Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

Growing From Seed

Growing a lawn from seed offers an affordable option, especially for smaller lawns. Success hinges on selecting the best grass seed for your situation. Turfgrass breeders make advances every year, so its worthwhile to do some research to discover available options. Local grass seed vendors typically carry tried-and-true seed types. You can find newer seed types at a nursery or landscaping business that specializes in lawn installation. Always buy top-quality seed. Its worth the investment.

Before spending any money on grass seed, test your soil. You can select the ideal grass seed and still grow a lackluster lawn if your soil pH is incorrect. Most turf grasses thrive in well-aerated soil with a slightly acidic pH (between 6 and 7.5). Obtain a soil test kit from your local extension office. To take a soil test, gather soil samples from several places around the area youll be seeding. Mix the soil, and place it into the soil testing bag. Expect to pay at least $15 for the test (price varies by region). It takes about two weeks to get results back, and it will take more time to adjust soil as specified by the results. Plan accordingly: dont do your soil test the day before you plan to seed.

Grass falls into two general categories: warm-season and cool-season. Warm-season grasses are the ones that grow in warmer regions of the country. These include grasses like St. Augustine, Bermuda, buffalo, centipede and zoysia. Warm-season grasses achieve their peak growth when summer hits its stride. These grasses typically require full sun to thrive, although St. Augustine can tolerate some shade in the Deep South.

Cool-season grasses are the ones that grow in northern regions of the country. Fine, tall and red fescues, perennial ryegrass and Kentucky bluegrass are cool-season grasses. This type of turf grows the most during the cool seasons of spring and fall. Cool-season grasses tend to be more shade-tolerant, especially the fescues. One key factor in choosing the right grass seed simply depends on where you live. You dont want to plant warm-season turf in Vermont or fine fescue in South Texas.

Its important to consider how much wear and tear your lawn will experience as you select a grass seed. If you have a family with young children who enjoy a summer pool and running on the lawn, opt for a grass other than fine fescue, which doesnt stand up to foot traffic. Kentucky bluegrass is the turf of choice for athletic fields, and its also self-mending. When damage causes bare spots, the turf can creep in to fill in holes. However, Kentucky bluegrass can be more demanding in terms of care, needing more mowing, fertilizing and watering to look its best.

Consider irrigation needs when you choose your grass seed. If you live in a region subject to droughts and water restrictions, select a grass like tall fescue, zoysia or buffalo grass. Floratam is the St. Augustine variety thats the most drought-tolerant, but it does require some shade. If you plant Kentucky bluegrass, you will need to water regularly to maintain a healthy lawn.

Some cool-season turf types go dormant during summer, while warm-season zoysia enters dormancy during the years chilliest months. Some municipalities now require home builders to install lawns with summer-dormancy capabilities. If you choose turf that needs watering to look its best, consider adding an irrigation system before seeding, especially if soil is bare. Its better to dig up the yard before grass is growing. Consider what your lawn will look like in winter as you select seed. While you can remedy a winter-dormant lawn by overseeding with ryegrass, you might want to consider taking a break from lawn care.

Different types of grasses tolerate differing levels of shade. By far, most grasses crave sun and need a minimum of six hours of direct sunlight to thrive. Specialized shade-tolerant grass blends thrive in four hours of dappled sun or partial shade. In the cool-season grass category, the shade-tolerant grasses are rye and fine and tall fescues. Warm-season grasses that grow in shade include zoysia and St. Augustine. A quality seed blend for a shady lawn should include several different types of shade-tolerant grasses. That way, if one grass fails to succeed, theres another to take its place.

When youre seeding a sloping area of your yard, choose a seed blend that includes a high percentage of perennial ryegrass. This grass is quick to germinate and establish. Its fast-growing root system will reduce erosion while other turf types in the seed blend establish. Avoid purchasing a seed blend with more than 20 percent perennial ryegrass, or it may overpower the other grasses in the mix. A blend is always better, because it effectively hedges your seeding bets.

Consider lawn maintenance when you select grass seed. Grasses like fescues have higher ideal growing heights and dont need mowing as often as a Kentucky bluegrass lawn. Among warm-season turf, youll typically mow centipede and Bermuda grass more frequently than zoysia. Native grasses like buffalo grass require the lowest amount of mowing. Turf that goes dormant in summer heat or winter chill also demands less mowing during periods of dormancy. Factor all of these considerations into your selection of a specific grass seed.

Research to be sure you understand the fertility needs of the turf type you intend to grow. If youre someone who likes to pursue organic fertilizing with compost and other earth-friendly brews, make sure the grass you select responds well to that type of fertilizer program. Some turf requires more frequent fertilization. Do your homework to be certain youre not planting a high-maintenance lawn when you only have time to grow a low-maintenance one. Ultimately, no matter what type of grass seed you buy, the label should show weed seed content less than 1 percent and inert material content less than 4 percent. Never buy grass seed with a germination rate less than 70 percent.

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How to Choose the Right Grass Seed | DIY

Popular Types Of Grass Seed

There is a wide range of grass varieties, but there are just two basic categories of grass types: Warm Season grasses and Cool Season grasses. As you might imagine, all of the different varieties in each of these grass types is best suited for a certain type of climate.

Warm Season grasses are generally native to tropical regions and thrive when they are in hot climates with a lot of daily sunshine. They tend to grow best in temperatures ranging from 75F to 90F and will often turn brown or go dormant in the cooler late-fall and winter months.

The majority of the growing of Warm Season grasses happens in the summer months. Some examples of popular Warm Season grass varieties include St. Augustine grass, Buffalo, Bermuda, and Centipede.

Cool Season grasses do well in areas that have cold, freezing winters and very hot summers. They grow the fastest when temperatures are from 65F to 80F, or during in the spring and fall months.

While Cool Season grasses are suited to climates that have regular intervals of rain in the summer, many of them can withstand long periods of drought by going dormant. Some popular examples of Cool Season grasses include Perennial and Annual Ryegrass, Kentucky Bluegrass, Red Fescue, and Bentgrass.

You can start you search for the best grass seed for your lawn by learning which type of climate you live in. If you are in the Warm Season zone, you should be researching the different varieties of Warm Season grasses and vice versa for the Cool Season zone.

Each grass variety has certain applications where it does best. For example, Bahia grass and Buffalo grass are both Warm Season grasses, but they have different characteristics. Bahia grass does best in full sun conditions and in areas with sandy, slightly acidic soil. It needs regular watering, but is relatively resistant to short periods of drought and is ideal for high activity areas.

Unfortunately, while being an extremely hardy grass, it doesn't create a very uniform lawn and it doesn't handle the cold very well. On the other hand, Buffalo grass has a smoother, more manicured look and can withstand near freezing temperatures for short periods. It can also survive through extended drought periods, but doesn't do well in high activity areas.

To choose the best grass variety for your home, start by testing the pH of your soil. You can adjust your soil pH as needed, but why not choose a grass variety that does well in your soil type and skip the hassle? Next you should consider how much maintenance you want to put into lawn care. If you don't want to deal with regular waterings, go with a variety that is drought resistant.

If you don't want to have to mow so often, choose a slower growing variety. You'll also want to consider how much traffic you'll be subjecting your lawn to. Some grass varieties can deal with cars being parked on them regularly, while others can't even withstand minor foot traffic.

Not everybody lives in a Cool Season or Warm Season grass climate. There is a narrow band across America known as the Transition Zone and picking the right grass variety in these areas can be trickier. If you live in the Transition Zone, you'll want to consider Kentucky Bluegrass, Zoysiagrass, Thermal Blue, Perennial Ryegrass, or Tall Fescue.

Creating the perfect lawn isn't just about picking the right variety. You'll also need to maintain it correctly and plant at the right time of year. A general rule of thumb is that Warm Season grasses should be planted from March through September, and Cool Season grasses should be planted from mid-August through mid-October, but refer to the directions on your specific grass variety to further narrow down the best seeding time.

You need to make sure to prepare your lawn before laying down your seed as well. If you are planting a new lawn, start by loosening the top few inches of soil with a cultivator or hoe. Next, remove large debris and break up any big clumps of soil. If you have any low spots where water might collect, you should level them out, so no grass seed is left in standing water for too long.

After your lawn has been fully prepared, you can spread your grass seed. For best results, you should fertilize with a starter fertilizer after seeding and then water twice a day. Once you have mowed your new lawn one or two times, you can revert back to a normal watering schedule.

If you are overseeding an existing lawn, you'll want to mow your grass as short as possible, loosen any bare soil spots, remove dead grass clumps, and then spread the seed as evenly as possible. As with a new lawn planting, you should water twice a day until after the first or second mowing and lay down a starter fertilizer.

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The 7 Best Grass Seed - Ezvid Wiki: The World's Video Wiki

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Mistubishi Ductless Split and Multi-Split Systems

For decades, split-zoning air-conditioning and heat pump systems have been the quiet solution for cooling and heating problems around the world. Our quiet and powerful systems have three main components: an indoor unit, outdoor unit, and remote controller. Installation is as simple as mounting the indoor and outdoor units, connecting the refrigerant lines, and making a few electrical connections.

Mitsubishi Electric is the industry leader in split-ductless air-conditioning technology period. Compare and youll see that no one surpasses the Mitsubishi Electric brands performance for quiet, easy-to-use, and energy-efficient operation. And because our split-ductless technology carries the Mitsubishi Electric name, you know every product is built to last. The bottom line is, Mitsubishi systems deliver the ultimate in comfort control for your home or office. Its true today and will be comfortably evident for years to come.

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If a room is too hot or too cold, Mitsubishi Electric Cooling & Heating can handle it! Mitsubishi split-zoning systems are specifically designed to improve the comfort level in an uncomfortably hot or cold room of an existing building. Because they dont require ductwork, theyre the perfect heating and cooling systems for renovating older buildings that were constructed before air conditioning was available even those with plaster walls and brick facades. The versatility and variety of applications for Mitsubishi Electric systems are virtually unlimited. Theyre an excellent choice for almost any spot cooling or heating situation, including enclosed sunrooms, upstairs bedrooms, classrooms, hospitals, nursing homes, restaurants, hotels, workout rooms, computer rooms, offices and churches.Theyre also equipped with an anti-allergen filter and prevent the cross-flow of air with contaminants. And because they can be controlled by zone, its easy to set the controls for the exact room temperature you want.

How does it work? Mitsubishi Electric Cooling & Heating can fit into almost any space because their innovative engineering optimizes the capabilities of the INVERTER technology and R410A refrigerant for more efficient systems with smaller indoor and outdoor units. R410A refrigerant is environmentally friendly, with zero Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP). The units themselves are also made of recyclable materials. To find out more about Mitsubishi Electric split-zoning products simply contact us.

Zoning

Your home is already designed and zoned for plumbing and electrical. Why not have each area or rooms of your home zoned specifically for cooling and heating in a particular area. Why waste money heating or cooling rooms that arent in use. Zoning is a great way to reduce your electric bills while delivering customized comfort where you want it, when you want it. Contact us for further information on zoning.

Duct Remodification

Improperly sized or poorly designed ductwork is the reason why most homeowners are not very comfortable in their homes. In fact, 70% of systems have inadequate airflow, and the average HVAC system only delivers 57% of the systems rated capacity to the home. Through testing and modifying your duct system, your home can achieve the desired comfort level and save on energy costs.

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Realizing the condition of your ducts is vital to the health and comfort of others in the household. An improperly designed duct system will experience lots of problems. Its actually one of the most common problems that a homeowner is faced with. You may experience the following with a leaky or poorly designed duct system:

When it comes to your comfort, we dont guess. We test and use proven science and math to determine exactly what is required and then provide you with options available to deliver your desired results.

If higher energy bills and discomfort have gotten you down lately, then take control of them by having your duct system inspected and tested by one of our NCI Certified technicians. Using these results, we can custom-design the right modifications for your home, and you can enjoy the comfort and energy savings you deserve in your home.

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Heating and Cooling Installation | Heating and Cooling ...

Durable. Beautiful. Custom crafted, made to order, and professionally installed.

Energy-efficient replacement windows from Renewal by Andersen offer the elegance, strength, and stability of wood, with the low-maintenance features of vinyl.

Investigate window styles below, or browse our differentcolor,frame,grille, andhardware optionsto find the right style for your home. Ready to get started right now?Set up a free appointmentto work with one of our design consultants.

Made from the Andersen-exclusiveFibrexcomposite material, your new windows will stand the test of time+ and look great doing it. Whats more, youll have peace of mind knowing they were installed by one of our own crews of certified master installers true craftspeople who have experience replacing windows in homes of all shapes, sizes, and styles.

Learn more about ourinstallation process and the dedicated individualswho will be working in your home.

Pick a performance metric: efficiency, strength and durability, maintenance, beautywhichever factor is most important to you (and we hope they all are!), your Renewal by Andersenreplacement windows can make a difference.

Energy EfficiencySuperior thermal insulating properties helps your home stay warmer in winter and cooler in summer and can help yousave money on your energy bills.

Plus, 40% of the raw material by weight used to make Fibrexmaterial is reclaimed wood fiber. Our windows are Green Seal certified, and available withglass optionsthat make them ENERGY STARcertifiedso not only will your home stay more comfortable, you can help keep your corner of the world is just a little bit greener.Strength and DurabilityTwice as strong as vinyl, thedurable natureof Fibrex material means that it can stand up to even the most extreme temperature swings, maintaining its stability and rigidity in all climates.

Low MaintenanceYour Renewal by Andersenwindows arewarrantiednot to flake, rust, blister, peel, crack, pit or corrode.+And years down the road, they will be as easy to operate as the day they are installed.*

BeautyThe strength of Fibrexmaterial means narrower frames; narrower frames mean more glass and more view. Plus, the extrusion process allows us to craft your windows to any shape meaning you can match the architectural style of your homeordefine a new look.

The process also fuses the color into the material, offering you awide palette of long-lasting colors+to choose fromincluding dark exterior colors not found with most other replacement windows.

Withstainable wood interiorsincluding oak, maple, and engineered pine,12 hardware finishes, and a variety ofgrille patterns, including colonial, prairie, and custom-designed, you can match your new windows to your homes current architecture, change your look, or complete a historically accurate renovation.

Need help deciding? Looking for a quote? Schedule a free in-homewindow consultationwith our window design experts orvisit one of our showrooms.

[+]Seelimited warrantyfor details

[*]Based on testing of 10 double-hung units per ASTM E2068, 20 years after installation.

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Replacement Windows - Renewal by Andersen

In feng shui, the front door is consideredthe mouth ofChi. It is through the front door that the house receives its feng shui nourishment of energy. The quality of this energy determines the quality of energy inyour home.In classicalfeng shui, the most auspicious colors for a front door are based on the compass direction the door faces and its corresponding feng shui element.

For each fengshui directionand its corresponding elementyou might choose aharmoniouscolor or aproductive (or...MORE producing)color. A harmonious color is linked to the element itself; for example, the east direction is wood, and the colors of wood are green and brown. A productive color is based on elements that produce, support, or nourish the governing element of a given direction. Productive elements for wood are related to the water element and include black, blue, and purple.

To determine the compass direction your front door faces, you can use a traditional magnetic compass, but it's even easier to use a compass app on your smartphone:Open the compass app and place the bottom edge of the phone against the doorwhile holding the phone straight out and level. The numbershown with the degree symbol is the precise direction the door faces. For example, 0 degrees is directly north; 180 degrees is directly south.

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Choose Your Best Feng Shui Front Door Color

A good feng shui house is nourished by fresh, clear and free-flowing energy. There is no stagnant, old or blocked energy anywhere in the house.Everything around us is in constant flow, in constant change. So, even after you've created a strong feng shui foundation in your house, the work continues. You have to get into the habit of keeping the energy fresh and flowingand be very mindful of not creating stuck areas in your house.

Stuck, stagnant energy in a specific area of your house will sooner or later express itself in stuck or completely blocked energy in a specific area of your life (see thefeng shui baguaor energy map).Get rid of your clutter, clear out yourclosets, your basement, yourgarage, and once these areas are clean, do not let them accumulate more clutter.

Use basic space clearing tips at least once a week. Good, fresh feng shui energy expresses itself in a clean space, fresh air, plenty ofgood light, and happy, meaningful energy as expressed in any decor items in your house.

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What Makes a Good Feng Shui House - The Spruce

Adding Style and Security

Nothing refreshes the look of your home like new outdoor lighting fixtures. At Lamps Plus, we carry a complete line of exterior lighting for porch, patio and landscape areas that can help make your home both safer and more attractive. Brighten an entryway with a hanging design, add style to outside walls or ceilings, or use post lights to improve your driveway and garage areas.

For an easy DIY project, outdoor solar lights are a great way to add light to your yard. Because they are powered by the sun, they require no wiring expertise, making them a simple solution for first-timers. With solar path lights for instance, you can line the walkway to your front door in less than an hour. Simply plant them into the ground lining the path and enjoy.

To make your shopping experience easier, we offer a full-size printable version of many of our outdoor light fixtures. Simply print it out and place where you intend to install for a quick and easy way to judge the size of the fixture in relation to its surroundings; see our individual product pages for more information. If you still have questions or would like help selecting the right designs for your home, just give us a call, toll-free. Also, make sure to check out our online resource "How to Buy Outdoor Lighting Planning and Design Tips". We're here to help.

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Outdoor Lighting Fixtures - Porch, Patio & Exterior Light ...

The single biggest difference between Lawn Doctor and other lawn care providers boils down to one simple premise: we care more. Its the kind of caring that can only come from being the business owner. One that lives, works, and is a part of the community they serve.Through our lawn care services we create a healthy lawn that you can take pride in.

Why Lawn Doctor?

What our customers are saying

Love this company! They make sure I have the nicest lawn on the block! Plus they spray for mosquitoes which is awesome for events or parties in the summer!

Great customer service. Its nice when you call and the owner actually talks to you. I am so pleased with my lawn seeding and fertilizing. I now have them doing my moms lawn. Highly recommended them.

We went from having the worst looking yard on the block to neighbors asking us who is doing our lawn servicing. They are very responsive to questions and good with problem solving. Highly recommended.

Ready for a greener, more enjoyable lawn? Call today for a free lawn care estimate. Each of our lawn care service experts work to understand the needs of each customer with a comprehensive FREE Lawn Evaluation of his or her landscape or yard.

Once we have determined your lawns problems, we figure out the ideal lawn care solution for you, from a single lawn care treatment to ongoing yard maintenance. Every landscape is different, so we will customize a lawn care solution to address your lawns specific requirements. Lawn Doctors advantage is our local lawn care professionals who know all about your areas specific characteristics, from weather to soil types.

Contact us for a FREE Lawn Evaluation or contact the Lawn Doctor in your area to learn more about our local yard care services.

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Lawn Doctor - Official Site

To get the best performance out of your siding, it needs to be installed correctly the first time by experienced professionals. The siding specialists at Beldon Siding are highly trained and well-versed on installation best practices for James Hardie HardiePlank siding, an industry-leading product. This includes having knowledge of how to properly make cuts to the fiber cement board to minimize dust, how to firmly fasten the product to the home and which types of hangers to use, how to perform touch-ups to boards featuring ColorPlus Technology, and even how to properly remove boards from pallet stacks to avoid causing damage. In addition to following all outlined James Hardie installation specifications, which will help keep the manufacturers outstanding 30-year, non-prorated, transferable limited warranty intact, our siding installers will comply with all local building codes and regulations, so you can count on a quality siding installation job that will provide your home with decades of beauty and protection.

During the installation of your siding, we can also install matching soffit panels that can provide attic ventilation and protection for eaves and porch ceilings. Plus, we offer HardieTrim Board in multiple styles so, whether you desire a rustic, modern, or traditional look, we have the perfect finishing touch.

To learn more about the installation process for James Hardie fiber cement siding, contact Beldon Siding today.

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Siding Installation | James Hardie

Project: Remodel a Bathroom

Location: Oklahoma City, OK

Date: 07/06/2018

Extensiveness of Remodel: I plan to maintain existing bathroom floorplan

Shower / Bath: No - I will keep the existing shower or bath as is

Toilet: Yes - I will be replacing or moving the toilet

Cabinets / Vanity: No - I do not plan to update the cabinets / vanity

Countertops: No - I do not plan to update the countertops

Sinks: No - I do not plan to update the sinks

Flooring: Yes - I plan to update the flooring

Request Stage: Ready to Hire

Desired Completion Date: Less than 2 months

Comment: Over 50% done need someone to finish project.

Project: Build an Addition

Location: Oklahoma City, OK

Date: 07/06/2018

Project Description: Design and build

Type of Addition: Ground level addition

Rooms Included:: Bathroom, Kitchen, Bedroom(s), Laundry/Mud room

Request Stage: Ready to Hire

Desired Completion Date: Less than 2 months

Property Owner: Yes

Requires Work on Historical Structure: No

Request for Commercial Location: No

Comment: We are gathering estimates ASAP for adding a bedroom on to our house. We also would like to remodel our kitchen, possibly knocking down a wall to open up the area.

Project: Add a Sunroom or Patio Enclosure

Location: Oklahoma City, OK

Date: 07/06/2018

Project Description: Build a new sunroom or enclosed patio or porch

Request Stage: Ready to Hire

Desired Completion Date: 1 - 2 weeks

What kind of location is this?: Home/Residence

Project: Build an Addition

Location: Oklahoma City, OK

Date: 07/06/2018

Project Description: Design and build

Request Stage: Ready to Hire

Desired Completion Date: Less than 2 months

Project: Renovate or Repair a Home

Location: Oklahoma City, OK

Date: 07/06/2018

Project Description: Other

Project Type: Interior

Work included: Drywall, Framing

Request Stage: Ready to Hire

Desired Completion Date: Timing is flexible

What kind of location is this?: Home/Residence

Historical Work: No

Property Owner: Yes

Comment: I need an estimate on tear out wall and redo

Project: Remodel a Kitchen

Location: Oklahoma City, OK

Date: 07/05/2018

Floorplan: I plan to maintain existing kitchen floorplan

Cabinets: No - I do not plan to move or update the cabinets

Appliances: Yes - I plan to move or update some or all appliances

Countertops: Yes - I plan to update the countertops

Sinks: Yes - I plan to update the sinks

Flooring: No - I do not plan to update the flooring

Lighting: No - I do not plan to update the lighting

Request Stage: Ready to Hire

Desired Completion Date: Less than 2 months

What kind of location is this?: Home/Residence

Historical Work: No

Covered by Insurance: No

Property Owner: Yes

Comment: enlarge current opening between kitchen and dining room

Project: Remodel a Bathroom

Location: Oklahoma City, OK

Date: 07/05/2018

Extensiveness of Remodel: I plan to maintain existing bathroom floorplan

Shower / Bath: No - I will keep the existing shower or bath as is

Toilet: Yes - I will be replacing or moving the toilet

Cabinets / Vanity: Yes - I plan to update the cabinets / vanity

Countertops: Yes - I plan to update the countertops

Sinks: Yes - I plan to update the sinks

Flooring: No - I do not plan to update the flooring

Request Stage: Planning & Budgeting

Desired Completion Date: Timing is flexible

Comment: Change countertops and mirror and toilet and possibly sinks

Project: Add a Sunroom or Patio Enclosure

Date: 07/05/2018

Project Description: Build a new sunroom or enclosed patio or porch

Request Stage: Planning & Budgeting

Desired Completion Date: Within 1 week

What kind of location is this?: Home/Residence

Comment: Need to and a deck ramp for a disable person to get in and out of house

Project: Remodel a Garage

Location: Oklahoma City, OK

Date: 07/05/2018

Scope of Remodel: Completely remodel garage

Storage cabinets / shelving: No - I do not plan to add or update the cabinets / shelving

Garage doors: No - I do not plan to update the garage doors

Insulation: Yes - I plan to add insulation

Flooring: Yes - I plan to update the flooring

Electrical: Yes - I plan to update the lighting or electrical fixtures

Interior walls or drywall: No - I do not plan to add or remove walls or drywall

Request Stage: Planning & Budgeting

Desired Completion Date: More than 2 months

What kind of location is this?: Home/Residence

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Addition & Remodeling Contractors in Oklahoma City, OK