St. Cloud General Contractor

Choosing a Construction Company—

Whether you are building an addition or a new home, it’s important to find the best construction company for the work you need done.

When choosing a construction company you can use the internet to scout out companies in your area. You can see what construction services they offer, get a list of phone numbers for companies that could do the work for you and even check out what others have to say by reading reviews.

Once you’ve done your research you’ll want to begin the process of choosing a construction company to build your project.  Below are some tips and advice on how to do so.

Choosing a Construction Company

Call a minimum of three construction companies and interview the owner. You may want to request a quote from all three, but it is a good idea to get no less than two quotes.  Also, when comparing the estimates keep in mind that the lowest price does not equal the best value or the most quality work.

When the building contractor comes to give you your quote ask questions, and lots of them! In fact, it’s a good idea to write down any questions you might have for the general contractor beforehand and then to jot down the replies for future reference. Also, make sure you get the price quotes in writing and signed by the construction company owner. Moreover, it is a good idea to find out how long the quote is valid. The typical time-line is 30 days.

Before work begins on your construction project, it is best to read through all agreements and look carefully at the details. Contracts are legal and binding so make sure yours reads the way it should. Make sure it protects you from liability against subcontractors and material suppliers. Know what your requirements are pertaining to payments. The depth of these contracts will depend on the size of the construction project.

Check on the construction company at the local level. Make sure they have all the certifications, licenses, and that they are properly insured. You might also want to check if they are members of professional organizations such as the Central MN Builders Association.

You’ll definitely want to make sure all of the carpenters are skilled and legally employed by the contracting company. Get credentials and references, too, so that you can feel confident you’ll get the workmanship on your construction project that you expect. Also be prepared for the probability that during your project problems will arise. While these problems can be the result of misunderstandings they can also occur because the construction company simply wasn’t skilled enough or failed to communicate with you. Without a doubt communication is key to quality construction work!

Some companies will require a portion of the project costs up front, also called a deposit. You should always use caution any time money is being exchanged prior to work commencing. You must feel comfortable with the construction company you choose. Indeed, there must be trust between both parties. After all, if the contractor begins to work with no money, he risks you not paying, and if you part with your money before the work is done, you risk the work never being done. That’s why payments are in installments, providing some protection for both parties and reducing the risk.

Construction projects, big or small, can be exciting. An addition, a new kitchen, a custom home, or a remodeling project – they’re all exciting, especially when you choose the right construction company in central Minnesota. By doing so you can relax knowing you’re in good hands.

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Need a quality Saint Cloud General Contractor to build your dream home or remodel your house?  Craig at Schoenberg Construction is one of the best builder and remodelers in Central Minnesota.  Give him a call today at 320-252-0911 for your no-obligation consultation.

Remodeling Costs – The key to a successful remodeling project is understanding that remodeling costs are fluid, and that you can’t set a specific budget and expect it not to change (because it absolutely will). This is exactly why it’s critical that you have a project budget and that you understand when to make adjustments.

How can you control your remodeling costs?

One thing is for sure: Remodeling costs can often grow quickly, but they need not get out of hand.  Keeping your building costs under control by understanding and managing your budget is the best way to ensure that your project doesn’t break the bank!  Of course, remodeling costs vary by region, by job and by any number of other factors like materials chosen, the cost of the skilled laborers doing the work and other choices you make. But there are some common factors to budgeting that you should know about before beginning your next remodeling job.

Remodeling Costs – Keep a Budget

Many homeowners know generally how much they want to spend on a remodeling project, but don’t set a specific budget. Not setting a specific budget is the a sure way to invite cost overruns. So be sure to set a target budget for your project.

Now, depending on the remodeling project, it might be acceptable to look at the budget as a whole and adapt spending so that you don’t incur overages. Most remodeling projects will require a more detailed budget which is why we suggest that you  have a budget for each item in the remodel job. You’ll need to determine exactly how much you want to spend on flooring, on cabinets, lighting fixtures and so forth.  This information will guide your purchasing decisions.

You can always make adjustments by reducing one budget line item in order to accommodate an increased budget in another area. By having a detailed budget and watching the costs of each line item, you can assure that there will be no budget surprises. Remodeling costs can easily get out of control if you aren’t vigilant about establishing a budget and sticking to it.

Remodeling Costs – Track your budget

Depending on the size of your remodel project, you might be able to track the costs of the job on a piece of paper and with a pencil (though keep an eraser handy) but as the job gets bigger so do the remodeling costs and there’s greater amounts of information to track.

If the remodeling job is more than a small job, you’ll want to have a good system for tracking the costs and making adjustments. You might create a small spreadsheet for this purpose or there are many software programs that are designed for tracking remodeling costs and these can help you to quickly and easily see where the money is going, determine if you need to make cutbacks or help you alter one budget category in order to accommodate another.

Some people will take naturally to this part of the remodeling job, but others will need the help that a software program can provide. You might also consider letting a trusted St Cloud general contractor handle this for you.

Remodeling Costs – Know when to make adjustments

When tracking remodeling costs, you might find that something is out of line. There’s too much money going in one direction and not enough in another direction. If your budget is fairly firm you might not know how to make adjustments, or feel that you can’t make adjustments or are stuck with the numbers as they are. This could mean that some part of your project ends up not getting done in order to accommodate the expenses. This is a common mistake that do-it-yourselfers often encounter. Avoid this if at all possible!

If you are remodeling a bath, for example, you might discover the new cabinets and cabinet installation is going to cost 30 percent more than anticipated. This doesn’t mean that you can’t have the new flooring also, but maybe instead you choose a slightly less expensive flooring material. Or if you decide that you must have the flooring you originally chose, you might need to adjust the expectations you have for the cabinets and choose a less expensive wood or fixture.

The concept of ‘remodeling costs’ can be scary to many homeowners, but with a little planning and foresight, keeping track of these expenses doesn’t have to be overwhelming, unwieldy or impossible to handle. Just remember that budgeting is key.

Remodeling costs are a concern for homeowners, and you know this already if you’ve ever overseen a remodeling job in your St Cloud, MN home.   Of course a quality Saint Cloud Contractor is always willing to help you stay on budget for your next remodeling project. Craig at Schoenberg Construction is one of the best remodelers in Central MN.  Give him a call today at 320-252-0911 for your no-obligation consultation.

We’ve been talking a lot about winter lately, mainly because it’s creeping up on us.  A look at the 10 day forecast shows that we’re gonna be continuing to dip down below freezing into the evening.  That’s a bit of a downer considering that we’ve only just hit the Halloween season and we might start to feel the effects of snow.  With an early winter potentially coming to St Cloud, it’s a good idea to put some of those general home improvement projects on hold and ensure that your home is really ready for the cold winter season.

When it comes to home improvement projects, most homeowners want to save as much money as possible.  On bigger projects like having a St. Cloud general contractor work on the roof, most of us would rather avoid it all together.

…we don’t even like the thought of replacing our own roof.

Unfortunately, like all things, it has to be done eventually but you can take steps to increase the lifespan of your own roof.  When you’re preparing for winter, one of the first things you should tackle is the gutter system around your home.  With all the leaves and debris from trees that are “shedding”, you’ll end up with a lot of debris unless you have appropriate guards.  It’s important to clean those gutters to keep them from getting backed up.

During the winter, ice and snow regularly thaws and drains from your roof.  If the gutters are blocked even a little, that drainage could back up.  I the back up becomes severe, the water will pool and could back up under the shingles of your roof into the sheeting.  When it refreezes during the next storm or temperature drop, the expanding ice can severely damage the flash, sheeting, soffit and shingles of your roof.

As this continues to happen over the course of a harsh winter like we sometimes see in St Cloud, you could wind up going from a nice roof in good shape to a catastrophe by spring – one in which you’ll be forced to seek out a St. Cloud general contractor for roof repair and installation.  As much as we love working with the homeowners in our community for minor and major remodel projects, we certainly don’t want those in our community to suffer unnecessary damage that can be easily prevented.

And that roof damage can be a great concern for your safety as well.  On older homes in St Cloud and across Minnesota where a roof may be reaching the end of its life, soft spots developed over years of moisture could give way if water backs up into the roof and freezes.

The sheer weight of ice and additional fallen snow could cause the roof to collapse into the attic and/or the rooms of a home.  Catastrophes like this can damage a home beyond repair and put the lives of you and your family at risk.

If you do not have covered gutters on your home, take the time to ensure that your drainage system works properly.

If you’re not certain how, or you’re not able to do, you can contact a general contractor that can come out to inspect your drainage and gutter system as well as your roof.

This is an excellent time to complete a roof inspection in St Cloud with a general contractor, especially if you aren’t certain of the age of the roof on your home.

Likewise, if the roof is showing signs of age now may be the best time to get some roofing repair done at the last minute.

When shopping for windows, it is always a good idea to look for an Energy star rating. You may be surprised to learn that the Energy Star comes on more than just a refrigerator, dishwasher, washing machines, clothes dryers, and water heaters. Having Energy Star, windows installed by your St. Cloud general contractor can save you significant amounts of money while protecting your interior from the damaging rays of the sun.

How the Energy Star Saves Money

There may still be some confusion and doubt surrounding “green” products, but these replacement windows have shown how valuable they are by outperforming their counterparts in efficiency and durability. Installing Energy Star, rated windows throughout your home can save hundreds of dollars a year or more.

The yearly savings will add up, though they may vary depending on the windows that you currently have.  If your home currently has single pane windows (common in many older homes) you will more than likely see a significant drop in your heating and cooling costs.  If your home currently has double pane windows, you may still see a change in your utilities thought it won’t be as dramatic.

The Unexpected Ravages of Sunlight

Older windows offer little to no protection from the sun. You may have noticed your furnishings or hardwood floors fading after prolonged exposure. This is caused by radiation that is also harmful to your skin.

Optional film or tinting on your Energy Star windows can block those harmful rays, and still allow warmth and heat into the house. More than just protection from fading, these windows also create a buffer that keeps the heat in, creating a feeling of cozy comfort that also helps regulate your heating and cooling costs.

You don’t have to live in a house where the blinds are drawn most of the day to protect the interior of your home. Energy Star windows can block as much as 75% of potential sun damage, giving you the freedom to enjoy those beautiful Minnesota landscapes without paying for all of the extra energy cost of heat.

The Time to Invest in Energy Star Windows is Now

There has never been a better time to invest in Energy Star windows. Your St Cloud general contractor can help you decide if your home is in need of brand new Energy Star Windows, but here are some suggestions to keep in mind:

If your energy bills cost much more than those of your close neighbors, installing Energy Star windows may pay for themselves quicker than you think.

If your climate control is impossible to maintain, for instance your home is constantly drafty in the winter and unbearably hot in the summer, new Energy Star replacement windows will help dampen the effect while saving energy. Keeping a home airtight is vital to keeping down costs.

New windows can be a very attractive selling point to prospective buyers, giving them a high return on investment. An Energy Star rating is concrete proof you can use to show them the money they stand to save. Combined with several Energy Star appliances, it can be a very compelling incentive.

Whatever the reason, replacing the old windows in your home with new Energy Star rated windows should be high on the list of home improvement projects. It should go without saying, however, that installing windows isn’t a recommended DIY project.  For best results, contact your St.Cloud general contractor.

Whether you’ve just recently purchased your home in St Cloud or you’ve been a long time resident of your current abode, you’ve probably got a laundry list of renovations and remodel ideas tumbling around in your head.  Many of us find that even before the boxes are unpacked we’ve got ideas on changes to be made.  Finding those home improvement projects is never difficult, but finding the time to tackle them can be a bit of a strain.  You can keep the renovations from getting out of hand by taming your projects with a St. Cloud general contractor.

The Upside of Home Improvement

The benefit of a general contractor is that the scope of the project is never an issue.  Even if you’ve got a number of smaller projects to tackle, it’s best turn them over to skilled hands.  The longer you wait and stew over your ideas the more they build up on you.  Next thing you know you’ve got a dozen or more “to do’s” and you can’t even remember why you wanted to do half of them in the first place.

We all know that a house just doesn’t feel like a home until you’ve managed to get the place customized a little.  A general contractor can help you put some personal touches on your new house – or existing house – to help get rid of that oppressive “white”.

Isn’t it time to finish the basement and finally get that “man cave” you always wanted?

Someday, but perhaps there’s some other more pressing issues.  For long-time homeowners, it’s common to want to tackle the biggest, ugliest problems first.  The ones that stick out like a sore thumb to us.  Thankfully, many older homes were built with solid construction in mind and they just need a little lipstick and rouge.  Some new paint, replacement carpet, hardwood floors, perhaps some tile work in the bathroom or new hardware;  Touching up smaller jobs with a St Cloud general contractor can work wonders to restore the “youth” of a home.  If you’ve got a limited budget, you can even tackle a few of the projects on your own (like the hardware) while leaving some of the more detailed project to a general contractor (like the paint or tile work).

Back to that basement again…  If you want to breath some new life into an older home this is a viable option, and you can tackle it a little at a time.  By renovating and finishing all or part of your basement you can create a recreational area for the entire family – a craft and hobby area, a room for exercise, a home entertainment space with a small theater or even a small apartment so you have somewhere to stuff house your in-laws.

A More Drastic Approach

Do you like the idea of knocking down walls?  So do we.  If you’re keen on a more drastic approach and you want some real change then you can dramatically improve your floor plan, square footage and overall living space by working with a general contractor in St Cloud to build an addition.  Not sure what to do with an addition?  That’s OK – the possibilities are only limited by your imagination and how much you’re willing to spend decorating the room and populating it with stuff.

An addition is a great way to get that office space or sitting room you’ve always wanted, or a room to house your crafts and collectibles.  It’s a great option for new home buyers as well, especially if you just can’t find the perfect home but you found a nice place at a great value – there’s no harm in knocking a few walls down or building a small addition to really”own” your home.

Renovation of any kind, small or large, can go a long way toward making you truly comfortable.  It can mean the difference between living in a house and living in your home.  Sometimes, being happy with what you’ve got means rolling up your sleeves, making a few holes, electrocuting yourself a little followed by the realization that it might be a good time to just let a general contractor save the day.

A sunroom can be a beautiful addition to any St. Cloud home. A room where the outdoors can be viewed and appreciated, and yet kept separate from the relaxing space you can enjoy every day. If you are having a little bit of trouble making up your mind about what kind of addition you want to put on your home, consider these arguments for adding a St. Cloud sunroom.

Soothing Relaxation

The natural themes and decorations that tend to permeate most sunrooms automatically put most people into a calm state of mind. The serenity of such a room, the quiet of shutting out the rest of the house is really a gift that cannot be duplicated easily elsewhere. In a world that seems to crank up the pressure every day, wouldn’t it be nice to have a room that made you feel peacefully alive?

Room to Grow

The natural light and warmth that fills a sunroom are two great conditions to promote the growth of smaller, indoor plants. Potted plants and hanging planters are a great way to add to the aforementioned relaxation, and it supplies living art to gaze at. You want to be sure to utilize plants that bloom at different parts of the year. Placing some plants directly outside of the windows is also a good idea, to attract some birds and butterflies for you to watch.

Pleasant Entertaining

People are naturally attracted to the sunroom, making it a great place to sit down and have a quiet tea party, or even for more formal affairs. The natural themes can provide an elegance that makes the room suitable for all occasions.

Extended Living Space

Sometimes it is nice just to have a room that you can get away from all of the other people in the house. For that matter, many people tend to accumulate at least a few chairs or a small table that really don’t have any other place in the house. So why not build them a home so they can see some use again?

Equitable Value

Not only do you get to use your new sunroom, but it can actually pay for itself in the home equity you get for the improvement. A more valuable home is always a priority to a home owner. The investment you wisely put into your home is like saving for the future, if you sell your home far along down the road, you can get your money back and more. Call your St.Cloud general contractor today to find out how to make those dreams come true.

All too often, the homeowner will enter into the process of a home remodel or renovation without fully understanding what to expect from their general contractor. Several important pieces of information are necessary for you to obtain before you decide who to hire. These nine questions can do a lot to put your mind at ease and set up a bond of trust between you and your St. Cloud general contractor. There is no set order of importance; this is just to cover the bases.

What is your estimated schedule?

This is certainly one of the big ones. Bear in mind that whatever figure they give you, it is only an estimate, and sometimes the unforeseeable happens.  It is not unreasonable for you to ask for a timeline, however, and expect them to largely stick to it.

What insurance do you carry?

The answer should be at the very least public liability and property damage insurance. Always check with the issuing agency to verify that the policy is current and will be effective throughout the estimated schedule.

How many workers in your crew?

A lone general contractor can take forever to finish a job, so you want to have a crew of at least a few guys for any whole room project. You must also insist that licensed plumbers and electricians are used for those areas, and ask if they are employees of the general contractor, or if they are subcontracted. Subcontracted individuals tend to have a little more likelihood of walking off the job.

Are YOU personally going to be on site every day?

The homeowner may assume that the general contractor will personally oversee the work, but often there is more than one project going on, so there is a supervisor left in charge.

Who is responsible for obtaining the permits?

Always get the proper permits for the work being done. If a contractor is shy of permits, then you are probably dealing with a shady character.

May I have the contact information for 3-5 past clients?

You will feel a lot better once you have seen what kind of work the general contractor has done, and speak to people who have worked with them successfully.

Is there anything that the price quote you give me does not cover?

More than one unscrupulous contractor has attempted to low ball an estimate to get the job, and then tacks on “extra expenses” later. That isn’t to say that unexpected things might become necessary, but there is a reasonable limit.

Which professional organizations do you belong to?

This provides an extra layer of accountability. This is a short, non-inclusive list of organizations that the general contractor should or might be a member of:

• Home Builders Association
• Better Business Bureau
• Chamber of Commerce
• NKBA (National Kitchen and Bath Association)

What is the best way to stay in contact with you?

The number one source of renovation frustration is a communication breakdown. You must establish what the best form of contact is before even hiring a contractor. The usual methods are text message, email, or phone calls.

Armed with the answers to these questions, it will be simply a matter of time before you are enjoying your new renovated space. All it takes is a little planning on your part to make sure that you and your St. Cloud general contractor are on the same page.

With the St Cloud housing market in a bit of a slump (like a lot of places around the U.S.) it makes a great deal of sense for homeowners to sit still, stay put and make the best of it.  That’s exactly what a lot of homeowners are doing and they’re turning to home improvement, remodeling and renovation in order to make life just a little bit more comfortable.

While homeowners are making adjustments for various reasons, the bulk of the changes are being made so that families can improve their quality of life through renovation.  What once was old can now be made new, and that kind of update and remodel can renew the spirit within a house, helping a family reconnect or “bond” with their living space.

On the flip side of course, the down market has people renovating and performing various home improvement projects in an effort to increase the value of their home for a higher return on that coveted sale.  Then there are the select few who are focused on increased home value despite no interest in actually selling the home.

Motives can vary but whatever the choice, it’s becoming increasingly popular to work with a general contractor in getting services handled.  While some believe a DIY project can save a lot of money, the economy has forced many families to take on extra work.  Even though a handful of homeowners would love try and tackle the projects on their own, a general contractor in St Cloud allows a family to continue with their normal routine while the remodeling and home improvement project take place in their home.

Time is money right now, and a general contractor can do a lot to save you plenty of it.

What’s most interesting is that there seems to be a focus on kitchen remodeling, as that service leads the pack providing the most value to a new home in the current market and offering a substantial increase in the quality of life within a home.

Following at the heels of kitchen remodeling are window replacements and window installations – especially as many homeowners work to prepare their homes for the coming winter months.  With buyers turning to older homes, renovation is far more common now and new windows help to make those older homes far more energy efficient when it comes to heating and cooling.

While the top requested home improvement projects also contain air condition, cabinets and general contractor services around the home (wiring jobs, window maintenance, etc) there are a number of projects that have fallen to the wayside, and it’s interested to see what people put to the side when times get a little tough.  Paving, garage doors, interior design, countertops and flooring all get put to the wayside in an effort to control costs.

One thing is for certain, if you need an update or remodel in your home it’s best to get it in now.  As summer draws to a close and Fall comes up, general contractors in St Cloud are going to fill their schedules with a lot winter-prep jobs.  If you’ve got a special project that you need finished, better now than later.

A shocking event happens to home owners on a fairly regular basis that’s causing many homes and businesses in St Cloud – especially those with larger panes of glass- to seek out new replacement windows.  It might surprise you to know just how often birds of all sizes fly into windows, sometimes destroying the glass and killing the bird in the process.  It happens thousands of times each day across the U.S. and it can cost a homeowner a lot of money.

The problem stems from the fact that birds just can’t see glass.  Heck, even some humans can’t see glass as they wander into department store doors and their own sliding glass walls.

There is a solution and if you’re considering new replacement windows for a home improvement project then this may be an option for you to consider.  Granted, you may not think this will ever happen to you but that’s usually when we suffer the most annoying and costly disasters around our home.

A German design company called ORNILUX has developed a new Bird Protection Glass  which is coated with an UltraViolet reflective grid that gleams bright to birds however it’s transparent to the naked human eye.

These replacement windows, called Mikado, feature a criss-cross patten that resembles a vast spiderweb stretching across the window and it’s far less visible to the human eye than those types of replacement window currently on the market.  ORNILUX is currently working with various American groups included the Audobon Society and American Bird Conservancy to raise awareness among businesses and homeowners all over the U.S. (even in St Cloud) on the issue of bird-window collisions.

Residential and Commercial contractors as well as architects are being encouraged to incorporate this new option into their building and home improvement projects where possible.

Per a recent study (one cites in the New York Times) ORNILUX performed a test on this new protective glass and showed that over 3/4 of the birds were able to avoid the glass.  Far higher than standard glass windows where nearly every bird had a collision.  Besides providing safety to local wildlife, these replacement windows offer more benefit to homeowners in that they are produced with either low-e coating or a solar protective coating to improve efficiency and “green up” your home.

As the hot summer we’ve been dealing with starts to wind down toward fall, we start getting thoughts of the winter months ahead.  For many homeowners in the St Cloud area, that change of season brings about thoughts of home improvement projects that need to get done ASAP.  One of those is the roof.

It’s not uncommon for roof damage to occur during the winter months, primarily because of the moisture mixed with the abundance of weight added during the heavy snow seasons.  Couple that with ice buildup and it’s easy to see that the roofing of your St Cloud home takes a beating.

The damage is sometimes further compounded by homeowners that try to clean the snow and ice off on their own, taking shovels to the roof in an effort to clear the weight.  Not only is it dangerous but you can damage your roof and the protective shingles that keep moisture out.  There’s really no shame in leaving this kind of work to professionals and saves you the cost of damage.

If it’s been some time since you had work done on your roof, then this may be an appropriate time to speak with a general contractor about roofing repair or new roof installation.  With each passing winter on an aged roof, the chance for greater structural damage increases including moisture getting into the home.

Water damage is only one of many problems.  The water can freeze within the walls and cause other structural damage.  It can also contribute to mold and rot within the wall space and timbers, creating health and safety issues for those living within the home.

As you heat your home, the water from the melting ice and snow on the roof of your home is going to take the path of least resistance, under the roof system or sideways and through flashings which aren’t designed to handled extreme moisture.  This is the beginning of interior water damage or worse.

IF your own roof has seen better days and the age of your St Cloud home and roof system dictate an inspection, it’s a good idea to get the work in before the colder, rainy whether hits preceding winter.  If you’re not sure whether or not your home needs a new roof you can contact a St Cloud general contractor and new roofing inspector to help you determine the right path – whether that’s a repair of your existing sheeting, new shingles or a complete installation of a new roofing system.