Remodeling Tips & Advice

By Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon If remodeling your home this spring is on your New Year’s resolution list, there are a few things you should know. We hate to dash your hopes for a quick remodel, but it isn’t realistic to think you can see an architect in January and build by April —…

By Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon Remember there is no practical way to completely “earthquake-proof” your house. But engineers have developed some extreme and expensive methods to equip a building to ride out an earthquake. One of these techniques, which was actually used on the Utah State Capitol building and the LDS Tabernacle in Salt…

By Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon If an earthquake hits, damage to public structures and infrastructure will be beyond the control of the average citizen, but you do have some control over your individual circumstances in relation to your own home. In our continuing series, we are discussing steps you can take to increase the…

By Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon Northern Utahns know California is not the only earthquake country in the western United States. Even though we are not confronted with catastrophic earthquakes every day here in the Wasatch Front, we know the risk is there. According to the Utah Guide for the Seismic Improvement of Unreinforced Masonry…

By Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon When you ask Donna Bates about their own efforts to remodel their 1940s-built home, she likens it to a 1980s craze: a Rubik’s Cube. “It’s like that Rubik’s Cube puzzle. We’d work on one part of the house and it would mess up another part we’d already worked on,”…

By Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon Not many things are more exciting or more terrifying than buying a new house. It’s a big decision that requires lots of forethought and even lots of afterthought to make sure you ultimately get the right home for you and your family. So this week we offer some tips…

By Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon Spring is just around the corner, and we all know that in spring a young man’s (or woman’s) fancy turns to thoughts of … remodeling. Some remodeling you can do yourself, but some projects will require the help of professionals. Here are some tips to finding the best man…

By Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon We may be in over our heads this week, but we want to introduce you to the concept of restrictive covenants. Restrictive covenants are deed restrictions that apply to a group of homes or lots generally within a development or subdivision. They are usually put in place by the…

By Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon As soon as the holidays are over, we will all pack up the tree and decorations, and thoughts will turn to the promises of a new year. Starting that first week in January, architects around Utah will start meeting with new clients, and the request will inevitably be the…

By Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon There is a step in the remodeling process that homeowners often neglect: insurance. Yes, we know it’s a very boring detail and just one more thing that might cost you money at a time when you already feel bled dry. But it would be tragic for something to happen…

By Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon This is a beautiful time of year. The mountains and foothills are awash in green grasses and vegetation and for a brief moment it feels more like the lush Northwest than the arid Great Basin. But already the desert heat is turning the first greens of spring to the…

By Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon We’ve mentioned several times that your landscaping can take a beating during remodeling. At best you’ll lose a few flowers and at worst you’ll have to start from scratch. But there is one aspect of your landscaping you should seriously consider and even plan around when remodeling: mature trees.…

By Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon If you’ve followed our columns recently, you’ll know that we’ve been tracking an interesting project: the complete remodel of a former fraternity house. As you can imagine, it is quite an undertaking. Former fraternity house has been through several updates and remodels over the years. The last time we…

By Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon Before you fall asleep or turn the page, let us assure you that ignoring it will only make it worse. When it comes to remodeling, the fun parts are dreaming of the possibilities, getting the architectural drawings, choosing the colors, and buying furniture. The fun parts are not reading…

By Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon Remodeling is generally a big undertaking that requires a great deal of planning and a concerted effort by many people to bring the project to a successful conclusion. Under ideal circumstances, a strong team will be assembled with each person taking responsibility for a portion of the work. Obviously,…

By Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon About a month ago we introduced you to a project we’re working on. It is an old frat house that the new owners want to convert back into a single-family residence. It’s time for an update on the project and a peek into the paperwork that accompanies construction. When…

By Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon By remodeling one bath at a time, the family in this home was able to balance their desire for two beautiful new bathrooms with their need for at least one functioning bath throughout the construction process. We’ve talked before about the wisdom of having a master plan. Specifically, we…

By Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon Would you ever walk up to a Nordstrom sales associate, and say, “I want a new wardrobe. Please create one for me, and I’ll pick it up next week”? Or would you sit down with your hair stylist and say, “I need a new hair style. Please cut my…

By Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon Happy New Year! The holiday rush is over, and the time for resolutions is here. So what are some of yours? Get your body back in shape? Get your budget back in shape? What about getting your home in shape? Is this the year of the remodel? If so,…