KC Remodeling Blog

Tropical Plant Care in Kansas City

chase@ctconstruct.com (Chase) — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 18:28:00 GMT

One of the best ways to improve the atmosphere of an office building is to add tropical plants to the space. We recommend The Plant Lady for all commercial and residential plant sales, care, maintenance, and design. Plant Lady has been in business for over 15 years and is owned and operated by Jimi Thompson. With a large percentage of new work coming from referrals, Jimi has turned Plant Lady into one of the leading providers for Tropical Plants in Kansas City. Contact the Plant Lady today for a free design consultation.

There are many things to consider when choosing a tropical plant for an indoor office building. Not only do you need to select the right tropical plant, you also need to make sure the plant is getting the proper care. Certain plants do better in offices that may not have a lot of natural light. The Plant Lady can help assist in selecting the right plant for the right space. By providing guaranteed plant maintenance, you can be sure that your plants won't die on you. They also have a wide selection of plant containers to fit the style of any building.

Water Heater Repair and Replacement

chase@ctconstruct.com (Chase) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 02:57:54 GMT

If your like most people you don't ever think about it until something goes wrong. Having hot water has become one of those modern luxuries that we take for granite up until the point when you run out of hot water. When you have a water heater quit working you don't exactly have a bunch of time to be waiting around for it to be fixed. Chances are, if a plumber is available to make the repair you are going to let him make the fix. We install Bradford White water heater's for around a $1000.

If you are having trouble with your water heater there are a few things that you can troubleshoot to identify if your water heater needs to be replaced or if it can be repaired. First thing is to determine if your water heater is gas or electric. If you have an electric water heater is is very common for the heating elements to go bad. In most water heater's there is an upper heating element and a lower heating element. If you are experiencing luke warm water and your water heater is electric there is a good chance it is your heating element. If it is your upper heating element you can drain out half of your tank and should be able to get some hot water. For a gas water heater one of the most common repairs is the thermocouple. This is a simple fix that can usually restore hot water within an hour or so.

If you have a water heater that is leaking you should identify where the leak is coming from. If it is coming out of the t&p valve it can be easily replaced for just a couple of bucks. The t&p valve will likely be in the upper portion of your tank with a lever that you an raise to release the pressure of the tank. If you frequently have to replace the t&p valve then you should have a licensed plumber test your water pressure. If the pressure is too high you should install a thermal expansion tank to prevent future problems.

If you are in the Johnson county are and would like a free quote to replace your unit call your water heater kansas city specialist today.

Liquid Nails Challenge

chase@ctconstruct.com (Chase) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 05:28:52 GMT

We recently participated in a in the Liquid Nails challenge for contractors. We were able to pull the entire weigh of a pickup truck by gluing together two 4x4 posts.

Re piping your House

chase@ctconstruct.com (Chase) — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 02:47:25 GMT

If you live in a house that has old pipes for the water lines it is likely going to be galvanized steel. A galvanized water line is typically expected to last 40-50 years. Though in some cases it can last for much longer. There are two main signs that suggest that your plumbing system may be in need of repair. Low water pressure will usually suggest you have some type of build up in your lines. This is due to the minerals or hardness of the water that is running through your system. One of the most common signs that your pipes are corroded is being scalded when somebody flushes a toilet. When supply lines are providing adequate pressure this should not be as noticeable.

Another thing to worry about with older water lines is corrosion. This will wear down the inner wall of the pipes, which leads to pinhole leaks. A pinhole leak can start out small and can be difficult to detect. If you have experienced multiple pinhole leaks, it may be best to replace the entire plumbing system. A plumbing system is not going to fail all at once rather slowly deteriorate over a period of time.

The process to re-pipe your house will likely require you to move out for few days. When we are re-piping a house we cover all belongings and carpet with a thin layer of plastic. Updating your pipes will require removing sections of drywall to access the plumbing lines. If you are already in the process of remodeling your house it may make sense to go ahead and replace that portion of the plumbing. The best time to address a problem is before any damage is caused.

If you are planning on repiping your house and live in the Kansas City area, give us a call today.

KCHC (913) 220-3888

How to winterize a vacant house

chase@ctconstruct.com (Chase) — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 02:38:33 GMT

Throughout various regions, the techniques and steps required to winterize a house will vary. Here in the midwest, we experience a few cold spells in which the temperature can stay below 15 degrees fahrenheit for a week or longer. There are also various levels in which you can winterize a house. For instance, if the pilot light is going to be left on, the water heater does not need to be drained. Even if a house has been winterized, there can still be problems. For this reason, it is recommended to leave the furnace on to prevent the house from getting to low.

Draining the Supply Lines

Most people are familiar with the process of draining the down the water lines in their house. Open the plumbing system at it's lowest point and allow some time for the system to drain. Opening a fixture on the top floor can also help the system drain. Often, this does not get all the water out without the use of a compressor. A special fitting can be installed to force compressed air through the line.

Toilets & Sinks

Flush all of the water out of the toilet and fill tank with anti-freeze. You should also pour anti-freeze down every sink drain to prevent the p-trap from breaking.

Appliances

Often people forget about the need to winterize their appliances when leaving a house vacant for the winter. A dishwasher and washing machine can both be damaged if not winterized. This is as simple as adding some anti-freeze and turning the setting to drain.

If you need help winterizing a house in Kansas City, please contact KCHC. We are fully licensed and insured as a master plumbing contractor.

Kansas City Remodeling Contractor

chase@ctconstruct.com (Chase) — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 04:58:15 GMT

KCHC ~ KC HOME CREATIONS

If you have a remodeling project we want you to tell us about it. We are a KC Home Remodeling expert. We know it's hard to find a contractor you like and trust to work in your home. So we have expand our services to meet the needs of our past clients.

DIY Remodeling not covered by a business Liability Insurance.

chase@ctconstruct.com (Chase) — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 01:56:44 GMT

In the current economy more and more people are tackling DIY remodeling projects. It's important to understand that some improvements that you make to your own house may not be covered by insurance in the event of a problem.

Example 1

You are painting this weekend! It’s a long-postponed project, but finally, you are tackling it.

Sunday night, you are exhausted. One coat of primer and two coats of paint, and you still see the old, darker color shimmer through. Push on, add one more coat. Might as well do it right. When you’re done, you hurry to pick everything up. Rollers, brushes, drop cloths? In the trash bag they go. Tie it up and plop it in the garage. Deal with it tomorrow. Or next weekend.

But you forget that crumpled up, paint-stained drop cloths are highly combustible…

If this caused a fire, are you covered by your homeowner’s insurance?

In this situation, yes, there would be coverage. A fire loss that happens suddenly and accidentally, even if caused (as in this example) by negligence, is covered by your homeowner’s policy.

It’s going down as the summer of the bathroom remodel. You and your spouse decided to do it yourselves… both of you like doing this kind of work. Tearing out the old. Putting in the new. Taking care of the house. So you tackled the new bathroom together, laid the river-rock mural in the new walk-in shower, installed radiant heat under the new slate floor tile, and switched the location of toilet and vanity. You put a lot of thought and effort into this, got all your permits, and cleanly re-routed, installed and sealed the new copper pipes. Up to code!

Now, 3 months after the finishing brush stroke, something’s leaking!

At least, that’s what you suspect. When you come home at night, a puddle has collected between the toilet and the vanity. You mop it up, only to find it there again the next night. And you hate to admit it, but the strip of wall right above has gotten darker. And if you look closely (which you opt not to do), you can see fine hairline cracks.

You think of your homeowner’s insurance. Would your D-I-Y project be covered at all?

Well. Generally, your finished D-I-Y home improvement project would be covered for all the common perils insured on a homeowner’s policy, whether you do the work or a contractor does the work. But the perils covered on a homeowner’s policy have to be sudden and accidental occurrences.

And that’s the problem in this example. The answer here is: There might not be coverage. What happened here is a mistake, a construction defect. There are workmanship exclusions on a homeowner’s policy that apply whether the work was done by a contractor or the property owner. If the damage in this example was caused by faulty workmanship, not by a sudden and accidental occurrence, the loss would not be covered by your homeowner’s policy.

However, had you hired a contractor, you could sue him for repairs and or hold him responsible to fix the damage.

A side note: Water damage that happens over time (like a slow leak that causes dry rot) is generally excluded from coverage on your homeowner’s policy. So, it is critical to address any suspicious leaks immediately. They don’t go away on their own. They only become bigger (and possibly excluded) losses.

For more information on home insurance and how it relates to remodeling projects visit...

http://www.autohomeboat.com/research-center/real-life-situations/remodeling-my-house

Why do plumbers charge so much?

chase@ctconstruct.com (Chase) — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 02:39:21 GMT

Plumbers are frequently accused of charging excessive amounts of money for their services. In writing this article I hope to convey that in fact most plumbers are fair and just with their pricing. While each hourly rate will vary throughout the region.

When people refer to the high cost of plumbing they are usually referring to the hourly rate of the plumber. One thing that is often not understood by the typical homeowner is the amount of preparation that goes into doing service work. The difference between a professional plumber and a handyman is that a handyman will need to make several trips to the hardware store to complete the project. A professional plumbing contractor will have their truck fully stocked before showing. It is not unusual for a plumber to have over $25,000 worth of materials in his truck at all times. Often people underestimate the actual cost of materials not to mention the time that goes into picking up the materials and keeping an inventory of their materials.

When something goes awry in a home, it often has something to do with the plumbing. If a pipe burst it can cause several thousands of dollars within a few minutes. In addition to liability insurance, a plumbing contractor must also carry workman’s compensation on all employees.

Most plumbing jobs only take a few hours to complete. This means that several jobs must be scheduled for any given day. With so many different customers to deal with it is usually necessary to hire a secretary to help with answering the phone, billing, and other office work. There is also bound to be some down time throughout your typical workday. The business owner must pay his staff whether they are working or not. When an emergency call comes in, people need their problem fixed right away.

How to get a Remodeling Job

chase@ctconstruct.com (Chase) — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 21:47:44 GMT

When I entered the trades at 18 my first job was framing houses. Getting a job as a laborer was as easy as walking up to a couple sites and asking. When the construction and remodeling industry is booming jobs are easy to come by. The economy that we are currently experiencing is a little different. As a newbie you can really face some disadvantages of getting hired over an experienced carpenter. That doesn’t mean that there are not jobs available to younger guys. Some contractors prefer to train somebody who has not picked up any bad working habits. The other thing to consider is that Remodeling is hard on the body. Certain aspects are better handled by youthful labor. There will always be openings in the Remodeling Industry here is how to land one in today’s economy.

When looking for a job in remodeling it is important to be as professional as possible. This does not mean calling the business directly and asking for a job. This is the most unprofessional way to approach employment. Although remodeling companies often do not advertise the need for employees, it does not mean they do not need the help. Presenting yourself as a potential employee can be done through the form of an email when presented the right information.

Creating a Resume has always been the first step when seeking any type of employment and the remodeling industry is no different. By providing a detailed description of your work experience you have a much better opportunity to be picked for a job. If you want consideration over other potential candidates you should also focus on maintaining a steady work history. A guy that jumps around from one employer to the next is often a risk that many contractors are not willing to bet on. If you are seeking interior Remodeling work you will need to be able to pass a background check.

The remodeling industry is filled with all types of people. Next to meeting somebody in person, providing a link to your facebook page, is a good way to show them who you are. You need to consider that you will likely be working inside the privacy of someone’s personal home. It is important to maintain a clean appearance in which people feel safe with you working inside their home.

For those of you who have had some experience you can provide the employer with examples of your work. Taking pictures of all your completed projects is the best thing you can do. If you can work as a sub-contractor, General Contractors who otherwise may have been hiring could use you on a few small jobs. However, Liability & Workman’s Compensation Insurance is required in most states.

Payment Breakdown for a Remodeling Project

chase@ctconstruct.com (Chase) — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 00:12:00 GMT

One of the most important variables to consider when selecting a remodeling contractor are the details of the payment schedule. I'm referring to the amount of money requested by the contractor in order to complete the remodeling project. When the terms are set properly, the homeowner will maintain leverage throughout the remodel. For major projects such as a room addition, basement finish, or large outdoor deck it is important for the finished product to live up to what was promised by the remodeling contractor. A payment breakdown will not be the same for every project. On some of our smaller jobs we may not require any payment until the project has been completed in it's entirety.

On a typical basement finish, we will require a 30% deposit at the start of the project. 30% upon completion of Rough-In inspection, 30% upon substantial completion of project, and the remaining 10% upon completion of all punch list items.

When we are taking on projects as the deck builder, we require a 50% deposit upon dropping the materials. The other 50% is paid upon completion of the project.

One other thing to consider as the homeowner is to make sure and ask for a copy of the Building Inspection results. We usually provide our clients with a copy via email. Individual projects will definitely vary as to how deposits should be dispersed. Just make sure you have the opportunity to approve or sign-off on the work, before paying the contractor in full.

Modern Entertainment Center Antique Cabinets

chase@ctconstruct.com (Chase) — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 05:59:23 GMT

Here is an entertainment center that was built to suit a flat panel TV. With a smaller TV, you can build a smaller upper cabinet. We have also wired this unit for a sound system, HDMI, and Coax. There is also a shut-off access in the upper portion of the cabinet.

These cabinets have been antiqued by our painter Ben of KC Painter Pro. To view more work completed by KCHC, visit our new website.

Remodeling your basement or home efficiently

chase@ctconstruct.com (Chase) — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 00:26:43 GMT

Here are a few things we are trying to promote on our basement finishing projects to offer a more sustainable environment.

Home Run Plumbing
Sealing Ducts
Energy Star Appliances
Energy Efficient Widows
Draft Reduction Framing
Offer Interior Paint with R-Value
Use recycled carpets and tile
Water saving fixtures and components
Responsible Clean up Practices

Green Services Offered by KCHC

Greywater holding tank installation
Whole house pex tubing installation
Money saving water heaters
Solar Water Heaters
Electric and Gas Water Heaters
Lifetime Decks
Cement Board Siding

Creating an energy efficient home in Kansas City

chase@ctconstruct.com (Chase) — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 16:36:00 GMT

With the increased energy cost over the past few years, more and more people are starting to focus on making their homes more energy efficient. As both a remodeling contractor and someone who is interested in a more sustainable society, KC Home Creations is shifting their focus toward green remodeling.

Currently the movement to go green is dependent on incentives from the government. The cost of consuming large amounts of coal is much greater than what appears on your electric bill. The impact on the environment may be the biggest cost of all. Leaving it up to future generations to pay for our mistakes.

Choosing the best time to build your dream deck

chase@ctconstruct.com (Chase) — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 23:47:22 GMT

If you are like the majority of the population, your likely not going to be thinking about replacing your deck until it is time to use it. In Kansas City, this is usually March-September. One thing that I have noticed as a deck building contractor is that everybody wants a deck built at the same time. Over 60% of our call volume comes between April and June. Not only does this present a dilemma for getting the deck built quickly but it also can raise the cost to have a new deck built. It's the basic principles of supply and demand. One of the things I always recommend to family and friends is to have a deck built by somebody who only builds decks and call them during their slow season. It is not uncommon for us to cut our labor rate up to 20% if that is what it takes to keep everybody busy through the slow season. In summary it is much cheaper to have a deck built during the fall and winter months.

Remodeling bids much higher than others

chase@ctconstruct.com (Chase) — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 03:13:23 GMT

For anybody who has ever received multiple bids for a major remodeling project you already know that bids can be all over the place. Why is one contractor twice the amount as the other contractor? If you have received bids that greatly vary, you have likely not defined the terms of the remodeling project. We pride ourselves on trying to do things a little different. We enter a project with a common goal to identify project cost at the beginning of the project. Our commitment to the homeowner is to stay within the terms of the original contract as much as possible.

KC Deck and Patio Facebook

chase@ctconstruct.com (Chase) — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 17:32:22 GMT

KC Deck and Patio has launched their facebook fan page. We have just reached 100 fans would like to thank everybody for their support. As a specialist in building decks in Overland Park, we have found that facebook is a great way to reach our clients. On our page you will find video's and photos of completed projects right here in the Kansas City area. KC Deck and Patio can be liked by following this link.

Many small business owners now have a facebook fan page that they have set up. SEO experts agree that having likes on your fan page will have a increasingly heavy impact or search results and placement of your company.

AT&T Customer Service

chase@ctconstruct.com (Chase) — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 02:41:40 GMT

AT&T has to be far and above the worst company I have ever dealt with. I am a customer of AT&T because they are the only company that provides home phone service in my area. I also use them for my high speed internet which actually has been very reliable.

My problem with the company is that they are such a huge corporate giant they seem to have forgotten what running a business is all about. As the owner of a small business, customer service is my number one priority. AT&T has the worst customer service that I have ever experienced. I took the time to write this blog because this is much more than an isolated incident. My frustration with AT&T has been fueled by several incidents in which have cost me both time and money. The latest involved two missed appointments in which they gave me a 12 hour window that I would need home during the week.

3D Drawings for your Kansas Basement Remodel

chase@ctconstruct.com (Chase) — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 01:41:04 GMT

Technology is changing the way we do business at KC Basement Finishing. More so than ever, 3D drawings have a huge impact on being able to meet the expectations of our clients. This is a drawing that was done in google sketchup. This is a drawing that was done by one of our Design Interns, not only does it help with putting together color schemes but also a huge tool in creating a quality floor plan.

This drawing features an Egress Window that was installed to let more light into the basement. This is an Overland Park Basement Remodel that is currently being constructed. We are also offering services for Lenexa Basement Finishing, as long as the house was built within the last 20 years.

Building an Overland Park Deck

chase@ctconstruct.com (Chase) — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 22:29:53 GMT

When building a deck in the city of Overland Park, you must pull a permit no matter the details of the project. As an Overland Park Deck Builder, we like pulling permits on all projects to help level the playing field. Surrounding cities such as Olathe, Shawnee, and Leawood do not require a permit if the deck is below 30" off the ground. In most cases, we recommend pulling a permit even if it not required. This is especially important if you are hiring somebody to build the deck when you may not be able to watch what is going on. Here are some of the most important areas the the Overland Park building inspector will check on your deck.

Properly Flashed to House- If this is not done properly it will lead to moisture issues. We were recently involved with a project where the deck builder has not properly flashed the new deck. The deck was barely over a year old when it started to leak water into the basement. Unfortunately, the only way to make the repair involved removing the deck and starting from scratch.

Depth of Piers- When you are digging your holes for a new deck you often run into obstructions in the soil that make digging especially difficult. There was a deck that we recently built in Shawnee that required the use of a jackhammer just to get below the frost line. A lot of Shawnee Deck Builders would have hit the rock at 24" and called it good. With an inspection scheduled, the deck builder has not choice but to dig below the frost line. If the pier does not go below the frost line the deck will either heave or settle over time.

Property Lines- If your new deck is too close to a property line, you will have to tear the sucker down. Make sure you deck won't interfere with zoning requirements.

Anchor to House- This is by far the most dangerous error that people make when building a deck. If you deck is not lagged into the house according to code, it could pull away over time. If you have a deck that is high off the ground, a fall could be deadly.

Chase Thompson

KC Deck and Patio

KC Deck and Patio

chase@ctconstruct.com (Chase) — Thu, 19 May 2011 03:13:00 GMT

We want to be the top deck builder in the Shawnee, 66218. This is western Shawnee. We want to be the deck and patio builder for the area. 66216 and the 66217 areas will be services with free estimates. Thank you for considering KCHC as you deck building contractor. We are targeting Shawnee Deck Builder as a key search term. We are a remodeling firm that doesn't work all of Kansas City. Due to licensing we prefer to work in Overland Park and Leawood.

Deck Builder 66208