You’ve considered many avenues for your home improvement project, but nothing seems to fit. If you’ve felt stressed over home repairs, consider hiring a professional to aid the processes along. Here’s how a professional carpenter can actually save you money.

They Thoroughly Clean Vents and Air Ducts

Cleaning out your air ducts and vents is essential, but you can sometimes miss pivotal spots when doing it yourself that will cost you down the line. Don’t keep doing this task yourself—a carpenter can quickly clean out everything from dust to dead leaves and dirt. If you want to avoid making your HVAC unit work harder than it needs to, let a professional handle the job.

The Home Becomes More Energy Efficient

Thin walls aren’t very energy efficient. If you’ve looked everywhere for a better way to insulate your home and have come up short, get advice from a carpenter. They can guide you through inspections and recommend the best solutions. A carpenter can enhance your home’s current energy consumption, no matter what climate you live in.

They’re Creative in Reusing Old Materials

If there’s a lingering pile of remodeling debris you can’t figure out how to reuse, leave it to a carpenter. A carpenter can work to reuse these materials in new ways when revamping a different area of your home. For instance, you might have removed wooden furniture from your home, and it may still be sitting around months later. A skilled professional could change these items into something new for you to use.

If you need new cabinets, the builder can remake the wooden furniture into cupboards for the kitchen so that you don’t need to go out and buy new ones. They can even repaint your windowpanes if you need to increase curb appeal.

They Possess Incredible Expertise in Everything Home-Related

If you don’t know how to fix your gutter system, hire a carpenter! Are you having trouble restoring your deck? That sounds like a job a carpenter can do! Carpenters have the skills to handle any renovation or construction projects thrown their way.

Carpenters handle everything throughout the process, from conducting an inspection, planning the project, picking materials, and doing the heavy lifting. Professional carpenters can help you save more money thanks to their vast knowledge of home renovations and construction methods.

Fixing Structural Issues Is Second Nature

Don’t worry about fixing structural issues—this is second nature to a carpenter. They know what areas to focus on first and what to handle last. They know how to examine the brittle bones of older homes and find suitable solutions to build new structures. In general, carpenters are the people you want around to fix up the house and help with building new additions.

At Bear Mountain Custom Painting, you get to team up with knowledgeable carpenters that can fix old homes, clean out gutters, and repaint the walls of your home. By relying on professional Cumming, GA carpenters, you will waste less time stressing over the best paint method to use and more time focusing on other tasks. Contact us when you’re ready to hire a carpenter.

Painting a home goes beyond picking a color and finding the best finisher to use on your walls. Another consideration is choosing what rooms to paint first. Before having your house painted, you should consider getting your painting supplies ready, choosing a paint color you like, and researching local experts who can help. Let’s discuss these considerations and more.

Test a Paint Color First

Even though you can accentuate the exterior with paint, you must test the color first. By researching and experimenting with different colors, you should find something that represents your personality and style and improves the entire exterior.

If you don’t feel comfortable applying the paint sample on the walls, try using an app. Most home improvement apps let you see how the siding will look with a new paint color. If you don’t want to use an app, paint the sample onto one portion of the siding, and let it dry.

After it dries thoroughly, take some time to think about it; look at how it blends in with the landscape, the window styles, and your entryway. You might not think to look at the front door frame, but it’s actually a good indicator of whether or not a paint color works.

Pick a Color You Like

Make sure to pick a paint color you like. Don’t settle for a color that doesn’t fit your style or doesn’t look good on the exterior. Depending on where you paint, all sides of the house matter, especially if you have an awning.

Don’t rush your process. When you’re in the hardware store, ask the associates for their opinion on the best exterior paint colors. Then, list the best color choices, and sample each. Don’t neglect any colors. It’s better to have tested every color than miss one you might love.

You Can Go Back and Change the Color

Ensure the color you pick is what you want. Although you can go back and change the color, it’s a good idea to be confident in your decision. Picking a paint color is one of the hardest things to do when designing your exterior, next to choosing the best lawn decorations.

Don’t be afraid to speak up and admit if the paint colors are wrong. You can quickly tell if a color doesn’t work by looking at it from different angles. Additionally, if you notice the color looks terrible in different lighting, go ahead and change the color.

Find Out How Much Paint You Need

While you don’t need to go out and buy the paint, finding out how much you need to paint the exterior is essential. You could always rely on your painting team to do the math for you, or you could use an online calculator before contacting a professional painter. That said, a professional can give a rough estimate of how much paint to buy.

Once you’ve found how much paint you’ll need, the professionals will take it from there. They’ll gather the paint, and sometimes they’ll use different strategies to save you money. One method professionals use to save on paint is called “boxing”.

Boxing is when a painter combines the remaining gallons of paint into a big bucket. This method is preferred so the paint color remains the same throughout the process.

The Quality Matters Most

Besides the price of paint, the quality of the job matters the most. Paint has transformed throughout the years, with most having a longer lifespan. When you have newer, modern paint, you won’t need to paint as often. Many of them have other benefits, such as moisture and fade resistance.

Be Mindful of the Weather

The weather can make projects difficult to plan. It’s a good idea to watch the forecast daily and plan your exterior painting project around the days your area will experience the worst weather. Paint can’t dry properly in hot or cold weather.

In order for paint to dry thoroughly, it needs to be applied to a dry surface, so painting on a mild day is better than on a hot, sunny day. Aim for painting in temperatures that range from the 50s to the 70s. This is a comfortable temperature range to paint.

Make Sure You Clean the Siding

Paint won’t stick to siding that’s dirty and rotted. Before painting, you should clear away dirt and debris and replace your siding if it’s warped or rotted. Wood rot is easy to manage if you catch it early enough.

When cleaning the siding, use a scraper to get any chipped paint or hard-to-remove grime. A scraper or sandpaper can remove dirt or paint chips. If you are dealing with wood rot, remove any infected areas, and then hammer on new siding. Right after putting the new wood on, make sure to use a wood hardener and wood filler that match the color of your wood.

Think About the Landscaping

You must protect the landscape near and around the house. Without the right protections, such as tarp and plastic coverings over the lawn, garden, and porch, you risk paint getting into places that are hard to clean.

Painting is messy. Even professional painters can make a mess, so they should also use the essential protective gear in every job. An exterior painter in Alpharetta, GA will use tarps to cover vulnerable parts of the landscape, including gardens, decks, patios, outdoor furniture, and more.

Hire a Professional for Extra Help

If you feel stuck, rely on a professional for extra help. You might not be able to paint the exterior in time alone, so hiring an experienced worker can speed up the process. You and an exterior painting team will plan your painting project together.

An exterior painter inspects the entire perimeter of the outside of the home and will decide what areas to focus on the most. They will especially focus on the current weather conditions before picking a side to paint first.

All in all, you should hire additional help with your painting jobs if you are struggling to finish on time. Aside from looking over the considerations to make before painting a house, you should contact a professional exterior painter for advice on how to proceed.

Every home that needs a paint job should go through Bear Mountain Custom Painting. We’re proud to provide professional painting services to the greater Atlanta area. We look forward to helping you with painting your home. Contact us for more information on our painting services.

Every home has its most beautiful part—whether it’s bay windows, the style of the roof, or your siding, your home’s likely to have something everyone wants to have on their home. If you could have part of the house be the center point, let it be the exterior walls. Here’s how siding improves your house’s curb appeal.

There Are Many Benefits

A good home starts on the outside—what are you doing to fix your exterior? There’s so much you can do, and one of the best ways to boost curb appeal is with new siding. Homeowners receive many benefits when they replace their siding with something new.

Here’s what you can expect from getting new cladding:

• Affordable options
• Better durability
• Timeless looks

There’s Creative Freedom

No matter what material you use, there’s room for creativity. The house reflects your personality and should remain that way, so stick with an affordable siding that feels right to use on your home. Don’t settle for just any cladding; make sure you explore everything before deciding.

The following choices are the best for your home:

• Vinyl
• Hardie board
• Shiplap
• Manufactured wood
• Metal

These materials are great because they’re durable, weather-resistant, and fit in every home style. So, when thinking about your next siding installation in Cumming, GA, consider the materials you’d want to use, as they will create the look you desire.

Maintenance Is Cut Down

You could repaint the sides of your home if you want, but it peels and only creates slight elevation. If you want to continuously turn heads, and be the envy of your neighborhood, install and maintain your siding. Retaining your exterior walls allows you to spot problems before they progress further.

It’s OK if you aren’t sure how to improve your curb appeal; installing new siding onto your house increases curb appeal, leading to a better home value. Nevertheless, instead of imagining what your home could look like with new siding, do something about it.

Bear Mountain Custom Painting is here for you, providing the best exterior siding installation in the Atlanta area. If you have questions about our exterior siding services and want to discuss your future project, contact us! We’re happily awaiting your call to fix up your home and increase its curb appeal.

One thing you’ll have pre-planned before renovating a home is a list of the top things to fix. We cover four that you should consider and include in your to-do list. Review what you’ve written and decide what you want to do first.

Flooring

Focusing on the floors first eliminates the chance of future problems and significantly helps visually improve a space. Whether you’re planning to resell or not, the floors are the first aspects visitors notice as they walk into your home.

First, remove your furniture, rugs, and anything else that sits on the floor. If you have carpeting, don’t rip it up unless you know for sure that you’re going to remove it.

Go ahead and examine the surface. For carpets, you’ll look for tears, discoloration, and water spots. As for flooring, warping, cracks, and creaks are signs you need to fix the floors.

Kitchen Cabinets

The kitchen is the second best place to gather with friends and family. If you find that the cabinets are outdated or have loose knobs, cracks, or chipped paint, it may be time to fix the cabinets. The reason to focus on cabinets is that they’re relatively quick to change compared to other major elements in the house.

Check the doors for noises and wobbliness. If the doors appear crooked or lean, you need to readjust or switch them out. If you plan to do more than the kitchen cabinets, you should let your team of contractors know.

Hiring a team of home renovation contractors in Atlanta helps keep your list of things to fix during a home renovation organized.

Walls

Your walls are the other thing you can focus on first. From the dings to holes and discoloration, walls are easily repairable. All that’s necessary is caulk to fill gaps and cracks, a new primer to keep new coats of paint from absorbing moisture, and your favorite wall decorations.

If you decide to knock the walls down, you could do that instead to create an even better layout for your room. Knocking down walls opens the space and creates more spacious walkways between the kitchen and living room. Whatever you consider doing, you should talk with the contractor about your options.

Siding

When looking at your house’s exterior, you may notice warped sides, cracks, or holes. You should try to address these immediately to prevent further issues. The siding is a major thing to fix when renovating a home because it can affect its structure and look. The contracting team will inspect and change out any damaged areas.

Bear Mountain Custom Painting has contractors in Alpharetta and the surrounding areas that can help you complete your to-do list so that you can get the results you want. Contact us for more information on our contracting services for your home improvement.

Whether you’re sampling paint, idly using Pinterest for renovation inspiration, or picking out floor tiles for the bathroom, you should communicate every change and question to your carpenter. Take every chance you get to talk to your carpenter and ask them important questions, especially before starting a project.

Is There a Team That Comes Daily?

Not every home remodel is going to be the same. There may not be a massive team of builders renovating your house, and you may not have a roofer or a painter, but you likely will have a carpenter who builds the right team for you.

As such, you’re going to have a certain number of workers working on the project each day. During the day, you may hear someone refer to a staff member as the superintendent. This title describes the person in charge of hiring and operations. Before starting, ask about the remodeling team and get to know them so that you can put a face to each name.

What Will the Schedule Look Like?

Your renovation schedule is up to you and your contractor. The contractor will always plan their schedule around yours, especially if they’re working on another development. You should have an idea of a set schedule during the planning phase.

During the development phase, you’re going to discuss the room you plan to work on. The timing will all depend on the space. For instance, a kitchen remodel could need a month or more and will likely render the space inoperable during that time. Therefore, it’s important to ask what areas the crew plans to work on each day and week.

What Protection Methods Do You Use in Renovation?

Every renovation project, no matter if it’s inside or outside, needs protection. A good safety method is to always use tarps and durable plastic to protect the construction area. Carpenters will survey an area, mark what obstacles are in the way, and find strategies to work around those areas.

If required, a carpenter may ask you to move things within the space or remove them entirely so that they can work safely and efficiently. Be mindful of the workers; as much as you want to redo your room quickly, you also need to give them the space to work.

Will I Have the Final Say in Decisions?

As the homeowner, you’re in charge of any final decisions. When working alongside Carpenters in Cumming, Georgia, you’ll communicate a lot. They will present you with many options, and you get to decide what happens next in the renovation process. This is one of the biggest questions you must ask your carpenter before starting a project.

As you work out the final details and decide what’s best for your home, you will have a carpenter from Bear Mountain Custom Painting on your side through it all. While renovating is fun, it’s also a process that involves communicating about what works for you. Our carpenters look forward to helping you; reach out for more information on our carpentry repair services.

Many emotions come with buying property, such as nervousness and excitement. It’s a new chapter in your life that you’re eager to embark on, but sometimes, hesitation seeps in and leaves you wondering if you’re ready. How do you know when it’s the right time to buy a house? Let’s take a closer look at the signs you may be ready to own a home and some indicators that you might not be ready yet.

Signs You’re Ready To Own a House

Owning a home is exciting for many young people, especially if it’s their first home—it’s an extension of their independence. Being able to say you own property is a long-term goal that many have.

You might wonder if it’s time to get in touch with financial services about the process of getting pre-approved for a mortgage and searching for the best Realtors in your area. If you notice these signs you’re ready to own a home, get in touch with an agent to learn the next steps toward home ownership.

You’re Ready To Settle Down

The biggest thing to ask yourself is whether you’re ready to settle down and enjoy life at your own pace. Once you leave the renting world behind, you know what you want in a house. Whether you’re looking to start a family or not, being ready to settle down is the most straightforward sign that you’re ready to own a home.

You Have Savings Accounts Set Up

One single savings account is good for keeping emergency funds. However, having multiple accounts in good standing proves you can afford a home. You have enough to satisfy needs for the house, such as handling home renovation projects or ensuring you have enough to cover the down payment and other closing fees. Having money saved up is a surefire way to determine if you’re prepared to browse and buy on the market.

You’re Financially Healthy

Savings is essential, but how are your general finances? Everything from student loans to credit card payments can reflect how well you do with money. If you find yourself caught in a hole, you need to pause because a home isn’t possible right now.

The best way to get pre-approved for a mortgage is to have a DTI (debt to income) ratio of less than 45 percent. You might be below or equal to the percentage if you’re on time with payments, you spend what you need to, and your credit card usage is below 30 percent.

One way to figure out if you’re below 45 percent is to use this math equation: in parenthesis, write out your total monthly payments and divide the amount by your monthly income. Then, multiply that answer by 100, and you’ll have your answer. If that number is at or below 45, then you’re in a better position to buy a home.

The Market’s Looking Good From Here

While you might have everything working in your favor, sometimes the market isn’t right, especially if you’re looking in a less sought-after area. It might be best to speak with your agent about looking around your desired location so you can see what’s available.

Overall, a good market should have plenty of listings. If there’s an abundance of properties to pick from and good competition, you’re in a good place to buy or sell.

Your Credit Score Is Above Average

While it’s true that any credit score above 500 can guarantee the chance to buy a house, it might not be in your desired range. Say you want to buy a home in a good neighborhood with amenities nearby in a great school district, and your spending limit is between $300,000 and $500,000.

While that’s a good range, your lender may not approve a mortgage for that high of a home cost if your score’s below 680. Your score plays a big part in pre-determining mortgage rates, so if you plan to buy something higher, address your credit score.

If you’re in good standing, you’ll get good offers and lower interest rates. The higher your score is, the less interest you’ll accrue on top of payments.

You Haven’t Job Hopped

You might be prepared to buy a home if you have a well-paying job for at least two years. A worker who’s gone from job to job may have difficulty finding a home loan because there’s no evidence of steady income flow.

Signs You’re Not Prepared To Buy a Home

Although there are indications that some would be ready to work with an agent and go through pre-approval processes for mortgages, there are ways to tell if you’re not ready to buy a house. Here are three surefire ways to tell if you aren’t ready to buy a home.

You Don’t Know if You’ll Stick Around for a While

If you aren’t comfortable in your area, you might not be ready for a home. Buying a house means having a permanent place to stay, but if you’re unhappy with where you are, you may not be ready to put down roots.

If you need to do soul searching to find your true happy place, then do it. You shouldn’t feel obligated to stay in a space that doesn’t fit your lifestyle.

While deciding, consider giving yourself a timeline of where you’ll be in the next five years. Do you see yourself living in the same town you are now? When you have a steady job, have good financial health, and are ready to seek a permanent location to live, then you’ll be ready to buy a home.

Lenders Can’t Approve You

Lenders can’t approve someone with a low credit score and a mountain of debt. Work with a financial advisor and utilize phone apps to manage payments so you can pay off debts. You don’t want to add another loan to your debt without having a handle on expenses and a reliable income flow.

Buying Doesn’t Fit Your Routine

Some enjoy the ability to live where they want and go where they want to go without feeling held down in one place. If you prefer moving around and enjoy the freedom of renting, you’re probably not ready to buy. Factor how often you move into your home buying decision.

When Is It Time To Buy?

You’re the best judge when it comes to deciding when’s the right time to buy a home. Keep in mind that home is something you must tend to often, meaning you must handle repairs, renovations, and property taxes. If you’re not ready for these responsibilities, hold off on buying.

Take time today to sort through your plans for the future; if today’s not the day to purchase a house, that’s OK. There’s always next year.

However, if you are looking to buy or sell, you’ll likely need to make some updates. Bear Mountain Custom Painting ensures every home’s curb appeal makes a lasting first impression on homebuyers. We can also help you make your newly purchased house feel like home. Contact us today to help you with house painting in Cumming, GA, and for ideas on how to transform your property.