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!

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.

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.

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.

When you think of the word basement it may come to mind of that dark gloomy area of your home. It is the area of your home you most likely dread going to do laundry, store some can goods, or maybe change the filter in your furnace once or twice a year. Open ceilings, exposed electrical wires, hanging insulation, exposed plumbing lines, etc......... Doesn't really sound like a fun place to be in your home.

Just imagine that area of your home remodeled with heat, lighting, and walls and ceilings. It is easily converted into usable living area and will most likely be the biggest room of your home. Most basements are the same square footage as your entire first floor. When you start thinking of remodeling your basement, the ideas become endless. You can go from a standard open floor plan to adding bathrooms, wet bars, bedrooms, closets, sauna room, weight room, kitchen; the ideas become endless.

Five key factors for remodeling your basement:

• Substantial amount of added living area.

• Added value to your home.

• By finishing you basement you eliminate most of the mildew and mold common in unfinished basements. Heat and light create a more mold free atmosphere.

• Basements are the perfect area to create a mother/daughter apartment.

• Added entertaining area. Basements with an open floor plan create great entertaining areas.

What you should know before your basement conversion:

• You are required to maintain a minimum ceiling height of 7 ft from finished floor to finished ceiling.

• You are required to maintain a minimum height of 6'-8" measured from finished floor to all beams, girders,ducts or other obstructions.

• You will be require to have some form of fire escape from your basement. Exit through a garage is not a legal escape. In some cases you will be required to install a egress window with a minimum net clear opening of 5.7 sq. ft.

• Note if your electrical system is up to date and can handle added circuits.

Most of us with homes have a basement and I'm sure most of these basements have little or no windows for natural light or ventilation. Now a window in your basement probably isn't at the top of your priority list but if you put it in a life and death situation you might have a different outlook on it. In the case of a fire you or your loved ones could be left with no escape and incinerated alive. Many instances of these cases have occurred in the past which has forced the national building code administration to enforce violations to protect people from danger. In any finished basement you must install a egress window as a fire escape. The window must have a minimum net clear opening of 5.7 square feet, minimum net clear opening height of 24", minimum net clear opening width of 20" and a maximum 44" sill height from finished floor. Outside the window you must construct a window well with a minimum net clear area of 9 square feet with horizontal projection width of 36 inches. If the window well depth is greater than 44" a permanently affixed ladder needs to be installed. Exit through a garage is not accepted. Basement egress window installation is an excellent precaution to take before it is too late. Better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it!

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What you gain by installing a basement egress window:

• Peace in mind that you and your loved ones will be safe during a fire.
• Added natural lighting.
• Ventilation.
• Less mold and mildew problems in moist basements.
• Get your basement up to current building codes.

I find that most of my customers wait until they sell their home, only to be hit in the face with the reality that they are required to have one. When you perform a finished basement now is the time to install an egress window. The installation is way more complex down the road.

Problems when you go to sell:

• 90 percent of customers call me for an egress window because they are in the process of closing. This creates massive holdups that can take up to months to resolve if you are in violation of code.

• If looking to sell and transfer to another home, you may lose your lock in mortgage rate.

• You already closed on your future dream home but need the money from your old home to stay a float.

• Your purchaser may be in the same boat and needs to close to get into their next dream home.

• Inspectors do not care, you are in violation of code and your priorities are not theirs. 

• Buyer backing out of the deal

• Loss of money layed out already