Your home is likely your biggest investment so any renovations should be taken very seriously (courtesy Nip Tuck Remodeling)

Q: We’re stressing over a potential remodel project. Any tips to help us along the way?

A: You’ve made the decision to turn your dream home into a reality. Congratulations. Here’s what you need to know: basic dos and don’ts, with don’ts placed first because, like your remodel, we want you to end on a good note.

DON’T leave any detail unnoticed, no matter how trivial you might think it is. Experienced remodelers will tell you to put together an extensive file with inspiration images and features you envision for your renovation.

DON’T panic over things you can’t control. Dust and dirt happen during a renovation, as do unforeseen circumstances like material and permitting delays, and design changes mid-remodel. You adapt, you move on, and you might even get what you wanted without realizing you wanted it in the first place.

DON’T try to take things on yourself. Your home is likely your biggest investment, and any renovations done within that realm need to be taken accordingly. Performing surgery on yourself? Performing a home remodel? Don’t try either unless you want a ton of painful recuperation.

DO plan ahead. You might be surprised at the waiting list of many Puget Sound remodelers, some of which rival Santa’s annual Naughty or Nice list. If a home remodel is on your wish list this year or next, don’t hesitate—meet with potential remodelers and get a timeline going. They’ll happily walk you through a realistic estimate of how long each aspect of your project will take, which can include permitting and materials availability, depending on the size and scope of what you want done.

DO interview your potential contractors. Treat it like any other working relationship. You need to know you can trust and get along with the person in charge of your sizable investment and that they’ll be able to deliver what you’re asking for—realistically, of course.

DO hire a professional to get the job done right. You might think your non-licensed brother-in-law can do the job for a quarter of the price, but you’ll soon realize that you probably aren’t as handy as you think you are and that your brother-in-law is only about a quarter qualified for the job. Renovations done right will likely cost you, but it’s nothing compared to the safety and sanity you’ll risk trying to go cheap—not to mention the costs to fix things that weren’t done right the first time around.

On that note…

DO visit the Oct. 26 and 27 Remodeled Homes Tour, a free, open-house tour taking place in 15 convenient locations throughout King County. Stops include beautifully remodeled homes in Shoreline, Renton, Queen Anne, and throughout the Eastside, including Issaquah. The Remodeled Homes Tour occurs annually and is produced by professional remodeler members of the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties.

With all homes open 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Saturday and select homes available during the same period Sunday, visitors get a hands-on look at the latest and greatest in residential renovation and in-home technology. Guests can also chat with the remodel pros themselves, all of whom will be on site to talk through their work and answer questions you might have on your own upcoming project.

Remodeled Home Tour tickets are free and available at remodeltour.com/free-tickets.

Cameron Poague is a content specialist at the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties (MBAKS). If you have a home improvement, remodeling, or residential homebuilding question you’d like answered by one of MBAKS’s nearly 3,000 members, write to homework@mbaks.com.

Q: I’ve noticed that many new townhomes around Seattle are using pavers instead of poured concrete for walkways, driveways, and parking spaces. Are there any benefits to using pavers?

A: What you’re noticing is the growing use of permeable interlocking concrete pavement (PICP) systems. These paver-based systems have three major benefits: they help builders comply with stormwater management regulations, offer more design flexibility than poured concrete, and are much easier to repair. Let’s take a closer look.

Stormwater Management

The city of Seattle, the state of Washington, and many other Seattle-area municipalities have stormwater regulations to protect people, property, and the environment from damage caused by stormwater runoff. Seattle takes stormwater very seriously and publishes stormwater management codes at seattle.gov.

Despite their similarity with pavers commonly used for landscaping patios and paths, PICP systems feature unique interlocking shapes with consistent spacers and are installed specifically to maximize drainage. These durable, yet permeable, surfaces help meet code by reducing the amount of surface stormwater runoff and hence pollutants entering our waterways. This makes them a great way to go green while meeting regulatory requirements.

Design Flexibility

Poured solid concrete lacks the design flexibility of concrete pavers. The many shapes, colors, sizes and installation patterns available with pavers means they can be placed and customized with unique design patterns that complement a diverse range of architectural and landscape styles. Using pavers can add a custom high-end look and texture that standard solid surface concrete simply lacks. There are so many choices!

Repairability

Because pavers are individual pieces, surfaces comprised of them can be changed, removed, or replaced much more easily than poured solid surfaces. If you have tree root issues or need to put in an electrical line, water pipe, etc., pavers can be pulled up with minimal effort and reset or replaced at the conclusion of your project with little noticeable effect. This can save you thousands of dollars and lots of migraines.

A Wise Alternative

It’s not just urban residential and commercial construction projects that are turning toward PICP systems. Homeowners are also increasingly opting to install permeable surfaces for driveways and walkways. With many cities adopting stormwater regulations, compliance will lead to more people adopting permeable surfaces, but even in places with fewer regulations some homeowners are already choosing PICP systems because they’re so customizable and great for the environment.

So, if you’re thinking about moving away from poured concrete, now is a great time to consider the promise and possibilities of pavers.

Laura Hoffman works at Mutual Materials, a member of the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties (MBAKS). If you have a home improvement, remodeling, or residential homebuilding question you’d like answered by one of MBAKS’ nearly 2,800 members, write to homework@mbaks.com.

Q: We have a nice open kitchen facing our backyard deck, but it only has one small window and a cramped side door. How can we bring more natural light into the kitchen and make our deck more accessible?

A: One of the most common questions homeowners ask during the design phase of a remodel is, “How can I create better flow between interior and exterior spaces?” The easiest way to do this is by using lots of glass to bring in natural light and scenery. But if you want even more flow, there is a way to blur the line that separates indoor and outdoor space by literally opening your home to the outdoors: a big door system.

Big doors provide floor-to-ceiling light when closed and instantaneous connection to nature when open, making them perfect for the Pacific Northwest lifestyle in all seasons. Imagine being able to hear, smell, and feel the essence of the rain on a spring day, but never get wet, or watch as your friends and family move effortlessly between your summer BBQ on the patio and the refreshments in your kitchen.

Big doors come in two basic styles: sliding and folding. Folding doors are the most popular because the panels fold out of the way when fully opened, maximizing the opening width. These doors are ideal for smaller-sized openings in the 6’–12’ range, where opening width is more essential than maximizing the view. Folding doors are also great for remodels since they are designed to fit within existing wall dimensions.

Sliding doors can accommodate much larger panels. They’re a great option when you want views even when the doors are closed. When standard sliding doors are fully open the panels stack to one side of the opening, reducing the overall opening space by the width of the panels. However, there are sliding door systems where the door can be nested in the wall and completely disappear when open, a big advantage over folding doors. Sliding doors are also better for automated opening and closing systems.

Many consumers assume big doors are expensive and require major construction to install, but these days they’re not the big to-do they once were. There are dozens of systems on the market covering all different price points with different sizes to fit every home. In fact, quite often you can simply replace an existing door and window with a big door. Of course, if you’re planning an ambitious major remodel that opens an entire room, there’s a big door for that too—some can span more than 30 feet!

Whatever option you’re looking for, there is certainly a big door that can meet both your lifestyle and budgetary needs. Nothing is better at breaking down the barrier between our living space and the wonderful outdoor environment we all call home.

Darren Kiesler is owner of The Big Door Company, a member of the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties (MBAKS). If you have a home improvement, remodeling, or residential homebuilding question you’d like answered by one of MBAKS’ nearly 2,800 members, write to homework@mbaks.com.