Wood Deck

Need a new deck? Building a deck? There are a lot of choices; wood, cedar, and the top of the line products for PVC (Azek).

Wood decking is the lowest cost and the highest maintenance.  The costs can really start adding up when you get going on your decking project; adding railings, stairs, benches and planter boxes when using items such as composite decking, Trex, or TimberTech can really get costly. Both companies offer a broad line of decking materials from composite (wood and plastic) to PVC materials for decks and materials. In the long run though, these materials will last and last and are very low maintenance for the homeowner.

Azek Deck

A wood polymer composite deck material, made from reclaimed plastic and wood fiber, are relatively maintenance free. Trex takes recylced plastics and utilizes them in the decking boards.  Composite and PVC decking materials have been used extensively over the years in playgrounds, city parks, residential and commercial property decks.  The decking materials today, such as the composite or PVC products are highly resistant to moisture, which stops the decks from decaying and maximizes the life of the deck.

Below is a simple chart to provide pricing from wood products to PVC products

Decking Options
- – - – - -   2×6 Pine #1, Treated       5/4×6 Cedar        5/4×6 Composite      Azek PVC

10′x8′                $210                              $285                          $560                      $670
12′x8′                $265                              $460                          $655                      $770

Summing up what products to use? I personally like the PVC and Composite materials.  As a builder and developer, I love wood, though used in the right area, wood can look beautiful and be used where there is less maintenance needed.  The added costs for the composite and PVC products really do pay off and it doesn’t take that long once you consider all the work an  costs for a maintaining a wood deck. Pay now or pay later.

Well that all went really well…and they were very pleased, so they asked us back! I wish I had a before photo to show you, BUT the after, as you can see, was a great success! This is a craftsman style home and they had the typical dated 1970’s kitchen, that needed renovating very badly. We are so proud of this one, it came out really, really nice and we came in right on budget and under schedule even with added work.

Today we completed another interesting project, we used a crane to move a prefabricated swim spa from the front driveway to the back of the house for a new additional area leisure area to house the swim spa and hot tub.
The delivery driver of the pool supplier showed us a video of a crane accident that happened a week ago when a crane crushed into a house trying to lift a pool into place, this only gave me more anxiety about the porject, AH! But, today all went well and the pool was placed, all the straps held the pool, and no damage was done, Yeah!

Check out our fun little slide show that shows the process of the assembled and coordinated lifting and placement for the 18′ (Long) x 8′ (Wide) x 6′ (deep) pool. The pool is manufactured by Endless Pools. Fine Construction built an enclosed spa room with colored concrete and southern windows to allow the sun to naturally light the pool/spa room. The owners are thrilled with their new outdoor recreation area. WHEW!

There are many options for flooring. First, consider how you will use the room.  In a kitchen you will want to install a floor that is easy to clean and will stand up to spills and high traffic. In others areas such as a family room, den, bedrooms or living rooms, carpet will feel the best under foot. Wood flooring may be a better choice for some homes if residents have allergies and desire easy maintenance. In a dining area, hardwoods or laminates will be easiest to maintain. In entryways and bathrooms, ceramic tiles withstand moisture and dirt.

Flooring choices:

Wood Floors. We install many wood floors, mostly oak, because they look great and are very durable. Prefinished hardwoods like Lauzon, Mirage and Muskoka save the mess of sanding and sealing when installed. Specialty woods like hickory can make a home’s decor look more unique. Wide plank flooring is also gaining popularity with homeowners. A product we’ve installed is Carlisle wide plank flooring. Finishes are durable and the floor feels good underfoot.

Stone Flooring. Stone floors include slate, travertine, marble, limestone and even granite. Stone is mostly selected for aesthetics. If you are interested in stone flooring, spend some time doing research about its care. Some stone products are more porous and difficult to clean. You may want to purchase a piece and place it in the area where you would want it installed. Take off boots and place them on the stone, walk on the stone with muddy shoes, high heels or rubber soles. Try cleaning the stone with various products.  Since stone flooring is expensive, it makes sense to “try it out” before making a major investment.

Ceramic Tile. Ceramic tiles are being produced in fascinating new designs and colors. Some ceramic tiles look like wood floors or marble. Glazed ceramic tile is durable and easy to care for. If you install tile flooring in your home, always buy extra tiles in the event that a tile becomes cracked or chipped and requires replacement. Tiles may be discontinued or are produced in runs where colors may vary. It is good to have extra tiles on hand if you need to replace them.

Carpet. Carpet is versatile and more than 90 percent of products available are made of synthetic fibers, primarily nylon which holds its shape and resists stains. Carpet comes in two basic styles – looped and cut loop. Wool is probably the most expensive carpet and nothing beats it for its comfort under foot and durability. When purchasing carpet, don’t forget the pad. Padding not only provides comfort but adds insulation. Padding comes in various densities. The thicker the pad, the better it will perform. Vacuuming frequently will add to the life of the carpet. Professionally clean the carpet every year to year or two to refresh it.

Vinyl and Linoleum Flooring. Today’s vinyl and linoleum floors mimic more expensive flooring. Congoleum has a product called Duraceramic which looks like stone or hardwood. An interesting feature of this product is that it can be installed with grout. The 16 x 16 tiles have a limestone composite base and are scotchgarded, making them easy to clean. According to HGTV, linoleum is an eco-friendly product and is bio-degradable.

Laminate. Wood and stone “look” laminates mimic the look of more expensive flooring. If you’re considering installing a laminate floor be aware that there are significant differences in the quality of products that are on the market. Better quality laminates will cost more. Laminates are good for recovering existing flooring or areas where there is a concrete sub-floor. Some laminate products are “green” and use less wood than solid hardwoods. Laminates are also being produced with environment-friendly cores.

New Flooring Options. Cork flooring has resurfaced in homes because it is both eco-friendly and durable. Cork is harvested from the bark of the “Cork Oak” and trees are not cut down to produce the product. The largest cork suppliers are counties of Europe and North Africa, particularly those along the Mediterranean coast. Parquet flooring was once a valued feature of a home in the 1980s and is once again desirable in both new and older homes.

What is your favorite flooring?

Eternal Hybrid Hot Water Heater

Fine Construction has been installing hot water heaters on all our current projects this month, this is not unusual, however, what is unusual is that no two have been the same. This week we are installing the Eternal Hybrid Water Heater unit, the cream of the crop of water heaters. With a 2 gallon storage tank,  you won’t have to wait long for hot water like other traditional on demand units.  The Eternal is 98% efficient, said to be the most efficient hybrid hot water tank on the market.

GE GEOSpring Hybrid Hot Water Heaterhot water.

The next installation was a space ship looking hot water heater, the GE GEOSpring Hot Water Heater, another hybrid that uses electricity and air, typical of the heat pump technology. It stores hot water like the hot water tank that we all grew up with but with the heat pump technology it can save 25% of the cost of heating hot water.

Rinnai On Demand Hot Water Heater

The other hot water tank Fine Construction installed was the on-demand hot water tank.  We specified the need for the Rinnai on-Demand Hot Water Heater, because the home has three bathrooms, and requires an up sized gas line due to the amount of gas needed to heat the water for this size home. These units are of great use if you have multiple bathrooms used for bathing and a large family using water all at the same time, especially a house full of girls, or teenagers in general.  With the Rinnai on-demand unit,  you’ll never run out of hot water.

This is why I decided to install the on demand unit in our home; with 3 ladies in the house I am usually the last one to shower, with the on demand unit I am guaranteed hot water, Yay!  However, there is one downfall to this product, there is a wait time until you get the hot water. Once the demand has been made for the hot water, (turning on the hot faucet), the water starts heating and you have to wait for it to come to you.  The great part of the product is not running out of hot water.

Finally the classic hot water heater.  With all the energy efficient units on the market, I was surprised when one of our client wanted a regular 50 gallon electric hot water heater. There is only two people in this household so the payback would be a long time for a hybrid unit to pay for itself. But that’s why our suppliers offer all the different models.  Call Fine Construction today and we can help you choose the right unit for you. (206) 938-2300

Take a look at this PDF that shows the new fireplace tiles and the idea of the design and colors that we are going to use.  It is a very personal project and important to us that the client gets what they want here. The client is really excited about the fireplace and the tiles.  He fell in love with the tiles after spotting them at a little neighborhood store, Statements, they are handmade,  beautiful, unique tiles. Fine Construction is spending some extra time with this client to ensure they  get the design and finished product they are extremely happy with for years and years.  This is so worth it us, and we are really enjoying the interaction and excitement that the client is interjecting about the layout design and ideas that we have to make this project unique and specifically designed for them and their home.

Azek decking is made from cellular PVC, a type of plastic, and has many upsides compared to wood and wood composites. Unlike wood, Azek decking is mold and mildew resistant. This is great for Northwest weather!  Stain and scratch resistant products like Azek take into account your lifestyle — you aren’t just going to look at the deck, you’re going to use it! Azek eliminates problems like pet damage, grease, food, and drink stains as well as upkeep. Why spend every summer sanding, staining, or painting your deck when you could spend your free time in better ways?

Azek Building Products also commits to sustainability from the corporate offices to the very products they create. Azek decks will last over twenty five years and can even be recycled at the end of their usefulness. Fine Construction is proud to use Azek deck products to continue their twenty-year history of green building.

One of the most common reasons to replace existing windows is to increase the energy efficiency of your home — which reduces your heating and cooling bills and lowers greenhouse gas emissions. You’ll notice the savings immediately — because poorly performing windows and doors cause heating and cooling loss in a home. You’re literally throwing money out the window!

Pella has a proud 85-year history of environmental stewardship and has been recognized for its energy efficiency leadership and sustainable business practices. You can feel good about choosing Pella windows and doors. Fine Construction, a green contractor,  is very of this fact and highly praises Pella for it’s 85 year commitment to the environment and great craftsmanship.

At Fine Construction we value our clients home. From the day we start we have systems in place to protect our clients investment. We install floor protection and we install dust reduction systems. Our true commitment to our clients is not superficial they are true to heart.
We run a clean well managed site with polite and respectful interaction with you and your home, the best professional sub-contractors in the State, great communication, superior material selection, the list goes on. We guarantee you will have the best experience possible through your remodel, addition, renovation and any service Fine Construction provides to your home.

A recent client says; “The place really does look great, and you’ve done a masterful job (well, we knew you would).  There are always fubars, and you’ve done everything possible to try and make them non-existent, but that’s impossible!  I agree, though, it is irritating when some common sense things don’t happen and people don’t treat a space as if it was their own home. Every sub has had a good attitude and has been very polite to us, at least.  Our bringing in treats every now and then doesn’t go near displaying our appreciation for everyone’s hard work.”

Check us out; Fine Construction and give us a call to discuss you next project! 206.938.2300