If you plan to renovate your Albuquerque home, there are two categories it is likely to fall into. Your first option is to simply change the aesthetics. Perhaps you’ll reface your cabinets and replace your light fixtures, but there won’t be a lot of work involved. Another example is changing the floor coverings.
On the other hand, you can also remove walls and rearrange the layout of your home as part of a large-scale project.
You might feel intimidated when faced with big layout projects, so what are the most important things to know?
Reconfiguration: Is it the Right Choice?
Are you sure that reconfiguring is the best move before you start hiring or knocking down walls?
Examine your current layout limitations and decide if you would be better off with an addition, a change in your floor plan, or perhaps both. Don’t worry about finishes and furniture while you’re deciding. Those are largely superficial considerations. The logistics must come first, and then the rest will follow.
Think about what challenges you currently face and the solutions most likely to address those.
Open Floorplan
In many cases, opening up a home’s main living areas is the main reason for changing the floor plan. It might be nice to have an open plan kitchen, living area, and dining room.
It’s very likely that you will be taking out at least one wall when you open up a floorplan. It is best to consult an architect to discover which walls are load-bearing and how to compensate for their loss. Examples include using beams or columns. You may need both. A permit is also likely to be required if you plan to change any load-bearing walls or do any plumbing or electrical work.
When you create an open floor plan, you might be able to get a return on your investment between 54 and 60%. It generally costs between $8 and $15 per square foot of affected space.
Closed Rooms from Open Spaces
Despite the dominance of open concepts, there are some people who want to move in the opposite direction. They desire enclosed spaces instead of open ones. You may desire a formal dining room as an example.
The addition of a wall will probably also require permits, especially if electrical work is involved. You’ll probably work with a contractor, but not necessarily an architect if you’re adding rooms.
Creating a Master Bedroom
If you plan on removing walls in order to expand your master bedroom, for instance, you will need the services of an architect. Homeowners tend to replace a connecting bedroom with a master bathroom suite and a closet by reducing the size of the connecting bedroom.
The value of a general contractor comes from their ability to keep the work flowing smoothly and handle subcontractors so that you don’t have to.
Bathroom Addition
If you wish to add a bathroom, you may choose either to increase the size of an existing bedroom or to use space already connected to it. The bathroom can also be made from a bedroom, a back-to-back closet, a storage space, or a walk-in closet.
As in the above circumstances, you will need a full permit. A contractor should also be hired. The more people you have to hire, the more expensive, time-consuming, and generally more headaches you’ll face unless you have people you know and trust, such as carpenters, electricians, and plumbers.
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