Most of my customers are not to familiar with the word "egress". It is a term that mostly defines a fire escape window in your homes basement that acts as an exit in case of an emergency. It is the most effective way to move you and your loved ones out of harms way in case tragedy does occur. Can you imagine your loved ones trapped under fire with nowhere to go? Horrible thought but it happens more often then you can imagine.

What you Risk by not having an egress window:

• In time of a possible tragedy, you and your loved ones need to be able to escape
• National building codes require egress windows so if tragedy occurs, you will be held at fault.
• When you sell, most building departments will require installation of an egress window.(not doing so will most likely create huge delays in closing dates)

Within a few days we will cleanly dig and cut your foundation out for your newly installed egress window. With many installs under our belt, we have perfected installing egress windows with minimal dust and damage. Most contractors cut from the inside- out, we have perfected a technique from the outside-in that brings dust levels to extreme lows. Cutting on the inside reduces dust contents to an extreme low leaving your home virtually free of contaminating particles. Cutting inside will create enormous dust up to three stories high. It is kind of amazing where concrete dust will travel!

 The ground has been excavated and concrete removed from the outside. This is a huge part of performing a quality and clean job when performing an egress window. You cannot believe the damage that can be done by hiring an unexperienced contractor for a project like this. Dust control is priority as well as maintaining the integrity of your foundation.

Egress windows will also enhance your basement:

• More natural light
• Better ventilation
• Less mold and mildew
• Makes rooms appear larger

Egress windows are a huge investment to your home. From protection to enhancement, think about what you will gain! It is one of the projects in your home you think the least about, but will have one of the biggest effects in the future!

I have to say, most of my calls for egress windows come from home sales that hold up closings for weeks or maybe months. You may have bought your home years ago and during inspection it was overlooked! The new codes have building departments all over enforcing it, and you may/or may not get away with it. If you are looking to sell, do your research ahead of time because the building department can make the closing process painful and costly for both buyer and seller! Most delays range from 3 weeks to a couple of months!

On the other hand, look into the safety and benefits an egress window will add to your home. Pound per penny, it is a wise investment.

 Click on our logo to set up your free estimate!!

Kitchen renovations can be one of the biggest remodels to your home. It can take a lot of lead work preparing for the project and a lot of work during the project. Choosing a good home improvement contractor can take some of the headaches out of the process. You usually only have one kitchen in your home, so you want your remodel to go as quickly and smoothly as possible.

A great kitchen remodel requires working with the greatest specialists in the field. You always want experienced and established businesses working in your home.

A great kitchen remodel starts with:

• A reputable contractor
• A great 3-D design of your future kitchen
• Choice of a good quality kitchen cabinet
• Sub contractors that are experienced and reputable
• Everything in place before you start

With your kitchen gutted, now is the time to upgrade everything you do not see behind the wall.  Might as well bring it up to code and icrease efficiency while the walls are open.

Changes made while walls were open in this WMB Construction kitchen renovation picture:

• Solid nailers were installed so that every cabinet has a solid attachment
• Electric was upgraded and extra circuits added for appliances
• Plumbing was upgraded and new chrome right angle supply valves were installed.
• New fiberglass insulation installed up to new industry standards

The kitchen is the heart of your home and living without one is very hard. You need to set up a schedule with your contractor to ensure they will be in and out as quickly as possible. Most kitchen renovations take 2-3 weeks to perform, but I have seen other contractors take months. Add eating out a lot to your estimate if you choose a contractor with the best price.

When choosing a qualified contractor, question:

• Neat appearance
• In depth contract
• If he uses sub contractors, a list of who they will be using
• Insurance?
• References?
• Years in business
• Who will be working in your home
• Is the person you hire an owner/operator

Your kitchen can be whatever you dream, it can be just that. It is the main focal point of your home so make it the best room of your house. The money you spend today will give you a lifetime of appreciation!!!

A kitchen renovation gains:

• Increased value to your home
• Pleasing environment
• Electrical updated to current codes
• Plumbing updated to ensure no future water damage
• Family and friends to visit without embarrasement of an old kitchen

The weight of water is one of natures biggest fears. It costs Americans trillions of dollars a year just in home damage. This doesn't even account for damage costs at sea. Lets face it, the force of water sank the titanic and thousands perished. What are the consequences you can face in your own home.

From a small town in Monroe, NY we have our fair share of bad weather. Surrounding us is the Tri-state region which includes NY, NJ and Connecticut. Unlike the rest of the country, we don't experience too many tornadoes, hurricanes or earthquakes. We do have the tendency to experience massive snowstorms and crippling rain in the spring. Now we have experienced a hurricane!!!

Major rains will bring your home devastating results like this without proper drainage. My own personal home experienced this last year after 3 feet of snow and a following of 4 inches of rain. I immediately came to the conclusion that my newly purchased home had inadequate footing drains. Within weeks I broke ground and started replacing the damaged drains.

 This picture above shows a curtain drain being installed and tied into the footing drains already installed. The idea is to divert water away from you home before it can enter. Without installing the correct drainage components can create results you may never thought possible!!

WMB Construction excavated this property in Monroe, NY for water issues due to poor footing drains. What we found on top of digging blew my mind. The actual weight of water and ice collapsed the infrastructure of the foundation leaving the homeowners bedroom upstairs unsafe. The foundation had pushed itself in 4-5 inches.

As it may be hard to see from the photo, the foundation was almost at the point of complete failure. Even my helper looks puzzled how it happened!lol

The biggest overlooks of drainage:

• What you can't see, will not hurt you!(huge misconception)

• Worry about it later!(do you know mold and mildew problems will make you home worthless?)

• We'll worry about those expanding foundation cracks in the future.(these issues don't go away, only become worse.)

The results of poor footing drains

WMB Construction had to re support the upper level and remove the damaged areas of the foundation. All due to the strength and power of water!

How did we correct the problem?

• We started by installing new block to match the existing wall structure.

• Every row of block we installed "Durawall" reinforcement to ensure future strength

• When block were installed to the existing grade we installed rebar through all the block.

• Block holes were filled solid with 4,000 psi gravel mix cement to ensure no possible future movement of the wall.

• Installed industry standard footing drain application.

Drainage is the #1 key in keeping your home dry and free of mold and mildew! What you can't see, will hurt you and your investment!

Drainage services:

• Footing drains

• Curtain drains

• Sump pumps

• Gutter drainage

Bathroom renovations are one of our favorite remodels performed. Average of one or two weeks, we can transform your once dispicatble room into a room of beauty and elegance. WMB Construction has been creating elegant products for many years now throughout Orange County, NY.

On a personal level, I experience that my wife enjoys a shower 3-4 times a day. The bathroom is an area of your home that is a necessity that cleans, relieves, prepares and relaxes you for the next day, morning or the night! Now on that note, I mostly notice that women have a stronger desire to enjoy the bathroom. Soft soaps, candles, bubble bath, make-up, etc.; it is a priority to relax and keep themselves moisturized and beautiful. 

Now, male or female, who would want to take a bath in this tub? Just think of the mold, rust and mildew that has been growing in this tub.

In this situation what to do:

• Call "Rebath" to cover up the mold and mildew
• Try bleach and ammonia to kill the bacteria
• Sell and take a huge loss

In this situation there is only one realistic solution in correcting the problem!

 A full bathroom renovation increases the value and quality of your life!!

 WMB CONSTRUCTION new tub install and recessed shelf constructed!

Within a week to two, we will transform your bathroom!

Ever think of a recessed shelf built into your wall?

In one to two weeks you can enjoy this!!!

A new bathroom renovation gains:

• Added value to your home
• Eliminate mold and mildew problems
• Elevated mood in a clean enviroment
• Less health issues due to allergies
• New fixtures create a better atomosphere for less water issues

WMB Construction is your full phase construction company for any of your home improvements needs!

Enjoy our selected slideshow of our most recent bathroom renovation.

Interior or exterior, there is no faster way to improve the appearance of your home. So many options of colors, shades and finishes to create a total transformation to your largest investment. You have the opportunity to create a warming atmosphere within the walls of your home in a couple of days without major renovation.A great paint job starts with a great product. Painting for many years out of Monroe, NY I have found that Benjamin Moore products are the best in the industry. They offer a large line and grades of paint for whatever your application may be.  With thousands of colors to choose from you can create the perfect color combination for your home. Benjamin Moore also has recommended color combinations available for you to see to make choosing easier.

Benjamin Moores five favorite greys:

revere pewter (HC-172) A light gray with warm undertones, this classic shade creates a unifying look that calms and restores. A great transitional color, it's perfect for an open floor plan.

kendall charcoal (HC-166) Rich, deep, and luxurious, kendall charcoal pops beautifully when paired with crisp white room accents and trim. A versatile neutral, it also works well with most color schemes.

cape may cobblestone (1474) This classic, elegant gray confers a sense of spaciousness that makes it ideal for small bedrooms and areas like hallways and mudrooms.

metropolitan (AF-690) A stylish gray with cool blue undertones, metropolitan reflects the modern sophistication of 21st-century urban spaces.

silhouette (AF-655) Red undertones make silhouette a sultry gray that can turn an unremarkable room into a lush, sumptuous space.

Each color almost seems to have a story being told behind it. Different color go with different styles, different emotions and different people. This is a story that dates back to the early 1900's when Henry Ford realized that not everybody wanted a black car. Colors describe people differently.

I believe that colour is the most affordable and influential factor to creating an atmosphere that best expresses your personal style! Paint colour can be vibrant, dramatic, tranquil or fun. With Colour & Style Ideas, I hope to inspire you to bring some colour into your life!

Sharon Grech is a Colour & Style expert with Benjamin Moore Paints in Canada and regularly appears on CityTV's CityLine with colourful room makeovers that appeal to all budgets and style preferences.

Traditional plaid gets a modern update when partnered with an unexpected geometric. Soft cotton sateen sheets and coordinating decorative cushions complete the Lauren ensemble. With its understated palette, this collection is a perfect addition to any bedroom.

feather gray

2127-60

ivory white

CC-130

kingsport gray

HC-86

The possibilites are endless when you start painting.

What you gain with a new paint job:

• Fresh appearance to your home
• Elevated mood
• Inspiration
• Added value to your home
• Protection from the elements

Contact us today for your free painting estimate!!

Lots of water and no where for it to go. Water tables this time of year are at their capacity leaving water to seep into undesired areas. These areas usually consist of your homes basement. With improper drainage water cannot be diverted away from your home.

Tips for removing water away and out of your home:

• Install a sump pump inside your basement. It is installed in the concrete floor to relieve aquastatic pressure before it can enter into your home.
• Install french drains inside your basement. Drains are installed in the corner of the wall and floor. Usually installed due to failing footing drains.
• All homes are installed with footing drains unless built on a slab. Over time, older footing drains fail due to products used years ago or poor installation. Footing drains are the number one factor for relieving water away from your home.
• Install a curtain drain. Curtain drains help relieve water before it reaches your footing drains. Also good for wet areas of your property.
• Divert gutter downspouts away from home.

 The key to good drainage is a good installation. Most systems fail due to poor installation and a misunderstanding of how the system works. Water is one of natures greatest forces and costs homeowners and insurance companies trillions of dollars a year.

Key factors when installing footing drains:

• Make sure before you dig, call! Have a markout done so you don't hit any underground lines.
• Use a minimum 4" corrugated pipe.
• Use more gravel than necessary. Gravel is natural drainage.
• Install filter fabric around gravel.
• Install filter fabric around corrugated pipe.
• Use a good quality foundation coating.

 Curtain drains are a perfect way to relieve water away from your home or property. It works the same way as a footing drain and a lot of the time they are installed together. With both systems installed it cuts down your risk of water penetrating your home.

Why you might need a curtain drain:

• Areas of your property are consistently wet
• Water problems in your basement
• Your soil has bad perculation

Sump pumps are an excellent way of keeping unwanted water out of your basement. Installed in your basement floor, sump pumps relieve water from aquastatic pressure. In some areas, water tables are always high. As the pressure builds, water will always go where there is the least resistance. This will be in the cracks of your floor or walls. A sump pump catches any unwanted water before it can penetrate  into your home.

 Removing water away from your home is always a good idea. Gutter downspouts drain a massive amount of water from your roof. Installing a 4" pipe in the ground to divert the water elsewhere is an excellent investment.

What you gain by diverting water from your downspouts:

• Less water to worry about penetrating your foundation.
• Less mold and mildew issues next to your home.
• Much cleaner appearance.

 Water problems are always an issue. Fixing the problem is another issue. In the picture above you can easily see the high water table before we installed the curtain drain. Contact WMB Construction today for your next water issue.

You are looking to improve and spruce up your home. Looking for a qualified contractor you can trust can be a little discouraging and where do you start? You might look in the phonebook, a wall ad, internet or maybe a reference from your neighbor. All good ways to start but you never know who you are hiring. I always find word of mouth is the best reference. A contractor that has been tried and true is your best bet. I receive 95 percent of my referrals by word of mouth. A chance to see a contractors craftsmanship and hear about his professionalism is worth everything compared to a paid ad.

I have been working in the construction industry my entire life and have experienced hundreds of so called contractors come and go over the years. The biggest problems within the industry is the quick availability to start a business. A hammer and a pickup truck, and you are in business. No real experience and no insurance leaves an established contractor hard to compete with fly by night contractors. They are a dime a dozen and believe me, they will not be around if your project fails.

On the other end of the spectrum, I have seen many companies  come in strong with equipment and advertisement. They appear to be the perfect company but really do your research here. Most of the time the boss has little to no experience in the field and relies on his hired help to complete projects for him. He will sell you the job, get you to sign the contract and you will almost never see him again throughout the project.

What to look for when hiring a home improvement contractor:

• Established name within the area

• References of work performed

• Owner/Operator

• Knowledge in all fields of the trade

• Neat and clean

 When working in a customers home you must realize you are a guest. Cleanliness is key when working inside of a home. Dropclothes must be placed everyday before any work is performed to protect floors and contents of home from dirt and dust.

Concerns you might have when calling a home improvements contractor:

• Your contractor did not return your call immediately. This is not a bad thing.A contractor that can call and meet with you immediately probably has no work and is sitting by the phone waiting for your phone call. You should expect at least 48 hours for a response especially during the busy season. Understand that a reputable contractor has a busy schedule  performing the work, estimates, phonecalls and paperwork.

• You have made a appointment with your contractor for an estimate and he comes late or not at all. This is not a good thing. If your contractor cannot keep his appointment, what will his schedule be with your project? If he is running late or has to reschedule you should expect a phone call.

• Your contractor keeps referring to "his guys" or "his crew". Who are these guys/crew? This could be good or bad. If the contractor works with good mechanics it could be good. Unfortunately most of the time his guys/crew are the helpers he drops off in the morning and picks up at the end of the day. I like to refer to them as Hollywood Contractors who don't want to get dirty and play the role of a successful business owner. Remember, you hire a contractor for their professional craftsmanship, not just to draw up a contract and taxi helpers around.

William M. Bateman ensures quality, hands on, Owner/Operatored craftsmanship with every job performed. We deal with one job and one customer at a time allowing undivided attention to your next remodeling project!

I cannot think of a better place in your home to create a warm atomsphere and family closeness than the kitchen. Every family memory starts in the kitchen; Valentines Day, Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, etc.; the kitchen is the area where meals are prepared and everyday life is sustained. Everyday, even without family and friends, it is the heart of your home. Ever think of upgrading your kitchen? Ever think what you will gain by upgrading your kitchen?

 Kitchens and bathrooms are the biggest assets of your home. These are the rooms you will frequent everyday, so make them the best. This photo explains a kitchen that is well outdated and in need of a remodel.

A kitchen we started with in Monroe, NY that was in desperate need of complete remodel. A simple kitchen remodel easily added $50k to the value of the home. The total cost of the kitchen remodel was around $25k, a $25k gain in the longrun.

Notice after the kitchen has been gutted, the nailers that have been installed in the walls for a solid cabinet placement. This is crucial when performing a new kitchen remodel to ensure the integrity of your cabinet installation.

Your kitchen can make any transformation you want. Walls can be removed and and cabinet configuration can easily be changed. Let us remodel your next kitchen remodel!

Let WMB Construction remodel your next kitchen!!!!

Complete bathroom renovations sometimes cannot be avoided if years of water and mildew has left your bathroom in disrepair. In many cases though, your walls and ceiling may be in good condition leaving you only to change the components of your bathroom. Most bathrooms deteriorate in the shower area. Years ago cement board was not available on the market so moisture resistant sheetrock was used. Moisture resistant sheetrock was good for its time,  but in contact with water it would quickly deteriorate. When installing cement board, you are replacing a water resistant product with a waterproof product, huge difference.

 Due to economic times, our customers have liked the idea of a quick makeover that leaves them with all new components in their bathroom at a discounted price. In the picture above we replaced the old neo-angle showerbase, new divertor, cement board, tile floor and ceiling, vanity and paint.

This was the shower before we started. You can easily see the decor of the bathroom tile is outdated and in need of replacement. The original two valve diverter had been leaking for years and was beyond repair. We replaced it with a more modern single hand diverter. 

 Customer was thrilled with the new bathroom remodel we performed and left them with a few extra bucks in their pocket. Their new bathroom is ready for many more years of use.

 This is another bathroom remodel we performed in Monroe, NY. You can easily see in the photo the mildew and water damage. The  tub was one of the cheapest tubs on the market, a steel tub. The tub was rusting for many years and we removed it just in time before more damage occured. We installed a new Americast tub in place of the old and replaced all new components in the bathroom. We were able to save the walls in this bathroom.

You would never know this was the same bathroom. We removed the old motel look and upgraded the entire appearance of the bathroom in a few days. Another happy customer with a WMB Construction remodel.

Your house can easily be enhanced by installing crown moulding. Crown moulding quickly adds elegance and beauty to any room of your house. In fact, when purchasing my own personal home, crown moulding was the first remodel I performed. The cost of installing was nominal to the appearance and transformation it made to the room(s).

In this photo we installed 5 1/2" crown moulding in the kitchen and throughout the living room.

Crown moulding also greatly enhances:

• Kitchen cabinets.
• Mantles
• Bookcases
• Wall shelves
• Window treatments

Crown moulding comes in many different sizes and many different styles to pick from. You also have the option to pick a different species of wood or you might prefer the painted look. You just need to pick the right combination for the room you are decorating.

 In this photo the room was decorated with painted crown moulding. You can easily see the richness and value that was added by installing crown moulding.

If planning to install yourself or hire a carpenter, keep in mind that crown moulding can be very tricky to install. A professional carpenter will be able to tackle the job with little to no waste and understand how to make tight mitres even in the most crooked of homes. Ask for references to ensure you have a qualified carpenter because I have seen many carpenters that claim to know how to install crown moulding and completely ruin the entire project.

Let WMB Construction enhance your home with a crown moulding upgrade!!