71 www.ReadMPM.com | www.MountPleasantMagazine.com | www.MountPleasantPodcast.com So you want to add a new deck, porch, kitchen or room to your home or even give it a full makeover. While you might have some ideas or are just simply mulling it over, it is never too early to prepare for the big day – especially since your big day will require several months to a year to realize. “A project development process where the design comes together and material selections are made is vitally important in the overall success of the project,” said Phil Bennett, owner of Real Remodels in Mount Pleasant. “The design process can be a fun and amazing experience where the final design can be vastly different from the initial concept.” WHOLE HOME REMODELING Suppose your two-story home has reached the point of needing a complete makeover. You initially envision all new flooring, updated bathrooms eliminating the original builder grade features, a new kitchen with a better workflow, shiplap walls and a fireplace for the living room and an open deck with stainless-steel cable railings that will add charm and livability to the exterior. After doing some initial research and comparing costs, you determine that you can have it all done within your budget. But during the project development process by a professional remodeler, you discover your home’s wiring and plumbing need to be updated by upgrading the electric service panel and replacing old polybutylene pipes. Your HVAC system may be 20-plus years old and in need of upgrading to a more efficient unit. A very slow, hidden pipe leak on the second level has also compromised the integrity of the surrounding room structure. Additionally, one bathroom now has rotten framing around the tub that could collapse through the floor at any moment. Before your remodeler proposes even one idea for a makeover, they will almost certainly recommend putting all structural and code concerns in order. “Each year we handle about 100 renovations, both large and small,” Bennett said. “Most projects we do because the clients want their home to be updated in current trends; however, a handful of those are in need of major structural repairs.” A professional remodeler can help you reduce the nearly limitless options to a few and spot potential pitfalls in helping you realize your vision. “When you want a whole-home makeover, you have to take the entire structure into account,” said Andrea Dumais, design and office assistant with Classic HOME BY L. C. LEACH III Redesigning your desires Renovations
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