Controlling House Environment during Construction

I learned early on that controlling the environment of a house under construction as soon as possible is key to a successful build and the structural integrity of a new home. While it can be more complicated and more expensive to expedite the necessary processes, it makes the kind of difference that is more than worth the sacrifice.

The first mission is to try to get the home under roof and dried in, preventing water from infiltrating the frame. The next is to bring power in right away to control interior conditions with a functioning HVAC system. This can be tricky because of the amount of red tape that sometimes exists in power companies, but a seasoned professional should know who to communicate with and what the decision makers need to see to expedite the process.

Controlling the environment inside the house is critical to the process of curing the wood in the frame and in features like hardwood flooring. The frame contains approximately 19% water and a properly running HVAC system can help pull that water out of it. This needs to be done early on to reduce shrinking and settling of the frame, which will help minimize nail pops, settling cracks, door rubbing and trim cracking. These are items that frequently require attention around the end of a one-year warranty, but many can be prevented by conditioning the wood from the start.

The National Organization of Flooring Materials regulations require that a home be environmentally controlled prior to the installation of hardwoods. An unseasoned contractor may be unaware, or unconcerned with this important rule, so before choosing your professional providers, make sure you do some research and ask pointed questions. If your contractor is installing hardwood flooring in a home that is not environmentally conditioned, he is making a mistake and you should address it as soon as possible.

Of course, choosing your professionals wisely from the beginning is the best way to avoid these kinds of devastating errors. If you are planning to build or remodel a home, contact JH Fisher Construction, Inc. today and we will be delighted to help!

JH Fisher Construction, Inc.

Wonderful World of Nails: Framing Nails

A friend recently challenged us to make a fundamental element of construction sound fun: nails. We accepted the challenge and ended up filling so many pages of notes that we may just have to make The Wonderful World of Nails a series!

We start with framing nails – those little gems that when used correctly are a lot stronger than you probably realize. A true 16-penny cement coated sinker nail has the sheer strength of 300 pounds! The head of the nail is bigger and proper sinking gives it maximum strength.

With the advent of pneumatic fastening systems, or nail guns, we got away from the importance of sinking a nail correctly. These tools have been used to simply place as many nails as quickly as possible, assuming that the sum of the collective nails will be equal to or greater than the strength of one well-driven nail. However, this attitude has undermined the fundamental benefits of skilled nail application, and buildings suffer for it over the long term. Boards don’t cinch together properly allowing twisting and warping to occur and damage to result.

It is critical to know the right nail pattern to achieve the right alignment and optimum strength in framing. Other common mistakes including using the wrong nail for a project, using too few or too many nails, and not foreseeing which forces will impact the frame, a skill that requires experience and knowledge of engineering.

Manufacturers determine codes for nails and reputable builders know and adhere to these codes. The potential for problems as minor as floor squeaks to more major cracks in sheet rock, walls and corners, as well as movement that compromises strength increases as the builder’s attention to these codes and good practices decrease.

Would you rather choose the builder who understands the true significance of even the smallest facet of the building process, or the one who has yet to learn what he needs to know? Choose the best. Call JH Fisher Construction, Inc. today.

Recent JH Fisher Construction, Inc. Projects: A Grand Entrance

An entry gate makes a statement about your property and your home. It says something about everything that is behind the gate and is a lasting first impression. We recently completed a gate on a river lot, and the results were better than even we expected (the photo accompanying this post is of the gate, partially finished):

Solar-powered with remote access capability, the gate was built for security as well as aesthetics. It is rustic, hardy and fits in well with its surroundings. Much care was taken during the selection of materials: rocks anchor the gate visually and structurally, with wood and rod-iron shape its silhouette. We wanted to design something that demonstrated old-world craftsmanship and quality. The finished product is welcoming and earthy, Old World and classic, and inspired by our deep love of the Adirondacks.

Is your home in need of a grand entrance? Contact JH Fisher Construction, Inc. today!

Adirondack-Inspired Boathouse in River’s Bend at Uncle’s Neck Creek: Toano, Virginia

Take a vertical cliff that has been eroding for years and the dream of preserving the space and allowing for safe and respectful recreational use. Add to the equation a love of all things Adirondack and you arrive at a complicated yet successful boathouse project that JH Fisher Construction, Inc. recently completed in River’s Bend at Uncle’s Neck Creek in Toano, Virginia.

The boathouse project required two main phases: stabilizing the embankment and constructing the structure over the water. Before we could start, however, we had to work with the Wetlands Board, proving that the reventment method of controlling the bank was environmentally prudent. We spent time surveying the property as well as observing the wave action from passing recreational boats and the natural tides to understand what was causing the instability. We concluded that pulling the earth back at a gentle slope, installing large riprap and preventing further erosion was the most logical, ecologically sound and safe way to address the problem.

Board approval and the completion of the cliff reventment weren’t the end of our approval process, however. To start the dock, we drew plans and submitted them to multiple oversight agencies including V.I.M.S., the Army Corps of Engineers and the county. We wanted to build a boat house on the water inspired by the ones you find in the Adirondacks. While we weren’t able to include a game room or suite over the house in that style, we did add an attic for storage, and ultimately the plans were approved.

Building something like a boathouse over the water was an adventure for an often-land-bound team. One of our favorite parts was pulling the pylons straight, which required some real creativity. The results are a gorgeous boathouse, a safer, more stable cliff and a lot of personal satisfaction.

The great news for all property owners is that there are solutions for even the most complex problems. If you have questions about your own project, contact the experts at JH Fisher Construction, Inc. today!

A Quiet Addition in Westray Downs

We recently completed a great remodel in the Westray Downs neighborhood in Williamsburg. The project began when the owner decided to add a room with a full bath to her existing home. Adding a second level addition required removing the roof of the house, which was understandably a cause of concern for the highly selective homeowner. It was truly an honor to be chosen for this project after she conducted extensive interviews.

One of the main goals was to create a soundproofed room to accommodate her husband’s avid love of music. We used “Quiet Rock”, a special drywall product paired with the necessary acoustic caulk and the “Staggered Stud” framing method to lower sound transmission. Specialized carpet pad was installed to deaden noise and we selected laminate glass windows to enhance the sound containment properties of the addition.

A new stairwell and bathroom finished off this challenging and successful remodel. The soundproofing modifications we employed will allow both happy homeowners to enjoy their leisure time in their own comfort zone.

If you have a remodel, big or small, visit our new website and contact JH Fisher Construction, Inc. today!

JH Fisher Construction, Inc.

A Winter Kitchen Remodel

In December, we had the opportunity to perform the first stages of a kitchen remodel on one of our own properties. These before and after photos illustrate the extent of the work and also give you an idea of where we’re going next. Enjoy!

The first phase of the remodel involved several steps. We

·         Removed 14-feet of outside wall

·         Reframed a wall to accept a new window and new door

·         Rewired electrical for a new kitchen lamp

·         Prepared to install refurbished kitchen cabinets which we purchased from client who recently remodeled their Williamsburg kitchen

The next stage of the remodel includes:

·         Moving the kitchen sink

·         Moving the refrigerator

·         Installing the refurbished cabinets

·         Moving the dishwasher

The result will be an updated, more efficient, chef-friendly kitchen.

What kind of remodeling are you considering in 2012? If you plan to make a small change, or a big one, or even hope to start a custom build in the near future, contact us at JH Fisher Construction, Inc. today!

JH Fisher Construction, Inc.

JH Fisher Construction, Inc. in the New Year

We’re just over a week in but at JH Fisher Construction, Inc., we haven’t stopped reflecting on a new year full of new possibilities. Like you, we’re setting our sights on 2012!

·         Today, we officially launched our new website! You’ll find updated photos and more insight into our services and of course, this new blog. We’ve been anticipating this new site for a while now, so it’s hard to believe it’s here!

·         We want to get to know you better, so you’ll find us hanging out a bit more on Facebook and Twitter (when we’re not on a Bobcat of course!). Please tell us what you would like us to share. Do you love before and after photos? Are you hoping to get some great advice? How can we best meet your building and remodeling needs?

·         In 2012, we plan to continue strengthening our relationships with our community partners. We hope to bring our passion and our unparalleled services to an even larger audience. Simultaneously, we remain committed to helping improve the lives of struggling residents in The Grove.

With new relationships and great partners on the horizon, we hope that his year will offer creative fulfillment for JH Fisher Construction, and health and prosperity for you and your families. You can follow along on this year of growth and giving by following “Jeff’s Blog”. Happy New Year!