Remodeling That Make Cents.- Increase the effeciency…. not size

December 1, 2012UncategorizedRiverValleyConstruction

As our lives change so do the needs of our home. Older homes tend to have cramped space and do not typically fit a modern lifestyle. If you can reorganize and equip your home for maximum utility, you may not need to blow out the walls to gain square footage. Our informal, modern lifestyles of today are better suited to open floor plans and kitchens that open into adjacent living spaces. If your needs and ideas about your home are constantly evolving, reconfiguring interior space may be the perfect design solution to fit your home.

Weaver’s Top Interior Renovations

Improved home office space for work and play
Remove the parting wall to create more flow from room to room
Create a luxure suite feel between master bath and bed
Combine space to create a Jack and Jill bath to fit a need
Remodel your home to help you grow with your family needs with universal design concepts

We understand that universal interior space redesign is the most efficient and cost-effective way to get the home of your dreams without building an expensive addition. With a more efficient floor plan, your home can be transformed into a space to fit your lifestyle. A detailed in home consultation by River Valley Construction will often reveal opportunities that were not immediately apparent. In many cases, your home is full of untapped potential: excessive hallway space, odd closet configurations, undersized or oversized rooms and poorly laid out circulation are all waiting to be transformed into more livable, usable space. Often a home does not need more space – just better space, and that’s where you can truly benefit from interior space reconfiguration!

River Valley Construction- DIY ” Assist ” Program

April 30, 2012UncategorizedRiverValleyConstruction

Do It Yourself projects are a great way to improve your home! Home repair and maintenance should not be an overwhelming thing. We’ve all had to deal with peeling paint, lose doors, broken fence boards, rotting wood, leaky roofs and you name it. Many of you have seen bad repair jobs too. Many home owners try to manage improvements on our own, mostly for the financial reason; the general response we hear is …

“we do it on our own to save money, mainly because we just don’t want to pay someone else to do what we can or think we can do”.

It is perfectly normal to think like this as we all want to save money and sometimes we just prefer to do things ourselves. The most important part of maintaining a home is by participating in an Investment Protection Plan to help take care of small things before they turn into big things. This is the one area that we should not neglect or it will only cost more in repairs, frustration, and inconvenience.

As with a lot of things in life, sometimes all we need a certain bit of information, assistance, or someone to help you say, “yeah!, I can do that”. Friends, do I have a program for you, River Valley Construction developed a simple program for those of you looking for some professional hands on advice. We can help design, select products, develop a schedule, acquire trade professionals and even help with the general labor you may not want to handle.

The Big Question….. What Can I Take On!

The big question now is how big a project do I want to take on? Well, we feel anyone has the ability to handle most projects; it usually comes down to time and money along with, how big is the project? A tool shed in the backyard, mulching beds, repair drywall, caulking windows? Probably doable, but a room addition to the house, you might consider getting a builder.

You should consider a few questions:

How much time can I commit to the project?
How handy are you with basic tools and equipment?
Are expecting to have friends and family help or do you need to hire Helping Hands?
What is the general budget for your project?
How many trade professionals are involved?
Are you comfortable Permitting and scheduling the job?
Do you have the ability to pick up material?

Your answers to these simple questions will help understand where you need the most help? We are excited to ASSIST you with your project. River Valley Construciton truly believes you have the ability to complete any project with a little help giving you the bragging rights at your next neighborhood cookout!

Okay…. So What Is All This Help Going To Cost Me?

Our basic program starts with a site visit. We discover a general scope with labor “Helping Hands”, material, commitment hours and trade professionals and the project details you would like us to handle. Do to the flexible nature of our “ ASSIST” program, we have developed rates that are both manageable and budget friendly. We will be there with you every step of the way.

Initial Visit – Project Discovery – Hour – $45

Initial Permitting – Management – Hour – $75 ( plus 25% to permit fees )

Hourly Rate – Management – Hour – $45 ( 2 hour min.)

Hourly Rate – Helping Hands – Hour – $28 ( 4 hour min. )

Delivery – General – Miles – $25 – ( combine with labor )

Special Trades – Management Fee – 25% – ( add 25% to trade rate )

Materials – Management – 25% ( add 25% to material cost )

Investment – Protection Plan – General – Year $200

“Helping Hands” is our general labor crews, ready to help you with your home improvement needs! Special Trades and Materials are paid the same day services are complete.

If you have a project in mind, give us a call we would love to discuss it with you. For more information please call us at 240-674 6750.

Ready…. Set…… Remodel….. Backyard Living- Fence

January 22, 2012UncategorizedRiverValleyConstruction

We know its not exactly rocket science but when considering a new fence there are several items you should consider to ensure your investment in time and money will not only fit your needs today but into the future as well. We know a well-constructed attractive fence can greatly enhance the value and appeal of any property before undertaking your fence project, here are a few important considerations;

RVC’s 8 major considerations for your fence project

The main function of the fence
- security
- boundary
- confinement
- noise reduction
- privacy
- decorative appeal
- Materials used
The exact location of the property line
Any land use easements (right of use granted other persons who require passage through your property in order to access their own).
Any underground utilities present
Local zoning laws and building permit requirements
How plans will effect neighbors
Future family needs ( kids, animals, friends )
Gate locations and size

Here are some basic fence types of fencing to consider. The terminology for fences can be confusing. Below is a list of fencing types in the Maryland area.

Board by Board- Also called “Side by Side”. It is exactly how it’s described. Pickets are placed next to each other and nailed. This is a good privacy fence but you can see between the pickets up close. We do hundreds of these a year and they are one of our most common fences. These can be done using 4 or 6 inch wide pickets 6 to 8 feet tall.

Board on Board- This fence is installed with a gap between the pickets and then a cover picket installed over the gap. This is the most private fence. These can be built using ONLY 6 inch wide pickets. The 4 inch will split! We can install this fence in a 4,6 or 8 foot configuration.
Shadow Box- These fences are great for properties that are in very high wind locations. The shadow box fence has staggered pickets placed on each side allowing wind to blow directly through them. Looking head on, you can’t see through this type of fence, but at an angle, you can see directly into yards, If you’re looking for privacy, this is not the fence you want. These do make great inner fences around gardens and pools.
Custom Fencing- We can build almost anything customers can come up with. We have built many custom fences tailored to our customer’s wants and needs. Call us on these types of fences.
Ranch Board- This is a fence that is basically posts and 2×6 slat or runner boards stack 3 or 4 high. These are usually used to keep live stock contained and are a safer alternative to barbed wire.
Spaced Picket- This style of fence allow wind to flow freely between pickets; cementing posts is not necessary, but recommended. This style is simple to build out of components and easy to install if delivered in pre-built panels. Spaced picket styles of wood fence have a traditional appeal and have been very popular in the states for decades. Usually 4’ to 5’ height.
Cedar split rail fence- This is one of the most cost effective styles for defining boundaries, decorating property, and fencing in livestock and horses. Split rail fencing is also one of, if not the easiest style of fence to install making it an ideal project for the do-it-yourselfer. Posts are typically set directly in the ground approx. 30″ deep with concrete. Wire fence is often used for added security or protection.
Chain Link- These are the old fences we grew up with. They last forever but do not give you that great curb appeal that a wood fence does. We can get this in a lot of different colors that are coated using a colored rubber material.

Above is just a few of the fencing types we install. If you see something that’s not there, just call us and we will custom build what you need. Remember to check out our gallery of the fences we install. We put up new pictures as we build new fences on our website www.river-valley-construciton.com. Let’s make yours one of them. Call or Email our team for further information! (240) 674 6750

Ready… Set… Remodel…… Backyard Living -Decks

January 14, 2012UncategorizedRiverValleyConstruction

You have considered your desire to have an exterior living space. You are looking for a project that will compliment your home and as an extension of your living space. Amongst many outdoor entertainment structures, the timber built deck is the most popular exterior home improvement that not only adds to the value of your home, but provides a focal point for enjoying the outdoors.

You’ll want to carefully consider the design elements that go into your deck. It should include the features that match your lifestyle and complement the design of your house. Planning is the most important part of building a deck because, chances are, and you will be living with your design for a long time. How You Plan to Use Your Deck? The most important consideration in your deck design is how you plan to use it. Do you entertain frequently, and if so, how large a group will you need space for? What kind of seating will you need-would you or your guests be more comfortable on built-in benches or patio furniture? Do you want the space arranged to accommodate conversations between small groups or in one large common area? Will you need adequate lighting to entertain at night? Do you want a screened in area? Or are there future plans for that Hot tub? Try to imagine all the ways you’d like to use your deck, because most design elements will be based on those kinds of preferences.

These are RVC’s five points to consider when designing a deck:

1. Determine the materials you choose by your environment. Consider the surface texture and color of the product. Remember that children, pets and furniture may scratch the surface of your deck. Also, make sure the deck surface can stand up to abuse or scratches; that these scratches can be masked or reduced in appearance. You should consider maintenance when considering materials. What products are going to save you time and cash in the long run?

2. If your deck is a place that you use for entertaining, make sure it will be low maintenance so you can spend more time with your guests and less with yearly maintenance. Design the deck to allow for people to move freely from the deck to the house, including wide stairs to any garden areas or exits. Plan railing, benches, planters and other decorative accessories on the deck to create an inviting surrounding for friends and family. Take in consideration a ramp or wider stairs for handicap or Age in place consideration.

3. The height of the deck from the ground is determined by the position of the access to the house, which will affect the design, function and look of your deck. From second story walkouts to low lying decks, choose your material to fit the form and functionality of the deck. Manufacturers have traditional 2 X 6 and 5/4 Radius Edge boards as well as a newer 5/4 Tongue and Groove flooring. All deck boards have their appropriate applications. Also, make sure the board performs to the best of its ability with proper joist spacing and installation. There are also many forms of waterproofing under decks to consider.

4. A deck can be any shape you want, and in fact, simple changes like an angled corner or a 45-degree decking pattern can dress up a house with a long, plain wall. Of course, a more complicated deck is more difficult to build and may require more materials. You can also add visual interest by wrapping the deck around a corner, adding built-in benches, integrating a fence or screen on one side or even adding an overhead screen.

5. Deck materials must not only be resistant to decay and insect damage but also withstand the effects of water and sun. Standard construction lumber such as fir, pine or spruce may be treated to protect it from rot, but it won’t hold up under extreme weather conditions or the ultraviolet rays in sunlight. Any Contractor or retailer should set the right expectation of the material in service. After the product has been installed properly, what can you expect for years to come? Decks are built out in the elements. All exterior products are subject to sun, wind, rain and snow, along with regular use. The sun’s UV rays will discolor any surface including composites and vinyl.

We always suggest you measure the size you want on your lawn. Drive stakes or the family tent poles at the approximate corners, then tie string (maybe from that old kit that is in the garage) between them at about the height of the railings. Set your lawn furniture in the area to get an idea of how the space will work. The most common mistake people make is building a deck too small. The difference in cost between a deck that is a little too small and one that is the right size usually isn’t as much as you might think.

Considering these topics will help develop not only the proper deck size but understanding of use but also helps in eliminating surprises. Make sure you keep a small fund for the coolers and tiki lights.