This article is Part I of a two-part series about home remodels, renovations, and additions. Seminole magazine had exclusive access to the home on the following pages during its renovation and expansion.
Part I covers the conception/getting started phase, and the structural/building phase.
Part II will focus on the interior finishing; closets, window treatments, decorating, furnishing, and patio and landscaping.
The project is an expansion of a 2,100-sq.-ft., 1980s house to this 4,000-sq.-ft. home of their dreams. They have also added 1,000 sq. ft. of covered/enclosed patio space.
For most people, the house is their single biggest investment. With the real estate market in flux and the economy struggling to find a direction, many individuals are now opting to make the most of the house they have, rather than striking out in some new direction. This nesting trend has led to a renewed interest in home improvements.
For smaller updates and repairs, being a do-it-yourselfer can help save money and keep your home in tip-top shape. This can be a great cost-saving measure for small jobs around the house. But when it comes to large-scale additions, remodels or renovations, it’s best to hire experienced professionals.
When you start planning the improvements you want to make to one of your largest (and for most people, the largest) personal investments, first consult a design professional, preferably an architect or engineer. These professionals can translate your dreams and desires into working plans, which in turn allows you to view your proposed improvements before the work starts. Design professionals work in conjunction with state-certified contractors who can take these preliminary working plans and create a budget for your project.
Once you confirm the preliminary plans and proposed budgets, it’s time to interview state-certified contractors. You can find them through the local Home Builders Association (HBA), Association of General Contractors (AGC), or the Better Business Bureau. Using a certified contractor means you’re getting a construction professional who is up-to-date on the latest codes and standards. Most contractors also have established working relationships with a team of qualified professionals—relationships based on trust, punctuality and craftsmanship—to complete your job in a timely, professional manner.
Custom Work for the Customer
It’s called “custom” work because the customer dictates what they want, and the builder builds it. The customer also gets to dictate certain conditions. For the home addition and renovation on these pages, the homeowners wanted to avoid or eliminate certain obstacles. For example, the owners planned on living in the home during construction and wanted to keep the disruptions and mess to a minimum.
The addition doubled the size of the house, giving the owners exactly what they wanted: a great room, a new master suite (with a large walk-in closet) and new master bath, an art studio, and an office with a half-bath and its own entryway.
One of the first things we had to do was to demolish a Florida room off the rear portion of the home. Let’s face it: construction is a dirty business. Dirt, dust, debris and noise come with the job, especially if demolition is involved: drywall dust gets everywhere. That’s why we sealed off the existing home from the new addition by erecting a temporary wall before tearing down the Florida room. This not only kept the noise, workers and dirt outside, it also provided an added measure of security—much more than a tarp or a few pieces of plywood would do. Plus, it was impervious to dirt and moisture.
The homeowners were also nervous about exposing the existing roof system to the elements. To solve that, architect Thomas Vayko of AB Design Group came up with a plan to allow the addition to blend in with the existing roof while keeping it intact. We would build a “roof-over”: that is, construct a different roof on top of the existing one to create a new roof line from the rear view (“elevation”). The roof line design was perfect. From the front you could not see any improvements to the rear of the home. The gables on the existing home were kept in place or enhanced, and incorporated into the new addition to give the entire home a uniform look.
Once the Florida room and trees were removed from the rear of the property, we were able to begin construction.
The owners added 1,926 sq. ft. of living space, a 535-sq.-ft. covered lanai, and another 500 feet of screened-in patio, adding a total of more than 3,000 sq. ft.
Even with this large expansion, Vayko made sure a large amount of ground still surrounded the addition to complement the home and provide a green setting. He even designed a landscape plan to tie the home into the neighborhood.
Natural Elements
The homeowners wanted to use earth tones on the exterior to give the property a warm, natural look. We went with brown offset by cream trim. The exterior body paint has tones that are similar to the cultured stone installed on the chimney, front entry, indoor fireplace, mailbox and planting/fountain area.
Instead of the usual flat stucco treatment, the owners chose an organic, hand-applied Mediterranean treatment by Chico Hernandez of Jesus Masterpiece, Inc. This is a thick, undulating style that gives the home a softer, less linear look, plus its thickness provides added strength and insulation.
The owners not only wanted the home to fit in with its surroundings but to bring nature into the home, as well. The covered lanai at the rear provides a protected, natural setting for entertaining or relaxing in tranquility. The screened room by Ed Senez Aluminum Specialists, Inc., which covers the remaining patio area, can allow fresh air into the house without bugs and other intruders. The gutters provide ample drainage, and the bronze color complements the house color perfectly.
For outdoor flooring, irregular Pennsylvania bluestone flagstone was installed on the covered lanai, patio and entry floors by George Brown of Tropical Waterscapes, Inc. Its rich natural color and texture go nicely with the cultured stone planter and fountain knee walls. The planting areas allow the owner to bring nature in with beautiful, fragrant, easy-to-care-for plants.
The centerpiece of the outdoor patio area is the water feature created by Michael Gambrell of Michael G. Pools, Inc. The addition was designed so that the fountain was clearly visible from the front door by looking through the French doors leading to the patio. The fountain is lighted, and adjustable, so a light trickle of water flowing down the flagstone creates a relaxing sound, or the two vertical spray fountains can be turned on to provide a noise-neutralizing gush. Either way, the patio and fountain area provide a wonderful retreat for entertaining or relaxing.
Efficiency in Many Forms
Energy efficiency was also on the owners’ minds. That’s why we added features to help keep electrical bills down. We installed double-insulated glass windows, which will keep A/C and heat in, and outside noise out. Gale Insulation provided radiant-barrier insulation—a layer of pure aluminum foil facing the attic airspace and is installed in the “envelope” of the building. By reflecting radiant heat energy instead of trying to absorb it, and because it’s unaffected by humidity, this system is a consistent and permanent way to reduce energy costs.
And up on the roof, McFadden’s Roofing installed 30-year Owens Corning architectural shingles that will stand up to the elements for years.
There are other forms of efficiency, too—such as efficient workers. By working with a professional architect and having good relationships with my subcontractors, I knew they would show up as scheduled and do a quality job. And that helped me to finish the job on schedule. I was able to complete the project—from permitting to certificate of occupancy—in six months. The build time was five months.
Combining a great design professional and contractor can make your dreams a reality.
S
Andrew Ernst is president of AC Ernst Building Corporation, Inc. A certified building contractor, he has more than 10 years’ experience in the central Florida home-building industry.
©2008 Seminole magazine
by Andrew Ernst