Designing Your In-Laws Quarters Home Addition

Budget: A major step, and one of the first places you should start is developing an investment budget for the project. This isn’t always easy; without experience in these types of large home addition projects, you may have no idea what to expect. If you aren’t sure where to even begin, try our Addition Cost Calculator.  

Style: Maintaining the style and aesthetics of your current home are very important when considering an addition. You do not want an eyesore stuck to your house just to cut costs – it is better to be patient and save so you can do it right the first time. Potential buyers will notice this right away… and will keep on moving.  
Create a Wish List to start: Bring ideas to the meeting. Involve your family members as much as possible in the interior designing, colors, flooring, bathroom fixtures and all of the other selections made during the design phase. This is a fun family activity, but also since they will be the one living there, their input is important. An experienced contractor can help you make the right choices to keep your budget intact while making sure of a win-win-win project design process.

 Location: Should we go off the back? Add a 2^nd story? What about a master suite and garage addition? Maybe we should do a garage conversion? You might have several options as to where to put the addition; or you may not. Working with an experience general contractor will give you some trusted guidance as to the pros and cons and feasibility of the different addition placement options you are considering.  

Choosing Your General Contractor: Have they done the type of addition you are looking for? Putting a room on the back of a house is not the same as opening up the roof to add a second story. Always ask for work samples, state registration information and references. Check their website for evidence they have the quality and experience you desire. From Lititz to Conestoga, Columbia to Manheim, MBC Building & Remodeling, LLC knows Lancaster County, PA home additions.

Making Your Bathroom into a Relaxing Retreat

After the hustle and bustle of the daily grind, we all deserve to come home to a luxurious place to unwind. Your home’s bathroom, although often overlooked, could be your personal retreat.

While planning a bathroom makeover, it’s best to start from the ground up. The floor is the priority, because it’s the most permanent part of the room. Options range from luxury vinyl, to natural stone, to porcelain or ceramic tile, to marble. Tiles and marble may have a higher price tag, but they are durable and long-lasting. Vinyl on the other hand, is a lesser expensive option for a remodel, especially coupled with the intent to sell. 

The right style and color of flooring can also make a bathroom feel much larger than it is. A light-colored marble floor with a thin, complementary-colored vein adds luxury, while also keeping the space fresh and airy. 




Cabinetry is the next step in the remodel design and has the potential to be the largest cost in your budget. A cost-saving alternative is to give your current cabinets a facelift with a coat of bright, white lacquer. 

Another option is to reface your current cabinets. This involves replacing or upgrading the cabinet door and drawer fronts and retaining the cabinet base. If the existing cabinets can not be maintained, there are many styles to choose from, including custom-made wood cabinets, oak panels washed in white, mirror-on-mirror treatments, warm pecan-stained oak, contemporary metal drawers or soft frosted glass panels.

Selecting the countertops is your next step. Often times, marble or granite can be purchased at a discount from a stone scrap yard. 

Laminate or Formica are two other great options, which will give you similar look to marble or granite at a fraction of the cost.

The finishing details and accessories have the ability to take a nicely remodeled bathroom and make it into your luxury get-away. 

Hardware is a simple way to add your personal touch and style. Whether it’s modern with clean lines or old and vintage, it’s about what makes you happy.

Let the sunshine in! A skylight may be just what you need to allow natural light into your space. A skylight is also quite private. 

For windows that need a covering, bamboo or other natural fibers add tranquility and warmth, while allowing natural light to pass through.

Turning your bathroom into your personal retreat is all about reflecting your style, attention to detail and selecting the right materials.

Remodeling Sense is not Car Sense.

Fact: You get what you pay for when remodeling.

Car Sense is a no-haggle way to buy the car you want. You research the make & model, and you can trust great service and the right price. Many inexperienced homeowners treat remodeling they same way; they decide it’s time for a new kitchen, and all they need to do is shop around for the lowest price.

Remodeling is not a product and it definitely isn’t a commodity – it is a service, plain and simple. This is sometimes easily forgotten, especially in an era when Carpentry is not given it’s proper due as a professional trade; it was in fact once considered the artist’s trade.

No two remodelers are the same… no two remodels are the same either. Deciding you are building a kitchen addition isn’t the same as deciding on the new Samsung TVs. It’s more like computers- brands, not models. What you save buying an off brand can easily cost you when the product quickly fails and you are left at square one.

MBC Building & Remodeling, LLC spends a lot of time discussing best practices for choosing a remodeler in and around Lancaster County, PA.

We hear so many Horror stories, even locally, from homeowners who thought all builders were the same, and that amazing low price was just their luck…

How many horror stories do you need to hear to realize that ‘too good to be true’ lowball offer is just that. And having a true professional contractor to come after and fix the subpar work the cheap guy completed (or didn’t…) is going to cost more to fix than to do it right the first time.

What To Do
What do you want – the Lincoln, the Ford… or the Lemon? Considerations for choosing your remodeling contractor based on Quality and Value – NOT price alone.

1. Better materials – this is often a main thing not considered by the average remodeling client, especially the first-timers out there. Also consider pricing is low due to big Home Improvement warehouses carry lower quality product lines.

2. Better craftsmanship – higher % increase of home value after project.

3. Better warranty – Most contractors offer no warranty. Some offer a year.
(P.S. MBC offers 5-years.)

4. Peace of mind – You need to trust this person and their crew inside your home, around your family, your pets, and with the fact you are paying them at work intervals and/or start of phases and not all up front. PA State Law allows no more than 1/3 down payment, excluding special order items.

Ask Your Yourself:
• Is a professional someone who makes money… or pays taxes?
• Gives their employees 100% health insurance coverage?

DROP THAT TOOLBOX!

DIY or OMG?

We spend a lot of time (and people spend a lot of money) fixing subpar remodeling work. You might be willing to do just about any home improvement project around your house... but before you tackle any major work, consider two things.  

First, ask yourself if you can do the job right. Saving money is one thing, but are you knowledgeable enough about the task at hand to avoid major (and costly) mistakes?  

Second—and perhaps more importantly—put yourself in the shoes of a potential buyer - even if you're not likely to sell for years. You might be proud of all your home improvements, but that won't stop the homebuyer from asking questions about the work. Fair or not, there is an inherent skepticism about homegrown handymen, no matter your talents.  

Professionally done work, on the other hand, tends to have a certain "seal of approval" that assures the job was done properly. Plus, most pros guarantee their work for an extended time, which gives buyers even more confidence.  

Just some food for thought!

Home Safety Tips for Seniors

*You should consider having a professional install/perform these Long Term Considerations.

Bathroom

Free/Low-Cost Home Improvements
1. Set the hot-water heater to 120 degrees Fahrenheit to reduce energy costs and prevent scalding.
2. Mark cold and hot faucets clearly.
3. Leave a light on in your bathroom at night.
4. Use a rubber-suction bath mat or anti-slip floor strips or decals in the tub or shower.
5. Increase contrast: Avoid low contrasting items. Adding contrast is as simple as a blue tub mat in a white bathtub or painting the edge of the steps a contrasting color from the rest of the step surface.
6. Install a handheld adjustable showerhead for easier bathing.
7. Install user-friendly lever handle faucets in your sinks and in tubs or showers. Some faucets even
8. Skid-proof the tub and make sure the bath mat has a non-slip bottom.

Long Term Considerations*
1. Install a raised height toilet or sink/vanity.
2. Place a sturdy bathtub or shower seat in the tub and/or shower.
3. Mount grab bars next to the toilet and bathtub and in the shower for help getting up or down.

Kitchen

Free/Low-Cost Home Improvements
1. Keep floors clean and uncluttered.
2. Illuminate work areas.
3. Mark "on" and "off" positions on appliances clearly and with bright colors.
4. Store heavier objects at waist level.
5. Place or mount an A-B-C rated, all-purpose fire extinguisher in an easily accessible location near the stove and oven so that you’re prepared for any type of kitchen fire.
6. Store sharp knives in a rack.

Long Term Considerations*
1. Replace knobs on cabinets and drawers with easy-to-grip, D-shaped handles.
2. Install offset hinges on all doors to add two inches of width for wheelchair access, if needed.
3. Install a security peephole on exterior doors at the correct height for you.
4. Install outdoor floodlights that switch on by motion sensors to light your way and to deter burglars.

General

Free/Low-Cost Home Improvements
1. Open blinds and curtains and raise shades during daylight hours to increase natural light inside the home.
2. Place exposed electrical, telephone and computer cords along a wall where people won’t trip over them.
3. Remove all cords from under furniture or carpeting to lessen the risk of fire.
4. Remove clutter from stairways and passageways to help prevent trips and falls.
5. Check the carpeting on your stairs to be sure it is firmly attached.
6. Arrange furniture to allow for easy passage.
7. Create an emergency exit plan in case of a fire.
8. Remove debris from outdoor walkways.
9. Trim shrubbery to provide a clear view from doors and windows.
10. Increase light and decrease glare by using the highest-watt light bulbs or compact-fluorescent bulbs appropriate for your light fixtures or lamps. Use only non-glare incandescent bulbs (or the fluorescent equivalents).
11. Put nightlights in the bathroom and in hallways leading from the bedroom to the bathroom.
12. Keep a smoke detector on every floor and in each bedroom.
13. Make sure that all staircases have good lighting with switches at top and bottom.
14. Replace traditional light switches with easy-to-use, rocker-style light switches.
15. Install smoke and carbon-monoxide detectors on all levels of the house, especially where the bedrooms are.

Long Term Considerations*
1. Install railings on stairs, including basement stairs, and consider railings on both sides of the steps for an extra stability option.
2. Have a professional home evaluation to match your individual needs and habits.
3. Install a shelf at the main entrance door to hold items when locking and unlocking the door and install bigger, lever handles.