Archive for March, 2010

How do you find the right contractor?

Wednesday, March 31st, 2010

So you’re thinking of remodeling your home or adding an addition, but are wondering what the proper protocol to finding a contractor is? Let us help! Here are 9 simple steps that can ensure the process will be thorough and successful.  

1. Check with your friends.

Have any of your friends or acquaintances hired someone recently to do the same job, or something similar, you’re wishing to have done? Ask around. See whom they used and what they thought of them as a person, their work ethic, the materials they used and the quality of the work. It’s also always better to get multiple opinions, so once you have found a reliable source you know, ask where they got their source and if he or she was reliable? Word of mouth is generally a successful way of detecting not only quality, but a genuinely solid contractor all around. 

2. A LEED AP is preferable.

LEED is an internationally recognized green building certification system, providing third-party verification that a building or community was designed and built using strategies aimed at improving performance across all the metrics that matter most: energy savings, CO2 emissions reduction, improved indoor environmental quality and stewardship of resources and sensitivity to their impacts. Green building is a popular growing trend and can only help your home while helping the environment, making it important that your contractor have this accreditation.  

3. Start contacting them.

Once you have done your research and feel confident in choosing two or three contractors to approach about your project, start requesting bids. Simply give them a call and let them know exactly what you’re looking to do. Make sure you describe the job in the exact same way to each contractor, so that your not getting drastically different results in pricing from comparing two completely different projects. You’ll also want to ask for a list of references from the contractor, preferably some of the contractor’s past customers who have had the same addition or re-modeling project completed in their home.  

4. Call the references.

Call the references each contractor has provided. See how satisfied they were with the job done on their home. Ask about the quality of the work, the materials used, the integrity of the contractor and how well the company followed up after the job was completed.  

5. Select a bid.

Examine all proposals carefully. The best bid is not always the lowest. Make sure to understand each contractor’s process, as well as considering materials used and labor hours needed. You’ll also want to re-consider your personal source as well as the references responses given by the contractor during this step. 

6. The contractor needs a license.

Verify that the contractor you have chosen has a license. Take a look at their certifications and industry affiliations. Make sure they are involved and keeping up with the current industry trends. Some vital examples from T.W.Ellis LLC are:

    -Certified Master Remodeler
    - Certified Graduate Remodeler (CGR) Certification from the National Association of Home Builders’ Remodelers
    - Certified Aging-in-place Specialist (CAPS) Certification from The National Association of Home Builders’ Remodelers
    - NAHB Green Building Verifier
    - Certified Green Professional (CGP) Certification from the NAHB Green Building Subcommittee of Construction, Code and Standards Committee
    - Certified Building Analyst Professional (CBA) and Envelope Professional (CEP) from the Building Performance Institute
    - ICC Certified Residential Building Inspector
    - LEED Accredited Professional
    - Certified Professional Estimator (CPE) Certificate/Accreditation from the American Society of Professional estimators
    - American Society of Professional Estimators member
    - Home Builders Association of Maryland member
    - Remodeling Council Board Member

7. Read the contract carefully.

Make sure that the contractor has liability insurance and that his employees are covered by workman’s compensation. Ask questions about anything you don’t understand, and don’t be shy about asking for changes to the contract. After all, you are the customer. 

8. Building Permits.

Make sure the contractor you picked has the correct building permits. If he/she will be digging, make sure he/she checks underground utilities. 

9. Time to pay up.

Once you are satisfied with the contract, sign it and give the contractor his deposit by check. If you decide to pay with cash, make sure you obtain a reciept.  

You’re now ready to begin the exciting part of watching your home improvement project unfold before your eyes. For more information on a reliable contractor with many certifications, accredidations, affiliations and extensive home improvement experience in deck, outdoor kitchen, screened-in porch and commercial building visit www.twellis.com!

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Just built a beautiful wooden deck? Make sure you maintain it!

Monday, March 22nd, 2010

Having a beautiful wooden deck built to enhance your family’s premier outdoor living experience is just the first step! The care and maintenance that a wooden deck requires is just as important as the quality that went into building the deck. Remember that porch wood is exposed to the elements—sun, wind, rain, snow, ice, heat and cold, all of which can damage the material. All exterior lumber products will undergo a drying process once they are installed, while the drying process affects certain species of lumber more than others. Some of the typical results of this drying process are: warping, cracking, twisting, splitting and shrinking. Regular cleaning and maintenance of your deck will greatly increase the lifespan of the wood. Here are a few tips on how you can easily maintain your deck to keep its quality top-notch for years to come:

- In order to protect your deck or fence from environmental elements, a quality wood stain or sealer is recommended 30 to 90       days  after completion.

- Power washing routinely is another recommendation to simply to clean the wood and remove any excess dirt or stains. Post power washing, you’ll need to re-stain or seal the wood once it has dried, due to some of the sealer being washed off by the extreme water pressure.

- Another important aspect to deck maintenance is conducting personal routine inspections for any potential problems. Here are some important things to look for:

       – Examine the places where the porch connects to the house. Are there any signs of water damage? Are there any indications that the wood is pulling away from the house? Are there any visible signs of warping?

       – Inspect the posts that support the porch. Is there any movement? Are any posts sinking into the ground? Is there any cracking in the concrete footing?
       – Check the level of the porch. It should have been perfect when first built. Is there any variation now?

       – Look for signs of insects. Termites and ants can move into your porch. They bore holes in hidden spaces and can quickly form full colonies in your wood. Look for signs of bees, wasps or hornets.

Inspecting for these common issues routinely, along with cleaning and maintaining, can greatly increase the life span and quality of your valued deck. For more information on deck maintenance, please visit www.twellis.com!

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So how exactly does the remodeling process work?

Monday, March 15th, 2010

The Process begins with our office manager, setting the appointment for Tim or J.D to visit you at your home at your convenience. At this appointment we will discuss your vision, expectations, materials selection, construction process, project possibilities, solutions, and if possible, the budget for the project. If the project is reasonable in design, material selection, and scope Tim or J.D. can provide an in house designed plan and estimate on site. If it is substantial in size, has a degree of difficulty and needs material specified and estimated, Tim or J D. will take the information obtained from the meeting and schedule a time to return with detailed design plans, material specifications and a comprehensive responsible estimate for the project. If the project requires specialty contractor, such as plumbing, heating, air conditioning, and electric, a separate meeting is arranged. This additional meeting will be scheduled for these trades to look at existing conditions to evaluate, and estimate how to incorporate existing conditions into the new design plan. Once the contract is approved and signed by both parties, a deposit is received and the job is put on the schedule. T.W. Ellis LLC at this time will obtain the permit from the local municipality. We will give you any design plans or information you may need to obtain home owner association approval. Tim or J.D will provide a design plan, for the trade professionals that will build your project for construction, if it is a deck or screened room. If your project is an addition, T.W. Ellis, LLC will have an independent architect provide the construction drawings. Once the plans are complete, a material take off is prepared, the permit and HOA are received, and then project is ready to be built. At this point the job is turned over to Barry, the project manager. Barry will call you to confirm a start date. On the morning of the start date, you will meet with Barry and the trade contractor assigned solely to your project from start to finish. During the meeting the schedule, line of communication, and the project are reviewed by everyone involved.

Every day Barry will visit your site to ensure the project is being built per design plan, material specifications, superior grade material is being used, and the project is built with quality craftsmanship. At the completion of the job Barry will meet with you to go over and close out the project. Once the project is closed out, the warranty for that project is in effect.

For more information on getting your process started, visit www.twellis.com!

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A satisfied customers story.

Wednesday, March 10th, 2010

Do you wonder what other people that have worked with TWEllis LLC think about our work, quality products and most importantly, our service? Well here are just a few thoughts from one of our many satisfied customers:

Barry,
We wanted to take the time to personally thank you, your company staff and your work crews for the excellent job you did on our new deck. We can’t begin to express our satisfaction with the final product. From the excellent design to the perfect workmanship, we could not be happier. If you recall, I inherited this humble row-house after the death of my parents. I wanted to do something very special for them and for me, since this was the house where I grew up. With your help, the house now shows as the best in the neighborhood. It just shows what a little creativity and professional workmanship can do. I know that my parents are somewhere looking down at the transformation and smiling.

Thank you so much.

-R. and C. King

There is nothing more rewarding than hearing from one of our valued customers and how successful and appreciated their experience with TWEllis LLC was. To learn more about TWEllis LLC’s work and what we have to offer, visit us on the web at www.twellis.com!

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Just what is a LEED Accredited Professional?

Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010

Tim Ellis, Owner/President of T.W.Ellis LLC is a LEED AP. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environment Design) Accredited Professionals have the expertise required to design a building to LEED standards and to coordinate the documentation process that is necessary for LEED certification. Now what exactly does that mean?

LEED is an internationally recognized green building certification system,  providing third-party verification that a building or community was designed and built using strategies aimed at improving performance across all the metrics that matter most: energy savings, CO2 emissions reduction, improved indoor environmental quality and stewardship of resources and sensitivity to their impacts. LEED was developed by U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), and applies to all building types- commercial as well as residential.

LEED promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in key areas such as sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy & atmosphere, materials, indoor enviromental quality, locations & linkages, awareness & education and innovation in design to name a few.

LEED buildings are constructed as intended, ensuring the consistency, capacity and integrity of the LEED certification process. An organization’s participation in the voluntary and technically rigorous LEED process demonstrates leadership, innovation and environmental stewardship.  T.W.Ellis LLC, being LEED certified, is primarily conconcerned with their engergy savings as well as decreasing their carbon footprint, continuing to establish them as a Green company of which they proudly stand by. To learn more visit us at www.TWellis.com!

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And the HBAM 2009 Remodeler of the Year goes to…Tim Ellis!

Monday, March 1st, 2010

Tim Ellis, owner and President of TWEllis LLC, was just awarded the HBAM 2009 Remodeler of the Year. In March of 2002, Tim and Barry Ellis established T.W. Ellis LLC, a family owned and operated residential remodeling company. With over 15 years of proven experience, Tim has quickly become a fixture in the remodeling industry.

Tim started his career as a union carpenter apprentice, followed by completing his four year apprenticeship with the Baltimore Carpenters union. He then became a journeyman and went on to get his Associate of Science in Business Administration. He followed that with an Associate of Applied Science in Construction Management, and is proudly a veteran of the Maryland National Guard.

Tim is currently a member of the HBAM Remodelers board and has won a number of awards, including numerous Remodeling Awards of Excellence. Today Tim sits on the Maryland Community Builders Foundation board where he is involved in promoting shelter related activities for those less fortunate throughout the Baltimore region continuing to give back to his community. He is a National Association of Home Builders Green Building Verifier and Certified Green Professional, showcasing his action-oriented concern to better the environment he continues to service. Tim is committed to the building and remodeling industry and is constantly working towards its betterment through his volunteerism with HBAM and though the business he does with his clients.

This award is given to one worthy and impressive builder every year serving three main purposes:

1. To recognize excellence in remodeling design and craftsmanship

2. To create a greater public interest in the remodeling industry

3. To recognize outstanding contributions by individuals to the remodeling industry

Tim has an exceptional reputation not only in the builder’s industry, but more importantly in the local community.  His company has done over 700 distinctive remodeling and renovation projects, proving their relevance and sustainability in the industry. Tim commits to build every project with quality and pride, while staying on schedule and budget, which makes him undoubtedly worthy of HBAM 2009 Remodeler of the Year. To learn more visit us at www.twellis.com!

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