Lessons in the Rigors of Remodeling, Even for a Pro

You might think that earning an architecture degree, working as a designer in architects' offices and reporting for years on building would be adequate preparation for my own major remodeling project.

You would be wrong.

Rebuilding our dilapidated back porch into a year-round room was an up-and-down ride. There was pleasure at seeing something new take shape. There was anxiety over the cost, the time and the disruption to the household. Now that the job is finished and I have time to reflect, here are a few thoughts for others planning big projects:

You will probably experience the full spectrum of human emotions.

Mine ran the gamut during the year I spent working with an architect and a remodeling contractor. My initial exhilaration over a fabulous design was soon followed by distress that it exceeded our budget by 20 percent and by regret that some things we should have considered during the design process were too expensive to add later.

As we neared completion, I was hugely disappointed that the room didn't look the way I had expected, and I put the project on hold. Months later, as the space began to look better and better, I picked up where we had left off. Nearing the end, impatience and exasperation loomed large. The end brought relief that the project was done, as well as enormous satisfaction: The room looks great, and my family loves it.

You will have more confidence in your contractor if you do a small project together first.

Knowing that at least 90 percent of a successful outcome in building depends on who executes your design, I engaged Washtenaw Woodwrights, an Ann Arbor, Mich., remodeling firm in which I had every confidence because I had already worked with them. I even knew which person would be the best to run this job.

It may not be possible to do a small project first, especially if you are building a new house. In that case, check with past clients of the firms you are considering. You will get a much more candid assessment from the homeowner if you look at a firm's work without the contractor present.

You must recognize the limits of your expertise.

For our previous jobs with Washtenaw Woodwrights, I did the design work along with Bruce Curtis, who heads the firm. But this time, our 45-year-old house presented quirky building conditions that required an experienced residential designer, and I hired an architect, Michael Klement. Having seen his work, I knew that he could do what I wanted. Another plus was that he and Curtis had done many jobs together and had a good working relationship.

Never worry that you're giving your architect too much information; if anything, worry that you're not giving him enough.