Commercial Remodeling Project Update on ALL, Inc.’s St Paul Store

I am really excited about this commercial remodeling job in St Paul. Titus Contracting is ahead of schedule on the work we’re doing for ALL, Inc. They are a cabinet and appliance retailer located in St Paul, and they hired us for a remodeling project to update their showroom.

As of right now, we are nearly done with the 2300-square-foot living kitchen. This is a Sub-Zero/Wolf display room so their customers can get a closer look at these appliances and furniture. We have installed the cabinets, tops and millwork to update the showroom and give it a more modern look and feel.

The demo, framing and drywall are now all done too, plus we recently finished all of the painting we had to do for this commercial remodeling project. All that’s left are the finishing touches! The ceiling grids, tiles and flooring tiles are also done. Everything is coming together just as we planned and hoped.

The electric and HVAC systems were updated too. This was one of the most important parts of this commercial remodeling job because we wanted them to be able to operate at maximum efficiency so they can put their best foot forward for their customers.

I am really looking forward to seeing the end results of this commercial remodeling project for ALL, Inc. When we first took on this job, we knew it would be a big one, but we were happy for the challenge and we are really pleased with how well it is all progressing so far.

Titus Contracting can help with any commercial remodeling project. There is no job that is too big or too small for us! So when you need commercial remodeling in St Paul or the surrounding areas, give us a call at 952-746-7817 or contact us for a Free Estimate.

Home Remodeling in Columbus MN: Complete Home Overhaul

Sometimes we get customers who want a change in their home but don’t necessarily know what that might look like. Usually in these cases, we get a little bit of direction and then work with the customer from the design process all the way to completion.

This was the case with one of our most recent projects in Columbus MN where rooms in the home were eventually stripped down and rebuilt. Starting from scratch with these rooms allows us to give the area of the home a new, modern and unified look. Often the best part for the homeowner is that some remodels, such as this Columbus MN, home remodeling project, allow residents to stay in the in the area. There are some questions to answer before embarking on something like this though. 

Major Home Remodel

When is it appropriate to completely gut the place? There are a number of reasons why a family could choose to go this route. One possibility is that new homeowners love a home's location or exterior, but dislike the interior. Instead of buying a different home, they decide to completely remodel the home's interior. In the same vein, a current homeowner may be considering a move because they no longer enjoy the home's interior. But instead of investing in an entirely new home, and uprooting their family, they opt for an extensive home remodeling project. In both scenarios, the family is allowed to stay in the home and neighborhood they love.

Columbus MN Remodeling Project

In this particular home remodeling project, our team of experts gave the home an entirely new kitchen and bathroom. When you take on this type of remodeling project, you have a lot of creative freedom. One great benefit of completing a home remodeling project at the home you currently live in is that you know what works well and what doesn't pretty quickly. You know how you would like to see the space optimized.

In this home remodeling project, the homeowners opted for more counter space in the kitchen, while leaving a wide, open dining room. In the bathroom, they had a new vanity, lighting and windows installed. We gladly obliged.

If you're looking for a home remodeling company near Columbus MN, contact us today by calling 952-746-7817 or Contact us Online.

Twin Cities Dream Kitchen Series

It's 2014, and a lot of Twin Cities residents are thinking about the upcoming year. Are home improvements on your New Year's resolutions list? If so, perhaps you've been thinking about your kitchen and how you'd like to remodel it into your dream kitchen. As the design manager for Titus Contracting, I have a few suggestions for you. I wrote a three-part blog series about Twin Cities Dream Kitchens, and here is a rundown of the information I covered. 

Part One covers your dream kitchen's space and its limitations. You don't want too many items in your kitchen that will make the space feel cramped any time there is more than one person in there. You want to make sure you can get to your oven, fridge, etc. easily and without much hassle.

If you're thinking about having a kitchen island installed, consider it a focal point of the kitchen. You also want it to have more than one use: as a place to prepare food and also as a place to eat and gather around. You will want to think about the aesthetics of the island. Should it look the same as the other counters and cabinets, or do you want to select different colors for the countertops and cabinets so it stands out?

Then you want to think about the rest of your cabinets. How much space do you need ideally? What colors are you thinking about for both the cabinetry and the countertops? What other accessories do you want or need?

Part Two talks about your dream kitchen's lighting. I highly recommend looking into recessed lighting. You can control the lighting with a dimmer switch. Titus Contracting recommends LED-recessed lighting because the bulbs last longer and use less energy. And you also want to think about your microwave and exhaust system and the possibility of combining the two to save space. I like over-the-range microwaves because you get two appliances in one.

Have you thought about your backsplash or the type of tile you want in your Twin Cities dream kitchen? Tile makes for a really nice-looking backsplash and it's very easy to clean and maintain. In the Twin Cities area, tile floors in kitchens aren't the most practical because they can get very cold during the winter months, plus they are prone to breaking if anything falls on them. But there are many other flooring options for your Twin Cities kitchen, and we have plenty of ideas for you!

Finally, Part Three discusses the benefits of granite countertops for your Twin Cities dream kitchen. Granite is durable and natural, and it's a beautiful stone. No two pieces are exactly alike, so you will always get a very unique and distinct look in your dream kitchen. Keep an eye on cost though – the edge style you choose can drive it up a bit, but I personally still feel like granite is the best bang for your countertop buck.

And you also want to consider what sort of dispensers you want for your soap and hot water. Depending on your needs and style, these can range from just $100 to several hundred dollars.

When you are ready to start designing your Twin Cities dream kitchen, give us a call at Titus Contracting at (952) 746-7817 or contact us online.

How Do You Deal with Cracked Walls in Your Twin Cities Home?

As the design manager at Titus Contracting, I encounter this question quite a bit about cracked walls. Twin Cities is just one of the areas Titus Contracting serves, so we see cracked walls fairly frequently when we do home and commercial remodeling projects in the Twin Cities area. I recently answered this question on the website Quora.com, and I wanted to share my cracked wall answer with my readers:

This does depend on the material, but if we assume drywall or plaster, it is usually quite the same.  If you just spackle or use drywall mud over a crack, the crack will almost always come back.  If you use caulk, it may not come back but caulk will almost always flash through slightly at some point.  The best way is to clean up both sides of the crack.  Tape over the crack with fiberglass mesh tape (or paper tape but I prefer  fiberglass with cracks), then mud over the tape with 2 to 4 coats of  drywall mud feathering out the repair.  Keep the coats thin to minimize sanding.  Finally sand it out and paint.

Cracked walls in your Twin Cities home can be a sign of a more serious problem with your foundation. A lot depends on the shape of the crack and the direction it is running along the wall. If your cracked walls have cracks that are vertical and start where the wall and ceiling meet, it usually just means that the foundation of your Twin Cities home has settled and caused a few ugly cracked walls. But if the crack is horizontal and/or run at a jagged 45-degree angle, this could indicate your Twin Cities home’s foundation has drastically shifted or there is some type of water damage. If the cracked walls look like a stair-step and run in both a horizontal and vertical direction, they are usually a result of the soil settling beneath the center of the wall. “Nail popping” is another source of cracked walls in your Twin Cities home. This means a nail has pulled away from the stud beneath it and could be a sign of structural problems in your Twin Cities home.

If you are experiencing cracked walls in your Twin Cities home, Titus Contracting can help. Just give us a call at (952) 746-7817 or contact us online.

Volunteering: The Gift of Giving

The holidays are a time of year a lot of people reflect on what they have and what they are thankful for. (After all, Thanksgiving has the word “thanks” in the name!) Christmas and Hannukah have always symbolized the gift of giving to loved ones and spending quality time with them. One of the greatest gifts I can think of is the gift of giving. Not only do I work for Titus Contracting LLC, I volunteer with several area charities, and one of my favorites is the Life Hurts program at Hosanna! Church in Lakeville, MN.

Life Hurts is a youth-oriented program that meets once a week at Hosanna! Church. This support group centers around at-risk teens and youths who need a strong guiding hand to stay on the right path in life. The issues these young ones are dealing with are everything from divorcing parents to eating disorders to abuse and addiction. We meet and talk about what they are going through, and the end result is healing and hope. This program is one of the main reasons I believe in the gift of giving. Sure, I am giving these youths the gift of my time and myself, but, really I feel like I am the one receiving a gift. These teens are going through some very rough times, and I want to be there to support them and show them healthy coping strategies.

There is an event Life Hurts hosts called the “Feed My Starving Children” program. Other volunteers and I made more than 13,000 meals that will help feed 30 hungry children for one year! An hour and a half of our time made a huge difference in 30 lives: that thought makes my head spin sometimes!

You can extend the gift of giving in many ways. You can volunteer like I do, but even something as simple as giving a homeless person a sandwich or cup of coffee can help immensely – possibly even more than you can see with your naked eye. Or if a friend or family member looks depressed or upset, lend an ear. Sometimes, just sitting with a person and listening to him or her vent is more than enough. I have learned through my work with the Life Hurts program that sometimes the simple act of listening is the gift that keeps on giving.

Scott Rajavuori is the manager of design, sales and marketing for Titus Contracting LLC, a commercial and home remodeling company located in Savage, Minn.

It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year… for Indoor Home Improvement!

It’s cold outside and nice and toasty in your house. Why bother setting foot outdoors when there is so much to do indoors? Now is the perfect time to take a look at the inside of your home and spruce it up a bit. There is still plenty of time to get all of this done before Christmas. And if you get started now, you could have a few of these knocked off of your to-do list before Thanksgiving! As your favorite Twin Cities remodeling expert, here are a few ideas to get you started:

• ·         Make your home more energy-efficient: there are several ways of saving some money on your utility bills this winter. One of the easiest ways is to make sure your air filters in your heating system are new and clean. Take a few minutes to inspect your air filters. Are they dirty and covered in dust? If so, venture out into the cold and go buy some new ones. They usually don’t cost a lot of money and installing them should only take a few minutes of your time. Another thing to consider is installing a new thermostat. Look into buying a set back thermostat, which is a digital and programmable thermostat. You can program it to warm your house while you’re there and keep the temperatures a bit cooler when you’re not there. When you’re ready to install it, just turn off the power at your house and follow the instructions – it’s usually pretty easy to do!

• ·         Update your indoor lighting: since it’s getting dark outside earlier and earlier, one of the easiest ways to keep your house well-lit and cheerful is with new indoor lighting. You don’t have to break the bank on this either. A lot of lovely indoor lights don’t cost an arm and a leg. You can choose the type of light you want plus what kind of bulb you want to use in it. The most common type of lightbulb is tungsten, but there are also halogen bulbs, fluorescent lights and more.

• ·         Clean up your kitchen: even the smallest change can make the biggest difference! Clean out your cabinets, wash the front of them and consider getting new handles for the doors. New handles won’t cost a lot of money but can really make a difference to the room as a whole.

Scott Rajavuori is the manager of design, sales and marketing for Titus Contracting LLC, a commercial and home remodeling company located in Savage, Minn.

If you're in need of home remodeling services, contact Titus Contracting today by calling 952-746-7817 or contact us online.

Office Remodeling: When Is It Time to Give Your Business a New Look?

I know first hand how much the look of a business impacts its ability to generate revenue. It's important, no matter what industry you're in, to have an office environment that is clean, laid out well and presents itself in the way you would expect from an employee. This look will need to last for years to come, so instead of catering only to modern design trends, your business's appearance should be classic and something that looks great no matter what year it is.

However, as times, trends and needs change, so too must the look of an office. It can be difficult to determine when this is necessary, and there are several key indicators that should wake up business owners and tell them, "It's time for a new look." What are some of these indicators?

• Increase in sales/business
  I don't know a business owner who doesn't want to see their operation increase by some amount. And an important way of showing growth is with the look of the operation's base. Have you outgrown your space and need to add some room? Or are you moving into a bigger workspace, but need to give the new area a facelift? These are the times when a remodel most often happens, whether the growth is in business, staff or both.
• Increased energy costs
  Have you been watching your energy costs increase dramatically over a certain period? If so, you may want to think about having your office remodeled in order to make the space more energy efficient. How? Energy efficient windows, insulation, heating and cooling and much more "green remodeling" can be done to a work area so you can save the money, or invest these funds into increasing your business.
• Outdated look
  What worked 10 or 20 years ago might not be as great now. If you think the look of your business – outside or inside – is outdated and desperately in need of a new look, it's best to trust your gut instinct. Get in touch with a company that specializes in commercial remodeling services and ask them their thoughts, and what they would recommend be done to bring the look of your business into the present. 
  

The best sign your office could use a remodel? What others think. Are you hearing a lot of negative comments about the look of your office? If so, strongly consider remodeling your business and giving it an all new appearance. It might be one of the best decisions you make.

If you're in need of a reliable commercial remodeling team, give us a call at 952-746-7817 or contact us online.