Home Improvement Guide

Practical Solution

The “How To”

Municipalities' building codes and ordinances establish minimum standards for the health, safety, and welfare of their communities and residents. Although many of the codes follow the International Code Council, other building ordinances may be tailored to specific issues within a neighborhood. As residents want to remodel a kitchen with new appliances, install a downstairs bathroom, or relax in a new spa, they must abide by municipal building codes. Home Improvement Guides provide clarity and coherent steps to additions and renovations. Permits, costs, applications, and codes are some of the resources that are helpful in these home improvement guides. The state of Massachussetts offers an example of a Consumer Guide to Home Improvement. Home improvements are often a great opportunity to make one's home more energy efficient. Sealing and insulating the "envelope" or "shell" of your home — its outer walls, ceiling, windows, doors, and floors — is often the most cost effective way to improve energy efficiency and comfort. For more information, see the Energy Efficiency Tool. 

Neighborhoods wanting to compile a home improvement guide should look to include the features below.

• Gather building codes that apply to specific areas. These areas may include front and back porches, sheds and gazebos, decks, parking spaces and structures, fences and barriers, spas, pools, hot tubs, and paint color. The extent of your guide depends on municipal building codes.
• Identify neighborhood forms, identities, architectural, historic districts, and styles. Neighborhoods may restrict improvements based upon material used or architectural types to keep a neighborhood’s integrity intact. For example, a historic district built in the 18^th century may prohibit front porch additions due to the lack of neighborhood conformity.
• Identify the type of permits and where to apply for a permit that the municipality and/or the larger county may require. Electrical projects may require permits for new room additions or adding on a garage. Adding a new bathing facility may require a plumbing permit.
• List the information required such as applications, architectural drawings or building plans, and size regulations.
• List the most current fee amounts. Some fees are flat rates. Other fees are based upon project size or cost and use a multiplier. Please view the “Dollars & Cents” tab for more on the multiplier.
• Identify allowed improvements and prohibited improvements. Also provide a list of improvements that do not require permits or compliances. When repaving a driveway, some neighborhoods may have a rule for the material used, and others do not. In any case, the homeowner should be aware of any possible restrictions.
• List the largest and smaller sizes.  

Disabled Persons Home Improvements

Disabled accessibility is another popular home improvement. For example, a resident may require wheelchair accessibility for entry to a house with steps. Ramp specifications may be included in the guide. One home design feature of Universal Design (housing accessibility for all populations) is no-step entry for house entrances. These options should be included in guides for residents to know their options. Please see OneSTL’s Universal Design and Multigenerational Communities tools for additional resources.

Planning & Zoning

Cities may want to consider adopting some type of standard for housing if they have not already. The International Code Council (ICC) provides building code standards for governmental entities to adopt. The ICC provides standards for what materials can be used in projects such as replacing, tearing down, or changing walls; alternations and additions for the foundation; adding any type of fence; and more. 

Most cities require permits for significant alterations and additions. This ensures improvements are safe, meet minimum standards, and comply with the municipality’s building codes. To obtain a permit, either visit your municipality’s office of inspections or department of building codes. 

Lead

Lead is very dangerous to people’s health and particularly dangerous to children. Lead-based paint was commonly used on exterior and interior walls, doors, and windows until 1978. Exposure may occur from deteriorating lead-based paint onto soils and dust in the air. Homes built in or after 1978 should not contain lead-based paint. If your home was built prior to 1978, find a trained inspector at (314) 526-4911 for Missouri residents, (800) 545-2200 for Illinois residents or visit the Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services or the Illinois Lead Poisoning Prevention website. 

HUD provides Guidelines for the Evaluation and Control of Lead-Based Paint Hazards in Housing. These guidelines offer helpful advice for property owners and landlords to reduce the risk of lead paint within households. Compliance of the guidelines are not mandatory. Cities and local governments could set a standard for steps to remove lead. 

Dollars & Cents

Residents interested in improving their home may face costs other than the costs of construction, such as drawings of the building plan and permit fees. However, tax credits and rebates may be available for energy efficient windows, insulation, and other upgrades. Energy Star offers a search tool for tax credits and rebates relevant to your area here. 

Measuring Success

Energy Star provides a tool to measure the energy efficiency of your home. See how your home measures up.