Remodeling return on investment

There are lots of articles floating around on the web about which remodeling projects provide the best ROI for your dollars.

We think that many of these are helpful, but that you should first evaluate if you’re remodeling solely for re-sale or if you’re remodeling to make your current home more liveable for you. The latter is a lot more common these days, as we all decide to ride out the housing market and stay in our homes until values rise.

We’ve included some links below to remodeling ROI articles, but here’s our summary:

-Top ranked remodel projects for ROI are: Siding, new Windows, Kitchens, Bathrooms (esp. if your home only has 1 bathroom or if you have a floor of the house without a bathroom) and Decks.

-Most remodeling projects do not pay off 100% immediately, but you can usually get a complete return or make money off your remodel, within a few years.

ROI remodeling series from About.com

Reliable Remodeler article on ROI

Lowe’s Repair and Restoration ROI

While these are great figures to know, it’s also important that you gain some value and enjoyment from your remodel. If you love entertaining outdoors, a deck is going to have a greater ROI for you over a few years, because you’ll have enjoyment plus increased home value when you sell. If you need a quiet place to read, adding a front porch will benefit you more than a larger kitchen. Bottom line: Choose a remodeling project for both long term resale benefits and short term enjoyment benefits.

Constructive Builders can complete all types of remodeling projects: from completely new kitchens and baths, to additions, pop-tops, decks, siding and more.

Deck season is upon us

Once all this Boulder snow has melted and the temperatures rise, Colorado is bound to be in full on spring. That means it’s time to get outside and enjoy the backyard.

With more of us entertaining at home to save money, it’s time to take a look at your backyard and consider adding on a deck! Decks are one of our favorite things to build, and are a great investment for homeowners, for a few reasons:

1. Decks are a fast and relatively affordable way to add usable space to your home. And the investment is enjoyable almost year-round in Colorado.
2. According to Remodeling magazine, decks place fourth in remodeling ROI, and boast an 86.7% return on investment while adding usable space to your home. They’re especially attractive off of a dining area, as they can easily create an indoor-outdoor dining and entertaining space.
3. We enjoy working outside and ensuring that quality framing and footings are used so that your deck lasts for the long haul.

Here’s a useful site for calculating the cost of adding a deck.

In terms of materials, our favorite composite decking company is Timber Tech. Their composite decking looks, in our opinion, the most like regular wood. They are a little more expensive than some others, but the look is superior if you’re really seeking a natural looking deck.

Some environmental advocates question how eco-friendly these composite decking products actually are, given the energy required to recycle and press the products together. We like the composite products for their environmental qualities and because they’re easier to care for, but another good choice are Sustainably Harvested woods, such as cedar or ipe. The Forest Stewardship Council certifies wood so you can trust that it was harvested properly.

Here’s a good article from The Daily Green on picking sustainable wood.

So, to sum it up: Adding a deck is a relatively low cost way to increase your home’s value and increasing your quality of life this summer. And, if you pick the right materials, you can do it without too much harm on our planet.

Contact us for a bid on building your deck this spring!

Denver housing market picking up?

The article “Denver market shows signs of life” from the Denver Post made us happy today.

The article notes that lower end homes are going faster, but that the high end is unthawing, too, something that we haven’t seen for six months or more.

It seems to be a great time for home buyers to buy before prices go back up.

Breaking construction stereotypes

Thanks for checking out ConstructiveBuilders.com!

The goal of this company is to provide a better experience for our customers. How many horror stories have you heard about the contractor that never showed up, went way over budget, or was creepy or a hassle to deal with?

My personal theory is that a lot of not-so-reputable folks get in to construction when they haven’t succeeded at other careers. That’s not how it worked for me. I chose to be a builder, I like working with customers, and I am happy to be able to work outside and create tangible things instead of having to sit at a computer all day. (That’s why my wife writes my blog.)

 :)

So, I hope you’ll give me a chance to prove that not all construction workers deserve the bad rap we usually get.

-Eric