1. Roof Upgrades

If you’re remodeling your roof, try installing a wraparound soffit and some polyiso insulation to cut energy bills, improve air quality, and ultimately, increase property value. Soffit is a ventilated cover that goes around the entire length of your home below the roof where it hangs over the edges of your walls. It keeps the inside of your roof from overheating, thus improving energy efficiency in the summer.

Polyiso insulation is installed beneath everything else on the exterior of your roof. It provides extra protection against air and moisture intrusion as well as helping prevent your home from losing heat through the top of your house in the winter.

2. Slash your HVAC Expenses

By fixing all the leaks in your HVAC system, you can use it less frequently and still achieve the same effect. Going through a company that can come in, identify and fix all the leaks in your ducts is the only way to make sure your HVAC system is completely airtight. Duct cleaning companies will normally use a computerized pressure system to achieve this, and can also typically provide you with a before and after of how much energy you were losing vs how much you’ll be saving once they’re done.

3. Concrete Wall Upgrades

Insulated concrete forms are the best energy-efficient option for new construction. If you’re adding an extension or building a pool or guesthouse in the backyard, ICFs are, hands down, best choice. ICFs are hollow concrete blocks that are linked together to form a comprehensive wall system that is airtight and much more energy-efficient than the average wooden wall framed home.

When builders want to build the most energy efficient buildings possible nowadays, they use ICFs to form the wall systems. ICFs are sound-resistant, fire-resistant, extremely durable, and safe in even the most extreme weather.

4. ENERGY STAR Rated Windows

Your windows can cost you quite a bit if they aren’t ENERGY STAR rated. A regular window which is poorly insulated will let warm air escape in the winter while letting cool air out during the summer. Such drafts will cost you because you’ll be forced to keep your heating and cooling system on more frequently, and for longer periods of time. Depending on your climate, an ENERGY STAR rated set of windows will help prevent this.

5. Energy-Efficient Lights

Switching out old bulbs for LED lights and adding dimmer switches to your home is a great, cheap way to cut energy costs. This is probably the first place you’ll want to start if you’re serious about cutting your energy costs. Dimmers allow you to adjust the lighting so that your bulbs aren’t burning as bright as possible whenever they’re on. Currently, the best LED bulbs cut electricity costs by 85% when compared to traditional incandescent bulbs.

Cutting Energy Costs in a Modern Home Design is Simple

In today’s day and age, cutting energy costs through remodeling has never been easier. Whether you use energy-efficient lights, house wraps, polyiso insulation, ICFs, soffit, or HVAC repair, you’re sure to reap the benefits at the end of the month.

Matt Lee is the owner of the Innovative Building Materials blog and a content writer for the building materials industry. He is focused on helping fellow homeowners, contractors, and architects discover materials and methods of construction that save money, improve energy efficiency, and increase property value.

So how do you get the new space of your dreams at a reasonable price? It comes down to two unglamorous but necessary words: planning and budgeting. For a detailed breakdown of individual costs by project and by room, HomeAdvisor.com is a great source, but here we provide you with our top high-level tips to think about when planning a remodel and need to hire a pro.

Define Your Needs: Build up, Build out, or Bump out

Of these three options, a bump out is generally the least costly, mainly because it does not involve changing the roof or foundation. A bump out typically extends a space to align it with an existing roof, adding square footage while avoiding major upheaval.

A build-out goes further than a bump-out, but often requires costly foundation and roofing extensions. Though it provides more interior square footage, the downside is that it also increases the exterior footprint of the home, which can drastically reduce outdoor/garden space.

Building up is a great way to retain the existing footprint of your home, but it can require significant roofing adjustments (some or all of your roof will have to be replaced), as well as bolstering of the foundation and weight-bearing beams.

Select Your Contractor

• First step: get recommendations. It’s always good to work with someone who has been vetted, and about whom you can get the inside scoop. Ask friends, colleagues, and neighbors for referrals.
• Next, examine their credentials and licenses. Make sure their paperwork is up to snuff. After that, narrow your potential hires down, and interview the ones who have made your shortlist.
• Finally: get bids. No matter how the initial interviews went, make sure you receive proposals from more than one contractor. Don’t base your selection on price alone. What appears to be the cheapest bid can sometimes end up costing you more in the long run.

Account for the Uncountable

Most remodeling projects go off the rails because of unforeseen expenses that are not captured in the budget. These are the top three:

1. Indecision: While a level of flexibility is necessary, too much flexibility – constantly changing your mind – can lead to budget overruns, as well as bad relationships with your architect, contractor, and vendors. Worse yet, it can result in an incomplete project.
2. When the Walls Finally Talk: It happens almost without fail: just as the project is starting to sail along, your contractor finds something unexpected, or even borderline disastrous. Issues like rotted wiring, termite-ridden studs, cracked foundations, moldy basements, faulty plumbing…the list goes on. Standard remodeling budgets include a 10% contingency allocation, which is meant to provide funding to address issues like these. Do not make the mistake of not including a contingency fund. Something always comes up, and it is best to be financially prepared.
3. The Cost of Comfort: Most homeowners remember to include all the construction-related costs in their budget, but they often forget to plan for how to keep themselves and their family comfortable during the remodel. Depending on the scale of the project, you need to set aside funds for storage, moving, alternative accommodation, eat-out/order-in dinners, child care, boarding pets, commuting costs, and income lost due to time off from work. Your contingency fund is typically earmarked for costs directly related to the rebuild. We suggest adding an extra 5% or more to your contingency fund to cover any additional unforeseen expenses.

If you love your home and neighborhood, but just want a bit of a change, remodeling can be a viable option vs. purchasing a new home. At 305 Florida Contractors, we can guide you through the process, and help you achieve the home of your dreams at a reasonable price. Just contact us to learn more.

Fortunately, there are some simple things you can do to figure out how to get started with your project. When it comes to plumbing, electrical work, or structural work, it’s best to call in a pro. Not only will this help keep you safe, but it will also ensure that your home doesn’t suffer any needless damage, which will save you money in the long run.

Keep reading for great tips on how to figure out the details of major or minor home repairs.

Figure Out What Type of Repair It Is

The first step is to figure out what kind of repair you have on your hands and what it will entail. Do some research online to find out more about the project you’re taking on. Repairs that involve plumbing, electrical work, or structural work always need a pro, which will drive up your costs but will be necessary in order for the job to be done safely and correctly. Common repairs that require a pro might include replacing a toilet, hot water heater, or electrical wiring.

Break Down the Cost

Breaking down the cost of your home repair project is imperative because it will allow you to create a budget from the beginning. Many minor home repairs can be done in a cost-effective way if you know how to get started; for instance, even if you call in a pro, you can buy the materials yourself, which will allow you to shop around for the best deals. Bigger repairs can get costly, however; the average national cost for a major home repair is around $10,429.

Establish a Timeline

Every home project requires a timeline from the jump. Not only will this help to save you money as you keep your contractor on task, but it will also keep your family comfortable because you won’t have to worry about having your home torn up for weeks or months. Without a set date for completion, you may face issues with the people you hire to get the job done. Keep in mind, however, that with major renovations often come setbacks. Get a written agreement from your contractor that includes the estimate they gave you for both the timeline and the cost.

Keep Permits in Mind

While many home repairs don’t require permission from the city, some do, and it’s important to educate yourself on how to go about getting cleared for your project. Any changes to the blueprint of your home — adding rooms, cutting holes for windows or skylights, or installing new plumbing or electrical work — will require a permit. Typically, these aren’t too expensive, but if you fail to get the right kind, you’ll be facing fines that could increase your budget.

Making changes to your home can be stressful and costly, so it’s imperative that you plan ahead before making any decisions. Do some research online and, if possible, talk to someone who has been through a similar project so you can get tips and advice.