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Home Restoration Project Converts a Damaged House Into an Efficient, Classy Home from the Inside-Out |
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Written by Administrator
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Monday, 02 August 2010 18:00 |
A modest remodel on a small 2 bedroom, 1 bath frame home in Hurst, Texas suddenly became a major home restoration project. David and Christine had just purchased the home for their daughter, and had arranged for us to begin our work. We started work on the bathroom in early January when a hard freeze caused overhead water pipes to rupture in several places, saturating the attic and causing most of the insulation and ceiling drywall to collapse onto the floor.
A local emergency restoration company was called in to clean up the debris and mop up. A dozen large fans and two giant dehumidifier units were pressed into service. These units dry the moist air down to a level of 10% humidity or less, then heat the air to 110 degrees or warmer and blow it out to be circulated throughout the interior and beneath the pier and beam flooring of the house.
Additional auxiliary heaters were also installed because of the cold January temperatures. This massive array of equipment was kept in place, heating, drying and circulating the air for 10 days. Fortunately, the homeowner had just purchased insurance on the property, and was covered against such a catastrophe. When we were able to get back to work, our planned home restoration project had doubled in scope.
Restore Structural Integrity
The structural integrity of the home had suffered great damage. To complete the home restoration and restore its structural reliability, there were various items on our checklist. We raised and reinforced sagging roof ridge row, added support to roof trusses and ceiling joists as needed, repaired roof shingles as needed, and installed new attic roof vent. A new pull-down staircase was installed for better attic access. We repaired and replaced all exterior vinyl siding as needed and installed new metal exterior door in the rear of the home.
Repair Plumbing, Mechanical and Electrical
The home restoration also involved the repair and replacement of old plumbing throughout house. This included the installation of new hot and cold water pipes and drain lines. We removed the old water heater and converted its closet into a convenient linen storage closet. The old water heater was replaced with new instant on-demand water heater for greater efficiency. We removed old heating and cooling system from interior closet and installed new system in the attic, including new compressor on the outside of the home. We replaced all electrical wiring throughout house.
Make the Home More Energy Efficient
Proper insulation plays a key role in the home’s performance. We installed new insulation in walls as needed and put in new insulation in the attic. New energy efficient windows replaced old windows throughout entire house. We installed a new threshold and weather stripping around front door to prevent air leaks.
Beautify the Kitchen with Discriminating Taste
The kitchen also needed a facelift. As part of the home restoration endeavor, the homeowners had a great taste for new custom-made kitchen and bathroom cabinets to replace the old ones. We removed the old vinyl flooring from the kitchen, bath and utility room areas and replaced it with new vinyl tile. We doubled the size of the kitchen window to provide wide, outside view and increase interior daylight. Other functional aspects included the installation of a new stainless steel kitchen sink, dishwasher, disposal, microwave, vent hood, and slide-in range. New granite countertops in the kitchen and bathroom lit up the rooms with a lot of class. For finishing touches, we installed new brush nickel plumbing fixtures. The special finishes turned the old kitchen into a modern and pleasant place for the gourmet chef.
Redecorate the Bathroom
The homeowners were focused on details from the inside-out. We installed a new toilet and a new bathtub. The bathroom was decorated with tiled flooring and tub surround. New granite countertops with brush nickel plumbing fixtures gave the bathroom a completely luxurious look.
Complete the Home Restoration with the Detailed Finishes
We removed and replaced all damaged drywall, textured all walls and painted interior walls throughout in customer’s choice of the perfect colors to brighten up the entire home. We painted the front door, shutters and all exposed exterior wood. New outside lighting was installed. Interior lighting and ceiling fans gave new life to the rooms. We replaced damaged oak flooring, sanded and refinished it with a rich new look to complete the discriminating details throughout the home. |
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Kitchen Remodel and Bath Remodel Projects Bring Owner’s Dreams into Reality |
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Written by Administrator
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Monday, 05 July 2010 18:00 |
 Tucked in beautiful Bedford, Texas adjacent to Colleyville’s Tara Plantation, is the home of owners Stan and Pam. Seeking for an updated fresh new look in their kitchen, master bath and guest bath, we learned what the owners wanted for their kitchen remodel and bath remodel projects, provided them exciting choices, and caught their vision to bring their ideas into reality.
First things first – Kitchen Remodel
To give the kitchen a bright new look, we re-stained t the cabinet bases and uppers. The desk area was redesigned for better accommodation of the home computer and peripherals. We removed the fur-down above the sink area and installed a new light above new stainless steel sink. The homeowners made a great selection for their new beautiful granite countertops for the entire kitchen cabinet bases, including the island and desk area. We modified the cabinets to accommodate new state-of-the-art stainless steel wall oven and microwave. An easy-to-clean flush mounted cook-top with new lighted stainless steel vent hood with roof vent was the perfect complement the new appliances. As a finishing touch, the kitchen remodel project was complete with a tumbled marble backsplash with bronze medallion features behind new luxurious cook-top.
Homeowners retreat renewal – Master Bath Remodel
The homeowners’ ideas for their master bath turned the dated bathroom into a true homeowners retreat. The first step was to remove the old bathtub, replace it with a deep, oversized fiberglass acrylic tub, elevated with extra step and beautified with a tumbled marble backsplash. The second step in their master bath remodel was to open up the old, dark shower by removing the wall, dropped ceiling and vanity fur-down. We built a spacious tiled shower and bath floor with matching tile, tumbled marble accent and added two shampoo niches conveniently located for easy reach. The frameless glass panel atop the new pony wall with matching frameless door allows the tile work to stand out. We updated the cabinet by re-staining the existing vanity base, installing new granite countertops with bisque colored sink and replacing the dated plumbing fixtures with new antique, oil rubbed bronze fixtures. Their master bath remodel project would not be complete without other special details. The homeowners’ idea to install a new framed mirror, recessed can lights and new vanity lighting converted their old bath into a truly pleasant and welcoming retreat.
Guests were not left out – Guest Bath Remodel
 Stan and Pam really wanted to bring the guest bath up-to-date with the same quality as their master bath retreat. They did not cut corners. We removed the old bathtub, installed a walk-in shower with built-in shampoo niche and corner bench, installed matching tile on bath floor and shower walls and added a frameless glass panel and shower door that showcases the tile art work. The walls also got a fresh new look with hand-textured finish. The same attention to detail in their master bath remodel was applied to the guest bath remodel project as well. We painted the existing vanity base, installed new granite vanity countertop, added tumbled marble as a backsplash, replaced old plumbing fixtures with new oil rubbed bronze fixtures, included a new framed mirror on wall, and added recessed can lighting and new vanity lighting.
The homeowners were focused on detail from the inside out. To complete their home remodel, Stan and Pam also had us paint the complete exterior of home including accent color on shutters, posts and front door. The choices that the homeowners made truly made their home more special, spacious, functional and a lot more beautiful.
“A&W Construction took the time at the beginning of our renovation project to explore various design options and understand exactly what we wanted. They followed up with providing the right resources at the right time to turn our concepts into reality. We were impressed with their quality of work, their flexibility in scheduling, and the integrity in which they dealt with us. We could not have been more pleased.” ―Stan and Pam |
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Written by Administrator
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A great kitchen is the result of great planning. But where do you begin? Here are a few tips to help you with your decision!
1. Prioritize
Make a list of the things that are most important to you. For example, think of various aspects including aesthetics, energy-efficiency, increased value to your home, and purpose for remodeling. If you plan to live longer in your home, then you may think of adding some personal aspects to your new kitchen that express your taste and personality. If you are remodeling to sell, then you may want to follow a more neutral path.
2. Create a Budget
Once you have prioritized what is most important to you do a little bit of research and create budget. This will help you stay on target and focused on your priority and complete your project within your financial goals.
3. Think Green
Today's savvy consumers understand the value of green remodeling practices and products. There are many great energy-efficient and earth-friendly products available for your new kitchen. Although some of these products could cost a little more, they may be well worth the extra expense on your part. For example, ENERGY STAR appliances use less energy, which could have an effect on lowering your monthly energy bills.
4. Find the Right Contractor
What does the "right" contractor look like? Consider working with a company that has a proven record, is insured, and is professional. Read their blogs, which will give you insight as to their knowledge of the work that they do. Also, read the testimonials from past customers. A quality contractor may even provide you with a few references of past clients that you can actually talk to. And when you do, don't forget to ask the most important question: would you hire them again?
For questions about our services, please contact us today! |
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Bath Remodel Turns an Old Master Bathroom into a Colorful Spa Retreat |
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Written by Administrator
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Monday, 31 May 2010 18:00 |
 A recently completed bath remodel job in Bedford turned an old master bathroom into a colorful spa retreat. Previously, the bath was dominated my lack-luster earth tones and a tall cathedral ceiling making the bathroom hot in the summer and cold in the winter. The old, leaky shower and tub prompted the homeowners, Paul and Laurie to move forward with their bathroom dreams.
We took the homeowners idea and provided our expertise to bring their dreams to reality. To provide better consistency with room temperature, we lowered the ceiling a nine foot height. New ducts were installed to provide better ventilation for heating and cooling. Recessed can lighting was used to complement for a clean look. The homeowners selected a beautiful oversized Jetta acrylic bathtub that we set within a circular framework.
We constructed a new walk-through shower with free-standing, circular walls and easy walk-in with no doors. Existing windows were replaced with new glass blocks for a more contemporary look. Of course, the bath remodel would not be complete without new brushed nickel plumbing fixtures by Moen. Two high-arc lavatory fixtures were installed for a finishing touch. The high-arc tub fixture with hand-held body spray truly complements the new tub.
For a perfect bath, multiple body-spa heads in shower as well as a fixed head and hand-held spray. The colorful blue & grey slate tile was installed in shower, tub and across floor turned the entire room into a welcoming spa retreat. We trimmed the tub and shower wall with the same colorful slate tile in a mosaic pattern and with handmade bull-nose edges throughout.
The homeowners knew what they wanted and we were pleased to help them give life to their dream master bath retreat.
Our clients were pleased with our work, and here's how they expressed it in their own words:
“We contracted with Don Andrews and A & W Construction for a bath remodel project for our master bathroom. We found the experience to be very easy and straightforward. Don came to our home and listened to our needs and wants and gave us a fair bid to do the work. After we made some adjustments to our plan, Don was willing and able to adjust accordingly, and the project started.
During the construction, the workmen were respectful of our family schedules and routines and we were able to continue to "live" in and among the construction. There were no surprises throughout the project and we found that when questions or difficulties arose, Don was quick to find a workable answer for us.
As construction projects always go, we had one situation where tile work was not turning out as we had anticipated. I called Don Andrews at 7:00 pm while at a softball game to discuss our concerns. That very evening at 9:00 pm, Don was at our home looking at the situation and finding a resolve to our satisfaction. He found a solution and absorbed the cost of tear-out in order to keep the project moving forward with a different tile company and worked to a finished product that was absolutely wonderful.
I highly recommend the A & W Construction team for any projects that you may be considering. Don Andrews' business practices reflect Christian ethics and his communication and problem-solving approaches are straightforward and honest. My wife and I will certainly be using A & Construction if we do future projects.” ―Paul & Laurie |
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Bath Remodel Transformed from a Boring Basic Bath to a Lovely Spa-like Retreat |
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Written by Administrator
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Monday, 03 May 2010 18:00 |
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 Bath remodeling projects for individuals with physical needs require meticulous attention and creativity.
Troy and Tricia 13-year old son has a severe case of cerebral palsy and could not stand or even sit erect without aid. He had literally outgrown his small bathroom; carrying him to and from the tub and bathing him was becoming an increasingly difficult chore. The couple opted for a bath remodeling option to improve their son’s difficult situation. The project involved converting the tub and shower in their master bath into a large roll-in shower to accommodate their son’s shower chair.
The existing shower in their master bath was removed as well as their beautiful cultured marble bathtub.In their place was constructed one large roll-in style shower.The bath remodel required that left and right pony walls be constructed on top of which was placed two frameless glass panels.The bedroom and bathroom door was widened to allow easy entrance for their son’s wheelchair. The bathroom floor was raised and the shower floor was lowered to allow proper water drainage.
To the left of the center entrance is a shower head mounted at standard height for the adults.The bath remodel also involved mounting the water controls on the inside of the left pony wall with a water diverter valve which powers a hand held shower head on a long hose for their son.To the right of the entrance, a full width bench was constructed, allowing the attendant to be seated while bathing her son. Two recessed shampoo niches were built into the wall for convenience and storage of shower toiletries.
Troy and Tricia love the appearance and usage of their new shower.And the new design and size make access much easier for their son Drew. The bath remodel has made it easy for Drew to thoroughly enjoy his showers.
“Thank you for the beautiful job your company did remodeling our bathroom. The tile work is gorgeous! We have had many compliments on the work. Our bathroom has been transformed from a boring builder's basic bathroom to a lovely spa-like retreat. After previous poor experiences with contractors it was a pleasant surprise to have someone actually return my calls and show up when promised. We would be thrilled to use A & W Construction for our future remodeling projects.” ― Troy & Tricia
 
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