renovation experts

Anti-Vinyl, And Proud of It

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One of the things that distinguishes a higher-end remodeling project from a lower-end one is the products that are used.

Typically, a less-expensive project will use cheaper products. Many times, these cheaper products will not last as a long as higher-priced ones. If you think about it, you can purchase cheaper products two or three times over within the same time frame that a more expensive product would last.

Another thing to remember is that cheaper products will typically pollute more than more expensive ones. An example of this is vinyl siding. The case against vinyl siding is illustrated nicely in this video clip from the documentary Blue Vinyl.

Vinyl siding is not recyclable. It pollutes when it’s made — and later when it’s removed and goes to the dump. No one else will tell you this. The guy selling vinyl siding door-to-door in your neighborhood is certainly not going to tell you this. He will tell you it’s a green product that insulates your home. He wants to sell vinyl siding, a lot of it.

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The Glam World of Property Development: Water Damage Woes

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Part Two of an Occasional Series

Water damage. While those two words can strike fear in the hearts of average homeowners, they can be a welcome message for property developers. While many buyers would walk away from a deal on a home with water stains or active leaks, if you are a developer or first-time homebuyer with the right know-how, you can cash in on this type of property. But only if you proceed with caution!

Here is a gallery of snaps of water damage I took at a recent initial property walkthrough

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You can see from the photos that there are some buckled floorboards, dead plaster, third floor ceiling damage from the roof, and second floor paint blowing off of ceilings. This is a scary house for most homebuyers. But let’s look closer. We need to know what caused the areas of water damage so we can assess costs for fixing them.

Floor boards – This is top-nailed, 5/16” x 2, 1/4” oak. It’s easy to pull out the few buckled boards and patch in new. Then, all of the floors would need to be refinished. More than likely, the damage happened when the seller’s winterizing service allowed the radiators to drain onto the floor instead of into a bucket. Another possible cause is cracked radiator lines. Be sure to have a professional plumber look for these.

Ceiling damage – Some of the mess is due to the radiator water, and some on the third floor is from the roof. These homes have a flat roof with one scupper at the rear. Typically, this is where the roof will first fail. Be sure to have a roofer check for and make necessary repairs.

Wall damage – Some of this is dead plaster. Old plaster walls are “keyed” into the wooden lath behind them. On inexpensive homes of the 1920’s and 1930’s, we often see the plaster is thin, and with age it finally fails. We can pull the plaster off that wall and drywall it, or patch the affected area with new plaster.

The Glam World of Property Development: Wiring Nightmares

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This is a short blog entry in a series we will be doing that highlights some of the things we encounter in our property-development business. Many people are interested in property development or in buying a fixer upper for their own use, and it’s a good way to go if you have the skills. You can get into a great home for less money. But you need to be prepared for messes.

If you are buying to flip, take care, assume the worst, and do your due diligence. Here are two photos of some scary electrical work I encountered in a flip house recently.

These kinds of illegal and unsafe conditions are common. When you do a first walk-through, you’ll need to be on the lookout for these types of issues. Keep a list of what you find. And expect these signs to mean the entire electrical system has a problem.

I admit to knowing very little about electrical work. To me, it’s magic. I always have a property checked out by my licensed and insured electrician. It costs about $90 to have him check it out and make an estimate for corrections needed. This is money well spent. My electrician knows I value his time and expertise. When I call, he’s there.

Bottom line? Never cheap out on safety issues or your subcontractors when you are developing a property.

Think You Have a No-Maintenance Exterior? Think Again

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When I was a little girl, I helped my dad on hundreds of home projects. It’s on these home projects that I cut my teeth learning to work on houses. My dad did everything from roofing to tree removal (dangerous) to kitchens and bathroom renovations and lots of other stuff.

Dad’s still a big DIY guy when it comes to home renovations, though he is terrible at car maintenance. I guess he keeps dreaming of the no-maintenance car – just like a lot of folks think they have a no-maintenance home. Let’s take a look at a few of the “no-maintenance home myths” dealing with the exterior of homes. We’ll deal with interior-maintenance myths in another post.

Vinyl Siding – One of the materials used in the name of “no maintenance” is vinyl siding. Many people think if they have vinyl siding, they will never need to paint, clean walls or caulk. As you know choosing the vinyl kayak for fishing is very important for beginners. Not true. (Not to mention that vinyl is not recyclable, like wood or metal siding is. It releases toxins when it’s made, and it goes to the landfill when you are done with it.)

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The Green Movement: A Holistic Approach

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Going green. You hear it everywhere these days. It’s become the catchphrase of the moment. And while the sentiment behind the movement is a vitally important one, going green is not a quick fix, “strap-on” kind of strategy, as many homeowners and some contractors think it is. We integrate green into everything we do as we run a small business and work on people’s homes.

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Myers Construct, Inc. Interviewed and Featured in Guide to the Main Line.com Newsletter

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Recently Russell Mahrt II from GuidetothetheMainLine.com interviewed our company for inclusion in his on line “neighborhood” called “Guide to the Main Line”. Here is his profile of our company in full. Enjoy!
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Main Line Newsletter November 13, 2009
GuidetotheMainLine.com

Guide to the Main Line Profile:

Myers Constructs

I was introduced to Myers Constructs Inc. by Megan Carr at Allied Mortgage Group (610-660-4710) in Bala Cynwyd. Megan is a top Main Line mortgage provider with wonderful mortgage products including home improvement loans. One of the more popular programs is a mortgage available for purchases or refinances where the home improvement costs are included in new loan. It is a great option for Realtors and home contractors and Megan had recently met with Myers Constructs. She liked the replica handbags very much. And she was impressed by the work they were doing and suggested that I should meet them.

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Domestic Arts and Design-to-Build Construction – A Woman’s Perspective

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I have to say, I’ve never understood why people buy residential remodeling projects from people who are not domestic. There are scores of contractors and builders in the business who can handle the technical aspects, the nuts and bolts, of home renovation – but it ends there. They don’t understand the finer points of home renovation, including how homeowner emotions are so closely tied to how a home looks, feels and operates. I like thinking of this as the “soft touch” aspect of the business.

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Aging In Place

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Aging in place. That’s a heavy phrase. But the fact is that many of the people I know are thinking about either their parents or themselves aging. Some folks have moved from thinking about aging to actually feeling it!

While most of us aim to stay healthy, eventually some physical limitations begin to affect our quality of life. For me it became ‘real” when losing weight became harder, and I got my first progressive eyeglasses. Ouch! How’d THAT happen?

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Why Truly Custom Cabinets Are Better Than Stock

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A truly custom hpl cabinet unit or series of units can be created to any size, proportion, in any wood species or color. Functions such as drawer and cabinet types can also be made to order. Additionally, inserts such as pull out racks for appliances, or recycling among other options can be specified. True custom or ‘bespoke” cabinets are expensive. The average cabinet package will start at around $35,000 and it goes up from there.

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