Two currently popular options for flooring are Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP) and the timeless hardwood flooring.  Which is best for your situation depends primarily on a few factors; your lifestyle, budget, and how long you plan to stay in your home.  If you have a busy household with kids and pets, LVP is a great…

Building a deck in a hot and humid climate is a battle against the elements.  Between blistering sun UV rays and relentless moisture that leads to mold and rot, the choice of decking material can determine whether your deck lasts 5 or 20 years. If you live in a coastal area or anywhere else with…

Twelve years ago, as part of a lake front whole house remodel for one of our clients, we  added a screen porch and new cedar deck.  We chose cedar at the time for several reasons.  It is naturally rot-resistant, stays relatively cool underfoot, is moderately priced and has a natural appearance.  What we learned in…

Several years ago, my parents came to visit and go on vacation with us.  The night before we were to leave for the beach, I went to my basement to find the floor covered in water.  After a late night of clean up and repairs we were still able to get to the beach the…

In general, my answer would be “do you trust your builder”?  If you are purchasing an existing home and aren’t working with the builder, then I would err on the side of caution and hire an inspector before making the purchase.  If you are working with a builder that you trust, it shouldn’t be necessary,…

UNDERTAKING A MAJOR REMODEL, ADDITION, OR NEW BUILD WITHOUT A PROFESSIONAL BUILDER Homebuilding is more complex than most people realize.  I’m all for DIY but know your limits.  It takes years for skilled professionals to learn the business and there are constant changes to the industry, materials, and codes that make it difficult to keep…

It is not an uncommon request for clients to say they have a friend or family member in the trades that they would like to use on their project.  Motivations for this can be different, but most of the time, it is done to save money.  I don’t have a problem with clients asking the…

Construction projects can be an exciting time as well as a stressful time.  To make things as enjoyable as possible, it’s important to have a strong relationship with your builder.  Some people enter the relationship looking at the builder as an adversary and those relationships are doomed to fail from the start.  Rather than an…

There are several common disagreements builders have with their clients (or vice versa) and there are ways to avoid them.  Here are some common examples and solutions. The homeowner may feel that the builder never finished their walkthrough list.  It is imperative for the builder and the client to walk the project together and develop…

If something is damaged during construction, should it be repaired or replaced?  It is understandable to expect every item in a new home or remodeling project to be brand new and unblemished.  This is any builders’ goal, but the reality is that with over 100,000 components going into a new home and dozens if not…