- Kitchen RemodelingYou’ll be invited down for another inspection. All of these finishing touches really help your house start to look like home. Countertops and cabinets are installed, the interior doors and trim are installed, the house is painted, the energy efficient air conditioning system is completed, and the wire shelving system is installed. Tile is laid in the kitchen and bath, and any additional plumbing and electrical projects come to completion.
- Bathroom RemodelingKitchen and bathroom cabinets should never be cleaned with harsh abrasives. Wood cabinets may be cleaned like any other wood furniture with lemon oil or a good furniture oil unless it has been plastic coated. An excellent product for hiding minor nicks and scratches that occur over time in wood cabinetry is Old English® furniture polish. Keep cabinet doors and drawers closed when not in use. Periodic use of silicone spray lubricant on drawers and hinges will improve operating efficiency.
- FlooringA material placed under the finish coverings, such as flooring, or shingles, to provide a smooth even surface for applying the finish.
- Door Installation/ReplacementNarrow or jamb-width sections of thin metal or other material to prevent infiltration of air and moisture around windows and doors. Compression weather-stripped prevents air infiltration, provides tension, and acts as a counter balance.
- DrywallsA board placed against the wall around a room next to the floor to finish properly between floor and drywall.
- FramingAn inclined piece of framing lumber applied to wall or floor to stiffen the structure. Often used on walls as temporary bracing until framing has been completed.
- Tile Installation
- Ceiling FansIf the frame is the skeleton, then the rough mechanicals are the internal organs of your home. During this 1 – 3 week phase, air-conditioning, heating, ventilation, plumbing, and electrical wiring are introduced to the structure. Once the items listed above are complete, the home is insulated. As an EPA approved energy star home builder, we take special care in applying the insulation to your home at this point. Our highly trained insulation mechanics install energy saving r-13 wall insulation and r-30 ceiling insulation, exceeding other ordinary homes, additionally we also provide another added layer of protective insulation. We seal and insulate all exterior corners, wall plates, wall penetrations, exposed plumbing supply lines, door and window frames. At this point we pre-wire your home for exterior security lights, attic lights for your convenience, ceiling fans, high speed cable and DSL internet lines, smoke detectors for your safety, fresh air bathroom ventilation; then we install a large 52 gallon energy miser hot water heater to save you money, ice maker kit, exterior water connections, and washer dryer connections. If you’ve opted for any special security systems, central vacuum, or pre-wiring for your stereo and entertainment centers, installation takes place at this point. Typically, you’ll be invited down to the site for a “frame walk” or orientation to verify that all the options you selected are in place.
- FireplacesEach fall, as fireplace usage begins, our service department receives calls regarding “smoking” fireplaces; that is, smoke is coming into the room and not going up the chimney. To avoid this problem and other potential difficulties with your fireplace, it is important to follow these simple guidelines...
- Staircases
- CarpetingGiven proper care, the carpeting in your home will provide years of service. You should vacuum at least once a week using a powerful upright vacuum cleaner. This is especially important with some of the denser shear and shag patterns. You should also plan to give your carpeting a professional cleaning at least once a year to remove deep down dirt and stubborn stains. In regard to stains, always attack them immediately. Even half an hour after the accident can be too late. A number of good quality stain and spot removers are available; however, we suggest you seek the advice of a carpeting expert as to what is best for your brand and style of carpet. You should be aware of the material that your carpet is made of. Should your carpet become wet or saturated for any reason, the bottom of furniture legs need to be taken out of contact with the carpet. Aluminum foil or plastic coasters work well in this situation. With very severe staining or spotting, don’t hesitate to call in a professional. The small expense will pay off in longer carpet beauty and service.
- Cabinet Installation
- New ConstructionDesign-build is a method of project delivery in which one entity – the design-build team – works under a single contract with the project owner to provide design and construction services. One entity, one contract, one unified flow of work from initial concept through completion – thereby re-integrating the roles of designer and constructor. Design-build is an alternative to the traditional design-bid-build project delivery method. Under the latter approach, design and construction services are split into separate entities, separate contracts, separate work. Across the country and around the world, design-build successfully delivers both horizontal and vertical construction projects with superior results – no matter what the project type. Streamlining project delivery through a single contract between the owner and the design-build team transforms the relationship between designers and builders into an alliance, which fosters collaboration and teamwork. United from the outset of every project, an integrated team readily works to successfully complete a project faster, more cost effectively and with fewer change orders. Streamlining project delivery through a single contract between the owner and the design-build team transforms the relationship between designers and builders into an alliance, which fosters collaboration and teamwork. United from the outset of every project, an integrated team readily works to successfully complete a project faster, more cost effectively and with fewer change orders.
- Foundation Installation
- LandscapingThe grade of your homesite was established by professional engineers to provide drainage away from the building. Should you wish to change the drainage pattern, as part of a landscape arrangement, be sure a proper drainage slope is maintained. On sites designed for some water retention, do not change the drainage pattern.
- DrivewaysThe position of the home on the home site will be determined before clearing occurs, taking into consideration a variety of factors, including terrain, drainage, utility easements, and municipal requirements for setback and side yards. The home site, the location of utility easements, and the driveway approach will determine if your home is built as a “right” or “left” with one being the mirror image of the other. As a result of numerous technical requirements, Velvet Pines Homes assumes sole discretion for placement of the home on the lot.
- ExcavationOne of a pair of horizontal boards nailed to posts set at the corners of an excavation, used to indicated the desired level, also as a fastening for stretched strings to indicate outlines of foundation walls.
- Window Installation/ReplacementThe window and door screens in your Velvet Pines home are constructed of good quality nylon. They never need painting or other preservatives. A gentle washing and hosing about once a year is all that is needed for maintenance. Should it be needed, replacement nylon screen is available from any good hardware store. It is not necessary to remove window screens in the winter, although many people prefer to do so. (See “Windows.”)
- PatiosMost driveways, walks and patios in Velvet Pines homes are constructed of concrete. We have anticipated normal stresses on these concrete areas and have provided contraction and expansion control joints to minimize cracking; however, cracking is one of the characteristics of concrete and a method of entirely eliminating cracks is still sought. Unanticipated cracking sometimes occurs from unforeseeable conditions, such as severe frost or changes in homesite grade which prevents proper runoff from rain or watering. Ordinarily, the cracks are of no serious consequence. Minor repairs can be made by following these steps...
- Gutters
- Garage Door Repair/ReplacementDoors can cause minor problems. However, most door problems can be handled with minimum skill. Sticking caused by shrinkage and swelling is the most common problem with doors, and it is a common characteristic in new homes. If the sticking is caused by swelling in damp weather, fold sandpaper around a wood block and sand the edge that binds. If the sticking is the result of uneven alignment, check to see that the hinge screws are tight and holding properly. If they are tight and the door is still out of alignment, sand or plane the edge that binds. Warping is a result of too much moisture. Should a door ever warp, a good repair is to dry it in the sun. The door should be elevated off the ground, and it should be positioned flat with the warped side up. If drying a door thoroughly won’t straighten a badly warped door, apply weight to the bulged side and leave it for two or three days. If this “first aid” doesn’t solve the problem, you should call in a carpenter to make the repair. Always paint or varnish any areas that have been sanded or planed to protect those areas from moisture and further swelling. Exterior doors should be painted or varnished whenever the house is painted. In hot, humid climates, wooden exterior doors have to be refinished on a regular basis. Wooden garage doors require refinishing more frequently. Aluminum doors do not need painting. Special care to the tracks of aluminum sliding glass doors is recommended. Always keep the tracks clean of debris. A very small amount of oil is also recommended on a periodic basis, at both the bottom of the door and the lock mechanism. Silicone lubricant is good for the tracks. Bi-fold and by-pass closet doors and “pocket” doors offer tremendous convenience to the homeowner, as well as enhance the looks of your home; however, the mechanics of these types of doors are more complicated than a hinged door. Gentleness is the key when operating each type. No up or down pressure should be applied. In the case of bi-fold doors, pull toward you when opening and let the door open itself. With sliding “pocket” doors, gently pushing in the direction the door moves is all that is necessary. Be certain to avoid driving nails into the “pocket” area of a sliding door. Bi-fold and by-pass closet doors have adjustment areas should they become difficult to operate or jump from their tracks. These are easily found on the rear side of the doors. Also, these types of doors are installed in matched sets. If you should remove the doors for any reason, be sure to put each section back in its original position.
- SidingUsed as trim for the external corners of a house or other frame structure against which the ends of the siding are finished.
- PorchesA railing made up of balusters, top rail, and sometimes bottom rail, used on the edge of stairs, balconies and porches.
- Residential Roof RepairYour roof will give years of service if it is properly maintained. Flashings seal places where the roof abuts walls, chimneys, valleys or where two roof slopes meet. If a leak should occur, call a qualified roofer to make the repairs. If it is repaired as soon as the roofing material has dried, the cost will be far less than if the job is postponed. A qualified roofer should inspect your roof at least every three years. If you have to walk on your roof for any reason, be careful not to damage the surface or the flashings. Be particularly careful when installing a TV or radio antenna; a careless job can cause serious leaks.
- Residential Roof Replacement/InstallationRoofing composed of three to five layers of asphalt felt laminated with coal, tar, pitch or asphalt. The top is finished with crusted slag or gravel. Generally used on flat or low pitched roofs.
- Roof Vents
- Painting
- InsulationMaterial used to retard the movement of water vapor into walls and prevent condensation in them. Usually considered as having a perm value of less than 1.0. Applied separately over the warm side of exposed walls or as a part of batt or blanket insulation.
- MasonryA type of construction in which the structural parts are wood or depend upon wood frame for support. In codes, if masonry veneer is applied to the exterior walls, the classification of this type of construction is usually unchanged.
- CaulkingExterior caulking will separate and deteriorate over the life of the home. If this situation is not monitored and corrected on a consistent basis, moisture can work its way behind wood trim or siding and cause serious rotting problems. Leaks around doors and windows can also result if this condition goes unnoticed for any length of time. (Also see “Seasonal Checklist”.)
- Handyman ServicesFor instance if you want a friend or a handyman to do some of the work, and your not concerned about codes, insurance, and warranties. We have to be, we are the professional.