From the monthly archives:

September 2009

Exterior Home Painting

by admin on September 29, 2009

in exterior,Maryland Custom Painting

Reading time: 3 – 5 minutes

Home Exterior Painting Maryland

When driving through some neighborhoods, it looks like every home along the way is a clone of the previous. Not only do they have the same layout, but their paint is exactly the same or close to the same color shade. This uniformity is what some people want and look for and it can make choosing a color easy when it is time to repaint your Maryland Home. If you crave originality in your home’s color, take the initiative to go against the crowd and choose something different that sets you apart.
Maybe you want to go with a bright red house painting and yellow trim or yellow painting with blue trim. Whatever you are desiring in your home exterior painting, be adventurous and do it.
Now, there should be some words of caution to take heed of. If your neighborhood has a home owner’s association that exercises strict rules pertaining to your house painting color, you will need to adhere to those rules. In addition, even if you have no home owner’s association, if you are concerned that certain colors will cause an uproar in your neighborhood, you might want to think twice about the home exterior painting or discuss the colors with some of your neighbors. In this situation, however, in the end, it is your home and therefore your choice of what color to use.
It is always fun to choose a house painting color that means something. Maybe it will be the color of your college alma mater or the color of your favorite car. No matter the reason behind the home exterior painting, it can be a great conversation starter when neighbors ask why you chose the color.

If you want to go with a bold color for the painting project but are a little scared that you won’t like the end result or that it will be a little bold, you can always start small. Maybe have the trim painted that bold color as an accent to the overall color and see how you like that. Or maybe go with a more toned down shade of the bold color for the overall painting and then if you like that you could always take the next step the next time your house needs repainted.

You can also consult with a competent Maryland remodeling contractor or custom home painter regarding color ideas and options. The contracted painter can sometimes provide you with examples from previous projects or show you color combinations that could spark your creativity. Ask them questions on their most bold projects and how the home owners ending up liking the colors.

If you are craving to go against the crowd and have your house painted an original color by a contracted painter, the options can be nearly limitless. There are factors to take into account though, such as whether or not your home owner’s association has home exterior painting rules or if you will have to face disgruntled neighbors for painting your home a certain color. In any case, just have fun with it.Visit http://www.youtube.com/?v=uA8jq1T6isE for more information on home exterior painting

Maryland Home Remodeling by BT Martin Contractors

BT Marting Contractors Bethesda Maryland Custom Painting http://btmartincontractors.com

Maryland Custom Painting Contractor serving Bethesda, Potomac and Howard County for 30 yrs. We are fully licensed and insured, with excellent references available upon request. Our team of quality-conscious professionals will address all of your home improvement concerns, treating your home and property with high regards.

We understand… the importance of completing the projects in a timely manner without interrupting your daily life.

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Home Remodeling is your contractor insured?

by admin on September 27, 2009

in insured,MHIC

Reading time: < 1 minute

Maryland Home Remodeling by BT Martin Contractors

BT Marting Contractors Bethesda Maryland Custom Painting http://btmartincontractors.com

Maryland Custom Painting Contractor serving Bethesda, Potomac and Howard County for 30 yrs. We are fully licensed and insured, with excellent references available upon request. Our team of quality-conscious professionals will address all of your home improvement concerns, treating your home and property with high regards.

We understand… the importance of completing the projects in a timely manner without interrupting your daily life.

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13 Things Your Remodeler Wont Tell You

by admin on September 26, 2009

in home remodeling

Reading time: 4 – 6 minutes

With business down it may be the perfect time to indulge in some home improvement projects.

Read on for more secrets of home remodelers.

From Reader’s Digest

1. Business is down 16 percent. The good news for you: I’m returning calls and trimming prices.

2. High-end people will do smaller jobs we might have spurned a few years ago. Focus on projects that will keep your house market-ready, like upgrading a bathroom.

Custom Interior Painting in Chevy Chase MD

3. Triple-check financing before you start. You don’t want to run out of money to pay me because your lender decides to lower or eliminate your home equity line of credit. (And it can, at any time.)

4. Those of us who do new houses or commercial projects may not have great remodeling skills. Long track records count.

5. Look at work I’ve done in the past 12 months, on a budget similar to yours. (Older projects likely had bigger budgets and more expensive materials.)

6. Check me out: Any liens? Pending lawsuits? Do I have a valid state license? Do my subcontractors?

7. Test-drive me on a smaller project before you commit.

8. Do I have insurance? (Check directly with my insurance company. Those papers I waved in front of you may have expired years ago.)

9. Don’t over- improve—especially since home values are falling. Check out local trends in the “Cost vs. Value” report at remodeling.hw.net.

10. Spell everything out. Otherwise, I may not prime the walls before I paint or I may not build that closet shelf and put up that rod. Expect nothing that’s not in writing.

11. Ask if you’re getting a dedicated crew. If not, your project may drag on while I juggle multiple jobs. Tie the contract to deadlines for each phase.

12. Ditto for the brand and precise quality of the materials, appliances, and fixtures you are ordering. Don’t let us sub in materials of “equal or better quality” that aren’t.

13. Put “while you’re at it” projects on a separate list and ask me to give you separate estimates. Home improvement spending is projected to slide another 12 percent this year. I’ll likely have time—and be glad—to come back.

Sources: Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies; Roger Peugeot, president of Roger the Plumber, Inc., Overland Park, KS; Collin Johnson, director of inspection services for the City of Glendale, WI; Bruce Case, president of Case Design/Remodeling, Inc., based in Bethesda, MD. Interviews by Joanne Cleaver.

From Reader’s Digest

 

Maryland Home Remodeling by BT Martin Contractors

Maryland Custom Painting Contractor serving Bethesda, Potomac and Howard County for 30 yrs. We are fully licensed and insured, with excellent references available upon request. Our team of quality-conscious professionals will address all of your home improvement concerns, treating your home and property with high regards.

We understand… the importance of completing the projects in a timely manner without interrupting your daily life.
We understand… that the importance of maintaining a clean work environment. We make it a top priority
7130 Rock Creek Dr, Frederick, MD (301) 253-1068 ‎

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Reading time: 3 – 4 minutes

These are truly tough financial times, and the boom days are now over for the US real estate industry. Today, many homeowners are having second thoughts on undertaking a home improvement activity, and are questioning whether if it’s worth the time and money that’s required. A home remodeling activity could still be done, however, as knowing which type of remodeling activity to invest in should help to make a major difference.

The positive side of remodeling your home during a recession is that, when it comes to major home remodeling aspects, renovating the bathroom, kitchen, and basement continues to serve as the main backbone of the remodeling industry and has only incurred minimal losses in recoup values, and has surprisingly maintained steady values in some cases. Home improvement analysts agree that simple improvements such as repairing the sliding door or replacing the windows lead the pack when it comes to rising recoup values.

Remodeling during a recession also has its share of negatives. As the housing market is on a slump, the pocketbooks of consumers have also gotten much thinner. With the recession serving as a gloomy backdrop, home remodeling projects have seen the largest drop in recoup values over the years. Two-story home additions for instance, have incurred a major drop in recoup values, by around 20% between 2002 and 2007. Among the other home remodeling projects that have lost value over the last five years include family room remodels, office remodels, and attic bedroom constructions.

Maryland Custom Painting for fine homes

While most studies have indicated that the overall value of home improvements have considerably dropped over the last five years, a number of projects have successfully held the recession at bay, and are steadily holding on their own. Housing analysts stress that the trick is in knowing which projects to steer clear from and spotting which ones are worth your trouble. While choosing the appropriate home remodeling job may be a wise move, it would even be smarter if homeowners see these tough times as an opportunity for negotiating affordable or even fairly-priced home remodeling deals. Who knows, these tough economic times may even provide you with much-lower home reconstruction deals?

Custom Interior Painting in Chevy Chase MD

Lizette Provence has been writing for almost four years now. She writes articles on home improvement, fitness and technology. Recently, she has launched a new website which features different Electrolux Vacuum Cleaners suitable for your home needs. You can visit her site at Vacuum Cleaner Bags for more useful information.

Maryland Home Remodeling by BT Martin Contractors

Maryland Custom Painting Contractor serving Bethesda, Potomac and Howard County for 30 yrs. Maryland Home Remodeling for discriminating exclusive clientèle. Commercial and Residential Work

7130 Rock Creek Dr, Frederick, MD (301) 253-1068 ‎

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Kitchen Remodeling

by admin on September 26, 2009

in kitchen remodeling

Reading time: 3 – 5 minutes

Maryland Home Remodeling

Does Your Kitchen Need a Make Over?

Without question, remodeling your kitchen is a daunting task. With the unlimited options in materials and styles, even those who are just starting to think about a remodel can begin to feel overwhelmed. The first step to putting such a project into perspective is doing your research.

The Internet is full of resources that can prepare any homeowner, even before they visit a showroom or speak with a contractor. These resources guide consumers on the search for their perfect kitchen by helping them find their style and showing them what is available.

From Maryland Custom Painting

Find a Style
With so many design choices available, it may be hard to know what you like until you actually see it. Web videos, like Merillat’s “Kitchen Chronicles” series can help you get an idea of what your dream kitchen might look like. The videos highlight four people with varying needs and demonstrate how their kitchens fit their lifestyles – whether they are using their kitchens for entertaining, family use, organization or to help sell their homes.

Each video highlights solutions specific to the way the kitchen is used. If you’re drawn to a particular kitchen in the videos, you can explore it further by getting detailed information about the products and design ideas used in the space. You’ll find the Web videos and a style quiz at www.merillat.com.

Maryland custom painting for custom kitchen
Get Inspired
Browse design and home improvement Web sites and “collect” photos and ideas that inspire you. Many have online portfolios where you can save your favorite photos and make notes. Don’t limit yourself to photos or slideshows of full kitchens. Break your dream kitchen into specific elements whereby you might discover one small piece that can inspire the entire design. Check out lighting, paint, hardware and appliance Web sites as well.

Lay it Out
Many Web sites feature layout tools to help you design your dream kitchen down to the last inch. Look around to find the tool that works best for you as the tools have varying degrees of difficulty and detail.

Go with the Pros
Don’t overlook professional and trade-only Web sites. They often feature the cutting edge in kitchen design. While you may not be able to purchase products directly, if you fall in love with a specific decor element or an entire look, a professional kitchen and bath designer can help make the dream a reality.

Ask a Friend
There are plenty of kitchen and remodeling forums online so feel free to make some new friends. Your fellow forum users can post inspiring photos, offer ideas and, more importantly, give advice on what not to do or which products to avoid.

Do Your Homework
Once you find a product, appliance or brand you like, check out consumer safety and satisfaction Web sites. You may love the look of a certain refrigerator, but if the brand has numerous recalls or other consumers have been dissatisfied with the appliance, you can save yourself time and money by avoiding it.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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Considering Remodeling Your Home?

by admin on September 26, 2009

in remodeling

Reading time: 3 – 5 minutes

Maryland Home Remodeling by BT Martin Contractors

Thinking about remodeling?
Congratulations! You’re on your way to one of the most rewarding experiences that a homeowner can go through. When you remodel your home, you’re not only designing a new and exciting living space, you’re also increasing the resale value of your home.

Bethesda Maryland custom painting by BT Martin Contractors

Problem is, most of us don’t know where to begin. The very idea of remodeling a home can be a bit overwhelming without knowing where to look for help, advice, and of course ideas. The good news is that these pointers aren’t far from you at all and can be accessed with just a little bit of effort. Before we introduce a couple of them, let’s remember why we want to gather them in the first place. It’s Remodeling 101 Essentially, your goal in gathering remodeling resources is to collect all the facts about remodeling that you’re willing to read through. In a way, remodeling is a problem and researching the subject is part of the problem-solving process.
 
The Number One Resource For Almost Anything The library is always one of the first resources you should look to learn more about the remodeling process and what you can do with it. Since the Internet boom, libraries have begun to lose their appeal with some audiences. After all, a lot of helpful information can be found online just by cruising the net. However what some people fail to realize is that the library offers indispensable books (remember those?) with tons of pages and pictures that don’t need Windows XP or electricity to operate.
With a simple library card, you can borrow any number of books about remodeling – peruse them at your leisure – and not have to worry if the material that you’re reading is rehash of hundreds of others websites that you’re already seen. The material in this resource is truly original, free, and available whenever you need it.
Remodeling Magazines Are Simply Invaluable There’s simply no better way to find creative home improvement ideas than from remodeling magazines. This is probably due to the high quality and expansive photographs that not only explain how something is accomplished – they show it! With magazine photographs, it becomes much easier to communicate your wants and/or needs to your contractor with a magazine fold out or ad.
Don’t Forget Your Local Legal Resource One way that you can facilitate the process of your remodeling project is to research what’s required before you start. And a good place to start is your local permit office. Regardless of how large or small you think your remodeling project is, you’ll do yourself a tremendous favor by visiting (or calling) your permit office and finding out if your project requires building permit.
In some states, any project that costs over five hundred dollars requires a building permit even if that project is inside the home – even if you do the project yourself! State regulations vary as well as city or county regulations vary so to stay within the laws, find out what’s required first. Otherwise you might find yourself stopping the construction of your remodeling project, paying high fines, paying twice the amount of a building permit, and/or tearing down what you’ve worked so hard to build.
Maryland Custom Painting by BT Martin Contractors
Genuinely Honest Quality Contractors with Andy Griffith Sincerity. Two brothers learned their craft in the Appalachia Valley bring quality construction with an Honest Abe mentality that just can’t be beat.
Home remodelers of upscale Chevy Chase/ Bethesda/ Potomac Maryland with a portfolio to prove it, the brothers Dan and Ben are craftsman of the highest caliber.
7130 Rock Creek Dr
Frederick, MD 21702
(301) 253-1068

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Reading time: 2 – 3 minutes

Meet Dan and Ben Martin of

BT Martin Contractors

Based in Frederick Maryland home remodeling contractor serving primarily:
Bethesda, Potomac, Chevy Chase, Upper NW DC, Howard County and Loudoun County Va.
with exquisite upscale renovations worthy of the exclusive neighborhoods they serve.

BT Martin Contractors has been helping people just like you—visualize, plan and complete home improvement projects for almost 30 years. We show up on time, listen, respect your home, and complete your project on time and on budget.

Specializing in custom work, custom remodeling and custom painting, uniquely tailored for each client’s needs and tastes.

Ben and Dan Martin, business partners and hands on owners, use our years of experience to design spaces that are both functional and aesthetically pleasing.

We have an extensive list of satisfied customers whose referrals and pictures of remodeling projects that may be viewed as examples of our work.

We can dramatically improve your home’s first impression and value.

Just as no two homes are alike, no two customers are alike. We happily customize our services to meet your exact needs. BT Martin Contractors is proud of our top notch craftsmanship used to complete our many remodeling projects over the years.

Our pledge is to always offer honest advice, quality workmanship and fair prices. Every project begins with a free on site consultation and estimate. Please call and allow us the opportunity of serving you with any remodeling needs.


Maryland Custom Remodeling
7130 Rock Creek Dr
Frederick, MD 21702-3646
(301) 253-1068‎

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Bethesda Maryland Custom Painting

by admin on September 23, 2009

in Bethesda Maryland

Reading time: 2 – 2 minutes

Montgomery County Maryland Home Remodeling by 

BT Martin Contractors
Residential Interior and Exterior Painting for Discriminating Clients.

BT Marting Contractors Bethesda Maryland Custom Painting http://btmartincontractors.com

Realizing you have many choices when it comes to residential contractors, we thank you for considering us. We provide the highest level of commitment to ensure your satisfaction with each and every project. We use only premium products and apply them with the latest methods and highest standards.

We are fully licensed and insured, with excellent references available upon request. Our team of quality-conscious professionals will address all of your home improvement concerns, treating your home and property with high regards.
We understand… the importance of completing the projects in a timely manner without interrupting your daily life.
We understand… that the importance of maintaining a clean work environment. We make it a top priority

BT Martin Contractors
Maryland Custom Painting
7130 Rock Creek Dr Frederick, MD 21702-3646

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