12 Tips for Planning a Home Remodeling Project

All this time spent indoors has been causing us to rethink our homes. Maybe that open concept idea isn’t so great after all? From nurseries and offices to kitchens and bathrooms, a home remodeling project can certainly improve your indoor living.

Here are 12 tips for planning your next home remodeling project:

1. Test for moisture

Basements, kitchens, and bathrooms are notorious for having moisture problems. By detecting moisture problems early, you will know whether you need extra sealing or ventilation. Moisture can easily lead to warped wood, damaged foundation, and mold. Conduct a moisture test before your remodeling project begins so you know what kind of humidity level you are dealing with.

The best way to tell if you have moisture problems in a particular area of the home is with a hygrometer, not a moisture meter that is designed to measure the moisture content in wood and other building materials.

If you get measure a Relative Humidity (RH) reading above 60%, you have high humidity and most likely moisture-compromised building materials or an air leak problem. Anything lower than 30%, and the air is too dry. The ideal humidity level is somewhere between 30% and 50%.

Another way you can test for moisture problems is by taping 2-foot squares of plastic sheeting on your basement’s walls, ceilings, and floors. Return in a couple of weeks to observe the plastic sheets. If condensation has built up on the plastic, you will need to improve your basement humidity levels. This may include foundation improvements as well as an upgraded humidification system.

If you are remodeling your basement and humidity levels are too high, you may need to seal the foundation. To avoid mold, bacteria, and other moisture problems, fix leaks and clean up spills immediately.

2. For add-ons, consider an HVAC zoning system

If you are busting at the seams and installing a new room or section of the home, ask your HVAC contractor about zoning solutions. Instead of running ductwork to the new area, you can use a separate zoned system, which uses no ducts. The add-on will have a separate temperature control.

3. Fix insulation problems early

When remodeling your home, it’s a good idea to ensure proper insulation. Consider insulating both hot and cold water pipes before you enclose them. This will increase energy efficiency and prevent frozen pipes in the winter.

Keep in mind that there are minimum insulation requirements for remodeling.

Basement insulation is different from attic insulation. Consult a professional HVAC technician about proper insulation and ventilation before tackling any remodeling project.

4. Schedule professional heating and cooling inspection

You don't want to plan a remodel and then find out you need to spend a lot of money on your HVAC system. We recommend scheduling a professional HVAC inspection before planning a remodel. One potential problem of having your HVAC system in a remodeled area such as the attic or basement is the potential for combustion byproducts entering the space, such as carbon monoxide.

Whenever fuel is burned, combustion gases are created, some of which can be deadly such as carbon monoxide (CO). Every home should have working CO detectors on every level of the home, but especially in basements with a fuel-burning appliance. Test you smoke and co detectors every 30 days.

For safe and efficient operation, schedule a professional furnace, water heater, and air conditioner tune-up every year. Never attempt furnace or water heater repair on your own.

Whenever remodeling the home, it’s important to consider indoor air quality, ventilation, and other common indoor air problems.

Before starting your basement remodeling project, contact a professional HVAC technician to inspect the health and functionality of your heating and ventilation system.

When you have a pro in your home, you can also ask them important questions about your carbon monoxide detectors, humidity levels, and how to increase energy efficiency.

One way to bypass the dangers associated with fuel-based HVAC systems is a ductless mini-split system. Ductless units are connected to outdoor heat pumps, eliminating the need for ducts and reducing your chance of combustion-related problems.

When remodeling, NEVER cover HVAC or water heating systems. Your furnace and water heater need proper airflow for safe and efficient combustion. Do not enclose these units! Consult a professional HVAC technician about your basement remodeling plans before implementing them.

5. Other HVAC and ventilation concerns

Designing and remodeling a home is typically a fun experience. While there are very few rules when designing your home, there are a few heating and air conditioning rules that you should keep in mind.

Follow these rules and your project should move forward without any AC related issues:

• Don’t run your air conditioning while working.

When you are using power tools and other home remodeling tools, you are likely to send dust flying in to the air and flying in to your working AC vents. The solution? Do not run the AC while you are working. Also keep the vents closed if possible and covered so that dirt, dust, and other debris particles from your remodel do not end up inside your home AC unit.

We highly recommend speaking with a professional HVAC company about proper ventilation for your remodeling project. You may need a portable ventilation unit.

Store all paint, glue, gasoline, barbecues, gas-powered lawn equipment, and other sources of air pollution out of any living areas.

• Change your air filters.

Regardless of how careful you are, dust and dirt will find their way into your AC unit while you are remodeling and you should be prepared to change the filters more often to ensure clean air quality. Although usually air filters are not replaced more than once every few months, you should change your air filter as often as needed while remodeling. Make it a point to check the cleanliness of the filter on a weekly basis and replace if dirt, debris, and dust have made their way into the filter.

By following these tips, you should have a smooth remodeling process with your AC unit working well throughout and after the remodel.

Older homes are certainly more work when you consider all that needs to be updated, changed, and amended to make them livable and up to modern day standards. That being said, however, there are a few different issues that you can look for that will help you figure out how to renovate an old house and save time and money doing it.