Blog – RENOVATE, REMODEL

March 6, 2022March 6, 2022

Vinyl Floors and Concrete

We love when customers are excited about their renovations. Thank you O’Brien for the surprise video from your talented young daughter. She captured many of the steps involved for the flooring of this garage to office conversion, from leveling the floor, repairing cracks, installing concrete, installing two types of underlayment, and laying down high quality vinyl floor tiles. The floors are now highly durable and can withstand stains and weight better than other types.

Garage floors typically take a beating from temperature fluctuations and outside elements. Concrete generally contracts when its colder and expands in warmer weather. In planning the floors we took into consideration how the room will be used and how the temperature will be controlled.

We decided to use two types of underlayment, the first was selected for its built-in water barrier to help prevent moisture attacks on the floors and provide long-term protection. The second underlayment was selected for comfort, it adds an extra cushion to make sure the floor does not feel too cold during cold days. The underlayment reduces thermal insulation beneath the floor and adds cushion to feet giving a significantly improved experience. As with all our materials, careful consideration was taken for the selection of the vinyl floor tiles including considering the light into the room, the durability, stain resistance, thickness and overall quality.

The floors are only part of this project which is currently in progress. We actually insulated, installed a HVAC cooling and heating system and designed the lighting which all weighed in on our treatment plan for the floors. We used bonding agents, portland cement and quality materials to give the floors a strong foundational bond that will extend the life of the floors for the homeowners.

July 7, 2021September 1, 2021

Front Door Renovation

Learn about the front door conditions that could be costing you money in energy bills. Determine if its time for a replacement. Watch as we transform our client’s drafty front door from drab to a stylish, modern, energy efficient, secure and beautiful focal point of her new home, guaranteed to make a lasting impression.

January 31, 2020January 31, 2020

My Kitchen Remodel

Are you considering remodeling your kitchen? Curious about the steps involved? I am sharing my own kitchen remodel with you. In part one, we demonstrate how to prepare and what you can expect when you hire a contractor for your kitchen renovation. Discover the most effective methods to handle your old kitchen cabinets and appliances, learn about a hidden dangers that can delay your project and finally, watch how we demo!

January 25, 2020January 25, 2020

When the weather allows, make time for a good roof inspection

I can’t emphasise enough how important it is to check your roof before snowfall. My building is just 10 years old and I noticed some water stains in the drywall ceiling on the top floor. I took advantage of the glorious 49 degree NY weather today to give my roof a thorough inspection. Even the smallest leak in your roof can lead to big problems. When you deal with issues right away it minimises the cost of repairs. Most roofs do come with a guarantee, but in my experience, when you read the fine print, you’ll find it may not cover very much even after you’ve jumped through hoops to get your claim a little attention. All of these roof guarantees are pretty much the same. You will be better off investing in a good roofing contractor than paying a single cent on extra guarantees.

When you inspect your roof you are looking for shingles that may be discoloured, loose, damaged or missing. Check the flashing and caulking. Pay attention to areas around skylights, vents, solar panels, chimneys, and gutters which are more prone to leaks. Inside you can look for signs of mold, rotted framing, destroyed insulation and stained ceilings. I didn’t find any damage directly above the water stains on my roof but I will be cutting out a portion of the gypsum board to investigate further.

If you don’t have time to inspect your roof, call us, we’ll take care of it! A few days of deep winter may or may not be coming to the NY area. Thank you climate change. Be prepared with a ready roof and keep a rake handy to deal with the icicles.

January 18, 2020January 25, 2020

Snow Days

You have prepared your home for the cold, stocked up on supplies for more time indoors then the snow comes for a short time and derails you. Watch this short video to discover some simple effective tips for handling snow. You’ll blast through your snow chores with ease!

January 10, 2020January 14, 2020

Home Maintenance Series – JANUARY (Part 1)

Home maintenance chores can be overwhelming, it certainly feels like there is always something to do. And that’s true, there is! This series helps you tackle home maintenance tasks at the right time with ease throughout the year and share the latest tools and techniques. Our entire core team are also homeowners and used our experience to put this checklist together. It was a lot of fun collaborating and we want you to also enjoy the benefits of taking great care of your homes.

Click Here for a text version of the checklist which you can open and send directly to your printer. (Right click near the list then select Print). Once you have printed it, place it somewhere you will see each day and tackle the items throughout the month. There is no need to reformat, it will print one easy-to-read list.

Part 2 will follow next week and focuses more on interior home maintenance tasks to tackle in January. There is plenty to do this month – remember, you will be giving your home some good care and you will be rewarded by saving hundreds of dollars in repairs!

December 25, 2019January 6, 2020

Flooding Prevention Tips and the Remodel of a Basement damaged by Flood

If you are a home or business owner, knowing what to do in the event of a flooding from a burst pipe or natural disaster is important as time is of the essence to prevent hazardous conditions such as the build up of mold. Know where your water supply is and shut it off immediately. If you cannot control the water, shut off your power supply. Homeowners residing in cooler regions where the temperature drops to freezing should pay attention to any pipes exposed to the elements. Wrap any copper pipes and check for leaky pipes. Shut off the water supply to your backyard during winter. Remove any leaves or dirt that may have gathered around drains; blocked drains cause flooding too. Clear gutters. Leave a tap dripping if your household will vacate the home for more than a few days.

We hope you don’t experience flooding. But if you do, Call Us! The number is 718-469-9040. We have the experience you need to handle it all smoothly and get you back on track quickly.

Take a look at the 3 short videos below to see the preparations and renovation of Belinda’s flood damaged basement.

Fire and flooding are major disruptor with chaotic effects. This basement went through both. Prior to meeting us, our client consulted with various contractors and her home insurance company for help. Several months later the basement was damp and moldy, creepy crawlies moved right in and the residents living above in the home moved out. The homeowner reached out to us. Our team immediately supported the homeowner and provided guidance to help move the insurance process along. We worked with the homeowner to clear the basement and dispose of damaged items. We then reconstructed the basement and turned it into a beautiful and functional space.

Last day! This was taken hours before we put caps on all the outlets,painted the room with the homeowners water heater, installed a new slop sink, put a handle on the door under the staircase…and more. Our team were certainly busy!

Before and After – Last of the pics – enjoy!

December 21, 2019December 25, 2019