Remodeling Tips & Resources | Ember Works Rochester NY

Sep 7

Attic Ventilation: The System Most Rochester Homeowners Never Think About

Ice dams, a baking second floor, and mould on the roof deck all trace back to one system most homeowners never think about.

Sep 4

Gutters, Downspouts, and Where Your Roof Water Actually Goes

Most wet basements are not foundation problems. They are roof water problems, and the fix is usually cheaper than you think.

Sep 3

Storm Damage: What Rochester Homeowners Should Do in the First 48 Hours

Tornado warnings, 70 mph winds and hail hit Western New York Wednesday night. Here is what to do first, what to document, what to look for, and who to be careful ...

Sep 3

Windows, Siding, and Roofing: How to Tell What Your Rochester Home Actually Needs

Western New York is hard on the outside of a house. Here is how to tell what yours needs, plus a free, no-obligation assessment from Ember Works.

Sep 1

Winterizing Your Deck: Fall Steps That Protect It Until Spring

Eight months of Western New York winter decides what your deck looks like in May. A few hours of work in September adds years to the structure.

Aug 31

Built-Ins and Fireplace Surrounds: Millwork That Makes a Room

Built-in bookcases, window seats, and a proper mantel are what make Rochester's older homes feel finished. Here is how to add them so they look original.

Aug 30

Design-Build or Hiring an Architect and Contractor Separately: Which Is Right for You?

Design then bid then build, or one team start to finish? The model you choose affects your budget, your timeline, and how many phone calls you make.

Aug 28

Plaster or Drywall? Repairing Walls in a Rochester Century Home

Contractors often push to gut plaster because it is faster. In a Rochester century home, that is frequently the wrong answer. Here is how to read the cracks.

Aug 26

Restoring Original Hardwood Floors in Rochester's Older Homes

The oak under that old carpet is better wood than you can buy today, and it is salvageable far more often than homeowners expect. Here is how to tell.

Aug 24

Laundry Room Remodels: Getting Laundry Out of the Rochester Basement

Carrying baskets down steep stairs into a cold basement is the worst working condition in the house. Moving laundry up is a remodel nobody regrets.

Aug 22

Skylights and Solar Tubes: Bringing Daylight Into Rochester's Darkest Rooms

You cannot fix a Western New York winter, but you can change how much of the available light reaches the middle of your house.

Aug 20

Taking Down a Wall: What Opening Up a Rochester Floor Plan Really Involves

Opening a floor plan transforms an older home, but load-bearing walls, hidden mechanicals, and the path to the footing decide what it really costs.

Aug 18

What's Behind the Walls: Wiring and Plumbing in Rochester's Older Homes

Knob-and-tube, galvanized pipe, buried splices, over-notched joists. Here is what tends to be back there and how to keep it from wrecking your budget.

Aug 16

Walk-In Closets and Storage That Older Rochester Homes Never Had

A 1920s closet was two feet deep with one rod. Fitting it out properly can double or triple capacity, and a real walk-in may already be hiding in your floor ...

Aug 14

Appliance Planning: The Kitchen Decision Everyone Makes Too Late

Cabinets get built around appliances, not the other way around. Choose them early or discover the clearance problems on installation day.

Aug 12

Screened Porches: Enjoying Rochester Summers Without the Mosquitoes

A screened porch turns a yard you look at into a room you live in, and it stretches Western New York's short outdoor season at both ends.

Aug 10

Front Entry Doors and Porticos: Curb Appeal That Starts at the Door

Your front door is the most looked-at square footage you own, and in most Rochester homes it is leaking air. Here is how to fix both problems at once.

Aug 8

Heating and Cooling a New Addition: Options for Western New York

You cannot always just tap the existing furnace. Ducts, returns, and capacity decide whether your new room is comfortable or the coldest in the house.

Aug 6

Insulating a Rochester Century Home: What Actually Works

The cold bedroom over the porch is not bad luck, it is the building envelope. Air seal first, then insulate, and know the moisture rules before you start.

Aug 5

Attic Conversions: Turning Rochester's Unused Top Floor Into Living Space

Headroom, floor joists, roof framing, and the stair decide whether your attic converts. Here is how to find out before you fall in love with the idea.