Remodeling Done Right: Insights from HL's Pros
Tap into our decade of experience transforming Houston homes. Our blog is your go-to resource for expert tips, design inspiration, and practical advice to guide you through your remodeling journey. From kitchens and baths to outdoor living, we'll help you maximize your investment and bring your vision to life.
HL Remodeling & Construction BlogMaybe your cabinet doors have swelled up and won’t close right. Maybe your faucet still has a gold finish you haven’t seen in a store in decades. Or maybe the grout has gone gray, no matter how hard anyone scrubs it. If any of this sounds familiar, you’re living with…
The best kitchen lighting plan uses three layers that work together. Ambient overhead recessed lighting gives you general coverage. Task lighting under the cabinets helps with countertop work. Accent pendant lighting over the island adds style and mood. Kitchen lighting isn’t something you pick out after the cabinets are hung.…
A kitchen island with seating needs at least 72 inches by 36 inches. That gives you room for two to three people, plus the appliances and storage underneath. A prep-only island without seating can work smaller, at 48 inches by 24 inches. These numbers come from the National Kitchen and…
You’re holding two or three contractor quotes right now, and they probably look nothing alike. That’s normal, and it’s a good sign you’re stopping to think instead of just picking the lowest number. A kitchen remodel contract should include a detailed scope of work, an itemized cost breakdown, a milestone-based…
If your bathroom hasn’t changed since Memorial City Mall was still a one-level shopping center, you’re not alone. Homeowners near Memorial City Mall and Town & Country carry some of the highest home equity in the Houston market, yet many still live with original bathrooms from the 1970s through the…
You asked three or four Houston contractors for quotes. Now you’re staring at numbers that don’t seem to match the same bathroom. That gap almost never comes from a contractor padding profit. It usually comes from what’s actually in the number. You need to learn how to compare bathroom remodeling…
Use 1 CFM for every 100 BTU of gas burner output. That’s the starting point. For electric and induction ranges, multiply your kitchen’s square footage by ceiling height and your desired air changes per hour instead. Then check that number against duct length, hood width, and Houston’s 400 CFM make-up…
You’ve scrubbed that shower glass every weekend for months. It still looks cloudy by Wednesday. That’s not a cleaning failure. Houston’s hard water is actually changing the surface of your glass, fixtures, and grout. No amount of elbow grease can fix that on its own. The good news is this…
Yes, in most cases. If you’re moving plumbing lines, adding electrical circuits, or touching structural walls, the City of Houston requires a permit before that work begins. Paint and a tile refresh usually don’t need one. Are you trying to figure out what your own bathroom remodeling project needs before…
Yes, a bathroom remodel does increase home value in Houston. If you’ve owned your home for a decade or more, you’ve probably run the numbers in your head more than once. Here’s the straight answer: a well-planned bathroom remodel typically returns 60-70% of what you spend when you sell. This…
