Click here to find out how to maximize your home’s curb appeal.

Although durable, it is also easily damaged—doors bang into it, furniture scuffs and marks it, water damages it. Occasionally, drywall nails pop into view (most often in new homes because of settling or framing shrinkage), though drywall screws tend not to pop out. The areas between wood framing members are unsupported and therefore particularly vulnerable.

Before drywall, most homes had plaster interiors. Plaster work is still done in new construction, but it requires more skill and is more expensive, so today it is usually found only in higher priced homes. Working with plaster takes some practice. Once mixed, it has a very brief “open” time in which the material is liquid and pliable, requiring a skilled installer, but it sets quickly and becomes rock-hard in an instant. Plaster applied to wood lath is held in place by the “keys” that form when it squishes through the lath.

Top-quality kitchen cabinets are made like good furniture, but even the most devoted watchers of the Food Channel don’t know what to look for. Worse, what to look for is usually hidden.

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So, what if you’re like so many other homeowners, and you just can’t squeeze in the time needed to inspect your home, you don’t know what to look for, or you are not physically able to climb ladders and crouch down in a crawlspace, etc…? 

Airoom now offers seasonal home maintenence programs, some of which include handyman services to make any necessary repairs.  We’ll inspect your roof shingles, inspect your siding, inspect your smoke detectors, and much, much more.  For more information, call us at 847-763-1100 and ask about our seasonal home maintenence programs.

Not only is getting the right permits for the job the legal thing to do, but without the right permits, you cannot claim the extra value that the remodel brings on a sales contract. Permits are also only issued to parties who can provide evidence that they have thought through the process and are capable of completing the remodel safely.

When a permit is issued, the city or village will give you a list of inspections that need to be done throughout the building process.  The inspections can be crucial.  Not only is it important that the building be done legally, ie within code, but also for the safety of the homeownwer and occupants.  You wouldn’t want old uncle Ned handling the electrical work withou getting it inspected only to have fire from faulty wiring months later, right?  Not only that, but if there was work done without a permit and  the required inspections, your homeowner’s insurance would not cover the damanges caused by that work.

Airoom has licensed architects on staff who would be happy to help you out. Post your question here by clicking on”Ask an architect”.

Specialty rooms, like this basement bar, can easly be yours with a smart basement or lower-level remodel.

The basement — once a place for storage, HVAC equipment and the laundry — is rapidly becoming a functional living space that only your dreams and budget can restrain.

High tech media rooms, home movie theaters, upscale wine cellars, commercial-quality bars and extra bedrooms, baths and even secondary kitchens are all becoming realties to today’s homeowners looking to transform once underutilized space in their homes.

In the past, basements received a simple refinish that included bad carpeting, poor lighting and ended up being a place to banish unruly children for hours at end. These days however, according to Remodeling Magazine, homeowners are spending roughly $40,000 on the typical basement refinish, and seeing a good portion of that investment added to the sale price of their home.

If you’re family is growing — or your lifestyle is evolving to a new level — and selling your current home isn’t a smart economic move, then a basement remodel can get you the extra space you desire. But there are also design and construction considerations that a smart and experienced remodeler can help you determine:

• Noise from upstairs rooms is an important factor. Make sure construction materials like extra thick drywall, solid, tight-fitting doors and insulation are considered.
• Some rooms, like wine cellars and cigar rooms, demand specific temperature, humidity and air control systems.
• Access to game rooms and entertainment area need planned so that large equipment can be easily moved in and about. That large pool table or projection TV needs to be carried down and through door opening and potentially tight hallways.

When considering basement or lower-level remodel, an experienced designer or architect is critical to make the most of your investment — and needs.

When considering building a home addition onto an existing structure, check first with an architect or a structural engineer if the existing structure will support the weight of an additional level.

So you’re thinking of adding onto your home with an addition. Maybe it’s extra living space to accommodate a growing family. Perhaps your current home’s layout just never lived up to your needs. Or maybe you’ve always wanted a luxury master bedroom and bathroom suite, larger great room or additional bedrooms. Whatever the reason, when you’re adding to your home, you have two options — up or out.

The question of whether to build your addition as a second story or to continue your home out into your yard on the ground level is one that often debated. All things equal, however, it’s almost always cheaper to build your addition as a second story rather than on the ground level. Ground level additions require foundation work, drainage and often heavy machinery tearing up your backyard. In the end, digging costs more money.

However, there are many things to consider when deciding to build up. For one thing, can the ceiling joists and support walls carry the load of a second story? Also, mechanicals such as plumbing, electric and HVAC that run over your current one-story ceiling will need to be accommodated within the new multi-floor layout.

These and other questions that come up with both options are something that your experienced, qualified contractor or remodeler can help you to analyze, discuss and determine.

Large windows, parque flooring, spacious seating areas and even floor-to-ceiling shelves are all typcial features of both traditional -- and today's -- home libraries.

Looking for a new trend in luxury home design? It’s the return of the library of today’s upscale homes. While many might dream of super-sized flat screen TVs, home automation or kitchens that Wolfgang Puck would feel at home in, today’s real “smart homes” have dedicated space for collecting, reading and displaying books and homeowner’s favorite collections of items.

Whether a peaceful inner sanctum or expansive room of two-story bookshelves, a custom-designed library adds a distinct level of sophistication to any home. These rooms are often clad in luxurious and sometimes exotic woods, feature intricate parques and frequently sitting areas, reading nooks, book bars and large, inviting fireplaces.

Even homes with a contemporary design can contain rooms exclusively for displaying and reading books. In cases like these, there tends to be a lack of the “heavier” woods like oak and mahogany, and more stand alone bookshelves and display cases with an open, airy feel.

A smartly-designed home addition increases livable space, can add value to your home and is designed by you, not a previous owner.

With the housing market the way it is currently, many homeowners looking for more living space for an expanding family or just those desiring a change might be discouraged when looking at what they can expect as a sale price for their current home. One alternative to certainly consider is an addition to rearrange living spaces, improve the path of traffic through your home, increase the amount of usable space and make existing rooms more modern and functional.

A home addition is not without its pros and cons, however, and today we’ll take a closer look at both so you can have a better idea of what a project of this size and scope entails.

Advantages of an addition
High cost to value ratio. According to an About.com report on the payback you can expect from various types of home remodeling and renovating projects, a mid-range two-story addition to an existing home tends to give a high resale value back to the home. Even additions such as bathrooms, remodeling of family rooms and kitchen should result in a moderate increase in the resale value of your home.

Less expensive than buying a new home. Even with home prices plummeting, the cost to add a major addition to your home is very likely to be less expensive than purchasing a new home that contains the features and square footage of the addition plus the same space as your current home.

The addition is custom. While your current home may not have been anything you had a hand in designing, the new addition will meet the needs and desires you specify to the home designer or architect. In some cases — especially if some of the current home is also being renovated at the same time — you’ll feel like your new home is truly custom.

Smart way to add space. Compared to basement or attic remodeling, an addition is the only true way to add space to your home. Other renovations merely repurpose rooms and areas you already have.

Disdvantages of an addition
You may still lose money when selling. Not everything is guaranteed, especially with this market. But a smartly-designed addition can give you a much better chance of recouping your investment, especially if the architect or home designer you work with is conscious of your intent to maximize your return.

It can be a disruption to daily life. A home addition or even major remodeling project brings with it workers, loud noises, demolition, raw construction materials and sense of chaos at times. Be sure your contractor completely explains what will occur, the timetable involved and is readily available to answer your questions and address your concerns.

An addition can mean higher costs. Since you’re expanding the footprint of your home, you probably can expect higher energy costs, increased property taxes and more rooms or space to clean.

Additions eat up yard space. Unless your addition is simply a second story over an existing first story room or rooms, the addition will naturally take away yard space that you’ll lose forever.