Wet basements are always a concern no matter where you live. Basements are built below grade where there is always moisture. The idea is to have all your drainage components in order so that water stays outside of your home. Every year water damage ranges in the trillions and most insurance companies will not reimburse you for your losses. 

Causes for wet basement: 

• * High Water Table: Rain, melting snow or underground springs will contribute to the water table rising around a home. This can result in a build-up of water pressure beneath the floor and against foundation walls.

• * Hydrostatic Pressure: The higher the level of water around a home, the greater the pressure on the water to seek entry into the basement through cracks and crevices in walls and floors. Initially, this water may enter and rest only in the block or in the pores of the concrete. That's where damp walls and damp floors come from.

• * Capillary Attraction: Whenever water contacts a porous surface like a concrete floor or wall, it's natural for the moisture to be soaked up like a sponge. The continuous pressure exerted from the outside causes the floors and walls to store water like a reservoir, ready to burst.

• * Settlement: As the ground around a home settles, the foundation can shift or crack. The parging shield protecting the foundation can also crack and open, allowing water to flow into and beneath your walls and floor.

The idea is to remove water away from your homes foundation walls. The force of water build up can reach up to 33,000 pounds of pressure per square foot! Besides just having water enter your basement you are now effecting the integrity of your foundation.

Don't ignore the early signs before it's too late!!!

• Dampness

• Mold, mildew and fungus

• Musty odors

• Allergies

• Respiratory ailments

• Loss of lime salt(white powder from walls)

• Hairline cracks on foundation walls

• Spots on foundation walls

• Extreme dampness

• Water on the floor

• Water seepage during moderate rain

• Basement floods during heavy rains

• Electrical shock hazard

• Walls start to shift and bow

• Mud or clay silt may become visual

• Foundation corner begin to shift and crack

• Structual damage becomes visual

• Your foundation is in serious trouble

• Your foundation has reached it final level of stress

• Your home might risk being condemned

• The cost of repair is now astronomical

Footing drains are your #1 component in relieving water from your foundation. Over the years your footing drains due to age and poor installation have lost their integrity. We see it all the time.

A damp leaky basement can cause:

• Loss of property value

• Damage to your personal goods

• Rusting and corrosion of appliances

• Peeling and cracking of paint

• Warping of paneling

• Electrical shock hazards

• Respiratory and allergy ailments

• Damage to furnace

Keeping your basement dry should be a priority. The damage it can create to both your health and home can be devastating.

WMB Construction specializes in:

• Footing drains

• Curtain drains

• Sump pumps

• Foundation sealing

• Gutter drainage

Click logo to schedule your estimate!

Your bathroom is old and outdated? You might be thinking about a quick sale or a quick fix? The thought about price and upsetting your home has you considering a quick fix? A quick fix isn't always the answer and you might just be throwing your money down the drain. You might want to consider a full bathroom remodel that will add more value to your home and more peace in mind that all mold and mildew has been removed. Within 1-2 weeks you will have the bathroom of your dreams!!

Many franchise companies promise to reface your bathroom by covering up your old tub and shower walls. In the picture above, Rebath came for an estimate to put a cover over this old deteriorated tub. Thats like putting a cap over a rotten tooth!

Top reasons not to use franchise bath covering companies:

• Mold and mildew will be trapped and left to keep growing inside your walls and floors

• Any rotted wall studs and/or flooring cannot be detected and will just be covered

• Walls will eventually start to come loose as the adhesive breaks down

• Rebath is not cheap! It is probably the most expensive recycled plastic out there! 

• The end result is always a cheap look. You can spot a Rebath install a mile away

• Tubs and shower bases become smaller after capping

This is a before and after picture of a franchise company installation. I can see why people would like the idea because it gives instant gratification but most people aren't aware of the downfalls.

Besides appearance, what you don't see:

• Ceramic tile almost always has a glossy surface. Even the best adhesives have a hard time staying adhered. The walls will eventually start to pop off.

• New divertor was changed from a three hand diverter to a single hand diverter. Thats fine, the only difference is that it should have been moved up another foot minimum. As water hits your body it will tranfer onto the diverter at the lower height and eventually penetrate into your wall creating mold and mildew.

• The new drain was installed with a pop up. Your trip lever was discontinued and now if you want to take a bath you must push down on the drain. The only problem with this is that your old drain had a strainer cover on it for catching hair and other debris from entering your drainage system. Now your drain is wide open so look for major issues down the road.

• Notice you have lost any shelving and soap dish. They may equip you with a cheap built in shelf.

• The rest of your bathroom is still old and outdated so now you will still have to upgrade all the contents.

Here is another franchise companies cover up job. Makes you cringe to think all that mold, mildew and bacteria is still living under your new tub. Don't be fooled, these installations are nothing more than a quick cover up job.

Benefits of a full bathroom remodel:

• All of your old moldy and mildew contents are removed down to the studs

• New fiberglass insulation is installed and brought up to current R-values

• All your plumbing valves are changed inside the walls

• Electrical is updated and extra lighting can be installed

• Shower area walls, cement board will be installed and new moisture resistant sheetrock on the rest of the walls and ceiling of bathroom

• Opportunity to add in wall shelves or recessed vanity

• Freshly painted walls

• Opportunity to notice any unseen problems

Newly renovated bathroom with WMB Construction

You may have purchased your dream home a couple of years ago or maybe many years ago. The home you purchased was ideal at the time but you never thought about what the future could hold. Times change and so do families. Adding children to your family or maybe bringing your elderly parents into your home, you will require extra space. An extension and/or addition is the perfect anwser!

Five key reasons to add an extension on your home:

• Instant added value to your home
• More square footage
• Improve, don't move! You like your location and just the thought and aggrevation of moving will give you a headache.
• Parents/inlaws need a place to stay. Create a mother/daughter apartment off your home for the ones who gave you a home as a child.
• Your home has taken on more children. Create that extra playroom or bedroom!

Even a small addition has a huge impact on a home. Added square footage always makes a huge difference in the quality of living. I personally enjoy building additions here in Orange County, NY and enjoy the customers faces when we have completed their project. From start to finish, an addition project is always a satisfaction for both customer and contractor!

WMB Construction addition line offers:

• Full addtions
• Full rooms above garages
• Finished basements
• Garage extensions

To schedule Your FREE estimate for your next addition or renovation Click HERE!

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

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!!

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!!

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.