Water damage is unfortunately a relatively common occurrence in the damp Pacific Northwest.  The source of the problem could be a number of different issues – a leaky pipe, improper flashing or window installation, ground water leaking in the basement to name a few.  fixing water damage to your home can be simple if the issue is caught and corrected right away or it can be quite costly if the problem area goes unnoticed.

Our professional recommendation is to call a trusted general contractor in your area at first notice of the moisture problem.  A good general contractor is use to supervising most of the trades responsible for installing or creating the building envelope that protects your home.  This experience will help get you on the right track to once again

Subfloor Water Damage

enjoying a water damage free home.

It appears as though the weather is changing and it is time to get busy building the ultimate backyard retreat for your family.

Here is a photo from one of our current projects making room for an outdoor great room, equipped with an outdoor kitchen, fire pit sitting area and more. Check back soon for more updates.

Remodeling tip for homeowners.
Take lots of photos throughout the project. Before and after photos are great, but all of the photos you take during the project are the ones that can save you later on. If you have good photos it is easy to trouble shoot problems after the wall has been sheet rocked. If you are starting an addition to your home and have located utilities, is important to photograph these lines because the stand little chance of staying marked as the project continues.

It is very important to choose your materials wisely during any home improvement project. Thinking about how well the parts will hold up is vital to making sure your new bathroom, kitchen or deck will look great for years to come. Using the wrong product can lead to your new remodel looking rough way before it should. Look a this MDF trim used in a bathroom on Mercer Island.

Here is a great article from JLC for homeowners that would like to learn more about one of the most common call backs for home builders and remodelers – moisture problems.

Moisture Problems to watch for. 

Let us know if you have encountered any of these issues or if you think your home may have a problem area.

Using your smartphone to find remodeling inspiration.
One of the best tips that we give our clients we they are contemplating a remodeling project is to get out and take a bunch of pictures with their smartphone. You’ll find inspiration for your upcoming project in your neighborhood, while commuting to work, visiting a friend or simply cruising around on your Harley. The important thing to remember is to collect a lot of images and then select the architectural details that best match your home and your remodeling goals.
The added bonus is that you are able to see how things are holding up in the Pacific Northwest. If it’s failing as a result of the harsh weather on your neighbor’s house chances are it will also fail on your house unless it is properly engineered by a professional.
Check out this awesome Mailbox enclosure I found today while walking with Trooper.

The number one recommendation that we have for homeowners that selecting a contractor to complete a remodeling project, install custom cabinets or other project is to make sure the contractor is familiar with the architectural style and is capable of executing that style above expectations.
Just like in any profession, there are some carpenters and cabinet makers that rely upon putty, caulk and other materials to cover up imperfections in their work. The photo below show one such questionable butt joint in the top of a twelve foot long Walnut bookcase. In my opinion this is unacceptable for such a visible piece of furniture. The second photo shows a poorly executed mitre joint that required a lot of colored putty.
As the homeowner in the greater Seattle and Bellevue area, be sure you ask your contractor some tough questions and let them know your expectations.

Choosing the right General Contractor.
All homeowners are faced with challenge of attempting to maximize the benefit of a home improvement project while minimizing the financial expense of the project. There is no absolute solution for every homeowner. The challenge is to make sure that the budget is realistic and that the sub-contractors hired are capable of completing there portion of the project on time, on budget and with the level of quality expected by the homeowner. This is one of the most under appreciated aspect of the home owner/contractor relationship: knowing when a sub-contractor is capable of completing a task within the schedule and exceeding expectations in terms of quality. Remember, when you hire a respected general contractor to complete your remodeling job or build your new home, you are also selecting a proven group of sub-contractors. Doing the work twice will always be more expensive! The photo shows what happens when there is no communication between the electrical contractor and the drywall company.  The entire wall needed to be skimmed with drywall mud to hide the imperfections that were previously not visible prior to the installation of the LED lights.  Needing to skim the walls after the room had been painted adds both time and expense to a project that is nearing completion.

Sometimes selecting a new deck can be a lot like buying a new car for Seattle area homeowners. There is a wide variety of options to choose from and many of the local lumber yards only carry a few of the options, making cross product comparisons challenging. Some of the manufacturers of synthetic decking products offer several grades within the same product line. Once you have selected a product, you then must consider the various fastening methods, including hidden fasteners or exposed screws.
Having installed a wide variety of hardwood and synthetic decking products over the years using all types of fastening methods, it is clear to this contractor that some products are significantly better suited to certain applications. Be sure to consult a deck installation expert in addition to the salespeople at your local building supply retailer. When you pick the right product for your deck and install it using industry best practices you will enjoy a beautiful outdoor living space for many years like this lucky Seattle homeowner, whose deck we recently completed. (Please note the handrail installation details required that it be installed following completion of the deck.)!

Construct would like to introduce the newest member of the remodeling and home building team. Please welcome Trooper!