Metal Trim Work

We recently did an exterior trim renovation job for a customer in Milford:

Before: 

The house was resided a few years ago in vinyl. The white J channel and some of the short cuts tell you we didn't do that job. But we're here for the painted wood trim, which has seen much better days.

 

During:

Some peeks at the work in progress:

After:

 

The customer was very happy.

The Real Deal on New Hampshire Construction Contractor Licenses

Lately, we've been asked a few times if we're licensed, so it looks like it's time to set the record straight:

The State of New Hampshire does not require (or offer) licensing for building contractors. The only construction-related contractors who need licenses in New Hampshire are electricians, plumbers and asbestos abatement contractors.

So beware of advertisers who say they hold licenses that don't actually exist. Yup, we've seen them!

Thanks,

NewHampshire Construction

How Adding a Three-Season Porch Could Save You Money in the Long Run

Three-season porches make a whole lot of sense. They add living space for a minimum of expense.

They give you a place to enjoy the fresh air in summer without being baked by the sun or eaten by mosquitoes or horseflies. And they let you have a semi-outdoor living experience far sooner in the spring and later in the fall than you could get otherwise. But did you know they can also reduce your winter heating bills?

A good three-season porch typically has easy-to-operate, screened windows on three sides, with the original exterior wall of the house making the fourth wall. The floor and roof are tightly built, so that when the windows are closed, there are no drafts.

Here are two ways a three-season porch can save heating fuel:

Passive Solar Heat

Direct sunlight coming through plain glass (glass that's not tinted or treated with a reflective coating) can provide a surprising amount of heat. If the angle of the sun's rays is too steep to come directly, and it reflects off snow or ice in your yard first, that works, too.

To take advantage of the passive solar potential of your three-season porch, follow these tips:

• Locate it where the winter sun will hit the windows. Usually, this means the south side of your house.
• Make sure there are no evergreen trees in the way that will shade the windows in the winter.

To keep your porch cooler in the summer:

• Give it a roof with a large overhang. The sun is closer to the horizon in the winter, so a large overhang will let winter sunshine will in but keep midday summer sunshine out.
• Locate any kiddie pools and other shiny objects where they won't reflect the sun's rays onto the windows.
• Don't cut down deciduous trees (trees that shed their leaves in the fall), unless they are endangering the house in some way. Deciduous trees are nature's air conditioners. They keep your house cool in summer, and actually clean the air while they're at it!

Airlock

When you think of airlocks, you probably think of submarines, or maybe even spaceships. But airlocks are important in our houses, too. When you open your door on a winter day and go outside, a lot of warm air goes with you. But it doesn't have to. Old-time New Englanders never used to use a single door in the winter, because it wasted heat. You need to trap the air when you go in and out of your house, so the heat isn't sucked outside, and a three-season porch is a good way to do that. Other options are mudrooms and enclosed breezeways.

To use your three-season porch as an airlock in the winter, always close one door tightly before you open the other one. Teach your children to make sure the last person has come through the first door and shut it tightly before anyone opens the second door. Once they get the hang of it, it should start to come naturally.

Could your house benefit from a three-season porch?

Thanks,

New Hampshire Construction

How to Get the Most Out of Your New Hampshire Renovation Contractor

Renovating your home, or even just one room, can make a big difference in your family's life. There's

nothing like finally having things in your home laid out the way you want them, in a style and color scheme that make you truly feel at home. But the process, of course, can be less than pleasant. Here are a few tips to help shorten the time it takes to do your renovations, make your life easier while it's happening, and get better results in the end:

1. Before you do anything, make sure you know what you want. You don't have to know every detail, but be sure you have a clear idea of what your goals and priorities are. Do you want a more efficient kitchen? Less crowding in the bathroom? More closet space? An updated look? Talk with your family before you call a contractor, and make sure you're all on the same page.
2.  Make a list of questions to ask the contractors who do your estimates.
3. Choose two or three contractors you think would be a good fit for your project. Don't bother with contractors you already know you wouldn't hire, 'just to get a price.' Getting a price for unacceptable work won't help you price the work you're looking for.
4. Pick the contractor based on what's most important to you. Price is one consideration. What may be more crucial is your confidence that the contractor understands your renovation vision and has the experience and professionalism to make it happen.
5. Before you sign the contract, read it carefully and ask any questions you may have. This is the time to make sure you're getting what you want, and that you and the contractor have the same expectations.
6. Before the work starts, clear your belongings out of the area and set up an alternative space to meet your daily living needs. Think ahead, organize your things, and label any boxes you put in storage.

Following these simple steps will save you and your family a lot of stress, and could even save you money. Thinking ahead, communicating and being organized can help you avoid a lot of expenses and plan for the rest.

Thanks,

New Hampshire Construction