The backsplash of your kitchen can take quite a beating from water, grease and grime. Your backsplash wall with a little paint applied over the sheetrock surface is not enough protection from these elements. Soon the paint and sheetrock will deteriorate leaving more of a problem. If you have a formica countertop that isn't caulked correctly, you can risk damage to the countertop due to water penetration.

Besides just protection, tile backsplashes add elegance and beauty to your kitchen. With so many decorating options available for your kitchen, a backsplash will have the most impact. From natural stone, to ceramic tile, to different borders; the ideas start to become endless.

In this photo we installed a natural stone tile. You can quickly see the difference it made to this kitchen. Because natural stone is porous, Bright Seal was applied to the tile to seal and protect. The sealer also enhances the natural beauty of the tile.

 The tile installed even made the beauty of the faucet stand out. This countertop came unequipped without any attached backsplash. The customer almost lost the countertop due to water penetrating and delaminating the formica. We saved the countertop just in time by adding the tile backsplash and sealing off all voids where water could penetrate.

In this photo we installed ceramic subway tile with a natural stone border. The countertop in this photo is equipped with a 4" backsplash giving the countertop a little more integrity.

The added beauty and protection with a tile backsplash is an unmatched upgrade to your kitchen. Tile back splashes also offer added value to your home along with peace in mind that you will get longevity out of your kitchen. 

Here in the Northeast we can experience some pretty grueling weather during the winter months. With snow storm after snow storm the accumulating totals keep increasing. Take two feet of snow on your roof, add freezing rain and temperatures that keep rising and falling and you have the perfect ingredients for a mid-winter disaster. That creaking and groaning you may be hearing is not your husband/wife but your roof buckling under tons of winter weather. Roofs built with a pitch can withstand much more weight than flat roofs. Now not to panic, your roof should not be falling any time soon and there isn't much you can do about it. Some people try to shovel the snow and break up ice damming on their roofs but I don't recommend it. It is a very dangerous practice and most of the time you will create more damage to your shingles, leaving you with more headaches when the snow melts.

A few tips if you decide to clear the snow off your roof:

• Don't try to remove snow alone. In case you slip somebody can help.
• If you use a metal rake or metal ladder, stay clear of power lines.
• Shovel snow down the roof and not up preventing damage to the shingles.

In the fall months you should be preparing for winter ahead of time. Precautions can be taken to prevent ice damming on your roof. The biggest concern with winter snow on roofs is the damage from ice damming. The penetration of water into your home can create all sorts of damages from electrical shorts to mold and mildew issues.

How to prepare your roof for winter:

• Clean your gutters.
• Install heated electrical lines on your roof designed for melting off ice dams.
• Install ridge vents to prevent heat build up in attics.
• Install new roof with ice dam underlayment.
• Make sure you have adequate insulation in your attic.

Installing a new roof with ice dam installed is your best bet in preventing ice damming from occurring.

With a new roof you gain all of these ice fighting features:

• Ice dam material installed on roof decking.
• Aluminum drip edge to prevent capillary action.
• Ridge vent to prevent attic heat build-up.
• 30 year architectural shingles with higher wind ratings and added durability.
• Peace in mind.

Bathroom remodels are one of my favorite creations for customers. Creating a beautiful bathroom and seeing the faces of my customers when the project is complete is worth everything in the world. Your bathroom supplies you with all the necessities to create a surreal environment. That hot shower on a cold day after work to soothe your aching muscles or that hot and humid day in the summer to cool down, the bathroom is always the room in the house to relax and clean up.

With hundreds of bathroom renovations performed over the years, WMB Construction prides itself in installing a quality bathroom in an adequate time frame. When we perform a bathroom installation, just like any other projects, we perform one job at a time making your job our main concern before other waiting customers. We know and realize what it is like not to have an operating bathroom in your home. Within 1-2 wks we will have you up and running in your new bathroom remodel.

Now just think about all your bathroom options. You can leave the original floor plan or possibly move everything around. From a tub to a shower stall or maybe a mud job where we build you a custom shower base. Water spouts that divert water in every direction at you or that jet tub you always wanted. Ideas are endless when creating your bathroom oasis at home.

The kitchen is the heart of the home and in many cases is the number one seller when purchasing a home. The kitchen is the one area that brings family closer together everyday and on special occasions. When you have company you will most likely be entertaining your guests in the vicinity of the kitchen. Unlike the other rooms in your house, you can't just close the door and hide your kitchen if it is in need of a desperate remodel. Nothing can be more embarrassing than entertaining with a dilapidated kitchen.

On the real estate side, kitchens are what will sell your home. A new kitchen remodel instantly adds value to your home and will make you more money in the long run when you decide to sell. First appearances mean everything when selling your home. Imagine the impact a new kitchen remodel will do for your home!

 A kitchen remodel isn't only for selling your home. With the added value you instantly gain with a new kitchen remodel,you might as well enjoy it. Like I said before, the kitchen is the heart of your home and should be your main focus.

Kitchen design ideas are endless! We can move cabinets around, open walls, add lighting, many different floor options, and the list goes on! With 3-D imaging, you will be able to view your kitchen to scale what it will look like before any work is performed. There is nothing more exciting than creating a complete kitchen transformation.

 In this photo we removed the wall and added a oak top. Completely transformed the entire kitchen with a open floor plan bringing all the rooms together.

What you gain by a kitchen remodel:

• Instant added value to your home

• Updated electric and plumbing

• Less embarrassment when you have guests

• Save money on gas and electric bills with newer energy efficient appliances.

Basements are always prone to mold and mildew. This is due to the fact that basements are below grade level leaving your basement subject to water and moisture that enter through your porous foundation. When your foundation was first constructed a foundation coating was applied to the exterior wall of your foundation to prevent any penetration of water to enter. Over time your foundation coating will deteriorate allowing water through the foundation. Concrete is a porous material that welcomes water and moisture if not treated correctly. Especially if you have a block foundation compared to a poured foudation.

GAF is the corporation that started the Timberline shingle line. The architectural shingle was invented to supersede the original three tab shingles. The new shingles brought extended warranties, higher wind ratings and a more aesthetically pleasing look to your home. Timberline shingles mimic the appearance of a natural wood shake roof at half the price and double the durability than wood a wood roof.

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You can easily notice the depth of architectural shingles when compared to the three tab shingle. The highest life expectancy for a three tab roof is 25 yrs. (very few carry 30 yr.) The lowest life expectancy for an architectural shingle is 30 yrs. and goes up to 50yrs. The roof is your homes most important asset. Without a proper functioning roof the rest of your home will be destroyed.

When a new roof installation is performed, it is very important to know what is installed under your shingles. Aluminum drip edge is a very important part of your roof and very commonly disregarded. Aluminum drip edge prevents capillary action which keeps water from penetrating your home and directs the water into the gutter. 

Ice and water shield applications are a major part of a new roof. Ice damming is a common problem across the United States in areas with snowy conditions. Ice dam material should be applied on lower sections of your roof, valleys, chimneys, vent pipes, skylights, etc...

Ventilation is also a big player in maintaining the longevity of your roof. Constantly keeping air movement in your attic reduces chances of ice damming, lowers heating/cooling costs and keeps mold/mildew from forming.

Key ventilation for your attic/roof:

• Ridge vents

• Soffit vents

• Gable vents

• Attic fans

Conclusion is that GAF offers a complete line of products to sustain a fully functional roof and with all systems in order, you should expect full performance from your new roof.

No matter what room in your house, Pergo has a floor that will completely transform the appearance. Pergo is the company that invented the floating floor system that mimics the real wood appearance. Pergo floors offer extremely high durability and easy clean up. Get rid of those rugs that hold in dirt and debris and create the perfect ecosystem for bacteria and allergens.

Basements are one of the areas I find Pergo flooring to be very useful. Real wood floors are extremely difficult to install in basements because basement floors are made of concrete. With the inability to nail into the concrete, real wood floors must be glued to the concrete. Pergo floors float right over top of the concrete with the aid of a vapor barrier. Pergo floors also have a more durable finish that real wood floors.

What you gain by installing Pergo flooring:

• Added value to your home.
• Easier clean up time than carpet.
• No sanding and smells of polyurethane that contain high VOC's
• Ability to change flooring easily.
• High durability.
• Cheaper purchasing and installation than real wood floors.
• Great for pets. Does not hold hair and dander like carpet.

Most of us with homes have basements and most of us with basements have no outside access doors. This holds true in many cases especially if your basement is fully below grade. With Bilco basement door systems it is possible to create outside access to your basement. 

Bilco doors allow you to easily access your basement like never before. Moving furniture and appliances are a tremendous task to maneuver through the house. With basement doors installed you cut down on possible damage to walls and doors and easily move furniture and appliances in half the time.

Many of us with homes already have basement doors. We've replaced many in the past due to their age and failure in keeping water out. The older basement doors were constructed of wood. While they served the purpose they always leaked, warped and rotted.

Wood doors have no channels built in for catching and diverting water. Bilco doors are fabricated of all steel construction and applied is a baked on primer from the factory. Bilco is by far the leader in basement door construction.

If you have always dreamed of having Bilco basement doors, now is the time. The added convience alone will make you realize how you ever lived without them. It is also an excellent fire escape in case of an emergency. 

it is very common now a days to see most contractors using cement board on the walls in tub/shower areas. It has largely replaced moisture resistant sheetrock which has been used for years especially before cement board was available. Moisture resistant sheetrock is still used everyday and is an excellent product for all the walls and ceiling of your bathroom, just not in the tub/shower area. When sheetrock is used in the shower area it will most likely fail due to the fact that it is moisture resistant and not water proof. Once water infiltrates under the tile sheetrock becomes susceptible to water damage and may crumble.

Today moisture resistant sheetrock has been replaced in the shower area with cement board creating a more sound base that will last. Also a superior product for your floors underlayment before installing tile and can even be installed in thinset and screwed down for a thorough installation. Cement board is a water proof product and will not deteriorate when in direct contact with water. Cement board is made using actual cement with a fiberglass mesh exterior. 

Common cement board uses:

• Bathroom walls and floors.
• Kitchen countertops
• Soffits in bathrooms
• Exterior uses before stucco or cultured stone is installed.
• Kitchen floors.

The conclusion is that cement board is the only product you should be using when there is any chance of contact with water. Many times it's what you don't see behind the walls that has the biggest impact for  longevity of your project. Toxic mold is usually unseen until the damage is too late and run the risk of rotten wall studs that can ruin the integrity of your homes structure and attract unwelcomed insects such as carpenter ants and termites that can do a vast amount of damage. Especially the presence of termites are hard to detect as they tunnel inside of wood rarely seeing daylight leaving appearance of wood on the outside perfect while the insides are hollow. This is mostly a concern with structures on ground levels that are close to the ground as they return to the soil where they live.

Your interior needs an upgrade and new paint is the best way to achieve it. Painting is the quickest and easiest way to upgrade the appearance of your home. Just think, in a few days your home will make a complete transformation from what it was!!!

WMB uses only quality Benjamin Moore paints with every paint application.

What you should know about interior paints:

• All paint companies have many different paint grades. When your painting contractor gives you a price, inform what grade he will be using.
• Inquire if the proper primers will be used. New construction primers or stain killer primers?
• Oil and latex are two different products. Oil is an excellent stain killer and latex is the best finish coat.
• All paint companies offer different paint finishes. Which on is best for you? Flat? Eggshell? Semi-gloss? Gloss?
• Interior painting is a lot more complicated than you might think. The one aspect of painting is your drop clothes. A professional will always concentrate on respecting your home and ensuring no paint will be left on your floors after the job has been completed. Unreversable damage can be done to your home due to an unexperienced painter.

What to look for when hiring a painting contractor:

• I believe that a good painter should have a good personal appearance. The tedious and detailed nature of painting should show in the presentation of your painting contractor.
• Make sure your painting contractor is reputable in the area. He will be working around your personal belongings and your loved ones.
• Ask how he will be applying the paint. If he is spraying, get rid of him quickly. As much as he trys to cover and tape off your belongings, the over spray will still be everywhere. Not to mention the amount of VOC's in the air.
• How many guys will be in your home? Most contractors like to show up in the morning, drop off the help, and return at the end of the day. Find out!
• It is a very common practice for painting contractors to apply the second coat before ever letting the first coat dry. This results in improper coverage and possible paint bubbling.