Remodeling Tips & Resources | Ember Works Rochester NY

Sep 19

Interior Stairs and Railings: The Feature Hiding in Plain Sight

In most older Rochester homes the staircase is the best joinery in the house, and it is usually hiding under carpet or paint.

Sep 16

Kids' Bedrooms and Nurseries: Remodeling for a Growing Family

Families outgrow houses in a predictable order. Here is how to make small older-home bedrooms work at each stage without moving.

Sep 13

Patio or Deck? Choosing the Right Outdoor Surface for Your Yard

Homeowners usually arrive with a preference and then discover their yard argues for the opposite. The grade decides more than taste does.

Sep 10

Deck Stairs and Access: Safety, Code, and Getting the Rise Right

Deck stairs are where people get hurt, and where measurements get guessed. Rise, run, and consistency are what make a flight feel solid.

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 ...