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.

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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

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.

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!

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.

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.

Therma Tru entry door systems are the brand that most builders and remodelers prefer. They offer a wide variety of door choices and performance packages that are unrivaled in the industry. By installing a Therma Tru entry door system you should expect to see an increase in comfort, energy efficiency and performance; not to mention an increase in the perceived value of your home.

Since pioneering the fiberglass door industry in 1983 Therma Truredefined the industry with high style, high performance products. Before then the only door options were steel and wood. While steel and wood doors are still widely used today, fiberglass doors have been up and coming due to their durability and low maintenace.

A few reasons to consider a fiberglass door:

• Fiberglass will not rot or rust.
• Fiberglass will not dent.
• Therma Tru offers Accugrain technology for their fiberglass line which is a door casting process that gives you the beauty of a natural wood door without the maintenance.

Therma Tru has a line and style to fit any budget. WMB Construction has been installing Therma Tru entry doors for years and strongly stands behind Therma Tru products. Allow us to work with you on your next remodel.

The thought of a new bathroom remodel is always exciting to most of us. Removal of all those old contents in your bathroom should be enough inspiration to work towards the goal of a new bathroom remodel.   

 These are before pictures of a bathroom that we recently renovated. As you can see the bathroom was over 30 years old and over due for an update. We removed the shower doors, shower base, sink, toilet, floor, and diverter. 

We installed a new shower base, single hand diverter, cement board on walls and floor before tiles were applied.

Tiles were then installed on the walls and floor and grout was applied the day after allowing the tile glue to completely dry.

New sink and vanity installed, toilet, paint and Century neo-angle shower door with DFI treatment installed. The customer decided to go with a more modern decor on this bathroom instead of a more traditional decor. These are some of the bathroom ideas you must consider before you start renovation of your bathroom project.

Tips to renovating you bathroom:

• Decide what decor you will be working with so you have direction when choosing products to be installed in your bathroom.
• Choose a reputable contractor that will be honest about start and finish times.
• Keep your distance from companies that promise to be done in a few days. Mother nature does not allow glue, grouts, caulking,  etc. to dry that quickly leaving tiles falling off the walls. Your bathroom probably has waited 20-30 years to be remodeled, what is an extra couple of days?
• Install cement board on walls in shower areas and on floors. Cement board is not affected by contact with water.