If your home needs remodeling, but your budget doesn't jive with your plans it can be pretty frustrating. Enter: Affordable Remodel. Its mission is to simplify the remodeling process from start to finish, help you make the right decisions, and steer you clear of the pitfalls that can cost you time and money.

Fernando Pagés Ruiz, the author of Building an Affordable House, shares his secrets in Affordable Remodel, showing you how to save money without compromising on quality. Whatever your "ideal" update, here's the know-how to achieve it -- with change to spare.

• Guides you every step of the way, from envisioning the possibilities to fait accompli!
• Smart, practical ways to plan a budget and stay on budget
• Explores your many affordable method and material options
• Charts, checklists, boxed features make essentials fast and easy to grasp -- Remodeling vs. Relocating, Quizzing a Contractor, Prioritizing Home Repairs, Nailing Down Specs and Scope, much more
• Special "Pro Tips" and "Trade Secrets" share insider know-how for saving money and ensuring a successful job
• Expert advice presented in layman-friendly language
• Over 400 full-color photos and drawings (Look for the "$" captions on photos throughout...these flag low-cost ways to achieve the same impact of the much costlier improvements pictured)

"To squeeze full value from every remodeling dollar, you've got to make wise choices in materials and construction methods, then learn how to affordably reproduce million-dollar details. These twin themes are at the heart of this book."

About author and licensed general contractor Fernando Pagés Ruiz
Mr. Ruiz has been building and remodeling for more than two decades, constantly challenging himself to find new ways of creating "champagne" homes on "beer" budgets! He is a regular contributor to Fine Homebuilding magazine and host of a weekly home remodeling radio show.

Introduction 1

Chapter 1: Strategic Planning 2
Facing Reality 3
Start by Dreaming 7
Working in Phases 9
Do It Yourself or Hire It Out? 12
Balancing the Budget 15
Green Remodeling 17

Chapter 2: Blueprint to Affordability 18
Site Analysis: Looking at Where You Live 19
Schematic Drawings: Thinking Aloud on Paper 19
Identifying What Works 37
Construction Drawings: Getting to the Nitty-Gritty 44

Chapter 3: Getting Dirty 48
Household Hazards 49
Inspired Deconstruction 51
Taking Away Walls 57
A Better Foundation from the Ground Up 60
Framing Fundamentals 60
Firmer Floors 67
Installing Stairs 71
Dealing with Ceilings 73

Chapter 4: Systems Tailoring 76
Weatherproofing 77
Save on Heating and Cooling 85
Size Matters in Air-Conditioning 88
Thermostats: Location, Location, Location 90
Ducting 90
Leaky Ducts 91
Alternative Plumbing Products 96
Water Heaters 97
Electrical System 98

Chapter 5: Openings: Doors and Windows 102
Front Door Decor 103
Front Entrance Face-Lift 107
Window Shopping 114
Sunny Spots 121
Specialty Windows 123

Chapter 6: The Interior Canvas 128
Improvement Starts at the Top 128
Lighten Up 139
Creative Walls 145
Baseboards and Chair Rails 149
Interior Doors and Trim 152
Flooring Fundamentals 154

Chapter 7: Affordable Kitchens and Baths 160
Kitchens a Cut Above 162
Cabinet Conservation 165
Paint, Reface, or Replace 169
Complete Cabinet Overhaul 174
Counter Intelligence 181
Redecorate with the Flick of a Switch 187
Waterworks 187
Faucets 189
Appliances 189
Build a Better Bathroom 190
The Throne 199

Chapter 8: High-Impact, Low-Budget Exteriors 200
Making Your Plans 201
Vinyl Siding 202
Cement Board, Plywood, and Hardboard 203
Don't Sneer at Stucco 209
Masonry Magic 211
Faux Doesn't Mean Funky 215

Index 216

I have spent the better part of my 30-year construction career focused on achieving high-end looks with pocket change. Call me cheap, but I have enjoyed building and also living in luxury homes that don't pull at the purse strings. If you also covet architecture slightly beyond your means, take heart -- there are ways to live the good life affordably.

The chapters ahead reveal many of the money-saving options available in remodeling today. I discovered some of these techniques and materials while remodeling my own properties and others by interviewing top remodeling contractors around the country. With the power of insider knowledge you too will find ways to achieve the home of your dreams without violating your budget.