• Cost savings. From contractor bids to better prices on paint, off-season remodeling can cost less than waiting until spring or summer.
• Moisture factor. Drier air is preferred for some installations.
• Mood booster. Home improvement on its own tends to lift the spirits. It’s an added high on top of the benefits of a nicer, more functional space.
• Activity mode. We spend more time indoors during winter months. Staying busy with projects helps us keep moving and use time wisely.

Hire Learning

Remodeling companies and their contractors work year-round, often finishing up spring and summer projects in the winter. Also, it’s a good time to start planning spring renovations. Some projects need a few months of lead time, and if you start the process in the winter, you can hit the ground running in the spring and avoid delays.

These projects are well-suited for wintertime work:

• Basement remodel: One of the biggest bangs for the buck is turning a basement into livable square footage. It increases home value and has a 70% average return on investment. An unfinished basement has the potential to solve any problem with space and storage and is less disruptive to live through than main-level remodels. The low humidity in winter provides the perfect conditions. Note that any finished basement requires at least one window for egress.
• Flooring: Dry winter air prevents gaps, and the low humidity reduces the chance of warping.  
• Kitchen counters: Refreshing kitchen counters with new stone is less messy than ripping everything out, yet it makes a big impact. Minor kitchen improvements can have an 81% return on investment. 
• Kitchen appliances: Speaking of kitchens, appliances typically go on sale in January.

DIY Checklist

If you’re prone to cabin fever, try staying busy with handyman projects. Consider these upgrades and maintenance tips: 

• Paint with low-VOC brands—paint may be cheaper in the winter and dries faster
• Perk up a laundry room with wallpaper, storage, and new lighting
• Replace cabinet hardware
• Add shelves and storage
• Replace lightbulbs with LEDs
• Check fire alarm batteries
• Install crown molding
• Seal cracks and ducts and add insulation to save as much as 10% off your utilities
• Install an Energy Star-certified smart thermostat to save around $100 per year
• Paint the garage floor

Spruce Up Your Home with CCG

Now’s a great time to start a conversation with a remodeling company about short-turnaround projects or plans for bigger makeovers in the spring and summer. Contact Central Construction Group to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation to explore the possibilities within your walls. Call 317-213-6246 or connect with us on Facebook or Instagram.

The post ’Tis the Season for Winter Remodeling Projects appeared first on Central Construction Group, Inc. .

On the one hand, we get to enjoy more quality time with our families. On the other hand, we’ve also got way too much time to think about all of those home improvement projects we’ve been putting off.

As a homeowner, it seems we’re constantly dreaming up new projects to make our personal sanctuaries more comfortable, functional and modern, based on current trends. If we look hard enough, we can always find something that needs repaired, replaced or improved, right?

Rely on Central Construction Group to tackle your next home remodeling project. Check out these before and after photos of a recent first-floor remodeling job in Hamilton County for inspiration:

Lighten the Mood with Home Remodeling

While somewhat modern, this home seemed a little dark and dreary before CCG remodeled the entire first floor, second-floor stair rail and flooring. Lighter touches throughout the home — including new paint, lighting, flooring and functional custom cabinetry — add a timeless elegance for years to come.

This home remodeling project included updating the kitchen, dining room, living room, stairwell, powder bathroom and bar/buffet. The project’s timeline spans from April 2019, when the homeowners signed a contract with CCG, to project completion in January.

Here’s a look at how CCG improved each room.

Kitchen Remodeling

One addition the homeowner just loves is the Kohler apron-front farmhouse cast iron sink with a Delta Touch2O Technology kitchen faucet. An expansive, old-style sink combined with modern, simple-touch technology provides the best of both worlds.

The homeowners also installed a reverse osmosis system for instant clean drinking water and a garbage disposal air switch push button right on the sink for easy access.

Other kitchen updates included:

• New pendant lights over kitchen island
• Eat-in kitchen seating area
• Quartz countertops in “Calacatta Classique” color
• New backsplash, 3-by-12-inch gloss tile in gray
• Under-cabinet lighting 
• In-cabinet drawer lighting

• 

• 

New Kitchen Buffet

CCG customized a new kitchen buffet and bar area as part of the remodel. It includes all new cabinetry, natural stone tile in a chevron pattern, and wood floating shelves with lighting puck lights.

• 

• 

New Flooring

The remodel added all new flooring, as well. The homeowners chose durable, waterproof Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP) for their family, and CCG refinished the stair railing in a similar wood color to coordinate with the flooring.

According to the Joint Center for Housing Studies, flooring and other resurfacing home improvement projects account for the largest expenditures in home renovation annually, with 5.3 million homeowners spending an average of $3,282 each year.

• 

• 

The homeowners also chose Sherwin Williams Repose Gray SW 7015 as the whole-home paint color. This is a very neutral color that trends toward a warmer tone in natural light, and changes to a cooler tone based on its indoor surroundings and lighting. 

Repainting walls or doors in your home increases home value, and does wonders to lighten your mood.

New Decorative Lights in Entry, Dining Room and Kitchen

• 

• 

• 

• 

Bathroom Remodeling

CCG lightened up the first-floor powder room with a new coat of paint, as well as a new toilet, sink, faucet, mirror, lighting and flooring.

• 

• 

New Flooring and Paint for Living Room



Painting the walls a lighter color, installing a new modern ceiling fan, and adding new LVP flooring with a bright area rug did wonders to lighten the mood in the living room. Simple touches make all the difference!

Inspired to get started on your next home remodeling project? Call CCG, Indianapolis’ premiere remodeling and construction professional, today at 317-213-6246.

The post Get Inspired with these Before and After Home Remodeling Photos appeared first on Central Construction Group, Inc. .

]]> https://ccg-indy.com/2018/09/10/homebuilders-tips-best-home-flooring-ideas/ Mon, 10 Sep 2018 19:46:14 +0000 http://ccg-indy.com/?p=2081 As a custom homebuilder with years of experience, we know how important it is to choose the right type of home flooring for each room. The material you pick for each space not only needs to look great, but also function well. Whether you’re designing a new custom home or remodeling an existing one, home ... more »

The post Homebuilder’s Tips for Best Home Flooring Ideas appeared first on Central Construction Group, Inc. .

]]>

As a custom homebuilder with years of experience, we know how important it is to choose the right type of home flooring for each room. The material you pick for each space not only needs to look great, but also function well.

Whether you’re designing a new custom home or remodeling an existing one, home flooring is one of the most unique features that family, friends and visitors first notice when they step inside. With so many home flooring options on the market, from hardwood to luxury vinyl tile to new carpeting, homeowners often find it overwhelming to choose the right home flooring.

At Central Construction Group, we’ve installed flooring in many styles of homes and spaces and know what works best. Here’s a few tips from an experienced homebuilder on the 5 most common materials used in home flooring:

Hardwood

A rich, warm hardwood floor works well in many styles of homes and it holds up well in shared spaces like living rooms and bedrooms, but not so well in rooms with moisture and humidity like kitchens and bathrooms. Some species of hardwood flooring can lean toward the pricier side, however, and the material may be more susceptible to scrapes, dents and standing water damage.

Homeowners can choose from a wide variety of pre-finished options (ready to be installed as is) or choose unfinished wood that CCG sands and stains on site to match the style and characteristics of the home. Typically using standard strip, ¾-inch thick by 2.25-inch-wide boards, we can stain the flooring most any color from light/natural to medium or dark tones and with/or without red or espresso colors.

Engineered Wood

Many flooring manufacturers also offer engineered hardwood flooring, which in most cases costs less than solid hardwood. It’s also constructed to be more durable and more resistant to changes in temperature and humidity.

At CCG, we find engineered hardwood flooring to be a great option for homeowners who prefer a wider 5-inch plank board look. Some types of engineered wood can also be installed in different ways, which gives homeowners a little flexibility in the design for each space.

Luxury Vinyl Tile or Luxury Vinyl Plank



Photo courtesy of Shaw Flooring

Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) or Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP) flooring is a hot new trend that’s beautiful, waterproof and easy to clean. It comes in various textures and finishes that mimic hardwood, tile, stone and leather. Some manufacturers even make groutable vinyl tile for a more realistic tile or stone look.

LVT and LVP are softer and warmer to the feet than tile, and both materials work well in every room due to their ability to withstand water. Many of CCG’s clients choose to install LVT or LVP on the entire first floor of their homes and in bathrooms, while carpeting remains popular for bedrooms.

Ceramic Tile

Ceramic tile holds up well in any room of the house but may be better suited for high-traffic areas, such as entryways, kitchens and bathrooms. It’s water-resistant and comes in every color, shape and size imaginable.Today’s options for ceramic and porcelain tile even come in styles that mimic a real wood look.

At CCG, we install all types of ceramic tile. Our most popular choices tend to be 12-inch-by-24-inch large format tiles or a 12-inch-by-12-inch mosaic tile with a pattern or in a marble natural stone. Choosing grout color sometimes perplexes homeowners, so we make the grout-selection process easy with pre-sealed, antimicrobial and stain-proof options.

Carpeting

With the new trends in flooring, some may believe the popularity of carpeting in homes is starting to wane. Not so for CCG clients, many of whom still prefer carpeting in places like bedrooms and family rooms, where they can sink their toes into soft, plush flooring. The insulating factor of carpeting also helps to lower energy bills.

Carpeting comes in a wide variety of colors, shapes and textures, and some manufacturers have even created waterproof and stain-proof carpet. Other trends include carpet tiles, recycled carpet, cut and loop carpet, and adding area rugs or carpet runners for a bold splash of color and pattern.

Still not sure what type of flooring to choose for your home? Contact CCG today for a free consultation, and we’ll help you choose the best home flooring for every room.

The post Homebuilder’s Tips for Best Home Flooring Ideas appeared first on Central Construction Group, Inc. .

]]>