If These Walls Could Talk...

These walls would tell you alot about the families and the times from over half a century ago. We are remodeling a gorgeous home in a great neighborhood in Nashville and here is the first stage after demo-ing the walls and ceiling. It looks very different.

Get it OUTTA HERE!!

Just a quick demo video on a job we started recently. I will be posting stage pictures on this project to show the progress.

Breakthrough

It's been a few weeks since my last post, but the remodeling business is still moving along great and homeowners are loving their updated homes. We are currently working on a home in Nashville where we are remodeling a bathroom, connecting it to the Master Bedroom and turning the laundry room into a half bath.

It is a fairly simple project that will make a huge difference in the daily lives of the homeowners. It makes this home much more functional and will add great value to the property. The photos to the left show before and post-demo.

I also shot a quick video below:

As usual, feel free to drop me a note or comment about any of the posts you see or would like to know about in the future!!!

The Stone is Going Up

I have shown you this home before...it has the arcustone turret. The stone is now going on and it is looking great.

BackYard Party

Here's a little video of a great back yard Patio recently completed in Brentwood. The video is a bit dark, but it still looks great.

Great Ceiling Feature

Well, the weather is warming up. The flowers are starting to bloom (maybe not in my yard yet, but somewhere) and we are working on a house in Nashville that has a great ceiling going in it. If you are building a new home or thinking about remodeling, this video will give you something to contemplate.

The Groin Vaulted ceiling has been around for hundreds of years and doesn't get much attention these days, but Broderick Builders is remodeling a gorgeous home that has one.

The title link will give you the Wikipedia entry for Groin Vault and is very informational.

Remember, give me your feedback or questions about remodeling and construction.

ArcusStone--New Products Overview

In today's remodeling market there are so many new products and processes that it's often hard to weed through them all. Well, I have stumbled onto a fairly new product and I think you're going to like it.

The company is ArcusStone and they provide decorative limestone coatings that are much lighter and less expensive than traditional limestone. It gives you a very elegant look inside or outside and it won't blow up you remodeling budget.
http://www.arcusstone.com/

Watch this video from one of the Broderick Builders remodels that is using ArcusStone on the exterior.

Congratulations....You live in Middle Tennessee

I know you've heard for months now how bad the housing market is and how many homes are going into foreclosure. There is definitely some truth to the stories in many parts of America, but not here in Middle Tennessee. Sure, we have our fair share of delinquencies and foreclosures, but Nashville is not seeing the dramatic drop in value and abandoned homes like much of Nevada, California and Florida are experiencing. There is actually a new name for homeowners who are moving out of their homes and mailing in the keys to the banks--they call it JingleMail ('cause the keys jingle--get it?).

One piece of the real estate puzzle which does seem to be happening in Nashville, is a slight upswing in Home Remodeling. When a slow down occurs in the Real Estate market, many people decide to stay in their homes and add on as opposed to move. This eliminates the expense of moving and it allows homeowners to increase the value of the home for the future.

If you are in an established neighborhood and like where you live, consider adding a new room or finishing out the attic space so the kids can have separate bedrooms. Remodeling your current home may be a little inconvenient at the time, but will allow your family more continuity in the longrun because the kids stay in the same schools and the family doesn't have to learn a new neighborhood, but you get the benefits of something "new" and add value to your home.

Creating the Bones--The Remodeling Insider

Well, the New Year has started off with a bang and remodeling ideas are flying around in your head. As I mentioned previously, I am starting an interview series this year called The Remodeling Insider. It will focus on sub-contractors & vendors who actually do much of the labor or supply the great products for a remodeling project. I am creating this project from the ground up and what better way to get started than with a Framing Contractor.

Josh Gunnels, with Frame To Finish, is our inaugural guest and he has tremendous insight into the skeleton of your home. Framing is not the sexiest part of the job, but it very well may be the most important aspect of any project. Frame To Finish is a five year old company located in Nashville, TN. Josh, a native Nashvillian, has more than 14 years experience as a carpenter and contractor in Nashville and in Boston. While attending Boston College, Josh was exposed to the wonderful world of framing in the Northeast. Although he does miss some things about the Boston area, Josh does'nt miss the frigid days outside in the winter battling gusting winds and sub-zero temperatures while driving nails and framing houses.

Frame To Finish frames additions for remodeling, new construction, high end interior carpentry and trim. One of the things I wanted to know from Josh is what are common requests he sees on the job or what are some of the trends to look for over the next year. "Outdoor living spaces are very hot right now...and not just little decks. We are framing outdoor living areas that include outdoor kitchens, flat screens televisions and outdoor fireplaces. Some of these spaces may be up to several 1000 square feet to accomodate large gatherings."

In addition to trends, I asked Josh what topics or items most homeowners overlook that impact the final result of the project. "Sometimes the Cornice Line gets overlooked from a framing perspective as it relates to the wall heights and pitch of the roof. It is important to know what the eves and overhangs will look like and to have proper venting." If that's Greek to you, the cornice detail or cornice line refers to how the roof pitch and wall heighth line up. A great idea in your head does'nt always transfer to a great design when there are different roof pitches and then the cornice line does'nt line up properly. It can throw off not only the framing crew, but it may look awkward as well.

I want to thank Josh Gunnels and his experienced crew at Frame To Finish for sitting down with me and talking about remodeling and how their business impacts your project.

Remember, your life is a work in progress so let your home be too. If you're not changing something, you're just staying put!!

Insider Series Coming...

I hope everyone had a tremendous holiday and a Happy New Year! Santa was very good to me and mine, so I cannot complain about anything going into 2008.

This year is shaping up to be an interesting year for construction, homebuilding and remodeling. Although we have heard ALL the horror stories about the mortgage mess and declining interest in Real Estate, one of the bright spots is that now is a great time to buy or remodel the existing home you're in now. When the housing industry slumps, many homeowners decide to stay put and remodel or add onto their existing home. Great Idea...just make sure you know a little bit about what you're getting into and who is doing the work.

I am starting a new interview series this year that will focus on sub-contractors and businesses that are a part of the remodeling project or important to the finished product. This series will include framers, plumbers, lighting galleries, painters, flooring companies and bath & kitchen fixture stores to name a few. I am looking forward to learning more about new products and techniques they use along with sharing some of the secrets of remodeling.

If you have any specific questions, feel free to drop them in the comments section.