Home Remodeling FAQs
What kinds of changes can I make in my home?
It depends, of course, on the structure and layout of your existing home, but examples of what CAM Residential can do are:
- Knocking out walls
- Building new interior walls
- Adding a room
- Extending an existing room
- Adding a second floor
- Upgrading your kitchen or bath
- Replacing windows to increase energy efficiency
- Adding new windows to bring in more light
- Adding accessibility features for the elderly or persons with disabilities
- Adding an elevator
- Adding architectural details, such as crown moldings and wainscoting
- Installing hardwood floors
Does building an addition to a house cost the same, per square foot, as building a new house?
No. On a square footage basis, adding on or remodeling usually cost more. The are several reasons for this:
- Renovation usually involves some demolition and removal of existing building materials.
- The remaining living areas of your house must be protected from the construction, and, in some cases, from the elements, as well.
- Bathrooms and kitchens cost much more per square foot to build than bedrooms, for example, and yet these are the areas most often renovated.
- Although the size of the renovation may be smaller than constructing a new home, many of the fixed costs are the same: permit fees need to be paid, utilities may need to be disconnected and reconnected, subcontractors need to be on site just as often, and project management is just as complex.
- With new construction, we start off with an empty piece of ground and build up from there. With a remodel, we never know what surprises are hiding inside your walls. We might discover faulty wiring, rotted wood, or parts of your home that were not built to code. All of these things would need to be fixed before we proceed with your project.
What should I look for in a design/build contract?
At CAM Residential, we are committed to honesty and we will not promise what we can't deliver. For that reason, your construction contract will be detailed and every aspect of the contract will be explained to you. You are entitled to see:
- A complete list of what we will and will not do. If you decide to do some part of the project yourself (painting, for example), your contract will clearly set forth those exceptions so there can be no misunderstandings.
- A preliminary list of all the materials and specifications needed for your project. Although you will choose many of your finishes and fixtures, your contract should clearly state the types of building materials we will use.
- Start and finish dates.
- Approximate hours and days of the week that workers can be expected to be on site. You don't want to be surprised by a Sunday morning visit from the electrician! At CAM Residential, we respect your lifestyle, and we will clearly set out our anticipated work schedule.
- How change orders will be handled. Ideas may change as the project progresses. Perhaps you decide to add a fireplace to your new family room after the contract is signed. You should have a clear idea of how all such changes will be documented and signed off on.
- A warranty. At CAM Residential, we are so confident in the quality of our work, that we will give you a written 3-year warranty on any defects in workmanship. We will even come back each year for 3 years to inspect the project for free!
- A binding arbitration clause. We don't anticipate a breakdown in communication with our clients, and we will do everything in our power to satisfy you, but in the unlikely event that we can't come to a meeting of the minds, it is cost effective for both parties to agree to having the dispute arbitrated.
- A statement of how the contract can be cancelled in the event of unforeseen circumstances.
- A statement that, upon completion of the project and receipt of final payment, the contractor will provide releases from all subcontractors and suppliers so that you have confidence that we have paid everyone involved in your job.
What does a Project Manager actually do?
A project manager coordinates the different phases of the project. Any remodel will involve a number of different trades, and, in most cases, these jobs need to be completed in a specific order. After all, it wouldn't do much good to drywall your new family room before the electrician has run the wires! The project manager makes sure that this won't happen. Your project manager is the go-to person for all your questions, and he or she will be responsible for making sure your project is completed properly, on time, and on budget. At CAM Residential, project management is considered absolutely key in our commitment to communicate with our clients.
Who will do the design drawings and apply for permits?
At CAM Residential, our in-house team will take care of everything! Once we've established what your design goals are, we will produce all the drawings necessary for you to envision your new space and for the construction team to build it accurately. We will also make sure that all permits and inspections are properly obtained. You won't have to do a thing.
