OUR BLOG
OUR BLOG
Check out what’s happening with Myers Constructs as well as the latest news and trends in home renovation.
The Price of Home Renovation: What People Are Spending
More and more, we see homeowners who are investing in their homes because they plan to stay there for the long haul. They want to enjoy living in their homes while they are there, and they see that the investments they make now will lead to an easier sale in the future when they decide it's time to leave. If you fall into this category, knowing what other people are investing in their homes will help you make good decisions about what to spend on your own. Make no mistake: cheaper is always going to look cheaper — both to you and to the future buyers of your home. And do not default to "builder beige" just because you think that will improve your home's future value. It doesn't. And this isn't about resale value. It's about investing in your property so you can enjoy it. When the time does[...]
A Few Thoughts on Brands and Quality
Over the weekend, I spent some time visiting with friends who had recently moved from Doylestown, Pa., into a newer home just north of Baltimore. Their new abode, which is about 10 years old, features a really deluxe kitchen with a giant copper-cladded hood over a huge island cooking station, among other niceties. There are also beautiful handpainted murals all over the house and a very nice entertainment room in the basement. My friends love their new place. And they had some valuable feedback for me, as a remodeler. The old kitchen appliances had all failed and been repaired several times. As a result, these homeowners have no confidence in the brand now. Their new Thermador appliances are bulletproof and work great. I have seen the quality of Thermador Appliances firsthand because we have remodeled many 30-40 year old or older kitchens that contain them — still in great condition.[...]
Why Your Roof Leaks
Here is a great simple primer on roofing details that work and those that do not. As it is with many things, the KISS principle is usually best when we are talking roofing. These are good pointers to know now, as we enter winter with it's ice dams and curiously uphill flowing melt that lead to leaks. If your home's roof has these problematic roof details, understanding their issues means you can keep an eye on them and be prepared with good knowledge for when repairs are needed. They will be needed! Martin's 10 Rules of Roof Design
Don’t Need a Full Remodel? Consider a MiniMakeOver™
Most people call us for full-service kitchens, bathrooms, whole-house makeovers or additions. But what you may not realize is that we offer another option: the MiniMakeOver™. While these projects vary widely based on individual homeowner needs, they can include the following: Swapping out dated sinks, countertops, fixtures, toilets and cabinet hardware with new, long-lasting items that won't look dated in just a few years Freshening up paint and wallpapers Installing new, stylish lighting Installing new flooring, appliances, and the new backsplash tile you always wanted Refinishing/repainting cabinet doors, and reinstalling them with new handles and knobs Typically, these projects are appropriate for newer homes (built in the 1980s or later) or in a room in an older home that was renovated to code during the past decade, but is now looking a bit dreary. (Note: It it wasn't done to code, you have to get into pricey systems corrections.)[...]
Futuro House
Mark Gisi of Tabula Creative tabulacreative.com/ sent me this video link about the Futuro House, after we saw one in person in Greenwhich NJ on one of our recent exploration trips. video Needless to say that was a surprising sight in the middle of the flat farming country, 1600's colonial houses and bay views of South Jersey! That's Mark peeking inside the Futuro through the missing hatch. We saw these other fiberglass pod like structures on the same lot at Hancock's Marina. If anyone knows what these are called please let us know!
Fireplace Season Begins — Are You Prepared?
Chilly evenings call for cozy fires. It's just that simple. Is your fireplace in good working order? Do you have a supply of seasoned firewood in place? This is a good time to consider installing a gas or wood-burning insert, as they can help to keep your home toasty and save on other heating costs, as well. Call us for help!
The Simple Side of Complex Design
Renowned graphic designer Paul Rand once said, “Design is so simple; that's why it is so complicated.” That quote was sent to me this morning by Mark Gisi, principal of Tabula Creative, who handles all of our marketing. We, at Myers Constructs, agree with Rand’s statement. We believe that good design is clean, organic, seamless ... and it is always a result of hard practice and discipline. A good designer not only has to “look,” but also to “see” what the proper solutions should be. This reminds me of a thought-provoking article I read recently about Steve Jobs and how Buddhism influenced his products and business approach at Apple. Jobs was very serious about Buddhism. He would go to monasteries for weeks at a time to meditate, which would essentially “reboot” his brain, in order to keep it clear. The author connected how this practice of clearing and uncluttering[...]
Programmable Thermostats = Cool Savings
People who work with our fake rolex company know we understand the value of great design. That's why our marketing pro, Mark Gisi, shared this article with me today. He knew I would appreciate both the design and utility of the Nest Programmable Thermostat. The real clincher to the story was this: “… he discovered that 10 million thermostats are sold every year. Meanwhile, only 6% of programmable thermostats are actually programmed, even though a programmed thermostat can save 30-40% in heating and cooling costs. That’s was clearly a serious design problem.” These savings are why we insist on programmable thermostats when we install new HVAC systems in the homes we renovate. Everyone at our company knows I am the least technically proficient person on the team. I can’t program my TV remote, but I ALWAYS program my own home's thermostats. Of course, a product this sleek and user-friendly would[...]
What’s Your Top Renovation Question
Got a top renovation question? Post it in the comments section below, and we'll do our best to answer it.
My Beef With Bad Home Design
I regularly drive past a 1950s split-level rancher that is being renovated near my home. At this point, I can see that the addition being built is closed in with plywood and the roof is on. But I cringe every time I see this home. It's not that it's structurally or technically unsound. It's just bad overall design. As you may already know, split-level homes have characteristic low roof lines, a big garage feature, and wide windows that refer back to the low, wide stance of the home. Typically, the private areas of the house are upstairs, and the public family room areas are downstairs. They were invented when people began buying cars and moving from the cities where they worked to the 'burbs. That's the culture they refer to, and it's why they look the way they do. The remodelers who are putting the addition on the house up[...]
