Tag: bathroom renovation

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Residential Real Estate

Staircase Designs for Your New House

wooden bifurcated staircase with carpet

Architects determine the staircase placement first when designing the floor plan for a residential property since the function and flow of the rest of the home depend on it. You can opt for either the traditional placement, which places the stairway just inside the front door, or take a more modern approach and place the staircase in the center of the living room. It all depends on the home’s design and what you want your focal point to be.

Placement of the staircase is critical to your floor plan configuration because it affects both the downstairs and the floor or floors above it. If you place the staircase in the middle of the entryway, near the front door, you create a dramatic entrance but may risk splitting potential bedrooms upstairs. With different staircase options, you can redirect the top of the staircase and solve your space issues at both ends.

After deciding on the staircase’s location and placing it in your floor plan, the next step is the design. Here are some options for different types of stairs to explore for your new house:

1. Quarter-Turn or L-Shaped

This is much like the straight staircase with a single linear flight except for the change in direction. The stairs feature a 90-degree turn toward the left or right immediately after a landing.

2. Winder

A winder staircase is often referred to as a more complicated version of the L-shaped staircase. This design winds the staircase’s steps, or treads, from one end to save space on the landing.

3. Half-Turn or U-Shaped

This is the ultimate back-to-basics style of a staircase—similar to the L-shaped stairway, the landing separates two linear flights. However, the bend here is taken much farther to form a full U-shape.

4. Curved

If you don’t want any landings, the curved-style staircase is perfect for your home. Unlike L-shaped or winder staircases, the curved stairs continuously follow the bend of the banister, which makes for quite a striking architectural statement.

5. Spiral

This staircase design resembles curved stairs, but it’s more compact as it’s centered on a single pole to form a perfect circle. Spiral staircases are perfect when you have very limited space, such as outdoors, where you may want to join a patio to an outdoor balcony.

6. Bifurcated

A straight staircase features a linear flight with no change in direction.

If you’re down for a vintage feel that has Titanic or Gone With the Wind embedded all over it, your go-to is the bifurcated staircase. This involves one larger flight splitting into two smaller sets of steps in opposing directions.

7. Ladder

Believe it or not, a ladder qualifies as a staircase like any other type of stairway. This is an ideal option for smaller spaces as it can be accommodated fairly well in the tiniest sliver of square footage. A ladder also adds charm to accessing bookshelves or bed lofts.

 

Freccia Group is a trusted name in residential building construction and commercial construction management. Our home builders offer design, building, and remodeling services in Round Rock, Texas. Contact our home remodeling experts today to learn more about how you can transform the home you have into the home you want in Central Texas.

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Residential Real Estate

Adding a Cozy Guestroom to Your Property Through Residential Remodeling

Guesthouse exterior in Austin, TX
Guesthouse exterior in Austin, TX

As more and more families with children take in their elderly parents, many property owners are hiring a remodeling contractor to add additional rooms to their homes, convert sheds and garages into extra rooms, or add mother-in-law suites to their properties. In many cases, these additions are being used to rent out as Airbnb suites.

Adding a guestroom to your property may be a necessity, but it can also become a thriving business that will pay for itself in the long run, especially in the Austin area where Airbnb properties are as popular as ever.

Depending on your family situation, even for homeowners who live in a multiple-story house, one or two floors can be used as a guestroom or a separate bed and breakfast while you live in a separate portion of the property.

Here’s how you can successfully add a comfortable guestroom to your existing home or as a separate building on your property:

Upgrade an existing room

Adding a guestroom, which is a commercial venture, should not require starting from scratch. Choose a room in your home that can be cordoned off from the rest of your living area to ensure privacy for both your future guests and your family. Remember, this is a business, and you really don’t want strangers walking through your home at night, nor do your guests want to stay in a home where they can’t have privacy.

This means building a separate entrance to the room where you want people to stay. Make sure it has a lockbox or secure keypad with an entry code. You should have a wall between the main home and the guest suite or a door that is securely locked.

The bedrooms should each have a comfortable bed to sleep in, their own bathroom, and be fitted with amenities such as a television, a sink with countertops, a stove or mini countertop burner, and a coffee maker. Depending on your budget and the kind of fee you plan on charging your future guests, you can select exactly how many comforts and amenities you wish to add to the rooms. Talk to our home remodeling experts in Round Rock, Texas, to figure out the best way to utilize the space and how you want your new guest suite to look.

Converting a garage or shed

Kitchen in a guesthouse in Austin, TX
Kitchen in a guesthouse in Austin, TX

Converting a garage or shed in your backyard is a viable option when you want more space for guests—whether they’re family or paying tenants. The first step if you want to pursue this option is to make sure your homeowner’s association will allow it. Some may not allow you to operate an Airbnb-type business in your neighborhood, but they may allow you to build another structure or convert a structure into a guesthouse. Check your contract to make sure.

How you build out your shed or garage depends entirely on the amount of space. Ask our residential contractor in Round Rock, Texas, about whether the structure is sound or it needs to be reinforced or rebuilt altogether. If it’s a freestanding structure, make sure you have enough space for a small kitchen area with a sink, a stove, an oven, and a countertop. It also needs a bathroom with a shower and/or bathtub. That means running electricity and your water line to the structure, adding a water heater, and making sure you tap into the sewer line. Your goal is to make sure that the building is structurally sound, comfortable, and accessible by foot or car.

Hire our home remodeling experts in Round Rock, Texas, for help creating a guestroom

At Freccia Group, we’re a construction and development company based in the Austin area. Our experienced home remodeling experts in Round Rock, Texas, can remodel your property to add a guestroom or renovate an existing structure into a guesthouse. We specialize in residential as well as commercial construction projects and have been serving countless clients across the state of Texas for many years. Contact us on our website for more information or to hire a remodeling contractor in Round Rock, Texas.

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Residential Real Estate

3 New Trends in Bathroom Design You Should Know About

A Bathroom With a Shower Cubicle
A Bathroom With a Shower Cubicle

A bathroom is more than just a place where we shower or brush our teeth. It can also be a space to relax. What’s more therapeutic than a long bath by yourself when you can tune out the rest of the world and enjoy your own company … on your phone :-)?

A tastefully decorated bathroom can help you relax and unwind. A good bathroom design should bring together multiple features that complement one another. A residential builder in Round Rock, Texas, can help you select the best features (including tiles, wallpaper, and lighting) to add to your bathroom.

Here are three trends in bathroom design that seem to be sticking around:

1. Matte black fixtures

Antique brass was popular with homeowners, but matte black fixtures, which made a comeback a few years ago, are here to stay. There are matte black faucets, toilets, bathtubs, and sinks. Black fixtures can add elegance and intrigue to your bathroom’s look without distracting from its overall design. They’re also easy to keep clean and will contrast with white walls and other white elements in your bathroom beautifully.

You can ask our home remodeling experts in Round Rock, Texas, how adding matte black fixtures can enhance the look of your bathroom.

2. Statement lighting

If you want your bathroom to have a spa-like feel to it, the right lighting will do most of the work for you. Whether you want your bathroom to have a contemporary or modern look, the lighting you select will have a major impact on the mood and ambiance of your bathroom.

LED lights, when installed vertically down the sides of mirrors, can light up the bathroom while being concentrated around the vanity, which is where they’re needed the most. You can also install dimmers to make the light brighter or softer depending on the mood you wish to create.

3. Botanical bathrooms

Adding plants to a bathroom can give it a lush, tropical feel. You can even kid yourself into believing you’re vacationing on a beach while you soak in the tub surrounded by greenery. You can add potted plants near the toilet or foliage on the wall. Pick plants that thrive in humid conditions, and make sure your bathroom has a window from which natural light can enter.

Ask your remodeling contractor in Round Rock, Texas, how a botanical bathroom could work within your space.

A Bathroom With a Shower Cubicle
A Bathroom With a Shower Cubicle

Get in touch with Freccia Group for bathroom remodeling in Round Rock, Texas

 

If you want to hire a residential construction contractor for bathroom remodeling in Round Rock, Texas, get in touch with us at Freccia Group. We’re a leading residential and commercial construction company and development firm based in the Austin, Texas, area. For years, we have served clients by providing the best home remodeling services in Round Rock, Texas. If you have any questions about bathroom or kitchen remodeling in Round Rock, Texas, contact us on our website, and let’s build something together.

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Residential Real Estate

Why Upgrading Your Insulation During Remodeling Is a Great Idea

a home builder installing home insulation
A home builder installing home insulation

While Texas typically doesn’t have very harsh winters, the summer season can be scorching and humid.

And since climate and weather can vary a great deal, it’s best to ensure that your home is well equipped to deal with the extreme temperatures.

Moreover, inadequate insulation means your utility bills are probably higher than they should be. And this alone is a great reason to replace your insulation during a home renovation.

How Does Home Insulation Work?

Basically, insulation works by trapping air molecules and keeping them from escaping the structural boundaries of your home.

As you probably know, heat is mainly transferred through three processes: convection, conduction, and radiation. While insulation can’t wholly halt heat transfer from your house, it can slow it down by reducing conduction, convection, and radiation.

Different Types of Insulation

Ceiling showing foam insulation
Ceiling showing foam insulation

There are many types of insulation options that all have both benefits and drawbacks. They have different costs and distinct applications, and some are more effective than others. They each have different R-values, which tells you the difference between the warmer temperature and cooler surface on each side the insulation material measuring the conductive flow of heat. The higher the R-value, the more resistant to heat the insulation is.

Minimum recommended home insulation R-values can range from R-13 for walls to R-60 for attics. Since attics are where both heat and cold escape, they need higher R-values to keep the home comfortable. And, depending upon where you live, the more extreme your area’s temperature—whether it’s hot or cold–the more material it takes to achieve an effective R-value.

Here is a list of the most common insulation materials ranked by lowest R-value to highest:

  • Blown-in (or loose-fill) insulation
  • Insulation blankets which include batts and rolls
  • Spray foam insulation
  • Foam board insulation

Here’s a breakdown of the most popular insulation materials in Round Rock homes.

Fiberglass

Fiberglass is the most commonly used and most affordable type of insulation in Central Texas home. It’s made up of glass fibers that are extremely fine and are blown in (also known as loose fill) or spun to form rolls, batt insulation, or boards. Blown-in insulation is made up of loose fiberglass or foam material that’s blown into the space, and it’s perfect for adding a layer to your attic when you already have a layer that has compressed over time. Insulation rolls are used in new construction in walls but can also be added to attics. Batt insulation is similar to rolls, but they come in long sheets.

Since it’s a risky material to work with, it’s best to wear protective gear when installing it or maybe just let the experts handle it.

Cellulose

Cellulose insulation is highly underrated if you ask us. It’s perfect for building cavities and for restricting airflow. Moreover, some types are even fire- and insect-resistant, making them perfect insulation options for homes.

Also, since they don’t require any added moisture barrier, they work well for both old and new homes.

Spray Foam

Spray foam insulation in liquid form is mostly sprayed and at times poured or injected and helps to fill all spaces. It may cost more, but it has a higher R-value and saves you from other pricey processes like caulking, for instance.

Spray foam isolation can also be open-cell or closed-cell and is typically used for walls, below roofs, and under the floors.

Why Make Insulation a Priority During the Remodeling Process

Not only would proper insulation make your home more comfortable, but it would also help you save on unnecessary heating and cooling costs.

In fact, we usually advise our clients to upgrade their insulation during home remodeling projects since the walls are likely to be opened anyway.

If you have any questions about what insulation could be right for your home, give us a call.

We’re home remodeling experts in Round Rock, TX, and can help you upgrade your home’s energy efficiency with our home remodeling services.

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Residential Real Estate

Why Do You Need to Remodel Your Bathroom?

If you are not happy with your current bathroom, it may be time for a remodel. Lucky for you, there are many different types of updates that you can make to your bathroom. From installing new tiles around the bathtub to installing a new sink, there are so many different things that you can do that will not only transform your bathroom into something beautiful but will also increase the value of your home.

Let’s look at some of the reasons why you might need bathroom remodeling.

Older bathrooms are small

Before the 1990s, bathrooms were meant strictly for doing your business and getting out. Now they’ve become a type of sanctuary or place to escape requiring more room and incorporating the latest technology, like heaters, video monitors, and touch-activated fixtures. Many people are replacing the integrated bathtub-shower with walk-in showers only. This change makes the bathroom feel more spacious and it’s more practical since more people these days are using the shower more often than the bathtub.

A newly remodeled bathroom will be a haven for relaxation

A newly remodeled bathroom may include an integrated steam room or sauna. Since some of the older bathrooms have both a shower and bath area, eliminating needing to dedicate space to a bathtub opens up the possibility of installing a sauna or steam room.

Some bathrooms are unsafe

If you’ve ever slipped in the bathtub or on the wet shower floor, you know how dangerous it can be to have unsafe footing surfaces. In older bathrooms, builders would tile everything and leave the bathtub finish slippery, making a rubber bathtub mat a necessity. Rarely would you find an older bathtub built for someone with disabilities.

When you redo your bathroom, make sure to use no-slip materials—like stone, tile, or even composite wood, which can resist moisture—on flooring and shower areas. If an older adult or someone with a physical disability is going to use the bathroom, be sure to include grab bars, extra lighting, and wider shower doorways to avoid accidents.

Everything is breaking

Given enough time, everything breaks down. From toilets to leaky faucets and cracked tiles, it’s not just ugly, it’s annoying. The beauty of a remodeled bathroom is that everything is new and you don’t have to worry about waking up in the morning with water leaking on your floor, the toilet running constantly, or the faucet having dripped all night.

If you are thinking about remodeling your bathroom, the options are endless. But what’s more important is that you choose a professional residential contractor who can execute your vision for your project. At Freccia Group, we provide professional residential construction services in Round Rock, Texas, to rebuild any room in your house.

Our team does bathroom remodeling, kitchen remodeling, and a wide range of other construction services. Contact us today to get started.

 

 

 

 

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Residential Real Estate

How Encaustic Tiles Are Transforming Today’s Kitchen and Bath Designs

Bathroom using porcelain encaustic tiles

Encaustic tiles are gaining popularity in today’s home designs, offering a delicate balance of unique artisan beauty and functionality based on an artform that’s thousands of years old.

“Encaustic” is a word derived from the Ancient Greek phrase “to burn,” which is how tiles were painted and enameled during that time. The process included painting tiles with a beeswax color that was then baked into place. In Medieval times, the process evolved into inlaid tile, which was composed of different colors of clay. The colors were inlaid into a pattern and then kiln-fired so that the design remained intact as it wore down over time.

Inlaid tile was commonly used in monastery and church architecture during the 13th through the 16th centuries. After disappearing for hundreds of years, it made a comeback during the Gothic Revival period.

Today, the term “encaustic tiles” is used somewhat loosely and can refer to anything from tiles made from cement similar to inlaid tiles to ceramic or porcelain tiles, which are less expensive versions made to look like encaustic tiles. While the former is more authentic, the latter two are typically more affordable.

victorian english gothic revival tiles
By Storye book – Own work, CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=61612962

How Are Encaustic Tiles Made?

The encaustic tiles today take about four weeks to make, depending on their design and thickness. The process is often done by hand by artisans, so the more complex the pattern, the longer it takes to manufacture. The tiles are typically made with cement blended with an alkaline binder, making them an economical alternative to cast ceramic tiles. Encaustic tiles made this way won’t crack or chip when exposed to freezing weather, so they’re great for exterior spaces, like patios, and they’re also very lightweight compared to other alternatives, which makes them suitable for kitchen backsplashes and bathroom floors.

A Great Alternative to Natural Stone

If you’re considering natural stone, encaustic tiles could be a great alternative because they look natural and incorporate unique designs with an artisan’s touch. For an added cost, some manufacturers will customize the tiles themselves, or you can customize the tile’s configurations to create your own unique design.

Are Encaustic Tiles a Better Option?

Encaustic tiles offer several benefits over their alternatives, including durability and unique designs. They’re porous, so it’s difficult — if not impossible — for algae and mildew to grow on them, they’re virtually maintenance free, they’re easy to clean, and they’re versatile.

Thinking of Doing Some Home Improvements? Get Home Remodeling Services in Round Rock, TX

If you’re thinking of redoing your kitchen, bathroom, or patio, contact Freccia Group to discuss your ideas. We’ve worked with homeowners across Central Texas on home improvement projects ranging from kitchen renovations to new home construction. Freccia Group has been providing homeowners in Round Rock with expert remodeling services that have earned us five-star reviews.

We believe that design should reflect how people live, so our home remodeling experts take the time to learn how you live and what you want from your home. Contact us to learn more.

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Residential Real Estate

How to Make a Small Bathroom Look Bigger During Your Remodel

a large bathroom mirror

Just because your home’s bathroom is small doesn’t mean that it has to look small. With a few upgrades or alterations, you can create the illusion of a larger space, all without tearing down any walls. Check out these upgrades that can transform your small bath into a spacious, in-home escape.

Continue reading “How to Make a Small Bathroom Look Bigger During Your Remodel”