The Perfect Pandemic Remodel Project

The lead designer on the project, seasoned design/build consultant David Long, tackled the challenge head-on with some plain talk about baseline budgets and Covid-19 safety.

“I informed them on day one, at our initial visit in the home, which was before the pandemic hit, that they needed to be realistic about their investment in their home. It was going to be $80k-120k if the work was confined to remodeling the lower level rather than adding on to the structure,” recalls Long.

Most people who have never really done a large remodel before don’t understand how much their decision-making about the qualities of materials, surfaces and scope of the project actually drives the budget.

“Initially we were over budget in the design phase, based on what they wanted, which is not unusual for most people. No one picks out the cheapest engagement ring to start with, that’s just human nature,” explains Long.

“But as we refined the design to match the budget constrains, we found that some things were more important than others. It's a process. That’s how it works. Eventually we went with a less expensive surround in the bathroom and a tier 1 quartz instead of tier 5 for the countertops which saved a lot,” recalls Long.

Although we went with a different square mission trim style in the basement, we did match the maple finish to keep the consistency. “And that’s paramount because you want your home to look as if every room is original to the day it was built. And I think we did just that.” says Long.

What these homeowners choose to keep was a rustic look with history. We found a local company that offered 100-year-old Amish barn wood, which we used for the fireplace surround and for the matching track doors to the utility room.

“It turns out they have some family history in Superior Wisconsin, so that was a really cool connection for them that they were really excited about,” explains Long. Our Paint and Fine Finishes manager Dan Flaherty handcrafted and finished their mantel with a natural alder stain to compliment the Amish barn wood.

As with all projects, which Murphy Bros. initiated during the pandemic outbreak in the spring of 2020, careful considerations were made in consultations with homeowners to protect everyone during each phase of the remodel.

“We sealed off the upstairs with a poly wall from the downstairs and put a special lock on the walkout patio door so we had a separate entrance to the project,” explains Long. “I think the hardest thing for COVID protocol was keeping the homeowners from coming downstairs to peak in on the progress,” says Long, “But even with that, the safety was maintained at a high level and the work was done with minimal disruptions.”