Allrounder Remodeling Inc. is pleased to award a scholarship to Zachary, who plans to be an electrician

Part of our Core Values is giving back to our community where we live and work. In addition, our industry is suffering from a lack of young people joining the rewarding and fun careers that we participate in each day.

In an effort to give back to our community and bolster our own industry, we have developed a yearly scholarship for a Simley High School Graduate who plans to attend a post secondary school or apprenticeship program with the intention of learning a trade related to home building or remodeling. In order to qualify, students must maintain a B grade average, participate in community service, and provide letters of recommendation from teachers or community leaders.

Our scholarship is administered by the hard working folks at the Inver Grove Heights BEST Foundation. They work tirelessly to find a student who meets the requirements that we set forth when developing the scholarship.

This year, it was our privilege to award a scholarship to Zachary, who plans to become an electrician.  He shared with us that he got interested in the trade via a family friend.  We were excited to hear that Zachary already has a job waiting for him once he finishes trade school!  Congratulations to Zachary, we know you will do great!

Allrounder Remodeling Inc. owners Eric and Ruth Bader present a scholarship to a 2024 Simley High School Graduate

If you know a student who will be graduating in the coming years from Simley High School, please encourage him or her to apply for these scholarships.

Allrounder Remodeling Inc. provides residential home design and remodeling services in the southeast Twin Cities metro area, including the cities of Apple Valley, Rosemount, Eagan, Mendota Heights, Sunfish Lake, West St. Paul, South St. Paul, Inver Grove Heights, Cottage Grove, Newport, St. Paul Park, Woodbury, Oakdale, and Maplewood.

For more information, please call 651-497-7715 or 651-497-7714; or visit https://www.AllrounderRemodeling.com

LIGHTING DESIGN & CONSIDERATIONS

Our clients often come to us with grand ideas for what they’d like their new kitchen or bath to look like.  They will spend many hours researching the perfect cabinet color or countertop finish.

One area that is typically overlooked by our clients is lighting.  We want you to be able to see in your new spaces!

In this article, we will cover some of the common lighting types and applications, as well as some additional considerations to keep in mind.

TYPES OF LIGHTING

GENERAL LIGHTING

General Lighting consists of the basic overhead lighting that allows you to not be in a dark room while walking around. Examples include centrally located ceiling light fixtures and recessed lighting that covers the entire room with some level of light.  However, general lighting may not be enough to help with specific tasks.

This basement area includes several carefully spaced recessed lights to provide general illumination to the space.

TASK LIGHTING

Task Lighting is installed in areas where additional lighting is needed to complete a task.  Examples of this include under-cabinet lighting in kitchens which illuminates countertop work areas, as well as specific fixtures that cast light on the kitchen sink area or stovetop areas.  In bathrooms, task lighting is installed over vanities to allow for better lighting while shaving or applying makeup.

Here, our team added task lighting inside of this appliance garage so our clients can easily see while using these appliances.

ACCENT LIGHTING

Accent Lighting is added to highlight certain architectural features in the home.  An example is in this living area, where recessed lights are strategically placed to highlight the stone on the fireplace and the built-ins that flank it

Another example of accent lighting are the carefully placed LED’s in this glass buffet cabinet.  The lights cast light on the artwork to highlight it, and the glass shelves allow the light to reach the lower parts of the glass cabinets.

Note that lighting may serve more than one purpose.  The undercabinet lighting in this kitchen was designed to not only light up the work surfaces, but also serve as an accent light to highlight the backsplash.

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

LIGHT LAYERING

In most projects, we will “layer” the different types of light by controlling them with separate switches.  As an example, the first layer will likely be the general lighting, followed by separate switches to contrail the task lighting and accent lighting.  This allows users to customize the lighting for the situation.

DIMMERS & LIGHTING CONTROLS

Dimmers are a critical component to light layering.  Dimmers allow our clients to customize the level of each type of light to reflect their mood and situation.  In our own home, we typically keep our lights dimmed low in our living room, but turn them up to full while cleaning and performing other tasks.

Standard Switches are used in situations where dimming isn’t required.  Examples include work areas or hallways.

Smart Lighting is becoming more popular.  These systems integrate with Apple or Alexa products, allowing our clients to set up different scenes or light choices depending on the time of day.  As an example, one of our clients has a “time for bed” scene that shuts off all of the lights except for a dim undercabinet light which is used as a nightlight.

COLOR TEMPERATURE

Color Temperature plays a role in how your finished spaces look.  Light bulbs and fixtures give off a certain “color” of light.  This light is measured on a scale that typically ranges from 2500k through 7000k.  The lower end of the scale is considered “warm” and the higher end is considered “cool.”  Your cabinets, paint colors, flooring, etc. will look very different under each color of light.  Typically, most clients prefer the warmer lighting in their living spaces, with cooler light in work areas such as shops or craft rooms.  Of course, this is a personal preference and will vary with the client.  When purchasing light bulbs and fixtures, keep an eye on the color temperature of the bulb and keep it consistent within your room/space.

This article is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to lighting considerations.  There is no need to be overwhelmed by all of this.  Our team has received training in lighting design and specification and can help with your project!

Allrounder Remodeling Inc. provides residential home design and remodeling services in the southeast Twin Cities metro area, including the cities of Apple Valley, Rosemount, Eagan, Mendota Heights, Sunfish Lake, West St. Paul, South St. Paul, Inver Grove Heights, Cottage Grove, Newport, St. Paul Park, Woodbury, Oakdale, and Maplewood.

For more information, please call 651-497-7715 or 651-497-7714; or visit https://www.AllrounderRemodeling.com

“Your price makes me feel like you are taking advantage of me.”  That was the response from a past client who needed some new handrails for their stairway.  In their mind, it was only a 2-hour job.  In reality, there were several hours involved in this seemingly small project.

To begin, there is traveling to the home for a meeting.  During this meeting we will measure and discuss what is needed.  Next comes planning, texting, emailing, sharing information and ideas of what they’re looking for. Trying to find a source for materials that match what is already in the home.  Then there is the time it takes to work up cost for materials, finishing, and labor for all of it. Submission of a proposal and discussion of scope and confirmation.  Note that at this point, we have almost 3 hours of work involved and have not yet picked up a tool.

Moving on to planning and prep for the install. Thought, design, and engineering of everything takes place. This is to decide the method of install and how things should be assembled to achieve the desired look. Then there is purchasing materials.  At the shop, there is cutting, assembly, sanding, and prep for finishing of all parts.  After that, hours of time for finishing. Staining, sealer coat, sanding, seal again, sand, finish coat, sand and finish coat again, done on all sides as these railing components are visible from many angles.

After all of this, there is coordinating install and the team. How, when, who, what’s involved.  Will this be done in a finished space and require protecting existing surfaces and finishes?  We need to plan for that too. Organizing all equipment and checking to be sure everything is in order for the install.   What do we need to load up for this installation?  Answer:  Everything.  An arsenal of tools are needed for this seemingly small project.  After the job is complete, back at the shop we need to unload the truck and put away the tools and equipment.

In the client’s mind, this was a 2-hour job, because that was all of the “visible” time that we spent with tools in our hands at his home.  In reality, small projects take more time than you may think and require the same level of planning as a large project takes.

Allrounder Remodeling Inc. provides residential home design and remodeling services in the southeast Twin Cities metro area, including the cities of Apple Valley, Rosemount, Eagan, Mendota Heights, Sunfish Lake, West St. Paul, South St. Paul, Inver Grove Heights, Cottage Grove, Newport, St. Paul Park, Woodbury, Oakdale, and Maplewood.

For more information, please call 651-497-7715 or 651-497-7714; or visit http://www.AllrounderRemodeling.com

The Best Contractors are Worth Waiting for

Yay!  You’ve decided to remodel your home.  Now that this difficult choice is made, you’re ready for the changes to happen RIGHT NOW!  If this sounds like you, it’s time to slow down.

Many folks believe that their project can be scheduled and built quickly once they’ve decided to move forward.  Reality is that timelines rarely move as fast as you’d like them to.  While some smaller, single trade projects like painting or flooring replacement can happen quickly, larger scale remodeling and renovations take much longer to plan and build.  This article is intended to help you develop a realistic timeline for your project.

HIGH DEMAND

The best contractors are in high demand.  Clients are more eager than ever to renovate their homes, while the industry is facing a labor shortage.  This results in many of the best contractors to have several months of work in their queue.  Typically, a firm that is booked out is in demand because they have a reputation for creating high-quality projects and treating their clients right.

LEAVE YOURSELF PLENTY OF TIME

Get started early!  Here are some typical timelines.  Keep in mind, this is assuming that your contractor has no other projects or clients already lined up.  Timelines for busy contractors may be even longer.

• Set up appointments and interview contractors:  3-6 weeks
• Planning and design work:  3-6 weeks
• Order materials and submit city permit applications:  3-6 weeks

As you can see, it can easily be 2-4 months from when you decide to do something before the project can even begin to be built.  Once construction starts, the actual construction process takes time as well!

• Bathrooms 3-6 weeks
• Kitchens 6-12 weeks
• Basements 6-12 weeks
• Full home remodels can take several months

WORTH WAITING FOR

You may say to yourself, “I’m not going to wait for this contractor to fit me in.  I’m going to hire this other company instead because they can start right away.”  We implore you to ask the other company why they are available so soon and don’t have a lot of work lined up.  Often it is because they have a poor reputation.  Other times, the company may be so large that they have the ability to take on many projects.  This often results in you becoming “just a number” to them, with little or no personal service.

If you are considering a home remodeling project in a few months, give us a call today at 651-497-7715 to get the process started.

Allrounder Remodeling Inc. provides residential home design and remodeling services in the southeast Twin Cities metro area, including the cities of Apple Valley, Rosemount, Eagan, Mendota Heights, Sunfish Lake, West St. Paul, South St. Paul, Inver Grove Heights, Cottage Grove, Newport, St. Paul Park, Woodbury, Oakdale, and Maplewood.

For more information, please call 651-497-7715 or 651-497-7714; or visit http://www.AllrounderRemodeling.com

Sometimes the desire or budget isn’t in place for a full-scale renovation.  Here are some examples of smaller improvements that can make a big difference in the function and aesthetic of your home.

COUNTERTOPS

If you like your layout and function, and your cabinets are still in great shape, replacing your countertops might be a great improvement.  There are many great modern surfaces to choose from, including quartz, solid surface, and even traditional laminate.  New countertops are a great improvement to kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry rooms.

FLOORING

Is it time to get rid of that dingy carpet?  Maybe the vinyl in the kitchen is starting to curl up?  Do you have hardwood floors that have seen better days?  Just swapping out the surface or refinishing the hardwood can bring a space back to life, as well as getting rid of years of trapped dirt and odors.

PAINTING

Most folks paint their walls for a change of color now and then.  Don’t forget the ceilings too!  We are always amazed at how a fresh coat of ceiling white can really brighten up a space.  Likewise, Old dingy doors and trim can be revitalized by painting them as well.

INTERIOR DOORS

Picture your old hollow core doors.  They probably don’t shut properly, and may even have holes in them from a careless wrestling match.  Our team can order new solid wood panel doors, have them prefinished to match the other woodwork in the home, and install the new doors and hardware in a day.  It’s an easy way to up the elegance factor in your home.

LIGHTING

This is another simple project that can typically be completed in a day.  Simply updating existing light fixtures in a modern style with high-efficiency LED bulbs can greatly improve the look and safety of your home.  This is also a great time to replace light switches with dimmers for even more efficiency and control.

CABINET REFACING OR REFINISHING

Do you love the layout, function, and storage of your kitchen but just wish that the style was more up-to-date?  Our team can build new cabinet doors and reface or paint the existing cabinet boxes to create an entirely new look without the cost of a full remodel.

CABINET HARDWARE

Tired of looking at those 1980s bright brass cabinet handles?  You’d be surprised at what a difference some new hardware can make.

Of course, we are always happy to help with a full-scale re-design and remodel as well!

Allrounder Remodeling Inc. provides residential home design and remodeling services in the southeast Twin Cities metro area, including the cities of Apple Valley, Rosemount, Eagan, Mendota Heights, Sunfish Lake, West St. Paul, South St. Paul, Inver Grove Heights, Cottage Grove, Newport, St. Paul Park, Woodbury, Oakdale, and Maplewood.

For more information, please call 651-497-7715 or 651-497-7714; or visit http://www.AllrounderRemodeling.com

Part of our Core Values is giving back to our community where we live and work. In addition, our industry is suffering from a lack of young people joining the rewarding and fun careers that we participate in each day.

In an effort to give back to our community and bolster our own industry, we have developed a yearly scholarship for a Simley High School Graduate who plans to attend a post secondary school or apprenticeship program with the intention of learning a trade related to home building or remodeling. In order to qualify, students must maintain a B grade average, participate in community service, and provide letters of recommendation from teachers or community leaders.

Our scholarship is administered by the hard working folks at the Inver Grove Heights BEST Foundation. They work tirelessly to find a student who meets the requirements that we set forth when developing the scholarship.

This year, we were pleased to be able to present our scholarship to a young woman who dreams of being an electrician.

If you know a student who will be graduating in the coming years from Simley High School, please encourage him or her to apply for these scholarships.

3/31/2020

Allrounder Remodeling Inc. will still be operating in some capacity as we fall within the definition of an “Essential Business or Operation” as described by Governor Walz’s order 20-20.

The safety of our clients, our employees, and our trade partners is very important to us. We will continue to take preventative measures such as washing our hands, using hand sanitizer, wiping down work surfaces, scheduling only one trade at a time, and practicing social distancing at all job sites.

If you or anyone you have been in contact with has been out of the country in the last 2 weeks or if anyone in your household is at risk, or feeling sick or been in contact with someone who has been sick, please let us know so we can reschedule your project to a later date.

If any of our employees/trade partners fall ill, or come in contact with anyone who has fallen ill, we will not send them to your location and will reschedule the work to a later time.

Initial Consultations for new projects will be done remotely via video call until further notice.  This is a new process for us so we appreciate your patience and understanding as we navigate this new (to us) technology.

We want to make sure that we are not putting you or our team at risk and appreciate your efforts to do the same.

Thank you for your understanding.  We will come through this stronger and better than ever.  Please be safe and wash your hands!

— Ruth and Eric Bader

Most of our projects require some level of design work.  For a simple bath remodel where nothing is being relocated, this design work may simply involve a few hours with our interior designer to help pick out tile, fixtures, paint colors, etc.  For more intensive projects, such as kitchen remodels or renovations involving moving walls around, more extensive design work is required.

Sometimes our clients come to us with definite ideas of how they’d like things configured, and other times they have no idea.  Either way, our design team plays a critical role in the success of the project.

Here are some examples of our design process for different types of projects.  Click on any image to enlarge it.

SIMPLE PROJECTS

Simple projects such as bath remodels often don’t require a formal set of plans or drawings, especially if we are just swapping out fixtures and finishes in the same locations.  In these cases, the design simply involves working with our interior designers to pick out finishes and fixtures.  Getting the perfect combination of cabinet color, countertops, tile, paint colors, and faucets really makes the room feel like your own.

MID-LEVEL PROJECTS

For kitchen remodels and more intensive bath remodels, our team develops drawings to help visualize what the remodeled space will look like.  Using modern design software, our designers can play around with different layouts until everything fits just right.  Once the layout is dialed in, the designer can then impose different colors and finishes onto the drawings to give our clients an even better idea of how things will look.  After this, our team helps with the selections of finishes and fixtures.

COMPLEX PROJECTS

In this example, our team is undertaking the renovation of a complete floor.  The existing space contains 3 bedrooms and a bathroom and will be renovated into a master suite.   The initial client meetings and discussions resulted in some crude hand drawn sketches.  These serve to just give a general idea of what everyone is thinking about.

Next, our team works to take these crude sketches and turn them into detailed and scaled plans. In this case, multiple options were drawn as there were multiple ways to approach the project.  Additional client discussions are held, and a direction is decided on.

Once narrowed down, final plans are drawn with all details included, ready to submit to the city for permits.  As with all of our projects, our design team helps with the selection of finishes and fixtures.  Once these design steps are complete, we can provide a fixed-cost proposal for the construction and schedule the project.

Allrounder Remodeling Inc. provides residential home design and remodeling services in the southeast Twin Cities metro area, including the cities of Apple Valley, Rosemount, Eagan, Mendota Heights, Sunfish Lake, West St. Paul, South St. Paul, Inver Grove Heights, Cottage Grove, Newport, St. Paul Park, Woodbury, Oakdale, and Maplewood.

For more information, please call 651-497-7715 or 651-497-7714; or visit http://www.AllrounderRemodeling.com