Do you really need a contractor?

Architect Karl Leabo explains why he believes that hiring a (good) contractor will save you headache, time and money.

Episode Recap

• The best outcome is when you hire a contractor early on in the design process
• Contracting your renovation can be a full time job, even a project that seems small.
• What restaurant would your contractor be?
• Some projects require a higher end contractor, some do not
• When calling for references, ask about their subcontractors
• Living in the house through a renovation
• Budget and scope creep- the contractor can help with this if he gets on board early.
• Make sure you’ve got a 5 to 15% construction contingency
• Bathrooms and kitchens may seem like small projects, but they involve all of the trades and are complicated.
• Don’t put off the renovation too long, get it done before you decide to sell it so that you can enjoy it.

Learning from the mistakes of others

Don’t rush into the project, live in the house for a while if you possibly can.

About this episode’s guest

Karl Leabo has more than 35 years of experience as a project designer and planner, focusing primarily on the college/university and sports/recreation markets. A key member of CHA's sports practice, his projects have ranged from the master planning and programming of new indoor and outdoor developments to the renovation and expansion of existing facilities at campuses nationwide. His expertise covers virtually every form of sports activity undertaken by the competitive athlete and recreational enthusiast.

Help me spread the word!Send a link to this show to 3 of your friends who you think could use information about home renovations. I would really appreciate that.

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Thanks to Ray Bernoff, the editor of the show. www.RayBernoff.com

The music is Blueberry Festival Footrace by David Fisher and performed by Hanneke Cassel www.hannekecassel.com

Cover Art by Sam White www.samowhite.com

If you need architectural advice, contact me through my website at www.demiosarchitects.com

Email questions for future episodes to [email protected]

High Performance Architect Emily Mottram joins me in this episode to talk about the renovation she is undertaking at her home in Maine. She calls her renovation a pretty good renovation which is in keeping with the principles of the pretty good house (https://www.prettygoodhouse.org) which is building better than required by code until it doesn't make financial sense. Like all of us, she encountered scope creep and has some advice based on her experience.

About our guest:

Emily is the founder and principal of Mottram Architecture, a boutique practice specializing in new homes and renovations that are beautiful, functional, comfortable, healthy, and durable.

Emily received her Bachelor of Architecture degree from Penn State University and is a Registered Architect in Maine, New Hampshire and Pennsylvania; she has also previously been registered in New York and Texas. Emily is a member of the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB), the Maine Indoor Air Quality Council (MIAQC), and the Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM), the state’s leading organization working to protect and preserve the environment.

An educator at heart, Emily also teaches building science and sustainable design at a local community college and has served as a consultant for projects in a secondary school trade program. She hosts the weekly podcast E3: Energy and Efficiency with Emily and co-hosts the live-streamed BS* + Beer Show, a weekly building science show for professionals and “civilians” alike.

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Thanks so much for being with us this week. Please see the episode enhancement for this and other episodes at talkinghomerenovations.com

Do you have feedback you would like to share? Would you like to be a guest on the podcast? Email me at [email protected]

If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with your friends

Don’t forget to subscribe to the show and get automatic updates every Wednesday morning with the latest episode of Talking Home Renovations with the House Maven.

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Reviews and ratings help my show gain traction and credibility. Please leave a review here- https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/talking-home-renovations-with-the-house-maven/id1481716218

Visit Talkinghomerenovations.com for episode enhancements, containing photos and more information about the episodes as well as transcripts. There you can leave a voice message through speak pipe that could be included in a future episode.

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Talking Home Renovations with the House Maven is part of Gabl Media, the largest, most engaged AEC network on the planet. Visit www.Gablmedia.com for great content.

Sign up for the weekly newsletter- I send out the episode enhancements every Wednesday morning, sign up here

Thanks to Ray Bernoff, the editor of the show. www.RayBernoff.com

Music at the beginning and end of the episode is The House Maven's Jig, written and performed by Neil Pearlman, www.neilpearlman.com

Show Cover Art by Sam White www.samowhite.com

This podcast is a production of dEmios Architects. www.demiosarchitects.com

Do you need a bit of design help? If you are in Massachusetts and need a second set of eyes on your design, my Ask an Architect design help-line can help. We meet on zoom for an hour to review your issues. Contact me for more information.

A listener wrote to request an episode on insulation- here it is! Christine Williamson of Building Science Fight Club explains the factors to consider when insulating your house. I hope you enjoy this deep dive into the subject. Christine is an accomplished building scientist who has a large following on instagram through her account Building Science Fight Club (@buildingsciencefightclub). She can also be reached through her website https://www.christine-williamson.com

About our guest:

Christine Williamson’s professional experience includes building-science consulting for the restoration of Belvedere Castle in New York City’s Central Park, forensic investigations of building failures at the air-traffic control tower of LAX, and the Wheeler Opera House in Aspen, among other projects. She offers new-construction risk-mitigation consulting for residential towers, mid-rise mixed-use buildings, and production homes, as well as some of the most extraordinary private residences in the world. She has worked across North America from the Canadian Arctic to the Caribbean.

She began her career working for architect Chris Benedict in New York City, where she performed blower-door tests on gut rehabs in Harlem and Washington Heights and assisted in the design of one of the first multi-family Passive Houses in the United States. In her current practice, she reviews drawings and makes recommendations that promote appropriate water control, air control, energy efficiency, constructability, and durability. For clients with a portfolio of upcoming projects, she assists in developing design standards commensurate with their tolerance for risk. During the construction phase, she reviews work in progress and addresses conditions or changes in sequence or scope that were not anticipated during the design phase.

In existing buildings, she investigates failures related to enclosure design and mechanical systems as well as material and installation defects. Failures include leaks, corrosion, rot, mold, odors, poor indoor air quality, and discomfort due to poor temperature or humidity control. Her experience in new construction and attendant understanding of the division of labor among the trades, and typical sequencing and construction practices inform not just her analysis in forensic cases, but also her repair and retrofit recommendations, which are designed to minimize disruption in occupied buildings.

Christine Williamson is a member and former chair of ASHRAE Technical Committee 1.12, Moisture Management in Buildings. She is an associate member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and is a member of the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA). She is the founder of @buildingsciencefightclub (BSFC), an Instagram community dedicated to teaching building science and construction to architects and other building professionals.

She received her bachelor of arts from Princeton University and her master of architecture from New School of Architecture + Design.

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Visit Talkinghomerenovations.com for episode enhancements, containing photos and more information about the episodes as well as transcripts. There you can leave a voice message through speak pipe that could be included in a future episode.

Help me spread the word about this podcast!

If you like this podcast, subscribe and tell your friends about it! Love a review or a rating! Thank you for your support.

Follow me on instagram: @talkinghomerenovations

Join me on TikTok: @The House Maven

Sign up for the weekly newsletter I send out a weekly information with our episode enhancements and additional information, sign up here

Thanks to Ray Bernoff, the editor of the show. www.RayBernoff.com

Music at the beginning and end of the episode is The House Maven's Jig by Neil Pearlman, performed by Troy MacGillivray and Neil Pearlman www.neilpearlman.com

Show Cover Art by Sam White www.samowhite.com

This podcast is a production of dEmios Architects. www.demiosarchitects.com

Email ...

Remodeling and construction journeys are complicated. It’s no wonder homeowners get stuck in the process. Having a roadmap means reducing frustration and always knowing your next step.

In this episode, you will discover.......

• What “roadmap” means in the context of home renovation.
• Some common mistakes homeowners make on their renovation journey.
• Whether it’s ever too late in your project to start making your roadmap.
• How to find the right expert to ask for help.

Link to Mona's Renovation Roadmap

About our guest

Feeling stuck when it comes to navigating your renovation? Mona Ying Reeves is the House Coach that will get you past the overwhelm and moving forward. A serial renovator, architect, and behind-the-scenes design consultant to various HGTV home makeover shows, Mona founded Kickstart House to support and empower homeowners with their renovation journeys.

After years of seeing homeowners struggle with a complicated construction landscape, Mona’s on a mission to help homeowners align their surroundings and their journeys with their best lives. With Kickstart House, she’s taken her proven framework of delivering dream homes for high-end clients and refined it into a roadmap that any homeowner can follow.

In addition to coaching homeowners, Mona is a licensed architect in the state of California. She holds a Master’s degree in Architecture from Harvard University and a Bachelor’s degree from UC Berkeley.

Learn more about Mona Ying Reeves

Website: Kickstart House

Facebook: Kickstart House

Twitter: Kickstart House

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Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for being with us this week. Please see the episode enhancement for this and other episodes at talkinghomerenovations.com

Do you have feedback you would like to share? Would you like to be a guest on the podcast? Email me at [email protected]

If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with your friends

Don’t forget to subscribe to the show and get automatic updates every Wednesday morning with the latest episode of Talking Home Renovations with the House Maven.

Click here to get the episode enhancements sent directly to your inbox every week.

Reviews and ratings help my show gain traction and credibility. Please leave a review here- https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/talking-home-renovations-with-the-house-maven/id1481716218

Visit Talkinghomerenovations.com for episode enhancements, containing photos and more information about the episodes as well as transcripts. There you can leave a voice message through speak pipe that could be included in a future episode.

Follow me on instagram: @talkinghomerenovations

Join me on Facebook: Talking Home Renovations

Follow me on Twitter (help make that a thing): @talkinghomereno

Join me on TikTok: @The House Maven

Talking Home Renovations with the House Maven is part of Gabl Media, the largest, most engaged AEC network on the planet. Visit www.Gablmedia.com for great content.

Sign up for the weekly newsletter- I send out the episode enhancements every Wednesday morning, sign up here

Thanks to Ray Bernoff, the editor of the show. www.RayBernoff.com

Music at the beginning and end of the episode is The House Maven's Jig, written and performed by Neil Pearlman, www.neilpearlman.com

Show Cover Art by Sam White www.samowhite.com

This podcast is a production of dEmios Architects. www.demiosarchitects.com

Do you need a bit of design help? If you are in Massach...

Today I am talking to LaShaun Key from South Carolina, and we're discussing clients -- the good, and the bad.

In this episode, you will discover.......

What makes a good client, and how can I be one?

About our guest:

LaShaun helps families create a home that serves as the family hub which brings everyone home to connect, reconnect and treasure family. We do this by maximizing their property’s value by materializing their dream home through creative design. After 10 years of military service an injury forced a change in career. During one of the hardest seasons of his life, a conversation with his 5-year-old daughter reignited a childhood dream of becoming an architect. Since graduating from Savannah College of Art & Design in 2010, LaShaun has works on various design projects to include multi-family, office building and medical facilities. Having the opportunity to work with some families to achieve their dream home, he found a passion for residential design. LaShaun continues to serve his community through ACE Mentors, an organization that mentors high school students in careers in architecture, construction, and engineering. Serving is a major part of his beliefs. LaShaun serves clients by materializing their dream home that connects their families together.

Learn more about LaShaun Key:

Website: Key Design LLC

Instagram: Key Design LLC

Facebook: Key Design LLC

LinkedIn: LaShaun Key

********************************************

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for being with us this week. Please see the episode enhancement for this and other episodes at talkinghomerenovations.com

Do you have feedback you would like to share? Would you like to be a guest on the podcast? Email me at [email protected]

If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with your friends

Don’t forget to subscribe to the show and get automatic updates every Wednesday morning with the latest episode of Talking Home Renovations with the House Maven.

Click here to get the episode enhancements sent directly to your inbox every week.

Reviews and ratings help my show gain traction and credibility. Please leave a review here- https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/talking-home-renovations-with-the-house-maven/id1481716218

Visit Talkinghomerenovations.com for episode enhancements, containing photos and more information about the episodes as well as transcripts. There you can leave a voice message through speak pipe that could be included in a future episode.

Follow me on instagram: @talkinghomerenovations

Join me on Facebook: Talking Home Renovations

Follow me on Twitter (help make that a thing): @talkinghomereno

Join me on TikTok: @The House Maven

Talking Home Renovations with the House Maven is part of Gabl Media, the largest, most engaged AEC network on the planet. Visit www.Gablmedia.com for great content.

Sign up for the weekly newsletter- I send out the episode enhancements every Wednesday morning, sign up here

Thanks to Ray Bernoff, the editor of the show. www.RayBernoff.com

Music at the beginning and end of the episode is The House Maven's Jig, written and performed by Neil Pearlman, www.neilpearlman.com

Show Cover Art by Sam White www.samowhite.com

This podcast is a production of dEmios Architects. www.demiosarchitects.com

Do you need a bit of design help? If you are in Massachusetts and need a second set of eyes on your design, my Ask an Architect design help-line can help. We meet on zoom for an hour to review your issues. Contact me for more information.