How Much Is Too Much Remodeling?

You are a proud homeowner, so you keep adding and renovating. Or, you plan to sell your home, so you’re on a home improvement mission.

The classic way for homeowners to enhance the look, feel and value of their property is by remodeling existing rooms or adding on to the existing layout.

So, you decide to build an extra family room, a playroom, or a sunroom; or, you’re all about upgrading appliances, fixtures and cabinets to make your home more attractive. Or, maybe you’re doing it all – and then some!

That’s impressive, but could it be possible to overdo it? How much is too much remodeling?

As a matter of fact, your enthusiasm for a great home could be making you go over board.

While we absolutely agree that improving your home’s conditions should certainly add comfort, visual gratification, and enhance the value of your home, we have seen many cases of home remodeling working against such goals.

Here are some examples of too much remodeling, or focusing efforts on the wrong areas:

CHARACTER:

One of the biggest ways you can do your home a disservice is to disregard its character. If, for instance, you bought a Spanish style or Craftsman home, you likely enjoy that design, and your home projects should be consistent with that style, as very few things stick out more than a new addition done in a completely different architectural style.

So, recognize your home’s character and stay within its context – always protect the character of your home.  

ADDITIONS:

When thinking about additions, you definitely want to avoid overbuilding, so it comes down to knowing when to stop adding extra spaces in your house. Also, it’s good to consider functionality of additions, as well as what potential buyers may be interested in.

Above-ground, indoor living spaces are much more used, so creating elaborate basements, installing pools and hot tubs, and generally placing too much focus on areas and features you won’t use nearly as much as the rest of your home can end up being a poor investment of your money and efforts.

AMENITIES:

As you’re working on achieving the dream home you’ve always wanted, don’t forget that it’s so easy to quickly over-spend on fixtures and amenities. Plus, they may not be the right fit for your home.

Before you go out and pick the latest, coolest things, consider getting something that’s going to stand the test of time. Many homeowners will make the mistake of wanting to be too hip and trendy, without taking into consideration that trendy means that it’s short term.

©2013 Ben Gebo Photography

Overall, the bolder your home’s style, the quicker it will go out of fashion, and soon you may want to change it all over again.

If you’re all about having an incredible kitchen and you’re drawn to the latest and flashiest look, remember that overdoing it with features and appliances may not only bring the value of your home down as the style changes, but it’s also usually done at the expense of storage and counter space.

So, for instance, you may be stuck on having a kitchen island where there’s actually not enough space, so make sure there’s at least 36 inches of clearance between the island and the other cabinets.

FLOORING:

Next, when looking at what to do with your flooring, it’s wise to know that not all floors are practical for everyone. Before installing expensive wood floors, consider the fact that pets’ nails and kids mean more wear and tear, and can even damage hardwood very quickly. If you have a busy house, single-board laminate, having similar high-end look but with much more durability, may be the perfect solution for you.

PAINTING:

Painting your home can be fun and add quite a boost. However, be mindful of your color selection, especially if you’re planning on selling your home now or in the near future. Neutral or soft colors for main walls and ceilings, with maybe an accent wall or two, will appeal to most people; plus, you’ll be less likely to want to change them often.

Now, if you’re a serial painter, it’s time you reconsider your painting habits. Whether you add more paint over cracks on your home exterior, or simply can’t resist re-painting your interior walls, excessive paint is damaging, especially on older houses. Layers of thicker oil-based paint become brittle with age, and continuously adding more paint may prevent the old paint from flexing with temperature and humidity changes, leading to thick, cracked, peeling paint.

Instead of constantly touching up and layering paint, keep your interior and exterior walls looking great with annual touch-ups in spring or summer, starting with power washing, scraping and sanding exterior areas as needed.

ROOF/INSULATION:

You want to insulate and protect your home best way you can, so maybe you figure that by simply adding a second layer of shingles it’ll do the trick, especially since that would cost you less than removing the old layer before reroofing. The fact is, piling on the shingles can be really bad for your rafters, adding too much weight, and can shorten the lifespan of your roof.

Two layers will trap more degrading heat, and prevent inspection for leaks or insufficient flashing in the first layer of shingles and sheathing. Also, it may violate local building code, void your shingle manufacturer’s warranty, and result in more work and more money down the road, as you’ll have two layers of roofing to remove and dispose of.

Finally, a general rule of thumb when remodeling your home would be – don’t go crazy with renovations of your kitchen or bathroom if the exterior of your home cracks and crumbles and has termites, and your roof leaks.

So, before you embark on yet another renovation escapade – take care of the maintenance aspect of your home first, and make sure you and your family are safe and protected. Then, carefully consider your next remodel, as they should not be a result of an overzealous afterthought.

While you may get really excited about certain home improvements, they may not be as functional, beneficial, or as appealing to other people if you’re selling your property. Also, keep in mind that for many remodeling jobs you will need a permit; otherwise, if something serious happens, your homeowner’s insurance will not cover it.

We hope this little guide provides some good insight to help you plan your home improvement projects.

Home One home remodeling Lancaster PA offers Free In Home Consultations in our primary service area and free phone consultations/estimates in our secondary service area.

Call us at (717) 581-3474 and see how we can make your home more comfortable, beautiful and safer, and increase the value of your property.