Staircases: Taking the Next Step in Remodeling Projects

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One of the things that makes a home feel old and worn is the sound of creaks and groans as people walk through it. One of the noisiest places is usually on the stairs. This is noticeable in many homes throughout Northern Virginia, including those in Arlington. Stairs are more than just a means to travel from one floor to the next. They are a focal point for the household. Most older homes have a single main staircase located in the center of the home, although some that were built specifically with servants quarters may have a second, smaller staircase in the rear of the house as well.

Stair Replacement
If your home is more than 10 years old, the steps probably creak when you climb. It might be just one or two spots, or it might seem like every step has something to say. When considering the details of your residential remodeling project, don’t take your stairs for granted. It might be time to replace or reinforce your existing staircase as part of your home renovation. This is a good time to check their structural integrity, especially if they’re noisy. You might find loose steps or even cracks and gaps if you look underneath. Most homes in the area that have hardwood floors have matching steps. Some have been covered with carpeting. If you remove the carpeting, you might find steps that are worn hard in the middle and are barely touched on the sides. These can be replaced as part of your Arlington design build remodeling project. You can move or change the effect of the staircase by changing its direction, its color and its shape. You may want to move an attached pony wall for a different appearance altogether.

Railings and Posts
Change your railings to bring them up to code or to modernize your stairs with the rest of your home’s new look. Some homeowners prefer to use iron instead of wood; others want to close the gaps between the slats to make them more child-friendly. A post at the bottom of the stairs can take many shapes, from large to small to round to square.

New Staircase
Building a new staircase into Arlington home additions can create convenience, flair and depth in your layout. They are especially effective if you are adding a second floor over the first and when you are significantly increasing the square footage of your house. Remember, steps don’t have to be a straight line up and down. They can curve and turn to maximize your space. They can also have short flights and a landing to make traversing them easier.

Our Foster Remodeling design and build team can help you decide how to change your existing staircase or where to put a new one. At the very least, we can reinforce what you have so that your stairs don’t creak and talk to you every time you cross over them. We can incorporate this in the rest of your Arlington home remodeling project.

If you would like to talk about ideas for remodeling or renovating your home in Fairfax, Mclean, Springfield, Woodbridge, Alexandria, Arlington, and Falls Church VA, reach out to us at Foster Remodeling. Call now for a free consultation!

Whole Home Remodeling Meets the Changing Family Dynamic

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For many Alexandria homeowners, making changes in the house is necessary to meet the needs of the changing family dynamic. For those whose older parents are joining the household, a home remodeling project means more than just converting a nursery into a comfortable bedroom. Instead, the trend is to make several changes to the existing structure and create an in-law addition as well. This allows the family to use the existing space more efficiently while building a safe, close and comfortable place for parents. At the same time, families with young children need room for them to grow. Oftentimes, they will buy a home with the intention of building out the attic or the basement into individual bedrooms when the kids are older. All of these needs of the changing family dynamic can be met through a carefully planned design build remodeling project for the Alexandria home.

Remodeling Versus Moving
There are a number of reasons why homeowners prefer to remodel instead of buying a larger home. One important point is availability. According to Trulia.com, the number of listings on the Alexandria residential housing market has steadily decreased over the past year. The options are simply not there. Rather than relocating and trying to find a larger home that meets the family’s needs, it is more practical to stay in the same neighborhood and make some changes. This is a critical reason for families who love where they live, but just feel a bit cramped with the addition of new members into the household or demand for more space as the children get older. For those new to the area, it may make more sense to buy an Alexandria home that comes close to their preferences and make necessary changes to it before moving in, rather than holding out for something that may never materialize. Changes to flooring, ceilings, lighting, wall structure and appliances can be made to suit the household, customized to the family’s needs and wants.

Home Additions
Adding an in-law suite offers parents of adult children privacy and comfort without compromising their need for independence. They can design a bedroom, living room, kitchen, bath and storage space to meet their individual needs. Mobility features can be designed into the plans for comfort and safety. For Alexandria properties that have space on either side of the present structure, home additions on the opposite side of the house from in-law suites can accommodate garages, additional bedrooms, home offices and entertaining areas. When building on to the rear, second and third stories over the existing structure can offer much-needed bedroom, bathroom and living space. Decks and hardscapes are also options.

When combining all of these projects into one, the structure and style of the home is protected. The grandchildren can have improved space, like their own bedrooms, without feeling neglected or compromised. The seniors can have their independence and privacy without overly concerning their adult children. The parents can have peace of mind.

If you would like to talk about ideas for remodeling or renovating your home in Fairfax, Mclean, Springfield, Woodbridge, Alexandria, Arlington, and Falls Church VA, reach out to us at Foster Remodeling. Call now for a free consultation!

Making Your Home Accessible to Aging In Place

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The oldest of the Baby Boomers (those born between 1946 and 1964) reached the age of 65 last year in 2011 and by 2030 the number of Americans over the age of 65 will soar to 72.1 million, 1 out of every 5 Americans!  Given those numbers there is no question why we get so many calls here at Foster Remodeling on how to remodel an existing home to make it more comfortable and accessible for the homeowners as they age.  In fact, according to a recent AARP survey, 73% of respondents strongly agreed with the statement “What I’d really like to do is stay in my current residence for as long as possible”.  Most homes, especially in Northern Virginia, weren’t designed with long-term accessibility in mind, but there are several projects that can make you and your family more at ease with you staying in your home as long as possible.

Kitchens are great way to update a home’s accessibility and a valuable remodel that many can enjoy over the years.  In the same AARP study, 75% of Boomers didn’t feel their current kitchen layout met their living needs; there are a few ways to update your kitchen.  For this generation transitioning from a 42” bar height table or overhang to a 28” or 30” height is more accessible should one need a walker or wheel chair in the future.  Also, because kitchen space is frequently used by Boomers and other generations alike a standard-height table or island for social gathering is ideal.  Creating wider walkways or paths throughout the kitchen and adjacent rooms provides easier mobility.  Storage options should be easily reachable and/or pull out, older cabinets without rollouts or few drawers can be taxing for those with back problems.  Keep hardware in mind as well, for those suffering from arthritis or hand-mobility/gripping issues small knobs can be difficult, but larger pulls can be much easier to manipulate.

Another room where updates should be provided is the bathroom.  Maneuverability should be a priority in a bathroom, providing a 60” turnaround (minimum size needed for a wheel-chair to turn) if the space allows or an acceptable T-turn space should be planned for.  Creating a shower with zero-threshold allows for easy entry and exit into and out of the shower space with no tripping hazards.  If a bathtub is a requirement, grab bars with adequate bracing behind them should be installed to ease entry and exit.  Benches are also a high-demand item which can be built-in or installed as a fold-down to accommodate those who have problems standing.  When thinking about faucets and shower valves, lever handles are much easier to manipulate and installing a separate handheld shower provides ease of use.  Toilets have come a long way, and many companies have “comfort height” or ADA approved height versions which typically have a seat height of 17”-19” above the floor, a much easier location to lower to and rise from.  Keep in mind that many of these features can be integrated into the overall design so it needn’t feel institutional or hospital-like.  Many of our clients are surprised at how gorgeous their “universally designed” bathrooms are when the project is complete.

There are several small areas around the house that one should also think about when remodeling.  With flooring, low or zero-thresholds between surfaces is important because of tripping hazards.  Typically we recommended hardwood, laminate or tile flooring since it is a smooth surface that is easy to get around on and dust is less likely to collect on hard surfaces compared to carpeting for those with respiratory problems to consider.  If you really feel more comfortable with carpet, consider a low pile height.  Hardware on doors should be levers, as knobs again, can be difficult to manipulate.  At the entry point of the home, creating a clear accessible path to a no step covered door is ideal, also providing a 36” wide opening of the door to accommodate walkers or a wheelchair.  If possible, we’ve had many clients relocate their master bedroom to the first floor or add an addition to accommodate a first floor primary suite for themselves or aging parents.

As many of our clients or their parent’s age, we know what your concerns are and can help you plan for them.  In a Genworth 2010 study of Cost of Care, they found the average cost of a 1 bedroom single occupancy assisted living facility was $38,220, multiply that by 5, 10, 15 years and you are looking at a large investment.  For many families whether they are keeping parents in their own house or joining them into their own homes, we can guide you to make smart choices to keep you or your family as independent as long as possible.  We know how important your home is to you, so whether you or a loved one is looking to remodel or update to accommodate your lifestyle give us a call.

A Look at Home Additions and Renovations in Vienna

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Back in the late 1950s and mid-1960s, Northern Virginia sustained a lot of growth, especially in a sleepy little town named Vienna. While it continues to grow today and is one of the busiest commercial suburbs of Washington, DC, many of the homes built during the ’50s and ’60s are now beginning to show their wear. Some of the linoleum kitchen floors, tile bathrooms and open carports have been renovated over the years, but many of them are just now being replaced by natural stone, hardwood floors and two-car garages.

Vienna is just one example of the changes that homes are going through in Northern Virginia and Fairfax County. These are homes that were built with sturdy construction materials and crawlspaces or basements. They are split-level, Colonial and split-foyer homes that have beautiful brick bases with colorful aluminum or vinyl siding on the second and third stories.

What’s interesting about many of these homes is that they are three- and four-bedroom houses that have stood the test of time and are now receiving fashionable whole-home makeovers to make them twice their size, since they are built on larger lots than the homes of the ’80s and ’90s. One of the more common Fairfax County home additions and renovations is converting the single carport into a two-car garage with a finished room overtop. Also popular is a large second-story deck addition which connects to the rear of the kitchen, and two-story wings for extra bedrooms built on to the back or side of the existing home. Finished basements offer many choices in additional bedrooms, home entertainment centers and playrooms.

Many of the streets in Vienna are one lane in each direction that were never intended to carry the traffic that now travels on them every day. The solution for homeowners with steep, single-lane driveways attempting to pull into busy traffic is the creation of a circular driveway. This offers a simple and safe way to pull in and out with clear visibility and less stress. Ornamental features such as wishing wells, statues and low-lying plants and bushes decorate the central area of these horseshoe-shaped driveways.

One common feature that once held back homeowners from making additions on their Fairfax County homes is the existence of a steep grading in the back yard. While some homeowners have chosen to fill it in over the years, the clay soil through much of the area makes this hard to do. Instead, the latest and quite successful trend is putting in graduated outdoor steps by the side of the house. This is a landscaping addition that beautifies the yard and creates a safer way for kids and guests to enter the back yard without falling or sliding down or avoiding it altogether and walking through the house. These steps are made of durable green materials that can hold planters, creating an attractive, environmentally-friendly and user-friendly enhancement.

If you would like to talk about ideas for remodeling or renovating your home in Fairfax, Mclean, Springfield, Woodbridge, Alexandria, Arlington, and Falls Church VA, reach out to us at Foster Remodeling. Call now for a free consultation!

Lead Paint Renovation Repair and Painting Program

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Lead Paint Renovation Repair and Painting Program

Beginning April 22, 2010, the Environmental Protection Agency will begin enforcing its new Lead Paint Renovation Repair and Painting Program.  This program was designed to decrease the risk of lead poisoning in children living in homes under renovation.  In 1978, the Consumer Products Safety Commission banned the sale of lead paint to prevent complications from lead paint contamination in homes and schools.  Lead paint and specifically dust from lead paint created during renovation projects is extremely hazardous to children under 6 years of age as well as pregnant women.  In children, lead has been proven to cause damage to the nervous system and kidneys as well as speech, language and developmental disorders.  Pregnant women are at a higher risk of lead exposure and contamination can be passed along to the fetus resulting in miscarriages, low birth weight, premature births and brain damage.

Beginning on this date; Contractors working in homes constructed prior to 1978 when more than 6 square feet of interior or 20 square feet of exterior painted areas are removed or disturbed, must follow the new regulations the new regulations.  In addition, all companies working on a project where lead paint has be identified must be certified through the EPA and have at least one Certified Renovator on staff. Below are the necessary steps to properly work on homes constructed prior to 1978:

  1. Identify the age of the home
  2. Test painted surfaces for lead or renovate assuming that lead is present
  3. Post warning signs indicating that lead paint will be disturbed.
  4. Set up plastic containment walls to prevent dust from entering unaffected work areas
  5. Cover all heating and cooling registers with plastic as well as any items left in the space
  6. Commence demolition while protecting workers with Tyvek suites, gloves and N100 HEPA filter masks or respirators.
  7. Remove all debris in 6 mil trash bags sealed with duct tape and folded in a “Goose Neck” fashion.
  8. Vacuum entire contained area with a HEPA vacuum
  9. Wet mop and dry the remaining plastic and dispose of properly
  10. Provide visual inspection by “Certified Renovator”
  11. Maintain project documents in house for a minimum of 3 years

In Addition to the above steps, the “Certified Renovator” must keep the following information on site in a job file and maintain these records off site for a minimum of 3 years:

  1.  Copy of testing results
  2. Signed copy of the EPA Pamphlet “Renovate Right”
  3. Names of “Certified Renovator” and workers performing the renovation
  4. Job Site checklist showing all procedures to be followed
  5. Test results of clearance using either a visual inspection, or a third party inspection

It is important to understand that “Certified Renovators” are not trained or certified to be “Abatement Contractors” who can provide lead specific removal but are trained and certified to work safely on projects that may contain lead paint covered materials as part of a renovation or remodeling project.

When searching for contractors to renovate you home, please ask for a copy of their Environmental Protection Agency “Lead-Safe Certified Firm” certificate. Click here for more info.