Your Building Blog for the Rochester Area

Does your Rochester-area home need a bit of a facelift and reorganization that a conventional remodeling project can bring—or are you actually in need of an addition? The answer depends on your changing needs. Sometimes “re-engineering the existing space will deliver the results you need. Sometimes, there just is no substitute for more physical space. Let’s take a look at when to consider adding an addition to your Rochester home.

Your Family is Growing

If you’re a younger family, a two-bedroom house may have been more than adequate before you had kids—or when you only had one. What if you are planning on another child? If your existing home doesn’t have the place or the space to accommodate a third bedroom or nursery, you may want to think about adding a nursery or a bedroom. If you’re thinking about adding a room upstairs, you’ll want to ask yourself if it makes sense to simply add one bedroom, or if it’s more financially responsible to add a whole second floor that could give you a fourth bedroom (or home office or craft room) and a bathroom. Material and labor costs are never going to be lower than they are now, so it can actually be cheaper (in the long run) to go a bit bigger now.

Adult Family Members Are Joining You

Multi-generational homes have been a growing trend for some time. If you have older family members who may be living with you in the future, it’s not enough to just clear out a spare bedroom. You may want to create a space with more privacy—such as an In-Law apartment. Questions you'll want to consider are if this separate living space will have its own entrance, kitchen, and bathrooms to provide privacy. It's not just older relatives that you need to think about. Increasing numbers of families are providing additional living space for their adult children—until they get their careers going and are ready to strike out on their own (and own their own homes).

You Need Play Space for the Kids (or Yourself)

There are times when your sleeping space is adequate, but there is no place to go to play or to work on a project. You might want to think about adding a playroom or a craft room that doesn’t have to be picked up every time guests come over. If that’s something that could help, you’ll also want to think ahead about how the room could be used five or 10 years from now, so keep your options open.

You Need Space for “Show Time”

A lot of families have taken to consuming media at home. Many homes, however, don’t have a space that they can dedicate to streaming movies, listening to music, gaming, or engaging in social media. But before you create your own media room, you'll want to think about how you're going to use it. What are the wiring requirements? What kind of lighting will you want/need? Do you want to build in a snack bar to enhance the atmosphere? Here's one additional thing to think about. Up to this point, homeowners have tended to design their media rooms around the TV—and TVs have gotten increasingly larger. What impact will Virtual Reality (VR) have on the media rooms of tomorrow? You may not need space for a humongous screen if you're wearing a pair of VR goggles that make the whole room your screen!

Your Current Layout Doesn’t Allow You to Entertain

Over the past 25 years or so, kitchens have become central for home entertainment. Guests gather in the kitchen to snack, drink, talk, and just hang out. Depending on how you entertain, you may require a lot more kitchen space than you have. Depending on how your home was designed, you may or may not be able to expand your kitchen’s footprint adequately. You may require an addition to provide the kind of space you want/need. But before you launch into adding a new kitchen, you'll want to pay attention to your "kitchen personality." How will you use your new kitchen space? Are you intending to do a lot more cooking (maybe even gourmet cooking)? Are you planning to eat most family meals in the kitchen? Will this space be primarily used for basic meal preparation and as a comfortable place for casual entertaining? How you plan to use the space should influence the kind of room you design.

If your family is in need of more living space, a home addition is your best option. Why not stay in the home that you love and allow our team to create the additional rooms that you need to make your family more comfortable. Still not sure if an addition is right for you? Our experienced team can help answer all of your questions about our process, design, and cost. Schedule your free home remodeling consultation now!

Sometimes a remodeling of your Rochester-area home involves a bit of a cosmetic “face-lift.” Perhaps you want to make your family room a little brighter. Or you may decide to reorganize your kitchen so that it’s more efficient. Maybe you want to take advantage of unused space in your basement or attic to give your family more living space. There are times, however, when remodeling is more than just freshening up your home. We’d like to walk you through a recent remodeling project we worked on in 2018 that started (literally) from the ground up.

Clearing the Way

To be honest, before we could do anything else, we had to remove the existing home in order to begin construction on the new home. That meant not only demolishing the old home, but also removing the existing foundation.

Setting a Firm Foundation

Because the home was a complete redesign, we started with a brand new foundation. As you can see, there's more involved than just digging a hole and pouring concrete. It takes a bit more time, but it's the right way to do it!

Focus on Framing

Here’s where it actually starts looking like we’re building a house! What you don’t see in this image is the insulation and siding that help make this an energy- efficient home. We take energy-efficiency seriously in the way we build—and in keeping our clients aware of new developments.

The Not-So-Sexy Stuff

Some of the most critical parts of the building/remodeling process involve things that aren’t all that sexy at first glance. Who really gets excited about ductwork and HVAC systems? Actually, we do, because they play a huge role in making sure that your new home is comfortable (without costing you a fortune in utility payments).

Homeowner Involvement

We know how important it is for you to be involved in something as personal and critical as your home. That’s why we keep you in the loop during the process. We even have some suggestions on how you can be effectively involved in what’s going on.

Finishing Well

Choosing the right finishes is an important part of the process. That includes selecting things such as cabinets and flooring. It’s also fun and exciting to see an important room such as the kitchen taking shape before your eyes. Because the kitchen is so important, you’ll want to make sure you take the time to research and plan the ideal kitchen before you begin construction. Click here for a great resource that can help you do that.

Exterior Touches

While things are taking shape inside the home, there are still exterior touches that are being added. Pouring concrete and adding stone finishes help add that touch of substance and make your home look “finished.”

Move-in Ready

Finally! After a lot of preparation, heavy lifting, and times when progress seemed slow (even though it was necessary), you're ready to move into your newly finished—and beautiful home.

Good News! It Won’t Always Look Like a War Zone!

There are a lot of elements that go into the process of remodeling or building a new home. There may be times when you come out to look at the project and it will look more like a war zone than a home. That’s a normal part of the process. The good news is that it won’t always look that way—and we think you’ll be delighted with the finished product!

By way of proof, here’s a look at some of the finished rooms from this house we’ve been talking about.

Here’s the finished Great Room.

It looks a lot different with all the finishes completed and the fixtures in place. Imagine what it will look like with rugs, furniture, and people!

Here’s the Kitchen.

It may not have looked all that inviting before all the cabinets where in place and the hardware had been put on. But with those things completed, new flooring in place, and great lighting, it’s a warm and welcoming space! Look at how bright and open it is.

The Inside Even Looks Good From the Outside.

Here’s another look at the kitchen through the patio door. A beautiful exterior gives way to a glowing interior that invites family and friends inside!

This is when you look back and realize you're glad that you took the time to plan ahead. And you’re also glad you worked with a trusted builder/remodeler who took your wishes, ideas, and dreams and helped you achieve them!

There are a lot of phases of the building/remodeling process that we didn’t cover. And we just scratched the surface of what we did talk about. We offer helpful resources to answer your questions whether you're planning a kitchen remodel, a bathroom remodel or a whole home renovation. We’d love to help you through the process so that you can enjoy the home of your dreams!

Every year industry experts talk about the newest trends in the remodeling industry. You’ll hear about these trends on home improvement sites such as houzz.com or on remodeling shows on television. A lot of what you’ll hear or read tends to focus on interior design: What are the “hot” colors this year? What kinds of backsplash materials are “in?” Which hardware finishes are most popular?  Those are all interesting and important items to consider, but which remodeling trends matter most for your Rochester home?

I’d like to suggest that real remodeling trends—ones that have staying power—focus more on functionality and changes that come about in response to homeowners’ changing lifestyles.  Let’s look at a few of these kinds of remodeling trends in some key areas of your Rochester home.

Kitchen Trends

Kitchens have changed dramatically over the years. They’re no longer simply spaces for food preparation. These days, people use them for entertaining, cooking, casual dining, and even family meetings. While color changes and finishes may constantly change, one trend that seems to have great staying power is the use of kitchen islands as a major feature in kitchens because they lend themselves to multiple uses. Take a look at some of the kitchen projects we’ve worked on recently.

Bathroom Trends

Bathrooms are kind of a big deal in today’s homes. There’s a good reason for that. This is a room you use multiple times a day. It’s where you get ready to meet the challenges of the day and it’s also a place you relax at the end of the day. A couple of trends in bathrooms have been to make them more comfortable and functional. That means dual sinks and more space for getting ready in the morning. And when it comes to comfort, many homeowners have replaced old conventional tubs (and even whirlpools) with elegant soaking tubs and spacious showers that enhance relaxation. Here’s a look at some of the things you’ll want to consider as you plan your bathroom remodel.

Interior Trends

Even though open floor plans have been around for a few years they continue to be a popular trend. It’s a way to bring more natural light into your home and it also gives the inside of your home a more spacious feel. Often homeowners choose to repurpose existing rooms to meet their changing needs for things such as a home office, a guest bedroom, or a multi-purpose family room/entertainment room. You can even finish out your basement or convert your garage into extra living space.

Addition Trends

There are also trends in home additions that are worth noting. There has been an increase in the number of multi-generational households over the past few years. Often that requires adding physical space that can be used as an in-law apartment (which can be used for older parents moving in, or for adult children who are still working on getting started in their own careers).  Click here for some inspirational images of how you can add beautiful—and needed—space to your existing home.

When you’re considering a remodel of your Rochester-area home, you have a lot to think about. You may be wondering if it makes more sense to buy or build a new home or remodel your existing home. Or If you’re thinking about a kitchen remodel you may be wondering what features you really want in your dream kitchen.  No matter what you decide to pursue, one thing you’ll want to do is measure the cost before you begin.

There are a number of ways to look at—and evaluate—the cost of a Rochester-area remodel. Let’s look at a few.

What Impacts the Cost?

Not all remodeling projects are the same. As a result, you can spend different amounts to get what you want. Here are some of the things that will affect your final cost.

• Size and Scope: It may seem obvious, but the size and the complexity of your project can have a dramatic impact on your cost. Simply refurbishing or replacing cabinets and flooring in your kitchen is one thing. If you choose to expand your kitchen, that may involve moving walls and other things such as changing plumbing and electrical service. Here’s a post that helps you get a grip on the scope of your project.

• Materials Matter: The kinds of materials you choose for your project will also affect your cost. Granite or quartz countertops cost more than Formica countertops. They may also deliver more value (they look better and will last longer). But you have to be aware going into the project that they will impact your price. Here’s an article that can help you balance cost vs. value when remodeling.

• Customization Costs: The more customized your remodeling project in, the more you’ll pay. Using standard sizes and angles is less expensive than going for unusual sizes and shapes. You’ll pay a higher price for both materials and labor. That may be worth it to you. If it’s really what you want and you can afford it—it may be the right choice. If you’ll be perfectly satisfied with a more conventional design, you probably won’t want to pay more.

Consider Resale Value

While your main concern should be to create a home that’s comfortable and convenient, you’ll want to keep resale value in mind. It’s important to look at your overall return on investment (ROI). Not all remodeling projects have the same kind of ROI. Here’s a look at the kind of return you can expect from some typical projects according to the Remodeling 2018 Cost vs. Value Report (www.costvsvalue.com).

As you can see, some projects hold their value more than others. You can visit www.costvsvalue.com for a look at specific descriptions and pricing for each of these projects to get an idea of what you can expect to spend. It’s also important to keep in mind that even though you may not recover everything you spend when it’s time to sell, you’ll still enjoy the benefits in terms of comfort and convenience while you live in your home.

Begin With a Budget

One thing that's really helpful in keep costs under control is, to begin with a realistic budget. Make sure you understand what you can really afford. Then take a look at what you can realistically get done for the money you're comfortable spending. Here’s an article that can help you avoid budget missteps when planning.

It’s great to look at ideas and designs online to come up with a plan to make your Rochester home even better. But make sure you measure the costs before you jump into the remodeling process.

One choice you’ll face when choosing a floor plan for your new Rochester-area home is how many stories your home will have. You can chose from a wide variety of different floor plans that include one-story, two-story, and one-and-a-half-story homes. In addition to impacting your lifestyle now and potentially inthe future, the number of stories your house has can impact the cost of your home.

The fact of the matter is that it’s not just the number of stories (of floor levels) that impact a home’s cost. The overall size of the home, of course, plays a big role.

For instance, if you build a 2,000 square foot 2-story home and a 2,000 square foot single-story home, the one-level home will almost always be more expensive to construct. But being happy with your home is about more than just square footage—or a slight difference in cost. What you really want is a plan that meets your needs and makes you feel comfortable. The simple fact of the matter is that one-floorplan won't fit the needs of every individual.

These days, we find that many of our clients prefer open floor plans for their common rooms (kitchens, dining areas, family rooms). A ranch-style home in the range of 1,600 to 1,800 generally allows us to build a home that offers everything they want, such as a first-floor master bedroom, and easy access to everything. The cost for that is generally less than it would be for a similarly designed two-story home. That's because the two-story home will generally need to be a bit larger to include the features you want on the main level—and still have rooms upstairs.

So what about the cost for a one-and-a-half-story home? Prospective homeowners are frequently surprised to discover that this is generally the most expensive option. Part of the reason for that is that a one-and-a-half-story home usually has a good-sized first floor and a rather small amount of space in the upstairs. The dimensions of that small second floor prevent us from using standard trusses, and have to build flooring and other structural elements out of what we call “stick frame.” Unfortunately, that’s a more expensive process—and that makes the home cost more.

As I mentioned earlier, being happy with your home depends on more than square footage and cost. A much bigger factor is finding a floor plan that fits your needs (and your budget).

There is no mistaking the popularity of open-plan design in the homebuilding and home remodeling industry. And if you scour sites such as Houzz.com and BHG.com a lot of the homes you see reflect how widespread this style has become. But is open-plan living just a fad? Is it still something you want to consider for your Rochester-area home?

First of all, there’s a difference between a fad and a trend. Fads come and go quickly and tend to be a bit more superficial. For instance, a color that’s “hot” at the beginning of 2017 may not be all that popular by the end of the year. A genuine trend, however, tends to reflect changes in design that are based on how people actually live.

Years ago, the trend was to have rooms in one’s home that were distinct and set apart for specific purposes. That was particularly true of the kitchen. It was a room that was devoted to food preparation. It simply wasn’t a place where guests would congregate. Living rooms were more formal spaces for entertaining guests. Family rooms were less formal, but generally devoted to the family and close friends.

As we’ve gotten less formal and more casual in our lifestyles we’ve also embraced design that is more open. People don’t have to be cut off just because they are in the kitchen or in the family room. There’s simply more access. And on top of that, open-plan design allows much more natural light. There has also been a movement toward blurring the lines between indoors and outdoors—with homeowners wanting to bring the open spaces of outside into their homes.

Not everyone has fully embraced that style, however. Some individuals feel the open-plan homes are too open and that they can feel cavernous. Some miss a sense of privacy or coziness.  There are those who want specific spaces to be more defined.

If you look at the image of this open-plan home, you’ll notice how it does indeed let in lots of light and makes access to different rooms (kitchen, dining area, family room area) easy and unobstructed. But you’ll also notice how those individual spaces are defined and set off by items such as area rugs, lighting, furniture, and even built-in features such as a fireplace. Some homes use screens or half-walls or bookcases to break up the space and provide some privacy.

It would appear that open-space design isn’t a fad, but a design trend that is here to stay for a while. But that doesn’t mean you have to feel like you’re living in a warehouse! You can use other elements to warm up the space and to define specific areas within that open space to make your home warm and comfortable while making access to various common rooms in your home easy.

It’s also important to remember that your specific decision about your home doesn’t have to be dictated by what others do. That’s one reason we offer such a wide variety of floor plans for your new Rochester-area home. Whether you’re looking for a Colonial style home, a 1^st Floor Master Bedroom plan, a Patio Home, a Ranch home—or even a home that features an In-Law apartment that provides security and privacy in a multi-generational setting, you’ll find it with Gerber.

For a lot of people living in the Rochester area pets are a big part of family life. Wouldn’t it be nice if the new home you built in the area made your pets feel like pampered members of your family?

There are some innovative (and fairly simple) custom touches you can add to your new home to make it a truly pet-friendly environment. Let take a look at some examples of some things we did recently to help clients create a “Fur Baby-Friendly” place for their pets.

A Pet Portal: If you have a pet that likes to go in and out multiple times during the day, you may get a little weary of constantly opening and closing the back door. Here’s a clever solution that let’s your pet go in and out whenever it wants (without having to ask you first). This custom pet entrance allows pets to go out anytime through a swinging door that seals out heat, cold, and moisture. It provides a ramp to let animals access the yard easily.

A Window on the World: Both cats and dogs love to perch in a comfortable place where they can survey their domain and keep an eye on happenings in the neighborhood. This pet window seat is perfect for that. It’s low enough that pets can easily access it. It’s even a nice window seat for children! You can cover it with a washable pillow in order to keep it looking nice. And it may just help keep pets off the furniture!

A Custom Retractable Pet Gate: Often families will want to keep their pets contained in a particular room or area of the house. But many people aren’t fans of those clunky-looking portable gates that you can buy at pet stores. They often don’t fit well and they aren’t the most attractive things in the world. Here’s a much better solution. It’s a custom, built-in, retractable gate that looks like it was actually made to be part of your home (because it was!). This stylish gate operates smoothly and then disappears into the wall when you don’t want to use it. You never have to find a place to store it (or look for it later) because it’s right where you left it. Plus, it’s much more solid and stable than those portable gates from the store.

A Custom Pet Spa: Anybody who has ever struggled to give a dog or a cat a bath in the family tub knows what a struggle that can be. And when you’re done, there’s pet hair all over the bathroom in the drain. This custom pet spa solves that problem. Install this pet shower/bath in your basement, mudroom, or laundry room. There’s plenty of space to get your pet in and out without having to life it into a tub. And it saves wear and tear on your family bathroom.

If pets are a big part of your family, we’ll help you take care of them and make them feel at home in their new house. And don’t worry . . . we won’t forget about you, either. We have dozens of great floor plans for you to check out in order to find the perfect fit for the two-legged members of your family. And if you need customization of features on these plans, we’re here to help!

Housing prices in the Finger Lakes region can fluctuate significantly – it’s true for both existing homes and for new homes. That can make some potential homebuyers a little bit uneasy, wondering if now is the right time to buy a home or not. So how can you get a handle on the differences in pricing?

Naturally, the size of the home you build plays a significant role in what you’ll pay. We offer homes that range from just over 1,000 square feet to more than 3,600 square feet. It obviously takes more material and labor to build a larger home, but that’s not the only factor influencing pricing.

Where you build can also affect the cost of your home. Similarly sized lots in different communities (Webster, Ontario, Canandaigua or Macedon, for instance) can have dramatically different prices. The price of the land you build on has a huge impact on the ultimate price of your home. Property prices aren’t likely to go down in the future. As Mark Twain famously quipped, “Buy land – they’re not making it anymore!”

The increasing cost of lots has caused a number of homeowners in the eastern Rochester area to consider remodeling instead of building a new home. It’s simply an expense they don’t have to worry about. Plus, if you happen to like the community where you live (and already have good relationships with friends and neighbors), you may not want to move away—even if your current home is no longer meeting your needs.

Whether you need to remodel your kitchen or bathroom, add on a new room or even plan an in-law addition, an innovative and resourceful builder can help you redesign your home to better suit your needs—and avoid some of the hassle and expense of building and moving to a new home.

With your convenience in mind, Gerber Homes & Additions has developed an approach that allows side, back and second-story additions to be completed while your family remains in the house throughout construction.

If you’re wondering whether building or remodeling is the right choice for you, click here to download our free 2016 Home Design Guide. It’s packed with ideas for turning your existing home into your dream home—a place where you’ll enjoy comfort and convenience for years to come.

When you’re looking for a plan for your new custom home in the Rochester area, having enough space is always a consideration. But not all space is created equal.

There’s more to space than simply square footage. It’s important that the home plan you choose fits your needs. And in addition to usable space, you want to have options that can make your home fit your lifestyle.

The Southmore has plenty of space (2,431 square feet, or 2,657 square feet if you opt for the finished Bonus Room). And this space is well laid out. The centrally located kitchen is open to a gorgeous morning room with cathedral ceilings and a great room with an optional fireplace. There’s plenty of space for the family to hang out together and for casual entertaining. And if you want a more formal setting for a sit-down dinner, the separate dining room is easily accessible.

If you need a home office, it’s in a quiet corner of the first floor. And there’s plenty of practical space as well. The attached garage has extra storage space built in and opens to a mudroom, powder room and laundry room.

There’s also plenty of room upstairs. In addition to the master suite, you’ll have three more bedrooms and a second bathroom. There’s even a large bonus room that can be finished as a home entertainment room, a game room, or whatever else you need.

You can add other options as well, such as his/her sinks in the master bath, a countertop in the downstairs laundry room, gable windows on the house and garage, windows in the overhead garage door, and stone/brick veneer on the exterior of the house.

If you’re looking for plenty of open, livable space, with great options to make this house the home you’ve always dreamed of, you’ll want to check out the Southmore. Click here to see an enlarged floor plan for this beautiful home.

Kitchens are one of the most-remodeled rooms in today’s homes. It’s not surprising, given the increased role kitchens play in family living today. And while kitchens have become increasingly popular as social gathering places, they are still very much working rooms. That means they should be designed for efficiency and for comfort. What features would you build into your dream kitchen? Here are a few ideas. 

• Plenty of Space to Work: Work with your designer/builder to ensure that you have plenty of space to prepare food. You don’t want to feel cramped, so allow ample room between countertops to turn around (and bend over!). 

• Rethink Your Base Cabinets: Traditionally, base cabinets in kitchens have been shelves with doors on them. You might want to consider switching to drawers. Instead of getting down on your hands and knees to see what’s in the back of the cabinet, you can pull the drawers (and contents) out into the light where you can see everything. It’s much more convenient. And by the way—spend just a little more to get “soft-close” drawers. You’ll get a lot less bang for your buck! 

• Let the Light In: If at all possible, take advantage of natural light on outside walls. Adding windows in your kitchen changes the whole personality of the kitchen. If space is really at a premium, you could at least consider narrow windows above your cabinets to let in more natural light. You’ll be amazed at how much bigger your kitchen will feel. 

• Include a Dishhhhhhwasher: Because so many floor plans today have kitchens that are open to the family room or great room, the last thing you want is a noisy dishwasher. You’ll probably want an appliance that has a decibel level below 45. One word of caution, the lower the decibel level, the higher the cost (generally). You’ll have to decide how much the shhhhh-factor is worth. 

• Build in a Pantry Wall: Having a good-sized pantry wall (on your inside walls where you can’t have windows) gives you lots of space for storage and it also helps to consolidate a variety of items. Instead of searching through various cabinets, you’ll have everything in one place. And if you like the idea of seeing things at-a-glance, you might consider a glass front to the pantry so you can see what you’re looking for before you open the door. 

• Water Without Hands: This may seem like a small thing, but it can make a big difference. Consider putting in a hands-free faucet. Some you can turn on by touching anywhere on the faucet. Others have a built-in sensor that responds to movement. If you’re working with raw meat or messy sauces, you can still turn the water on without having to wipe down the faucet and handles all the time. 

Those are just a few things to think about as you begin planning your new kitchen. What would you put in your dream kitchen?