You are finally tired of your 20 year old oak kitchen cabinets and ceramic tile counter tops. You have spent hours upon hours on Houzz adding photographs to your idea books, you know exactly what you want. It is now time to hire a remodel contractor to create the modern kitchen of your dreams.  You have called around to find a reputable custom remodel contractor and you think you know who you are going to hire. Before you decide to hire a remodel contractor for you next home improvement project, you should verify they have valid insurance and licensing.

Reasons for checking include:

• Protecting your liability
• Validating solid contractors and discovering unscrupulous ones
• And, did we mention, protecting your liability

Truth be told, licensing is pretty easy…unless you have something to hide, like a poor record, no insurance or you don’t want to report your income for taxes.

Insurance, on the other hand, can be expensive, not nearly as expensive as paying for a catastrophic loss, but still expensive. Of course, just like your car insurance, the premiums increase if you have too many accidents.

If you hire a home remodel contractor and they are working on your property uninsured, you can be liable not only for the work, but for injuries to workers or damage to  your neighbor’s property caused by the workers…intentional or not….

Think about it…which costs more? A leaky faucet or a broken leg of the worker who fell off your roof? Not sure? Add in the lost wages for that worker while his leg heals…no you begin to see the importance of liability insurance.

Any reputable home remodel contractor can provide proof of liability insurance, all you have to do is ask! Ridgecrest Homes is a custom home builder and remodel contractor who has been licensed and insured since 1983. When you are ready to take that plunge give us a call!

  Custom Designed Outdoor Living Space

Today I was sitting in my car, headed to our Sherwood, OR office, relishing the beauty of this amazing spring day. It is 71 degrees, the sun is shining and the BBQ is calling my name. Today is the kind of day that I think everyone needs to have an outdoor living space!

In a recent article from in the Home section of the website howstuffworks.com, they listed the following Top 10 Ideas for Outdoor Living Spaces:

10. Be Bold with Color – Earth tones might look nice in your living room, but in the outdoors they’ll shrink and blend in with the surroundings.

9. Create Drama with Lighting – The holidays aren’t the only time to string up some lights in your outdoor spaces.

8. Go Big with an Outdoor Kitchen – The kitchen is the heart of any home, so it should follow that an outdoor kitchen would be where the action is in any outdoor living space.

7. Add Warmth with a Fireplace or Fire Pit – Controlling fire is what helped define humans and separate us from other animal species, and fire still captivates us. Adding an element of fire can instantly transform an otherwise ordinary space into one that is inviting and warm.

6. Bring Serenity with a Water Feature – You’ve got earth, fire and air. Now the only classical element that’s missing from your outdoor living space is water. Whereas fire brings warmth to an outdoor space, water can provide a soothing sound and a dimension of cool tranquility

5. Don’t Forget Your Living Room – Just because you’re decorating for a space that’s outside of your home’s living room doesn’t mean you have to forget the principles behind designing a social area.

4. Establish Enclosure – To create an outdoor space that feels like it has purpose, sometimes it helps to establish a kind of enclosure — a feeling of beginning and end. This lets people know that certain areas are for use, while others may be simply for show.

3. Use Outdoor Products – If you’re serious about keeping an outdoor living space, invest in products that are meant for the outdoors. If you want seating, you can’t just toss any old sofa out on the porch and expect it to stay clean.

2. Winterize – During the winter months, most of us want to spend our time either in the comfort of a heated room or curled up by the fireplace. Chances are, however, that many of the things that comprise our outdoor spaces will stay out in the cold. A bench bolted down to a brick foundation, for instance, obviously can’t be moved inside very easily.

1. Centralize – The point of having an outdoor living space is, of course, to spend more time outdoors. However, most people also create one to attract friends and family over for social gatherings. If you set up a few deck chairs and look out at the back yard, sure, you might have a nice view, but a seating chart that involves everyone’s backs against the wall makes it a little difficult to talk casually.

Find the full article here….

At Ridgecrest Homes we have designed and built many outdoor living spaces for our clients. If you are thinking about converting your backyard to an outdoor sanctuary give us a call! We can help you incorporate any element fit your individual need.

View from the Outside

From crawl space to functioning design

We frequently receive inquiries from prospective clients, asking if we could, “take a look at their project…”, and then tell them what their project will cost?  Many times, they go on to say, “We’re getting three prices and then we’ll decide who we want to work with”.  Seems reasonable, right?  Especially since almost every magazine article or TV show suggests getting three quotes.  In reality, it is not always that simple, as the “three quotes” are often hard to compare, with very different levels of detail and a wide spectrum of pricing.  Many people are not clear about what’s being promised, opt for the low bidder, and then get frustrated when their project costs far more than that original “quote”.

The scope of work, materials and details are all significant parts of the cost calculation for any construction project.  The more specific and detailed the client is (with what they are asking for), the better the odds are that they will be able to get accurate pricing for their project.  Scope, materials and details are an entire conversation in themselves, though, and there is another aspect of gathering price information; bids versus estimates versus budgets.  Let’s take a look at the differences between these.

1. Budgets (also known as Allowances) are simply an amount of money allotted for a specific item.  For example, let’s say that you are trying to decide if you should remodel your kitchen, or just move to that new home a half-mile away.  You don’t have a design for your kitchen remodel yet, and you haven’t decided on the materials, but you have decided that if your kitchen costs more than $70,000, you’re going to skip the project and just move instead.  So, you have a budget for your kitchen remodel of $70,000.  This does not mean, however, that when you do arrive at a design, select materials and get pricing, that your remodel project will actually cost $70,000.  In another example, you are preparing to build a new home, and your builder has set up an allowance for carpeting.  This allowance amount may have been determined by carefully pricing a specific material (and using that number as a reference point), or it may simply be a percentage of the total project cost, or it might not be based on anything at all.
2. Estimates are – in a literal sense – just that; they are a guess at what an item might cost.  Obviously, there can be a very wide spectrum of accuracy among estimates, with some being very good indicators of final cost and others being just a wild guess.  It is important to understand what the estimate is based on.  Is it from unit costs?  Historical data?  Similar projects?  What are the variables?  Is it subject to market fluctuation (such as lumber prices)?  Is it subject to unknown conditions (such as a dry rot repair before the full extent of damage can be seen)?  Having clear detailed specifications is very advantageous when gathering estimates.
3. Bids are a stated price for a specific item or service.  Just like Budgets and Estimates, it is still important to understand what the details of the bid are (what’s included? what are the terms? how long is the bid good for? Etc..).  The big differentiator, though, is that a bid is an actual offer to provide a service or product for a specific sum – it’s not just a guess at what the final price might be.

From the contractor’s side, bids usually require more time to create, and once given, it can be very difficult to re-negotiate if something has been missed in the price calculation.  For a large or complex project (such as an addition, new home, etc…), it is reasonable for a contractor to ‘qualify’ a prospective client, and in some instances, charge a fee for the time spent preparing the bid.  This is particularly true when plans must be drawn before the project can be bid.

While a project can get underway with a bid, an estimate or even just a budget, there is almost always more certainty (and less stress) when a complete bid has been agreed to between the client and the contractor.  This way, both parties know the expectations and the focus can be on the work, not the price.

Making the most of your outdoor living space is an important part of creating the home of your dreams. If you’ve been living with a plain old patio, you should understand that you have many different options available to you. You can transform that patio from a dull, dreary place to an amazing outdoor living space in virtually any way that you might want.

One of the most popular options right now is to convert your patio area into an outdoor kitchen. This can be done in multiple ways, including adding a new slab adjacent to the current patio slab to provide more space for dining and relaxing. A skilled backyard contractor can create an outdoor fireplace, can install outdoor cooking equipment and much more. Your outdoor kitchen can be as quaint or luxurious as you want, with options ranging from brick to sleek stainless steel.

Another option here is to turn your patio into an outdoor living space where the family can gather. It doesn’t need to be a kitchen, but you’ll need enough room for comfortable furniture and at least a table or two. However, you needn’t go to even that length if you do not wish to. If you are happy with the size and layout of your current patio, a backyard contractor can offer refinishing and resurfacing options. Concrete can be refinished to resemble almost any other material, from natural stone to wood, brick and more with the right steps.

Your options for creating an amazing outdoor living space are limited only by your own imagination and the skill of the contractor you hire. From an amazing place to cook and enjoy a meal to an outdoor gathering place for the family, a skilled contractor can help you create the backyard of your dreams.

Spring bring with it warmer weather, blooming flowers and lovely new green growth everywhere. It’s a time of renewal, a time of rebirth. It’s the ideal time to renew your home with some simple, effective spring touch ups, as well. Working with a remodel contractor can help you add more beauty and usability to your home in some surprisingly simple ways. What should you know?

Changes to the Entryway

The entryway to your home is more than just an access point. It’s part of your home’s personality and style, and other than the exterior of your home, is one of the things responsible for the first impression first-time visitors get of your home. You can improve the entryway in a number of ways, from building a foyer to adding a beautiful new front door, a copper awning and more.

Renewing Windows

You can also make changes to your home’s windows. You can add double-paned windows, look into energy efficient options that block harmful UV rays from penetrating inside, and much more. Working with a remodel contractor can allow you to completely change your windows at a lower cost than you might expect.

Add Insulation

With spring here, that means warmer weather is on the way. Now is the perfect time to work with a remodel contractor to add more insulation to your home. A skilled custom contractor will inspect your home and determine where insulation must be added to improve energy efficiency (and you will be rewarded with lower cooling bills in the summer).

Outdoor Living Options

Finally, you can work with a remodel contractor to design and create custom outdoor living spaces. You can transform that old, cracked patio, add a new pool deck, and build an outdoor kitchen, or living room and much more.

Remodeling your home is an important consideration, particularly if you want to build in more enjoyment without the immense cost and time expenditure involved with buying a new home. Working with Ridgecrest Homes, a custom remodel contractor, can provide you with the means to create the ideal living space for you and your family, and can offer innovative design options, like combining your kitchen and greatroom.

A combined kitchen and greatroom offers quite a few advantages. For instance, the kitchen is the most used room in the home, and the most likely place for people to gather. Opening it up to the living room to make one large room gives you convenience and other benefits. People seated in the kitchen can interact with those in the living room, and you can still add definition and the illusion of “separate” space by arranging your furniture properly.

By opening up the kitchen to the living room and creating a “greatroom,” you can also change the entire feel of these areas. You gain the ability to add different lighting, to extend the same type of flooring throughout both rooms and to even tie in your kitchen cabinetry with furnishings and other elements in your living room.

Of course, in order to ensure that you get the results that you want, you’ll need to make sure that you’re working with an experienced custom remodel contractor. Before selecting any contractor for the job, do a few comparisons on the professionals in your area. Look for good rates, but don’t let price be your single guiding concern. You want to see a history of excellent results, with good customer testimonials and plenty of pictures of past work. You also want to make sure that the contractor has a lengthy history and is licensed to work in the state.

Remodeling your home is one of the best ways to achieve a number of goals. You can add considerable value to your home if you’re considering selling it down the road. However, you can also add more enjoyment to your current home by expanding it. Whether you’re contemplating an addition or looking at a kitchen remodel or a bathroom remodel, you’ll need the help of an experienced remodel contractor. How do you ensure that you choose the right professional?

It all begins with research. You can’t afford to hire a remodel contractor blindly, so be prepared to do a little digging. First, start building a list of contractors in your area capable of offering a kitchen remodel or bathroom remodel project (or whatever other project you need). Look for recommendations from family and friends, but also check the Internet and even the phonebook. Once you have an initial list built, you will need to start your research.

There are several factors about each contractor that you’ll need to consider. For instance, you will certainly want to find out how long they have been in business. While there’s nothing technically “wrong” with hiring a remodel contractor who has only been operating in the area for a short time, contractors with a lengthy history have the track record to prove they’re doing something right.

You also need to take a look at customer testimonials. These are valuable tools that can provide you with considerable insight into what you can expect from the remodel contractor in terms of craftsmanship, adherence to budget and time to completion. Based on the results of your research, begin narrowing down your list of potential contractors until you have only a handful left. These will all require an interview before you make your final hiring decision (and make sure you get a free estimate on the cost from each contractor during the interview).

If you’re thinking about giving your kitchen a makeover, consider having your custom remodel contractor forego the standard cabinetry and getting some custom cabinets built instead.  A skillful custom remodel contractor, like Ridgecrest Homes, can build you kitchen cabinets that will not only look absolutely stunning and turn your kitchen into a showplace, but provide a wide range of useful features that you won’t find anywhere else.

Custom cabinets are an art form where craftsmanship meets functionality, with nifty extra features like a spice rack pull out, so that all of your spices can be easily stored and accessed.  No more searching through a jumble of small bottles, dropping them on the stove or having them fall on your head when you open the cabinet door.  A microwave drawer frees up counter space and places your microwave conveniently and safely at hip level for easy access.

With custom cabinets, you can choose the wood type, stain color and finish, cabinet door style, moldings and decorative hardware.  Select the number and layout of shelves, drawers and other types of storage space.  Add built-in cutting boards, appliance cubbies, glass door panels, wine racks and more for your very own, signature kitchen design.

Your kitchen is the heart of your home, where friends and family gather, meals are prepared, wine is shared and everyone feels comfortable.  Make it one-of-a-kind, beautiful and functional all at the same time with custom cabinets, hand crafted right here in the USA.

Before

Gutted and ready to get started…

Everything out, ready to get started

New Merbau hardwood flood floor material ready to be installed.

New Merbau hardwood flood floor material ready to be installed.

Finishing up cabinet installation

Finishing up cabinet installation

New kitchen cabinets…

New kitchen cabinets

Almost finished….

New kitchen is almost complete

Paint and finish being applied to cabinets and interior woodwork

Paint and finish being applied to cabinets and interior woodwork

Paint and finish being applied to interior doors

Paint and finish being applied to interior doors

Taped off and ready to paint….

Taped off and ready to paint

New counters and sink….

New counters and sink…

Finally their dream kitchen!

The finished project

Remodeling homes is the best way to make the most of your budget while giving you additional space and the look and feel that you want. In fact, more people are choosing to hire a remodel contractor to reinvigorate their homes than opting to buy new homes these days. One of the most popular options in terms of home remodeling is to hire a custom home contractor to transform your master bedroom into a sanctuary from everyday life.

Why would you want to remodel your master bedroom? Why not start with the kitchen or the bathroom? While kitchens are certainly the most popular room in the home to remodel, this is technically family space. By opting to remodel your bedroom, you are able to build a hidden sanctuary away from the hustle and bustle of an overscheduled life. You can create a hidden oasis that’s yours and yours alone, without the worry that you’ll have others intruding on your solitude.

What can you do to transform that master bedroom from a place only for sleeping to a secluded hideaway? An experienced remodel contractor can give you an amazing range of options, or you can come up with your own design if you choose. For instance, you might decide to have a fireplace installed in the master bath and open it up to the rest of the room. You might choose to have a cozy reading nook added, or to have your ceilings raised.

There are more options available than can ever be listed. Use your imagination, and virtually anything you think of can be accomplished with the help of the right remodel contractor. Of course, you’ll have to choose your custom home contractor with care. Make sure they have several years in business and a reputation for providing quality craftsmanship.