How To Build A Construction Plan

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Learn how to market your contractor business professionally. In depth knowledge of attracting clients with online marketing strategies and deep thinking about who you want your clients to be.

The housing industry has proceeded at a red-hot pace for several years running. An all-time record was set in 1998, when 886,000 new-site single family homes were sold. That represented a 10% gain from the robust total of 804,000 homes sold in 1997, and an 8.1% rise from the prior record of 819,000 units in 1977. Single-family housing construction accounted for $48 million of the total $125 million generated in the industry.

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Construction Honored with AGC Builders

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Last night, Construction was honored to accept a Best Builders Award from the Associated General Contractors of Vermont for the construction of the $31.3 million Vermont Public Health Laboratory. There is so much to celebrate about this project – from both a construction and community perspective – and it was so gratifying to have that impact formally recognized in the contracting community.

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grate-drainage-system

Understanding the Incredible Functionality of a Basement Grate Drainage System

Posted by Stephen Bertolacci on

If you are a property owner, you must have encountered basement drainage problems at one time or the other. This is more prevalent in areas experiencing intense rainfall or in newly built structures. While the market has myriad solutions for this common problem, none rivals the advanced grate drainage system.

Timely Water Drainage Solution

This product has emerged from years of research and trial and errors in the water drainage industry. The dangers that poor basement drainage poses to your property are legion, including bowing foundations, cracks, damp interiors and even cave-ins. It is no wonder the grate drain technology has largely been hailed by homeowners.

Examining Grate Drainage System in Detail

To appreciate why the grate drainage system should be an integral part of your waterproofing system, consider these factors:

  • Ergonomically designed dual chamber: The system features large punch holes on the sides to allow rapid drainage of groundwater. The fact that it can accept water from all directions makes it more efficient in draining your basement and avoiding any retention of moisture.
  • More functionality: Unlike other drainage systems, the grate drain directs water to the sump liner rather than allowing the water to flow under the basement slab.
  • Ease of maintenance: This system also features a simple cover and panel to allow easy access when there is a problem with drainage. A technician can easily flush and restore effective water flow without any inconveniences.
  • Customization: When buying a drainage system for your property, you need not resort to expensive cutting and fitting because the manufacturer can easily customize it according to your unique needs. This makes it easier to fit as well as less expensive than other market alternatives.
  • Durability: The technology in manufacturing these products is highly advanced. For instance, hot dip galvanizing of steel grates extends their life significantly. This saves you repair and maintenance costs that can set you back financially.
  • Reduction of bacteria spread in the basement: The system is effective in separation of bacteria colonies through the dual chamber design. By preventing cross-contamination, your property stays more hygienic.
  • Guaranteed design: When you buy this grate drainage system from certified suppliers, you get a warranty on the product. This assures you that there is world-class workmanship behind the technology used to make the products.

Many other benefits come with this amazing product. Its versatility in usage makes it possible for you to use it in pool, patio, threshold, balcony and even shower drainage. It is not only a safe drainage option but one whose utility value is not in doubt.

basement-sealing-in-east-brunswick-08816

What Are The Benefits of Basement Sealing in East Brunswick, NJ 08816

Posted by Stephen Bertolacci on

When you think of a home, the basement is the last thing that comes to mind. However, it is one of the most important spaces in the home. It is the foundation of the home. It is what gives the home its structural integrity.

Water is the worst enemy of basements. It can cause great damage to a basement and the rest of the structure of the home as a result. It is therefore important to ensure that your basement is made waterproof.

There are many benefits to basement sealing in East Brunswick, NJ 08816. These include:

  1. Increasing the value of your home

If you’re thinking of selling your home in the near future, sealing your basement will contribute a great deal to its value. Ensuring that your basement is sealed will increase the usable space within your home. This means that the square footage of your home increases since your basement will count as a floor as well. Remember that for many people, the basement space makes up about 1/3 of the total space of the home.

  1. Increased usable space

As mentioned earlier, having your basement sealed will ensure that you have more usable space available to you. You can do just about anything with a waterproofed basement. You can turn it into an office, a guest room, a music studio or an extra living room. You can greatly improve your family’s quality of life with extra space to work around.

  1. Protect your family’s health

A humid or damp basement provides the ideal environment for the growth of mold. Mold such as toxic black mold can develop into fully grown mold within 48 hours or less. Although most molds are harmless, some produce toxic chemicals that can result in infections and poisoning.

Molds also produce spores. Exposure to a high spore count can result in allergic reactions including difficulty in breathing and skin irritation.

  1. Preserves the integrity of your home

Basement sealing protects the integrity of your home. Molds and moisture can not only destroy furniture and the beauty of your home’s walls and floors, but also affect the structural integrity of the home. Ensuring that your basement is made waterproof will protect your home from mold and moisture. It will save you a lot of money in repairs for the long term.

Lastly, basement sealing in East Brunswick, NJ 08816 gives you peace of mind. You never have to worry about a flooded basement when you hear claps of thunder in the distance.

Foundation Repair | Trenton, NJ | Select Basement Waterproofing

Are you in Need of Foundation Repair New Jersey?

Posted by Stephen Bertolacci on

As a homeowner, maintenance and repair of your home is an expected expense. Your home’s foundation is the most important part of your home. Ensuring that you carry out foundation repair New Jersey in good time will ensure that you avoid serious problems that can result in your using thousands of dollars to fix an even worse situation. It is therefore important to learn how to identify these problems as soon as possible.

Warning signs

Houses are designed to be dynamic. They move and settle over a period of time. This is natural. However, when the settling occurs unevenly, then there is need for concern. It is therefore important to stay alert and keep track of any dramatic changes or early warning signs including:

  • A door in your house begins to ham or the latch fails to fit. This may be a sign that the foundation is shifting.
  • The appearance of cracks on the walls. Cracks on walls when there is a foundation problem cracks usually occur over windows, doorways and where the wall meets the ceiling.
  • The appearance of cracks in your floor tiles or on your concrete floors
  • When windows in your home that used to open or close easily begin sticking or can’t close completely. 

Checking for foundation problems

Foundation repair New Jersey can cost you thousands of dollars if the problems are not identified early enough and are allowed to develop into serious problems. It is therefore important to develop a routine of checking your home for signs of foundation problems.

It is important to retain the services of a professional contractor to carry out maintenance and repair on your foundation at least once a year. However, it is also important to carry out your own personal checks every so often. This will ensure that any problems with your foundation are identified early. 

Here’s how to check foundation problems:

  • Check the perimeter

Carry out a visual check of the outside of your foundation. Walk along the length of the foundation and check the walls from corner to corner. The walls should be straight from side to side as well as from up to down.

If there is any sign of leaning, bulging or curving then the foundation may have shifted. It may be that the soil around your foundation is expanding, contracting or placing some pressure on the walls of your foundation.

  • Check the concrete

If you have a poured concrete foundation, check to see if there is chipping of flaking. You can do this by poking it with a study screwdriver. A good concrete foundation should be very hard. It shouldn’t get damaged when poked by the screwdriver.

If you manage to break of chip at the surface, then the concrete may be deteriorating. It may have been mixed with too much water, salty or dirty sand. Contact a contractor as soon as possible to fix this problem.

  • Check the structure

There are various aspects of the foundation aside from the perimeter wall. If you have a crawl space of basement, be sure to check the concrete supports, posts or piers used to support the home. These should be standing firmly and straight. They should be firmly planted on the concrete piers beneath.

Cracks in foundations

Foundational cracks are the most important sign of a problem with the foundation. It is therefore important to identify what type of crack you’re dealing with.  Different types of cracks include:

  • Hairline cracks indicate minor problems and shouldn’t be a cause for worry
  • Stair step cracks occurring in masonry joints indicate bulging of walls or moisture problems
  • Horizontal cracks are the most serious. They are indicative of serious damage to the foundation. You may need a completely new foundation.
French drains

What You Need To Know About French Drains in Morganville NJ

Posted by Stephen Bertolacci on

French Drains in Morganville NJ

Water is bad for foundations, but it is a natural part of the world we live in. When it rains, water seeps into the ground. There is also groundwater that is already present in the ground and can seep up to destroy a foundation.

So, how can you keep your foundations sound?

The answer is a French drain. Also known as a weeping, uncertain or rubble drain, this drain consists of a trench that is filled with rocks or gravel. Many French drains in Morganville NJ also contain a perforated pipe. The primary use of the drain is to prevent surface or ground water from penetrating into or damaging the foundations of a building.

The name does not come from France, the country but was named after the person who promoted the idea in 1859 through his book on drainage on farms, Henry French.

How they work

French drains in Morganville NJ are constructed around foundations to give water an easy channel through which it can flow. Water in the surrounding soils runs into the gravel that fills the drain and down through the perforations in the pipe that is often located at the bottom of the trench.

Water collects in the pipe and is channeled away from the foundations to a point some distance away from the house.

It is important for the trench bottom to be constructed at a slope of about 1 inch for every 8 feet traveled in the direction that the water will flow. The French drain may terminate in any place depending on your situation and preference. Some examples include:

  • Low lying areas within your property
  • Dry wells
  • The street
  • Drainage ditches

Deciding when to put in a French drain

French drains in Morganville NJ have become necessary to help with drainage. This is true especially for:

  • Homes that are experiencing a problem with surface water. You may have a soggy lawn or driveway that washes out.
  • Homes whose basements are being damaged by water. It is important to ensure that water from the surrounding soil is directed away from the foundations. This ensures that the foundation is not destroyed.
  • Homes that are being constructed on a hillside. It is important to install a French drain if you will be building a retaining wall.

Surface water problems

Shallow French drains in Morganville NJ are a great way to deal with surface water problems. The French drain should be constructed to intercept water on the property and channel it away from the building’s foundations.

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The Importance of Crawl Space Waterproofing Before Winter

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Crawl Space Waterproofing Should be Done Before the Winter

Crawl space waterproofing is just part of preparing your house for winter. Waterproofing in general is about prevention and preparation. If you can prevent water from ever entering your basement or crawl space in the first place, then you can avoid water damages, mold growth and other contaminants from causing issues in your house.

Summer is the best time for crawl space waterproofing

Fall and spring tend to be the busiest time of year for waterproofing contractors. Homeowners tend to be reactive and only call a waterproofing contractor when the basement or crawl space is flooded. However, the best time to actually call a waterproofing contractor is before the rain starts. The truly best time to waterproof a basement or crawl space is in the dry summer months. These make for the best working conditions and waterproofing contractors are typically more available. If you wait until your basement is flooded, a good waterproofing contractor may be booked out for weeks. If you have a waterproofing contractor complete the crawl space waterproofing before the wet season, then you won’t have problems to deal with come spring.

Health issues with moisture in your crawl space

Remember, there are health issues that come with high moisture levels in the crawl space. There should never be standing water or moisture in your crawl space. Keep the relative humidity level at 50% in the crawl space. Any more than that will create the perfect environment for mold growth and rot. Mold spores are dangerous if people breathe them in. If mold is in the crawl space, you can’t think it won’t affect you. The air in the crawl space is actually transferred upstairs through a natural air exchange known as chimney effect. The air is pulled up from the lower levels of the house into the upper levels. More energy efficient building envelops actually create a bigger indoor air quality problem.

If these mold spores come into the air upstairs it can cause allergies, respiratory problems and exasperate asthma symptoms. While there is no proven cause for asthma in children, there are several theories that mold and biocontaminants in the indoor air are culprits. While it may or may not be the cause of asthma it has been proven to make asthma symptoms worse.

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mold in morganville nj

The Impact Mold in Morganville NJ Can Have On Your Health

Posted by Stephen Bertolacci on

Mold in Morganville NJ Can Affect Your Health

Mold is a term used to describe fungi. Mold and its spores are widely distributed. They are a common component in dust occurring in homes and workplaces. They generally do not pose a health risk when in small quantities. They can however, be a serious health hazard to humans when in large quantities.

Mold in Morganville NJ is closely associated with damp and dark parts of the home. This is because moisture is required for active mold growth. Mold growth can be identified by fuzzy patches or growths of black, yellow, pink, green or brown that give off unpleasant musty odors.

Conditions Associated to Mold in Morganville NJ

Various health problems are associated with high levels of airborne mold spores. These include:

Allergies and Asthma

If you have allergies or asthma, mold spores can make your condition worse. Some people react to mold spores by developing an itchy skin rash, runny nose, cough, congestion in the chest, eye irritation or an aggravation of pre-existing asthma symptoms. These symptoms are classic allergic reactions. They can get worse if a person does not address the high levels of mold spores in the air of the home.

Respiratory Infections

People who spend extended time in damp and moldy buildings are likely to develop respiratory infections and bronchitis. Mold spores inhaled in the indoor environment are thought to attach themselves to the cells that line the respiratory tract. They can cause various problems in the respiratory tract as a result.

Fungal Infections

Inhaled mold spores can cause many problems especially in those who already have a suppressed immune system. Mold spores can grow in living tissues and result in various infections throughout the body.

When a person with a suppressed immune system gets exposed to high mold levels, he is likely to develop chronic conditions. Many develop infections of the sinuses, digestive tract, skin and lungs. Further problems may result depending on the type of mycotoxins produced by the molds affecting the person.

Mycotoxin Toxicity

Molds excrete compounds that are toxic. These toxins are known as mycotoxins. There are certain mycotoxins that are harmful and even lethal to humans as well as animals. Prolonged exposure to high quantities of mold producing harmful toxins can pose a significant threat to people in your household.

Clearly, mold in Morganville NJ has a serious impact on human health. It is therefore important to ensure that your home is free of mold by fixing any damp problems in your foundation. Contact us today for a FREE Estimate on mold remediation and removal.

basement storage in trenton nj

Creative Ideas for Basement Storage in Trenton NJ

Posted by Stephen Bertolacci on

Basement Storage in Trenton NJ

Everybody loves a house with a basement. Even if it is just used for storage, the basement is a luxury of untapped space. While the livable basement is the vogue right now, if you don’t have the budget to convert your unfinished basement to living space, create an organized storage area.

The key is organizing your basement

The trick to any storage is organizing. Remember, most people have too much stuff so it is OK to go through your stuff, especially if you buy something new. A good rule is to throw away something old for everything you buy new. This theory helps you not get too much stuff. Too much stuff is the death of organizing and staying organized. Once you have purged the items that you never, ever use or don’t want anymore it is time to find their proper place in the storage zone.

Store less frequently used items in the basement

Obviously, the stuff you put in the basement shouldn’t be your everyday items. All of your every day, every week, and even every month, stuff should be more accessible than stored in the basement. Every day items should be stored in accessible drawers. Stuff you use every week should be in cupboards and pantries on the main living area in the room where it will be most used. The items you use about every month can be in the top of the closet—away but not too far away. Items stored in the basement should be once or twice a year items. Holiday decorations are a great example of a good basement storage item.

The exception is if you need to use the basement storage in Trenton NJ as more like a pantry or for bulk item storage. If you need this type of storage make sure the daily or weekly items are accessible. Storage shelves are good for the pantry-type items needed for storage in the basement. Make sure your storage shelves are fully accessible. Don’t fill up your shelves with your Costco toilet paper and then stack boxes in front of them. It will make it a pain to get to the stuff you need.

Have an organized system so you know where everything is

Organize the items you want to store by likeness. For example, all the Christmas stuff should be together and all the sports equipment should be together. Another common sense tip, but it has to be said. Taking the time to make sure all your ski boots are stored with your poles will save you time when it is time to hit the slopes.

Be aware that basements can flood

Basement storage in NJ may be a little different from other storage space in your house. Remember, the basement is below ground so the environment will be different than the upper levels of the house. Make sure that you don’t store cardboard boxes or any other organic material storage containers on the floor. Storage boxes should be plastic and at least six inches off the ground. Basement can flood and it is easier to just keep the plastic storage boxes off the ground than to deal with soggy, cardboard boxes after a basement flood.

Waterproof Your Basement

Even with that, any water issues should be dealt with in the basement. Never store anything in the basement if there are signs of water issues without taking care of them. Visible standing water, water stains, peeling paint, water bubbles, mildew, mold, musty odors or foundation cracks are all signs of water issues in the basement. Even if you are just using the basement as storage it makes sense to fix any water issues to create a dry, basement environment. Then if you ever wanted to convert the basement into living space it is already prepped with the proper waterproofing and drainage systems.

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