Remodel in Winter? You Don’t Have to Wait for Spring, Advises Purcell

Experienced Remodeler Says Snow is Better than Rain When Doing a Major Remodel

Purcell, an award-winning Twin Cities home remodeling contractor, says winter can be a great time to undertake a major home remodel. “It’s easier to fight snow than rain,” said Tim Purcell, winner of the Best Of Houzz Customer Satisfaction award honors in 2015, an award based solely on client reviews.

One of the most sought-after home remodeling contractors in the Twin Cities, Purcell has completed well over 1,000 remodeling and renovation projects in the greater Twin Cities area since 1995. Purcell partners with interior designers and architects to bring their artistic visions to life.

Last November, Purcell began a major renovation on a home in Deephaven that got underway during Thanksgiving week. The front exterior wall of the house was literally leaning out by six inches and the roof was collapsing,” Purcell said, explaining that when the 1920’s summer cabin was converted into a full time residence, the remodeler failed to adhere to modern building codes.

“We started from the top down, removing the roof on one section of the house and then the front exterior wall that was bowing out – all in the middle of winter,” Purcell said. Contrary to what most people think, Purcell said winter is actually a great time to remodel, as long as the contractor takes special care to protect the rest of the home from the elements and shield the homeowners from construction debris and major disruption.

“Most homeowners live in their homes during a remodeling project,” Purcell said. “We’ll often set up temporary kitchens, bathrooms and laundry areas for our clients. Our staff works hard to maintain a safe and clean work environment that’s respectful of the homeowners and protects their space from the winter wind and snow.”

After tearing down the dilapidated sections of the home, Purcell installed a roof truss system, creating a sound building structure and a solid foundation for the new kitchen, dining, and living room.

Originally, the homeowners had started the design concept phase of the project with a different interior designer, but the project had stalled due to lack of creativity, communication and focus. Purcell suggested they work with Colleen Fox Slack of Colleen Fox Interiors and it turned out to be a great fit with the homeowners.

“My first question was, How do you want to use your kitchen?,” Fox Slack said. “Do you cook? Do you cook a lot? No one had taken the time to think about the homeowners’ perspective or how they intended to use their new spaces.”

When Fox Slack learned that they really enjoyed cooking and entertaining, she got to work designing a kitchen to meet their needs. The vaulted ceiling accommodated taller kitchen cabinets and the expanded footprint provided room for a larger work zone around the stove. Pull-out ‘magic’ corner cabinets and spice rack, tray dividers in roll-out drawers for cookie sheets and pot lids and a bread box integrated into a drawer by the toaster are just some of the details in this high-functioning space. Contemporary finishes tie together the kitchen with the rest of the home, right down to hidden outlets that enabled the soft grey backsplash tile to flow without interruption.

“Tim and his staff are extremely detailed, making sure everyone involved knows the clients expectations. A dedicated project manager ensures nothing is overlooked ,” said Fox Slack. “That gives the clients complete confidence that it’s all organized and every Purcell staff member and subcontractor knows exactly what needs to happen. Tim brings a whole new level of professionalism that sets him apart.”

In addition to the 2015 Best Of Houzz award, Purcell has also won several CotY (Contractor of the Year) awards for various projects from the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI). Purcell’s new website displays the “Best Of Houzz 2015” badge and explains the Purcell’s five-step process which includes final – not estimated – project costs that are based on detailed project specifications outlining exactly what materials and finishes will be installed.

For more information or a remodeling project estimate, contact Purcell at (651) 748-1304 or visit www.PurcellQuality.com.