Remodel | Fine Construction

About Us

Jan 26

Meet and Greet at the Bellevue Home and Lifestyle Show

Thank you for stopping by our booth! Fine Construction and Authentic Home had a lot of fun at this years Bellevue Home and Lifestyle Show. We answered many questions about remodeling, renovating and design ideas. We were so pleased to see all of you with your great plans and ideas cruising through the show getting resources and inspiration. Let us know how we can help!

And…stay tuned for more information on our new Fine Exteriors division.

Tom Fine & Kathy Banak

Herb in the Fine / Authentic Booth

Tom & Kathy discuss a new project

Jan 20

Pella Windows and Doors

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Ready for new windows and doors but don’t know where to begin? Pella, doing business since 1925, makes window and door replacement virtually effortless. Fine Construction trusts Pella products and will help you select the products that fit your needs, to installing them, to hauling your old windows away. Our experts will be with you at every step. When you choose Pella window and door replacement, your windows and doors are built with custom, quality craftsmanship.

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.

Jan 10

FINE Construction is a Safe and Certified EPA Renovator

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EPA requires that firms performing renovation, repair, and painting projects that disturb lead-based paint in pre-1978 homes, child care facilities and schools be certified by EPA and that they use certified renovators who are trained by EPA-approved training providers to follow lead-safe work practices. Tom Fine and FINE Construction became an EPA certified renovator by taking an eight-hour training course from an EPA-approved training provider.

To read more about how FINE construction will protect your home and family during remodeling and renovation, click on the image below and read the brochure.

Jan 04

New Project – Brick Tudor Remodel and Restoration

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FINE Construction broke ground recently on a new remodel project on north Admiral in West Seattle. This brick Tudor family home was is in serious need of updating, the bricks were loose and the exterior needed attention. We have almost completed the tuckpointing.

Tuckpointing Definition: The process of repairing a mortar joint in a brick wall is called “tuckpointing.” The term comes from the process of tucking mortar into the damaged mortar joint with the point of a trowel called a “pointing trowel.” Tuckpointing is a critical maintenance task and keeps water from entering the brick wall cavity. If water is allowed to get past the mortar and into the wall, brick failure may occur such as cracking or spalling (popping off of the brick face). In addition to the brick on the gable ends we will be applying traditional 3 coat Stucco, giving this Tudor another 40 plus years of maintenance free life, Yeah!

The electrical is presently a knob and tube wiring system which we will replace as much as we possibly can in this home. The new light fixtures are period reproductions from Rejuvenation Seattle. We are installing a Pella French Door with Mahogany interior millwork. The interior trim for the main floor will be replaced with Mahogany trim and stained. The main floor bathroom is totally gutted and will have a claw foot tub, representing the original 1920’s look and feel.

The back yard has been laid out for a new multi-level deck utilizing IPE Decking to enjoy the beautiful garden.

Sep 22

Seattle Home Show 2

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Come and see us at the Seattle Home Show 2 coming up starting October 8, Friday thru Sunday the 10th. We are excited being back at the Qwest Field Event Center.

Fine Construction participated for years with the Home Show,take a look at our first Home Show Booth, from 2003. It’s great seeing the progression in booths. I bought a trade show display booth off eBay and I posted pictures on the display, I used a sink and for people that signed up to discuss their project had a chance in wining a gift certificate. The item that made my booth stick out was the robot from Lost in Space. My brother was into Lost in Space so i borrowed it for the show. It was interesting the group of visitors that where really interested in the robot. Some of the guys, their eye’s lite up and a smile came on their face and all they wanted to talk about was the robot. It worked! It brought people into my booth to talk about the robot and what they wanted to remodel.

The next Seattle Home Show was the 2004 and I hooked up with Windsor One who offers a great line of high quality millwork for the interior and exterior for your home. We received materials and we put together a great booth.

We used this booth for 4 years and ti was great that visitors to the Seattle Home Show can actually see the finished product, they could come up close to touch and feel the millwork and joinery. Brian Kemly of Kemly Electric provided the lighting consulting and recess light installation for the booth.

Not only did we get the brothers and father involved with the Home Show’s but Kathryn, (Tom’s Oldest Daughter) is featured in a video about a project completed on the Fine house. Kate’s love for acting show’s in the video. Sit back and enjoy the Fine Construction Thanksgiving 2006 Video

Click on this link to see Kathryn Fine showing a bathroom remodel MVI_1029_xvid

I look forward to seeing you at the Seattle Home Show 2

The MBA Remodel Homes Tour is coming October 16th & 17th, come and see our renovated project located in West Seattle.

Sep 09

Renovation in West Seattle, Arroyos is Underway

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We’ve got the next renovation underway and a deadline in mind. This renovation consists of expanding the house to the North increasing the size of two bedrooms, relocating one bathroom and adding another. With this addition we are reconfiguring the front of the house for better street appeal, so friends and family members know where to go tot he front door. The last project had the same problem.

I love the front of the house, why change it?

The homeowners had ideas of what they wanted and we sat down and started drawing. it didn’t take long to take their needs and put it on paper and then refine their ideas and our suggestions to come up with a nice flowing addition. Thee design process went well. We produced a simple expansion so we could spend money on other parts of the house. Stand by for Phase II coming up soon.

What I am enjoying right now is working with wonderful people. It’s nice when we communicate and keep the channels open and discuss what is coming and how it’s going to happen and what the impact will be for the clients so thy know what to expect. The homeowners asked if they could stay int he house during the renovation and I said yes, but you will most likely be uncomfortable. Dust, inconvenience, interruption of utilities during the day, especially for the husband who works from home.

Out of my way, I've got concrete in my shovel

We excavated out the foundation and used Pacific Rim Equipment, Lee Forte is great and I’m glad he’s back in the game. We hauled out 30 yards of soil and for Phase II coming up shortly, we are looking at 40 yards and the only access is a small buggy, oh that’s going to be labor intensive.

Jeffery's On-site and Checking that everything is neat and organized

The Floor is framed and ready for walls

of We’ve got the trailer on-site, I’m so glad I made that investment, misc. parts are keep in it, in addition to some items being saved, especially for Seattle a place to keep things out of the rain.

The walls will be going up next and the following week we’ll get the trusses installed and ready for a roof.

Stay tuned for updates on this project, and watch for the next project, we’ve got in design. It’s a cute brick Tudor with a client that is organized and ready to make her dreams come true.

Jun 24

West Seattle Coming to the Finish Line

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The New Entry, Don't use the garage door anymore for the front door!

The hardwoods, the Tiger wood on the top floor and the Brazilian Cherry for the main floor and the stairs received the final top coat and they look sweet!

The Metal handrails were installed and the Brazilian Cherry top rail is being installed this week.

The mail slot is very cool, the mail slot is at the front door and it slides down a custom chute to a basket to collect the mail in the front closet. We built a over-sized cubby hole for over-sized packages.

The New Entry, Don't use the garage door anymore for the front door!

In the front entry their is a beautiful Tech light with red pepper glass for the chandelier in addition to the slopped ceiling that is lite with LED soffit lighting.

With the front entry closets the lights inside come on automatically once the door to the closet is opened.

Red Hot Chilli Light Fixture

The video intercom system is a favorite for the kids, when they got installed this week the kids couldn’t stay away, they were running up and down the stairs talking and looking at the screens. The color monitors provide a good picture of who is at the front door nice and clearly so they can decide if they are home or not?

The custom glass panel was installed this week and did not disappoint anyone. It is very cool!

A great place to start the morning

The Master Bath has contemporary vanities with quartz counter tops. One side has the sink and opposite the sink vanity is a make-up are with a large mirror, great lighting and an adjustable double sided lighted mirror.

Fine Construction Designed and Built this great master bathroom suite, contact us to provide you construction and design services

Feb 22

Beacon Hill Project Gets Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) for 2nd Floor Addition–a Green Process

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The structural engineer set forth requirements to accept the SIPs (Structural Insulated Panels) on this Beacon Hill project. The existing frame had to be able to handle the additional load of the second floor. This is normal whether you have SIPs or standard framing methods (2×6’s)

SIP being lowered in place

This photo illustrates what a typical SIP looks like as it is lowered into place. On Wednesday morning, a truck will arrive at the Beacon Hill site and a forklift will take the panels from the flatbed truck on the street, up a narrow street, to a crane that has been setup and waiting for the panels. Then the crane will set the panels in place to the Fine Constructions awaiting framing crew.

GG brings donuts to the roof crew

I explained to GG (my daughter) that yes, donuts are great treat for the guys on the jobsite, the sugar gives the guys energy. Then she asked why she could only have one.

The great thing about this location, and Beacon Hill, is the transit system. The new light rail has been installed, and I hope that they continue to make progress on expanding the light rail system.

Light Rail near project on Beacon Hill

Jan 26

Fine Construction Get’s 3rd Story Master Suite Framed

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In Seattle everyone knows what we are in for during the winter, rain, rain and more rain. Well we have been tracking the weather like never before. Every morning, mid afternoon and afternoon the office and the lead project manager discussed the weather and the predictions for what the weather. Finally we had a 4 day break and we mobilized our framing crew and our crews to demo and start framing so we could avoid the rain. Presently we have trusses showing up on Wednesday and we’ll be weathered in by Friday, Yeah!

This Fine Construction Master Suite addition is located in West Seattle. The addition is to the new 3rd floor with unobstructed 240 degrees incredible views. The design is by the Fine Construction Design Team. Our local architect listened to our clients needs and our interior designer brought together the color pallet that the clients loved and we are on tract to finish this contemporary project. No Doubt that this will be an award winner!