Scott Merle Builders, Author at Merle Builders

Here’s Why You Should Consider a Bathroom Remodel

Posted on October 12, 2017 by Scott Merle Builders

You use the bathrooms in your home numerous times throughout the course of a normal day. So if you really don’t like one of the bathrooms and wish that you could change it, what are you waiting for? A bathroom remodel will make you fall in love with your bathroom space again and help it to live up to its full potential. Whether you want to make the bathroom bigger, make it more functional, or just bring it up to speed so that it doesn’t look so outdated, there are so many benefits that come along with doing a bathroom remodel. Check out a few of those benefits below.

It will allow you to create a new layout.

If the current layout of your bathroom just doesn’t work for you and your family, doing a bathroom remodel can solve this big problem. You can move your fixtures around, get rid of a large bathtub in favor of a more modern shower, and even create closet space that didn’t exist before by coming up with a new design for your bathroom. The possibilities are endless when you start the remodeling process.

It will make the space more eco-friendly.

Unless you’ve updated your bathroom in recent years, there’s a good chance that it has older fixtures in it as well as older lighting. There are many toilets, sinks, and shower heads on the market today that use substantially less water than older models. There are also many lighting options that can be used that won’t eat up as much electricity as older lights. You will get the chance to make your entire bathroom more environmentally friendly during a remodel.

It will increase the value of your home.

Not all bathroom remodels will increase the value of your home. If you choose to put together a bathroom that’s customized just to you, it might not make much of a difference. However, if you work with a builder who knows how to make the most of a remodel, they will be able to show you things that you can do to increase the value of your home while remodeling the bathroom. There are many steps you can take to get more bang for your buck.

Scott Merle Builders can assist you with your bathroom remodeling job and get it done right. To start designing the bathroom of your dreams, call us at 315-409-4124 today.

Reasons to Add a Gazebo to Your Yard

Posted on October 4, 2017 by Scott Merle Builders

Do you have a large backyard area with plenty of room to build? Then you might want to consider adding a gazebo to it. Gazebos are excellent decorative features and will instantly improve the look and feel of your backyard space. There are also many other good reasons to have a gazebo built in your backyard. Take a look at some of them below.

A gazebo will offer you shelter from the elements.

If you enjoy sitting in your backyard a lot but don’t have anything to provide you with shelter when necessary, a gazebo can fix that for you. It’s a place you can sit and relax when it’s very sunny and hot out without having to worry about the sunlight beating down on you. It’s also a place that will allow you to get out from the rain in the event of a sudden thunderstorm. You will be able to enjoy the outdoors without enduring the elements with a gazebo.

A gazebo will give your kids a place to play.

There are times when you want to send your kids outside to play so that they don’t make a mess inside. At the same time, you don’t always want them playing directly in the sun. A gazebo will give you livable space outside of your home where your kids can have a good old time without you having to worry about them at all.

A gazebo will make your property more attractive to buyers down the line.

You might not be thinking about selling your home right now. Nevertheless, one day, you will want to do it, and you will want to get top dollar for it. A gazebo may or may not have an immediate impact on the actual value of your home. Either way, it will make your property a more attractive option for many buyers out there, especially if you care for your gazebo and keep it looking its best.

Are you considering adding a gazebo to your backyard? Scott Merle Builders can help you obtain one. Call us at 315-409-4124 today to speak with us about building a gazebo.

Reasons to Add a Bedroom Atop Your Garage

Posted on September 21, 2017 by Scott Merle Builders

Have you ever thought about putting a bedroom over top of your garage? If so, you might be worried about all of the noise that a garage door can create. However, the truth is that if you take the time to insulate your new bedroom properly and upgrade your garage door with a newer model that works better, you won’t have to worry about that particular concern at all. You will also get to enjoy a ton of benefits that come along with adding a bedroom over your garage. Here are a few of them.

It will give you more space without cutting into your outdoor area.

Building up rather than building out when you are putting an addition onto your home is the way to go if you want to avoid cutting into the outdoor space you currently have. By putting a bedroom over your garage as opposed to building it out into your backyard, you can give yourself the space you need without losing any of the outdoor space you want.

It will increase the value of your home instantly.

Adding another bedroom onto a home will just about always add value to the home as a whole, and that’s especially true when you do it without cutting into your overall square footage. By utilizing the space above your garage to install a new bedroom, you will make your home more desirable to buyers in the future and get more money for it one day.

It won’t cost as much as you think.

You might think that adding a bedroom over top of a garage would cost a fortune. However, in reality, you can usually do it on a pretty affordable budget. By working with a licensed contractor who has experience with adding bedrooms over garages, you can create a new space in your home without blowing your entire bank account.

Would you like to learn more about adding a bedroom over a garage? Call Scott Merle Builders at 315-409-4124 today to get started.

Reasons to Consider Window Replacements For Your Home

Posted on September 7, 2017 by Scott Merle Builders

Does it feel like you’re paying entirely too much every month in heating and cooling costs? It could be because of the windows in your home. If your windows are on the older side, they might be allowing too much air to enter and exit your house throughout the course of a day, which can, in turn, cause your energy costs to skyrocket. By replacing your older windows with newer windows, you can prevent this problem and save a lot of money in the long run. Check out some of the other benefits that come along with replacing your home’s windows.

More Comfort

Old leaky windows won’t just cause your energy bills to go up. They will also make your home a lot less comfortable. When cold air is allowed to come into your home in the winter, it can make it feel very chilly. When cold air is allowed to escape in the summer, it can make it feel very stuffy and warm. In both instances, your windows will be making your home less comfortable than it should be. Replacing them can change this immediately.

Better Views

If you wish that your home could get more natural light throughout the course of a day, installing replacement windows might be your answer. Many newer windows are specifically designed to allow more light into homes while cutting down on the unwanted heat gain that often accompanies that light. Some older windows are also difficult to see out of because of their age, so by installing new ones, you will give yourself substantially better views when you look out for them.

Fade Reduction

You might not realize it, but your older windows could be causing your home’s carpeting and furnishings to fade. Many older windows allow the sun’s UV rays to enter your home, and those UV rays can do real damage to anything that they touch. Newer windows are better at blocking UV rays than older ones and will prevent fading from taking place.

Would you like to learn more about how window replacement can benefit you? Scott Merle Builders Inc. can tell you all about it. Call us at 315-409-4124 today for more information.

The Benefits of a Finished Basement

Posted on August 24, 2017 by Scott Merle Builders

If you have an unfinished basement in your home, you could really benefit from finishing it off. It will give you and your family more space, and in some cases, it could dramatically increase the square footage of your home. You could use the extra space to add additional bedrooms to your home, set up a large play area for your kids, or even turn it into an income property that could help pay your mortgage every month. There are other benefits to having a finished basement, too. Here are just a few of them.

It will allow you to utilize the rest of your home more efficiently.

When you move your kids’ play area or your husband’s man cave to the basement, it will free up space in the rest of your home right away. Not only will you gain all of the extra square footage that comes along with a basement, but you will also regain all of the space in your main living quarters and get to rethink the way your entire home functions.

It will increase the value of your home.

Increasing the square footage of your home will just about always increase the value of it. In addition, when you finish off a basement, you will see a big jump in both the total square footage and the overall value of your property. Finishing off an unfinished basement is a great way to make your home more valuable, and if you ever decide to sell your home, your finished basement will be a very attractive feature to potential buyers.

It will make your home more energy efficient.

Most unfinished basements aren’t insulated properly, so they allow air from outside to enter your home and wreak havoc on your HVAC system. When you finish your basement, you will obviously need to address this issue, and by insulating your basement the right way, you will reap the benefits in the form of lower energy bills and a more comfortable home.

Scott Merle Builders can help you renovate your basement and finish it off. To get started, call 315-409-4124 today to schedule a consultation.

Tips for Selecting a Home Contractor

Posted on August 10, 2017 by Scott Merle Builders

Hiring a home contractor to complete a project on your house can be stressful. There are so many different home contractors who would be more than happy to tackle a project for you, but which one will give you the best deal and make sure the job gets done right? Before you jump headfirst into the pool of home contractors in your area, you should spend some time thinking about who would be the best choice. Here are some tips that will make selecting a home contractor easier.

Ask your family, friends, and neighbors for recommendations.

One of the best ways to find a home contractor is by asking those you know for recommendations. If you know someone who has had work done on their home recently, ask them what their experience was like and if they would recommend their contractor to you. This will allow you to get a better sense of what a contractor is like before you bring them into your home for the first time.

Find reviews on potential candidates.

If you don’t know anyone who can recommend home contractors to you, you can also scour the internet for home contractor reviews. This will take a little bit of effort on your part, but you should be able to find plenty of reviews from the last year or so. You can use these reviews to narrow down your search and to find candidates that you might not otherwise find.

Resist the urge to base your entire decision on price.

Price is obviously going to be a factor when it comes to picking out a home contractor. You want to hire a home contractor who fits into your budget. Nevertheless, you don’t want to pick someone based solely on price, because that person could very well be the type of contractor who will cut corners and do a shoddy job. You want someone who will give you a fair price while also delivering quality work.

Are you looking for a home contractor in the Liverpool, NY area? Scott Merle Builders Inc. can help you with your home renovations and do it for an affordable price. Call us at 315-409-4124 today to speak with us about your next home project.

Understanding Energy Efficiency Terms

Posted on December 17, 2015 by Scott Merle Builders

Here at Merle Builders, we know the words used to describe energy-efficient homes can be very confusing to home owners. Here are some simple definitions to help you understand some of the energy saving options for your home.

Energy-Efficient Home

An energy efficient is a house that uses less energy than a traditional home without reducing the functionality of the house.

You can make your home more efficient through things such as closing gaps in the thermal envelope (the ‘skin’ around your home), building with solar generated electricity in mind (whether it be solar panels or facing the house to make best use of daylight), low-e windows and, new energy efficient appliances.

To achieve energy efficiency in your home you will reduce or eliminate services and/or energy usage to save energy.

Living in the Central New York/Syracuse/Baldwinsville area it is important to know how your home stacks up. Learn how efficient your home is currently and ways to improve your home’s efficiency with ENERGY STAR’s Home Energy Yardstick .

Net Zero-Energy Home

A home in which energy production and consumption are equivalent.

This simply means that the amount of energy you produce in the home equals the amount of energy you use in the home. Solar panels are perhaps the most common way for homes to produce energy.

Net Positive-Energy Home

A home that produces more energy than the household needs.

It may be possible for a home owner to receive credit from their utility company for returning the excess energy they have produced in their home to the grid. Contact your local utility company to learn more about this possibility.

For information in planning your Energy Efficiency upgrades please feel free to contact us today!

Luxury Townhome Vs. Luxury Country-Style Home

Posted on November 23, 2015 by Scott Merle Builders

When you move, you’re faced with numerous decisions.

Should I rebuild an older home or build new?

Luxury Townhouse Or Single Luxury Country-Style Home?

If you find yourself going back and forth with these questions, you aren’t alone.

Here are the facts about townhomes and country homes to help you make your decision.

A Matter Of Preference

When it comes to a single Luxury country-style home that is all yours, you own everything from the building to the land.

You are also able to create some privacy for yourself, but that’s at your discretion.

Along with that, you will be able to build your home any way you choose.

The catch is every repair or necessary maintenance falls solely on you.

But that’s something that is universal, as any time you choose to build a new home, you will have freedom, but all responsibility falls on you.

In the case of a constructing a luxury townhome, things are a little more uniform.

It’s quite possible that if you construct a townhome, that it will have to be built very close to all of the other townhomes if you live in a complex.

In addition to that, there more rules you will need to oblige to.

That’s because the gated communities are typically run by a Homeowners Association.

They make every rule for the area including the colors of the home and what size your pet can be.

So if you want to build a new townhome, it might have to look in uniform just like everyone else’s.

There’re no real downsides to either, as building yourself a new home can be quite stress relieving from the opposite, which might be repairing an older home that is falling apart.

Merle Builders specializes in building custom luxury homes and townhomes.

We design and construct each house according to your lifestyle to give you the luxury home you have always dreamed of.

For more information on our services, please feel free to contact us today!

Patio Home Necessities

Posted on November 16, 2015 by Scott Merle Builders

Building a new home is a very exciting process, especially if it’s a patio home.

But if you haven’t built one before, chances are you might not be sure what you need to include.

Now you may know to have it include things like a kitchen or bathroom, but there are a few amenities and renovations you may want to consider adding before you lay the first brick.

Make Sure You Have A View

To many, our bedroom is our domain.

If that’s how you feel, then it’s important to give it a great view.

Whether that is a massive window or a sliding door, make sure that the master bedroom has the best view in the house.

Or if you want a great view no matter where you are, you could have tall windows installed all along the home.

That way, no matter where you are, you can take in the beautiful view in front of you.

Now if the outdoors suits you better, it would be a good idea to have a concrete patio put in.

That way, regardless of the time of day, you would be able to step outside and enjoy the view.

It would also be very valuable if you were to have neighbors, friends or family over.

Merle Builders specializes in building custom homes according to your exact needs.

We will work with you every step of the way to help create your new home just as you’ve envisioned it.

If you would like more information on our services, please contact us today!

Renovate Your Home For Curb Appeal

Posted on November 3, 2015 by Scott Merle Builders

People watching, we all do it whether we admit it or not.

Most of us are conscious of people watching but are we aware that we are just as likely to “house watch”?

Whether driving down a street or walking the neighborhood we observe the “curb appeal” of the homes we pass and pick out what we do and do not like, sometimes we take the ideas we get from admiring others’ homes and we apply them to our own.

To many homeowners, the outside appearance of a home is just as important as the inside.

Hours are spent each week mowing the lawn in perfect lines, weeding the flower beds and sprucing up the landscaping.

Structural renovations to the outside often include siding, shutters, a new garage door, the possibilities are endless.

One project that is sure to change the look and heighten the curb appeal of your home is adding pillars to the front porch.

Columns not only help define the style of your home but also make your porch more inviting.

There are many things to consider when you change the structure of a porch, make sure before you start planning anything you check with the local building department to ensure you are following all building and structural codes.

Careful consideration needs to be given to the location, size and a number of posts and/or columns your porch needs.

Matching your columns to your porch’s architectural style can dramatically improve your overall curb appeal.

Not only are columns and posts aesthetically pleasing but they can also provide privacy, creating an inviting outdoor room to relax and drink your morning cup of coffee, enjoy company or dive into a book.

At Merle Builders, our expert staff is able to assist with everything from obtaining a building permit, assuring codes are met, drawing up plans, finding materials and doing the work.