Blog Posts

Big Tiles? Little Tiles? Which is Best?

8/28/2019

If you’ve shopped for tile sometime in the past, well, 30 years or so, you know that it is offered in a zillion different sizes and even more shapes (yes, even more than a zillion). From one inch mosaics to massive porcelain squares and rectangles there seems to be an option for every room size and every taste.

The tile size and shape you choose will impact your room greatly so be sure to give the following tips some thought:

Big is Better:

For a sleek contemporary look
If you despise cleaning grout because, well, the larger the tile the less grout you have
For a smaller space to make it look larger. Yep, it seems a little contradictory but that’s the case.

Small is perfect:

When you find a fun shape or cool patterned tile that jumps out and grabs you. I love patterned tile in small bathrooms…it’s a great look but be prepared to commit to a pattern and then embrace it.
For a more traditional and timeless look
When you have a tiny space such as a powder room or a separate potty room off of a larger master bath.

Obviously, this blog post doesn’t really delve into the details of this because there’s just so much available to choose from. If you are thinking about using tile in a remodel project don’t hesitate to contact Rick Kelley Builders and we’ll be thrilled to talk with you about the possibilities for your space.

This article is for general information purposes only. Rick Kelley Builders makes no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability, or availability of any information contained herein.

To Divide or Not to Divide? That's the Question...

5/30/2019

Captain Obvious here…the sink is a vital part of your kitchen. The sink plays a role in virtually every aspect of meal preparation and clean-up not to mention the occasional dog bath, houseplant watering, and hopefully washing of your hands.

Kitchen sinks are used a lot so it’s worth learning about the different types of sinks.

Single vs Double Basin

Single Basin:

Pros: No center divider so it’s easier to wash large items such as dogs, babies, large baking pans, and large pots.

Cons: Can’t separate clean and dirty dishes or thawing meat from other things

Double Basin:

Pros: One side is dedicated to the disposal so you can wash veggies in one side and cut/peel in the other. It’s also easier to hand wash dishes…wash in one side and rinse/dry in the other

Cons: Harder to wash large pans, dogs, babies, and cookie sheets

Now, there’s one other type of sink and it’s a hybrid of the two listed above. It’s a double basin sink except the center divider is low. Believe it or not, they’re called low divide sinks. Some of our clients believe low divide sinks are the absolute best of both worlds as they allow almost all the benefits of a standard divide sink but allow you to wash large pots, pans, and baking sheets.

Still can’t decide? Call our office and we’ll be happy to help.

Water Dripping from your Exhaust Fan?

2/27/2019

This past winter brought about some crazy cold temperatures and I received a few emails from some friends of mine who were concerned because water was dripping from the exhaust fans in their bathrooms. Actually, concerned isn’t the right word…they were totally freaked out because they assumed it meant their roof was leaking. Occasionally that’s a correct assumption but usually the cause is something much easier to diagnose and fairly simple to fix.

Your first step is to head up into your attic. Yeah, I know. It’s dark, smelly, and full of itchy insulation but in the attic is where your answers will be found so suck it up and get up there. The biggest piece of advice I can give you is to make sure to walk on the tops of the ceiling joists and not on the drywall itself. If you walk on the drywall, you’ll end up like Clark Griswold in the 1989 classic Christmas Vacationexcept you likely won’t land on Rusty’s bunk bed.

Next, locate the exhaust fan duct that hopefully travels from the fan in the ceiling of your bathroom and terminates to the exterior. If it doesn’t terminate to the exterior you’ve got more problems but that’s for another blog post. So, in the interest of me getting another blog post out of this let’s just assume, for the time being, that the duct terminates to the exterior of your home.

After locating the duct give it a once over and if you can see metal that means it is not insulated and, well, there’s your problem. What’s happening is the warm moist air in your bathroom is being drawn through the fan and into the duct where it condenses inside the cold uninsulated duct and reverses course and drips back into your bathroom.

The fix is pretty easy…head to your local home improvement store and buy duct insulation and some zip ties. Then wrap the insulation around the pipe and attach it with the zip ties.

That’s all there is to it.

To Tub or Not to Tub...

1/3/2018

Huge bathtub or spa-like shower? It’s a hot topic right now and is likely a question you’ll be faced with when considering a master bathroom remodel. Before you take the plunge and yank out your big tub (get it?) though here are some things to consider…

It may seem obvious but when making this decision, first determine what your needs are currently and what they may be in subsequent years. I don’t imagine you have a crystal ball but do your best to think about how long you’re going to live in the house, where your health might be heading, etc.

For many of our clients who rarely use their tubs, it seems that an awesome shower is the right answer for them. They can’t wait to yank out their old dust-collecting tub and replace it with a sleek-looking, glassed-in, dreamy shower.

One of the biggest reasons some of our clients choose to dump their tub is space. They would rather forego the tub and use that space for something that fits their lifestyle better – perhaps a larger shower with a seat, maybe more storage that includes drawers, and even another sink. Basically, what I’m saying here is that doing away with the large tub allows for more flexibility with the overall design of the space.

Some of our clients don’t care about space as much as they just want a big walk-in shower with glass walls and all the bells and whistles, such as overhead, wall-mounted and hand-held multi-function showerheads, thermostatic temperature controls, and steam features. They also want bench seats for added comfort and safety and built-in wall niches to hold soap and shampoo.

Spa-like showers may sound great and may be winning the argument here but don’t throw in the towel (see what I did there?) if you still love to soak in the tub. Our designer (that would be me) is happy to create a master bathroom design that’s right for you. For homeowners who want to keep a tub in their remodeled master bathroom, a smart choice for resale may be opting for a more energy and space efficient one-person soaking tub. Often a free-standing soaking tub can become a wonderful focal point in the room that adds a lot to the overall look and feel of the space.

I bet I know what you’re thinking now – “If I do end up choosing to dump my tub, how will that decision affect the resale of my home”? Most realtors believe preserving at least one bathtub somewhere in the home keeps the door open for buyers who prefer baths or for buyers who have young kids.

At the end of the day, it’s your house and it absolutely must fit your needs. So, whether you prefer showers or baths or a little of both, we’re here to help design a fantastic master bathroom that perfectly fits your needs.

Exhaust Fans...What Are They Good For?

8/22/2017

I recently had the pleasure of spending a night at a fine hotel in downtown Dayton, OH where inspiration struck for this very blog post. I had just taken a lovely shower using the hotel provided vitamin-packed Mega-Rich collection of soaps when I flung the shower door open to find that the humidity level in the bathroom was equivalent to that of a rain forest in Brazil. Seriously, how am I to successfully style my hair with a fogged-up mirror? It’s barbaric.

Anyway, the fogged-up mirror got my humidity clogged brain thinking about exhaust fans in bathrooms and how important they really are. Yep…I’m always thinking about work.

So, why is it important that we have some sort of ventilation in our bathrooms?

The first thing that comes to mind is to remove unwanted and unpleasant odors due to, well, bathroom activities. Come on admit it…that’s what you were thinking and you’re partly correct.

Perhaps even worse than unpleasant odors in your bathroom is a build-up of unwanted steam. Without ventilation in your bathroom condensation can form on just about every surface in the bathroom causing paint to streak, mold to grow, wallpaper to peal, wood to rot, and even cause structural issues with the framing members that surround your bathroom.

Older homes often lack bathroom exhaust fans because in the good ‘ol days if the bathroom was smelly or steamy the architects and builders thought you could open a window. Seriously? Maybe if the weather is perfect but on days where temperatures are freezing or hot this isn’t a very logical ventilation method.

Experts agree that the best way to ventilate a bathroom is an exhaust fan. Exhaust fans should be at least 50 CFM (cubic feet per minute) and go up from there depending on the size of the bathroom and be vented straight to the exterior of your home (not into the attic as that can cause all sorts of mold issues too). Ideally the maximum duct length should be 10 feet or less – 20 feet if you must – with no more than a few elbows (each elbow has the equivalent resistance of 15 feet of smooth metal duct). Smooth-wall duct is preferable to flexible (ribbed) duct. If you must use the flexible (ribbed) duct it will increase the static pressure of the system so a more powerful fan will need to be used.

We recommend operating your exhaust fan for at least 15 minutes after finishing your bath or shower. This will help more the humid air out of the bathroom. We also recommend installing a digital or analog timer switch to control the exhaust fan (where applicable) which will automatically turn off the exhaust fan after a predetermined amount of time.

Do you already have an exhaust fan but suspect it’s not working? The simplest way to test your fan’s suction is to take a single square of toilet paper and place it along the fan vent while the fan is running. If the fan holds up the toilet paper then it’s working properly.

What did we learn?

excessive humidity in your bathroom is bad
If you don’t have exhaust fans in your bathrooms – get them and make sure they are vented directly to the exterior of your home
If you have existing exhaust fans test them using the toilet paper method
Consider installing a digital or analog timer to control the fan so it can continue to operate at least 15 minutes following the end of your bath or shower.

Don't Worry I'm a Professional!

7/12/2017

Well, it’s been nearly 6 months since I’ve last written a blog for our website. I apologize, dear reader, and understand if you’ve moved on to other more regular and well, probably better blogs. I do think about this blog often but things continually seem to get in the way.

Well not today! Today I am determined to write something, anything. Maybe the best thing to do is write about what I’ve been up to lately.

I, Jeremy Kelley, now have initials after my name. Yep initials or post-nominal letters if you want to get technical about it. As of about a month ago I passed the test and now hold the designation of Certified Kitchen & Bath Remodeler per the National Association of the Remodeling Industry. I am one of only two remodelers in the entire Central Ohio area to hold this certification.

The National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) is the only national association dedicated solely to the remodeling industry. NARI’s focus is on professional conduct, continuing education, training, and fair and ethical treatment. NARI certification serves as the association’s recognition of remodeling pros who have met stringent criteria for experience who have pledged to commit to a high standard of practice and NARI’s strict Code of Ethics.

To prepare for the CKBR certification I had to complete a qualification form that outlined my background in the remodeling and construction industry and education, amass a considerable amount of continuing education hours, take roughly 16 weeks of courses, and pass a comprehensive exam. The exam assessed my knowledge in over 20 remodeling task areas including business methods and practices, building codes and construction law, computer aided design, kitchen and bath planning, building site layout, and math. Yep you heard me…the exam included math and a lot of it and I still passed.

To maintain the certification, I must continue to work full-time as a professional in the remodeling industry. This obviously isn’t an issue because well it’s my job. I also must get at least 10 continuing education credits per year which is something I'm actually really looking forward to doing...continuing to learn.

This certification does not mean we are just focusing on kitchen and bath remodels now. We, as always, are still your go-to company for all your remodeling needs including basements, room additions, screened porches, etc.

For more information about the Certified Kitchen & Bath remodeler program click HERE

As The Ceiling Fan Turns

12/15/2016

Yes, I’m aware that the high today is something awful like 13 degrees and, yes, this blog post is about ceiling fans. I haven’t gone crazy…ceiling fans can be used in the winter too and not just to drown out your snoring spouse who sounds like a walrus with a head cold.*

When you think of ceiling fans you first think about using them in the summer months to push cool air down to the floor. The cool air blowing down from the ceiling creates a wind chill effect, which makes you feel cooler without actually having to lower the temperature on your thermostat. In fact, if you run ceiling fans in your home you may even be able to raise the temperature in your home thus saving some money on your electric bill.

Now here’s the part you all have been waiting for…to hear how you could possibly benefit from using a ceiling fan in the winter.

Unlike summer where we want to feel a cool breeze while luxuriating in our Barcalounger, in winter we want to avoid the feeling of a breeze and feel warm and cozy. Fortunately, ceiling fans can help in the winter by moving the warmer air that resides comfortably up at the ceiling down into the room.

Now, I’m sure all of you were great students and remember that warm air rises because warm air is lighter than cold air. It all has to do with molecules and their distance between each other or something like that. Honestly, I can’t remember the details of why and I don’t feel like searching the Google for it.

Anyway, here are a few general rules to follow to make all this work:

The direction of the fan is determined by standing right under the thing and looking up at the ceiling.
During the summer months the fan should be blowing straight down (blades turning counter-clockwise) to create the wind chill effect I talked about earlier.
During the winter months the fan should be reversed (blades turning clockwise) to force the warm air down.

“How do I reverse my fan”, you ask?” First (this is important now) make sure the fan is turned off and stopped completely before you do anything. You do not want to change the direction of the fan with the blades rotating and you also don’t want to be looking around the fan with the blades turning…nothing good will come of it especially if you value your fingers and nose. Next, look for a small toggle switch (see handy photo below) located somewhere on the housing just below the blades and flip the switch. If you have one of those fancy fans that include a remote control then this can all be done with the push of a button.

Now the above information is simply a guideline for the summer and winter and it doesn’t mean you can’t change the direction of your fan anytime you want. Some of you fine folks don’t want the fan in your bedroom blowing on you all night and that’s great…set your fan to spin clockwise. Some of you don’t want your fan blowing cards around during a poker game and that’s totally understandable…set your fan to spin clockwise. It’s all good.

With your ceiling fan you can effectively stay cooler in summer and warmer in winter simply with the flip of a switch. It’s like magic…well except with a switch.

*Of course, I am not referring to my wife as snorning so bad that she sounds like a "walrus with a head cold". In fact, I have been reliably informed that my own snoring is even worse. Hey, maybe that's why our ceiling fan runs every night all night long. Huh...

Don't Make These Mistakes

11/19/2016

I know what you’re thinking…“Bathrooms look easy to remodel. How hard can it be?”

My mind-reading powers are amazing right? Actually, I know you’re shocked to hear that I don't actually have the power to read minds…I’ve just been in the remodeling business for a long time.

Bathrooms are amazingly complex spaces and much harder to remodel than what it appears to be on a 30 minute HGTV show…trust me.

Think about it…bathrooms get hot, cold, humid, and dry all within about 10 minutes. OK maybe 20 minutes if you’re a person who likes to luxuriate in the shower. Either way you’ve got the bathroom temperature fluctuating like the weather in Ohio along with crazy humidity levels coupled with all sorts of electrical wiring, lights, etc. It’s serious stuff.

When things go wrong with a bathroom remodel – they go very wrong very quickly. So whether you attempt to remodel your bathroom yourself or hire a contractor avoid these common mistakes and you’ll thank me for it.

NO STORAGE

I get it that you want to create a stress-free space where time seems to stand still and your worries fade away. The way to do that is to go minimalist and streamline the design…pretty cool. The mistake here though is that people tend to go a little overboard and don't include places to store things so the opposite happens and you end up with stuff sitting all over the countertop, towels flung over the shower door, and yep you guessed it…a plunger sitting on the floor next to the toilet. Don’t be that person.

Make sure you have storage somewhere for all your stuff. One possible option is to install a tower cabinet between the sinks that includes electrical outlets inside of it to recharge your razor or toothbrush.

BUYING MISMATCHED HARDWARE AND FIXTURES

You may be thinking "who cares if the finish on the faucet matches the finish on the towel bars"? Well, you may not care but the folks looking to buy your house one day will definitely care. So I'll lay it on you...if you buy a brushed nickel faucet then the towel bars, valve trims, tub spout, shower head, and toilet lever (yep, even the toilet lever) all need to match. One word of caution, manufacturers often have different ideas of what brushed nickel or oil-rubbed bronze are supposed to look like. Stay with the same manufacturer for all the fixtures, if possible.

This may seem like a no-brainer to you but if you choose a white sink go with a white toilet and white tub. They should all match.

USING CHEAP, BAD, OR NO UNDERLAYMENT

You will never see the underlayment again after the tile is installed but it'll be there for the life of your bathroom protecting against water damage, humidity issues, etc. The first and most important thing you need to know is don't use green board (basically water resistant drywall) behind your shower tile. Over time it will deteriorate. Don't use it.

There are many good choices for tile underlayment. Most folks use cement board installed per the manufacturer's specs with waterproofing etc.

NOT OBTAINING A BUILDING PERMIT

In most municipalities it is against the law to perform a remodel project without a building permit. Over and above the legalities of it there are other compelling reasons…if you get caught without a permit they legally can force you to remove tile, drywall, etc to inspect inside the walls and they can and will fine you and then force you to get the proper permits anyway. One of the biggest reasons to get a permit is that potential homebuyers, on advice from realtors, are starting to request copies of permits to verify that you have remodeled your home safely and that it meets building codes. Seriously, just get a permit. It’s a Saturday and I don’t feel like typing a long drawn-out explanation for this so just click HERE to read a blog post I wrote a few months ago that goes into more detail.

USING CHEAP MATERIALS

Second to your kitchen, the bathroom is the hardest working room in your house. It is used multiple times a day and needs to withstand years of moisture, traffic, and regular (hopefully) cleaning. Everyone has a budget but it’s important that you choose the best materials you can afford including plumbing fixtures, tile, and paint. Yes, even paint. Paint is important too because of the ever-changing humidity levels.

FOLLOWING TRENDS

It’s OK to look at magazines and various websites to help with bathroom remodel ideas but try to resist making your bathroom too trendy. All of those hip fixtures and colors may be cool now but they can and likely will look goofy in a few short years. Choose items that stand the test of time.

SPENDING TOO MUCH MONEY

Yeah I know I just said to spend money and get quality materials and now I’m saying don’t spend too much money. You need to find a balance between the two. Make it nice but don't go crazy unless you plan to not sell your home for a long time.

So, what have we learned? We learned to not let HGTV shows fool us into thinking that remodeling is easy, we learned to be sensible with your remodeling projects, and we learned that I have indeed learned something in my 16 years of working in the remodeling business and 38 years of being around it.

SHAMELESS PLUG

Why worry about all this on your own? Hire a family-owned remodeling company to guide you through the process (including your own personal designer). Contact us today at 614-437-2013 for a quote on your bathroom remodel or any other remodel project for that matter.

It's not the heat it's the humidity!

7/31/2016

I find myself back at the old computer today writing this blog post for you, my amazing fans – all 5 of you – it’s a work in progress. Anyway, this blog post is about whole house humidifiers. Yep, I know the exciting subject of humidifiers has been keeping you up nights. Humidifiers are important for your health, the health of your home, and your comfort.

Before I get into this we need to make sure we all understand what a whole house humidifier is and when it should be used…

A whole house humidifier works by introducing moisture to the air that’s being warmed and distributed throughout your home. As air travels through the ductwork in your home, it passes through the humidifier (typically mounted on the side of your furnace) where water flows through a panel inside the unit. The air absorbs the water from the panel, thus raising the humidity levels of your entire home. The most important thing to remember though is a humidifier should only be used during the winter months when humidity is already low. Believe me in the summer, at least in Central Ohio, we don't need to add humidity to the air. It’s been miserably humid here lately…amiright?

So now that we all are on the same page here’s why you should want one…

Health
Low humidity can increase your likelihood of getting colds, flu and other upper respiratory ailments. Viruses that cause colds and flu thrive in low humidity. According to The American Society of Otolaryngology (basically ear, nose, and throat doctors and yes, I had to Google “Otolaryngology”) dry air can make people more susceptible to infection. There is also research that shows dry air can also aggravate allergy and asthma symptoms. As if all the above isn't enough, dry air in our homes can cause dry skin and nose bleeds.

Comfort
We humans sense heat and cold basically using two indicators – ambient temperature and relative humidity. A temperature with only 10% relative humidity feels like 65 degrees but if the relative humidity is increased to 40% it feels like 68 degrees. That is a 3 degree increase in comfort by adding water to the air…pretty amazing right?

Your Home and your stuff
Air that is too dry can wreak havoc on your home including causing your wood floors to contract, drywall to crack, baseboard and casing trim to contract and crack, damage electronics, and even cause paint to peel.

Wow…look at all we’ve learned about whole house humidifiers. I sure feel better now.

But wait, as Steve Jobs would always say, there’s one more thing. What’s the ideal relative humidity level for your home you ask? Well, go buy yourself a hygrometer (I had to Google that one too) and keep your home’s relative humidity level somewhere between 40% - 50%. Obviously, while you’re messing with your humidifier and your new hygrometer (ha…I got to use that word twice in a blog post and will probably never say it again) keep an eye on your windows. If there is condensation on them then turn the humidifier down a little.

Thanks for spending a few minutes with me today! Now go forth and get your humidifier ready for winter. If you need one installed, one replaced, or one repaired call your local HVAC contractor…they’ll be able to take care of whatever you need done.

I enjoy learning new things and I think the following is kinda interesting...

In the Dog House

7/12/2016

Emma, my Corgi, relaxing in her memory foam bed.

I haven’t written a blog post in a month or so and I forced myself today to sit down this evening and get something typed.

So, I’m sitting here at my kitchen table looking at Facebook - I mean working on this blog post - and in walks my wonderful, old, half blind, diabetic dog who proceeds to lay down on the floor next to me (I am her favorite person, by the way) and it occurs to me that this dog - this animal who has loved me unequivocally for 13 years - is part of my family. She’s just as part of the family as my daughter and my wife.

I work hard every day to come up with ways to make my client’s homes better for them, for their lifestyle, and for their families. Why not attempt to make homes better for their dogs and cats too?

So here are some ideas for making your home more comfortable, user-friendly, and just better for you and your dog.

Storage:

Pets are like children in that they collect a lot of stuff like toys, food, leashes, carriers, etc. My dog sure does collect stuff ranging from piles of toys to diabetes testing supplies. When remodeling or adding a new mudroom or designing a new kitchen, make sure you design the space and the storage cabinetry to handle all their stuff.

Feeding:

There’s really never a great place, it seems, to put your pet’s food bowls, right? Well, why not install a built-in feeding area in your mudroom or kitchen to make it easier? Ideas include a built-in drawer that holds the food and water bowls and/or a water fountain that connects directly to your home water supply. That way your pet will always have fresh water.

Bathing:

At least in my house, a dog bath typically consists of a garden hose, some soap, and a short leash. Nowadays homeowners want something easier and better looking. A great idea is to add a designated shower or bath for your pet. Typically, it is located in a garage (as long as your local building department allows it) or in a mudroom or laundry room so your dog (I pity the person who has to bathe their cat) can be washed and dried before he or she is allowed into the actual house. In some cases these high-end pet showers are replacing the sink in the laundry room and serving as a combined laundry sink and pet shower…pretty cool!

Flooring:

I know this is pretty obvious but I’m going to say it anyway…ceramic tile is probably the most practical choice for pets especially if you make sure the grout joints are sealed well and then maintained. Most of us, though, don’t want to tile our entire homes so the next logical step from tile is a natural hardwood. With hardwood, choose one of the hardest woods available such as maple or oak. Also, make sure to use high-quality polyurethane to seal and protect the floor.

Aging-in-Place

Unfortunately we all get older and our pets certainly do too. Our pets can also benefit from planned aging-in-place designs and changes. Ramps or low-rise steps to your dog’s favorite sleeping spots (including your bed) will help with leg and hip issues, well lit stairwells (that helps us too actually) will help pets with poor vision (like my dog), and well placed beds around the house (maybe in conjunction with a built-in) also allows them to lay in a bed but stay close to us.

So, I think this blog post turned out pretty well considering I didn’t have a clue what to write about before I sat down at the computer.

Thanks for spending a few minutes of your day with me.

Now go outside and play with your dog, I am! Emma is waiting on me...

Emma is partially blind now so we have to play fetch with a ball she can see.

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