HOME::Home-Improvement/Remodeling

By Mel Inglima


Some homes are just not worth the trouble. They're old, cut up, and often structurally unsound. Any attempt to modernize would just be a waste of money. On the other hand, a well-built home in a good neighborhood that suffers from poor interior design could be ripe for a major interior make-over.
How do you know? You need some professional help. Structure Soundness and the Built-in Limitations Builders will tell you that pretty much anything can be done, if you want to pay for it! Builders talk about bearing walls and other structural components. Sometimes engineers will have to get involved and certainly experienced builders will have to solve those structural issues when want a major change.
Older homes have more limitations than newer ones. In the past 20 years or so it has become more common to put the structural features on exterior walls leaving interior walls for partitions rather than bearing walls. Yet, even with many current designs, this cannot be accomplished.
Two story homes, stairwells, and other features require support from the roof to the foundation and interior bearing walls often provide the cheapest solutions.
Single Story Homes and Trussed Rafters Provide Flexibility The best candidates for knocking down interior walls and creating bigger rooms and better flow are one story homes. In recent years, roof rafters were likely made as trusses. These are structurally engineered to span from one outer wall to the other (or a limited number of interior walls) to allow interior walls to be non-load bearing. Even the interior walls that are load-bearing, can sometimes be removed without too much expense if the load can be easily transferred to nearby structural components. In these cases, a lot can be done to change the interior of the home for relatively low cost.
Permits, Professionals, and Procedures Never guess. Always get professional help when removing or moving walls. These kinds of remodels usually require permits as well. But whether or not you get permits, you simply must know what you're dealing with. Licensed builders, structural engineers, architects and interior designers are your best bets. The first step is often to hire an interior designer. Many are experienced with structural issues and can point out potential problem areas. They will help you devise a plan and steer you to the other professionals you need. They could even act as your remodeling coach. A great way to get started.
You can learn so much more about home building and remodeling online. One great option is to take advantage of a very informative yet simple to follow *free* e-course that you can find by clicking here http://www.DreamHomeCreation.com. You will also find other tips and tools, surveys, videos, and additional articles by Mel Inglima.

Check out http://www.knkhomeimprovements.com for more information on do-it-yourself projects and help to get it done.