Waukesha County Home

FEBRUARY 2020 HOME 7 Pros and cons of remodeling in phases or all at once For any homeowner who has thought about updating his or her home, it's an age- old question: Should we remodel every- thing at once or split our wish list into smaller pieces? Nick Kerzner, a member of the NARI Mil- waukee board of directors and owner of Kerzner Remodeling & Construction, has years of experience he draws on to answer that question. Kerzner says it's common for homeown- ers to combine a kitchen and bathroom remodel. Sometimes the project encom- passes the dining or family room or anoth- er adjoining space. "There are definitely economies of scale if you decide to group a number of projects together," Kerzner said. "From a labor and materials standpoint, you can stretch your dollar further. For example, if the plumber and electrician can split their time between a kitchen and bathroom, they can accom- plish a lot in a single trip." Materials are another consideration. For example, hard-surface countertops are typically sold in whole slabs. A kitchen remodel might not utilize the entire piece yet the homeowner still pays the full amount. However, if the material can be used for countertops in the kitchen and bathroom or kitchen and family room, it saves money in the long run since the homeowner doesn't pay for a whole slab now and again during a future remodel. "It's also important to know that counter- tops and flooring are forever changing so it can be hard to match those elements a few years later," Kerzner added. Pulling permits all at once or individual- ly multiple times is another factor. There's also the reality of living through the dis- ruption of a remodel several times. And, there's the cost of today's materials and labor compared with future costs. "Homeowners often say they don't want to finance a project because they want to avoid paying interest," Kerzner said. "How- ever, by waiting five or more years, they'll be faced with higher material costs and increased labor rates. Plus, they'll have missed out on the time they could have been enjoying their new space." For many homeowners, an all-in-one remodel just isn't feasible for a variety of reasons. Phasing it in For those who decide it's best to break their remodel into phases, Kerzner and Matt Retzak, a project designer with Bartelt. The Remodeling Resource, both have the same advice. "Always have a master plan drawn up for all of the remodeling you plan to have done now and in the future," Retzak said. "That way, you won't end up redoing work from phase one during phase two or three." For example, if the vision is to create an open-concept first floor, removing adjoin- ing walls during the kitchen remodel might make the most sense even if the family room remodel is a few years off. For those who are contemplating a large or multisection remodel, talk with a con- tractor about the pros and cons, including the impact to the budget and any home and family disruption, including possibility of needing to temporarily move out. Retzak notes that a kitchen remodel can sometimes morph as the project moves along. "Frequently, homeowners add smaller side projects like updating a first-floor laundry room, back entry or mudroom," explained Retzak. "While it wasn't part of the original scope of work, the homeowner realizes it's easier to get those rooms done while we're already on-site at their home." ■ NARI Milwaukee and Kerzner are host- ing a talk on "Should I Remodel All at Once or Do One Project at a Time" on Saturday at 5 p.m. during the Spring Home Improve- ment Show at State Fair Park. Visit nari milwaukeehomeshow.com for more details. Photos courtesy of Kerzner Remodeling & Construction Homeowners are often faced with the tough decision of doing a remodel all at once or wating. Doing multiple rooms at once can provide a unified feel and look to the project as well as carryover of labor and materials. When having the same look or a longer timetable for reconstruction aren't feasible — not to mention having all the funds necessary for extensive work — doing a room at a time can make sense for a homeowner.

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