Oftentimes when people think of building an addition, or remodeling, they assume that for a valuable difference to be made, a huge addition is required. And, depending on the specific goals you have and the objectives you need your new space to accomplish, a big change might just be in order.
On the other hand, you also could be surprised by how much of a transformation can be made possible by even a relatively small, but well-planned, project.
I was thinking about home remodeling today and realized that some of our most beautiful remodeling projects included elements of custom carpentry. Custom woodwork brings a room to life like nothing else can. You simply can’t buy that kind of workmanship from your local hardware. As I flip through our online portfolio and the custom carpentry gallery, I’m impressed all over again by the imagination of our clients and the talent of our in-house carpenters.
Kitchen Remodel with Custom Cabinets
Custom kitchen cabinets lost popularity with the big McMansion boom. Why purchase more expensive, albeit better quality, cabinetry when you could mass produce homes using materials easily available from the local hardware or home store? Today’s builders and homeowners are going back to custom elements like kitchen cabinets when remodeling an existing kitchen or building a new custom home.
Wine Cellar Design and Build with Custom Elements
Not every home houses a wine cellar. I love working on custom wine cellars because of the custom woodwork involved. All wine connoisseurs have two things in common – a love of wine and high quality workmanship. Some of the wine cellars we’ve built have display space for thousands of bottles while others are more intimate.
Built-in Bookshelves
Built-in bookshelves are another design element that lost popularity during the big building phase. There was no reason to take your time to build custom elements when you had potential homeowners hanging on your every move. Now, however, home buyers are on the lookout for specialty items such as custom woodwork.
Built-to-Fit Storage
Custom designed, built-to-fit storage is quickly gaining popularity in today’s housing market. Many homes are built with odd angles throughout the home. These spaces, like the space below the staircase, may be used for storage, bookshelves, or even pet houses.
Custom closets offer homeowners the ability to store more clothing more efficiently than a standard closet with only hanging space. Closet customization isn’t difficult at all when you stand back and look for the opportunity to build custom storage options based on the homeowner’s use of the closet. Adding shelves and drawer space, and expanding hanging space offers the homeowner a much more usable closet area.
Custom Porch Posts
Anyone can go to the local home store to buy porch railing, there’s nothing special about it. Simply install it, paint it, and you’re good to go. Custom porch railing, on the other hand, draws immediate attention because other homeowners stop to take a good look.
Custom Woodwork Throughout the Home
Don’t settle for ordinary when you can shoot for extraordinary. Yes, you can go to your local home store and purchase a pressboard bookshelf system that will serve a function. Next year you can go to the same store and buy a similar bookshelf because the last one fell apart under the load of books and breakables. Oops.
Custom woodwork built by Gerety’s master carpenters is high quality and built to last a lifetime. We don’t skimp on materials or use cheap alternatives to save money. We build, for example, a bed frame or a desk that will grow with your child through childhood, teen years, and into adulthood. We focus on quality workmanship that can eventually become an heirloom piece, passed from generation to generation.
Review Date: August 19, 2013
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Overall |
A |
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Price |
B |
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Quality |
A |
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Responsiveness |
A |
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Punctuality |
A |
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Professionalism |
A |
Member:
Heather Wolf
Pound Ridge, NY 10576
Category:
Carpentry – Woodworking
Services Performed:
Yes
Work Completed Date:
July 10, 2012
Hire Again:
Yes
Approximate Cost:
$30,000.00
Description Of Work:
Gut renovation of kitchen, building all custom cabinetry with granite countertops and new brick floor and marble backsplash- all to the design I drew on a napkin! He repair the roof and did custom installation of skylights in my art studio. I could not be more pleased with his consistent commitment to excellence. He had come highly recommended. “If you want someone to do it right the first time- call Keith” I heard from more than 3 neighbors! That was enough for me to hire them.
Member Comments:
Keith is a top notch professional. He shows up completely organized and focused on the task. For every job where we worked with him, he always carefully recorded all my requests accurately which resulted in excellence from start to finish. I was so pleased to see the craftsmen show up right on time every day with everything they needed to do their job. They were careful in everything they did. Total craftsmen and professionals. The subs he hired obviously all like working with kieth and were professionals and also showed up on time and – importantly in budget. They cleaned up after their work each and every day and always were kind and respectful. They seemed like they also enjoyed their job and were taken care of by their boss. This is very important to me. I don’t want people working on my property who are not cared for well by their bosses because then it puts me in an uncomfortable situation.
I want to write an honest and straightforward review and I just have nothing negative to say. It is not cheap to hire good talented craftsmen in this area, but the cheaper is NEVER the better choice. Every penny paid to Gerety was well worth it. He came in ahead of schedule and under budget each time. His estimates are accurate. He does not sugar coat things. He gives you a real viable estimate- and then comes in at or below it every time… which i deeply appreciate.
His professionalism, his commitment to excellence, his organizational skills, his dedication to follow-through, his adept skills at properly assessing a job, his communication when the unknown strikes- his ability to accurately assess the pro-s and con’s of various solutions to unforeseen problems… And lastly but certainly most importantly, his honesty.
If only all contractors were like Keith!
If you ever watch the show “holmes on homes”- you see a dedicated focus on quality. That dedication to excellence is obviously what motivates Keith and I am so lucky to have chosen him for several renovations and I look forward to working with him again soon.
Share on Band of Neighbors:
Yes
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS ANSWERED WHEN COMPLETING THIS REVIEW
How much did the final cost compare to the original estimate? lower than estimate
How does the value of the work compare to the price? I got exactly what I paid for
How far in advance did you schedule the work? more than 2 weeks
Did you find the company through Angie’s List? no
If no, what was the other source? neighbors reference
Why did you choose this contractor? reputation
Have you used this company before? I’ve used this company before
What did you like most about this contractor? honesty
What did you like least about this contractor? i guess the price. it wasn’t cheap but again- that’s going rates in this area…which is high
What surprises came up during the course of the work? a bad roof when we cut for skylights.
What words of advice would you give other members considering this contractor? he is well worth is. I am working on another project and I WISH i would have hired him again!!
What words of advice would you give this contractor? Thank you so much for your consistent commitment to quality. You are so appreciated!
This is your space. Feel free to give us your two cents … or quote your favorite movie? as” Holmes on Homes” says- research your contractor first! It paid off! He’s awesome
| angieslist.com/review/6235624 |
Read more customer testimonials here.
Now that summer is here, it is the perfect time for you to start planning and executing your home remodeling projects. There are so many ways you can improve upon the structure and appearance of your home. If you take some time to assess your home’s condition, you may find that there are some things that need to be addressed from the winter. No matter what projects you ultimately decide to start, make sure you do your homework so that you hire the best and most qualified professionals for the job.
While you may be all too eager to get started with your home remodeling projects, you need to realize that if you are on a budget, you need to be careful. Things can quickly become expensive if you don’t select the right contractor that will do the job right the first time around. In fact, instead of rushing to get things done, start doing some research on what needs to be done. Even if you plan on hiring professionals, it doesn’t hurt for you to learn about the different materials that can be used. Keep in mind that you should not sacrifice any professionals’ credentials and experience in hopes of saving money. When it comes to your home, you need to remember that it is an investment and you don’t want anyone who is not properly qualified or licensed to work on it.
If you are going to use contractors for your home remodeling projects, keep in mind that even though you aren’t doing any of the construction, you still have control over what is done. Don’t hire anyone that makes you feel intimidated or uneasy. You need to hire professionals that are open to communication and respect what you say. They will make sure that you are included every step of the way towards your project’s completion. They will respect your wishes and any preferences you have. If you have any questions or concerns, you should be able to present them and the contractors should respond and resolve any issues you may have.
Before any work can begin on your property, you and your contractors need to come to a legal agreement about the work that is going to be performed. This agreement needs to be drawn up in the form of a contract. Everything pertaining to your home remodeling project needs to be included. Payment schedules, fees agreed upon, who is responsible for purchasing supplies, how much you are going to be charged for supplies and when your project is expected to be completed are some of the things that need to be included in your contract. Once you have worked out the details of the contract and it meets everyone’s approval, all involved parties can sign it so work on your project can begin.
Most people think of spring and summer as the perfect time to undertake a remodeling project. It is quite true that warmer temperatures and sunny days are beneficial when it comes to working outside – or rather hiring other people to work outside – but temperature is far from the only consideration when deciding when is the right time to begin your remodeling project.
In many cases, knowing when to remodel is likely to save you money as well as time during your project. Spring and summer may be the most popular times to call in a contractor but they may not be the right option for you.
Avoiding Contractors’ Busy Times
If you go to your favorite restaurant when they are very busy you are unlikely to get the same careful level of attention as you would at off peak hours and you are far less likely to get the extra side portion of salad dressing or any other extras you want the first time you ask for it. The staff are simply going to be too busy to give you all the attention they probably should.
The same can often hold true for renovation or remodeling contractors of all kinds. If they are juggling several projects at once they may simply not have the resources or time to pay as much attention to yours, especially if it a smaller project, as they usually would if they were less pressed for time.
Additionally, when every contractor within a ten mile radius is putting in orders for hardwood flooring, paint, lumber and all kinds of other building supplies there is a much greater chance that orders will suffer stock shortages, get delayed, or even mixed up, causing everyone involved extra headaches. Remodeling projects are already a bit of a hassle anyway so these types of extra delays can become a real annoyance.
By working with remodeling contractors in their “off season” you may also get a more favorable to you price estimate as when they have less projects on their books.
The best possible scenario for many remodeling and home maintenance projects is to schedule them a few months earlier than everyone else is likely to be doing.
Wine Cellars are a great addition to your home. With the integration of technology, Wine Cellars today are able to effortlessly monitor the atmospheric condition, and even provide important informations directly to a computer of cell phone. Here is an example of a Custom Wine Cellar Gerety Building and Restoration recently completed.
Some features of this project included:
Learn more about our custom wine cellar design and installation services here.
You can visit our Youtube channel: Gerety Building and Restoration
