Category: Uncategorized

by Hank Wall

When home prices went south in 2008 it sent a shockwave through the nation. Everyone thought our homes would remain steady despite the economic ups and downs. Economist Michael Walden said that the decline in housing values which started in August 2008 was the first time in fifty years that real estate in the U.S. lost significant value across the board.

When your retirement is in part dependent on your home equity you can’t afford another dip in housing values. Likewise, you can’t put all your eggs in the stock market or mutual fund basket since those are even more volatile than real estate. Years of accumulated retirement funds might be at risk if the stock market plunges.

As a risk-averse “older guy” I have more confidence in Triangle real estate than ever before. This is a booming sunbelt region with years of steady growth projected. People are moving here for many reasons from many places. Triangle real estate value is gaining 5% annually on average and even more in some residential markets. If I can get 5% with very low risk of a real estate collapse I am feeling secure with my home’s equity.

I think of my recent home improvements as part of my investments. My wife and I will enjoy a very good return on these improvements, most of what we spent. Our home looks so nice after last year’s kitchen renovation that we may postpone moving to enjoy it another year or two. It will still look new in a few years when we decide to sell and we get to enjoy it week to week until we do move.

Investing in your home in the Triangle has big advantages. You enjoy your investment, unlike your shares of some company stock. Fluctuations in value are less likely. Raleigh real estate is limited and will continue to increase in value, especially closer to town. Living in the After (remodeled) version of your home will give you the feeling of success more than some up and down number called your net worth. Your home equity is increasing and is safe. Your home improvements benefit you now since your life enjoyment increases.

Call Wood Wise when you are ready to improve your home. We can help you enjoy your home as your personal refuge from the busy world and as a solid investment.

   Granite, quartz, or marble? Choosing the right countertop will impact your daily living for years. Making the right selection goes beyond just color and style. Here are some tips for making the decision that is right for you:

• Quartz: Engineered by combining about 90% ground quartz with about 10% resins and polymers, quartz has a very hard granite-like surface. Quartz countertops are zero-maintenance. Sealing quartz is not necessary since it is non-porous. Color choices include uniform looks as well as selections that look more like natural granite. Quartz is usually more expensive than granite.
• Granite: By far the most popular choice is granite. It is beautiful and durable and every slab is unique. Sealing is recommended every two years and can be easily done by homeowners. Color choices are almost endless with some having lots of veining or “movement” and others not as much. Granite is sold by levels, level 1 being the least expensive to level 4 being the most expensive. The levels are determined by availability of the granite, not durability. You go to the stone warehouse to choose the actual slab that will be used in your home.
• Marble: With an old world look, marble has emotional appeal for some homeowners. Marble is naturally a softer stone and will stain and scratch more easily than granite. Marble can be sealed but this will not prevent etching. Homeowners who choose marble embrace the marks and aging as added patina.
• Quartzite: Like granite, quartzite is a naturally occurring stone. It is mined, sliced, polished, and sealed for beauty and durability. Quartzite is harder than both granite and quartz plus it withstands heat very well. Like granite, quartzite requires sealing. Quartzite is similar to quartz and level 2 and 3 granite in cost.

There are numerous factors when making the best countertop material decision. When you choose Wood Wise for your remodeling project, you are not alone in making your selections, including countertops. Designer Kathy Walker works with you to make sure your choices look great and work well with your lifestyle.

Showers can become a cluttered place with all the personal products homeowners use daily. From shampoos and conditioners to shower gels and razors, tubes and bottles seem to multiply in that small space. When designing a bathroom, Wood Wise designer Kathy Walker works with our clients to design shower niches and spaces to hold those containers in an organized way. She aims to locate these product holders so they are not easily seen from outside the shower. Here are a few examples from Wood Wise projects of shower niches that are good-looking and convenient:

Choosing the right backsplash for your kitchen is an opportunity to make a statement, bold or subtle. Because of its permanency, you will be looking at it for a long time. Wood Wise designer Kathy Walker accompanies our homeowners to Byrd Tile where she helps coordinate a beautiful backsplash to go with the selected cabinet and countertop choices. Often a homeowner will decide on a focal point behind the cooktop. Here are some recent choices homeowners have made:

So you’ve dreamed for years about getting that kitchen makeover or building an addition to your home. Now you are ready to get moving on it. But where to start? Call a remodeler? Talk to a designer? What comes first? It can become confusing and overwhelming.

Over our 25 years in business, we have refined and improved our remodeling process. We’ve brought the design process “in-house” to make remodeling with Wood Wise one-stop shopping for you. And we’ve taken the best of what we’ve learned to come up with four main steps to take your home remodeling project from concept to reality:

• First meeting: we come out on a free first meeting to hear your remodeling goals, see the space, and tell you about us.
• Design phase: this step involves accurately measuring your home to create an “as built.” Our talented designer, Kathy Walker, then works with you to come up with several options. Once a final design is determined, we take our electrician, plumber, project manager, and other trades as needed to come up with a fixed price.
• Construction phase: Wood Wise project manager Ben Toney heads up our team to get permits, do tear out, rough-ins, trim-out and coordinate all the trades needed to provide you with a turn-key job.
• Follow-up: we check in with you periodically during that first year to make sure everything is working just right.

With the same professional team with you from beginning to end, we work hard to make the remodeling process stress-free and as easy as possible for you. Get started by giving us a call at 919.783.9330 or emailing us at [email protected]. We look forward to taking that first step with you.

To read more about our design/build process:

https://woodwisedesign.com/what-we-do/our-process/

Outdoor living spaces have become important rooms of a home. Most Wood Wise homeowners who build porches spend lots of time on them whether with family or guests. Stone fireplaces are a popular addition for adding warmth during the cooler seasons. They also make a great design statement by giving the porch the feeling of a mountain getaway.  Here are three examples of fireplaces from recent Wood Wise porch projects:

These busy homeowners wanted a larger kitchen with an expanded family room. After working with Kathy to get the desired plan, project manager Ben took over to put the design into reality. The result is a wonderful area to prepare meals, do homework, and spend time together. The two islands give plenty of space for food prep and meals. The choice of two finishes for the KraftMaid island cabinets keeps the area light and lends a contemporary flair.

Most homeowners have a “wish list” for their homes, some with obvious solutions and others not so much. The Wood Wise team is good at bringing fresh eyes to a home to find the best way to achieve the homeowners’ goals. A good example is this grilling deck. The homeowners wanted Wood Wise to design and build the large porch that features a stone fireplace and floor. But where could they grill that was close to the kitchen and would work within the setbacks of the lot? Wood Wise designers Hank and Kathy worked together to come up with this grilling deck that fits in the confines of the lot, is easily accessed, and works great for the grill master.

We love to take photos of our projects after they are finished. Our photographer Stuart Jones does a great job of finding the right angles and close-ups to show off the freshly remodeled spaces to the max. When we finish an outdoor living space, we particularly like to take photos at twilight when the sun is down and the sky is a rich blue. This beautifully lit screened porch over-looking the pool gives a feeling of expectancy about the evening ahead.

Want to make a small change in your kitchen that will have a big impact? Upgrade your cabinet hardware. Buying a pull or knob that has a great design and fresh finish can add good style to your kitchen or bathroom.  Satin nickel, chrome, stainless steel, and bronze are the most popular finishes today. Our go-to source for beautiful hardware is Ferguson’s. Check out this great Houzz article on how to choose the right pulls and knobs for your kitchen:

http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/27372883/list/get-a-grip-on-kitchen-cabinets-with-the-right-knobs-and-pulls