Should you be your own general contractor?

This is a hard question to answer in my opinion. Bottom line is that it is like everything else. Yes, you will make rookie mistakes. Yes, you can do a lot of the work yourself. And yes, you can be successful in being your own general contractor.

But before you pull out the hammer and blueprints, let's look at some of the advantages of hiring a general contractor so that at least you are aware of what you are up against. General contractors have a few big advantages over a do-it-yourself home owner.

• They have relationships with sub-contractors that make it a lot easier to create a schedule and stick to it.  When a general contractor calls a plumber and asks him to start a job, that plumber will show up when expected and get the job done.  When a homeowner calls a plumber, that homeowner is at the mercy of the plumber's schedule and priority list.

• A general contractor most often knows where to get the best quality products for the least amount of money.  Because he often buys products in bulk and has a relationship with the supplier, he can get a better rate than the average person.  In addition, he knows from experience which products have the best quality.  It is better to spend a few more dollars on a sink that will hold up, than one that is cheaper but will require a warranty call in a matter of months.

• A general contractor can also save you time.  Knowing exactly what inspections need to happen when, the shipping time of a product, and the scheduling conflicts of the sub-contractors, a general contractor can anticipate problems before they happen.   A homeowner won't know all of this and probably has other full-time responsibilities that will draw out the timeline even more.

My advice... When planning a major renovation or new construction project, really sit down and evaluate your skills. Be honest with yourself. Do you have the time to dedicate to this project? How is your construction knowledge? Do you have connections in the construction industry? Are you on a strict schedule?

Depending on your answers to these questions, being your own general contractor might be a really wonderful, gratifying experience. However, if your answers to these questions cause some doubt, then it might be worth reaching out to a general contractor who can partner with you to make your project a success.

Rebate Date Changed

The SECO rebate reservation date has moved to April 7th!  More information can be found at:

Also, it appears that rebate programs in other states have either sold out rather quickly or the computer servers were having issues due to the amount of traffic to the sites.  So be sure to log on early and get your reservation number.

Tax Credits, Rebates, and More Rebates

As many people are well aware of the extended Federal Tax Credit for Consumer Energy Efficiency (tax credit is 30% of the total cost of the product up to $1500), few may be aware of great state and local rebates that are available in addition to the federal tax credit.  A couple are outlined below:

In Texas, the State Energy Conservation Office (SECO) offers the Texas Trade Up Appliance Rebate Program with rebates available for upgrading to appliances that improve the overall energy efficiency of a home.  This includes everything from refrigerators to water heaters to entire HVAC systems.  For example, if a qualifying water heater was purchased for $1500, the SECO rebate would be $330 (after recycling the old one) and the federal tax credit would be $450 (30% of $1500).

As funding for the program is limited, the SECO rebates are only available for a specified time and require a reservation.  Rebates can be reserved beginning April 5, 2010 and the qualifying product must be purchased between April 16 - April 25, and be installed within 60 days of the reservation.  For more information regarding SECO rebates, please visit: 

           

In Austin, Austin Energy offers the Home Performance with EnergyStar program that has rebates for upgrading the HVAC system, radiant barrier, and insulation to name a few.  The rebate is 20% of the total cost, up to $1575.  To qualify for the program, a Home Performance energy analysis would have to be completed by a participating partner.  For more information regarding Austin Energy rebates, and to see a full listing of current available rebates for residents in the Austin area, please visit:

For more information regarding your specific needs, please contact us at 512.275.6500 or at  info@duarteconstruct.com

Product: Hardie with ColorPlus

During a recent addition, we had the opportunity to work with James Hardie siding with ColorPlus Technology.  This is a fantastic product!  It is essentially pre-painted Hardie cement fiber boards.  Once installed, the nail holes and joints are caulked with a color-matched caulking and that's it.  Done!  The house has new siding and paint all in one day!

 

The cost of this product is about 25% more than using the conventional system of installing standard primed Hardie and painting it in the field.  However, there are some distinct advantages of using ColorPlus:

 - zero maintenance
 - color is guaranteed to not chip, peel, or warp for 15 years
 - 400% better paint adherence
 - 30% better fade resistance
 - installation labor also guaranteed for 15 years


For more information regarding your specific needs, please contact us at info@duarteconstruct.com or 512.275.6500.

8 Hot Kitchen Trends

From the 2010 International Builders' Show... 8 Hot New Kitchen Trends.  Some really good ideas.  Check them out:

Sears House, Update 2

The Sears house remodel project is coming to an end.  Here are several more before/after pictures:

(Before)

(After)

The roof was entirely demolished and the metal was sent to a reseller for reuse.  Once damaged roof rafters were replaced, a new galvalume metal roof was installed.  The original windows were kept on the front  elevation in order to keep the authenticity of the intital design.  Along with a cleaning and a fresh coat of paint, the Sears house has a second life well into its next century.



Before



After



These before and after pictures are taken from the living room while looking into the dining room.  The original light fixtures were kept, as they still work, and lend an additional charm to the Sears house.  The hardwood floors were repaired and refinished with a red oak stain and a water-based, semi-gloss polyurethane.

Before



After



After



The fireplace mantel had very interesting mouldings and ornate details that we definitely wanted to repair and preserve.  After repairing the mouldings, we removed all of the old caulking, sanded, re-caulked and painted the mantle.  As intended, it is now the focal point of the entire house.



Before



After

The exterior dining room wall had extensive termite damage and was completely rebuilt with new framing members, windows, sheetrock and trim.   The interior wall was painted a light blue to help balance the earth tones and to create a nice accent.  Again, we kept the original light fixture and the trim around the windows was designed to replicate the original window trim.

This was such an amazing project to see this transformation.

Tax Incentives Extended!

The Federal Tax Credit for Consumer Energy Efficiency has been extended into 2010!  What does this mean?  On an existing primary residence, a homeowner can upgrade several key elements contributing to the overall energy efficiency of the home and receive a tax credit.  This could include replacing windows, roofing, or even an HVAC system.  The tax credit is for 30% of the total cost of the product (excluding installation) up to $1500.  The credit expires December 31, 2010.


Also, a 30% federal tax credit for solar panels, geothermal heat pump systems, and small residential wind turbines is extended until December 31, 2016.  This credit applies for existing and new construction homes, primary and secondary residences, and has no max limit!

For more information regarding this tax credit program and the entire list of qualifying products, please visit:

For more information regarding your specific needs, please contact us at 512.275.6500 or at info@duarteconstruct.com.