OUR BLOG
OUR BLOG
Check out what’s happening with Myers Constructs as well as the latest news and trends in home renovation.
“Plumb Level Square” Does Not Always Apply
Plumb Level Square is a touch stone phrase carpenters and other craftsmen use to be sure their work is tidy. But it doesn't always apply. Here is the proof. Enjoy the show! These photos were taken at The Wooden Boat Show hosted by The Antique Boat Museum in Clayton NY. Its a fine museum with many open water slips and covered galleries where they show off amazing wooden craft of the Finger Lakes Region in NY. Anyone who appreciates wooden construction methods will be blown away by the craftsmanship and engineering of these craft. It's no easy task to make wood take these shapes!
Choosing a Contractor: The Inside Scoop
At our company, I field all the sales calls. This means I spend time on the phone with potential customers. This is where I learn about the projects they’re interested in. I ask a lot of questions. I ask about their intended project, problems or issues they might be having with their homes. I get general information from callers too, like address and contact information, age and condition of their home. I ask about their budget. Knowing that callers have a reasonable assumption about costs is important because without that, it’s going to be hard to help them. I will also ask if they have worked with another Design to Build general contractor before. I learn a lot about other construction companies and what ticks homeowners off about them from this part of my conversation. […]
Doing Your Homework As a Home Improvement Buyer
I recently spoke with a potential client who had a hugely specified project he wanted to build, but an insufficient budget to do so. Here are some things he could have done to be a more prepared buyer: Check out Remodeling Magazine — This is a well researched source where homeowners can go for solid answers about renovations. Prices will vary depending upon the age of the home, but it’s a great place to start your research. Start here before you hire an architect or designer to come up with a project design for you. The information is very good, and it’s FREE! Remodeling Magazine […]
The Sweet Smell of Home Improvement
Most people don't know that their houses smell new and much nicer after they renovate. It's kind of like "new house smell" gets sprayed on their home. The first week or two of construction is dusty and may not smell very good. In fact, it can uncover many BAD smells, like mildew, rot or sewer gases. It's icky. No two ways about it. But after that phase, NEW STUFF is installed. So you smell all the new pine lumber, plywood, drywall, primer and paint, adhesives and polishes. The new cabinets often still smell of varnish or paint. Floors can smell terrible during the varnishing process, but after that they smell fantastic. In fact, two of my favorite scents include new cement and fresh wax -- a fine old-time finish. The experience of finally being able to see, touch -- and smell! -- so many thousands of dollars of shiny, new,[...]
Home Changes, Life Changes
Many of our customers of replica handbags have older homes, in which large, complex or expensive projects have been delayed. Sometimes, the needed renovations are really overdue, but we are glad our customers waited until they found us to work on their homes. Renovating a home is stressful. It costs money — sometimes a lot of it. Just to remind ourselves of these facts, we renovate our own homes from time to time. […]
And on the Subject of Our Heat Wave Newsletter…
Let's not forget that PECO's rate caps will expire this December. And, says GridPhilly.com, PGW is negotiating for a 10 percent rate hike. In short, staying cool (or warm, come winter), isn't going to be getting any cheaper. Improving your home's energy efficiency is "the way forward," as the saying goes.
We’re On Vimeo! Take 2!
Check out this cool, new trailer about our team at Myers Constructs, Inc. This is just another example of our efforts to market our business without polluting the earth in the process. We've found that we don’t have to rely so much on the postal service to deliver printed marketing materials when we get great results from the organic sharing of our messages. So, please share this clip with your circle of contacts ... and stay tuned for more fun media soon!
Chestnut Hill Kitchen/Powder Room Reno
Today, we are beginning the construction portion of a small kitchen and powder room renovation in Chestnut Hill. This cute, Tudor-style twin is home to two adults, two kids, and a senior-age dog. The kitchen was no longer functioning well for this family. Here is their wish list: Better flow/space function/circulation Better/more prep area New location for the fridge, which is currently in the unheated shed area out back Better storage Better work surfaces Better kitchen efficiency Open plan kitchen/dining room to engage the whole family Better venting of cooking area Better lighting A more discreet powder room Better pantry use Staging area for lunch boxes, keys and things that need charging Better organization of the many doors in the room that access powder room, pantry and basement Stay tuned for updates on how this project is coming along!
A Stylish DIY Project
Many people think of furnishing their home as a single expedition to a big-name supplier where they can buy a “set” of furniture to fill their rooms. They plop down their credit card and call their room “done.” […]
The Heat Wave and Your Home
Temperatures of 100-plus degrees hit the Philadelphia area this week — and they’re only predicted to cool slightly in the days ahead. Not surprising for this region during the dog days of July. Nevertheless, conditions like these test not only our bodies’ ability to regulate temperature, but also our homes’ ability to do the same. So, just how energy-efficient is your house’s cooling system? Here are some symptoms of poor performance to look for: […]
