You have an idea about what you would like to accomplish with your home improvement renovation. You went over it and now the timing is right for you to start and complete in 2 months. Does that sound good? Well hold on there. You need plans, yes plans.

You see the building inspector is also interested in you home improvement project from a building up to code standards point of view. Well, this now involves an architect. I hope you thought of that and figured it into your time allotted for completion. This is the most common mistake a homeowner makes. You see Architects are very busy even more so than a home improvement contractor. Therefore, a home improvement contractor is useless until you can furnish him with plans. In addition, any contractor that says he can build without them is going to make both of your lives very interesting.

Now you must choose an architect. This also is a tricky task. Because they are so busy, you can wait for drawings for months. In addition, you need to scrutinize architects just as you would a builder. Because unbelievably there are some lets just say some architects out there that will not have your deadline in mind.

What have you learned? You need to start the process in the winter so that you can begin the project in the spring. Taking on a major home improvement renovation is a time consuming and stressful decision. You can avoid most of this stress by starting early enough so as not to rush. Then you can save all of your stress for when you are ready to choose cabinets and tile.

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Wood structures are pretty much the hottest fad in the real estate world right now. Log cabins are growing in popularity, backyard sheds made of lumber are hot ticket items and gazebos are an obsession. Even wooden garages are a big hit and you may be considering getting your own to take advantage of the many benefits it can provide.

Here are ten things you should know about wooden garages before you buy.

You Have To Regularly Keep It Clean – This is a big deal and one too many people ignore. Dirt may just slide off of metal siding but it can cause damage to wood. When you get a wooden garage you are committing to keeping it clean and maintained. That will keep pests out of the corners, or from burrowing into the lumber.

Staining Is Necessary – Another element to maintaining your wooden garage is staining it. This has to be done every three to five year to maintain the integrity and health of the lumber. If you don’t do it the logs will crack, blanch and possible let in pests like termites. The wood may also become warped or even rot from the inside. Luckily it isn’t an expensive investment, is simple to do yourself and there are many environmentally friendly chemicals to choose from for the tasks.

It Is Prone To Pests – As mentioned above, wood is attractive to pests. Termites, spiders, ants, rats, mice, even racoon..they like the wood. For the most part this won’t be an issue as long as you stain your wood, keep the garage clean and look out for cracks. But if you find a hole you should fill it as quickly as possible to avoid an infestation.

Materials Can Be Expensive – Looking at the cost of building a wooden garage you may be shocked by the discrepancy in cost when compared to metal structures. The other side to that argument would be how sturdy lumber tends to be, as well as how attractive it is. People who buy wooden structures are essentially investing in the property. When you look at it that way you will see why the cost can be worth it.

Pre-fabs Are More Cost Effective – If the price tag on a custom built wooden garage is a deal breaker it may be time to consider an alternative. Pre-fabs are much more inexpensive, fitting into most budgets. They come in multiple sizes with various features, such as automatic doors, or even manual double doors for a more rustic look. These will average between $1500 and $5000 for most models, though more complex garages can be more.

You Can Fix Them Yourself – This is a big plus for a lot of folks who don’t want to have to turn to a contractor to fix future problems. Wood is easier to work with than metal and you can replace whole logs if you have to. Any lumber seller, from hardware stores to wood based recycling centers, can help you find the right size, color, shape and weight to make a repair. But in many cases you can just to small patch jobs to take care of problems. If you maintain your garage properly it might never even come up. On the other hand, if you do need someone to come and fix it for you it isn’t hard to find contractors who can deal with wood. Metal repairs can cost more.

Damp Can Ruin The Wood – It can’t be said enough, you have to stain your wooden garage regularly! Staining seals the wood and keeps moisture out of the lumber. When the stain begins to breakdown it will no longer repel water. The damp will push its way into the logs and start to rot it from the inside. Warping will form, pushing the logs out and causing gaps where the wood has shrunk. Heat will make it expand again, exacerbating the problem. Cracks will form in the surface, letting in more damp and in some cases various pests. All it takes is a bit of rain when the garage isn’t properly fitted and you will have to replace full logs. Make sure you prevent it!

They Can Be Used as More Than Garages – Some people are choosing these structures, but not for their cars. Wooden garages make great sheds, extra rooms and even guest houses. Depending on the size you select (and that of your car) you might be able to share the space for multiple purposes. All it takes is a bit of imagination and you can turn it into anything you like. Because of the low price it might also act as an alternative to more expensive structures you were considering putting on your property.

They Improve The Look Of Your Property – Let’s face it, metal garages are ugly. They take up too much space, make weird noises in storms and are just an eyesore. Wooden garages look great, have a classic feel and are popular for a reason. If you want to make your property look as good as possible, especially if you are considering a sale in the future, this is a great step to take. Throw that metal garage in the trash heap where it belongs.

They Can Increase The Value Of Your Home – This is one of the biggest reasons people choose to go with wooden garages. There are many different upgrades you can do to increase the value of your home. Some people put in swimming pools, others go with guest houses in the backyard. Others put in a rock garden or install solar panels. Wooden garages are a practical upgrade the looks good while being fully functional. That gives it an edge to many of the other improvements, especially given the lower cost.

Our home is one of the must important assets that we own and often it requires maintenance and remodeling of one kind or another. We all dream and aspire to have a place where we can retreat from the stresses of the out side world and connect with ourselves and with our family. This necessity it is not a cheap one but rather something that takes time and money as well as a good home remodeling & repair company to achieve. A home is as personal and as precious as a beautiful piece of jewelry and just like an expensive diamond is handled by a professional jeweler so too a home should be given to a good home building contractor to remodel or maintain.

General contractors, home improvement and home remodeling & repair companies are abundant like mushrooms after the rain, and although many of them do have the right credentials in terms of experience and licenses, some are less then amateurism to say the least. One can not stress enough how important it is to choose a good home improvement company for your construction project, a company that can show and prove its excellence and performance with testimonials and recommendations by other happy home owners.

The golden rules to follow in finding a reliable home remodeling & repair company are very clear cut: 1. the company must have a license and should present it to the home owner before the signing of any contract. A general contractor must have a general B license and all sub-contractors needs to have a license for their specific specialty. 2. The company should, by law, have the proper insurance such as liability insurance and workers compensation insurance. 3. As mentioned before, it is recommended to check previous home construction work by the general contractor you are dealing with. Usually the home remodeling & repair company can provide a few telephone numbers for references and recommendations, and if possible maybe even ask to visit a site where the general contractor is currently working on.

Today the construction industry is regulated with very strict laws and building codes by the government and state license board and most general contractors are educated and reliable builders, with integrity and high standards of good service and customer satisfaction. So as long as you follow the guidelines mentioned above in deciding on a general contractor or home improvement company things should work out smoothly with your construction project.