Author Archives: Dave Jovin

How To Save Money on Your Kitchen Remodeling Project

Remodeling your kitchen can be expensive. In this article we’ll dive into a specific strategy for saving money on your next kitchen remodeling project. In fact, this approach will help you avoid even needing a complete kitchen remodel. That’s right, we’re offering suggestions so that you don’t have to pay us, but you just have to be realistic with your expectations.

One of the biggest tasks in remodeling any kitchen is replacing the existing cabinets. This obviously necessary because is most remodels the layout and dimensions of your kitchen are altered, affecting the positioning of the cabinets. Of course, nothing quite makes a kitchen “wow” you like beautiful cabinets (as well as nice counter-tops and stainless steel appliances).

If your kitchen is run-down, from the flooring to the lighting to the cabinets and even the overall use of space, then you really need to consider a complete kitchen makeover. However, if the biggest issue is the cabinets, you may be better off simply resurfacing them.

Resurfacing your cabinets will likely only cost you about a third of the complete kitchen remodeling total, possibly more. Also, some of the cabinets built 20 to 30 years ago are more solid and durable than the prebuilt cabinets built today, making resurfacing an appealing option.

The work typically requires one or two craftsmen. You’ll start by removing doors and drawer fronts. You’ll want to “rough up” the face frames and side panels to get them ready for the new covering. The new finish can then either be nailed or glued over the old, with trimmed edges covering up the nail holes.

Then you’ll want to attach the new cabinet doors and drawer fronts, with new hardware on each of them. Your options for the finished look are: wood veneer, plastic laminates or rigid thermofoils (RTF). All have advantages and disadvantages, so you’ll want to talk to an experiences contractor or craftsman about each.

As we mentioned earlier, you need to weight your options with kitchen remodeling, determining what you want to improve and what your budget is. If you’d like to learn more about your kitchen remodeling options, and you’re in the San Diego area, talk to Greyhound General today, You can leave us a note here or call us directly at 800-568-7108.

San Diego Short Sale Remodeling

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While the housing market has improved over the past few years, there are still many homeowners who are underwater on their mortgage or fighting to prevent foreclosure. This has lead to the rise of “short sales.” Often times the new homeowner is buying a house at a great price, but there may be work to do. That’s where Greyhound General comes in.

Some homeowners who don’t want to leave their property may neglect certain aspects of their home. As a buyer you’ll obviously want to have a thorough home inspection done to review everything. Short sellers have little incentive to keep up on maintenance, let alone upgrade outdated areas of their home, so there’s a lot of opportunity to make improvements.

Greyhound has been completing short sale remodels in San Diego for years, with experience in all types of residential remodeling, including kitchen, bathroom, room additions and more. Whether you’d like to add a deck and a pool to the backyard, redesign the kitchen or add a second story to your new home, we can help.

To learn more about how Greyhound General can help you with your short sale home remodeling simply leave us your information here, or call us directly at 800-568-7108.

Winter Home Maintenance Tips

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Unlike most parts of the country, we really don’t need to do a ton of prepping for Winter here in San Diego. Still, the temperature does drop significantly and most people start to turn on their heaters. Here are some tips for getting your San Diego home prepped for Winter and the Holidays.

1) Inspect your Holiday decorations: Putting up Christmas lights on your house is a fun way to get in the Holiday spirit, but it can turn into a nightmare if you don’t take a few simple safety precautions. Check your lights for any kind of wear-and-tear. Exposed or frayed wiring is a huge red flag. Also, make sure you keep your Christmas tree well-watered, as a dry tree is more likely to catch fire.

2) Keep the heat in: Make sure you inspect your HVAC filter before you kick-start it, and you’ll want to replace that filter every month if you’re running your heater on a daily basis. Also, check on your insulation. Anywhere where air can get in from the outside should be properly sealed. Check windows, doors and plumbing entering your home and make sure they’re all sealed up well.

3) Put together an emergency prep kit: You’re not going to ever have to worry about a snowstorm knocking out power in San Diego. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be prepared for other emergencies. Put together a kit full of bottled water, non-perishable food, flashlights, blankets, batteries & back up power sources and a first aid kit. Remember to replace the bottled water every 6-12 months.

4) Inspect your fireplace and chimney: A thrifty alternative to running the heater is lighting a fire. Just make sure that you properly inspect your fireplace and chimney before using it for the first time in nearly a year. You can inspect the chimney yourself for creosote, which builds up in the chimney when a fire does not have enough oxygen. Shine a flashlight at the top of the firebox, in the smoke chamber and around the damper. Check the flue as well. You may also want to pay for a chimney sweep if you haven’t done so in years. Lastly, when you light a fire, make sure the dampers are open in the bottom of the firebox (if provided), otherwise consider opening the nearest window slightly. This will prevent the fire from drawing warm air out of the rest of the house and replacing it with cold air.

Unlike most areas of the country, Winter isn’t a bad time to remodel in San Diego. If you’re thinking of remodeling your kitchen bathroom, living room, or any area of your home, leave us a note here. You can also call Greyhound directly at 800-568-7108.

Latest Work by Greyhound General in Clairemont

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Greyhound General is at it again with another San Diego remodel. This project was in the Clairemont area of San Diego and it involved a an exterior home remodel as well as an interior kitchen remodel. Check out the before photo below…

The project involved moving the garage and adding on to the existing house. As you can see int he after photo below the siding, roofing and paint job were also updated.

If you’re looking to update or remodel your home, and your in the Clairemont area, or any area of San Diego, please leave Greyhound General a message here, or call us directly at 800-568-7108.

Prepping Your Home For Winter

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We all know San Diego has perfect weather, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t get cold in the Winter. In fact, the average low in January is a chilly 49 degrees, and the record low is a frosty 29! Still, with average highs in the mid-60s during Winter, San Diegans have it relatively easy. That being said, there are a few things you can do to prepare for the coming Winter.

1) Prepare Your Fireplace: Make sure that you have some sort of functioning cap or screen at the top of your chimney to keep rodents and birds out. You’ll also want to inspect the damper to make sure it opens & closes properly. You’ll also want to make sure that if your chimney hasn’t been swept in a while you schedule a professional to come out. This depends on how often you use your chimney, but you definitely need to inspect it thoroughly on your own at least once a year, ideally in the Fall.

2) Inspect Your Furnace: Consider hiring an HVAC professional or inspecting your furnace on your own. This includes the ducts. You’ll want to stock up on furnace filters, and move anything that’s flammable away from your furnace. Inspect your hot-water heater, as well as your hot-water radiator, if your home is heated by one.

3) Examine Your Roof, Gutters & Downspouts: Look for worn roof shingles or damaged flashing. Clean out the gutters and use a hose to wash any leftover debris down the downspouts. You may also want to install leaf guards for your gutters and downspouts, which will save you the time and hassle of cleaning the gutters in the future.

4) Examine Windows & Doors: Make sure all exterior entry points to the house around windows and doors are properly sealed. Install weatherstripping around your doors to prevent cold air from entering your home. Caulk around window sills, and replace or prime/paint any exposed or rotting wood around windows and doors. You’ll also want to investigate areas where pipes are entering your home to ensure everything is properly sealed.

5) Prepare Your Yard: This isn’t quite as involved as most Mid-Westerners or East Coasters’ Winter prepping, but still important. Trim all tree branches near your home or electrical wiring. Frost is not a problem in San Diego, but you should still consider planting some cold temperature flowers or veggies just to be safe. Consider planting brocolli, lettuce, mustard and cabbage, which are frost-tolerant, or beets, carrots, spinach and kale, which are unaffected by frost. Finally, inspect your deck and driveway. Make sure both are properly sealed and protected.

6) Replace Batteries in Smoke Detectors & Install Carbon Monoxide Detectors: The rule of thumb is to change your smoke detector batteries every 6 months. We recommend doing so during each Daylight Savings’ switch. Test your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to make sure they work.

If you have any other tips for preparing your home for Winter in San Diego, feel free to leave us a comment below. If you’re considering a home remodel then leave Greyhound a note here or call us at 800-568-7108.

Dining Room Remodeling

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The dining room’s role in the home has evolved over the past few decades. Once seen as a separate, formal room stocked with nice china that’s rarely used. This room was typically a place where you gathered with family to share a meal on special occasions and Holidays. While you can still find these formal rooms in many homes today, dining rooms have evolved to have many different roles.

Today you’ll find dining rooms that are connected to the kitchen, multi-purpose dining rooms, and even outdoor patio dining rooms. No matter the dining room you have, it’s clear that the focal point of the room is the table. However, everything around the table can make your dining room stand out: flooring, wall colors, light fixtures and china.

You’ll notice that by simply improving or replacing some of the room features around the table you’ll significantly enhance the appeal of your dining room. However, sometimes “throwing paint on the wall” just doesn’t do the trick. If you’re considering remodeling your kitchen or living room, and your dining room is connected to either room, you may want to think about upgrading this room as well.

To learn more about updating or remodeling your dining room, or any room in your home, then talk to Greyhound General today. We’ve been serving San Diego for years with the highest quality home remodeling services. To learn more simply leave us a note here or call 800-568-7108.

A Collection of Work by Greyhound General

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The following video is a collection of several of the finished homes, kitchens and bathrooms by Greyhound General. For a free estimate, or to inquire about our services, please submit your information here or call 800-568-7108.

Bathroom Remodeling 101

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The bathroom is an oft-overlooked area of your home. After all, you don’t invite guests over to see your bathroom; you showcase your new pool or backyard area, or that new kitchen. Still, the bathroom is a place you spend time in every day, so why not give it a makeover?

In a previous article I mention how to turn your bathroom into a spa, and that’s exactly the mentality you should have. You should feel comfortable in your bathroom. I’ve put together some basic tips for examining your bathroom to see if you should remodel. Here are some things to investigate:

Size: you never want to feel cramped or claustrophobic in your own bathroom. While you might think that there’s nothing you can do about the size (” it is what it is”), you’d be mistaken. By knocking down walls, moving appliances and rearranging storage space you can make the bathroom seem bigger. All you need is a little creativity.
Age: Take a look at the tile or wallpaper, then look at the appliances. Has this bathroom not been updated in decades? Does it have an unintentional “retro” feel to it? Changing light fixtures and the sink may be an inexpensive way to modernize your bathroom, but if that doesn’t help you’ll want to remodel the entire bathroom.
Storage: You need to have sufficient storage space for toiletries, towels and more. Maybe you can elongate your shower and add cabinet space by re-positioning the layout of the bathroom. Or maybe you can re-position the sink and toilet. This is where a savvy contractor can help maximize space.
Appliances: Like your kitchen, it’s important to have modern appliances. They can not only save you money by lowering your water bills and electricity bills, they can really enhance the look and feel of your bathroom.
Damage: Whether you have water damage on the floor or a mold issue on the ceiling, remodeling your bathroom addresses these issues before they get worse.

Now, once you’ve decided to remodel your bathroom you need to determine your budget (probably something you should at least think about while your determining if you need to remodel). According to Remodeling magazine’s 2005 Cost vs. Value Report, a mid-range bathroom remodel is approximately $10,499, and that number can be higher or lower depending on where you live (and how you define mid-range). Most remodels cost between $10,000 and $20,000, with some minor fixes falling below that range and some major overhauls going above. Any kind of water damage, dry rot, or other common bathroom problems will only raise your total cost.

Once you have a budget in mind then you can start saving, and once you’ve reached your savings goal (or milestone) you need to start researching contractors. It’s important that you select several contractors and review their website, as well as their third party reviews, very carefully. Also, look for actual evidence of their work. This means checking their work out in person, or at least in their online video collection.

Make sure as you narrow down your contractors that you continue to do more research to find the best one for the job. Any concerns, such as materials, appliances, and available space, can be discussed with each of the contractors you’ve narrowed down your search to.

If you’re in the greater San Diego area and you’re considering remodeling your bathroom then give Greyhound General a call at 800-568-7108, or leave us a note here.

Summer Fun in the Yard

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Summer is almost here, and with the warmer days and longer nights comes backyard BBQs and pool parties! Whether you have family coming to town or simply plan on hosting a Summer party, now is a great time to evaluate you front yard and backyard. Here are a few areas to look at:

Your deck: How is it holding up? Has it been painted or stained in the last 2-3 years? Check for warping of the wood or peeling paint. If you’re considering remodeling, rebuilding, or expanding on your deck, or simply building a new deck, then check out this article about deck remodeling.

Your pool: It goes without saying that a pool requires maintenance. This generally mean checking the water on a weekly basis and adding chlorine & other chemicals, when necessary. However, if you have an older pool, it is also wise to evaluate the tile or other material around the edge of the pool for cracking or chipping. The same goes for the base of the pool. Keep an eye out for any cracks. Now, if you’re looking to install a new pool then I recommend you check out this article.

Your yard & landscaping: Start by evaluating your lawn. You may need to re-sod the entire area depending on the state of the grass. Next look at your flower beds. Could they use some mulch and some new flowers? Just these two steps alone can dramatically improve the appearance of your yard. You can always take it a step further and consider some additional landscaping ideas, such as stone walkways or water fountains.

Other ideas: Bring your home outside! Nowadays outdoor “living rooms” and outdoor kitchens are all the rage. The furniture makes for an inviting and comfortable outdoor experience. Just make sure it is meant for outdoors and that you cover it when not in use, store it in a shed, or at the very least, keep it protected from any rain or dew.

As for outdoor kitchens, when a simple charcoal BBQ isn’t enough, a full-blown outdoor kitchen may be best for you. You can incorporate the grill, refrigerator, sink, counter-tops, shelves/drawers, and even a hot tub, into one solid structure. Like indoor appliances, stainless steel and granite hold up very well against the elements (just make sure you cover your grill when not in use). If adding the hot tub stretches your budget then consider concrete counter-tops, which are cheaper, but also very durable. Check out this article about outdoor kitchen remodeling.

If you would like to learn more about how to improve your yard, or you’re considering an outdoor remodeling project, talk to Escondido-based general contractor and home remodeler Greyhound General. We serve all of San Diego, from Chula Vista to Oceanside, so don’t hesitate to leave us a note here or call us directly at 800-568-7108.

Options for Installing a New Roof

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A while back we wrote an article that discussed different tips for examining the condition of your roof. This is typically a good thing to do in the early Fall, so that you have time to make any fixes to it before the Winter weather begins. In this article we’ll discuss some options you have if you’ve decided to replace your existing roof.

Before even making the decision to replace your roof you need to make sure that it is in need of being replaced. This depends on the existing roofing material and the weather. Asphalt shingles may need to be replaced as early as 15 years after installation. Wood and rubber tiles can usually last 30-50 years. Metal typically can last at least 50 years, and slate, one of the most durable roofing materials, typically lasts the lifetime of the house.

Like any other housing material, there is a direct relationship between price and durability/longevity of the material. In short, if you want something that’ll last longer you’ll need to pay more for it. This is why most Americans use asphalt shingles on their home. It’s cheap, easy to install and fairly resilient. They also come in a variety of colors, and asphalt shingles tens to look aesthetically appealing for many different home styles. If you’re an environmentalist though, you might want to avoid asphalt shingles because they’re not usually recyclable because of the layer of fiberglass added to the shingles.

Wood shingles and shakes allow for a variety of different wood styles (including cedar, redwood, pine and more). Wood shingles tend to be a little costlier than asphalt, but they do blend pretty well with most home styles, particularly ranch, cottages and contemporary-style homes. The big concern with wood is its low fire safety rating. This risk can be offset with a fire-resistant treatment, which usually comes with an additional cost

Slate, as mentioned above, tends to last forever (or at least as long as the house). Slate is also very environmentally friendly, since it is not only made from a sustainable mixture, but it’s also recyclable. However, it is expensive and very heavy, and it tends to only work well with Mediterranean, Mission and European-style homes. Also, keep in mind that it is often a darker color, so it’s not ideal for high-heat locations.

There are several other popular roofing options out there, including synthetic shingles, clay & concrete, metal and fiber cement. They all come with different price points, durability and colors. When choosing the right roofing material you’ll need to factor in your budget, as well as the style of your home. Of course, when installing or repairing your roof it’s always a good time to consider adding solar panels.

Greyhound General, a San Diego home remodeling contractor will help provide you with all the different options for your home and roof. If you have any questions about remodeling your home or roof, or if you’re interested in a free estimate please fill out the form here or call 800-568-7108.