OUR BLOG
OUR BLOG
Check out what’s happening with Myers Constructs as well as the latest news and trends in home renovation.
Why Lead Safety Matters
Last week, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued its first fine against a contractor in violation of the agency's Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) lead-safety regulations. Read the article here. The penalty for this contractor, based in Rockland, Maine, may run upwards of $150,000, according to some estimates. Acting on an anonymous tip, the EPA concluded that the contractor failed to follow lead-safe work practices during the renovation of an 1852 multi-unit residential property where six children lived. The allegations include failure to do all of the following: train employees in RRP practices post warning signs in the work area cover the ground in the work area with plastic sheeting to collect lead paint debris contain waste to prevent the release of dust and debris prohibit use of machines that remove lead-based paint through high speed operation without HEPA exhaust controls and establish and maintain records necessary to demonstrate compliance[...]
The Man Cave Evolves
On a recent trip to a local design center, we met with an audio visual pro in a room that in the 1990s would have been called a "man cave." My, how times have changed. This AV pro said that fully 50% of his buyers are women now, and the man cave has evolved accordingly. This shift in buying population came with the economic downturn over the past three years, when family budgets for non-essentials were steadily shrinking. Now, discretionary spending decisions are made by both people in a couple, and the women want a say in what this traditional "man space" looks like. Here are some of the features of these kinder, gentler, family spaces: No more macho black leather recliners with mega screens and surround-sound giant speakers on view. Now, these rooms are multi-functioning family rooms with discrete and hide-away sound and visual systems. Screens roll up and[...]
“Saving a Few Bucks” Can Cost You More
Over the course of many years in business, we’ve had many customers who look for ways to save money on their home-improvement projects. One way they attempt to do this is by purchasing appliances directly from a supplier’s showroom instead of paying a professional to manage these purchases for them. Obviously, contractors mark up appliances over cost to pay for the time it takes to do this task. Sounds like a reasonable enough idea, at first blush. The problem is that, while appliances look self contained and simple on a showroom floor, in reality, they are not either of these things — and neither is the delivery process. Most people do not know what it is like to self-manage a purchase like this. This is a part-time job during a renovation project, and it takes both time and skill to do well. Here is what the process is like on[...]
What a Difference a Door Can Make
Many times, a small change to a home can make a huge improvement. In the case of this city home on a very old alley-sized street, we changed a whole lot of what is inside. But from the street, all you can see is the change we made to the front door. The “before” photo shows that it used to have a solid slab door with bland and broken knobs and locks. This was not an original door. There was nothing nice or welcoming about it. It also leaked horribly. The “after” photo shows the pre-hung walnut door and new brass hardware we installed. It’s not an expensive door, by any means. We also installed some puck lighting at the top of the jamb at the transom window. Now, when guests visit or the homeowners come home, they are greeted by a warm, well-lit, shiny new door that says “Welcome[...]
Fit and Finish
Being in the design to build business, I have a keen eye for when construction or design is not done “right.” This means that I catch a lot of details that most homeowners don't. For example, I can see when a run of cabinets is out of level or square by even a small fraction of an inch. It’s also very clear to me when sections of wall are not square. To illustrate, I’ll share an example here of what I call “Fit and Finish.” Today, I visited a home that is less than 10 years old and located in a fairly pricey neighborhood. The people who live in this home have great style and taste, and they keep their home spotlessly clean. I love that. But I get so mad when I see how this newer home, like many others in its age range, are detailed. Disclaimer: I have[...]
Notes from 2011 KBIS – Las Vegas
I was chatting with some folks while waiting in line at the 2011 Kitchen & Bath Industry Show in Las Vegas, and was asked why I came all the way from Philadelphia for this event. Without hesitation, I said it was because it's a unique opportunity to meet directly with the representatives of products that we already know and specify, find out what’s new, get to know their product lines better, and see the products in action. It’s also a chance to find and vet out new vendors, or even find out if we want to re-introduce some products that we have not used in a while. And it's also a chance to see who is coming to the table with sustainable solutions and see if their definition gels with our approach. See who is meeting the challenge of meshing GOOD DESIGN and FUNCTION, especially in the area of universal[...]
Thanks to Remodeling Magazine …
... for featuring Myers Constructs in a recent article about video marketing. Article here.
Personalization: Every Home Tells a Story
When we work with homeowners in the design phase of a home improvement project, we ask about them about how they live their lives and how they use their rooms. We inquire about their hobbies and the attributes of a home that are really important to them, and we actively listen to their answers. We do this because we want their homes to tell a special story about their lives, interests, and personalities. We then help them prioritize their product and design decisions based on what they have told us. This is, after all, the project they’ve saved for and dreamed about for years. The right choices to tell a homeowner’s story never lie in builder-grade solutions or cookie-cutter renovations that look just like their neighbors’ homes. This photo shows a recent kitchen renovation we did for a couple in Center City. In our initial discussions for this replica watches[...]
Trust: The Cornerstone of the Contractor-Homeowner Relationship
A female homeowner recently confided in me that she is uncomfortable with allowing male contractors she doesn’t know into her house when she’s home alone or with her young children. “I personally get creeped out by it,” she explained. “Trust is everything, in that respect.” I don’t think this is an uncommon sentiment because it is one we’ve heard many times before. After all, these contractors interact with homeowners’ families, children, pets, and personal spaces and items during a home-renovation project. People want to know that the companies they hire will treat them and their belongings with respect. […]
Examples of Unsafe Renos We See
Many homeowners have no idea that their kitchen or bathroom is a dangerous place — and could even potentially kill them or their loved ones. But we see bad renovations that create serious fire hazards quite often. Typically, what we find is that the finishes look just fine, but behind the scenes, there is danger lurking from lazy building practices. To understand this point, take a look at this photo of a kitchen we’re currently renovating. This is an example of dangerous and illegal electrical work. This outlet is not a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter, even though it is within 3 feet of a sink and dishwasher. We also think the range outlet was jumped to serve a light fixture in the basement, which is an illegal junction. The range should have its own circuit, instead of sharing it with lighting. You can also see in the photo that the[...]
