OUR BLOG
OUR BLOG
Check out what’s happening with Myers Constructs as well as the latest news and trends in home renovation.
Want to Boost Your Home’s “Warm & Dry” Factor? Think Windows and Doors
This week, we are replacing several outdated, leaky windows and doors for a local artist who lives and works in a carriage house in Philadelphia's Callowhill neighborhood. We are installing color-coordinated, metal-clad wood windows and doors that will be much more energy efficient and low maintenance for our client. In this case, the exterior grade is higher than the inside of the home — a common condition that can cause moisture issues. So, we selected a high exterior door threshold to help keep water out of the building. However, in winter months, the homeowner will still have to shovel snow away from the door to help keep this area dry. While this is a prime time for customers to notice and act on drafty windows and doors, we happily do these projects all year round.
The Secret to a Streamlined Kitchen? P-U-R-G-E
Remodeling a kitchen is only the first step in creating a great cooking and entertaining environment for your home. The next task is making sure the space is neatly organized and streamlined for optimum efficiency. Here, local culinary blogger Kate Donegan, aka The Philly Foodist, provides tips for making the most of your kitchen space. Winter is the perfect time of year to take inventory of your kitchen and pare back wherever possible to ensure that the space is working properly for you and your family. Begin with the following common problem areas that create 'bottlenecks' in most kitchens: Spice Cabinet — If dried herbs and other seasonings are over a year old, they have lost way too much potency to keep. Toss them. I usually find that the "basic" dried herbs, including the ones I grow myself — oregano, sage, thyme, marjoram — usually get replaced throughout the year[...]
Lead Paint and Home Values: Not a Match Mixed in Heaven
A recent court ruling in California has many homeowners wondering what effect the existence of lead paint in their homes will have on their future value. The judge in this case has ordered three of the country's top paint manufacturers — NL Industries, ConAgra, and Sherwin-Williams — to pay $1.15 billion into a fund that will remediate the existence of lead paint in homes throughout the state. Experts say this decision could send these homes — labeled "public nuisances" in this case — into a downward spiral, with some far-reaching potential additional side effects, as well. As industry professionals, we understand that there are a lot of politics at play in this case. It has been public knowledge that lead is poisonous for a very long time. Even in the 1800s — and probably earlier — people knew that dangers existed. In fact, warning labels featuring skulls and cross bones[...]
Retirement Planning: Design With an Eye to the Future
Here in our office, we are seeing an uptick in calls from prospective clients who are preparing for retirement. Some are planning ahead for "aging in place," if they plan to live in their homes long term, while others are making modifications for their aging parents or special-needs children who live with them. Our challenge in these projects is determining how to successfully update these older homes to make them more accessible and accommodating while factoring in the changing needs of the families who live there. Here’s a look at our process. The first step is conducting a survey of the house to learn how it currently works. We then interview the homeowners and any in-home care providers about the pros and cons of the existing space. This allows us to learn how the house fits the needs of the people living in it and what changes need to be[...]
Your Home and the “Polar Vortex”
The wild temperature swings we've experienced on the East Coast this week really test a house and all of the systems that make it feel comfortable — a place you want to be in, in all kinds of weather. Let's take a look at a few of them: Windows — Windows are essentially holes in the walls of your house, so make sure you've invested in good ones to keep warmth in, to keep heat and destructive UV rays out, and to block drafts. But a great window, even an expensive one, is only as good as its installation. Modern windows have complicated installation procedures and are rated "not for beginners." There are two additions being done in my neighborhood now. One addition looks like a master suite pop up addition to the house's 2nd floor. Those homeowners really skimped on the windows, by selecting very small vinyl models that[...]
Making Your Holiday Home Improvement Checklist (and Checking It Twice!)
Most people spend their holiday season making all sorts of checklists, including those for shopping, baking, gift-giving, entertaining, and so on. What they often don’t realize is that this is also a great time of year to begin a home renovation or repairs “checklist” to plan for their home-improvement needs during the coming year. At our house, we recently sat down to make our own list. Here is what we found. Re-purposing rooms — Right away, we noticed that we have not been inviting older family members to the house because we don’t have a comfy bed for them to sleep on. So we put together a plan for turning unused office space into a proper guest room. Since we also recently renovated our master bedroom, we’ll take some of the furnishings we replaced and put them into the new guest room. They include a queen-size bed and mix-and-match dressers[...]
Home Inspections: You Get What You Pay For
In our line of work, we see a lot of home buyers who try to save money in the purchase process by either skipping a home inspection or shopping around for the lowest-cost option. Interestingly, we see this across the purchase price spectrum, from small homes priced at $150,000 to luxurious properties valued at over $1M. This is a huge mistake with serious potential repercussions. A home purchase is the largest investment most people will ever make, so it is very important to do thorough due diligence before signing on the dotted line. You can expect to spend several hundred dollars on a professional home inspection, and the price will vary based on the inspector's credentials and the size and location of the home. This is money well spent! Negligence during this phase of a home purchase can mean having to deal with serious and expensive problems down the line.[...]
A Day in the Life of a Kitchen Remodel — Step 13: Tile
This week, we're completing the finishing touches on our Mt. Airy kitchen. The crew installed this beautiful ceramic tile backsplash, which serves as a nice transition between the upper painted glass-front cabinetry and lower cherry-stained cabinets. As you can see in the close-up view, the tile pattern features a combination of rectangular and circular shapes in gradated shades of blue — providing a nice focal point for the space! In the next few days, we will wrap up the last bits of this project so the clients can enjoy their new kitchen for the holidays. Revisit previous updates on this project: Step 1. Planning Step 2. Demolition Step 3. Insulation and Framing Step 4. Prepping for Inspection Step 5. Pre-Closing Step 6. Drywall Step 7. Cabinetry Step 8. Cabinetry Pre-Installation Step 9. Cabinetry Completion, Countertop and Flooring Prep Step 10. Final Installations Step 11. Detail, Trim Work, Appliances Step 12.[...]
‘Tis the Season for Home Improvements
If you're like most people, you're preparing to spend time during the holiday season entertaining friends and family in your home, and you may even have out-of-town guests planning to stay overnight. As a result, you may find yourself wishing that you had upgraded some areas of your house in preparation for the festivities. While the window may have closed for completing any major professional projects before the holidays arrive, the good news is that this is the perfect time to start planning ahead for those renovations you've been dreaming of all year long. Take advantage of any extended time you may have off from work and the less-demanding daily family schedules to meet with a home-improvement professional and get the planning process started. Similarly, if you plan on wintering in a warmer climate, have that trusted professional complete the project while you are are away so you can come[...]
A Day in the Life of a Kitchen Remodel — Step 12: Finishing Touches
Panorama View of the Kitchen We are excited to announce that we'll be taking the wraps off of our Mt. Airy kitchen project today or tomorrow. The only outstanding item, at this point, is the beautiful backsplash tile, which is expected later this month. Our carpenters are now busy packing their equipment and materials off site as they tackle the last small hardware items and other details. Revealing a finished room can feel a little like opening a big gift on Christmas morning. Exciting stuff for both us and the clients! We look forward to seeing how the homeowners "move in" to their new space, which incorporates plenty of open shelving, room for artwork, and expansive counter spaces. Stay tuned for the final finished photo later this month! Revisit previous updates on this project: Step 1. Planning Step 2. Demolition Step 3. Insulation and Framing Step 4. Prepping[...]
