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Renovation is a word that carries many meanings. It can refer to a smaller project (like repainting your home's exterior or choosing wallpaper) or a much bigger undertaking like a whole-home renovation. Regardless of the size and scope, there are a few things a luxury home builder wants you to know before you begin a new renovation project—from what to avoid to what you should always make room in your budget for.
Kevin Misso, the owner and director of construction for River Brook, a Birmingham, Alabama–based design-build firm, says the biggest mistake clients make when renovating a home is “not thinking about their lives 5 to 10 years down the road; basically, not thinking about their home as a forever home, about how their family will grow and change over the years, and what their needs may be down the line.”
Conversely, when it comes to the operations and efficiency of your home, here are the seven renovation upgrades Misso says you’ll never regret making.
Installing a hot water loop.
Misso says that this type of system constantly circulates hot water from your heater to within five feet of your faucets. He adds, “You won’t have instant hot water because the system still has to push out five feet of cold water, but it’s much more efficient and, depending on the size of your house, only adds about $6,000 to $8,000.”
Insulating your roof deck.
Insulating your roof deck is an underrated tool to help regulate the temperature in your home and keep it more comfortable, according to Misso. “Some people choose to insulate above their highest story ceiling, essentially the attic floor. But if you can insulate under the roof’s sheathing, your HVAC will run more efficiently because your heating and cooling ducts will be operating in a semi-conditioned space,” he says.
Choosing thicker drywall.
Standard drywall is only one-half inch thick, but Misso says it’s worth asking your builder to go up a hair, as it could help protect your home in case of a fire. He says, “This will add to your cost, but only for material—not labor. But by adding that extra thickness (⅝ inch versus ½ inch), it becomes a fire-rated board and you’ll have that extra peace of mind.”
Encapsulating your crawl space.
We get it: Renovating a crawl space isn’t as exciting as, say, building a new swimming pool or folly, but it’s incredibly important for your home’s structure. Misso says, “This involves cladding the space in a heavy-duty vapor barrier.” He adds, “In older homes especially, this is really important for waterproofing below your home, which protects the structural soundness and improves air quality and energy efficiency.”
Selecting natural exterior materials.
Misso adds that, if you’re trying to save money during a renovation, you should never try to scrimp on the exterior of your home. He says, “We are always leading clients to choose natural materials—like copper gutters instead of aluminum and cedar or slate roofs instead of asphalt—and these do carry an extra cost, often a three times multiple. But these materials last much longer.”
Adding plumbing for extra appliances.
Misso says, “We are seeing more and more clients doing secondary laundry rooms. Same for second dishwashers.” He adds, “My suggestion: Let us rough that into a closet or pantry during construction, which only costs about $7,000 for plumbing and electrical. That way, you can decide later whether or not you want to install the appliances.”
Heating your primary bath floors.
If you’re renovating your bathroom, you’ll thank your home builder for this small splurge on frigid winter mornings. Misso says, “This is a luxury that has recently become more affordable—and more efficient—thanks to low-voltage electrical panels that are installed on the subfloor and heat the tiled floor above. I’d say this costs about $4,000.”
