What You Should Know About Remodels and Renovations

Planning a renovation or remodel this year? Make sure to do your research! While a handful of projects can be done independently, some may present more challenges or need more hands on deck. Even the most experienced DIY'ers run into issues they may not anticipate when tackling home improvement, which will end up costing them both time and money in the long run.

Once your initial plans are made, it’s important to map out your next steps. Put together your budget, secure any permits you may need, and work with a designer or building material specialist (hint, hint) if your vision needs an outside perspective. Many people don’t realize how many layers there are to this process until they dive right in. So, keep reading to learn more!

What should be on my home remodel/renovation checklist?

After your design is firmed up, it’s time to start building. But before you begin, it’s important to note that most remodels and renovations require demolition. Out with the old, and in with the new! This could mean tearing down a few walls, an entire structure, or simply removing old flooring. With proper equipment and safety precautions, demolition can be done without professionals, but again, do your research and seek any additional guidance you may need!

Once demolition is complete, it's time to move on to framing. Rebuilding and framing can range from simple to extensive work according to your building design plan. In some cases, you may be framing a room, an entire structure (such as an ADU), or putting in a new wall. Whatever it may be, this is a very important step in the renovation process and design plans should be followed in great detail.

Electrical, plumbing, and HVAC come next as they operate behind the scenes to make your home live-able and comfortable for you and your family. All of these things rest within the walls of your build, making this the next step when carrying out your project.

Once both of these steps are complete, it’s time to rebuild your walls. Make sure insulation is in place and ready for drywall installation. You'll want to make sure the walls have been sanded down so that they are smooth and you're ready to paint your new walls!

Flooring usually comes last before the final touches like appliances or decorative touches are added. This allows for the dust to settle and the paint to dry before diving into another layer of your project.

Now that you know what’s ahead of you, it’s time to let the fun begin! Home renovations and remodels can seem overwhelming at first, but the sooner you begin planning, the easier it will be to envision the end result.

How do I get started on my home remodel/renovation?

Prepare: Break your project down into steps, plan your budget, figure out what materials you’ll need, and who you’ll need to help you navigate your project. In order to complete your remodel, you’ll need to be committed to the project as a whole and the preparation it takes to carry it out.

Set a Timeline: Your timeline will depend on the size and scope of your project. Some bigger projects can take up to almost nine months to complete. If you’re wanting to enjoy your new space during a specific time of year, make sure to consult with the professionals regarding a reasonable timeline to avoid impatience or disappointment. Discussing your timeline with the experts will bring expectations to light and keep you all on the same page!

Set Goals: Explore the reasons behind your desire to improve your home. Do you want to increase value? Add more space? Or, are you simply ready to update an outdated design? Think about the benefits of changing up your space and start envisioning the finished product, even when challenges arise!

Begin the Shopping Process: Create a list of the materials you’ll need, research specific brands, and create a system to stay within your budget. This is where we come in! Central Oregon’s most respected home builders and contractors choose us for top-quality building materials and top-shelf customer service. From foundation and framing to windows and doors, Building Solutions partners with you to deliver the knowledge, experience, and materials required for your next construction project. We specialize in lumber and trusses, decking and siding, windows and doors, hardware and tools, and just about anything else you might need for your commercial or residential building project.

Once the details of your renovation or remodel are squared away, it’s time for your project to set sail. If you’re choosing to take things on as a DIY'er, it’s important to explore common myths surrounding these sorts of projects before moving forward.

Myths About Home Remodeling and Renovation

Remodeling and Renovating are Easy: While some projects can be done in a breeze (TV shows don’t help this expectation), most home remodels and renovations require research, experience, outside help, and plenty of time to complete.

Choosing DIY Projects Always Saves You Money: False. Quality materials can vary in price range. Additionally, it’s crucial that you always plan for the unexpected during DIY projects. As we previously mentioned, sometimes, problems or mistakes may occur. Set aside a chunk of change for redos or changes in plans.

Your Home’s Value Will Increase: If done correctly and well, most home renovations or remodels will benefit your home but not they don’t always increase its overall value. This is where working with a professional can benefit you. If increasing value is your goal, professionals in the industry can help you decide which projects are worth it and which you can hold off on.

You Don’t Need a Building Permit: In most cases, you will indeed need some sort of building permit. Especially here in the Bend area. Make sure to do your research on city rules and regulations, obtaining the appropriate permits before construction.

You Can Always DIY: Not all steps to a construction project can be done alone. If you’re uncomfortable or don’t possess the knowledge to carry out the entire project, don’t be afraid to reach out for help. Your future home will thank you!

You Can Make Things Up As You Go: We know you’re eager to get your project done but rushing the process will most likely result in a letdown. We’ve been clear about the importance of setting aside enough time and properly planning your budget. These steps matter more than making stuff up on the fly.

You Don’t Need to Research Your Building Materials: Finding the proper materials for your space, climate, and expectations is key. Even the types of tools you use can impact the outcome of your remodel or renovation. Make sure to do your research and visit us to ask questions about the types of materials you’re choosing.

It’s time to get going on this year's remodels and renovations! Visit us at our design center to experience brand selection and knowledgeable customer service. We’d be happy to answer any questions you might have regarding your projects and can steer you in the right direction if you need additional support.

Why were we voted Central Oregon's Material Supplier of the Year? Selection and service. Let us show you the Building Solutions difference!

📞 (541) 388-9988

📍 62960 Boyd Acres Road - Bend, OR

Keeping It Green!

Sustainable building is more than just a trend. As our concern for the environment increases, preserving our ecosystems, and wildlife and reducing our carbon footprint becomes more and more important in everything we do.

Central Oregon is such a beautiful place and the longer we can keep it this way, the better it will be for all of us!

For these reasons, our business is dedicated to supporting and promoting sustainable and green building practices whenever possible. We partner with vendors who share our commitment to environmentally friendly building design and materials and are constantly on the lookout for new relationships we can foster.

Trex is a great example of a company using sustainable and green building materials. Not only do their products create beautiful results, but they are manufactured with the future in mind and that is what makes us proud. We are Central Oregon’s leading provider of residential and commercial decking; Trex is only one of the widespread, eco-friendly options you’ll see in our showroom.

So why not go green with your next home project?

With summer just around the corner, backyard gatherings are becoming increasingly popular. There's nothing like putting together a great barbeque or celebration for the people you care about. When you choose materials from Building Solutions, you can feel good about hosting your friends, family, and neighbors knowing that the outdoor space you've created was built with sustainability in mind.

We supply sustainably harvested redwood deck materials, and decks and siding in cedar, composite, and more. From large decks for entertaining to a small, intimate space for relaxing, you will find the deck materials you need under one roof at Building Solutions.

Trex composite decks are made of 95% reclaimed wood and recycled plastic film. This means that not a single tree is cut down while making their product, sawdust and all. There’s plenty of reclaimed wood to go around and Trex does their best to locally source this wood that would otherwise end up in the landfill.

Combining reclaimed wood with recycled plastic makes this durable product certified green and easy to maintain when compared to wood materials. Trex uses plastic from a variety of packaging from everyday items such as newspaper sleeves, sandwich bags, and grocery bags. To them, nothing is wasted!

Fun fact:

“The average 500-square foot composite Trex deck contains 140,000 recycled plastic bags!” Source: www.trex.com

Interested in Trex decking? Learn more about Trex recycling here or take the plunge with our special offer on Trex Wednesdays! Purchase your new Trex Deck on a Wednesday and receive FREE Trex Universal Nylon Hidden Fasteners for your project. You will also receive FREE delivery on Friday, so you can get an early start on those weekend projects!

Being environmentally and socially conscious protects the big picture and helps create a better world for us and our families to enjoy for years to come. This is something we value at Building Solutions, with hopes to transform the way we build and create new structures. We live here, work here, and play here, and we believe that our community is better when we all come together to make an effort.

From deck materials, hardware, and tools, to lumber, trusses, windows, and doors, our materials can make your dream projects a reality!

Now’s the time to plan those deck builds and revamps. Our calendar is constantly filling up this time of year! If you have an idea in mind, please don’t hesitate to contact us, we want to be your long-term building materials partner. Our construction supplies are from top-name brands, and our customer service and efficiency are second to none.

Want to watch your ideas come to life? Stop by our design center to see our in-house selection and to get an accurate estimate for your building project. Our friendly staff can help you get everything you need for the job. We can even deliver deck materials for an individual or an entire subdivision!

Get in touch today! (541) 388-9988

62960 Boyd Acres Road

Bend, OR 97701

Make the Most of Your Spring DIY

Spring is a great time of year for more than just cleaning projects. With the weather becoming consistently warmer and the days getting longer again, we can get outside to tackle some of those DIY goals for home improvement. For both the experienced and inexperienced DIYer, your time and money are your greatest assets when working on your projects. Now that you will be diving into your home improvement goals, your time and your budget will be what you want to make the most of. Your project may seem relatively cut and dry when you initially start planning it out, but once you get to work, you may find that there are a few more bumps in the road than you initially predicted! As these bumps start to pop up in your project, you may start to feel frustrated, stressed, and like this home improvement might be much more of an uphill battle than you bargained for.

An ordeal like this doesn’t have to be the case. Even the more experienced DIYers run into roadblocks and encounter hiccups because they forgot to address/prevent them, but that doesn’t mean you don’t have the resources to make things run smoothly within your budget and timeline! When you utilize Building Solutions as your main material and tool provider, we know how to help you every step of the way in your project. Come to us to make the most of your time and budget by knowing you can find everything you’re looking for in one place. We have the quality tools and materials you’ll need to work through every phase of your next DIY project, all at a competitive price and with expert knowledge from our team to help you reach your project’s finish line.

For those who’ve completed a few DIY projects to improve their home or property, they know that time is the greatest commodity. When the time you spend on your project is so pivotal, there is nothing more frustrating than having to use it up by going to multiple home improvement stores to get the materials you need. One may have some of the lumber, but not all the additional nails, screws, etc., or vice versa. Before you know it, you’re volleying yourself all over town to find that last item that no one seems to have, but you need to start your DIY. Leave this frustration and gas-guzzling activity out our your project by going somewhere that has it all in one place! When you visit Building Solutions, not only can you find all the building home improvement materials that your plan will require, but you will also find the quality tools to help you do it.

Our business specializes in helping you handle building and home improvement projects from beginning to end, and from the ground up. As a result, we carry a wide selection of tools and hardware that you might need while tackling these projects. And just like our materials, we make sure to have the highest quality tools from top brands including Milwaukee and Diablo so that you know you can rely on them to get you through your project. We also always have special offers to browse through so that you can get the most out of your budget for the quality items your home improvement project needs. Whether your spring project is focused on building your dream deck, replacing any doors or windows on your home, improving your home’s roofing, or another project to boost the lifestyle that your house provides, know that we have all the tools and materials that you will need in one convenient place.

Saving on traveling and getting your materials and tools isn’t the only way to make the most of your timeline and budget! Another way to cut the amount of time you are spending on things outside of directly working on your next DIY project is by already knowing what materials are high-quality. It is amazing how much time you can spend sifting through all the options, reviews, and research to know what materials and suppliers you can trust. We strive to make sure you never have to give it a second, minute, or hour thought. As we already mentioned above, we make sure to provide only high-quality items to make sure you feel confident in the materials that you purchase for your home improvement projects. We offer one of the largest building material selections in Central Oregon and are extremely proud of the items that we have to provide. We have over three acres of high-quality lumber to choose from that are supplied by local providers, including beautiful, sustainable redwood. We also supply a variety of options for doors, windows, decking, roofing, and more from quality brands that you can trust like Simpson, Jeld Wen, Milgard, Iko, Trex, and so many more! We even have a showroom so you can see and experience many of these brands and their materials before you buy them for your projects. Come in knowing that not only are all the materials here provided by quality suppliers but also that you’re getting them at a competitive price.

We are a locally owned business that wants to provide the best materials and tools to our neighbors. We care about the homeowners in our community and want them to be able to work with the best products to improve their homes without blowing their budgets. We would rather offer a fair price than sell our materials at a crazy markup, and that’s how we believe it should always be. When you walk through our doors, come in knowing that you can trust the quality of the products we offer and the pricing they are offered at without having to spend your time researching what suppliers have quality products and what prices they should be listed at. Build your project with our tools and materials knowing that you are getting the quality your home and family deserve at a great price.

Now that we’ve assured you that you can save time and money with our location and materials, we have one more heavy-hitting factor that can make sure your home improvement project gets the most out of your budget and timeline, and that’s our fantastic team and resources! When you come to us with a project in mind, we have so many ways our team members can help you get it done without you having to search high and low for the right resources and pointers. Our team strives to deliver the best customer service possible and to make sure we can help you in every way to get your project done right.

Our customer service is one of the things we pride ourselves on the most. If you come to our team at the early stages of your project, not only can we help you create a plan of action for it, but we also provide in-house takeoffs to help you calculate exactly what you need for efficient material sourcing. We can even assist you online! On our website, you will find a page dedicated to How-To videos for some of the most common projects and activities that our team helps DIYers with. Customer service is what sets us apart and was one of the main reasons we were awarded Central Oregon's Material Supplier of the Year. Don’t spend your time having to weed through online blogs, videos, and resources that give poor advice to find the information you need. Come directly to us to get straight answers and immediate help and guidance that you can rely on for your new home improvement project.

Experienced DIYers know that time and money are always of the essence, and we are here to help you make the most of them for your Spring home improvement goals! There is no sense in wasting the time you could be spending moving your project forward on searching for your materials, price and reputation checking, and trying to find all the right information that you will need to reach your DIY goals. Come in feeling confident, knowing that not only do we have all the quality tools and materials that your project requires but also the staff with the know-how to help you complete your project in the best way possible. Give us a call or stop in today to start making strides with your next home improvement goal! We would love to help you build your project with our materials.

Call today: 541-388-9988

62960 Boyd Acres Road - Bend, OR