Month: November 2022

When expecting, one of the first things any parent should consider is to make your home safe. Children are natural-born explorers and perceive the world differently than adults do. But their curiosity can lead to safety risks. Although we may not notice, there are plenty of items in our homes that pose a risk to children like paint, stairs and pools. Learn how to reduce the risks for your baby in your Florida home with just a few tips and tricks.

Preparing Your Florida Home

How can you distinguish harmful items that are within a child’s reach? Get low, crawl on all fours, and envision yourself from their point of view! This may seem silly, but it allows you to see things from a baby’s perspective and what a baby could reach. Items such as glass, breakables, and heavy or sharp objects, that they could easily pull down on top of them must be put out of a baby’s reach for their safety.

Make sure tall furniture such as bookcases and chests of drawers are securely anchored to the wall. Once babies become mobile, their curiosity can lead them to climb, and you want to protect them from injury by making sure furniture cannot tip over. And don’t forget to install gates and railings on stairs as toddlers love to climb.

Lastly, electrical outlets throughout your home should have safety covers installed when not in use.

1. Paint & Furniture Risks
   • If your home was built before 1978, get your home tested for lead and if found there is a protocol to mitigate it
   • Stick with cribs, toys, highchairs, chests and the like made after 1978
   • Secure furniture, including bookshelves, to the wall, so they do not fall over
   • Place protective padding on tables and other sharp edges around your home
   • Keep cribs and beds away from windows
   • Mount flatscreen TVs to the wall. Keep older and heavier TVs on sturdy furniture
   • Install stops in removable drawers so that the drawers won’t fall out
   • Attach safety locks or latches on drawers and cabinets, specifically those containing chemicals, sharp items and choking hazards
2. Stairs & Falling Risks
   • Ensure that stairways have ample lighting 
   • Install railings or handrails on each side of the stairs for balance
   • Install gates at the top and bottom of interior staircases. Since hardware-mounted gates can’t be knocked down, these are best recommended for children
3. Pools Risks
   • Install barriers around your pool to avoid any risks or accidents. Specialists advise a fence at a minimum of 4 feet high around the pool. The blockade around the pool should include a self-closing, self-latching gate or door. If your house functions as part of the barrier, a brilliant idea would be to install alarms on doors and windows with direct pool access.
4. Electrical & Heating and Cooling Elements Risk
   • Place safety caps on electrical outlets
   • Do not overload sockets, and avoid appliances piggybacking onto extension cords
   • Discuss with children the necessity of avoiding electricals near water due to the risk of electrocution

Hire a Contractor – Varian Construction

If you are looking for a contractor for your major home renovation and with an eye toward baby-proofing your home, trust Varian Construction.

Based in Southwest Florida, Varian Construction has been renovating homes, condominiums, and commercial projects for over 30 years. In those three decades, Varian has been awarded 15 Florida Home Builders Association awards for excellent and stunning work.

Furthermore, owner Bill Varian has been accredited as a Certified Graduate Remodeler (CGR), Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS), and a Certified Green Professional (CGP) ensuring that your home will be built with quality and care for years to come.

Fully licensed to work in Florida, Varian Construction can complete your upgrades within your desired budget and timeframe. Varian uses CoConstruct to help schedule timelines, track financials, and as a platform for communication for homeowners so you can be confident that your home is in good hands. For those with design plans or space renovations, Varian Construction uses its connections and resources to meet the owner’s expectations and exceed them. If you are interested in hiring Varian Construction for your home renovation, contact us today at 239.514.0103 or visit VarianConstruction.com

You love your house, but it’s getting a bit small, or perhaps there’s another baby on the way and you’re unsure whether there’s enough space. Maybe your kitchen or bathroom is in urgent need of an upgrade. Whatever your renovation needs, here are six benefits of remodeling your home to help you determine if it’s the right move for you

• To Improve your Home’s Value

Adding extra rooms can undoubtedly add value to your home. If you have an older home, renovating the kitchen and bathrooms can make a big difference to the house’s value when it comes time to sell and can make an immediate difference to your family’s quality of life. Refurbishing bedrooms, living areas, hallways in homes and adding a few modern touches inside and out can add curb appeal and attract extra buyers when it’s time to sell.

• To Upgrade the Home’s Function

Insteadof taking the time to buy another home, remodeling your existing home to fit the functional needs of your family will help improve your home in many ways. As a family grows, so too can your house. For example, if you entertain often, a contractor could suggest an open floor plan or a larger kitchen. If you have adolescent children, remodeling a bathroom might make it more kid-friendly and therefore be a good idea.

• To Increase Comfort or Enjoyment of the Home

A home remodeling company can take ideas and plans and turn them into reality. A house renovation can include your desire for a gourmet, chef-style kitchen, spa-like bathroom, or other significant upgrades. Simple spaces in your home can become places for memories and enjoyment. Remodeling an older home allows you to make them your own while preserving the character and allure that made you fall for your home in the first place. 

• To Fix a Safety Issue

When it comes to safety in your home, especially if you have children, renovations to remove hazardous materials or reconfigure unsafe structures are essential. Installing a new roof, plumbing, or light fixtures can prevent serious issues in a home.

• To Increase the Efficiency of the Home

The cost of home remodels is well worth it when it saves you money in energy costs. Remodeling your home with modern fixtures can lead to considerable savings and thereby offset overall costs. Be sure to replace or repair your roof before a minor trickle becomes a major problem.

• To Update the Home’s Style

What worked then might not work now, so turning an older home into a modern one brings life back into your beloved home. Updating the style of your home can give new meaning to thoughts of entertainment. A remodeling company can replace obsolete appliances and fixtures with new, energy-efficient models and replace that questionable ’60s shag carpet with new hardwood floors! Updating your home’s style can tie into new trends that appeal to you personally or as a way to prepare a house for sale. The best bet is to use timeless styles that convey true sophistication.

Hire a Contractor – Varian Construction

If you are looking for a contractor for your home renovation, trust Varian Construction.

Based in Southwest Florida, Varian Construction has been renovating homes, condominiums, and commercial projects for over 30 years. In those three decades, Varian has been awarded 15 Florida Home Builders Association awards for excellent and stunning work.

Furthermore, owner Bill Varian has been accredited as a Certified Graduate Remodeler (CGR), Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS), and a Certified Green Professional (CGP), ensuring that your home will be built with quality and care, true craftsmanship that’ll stand the test of time for years to come.

Fully licensed to work in Florida, Varian Construction can complete your upgrades within your desired budget and timeframe. Varian uses CoConstruct to help schedule timelines, track financials, and as a platform for communication for homeowners so you can be confident that your home is in good hands. For those with design plans or space renovations, Varian Construction uses its connections and resources to not only meet the owner’s expectations but to exceed them. If you are interested in hiring Varian Construction for your home renovation, contact us today at 239.514.0103 or visit VarianConstruction.com