OUR BLOG
OUR BLOG
Check out what’s happening with Myers Constructs as well as the latest news and trends in home renovation.
A Day in the Life of a Kitchen Remodel — Step 4: Prepping for Inspection
There are many things happening this week in our Mt. Airy kitchen remodel as we prepare for inspection. This will require a lot of coordinating between the clients, all of our vendors, the design team, and the production team. We will all have to keep our "eyes on the ball." Here is a snapshot of our plans for the week ahead: Completion of mechanical and electrical rough-ins scheduling of inspection Finishing the exterior holes for the new oven vent completion of final framing work On-site measurements for the custom cabinetry Finalization of customer selections and placing final order items Once we are inspected and approved to close, we'll finish the insulation and then move on to drywall. Be sure to visit our facebook page for regular updates and photos on this project. Revisit previous updates on this project: Step 1: Planning Step 2: Demolition Step 3: Insulation and Framing
Tamara Myers Interviewed on Got Clutter? Get Organized!
Tamara MyersLEED APPresident & Sales Mgr.Myers Constructs, Inc. Tamara Myers recently was interviewed by professional organizer Janet M. Taylor at Janet's channel on BlogTalkRadio. Click the mp3 link below to hear the interview: Tamara Myers Interview: Home Renovation the Organized Way.
A Day in the Life of a Kitchen Remodel — Step 3: Insulation and Framing
This panoramic photo shows the action going on behind the walls in our Mt. Airy kitchen renovation. You can see how well the crew cleaned up after the demolition, and you can also view some of the framing materials that have arrived. Take note of the horizontal wooden straps found in some of the walls. That's the wood lath behind the plaster on the other side of the kitchen walls we demolished. You can also see old wiring and pipes, as well as the backside of the 16" exterior stone walls. What you can't see is that much of this house contains balloon framing. That means the wall stud bays are continuous from the top of the basement to the bottom of the roof. In the case of a potential fire, the fire would shoot up these stud bays quickly, which is very dangerous. Therefore, we will install wooden fire[...]
A Day in the Life of a Kitchen Remodel — Step 2: Demolition
As you can see, we are now well into the demolition phase of our project house in Mt. Airy. This is when all of the "old stuff" in the room is removed, and we get prepped for construction. These images show the plastic and plywood barriers our crew has installed to help protect the rest of the house from the inevitable dust and debris that results from demolition. Because the house was built in the 1920s, the EPAs RRP/Lead Safe Remodeling Rules apply here, as they do to any house built before 1978. The plastic is 4 mm+, and we use plenty of duct tape to seal all around the doorway and the floor. All of the other doorways and A/C outlets in the kitchen will also be taped up and covered with plastic, as well. This is because all the plaster and the trim on the walls and ceiling[...]
A Day in the Life of a Kitchen Remodel: Step 1 — Planning
Our Mt. Airy kitchen remodel is in full swing this week. We began with an on-site review to discuss the existing space and the planned changes. We were able to discuss special circumstances of the project, and the crew had a chance to meet the customers for the first time. We reminded the customers about the spaces we need for work and staging, and we carefully explained how we will protect their house throughout this process. We then put together a detailed spreadsheet schedule that begins with site set up, including protections to the floors and dust control, as well as disconnects for the radiators. We then move on to RRP-certified demolition, electrical demolition, and rough framing. Once the framing is up, the electrical, HVAC, and plumbing systems can be roughed in and inspected. Finally, we tackle insulation, drywall, flooring, and finishes. Walking the client through this schedule allows them[...]
In the Works: Mt. Airy Kitchen Renovation
Our clients have lived in this spectacular schist stone single home, located near Fairmount Park, since the 1980s, and they have wanted to renovate since the day they moved in. They have two sons, and the first is preparing to leave for college. We often find that major life milestones like this spur projects into action. This space, which once served as a servant's kitchen and butler's pantry, was last renovated sometime during the early 1980s. In the process, a structural wall had been removed, and cabinetry boxes were installed. The homeowners would now like to completely update this kitchen, making it a modern space that they can use and enjoy on a daily basis. We will be streamlining the layout to make it more logical and easy to use, as well as installing radiant floor heating so we can eliminate the existing large steel radiators. These clients opted for[...]
Water Damage: Un-Sexy Yet Vital Repairs
Water. It's a word that strikes fear in the hearts of homeowners everywhere, and for good reason. The worst issue facing any home (besides an earthquake or fire) is a water leak. Water infiltration — which many of us experienced during the local storms this week — can cause serious damage to your home, including everything from rot and mildew to insect infestation and even building collapse. And while repairing water-damaged siding and trim, replacing rotting materials, and fixing vexing leaks are not nearly as sexy as installing a shiny new kitchen or fresh new bath, they are some of the most important projects you can undertake. Take pride in knowing you are protecting your home investment when you fix even the smallest of water problems. When we think about how water enters a home, we need to think about the house as a collection of interactive and supportive systems.[...]
This Week: Progress on Historic Master Bath
As you'll recall, we recently started a master bathroom renovation in an early 1800s-era home on a historic street in Philadelphia. At this point, the wiring, plumbing, and framing are complete, the work to this stage has been inspected, and we are in the process of closing up the floors and walls. Today, the radiant floor heating will get wired, and our carpenter, Chris, will apply the floor-leveling compound over that. Next, we'll be ready to install the 12 x 24-inch metallic porcelain tile! We can't wait to see how amazing it looks. The client can now start to visualize what the room is going to look like in the end. Stay tuned; we'll be posting "after" photos when this project is complete.
Avoid These Contractor Hiring Mistakes
How do you hire contractors when you're starting a home renovation project? Do you look for the cheapest, or the friendliest, or someone you know from your social circle? Do you hire a carpenter to act as your general contractor? Or do you assume that role yourself? In our experience, we find that these approaches are mistakes. The truth is, whether you're doing a kitchen upgrade, a bathroom update, an addition, or whole-house renovation, investing the time to find an experienced full-service general contractor with excellent project management skills is the best way to achieve your desired project results. Without project management, solid design acumen, and professional drawings, the following problems can and do occur: The carpenter doesn't know how high to set windows relative to the door height and the specified trim details, causing windows and doors to look “off” and the wrong trim to be installed. The tile[...]
Bathrooms: What’s In
We often hear from clients who are in need of help with maintaining and upgrading older, outdated bathrooms. In fact, we are currently working on one such project in a historic home in Center City Philadelphia. Recently, we've seen a surge in demand for bathroom elements that include the following: Heated bathroom floors, shower floors, and shower benches Large-scale tile Nickel finishes instead of stainless steel Streamlined, minimal cabinetry Do you or someone you know have a bathroom or other space that is in need of an upgrade? Please pass along our newsletter and contact information. We'll be happy to create a design to build plan for tackling the ongoing maintenance and remodeling jobs that face all of us as homeowners. P.S. If you missed it last week, be sure to check out our recent Narberth kitchen renovation on HGTV Remodels' blog The House Counselor With Laurie March!
