Cooperative Living July 2020 - 23

Know When to Enlist a Pro
Stories by Kathy Witt, Contributing Writer
M
any home remodeling jobs require a permit, and
that is a clear sign it is time to call in the experts.
When homeowners pull permits, it places
responsibility for everything relating to their remodeling project
squarely on their shoulders, cautions Doug King, certified
remodeler and president-elect of the National Association of
the Remodeling Industry.
" It's better to pass that responsibility off to the contractor, "
notes King, owner of King Contracting in St. Petersburg, Fla.
" Contractors can manage the day-to-day operations and
keep all the moving parts organized, " he says.
In addition to jobs that require permits, homeowners should
call in professionals for projects involving floor or roof plan
changes; additional living space beyond the existing
foundation/roof; and electrical, plumbing and mechanical/
HVAC systems.
" Structural changes should only be handled by professionals, "
advises master certified remodeler Dennis Gehman, owner and
founder of Harleysville, Pa.-based Gehman Design Remodeling
and treasurer of the remodeling industry group.
Before picking up a sledgehammer, intrepid do-it-yourselfers
should ask these questions:
* Can I tackle this project myself? * Do I have the tools?
* Can I rent a table saw or other equipment as needed and
operate it?
Sometimes a qualified handyman can tackle a job that may
be beyond the skill set of a homeowner.
" But if it's permitting, structural and intricate, with multiple
trades and specialists involved, you really want to make that phone
call to the remodeler, " says Tim Ellis, a Forest Hills, Md.-based
remodeling specialist. ■
Kathy Witt is a travel columnist and feature writer for
Kentucky Living magazine.
Keeping up with HGTV
Homeowners' tastes under change in a digital era
emember when the living room was a shrine to plasticwrapped
furniture in a land where no one was
allowed, especially the kids? That concept
has gone the way of the Tiffany lamp, boxy
rooms and matchy-matchy window valances.
In the past 20 years, it's been all about the
open-concept floor plan, entertaining in the
roomier and more casual environs of the
kitchen, and installing built-in ceiling lights.
" More recently, for about the last 10 to 15 years,
people have really wanted two things with their homes: They
want it to keep up with HGTV and be as nice as the vacation
resorts they go to, " says master certified remodeler Dennis
Gehman, owner and founder of Harleysville, Pa.-based Gehman
Design Remodeling.
One factor that could be driving these twin aspirations -
in general, people are staying in the home longer.
co-opliving.com
R
Says Jessica Lautz, vice president of demographics and
behavioral insights at the National Association of Realtors:
" People have to reinvent their home. They're living in it
in a different way. They've had kids; now they're empty
nesters or have aging parents moving in with them. "
Reinforcing this theme is a growing demand for
floor plans that have dual-owner suites for multigenerational
living. Also big - replacement tubs with
the largest shower possible (and one with multiple jets);
attic conversions to create livable space as opposed
to storage; and nice bars added to finished basements.
Outdoor living also has become popular. Tim Ellis,
president of T.W. Ellis Design/Build/Remodel in Forest
Hills, Md., calls it the staycation factor.
" People want a big deck or patio with an outdoor
kitchen and nice grill area, and we're seeing these projects
get a lot bigger. " ■
July 2020 | Cooperative Living | 21
Experts say you
should call a pro to
handle big projects
like a master bath
renovation.
PHOTO BY TIM ELLIS/T.W. ELLIS DESIGN/BUILD/REMODEL
http://www.co-opliving.com
Cooperative Living July 2020

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