Green Remodeling: Our Customer Reviews Say it All

If you’re a homeowner and you’ve ever considered the prospect of working with a contractor to renovate your house, it’s not too inconceivable that you’ve heard a horror story or two regarding someone else’s project that either went too long, way past budget, or every other direction except the way it was supposed to go. While some unforeseen issues may pop up that can’t always be avoided, there is still one great and valuable resource that you can always use to try and avoid as much headache as possible…

Customer reviews.

Simply put, customer reviews are not only one of the easiest ways to look up a particular company, but one of the most effective, because you’re getting direct feedback from the customer, in their own words. Customer reviews give you a great starting point when it comes to trying to decide who to hire for your home renovation project. Not only do they offer a snapshot on how credible and reputable a contractor is, but they can also tell you something about the quality of their craftsmanship, punctuality, and overall performance.

At Green Remodeling, not only do we pride ourselves on being Atlanta’s one-stop, locally-owned and operated remodeling and renovation expert for over a decade running, but we have a long list of satisfied client reviews to show for it. Even though we specialize in basementskitchens, and bathroomsGreen Remodeling can help you with nearly any aspect of redoing your residential or commercial location. 

For more information on our process and what sets us apart from the rest, click to contact one of our helpful design experts or visit our new design center/showroom in person and see just what all our great customer reviews are about!

We look forward to helping you create a luxurious space that’s as unique as you!

Successful Practices for Sustainable/“Green” Remodeling

Sustainable, or “green”, remodeling strives to minimize a home’s impact on the environment and conserve natural resources through intentional material and design choices. In addition to reducing your environmental impact, sustainable remodeling choices can make your home more efficient, improve the quality of its indoor air, and lower your energy bills.

Prioritizing Organic, Domestic, and Sustainable Materials

Careful consideration should be applied to material choices in sustainable remodeling, with a focus on organic (natural, non-toxic), domestic (local, hyperlocal) and sustainable (repurposed, easily recycled) materials, like wood, cork, steel, and bamboo. Internationally sourced building materials are often more affordable, but their air, sea, and ground transport creates harmful carbon emissions which contribute to global warming. Locally sourced building materials carry a smaller carbon footprint and also supporting local economies.

Reclaim, Repurpose, Reuse

From refinishing kitchen cabinets to incorporating recycled stone into your project, reclaiming, repurposing, and reusing materials will improve the efficiency of your renovation by reducing your project’s waste and helping your budget. Finding new life for any existing product eliminates the manufacturing and transportation emissions from producing something new, creates less landfill destined waste, and reduces your renovation’s carbon footprint.

Intentional Deconstruction

There is a bit of a thrill in “demo day” but it is important to intentionally deconstruct your project space rather than totally demolish it. By taking time to decide what can be repurposed or refurbished, you can give many materials a second chance rather than throwing them out as waste. You can then either use these salvaged items into your renovation or sell/donate them to a local material resource center.

Green Remodeling 

By choosing eco-friendly designs and making sustainable remodeling decisions, Green Basements and Remodeling proves that green living can be incorporated into any remodeling project. As a general contractor and all-inclusive remodeling company, Green Basements and Remodeling can provide you with an in-home consultation and your own personal designer assigned specifically to your job. We have expanded to offer our clients even more at our new 15,000 square ft showroom at 575 Commerce Park Dr SE, Marietta, GA 30060. When you choose Green Basements and Remodeling, you are partnering with a company that is knowledgeable about industry trends and product technology advancements and continually focused on successful outcomes for every client and project. Request an estimate or call us at 678-445-5533 to get started on your project today.  

Researching to Find the Right Contractor

While the thought of taking on any home renovation or remodeling project seems like a huge, daunting one, the thought of doing it without the help and guidance of a reputable and trustworthy contractor makes it all seem that much more intimidating and stressful — maybe even impossible. One should never underestimate the many benefits of hiring the right contractor for their home renovation project. With all the countless contracting horror stories regarding incomplete jobs, budget overruns, and missed deadlines, it’s a potential minefield to wander into without the right contractor. So where can you begin to research your options? Ask Around A great way to start is by utilizing all available resources to get a good lead on reputable contractors in your area. One of the best and easiest ways is to simply ask your friends, family or trusted neighbors for recommendations. Perhaps someone within your circle of trust recently had similar work done or knows someone who did. Great contractors generally hold referrals in high regard because they understand the importance of word-of-mouth in their growth and success. Public Records First and foremost, a reputable contractor should be licensed to work in the state and/or municipality for which you’re inquiring. In addition, because each municipality offers a process with which to file complaints, records are kept and made available for public access to help you in your consideration. Make sure to check online with local disciplinary boards or even the Better Business Bureau regarding residential and general contractors to see if there is any history of complaints or litigation against the contractor. Internet Reviews While this should never be the sole source of your decision making, checking the contractor’s online reviews with various websites is another great way to peel back yet another layer of information on the contractor in question. In addition to the aforementioned Better Business Bureau, Yelp, Google, and Angie’s Listcan serve as additional sources of consumer experience with a particular contractor. While Angie’s List requires a subscription to access additional information, the price of a trial membership could be viewed as money well spent to find the right contractor for the job, saving you much money and hassle down the road. Ask for References Ask any prospective contractor for references from past clients to determine the level of satisfaction they received from working with the contractor. Did they adhere to timelines and budget? Did they communicate well throughout the entire process? Did the project live up to expectations? These and many other questions can be answered by asking the contractor for references from recent customers. A Contractor You Can Trust When you start looking for contractors, start by finding one with some stability and a track history for doing excellent work in the specialties you’re looking for. The professionals at Green Remodeling have been transforming spaces for over a decade now, with a long list of satisfied customers to show for it. Specializing in most every area in or out of the home, there’s no space too large or too small to transform into the visionyou have for it. Call Laura Green and the Green Team today for your FREE consultation!

Design Trend Spotlight: Sliding Barn Doors

With the trend in rustic interior decoration and design in full swing, many style experts are continuing to bet on a refined farmhouse look for the home once again this year. The key, however, is to utilize the look in small design elements rather than transforming the entire interior of your home into an old farmhouse from the 1800s, hence the keyword, “refined”. Easy & Affordable One design element that’s relatively easy and affordable to incorporate anywhere in your home is a sliding barn door. Not only does it serve an aesthetic purpose in keeping with the rustic/farmhouse decor, but it also serves a wonderful function as a space-saver over a traditional door that must allow for swing clearance, which eats up valuable space in the room that ends up going unused. It also serves as an easier and more affordable alternative to a pocket door, which, aside from being more difficult to install, doesn’t look as stylish as a sliding barn door. As Unique as Its Surroundings There are several variationsof barn doors that can be used, depending on taste, decor, and specific room layout. Aside from the traditional single door variation on a standard-width entry, a wide entryway into an adjacent room can be well accented by large double barn doors that meet in the middle of the entryway to close, and slide out of the way in opposite directions to open up to the next room. When open, the doors help to “frame” the view into the other room, creating a natural focal point that creates visual interest and draws the eye curiously into the next room. Sliding barn doors are also a wonderful replacement over standard folding closet doors. In addition, sliding barn doors can be used to hide a small workspace in a home office or den when not in use. In other words, your use of the sliding barn door as a design element is limited only by your imagination and ability to make your vision come to life. Call on Green Remodeling To help make that vision come to life, contactthe professionals at Green Remodelingfor the very best in home remodeling and renovation. Specializing in everything from large scale basement, kitchen, or bathroomremodels to something as small — yet just as important — as installing sliding barn doors, Laura Green and her team of home renovation experts will consult with you fully to first determine how it is you currently use the space and what you expect of it. A virtual one-stop shop for all thingsrelating to improving your home and how you use it and live in it, Green Remodeling can help you with nearly any facet of your home’s interior or exterior.

2018: The Right Time to Remodel

With a brand new year on the calendar, it just so happens to be the best time to look ahead to the hottest home design and renovation trends for the upcoming year in anticipation of a possible remodel or renovation. With a healthy and growing economy, now might be the best time to consider investing in a home improvement project. No Time Like the Present With the growth in economy and consumer confidence, 2018 is shaping up to be a great year to remodel or renovate – but you need to hurry. Because the longer you wait to green light a project while others are choosing to take the plunge, the greater the potential adverse effect will be on the very factors you’re hoping aren’t affected. In other words, while a low material cost is a good thing when considering a remodel, if you continue to wait while others have begun their remodeling jobs, their activity will, in turn, eventually raise the cost of materials on your potential remodeling job, once you decide to green light it. Bottom line? Act swiftly. Kitchens: The Hub of the House Studies have shown that the return on investment on a kitchen remodel outperforms renovations made to any other room of the house. Great things to consider on a kitchen remodel include, but are not limited to, increasing available storage space, refacing or replacing cabinets, installing upgraded countertops, installing a walk-in pantry, and adding upgraded appliances. In addition, another great design trend for the kitchen is a large island that features either an additional prep area, complete with a sink and/or another seating area for less formal meals and gatherings, where the diners can sit closer to the person who’s doing the cooking. Bath Another design-trendy area of the home that it pays to renovate is the master bath area. Like kitchens, master baths evoke emotion in the heart of the homeowner. Where kitchens evoke a sense of comfort and fellowship, master baths often times evoke a sense of peace and relaxation. It’s those emotional ties that potential homebuyers respond to, seeking out upgraded amenities and features. For a master bath, such amenities might include a walk-in shower (perhaps with a built-in seat for comfort or convenience), steam shower, solid countertops, and additional storage, to name a few. With a little help from the renovation experts at Green Remodeling, you can make the most of your opportunity this year to take on the remodeling project you’ve been considering. Whether it’s a kitchen or bath upgrade, finishing off a basement to enlarge your living space, or adding on a completely new space to extend your square footage, the home improvement pros at Green Remodeling will take a consultative approach to helping you create the space you’ve always wanted. Be sure to contact Green Remodeling for more information about how they can help you with all your home improvement needs in 2018 and beyond!    

Choose VOC-Absorbing Drywall for a Healthier Home

People spend approximately 90% of their time indoors, but air contaminant levels inside the average new home are 2 to 5 times worse than the pollution levels outside. Everyday materials such as cleaning products, perfumes, hair sprays, and treated fabrics can contribute to poor indoor air quality (IAQ) but a major contributor to poor IAQ is new construction and remodeling building materials. Paints, lacquers, paint strippers, solvents, glues, carpets, unsealed plywood or particle board, foam insulation, and a variety of other building materials release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air. These VOCs are then ingested by the people and animals in the home. Some of the most common chemicals off-gassed from household items include formaldehyde, benzene, ammonia, and toluene and while some materials have an off-gassing scent, many are odorless. This off-gassing creates an unhealthy IAQ and may cause allergic reactions, congestion, coughing, headaches, skin irritation, asthma attacks, concentration problems, and fatigue, as well as other more serious health problems. Since new construction homes and remodels “off-gas” toxins and carcinogens the most in the first 5 years, consider investing in VOC-absorbing drywall. This new, breakthrough technology actively clears indoor air by capturing VOCs in the board, specifically formaldehyde and other aldehydes, and converting them into safe, inert compounds. This amazing drywall absorbs VOCs for 75 years even when finished and painted with most paints up to 25 coats! It also provides enhanced moisture and mold resistance. Obviously this drywall costs a little bit more than your standard drywall, but it’s a small price to pay for improved indoor air quality, a healthier home, and long-term peace of mind. At Green Remodeling, we are dedicated to helping you build a healthier home and we believe that comfortable living starts with better indoor air quality. That’s why we offer the option of VOC-absorbing drywall to all of our clients. Check out our online gallery or visit one of our showrooms to see the wide variety of additional services and products we have available to you. As a “one-stop-shop” contractor we can save you time, energy, and money by designing and building every aspect of your project. We will discuss your project in detail with you and prepare drawings so you can visualize and confirm what your end product will look like. We take great pride in our work and 100% customer satisfaction is our number one goal. Visit us today to see why Green Remodeling is smart remodeling!      

Aging In Place

  Many of our customers are preferring to “age in place” instead of moving to a care facility.  This means making modifications to current living space to allow people to function safely, independently, and comfortably regardless of their age.  Below are some common examples of these types of remodels.
  • Multi-Level Access:  This can be done by adding an elevator or a stair glide.   Keep in mind that adding an elevator shaft takes up space on all floors.  A nice trick for this problem is to place the elevator on the back of the house and make it look like a chimney!  Custom stair glides are also available, but people who use a walker or wheelchair will need one on each floor and will need help getting on and off of the glide at all transfer points.  If neither of these are a viable option, a room on the main level can be repurposed to be a master bedroom.
  • Widening Doors:  This is commonly needed for wheelchairs but helps two people to pass through at the same time.  Structurally, challenges include rerouting wires and/or supporting the load from above. Also, plan for patching the floor space where the walls used to be which can be tricky if you don’t know where to get the same flooring.
  • Walk-in tubs or zero-entry showers:  Walk-in tubs are expensive and require the user to be in the tub before it begins filling with water and until the tub has drained.  The zero-entry shower allows easy access, but either requires a small ramp under the tile or subfloor work to drop the shower pan down.
  • Other aging in place projects may be as simple as ramps, adding additional lighting, lever-style door handles, well-located storage, chair-height toilets, slip-resistant flooring and pull out shelves.

Drywall Breakthrough!

I am very excited about a breakthrough in a fairly boring construction product: drywall.  Certainteed came out with a drywall (AirRenew) that pulls toxins and carcinogens out of your air for 75 years with up to 26 coats of paint on it!  Several common household products containing VOC’s (Volatile Organic Compounds) are hairspray, air fresheners, perfumes, and cleaners. In addition to those, remodeling and building materials such as paints and lacquers, paint strippers and carpets, unsealed plywood or particle board and even foam insulation contain formaldehyde.  A new construction home (or newly remodeled area) off-gases the most in the first five years.  When you smell that new carpet smell, it’s actually off-gassing you are smelling. I know it sounds strange and my first concern was if it would make your sheetrock toxic to the touch, but it doesn’t.  It breaks down VOC’s and turns them into safe, inert compounds that remain inside the drywall, never reemitting them in to the air.  Because we spend approximately 90% of our time indoors and in our homes, it is important to improve the quality of our inside air especially to those of us that are asthmatic.  Inside air is often found to be more contaminated than our outdoor air. From a “Green” aspect, 99% of the gyp board is made from recycled material.  It is still just as easy to work with and installs the same as regular drywall.  It has the same weight and uses the same installation materials. What I love most about the product is that you never have to remember to turn it on or replace a filter.  It is maintenance free and is always working.  It is also mold, fire, moisture, abuse, and impact resistant.  It’s genius and I love it!  We just finished our first new construction installation and used it for all of the walls.