins.
Practice Safety
It pays to be as safe as possible in a home renovation project, the house should be inspected and tested for toxic chemicals before the work commences. If any are present, they can be removed with the help of a professional and prevent deadly health problems down the line. While this will add cost to the Tampa remodel, it is worth the peace of mind.
The Right General Contractor for Me
Hiring a general contractor can be similar to adding a family member that you are not quite sure you are ready to add, except when it comes to a general contractor, you are the one who gets to do the choosing. Reviewing from a family perspective stems from the idea that you will be seeing a lot of your contractor, depending on the size of the Tampa kitchen remodeling project and the number of subcontractors involved. This means it is important to find someone you can get along with, someone who will do the job right!
In order to make a solid choice, there are some questions you need to pose to any potential general contractor, ideally you need to ask a pool of at least three to five candidates to compare and contrast their responses. This will help you ensure you that you have made a good match. After all, this is your home; you need someone who proves to be dependable and determined to see the project through to a positive end.
Is there any way you can give me a timeline?
Before you hire a general contractor, you need to ask if he is ready to provide you with a fixed start date and a completion date for the Tampa kitchen remodeling project. The proposed timeline needs to include all cleanup work as well. These dates need to be included in the formal written agreement, along with a timetable for the specific aspects of the project and a list of all materials that will be needed. It is also a good idea to address how changes will affect the timeline in the contract.
If you are not watching the project firsthand, you will want to check-in with the general contractor from time to time to see how everything is coming along.
Can you tell me a little about your remodeling routines?
Communicating with your contractor about specifics you would like to see become a part of a remodeling project can be difficult. Do you really want concrete countertops? Should you install bamboo flooring? With this many details to keep in mind, remember that you are going to have a general contractor around your house for the next several weeks. To them, your home is a workplace. Do not hesitate to ask them if they are a respectful colleague.
Understanding and expectation of a general contractor’s routine is going to be key to your own happiness. Ask if they start work at a specific time. Do they do one project at a time, or will there be multiple projects in different stages of completion? It is also good to know what they do with the leftover scrap material. Will there be piles of junk in your yard for months at a time?
Hiring a general contractor is all about finding the right fit for your family and your kitchen remodeling project. It is always better to work with someone who makes you comfortable, rather than hiring a loud mouth who intends to make the next eight weeks miserable. Call 813.436.0177 today to find out if the general contracting services from Rossi Construction, Inc. are the right match for you!
Preparing to Work With a Tampa General Contractor
Remodeling or building a new Tampa home is a massive financial and emotional investment. It can also be a big investment of time if you want to be an active participant in the decision making process. Understanding what to expect before you get started will prepare you for the process. Here are some questions you need to ask anyone you are interviewing as a general contractor.
What kind of schedule should I expect?
The schedule is more than the start and end date of a Tampa remodeling project. Having a schedule that puts in place specific timelines for tasks will give you a big-picture view of the sequence and deadlines for things like tile and counters. It will also give you a benchmark, so that you will be able to easily identify if things are beginning to slip behind.
With projects like kitchens and baths, the cabinet lead time will determine the start date and sub-trades will need to be scheduled in quick succession. Do not start without a schedule that explains what dates and times workers are expected to be on site.
Will I see you every day, or should I expect someone else?
Depending on size of the general contractor you hire, the answer will range wildly. Many Tampa remodelers will use a lead carpenter system, where a staff member is responsible for managing day-to-day work on the site, and often participates in projects as well. Ask any general contractor direct questions about who will be responsible for taking care of your house, who will supervise subcontractors and who you can talk to on a daily basis if there are any questions.
How will you and I stay in touch over the course of the Tampa remodel?
With an array of electronic communication techniques at your fingertips, you have some definite ideas as to how you would like to receive updates about your project. All general contractors have specific formats they prefer to use for communication too. Make sure you both understand how you will receive information. If the contractor uses a format you do not like, you will need to compromise on a method and format that is easily accessible for all parties.
What kind of written documentation will I receive when the Tampa remodeling project is complete?
Contracts call for end-of-project paperwork, lien releases and copies of inspection reports. There may be extra information you find valuable: a list of subcontractors and contact information, operating manuals, care for the newly installed flooring and well-marked technical specifications for any installed hardware. Confirming that you will receive these things before you start will ensure that you end the project with all of the information required to enjoy the remodeled room.
If you believe hiring a general contractor is the best bet for your Tampa remodeling project, the team from Rossi Construction, Inc. is all ears. Call 813.436.0177 to schedule a consultation today!
