Spring 2017 Top Remodelers

REMODEL SPRING 2017

BIRMINGHAM AN OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE GBAHB AND GBAHB REMODELERS

The Greater Birmingham Association of Home Builders is a Not-For-Profit Association

2017 Home Building & Remodeling Showcase

P R E C I S I O N

H O M E C R A F T E R S

CREATING COMFORTABLE LIFESTYLES SPECIALIZING IN KITCHEN, BATH, FULL HOME RENOVATIONS. HONESTY, INTEGRITY AND QUALITY CRAFTSMANSHIP ARE WHAT WE ARE ALL ABOUT.

www.precisionhomecrafters.com 205-733-9583 OUR COMMITMENT TO YOU IS NOT TO MEET YOUR EXPECTATIONS BUT EXCEED THEM.

GBAHBR REMODELERS

We take your Kitchen to a Whole New Dimension!

1st Place $20-$50k

1st Place Res. Specialty

1st Place $40-80k

1st Place Commercial

Space Renovation/Up

1st Place under $40k

2nd Place under $40k

3rd Place under $40k

2016 Award!

They have just one thing in common...

Our Great Team of Designers & Installers

kitchenbathdimensions.com • 205-235-8410

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The Greater Birmingham Association of Home Builders (GBAHB)

Greater Birmingham Association of Home Builders (GBAHB) 500 Grantswood Road, Suite 240 Irondale, AL 35210 Phone: (205)912-7000 Fax: (205)451-0201 www.birminghambuilder.com

138. Chairman’s Message Consistent and open communication bePublished forand the Remodeler’s Councilwill of the tween you your remodeler enGreater Birmingham Association Home Builders by Fergus Consistent and openofcommunication beMedia, LLC tween you and your remodeler will en Consistent and open communication between you and your remodeler will en Consistent and open communication between and your remodeler willhome en of Kitchenyou redesign of the Fultondale Scott Renshaw and Dennis Sanchez by Kitchen and Bath Dimensions.

ABOUT THE COVER:

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134. Chairman’s Message Zeke Keel of Southern Window Supply introduces this issue and describes the great adventure of home ownership.

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152. GBAHB Remodelers Membership Directory

136. Certified Experts

Find contact information for contractors, suppliers, and manufacturers in the home building and remodeling business in the Greater Birmingham area.

Find an explanation of the professional designations that set professional builders and remodelers apart.

158. The 2017 Home Building & Remodeling Showcase

142. The Process, Design Ideas Here are some things to think about before embarking on your grand project. Plus 10 Tips not to forget.

How to get the most out of the big event.

Plus a preview of some of the show highlights.

162. My Remodeled Life A history of houses redone.

DESIGN.

KITCHEN & BATH SEMINAR

Before

PEOPLE CHOOSE CASE DESIGN/REMODELING BECAUSE QUALITY IS EVERYTHING. With more than 10 years of transforming homes in the Birmingham area, Case offers the highest quality in design and craftsmanship, unbeatable client service and the best warranty in the business.

Visit casebham.com or call 205.968.6000 to schedule your free design consultation today.

A DESIGNER’S GUIDE TO YOUR DREAM KITCHEN OR BATH. Join us for a free seminar to discover the latest trends in kitchen and bath design. We’ll share everything you need to know before embarking on a remodeling project.

To reserve your seats and for more information visit casebham.com/seminars-events or call 205.968.6000.

SATURDAY, APRIL 8 10 AM - NOON

DESIGN/REMODELING DESIGN/BUILD

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CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE GBAHBR The Great Adventure

REMODELERS GBAHB REMODELERS OFFICERS Chairman Zeke Keel, Southern Window Supply Chairman Elect Clint Lovette, Lovette Construction Secretary Wrendon Davis, Davis Plumbing Company, Inc Treasurer Joshua Dean, Precision Homecrafters, LLC Immediate Past Chair Elliott Pike, ELM Construction, LLC At Large Rick Nelson, R. K. Nelson Construction; Jeremy Harmon, Lovette Construction; Jeff Rodgers, Southern Pipe; Kenny Fikes, H H Gregg

COMMITTEES

Cookout George Williams, Precision Homecrafters, LLC Fish Fry Jeff Rodgers, Kitchen & Bath Dimensions Fast Pitch Mike Kelley, Kitchen & Bath Dimensions Public Relations Matt Tyson, Alabama Power Company Governmental Affairs Wrendon Davis, Davis Plumbing Company, Inc. Roddy Sample, Roddy O. Sample & Associates, Inc. Skeet Shoot Roddy Sample, Roddy O. Sample & Associates, Inc. George Williams, Precision Homecrafters, LLC

GBAHB SENIOR OFFICERS

President Clint Lovette, Lovette Construction 1st Vice President Marshall Newport, Newport Builders, LLC 2nd Vice President/Treasurer Colt Byrom, Byrom Building Corp 3rd Vice President/Secretary Elliott Pike, ELM Construction, LLC Associate Vice President Mary Steadman, Land Title of Alabama Past President Kyle Murphy, Murphy Home Builders

GBAHB STAFF

Executive Vice President Alicia Vincent Office Manager Lisa Stringer Director of Finance Jody Joiner Director of Member Services Sarah Stinebaugh Administrative Assistant Linda Gulsby Director of Sales and Promotion Shannon Humenansky Communications & Council Liaison Katie Spinks 134

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It feels as if it were just a few years ago when my wife and I drained our bank account.

With a few quick stroke of a pen and the greatest of pride we were now the owners of a shag rug and linoleum infested residence on a sleepy dead end street in Homewood. With properly positioned blinders to all if its imperfections and our strong desire for something of our own, we finally made the jump from renting to home ownership.

The first few months of our marriage to our new house had its ups and downs. We started by removing most of the old flooring, put down hardwood, and gave all the walls a fresh coat of paint. Much of this work was done with the aid of family and a few loyal friends. The initial effort gave us a feeling we had made it our own. We also later discovered we had a colony of well-fed black snakes living in our basement and foundation walls. That led to discussions of moving immediately as one could easily imagine. Fortunately we think they ended up eventually leaving on their own.

Even without a sighting in years, I am always looking up in the corners of my garage every time I’m down there.

Our story is generally unremarkable but to us felt like a great adventure. We knew going in that our house needed help in almost every way. I never wanted a cookie cutter house that looked exactly like the one next door; I wanted a house with soul and good bones. At first I was ready and able to rise to the occasion for almost any project. With some experience from being in the industry as a window and door specialist I felt I could tackle almost anything. In the first few years I proudly did. Many hours were spent fixing small leaks, patching sheetrock, adding insulation, and giving tender loving care to our kingdom on the side of a hill. As time went by children appeared, responsibilities arose, and time for my old four walled friend gave way to my career and family. Even with all my hard work and effort the time had come where we were not able to independently achieve what we wanted for our home. We needed to make more space for our growing family. We needed help from a professional.

A house is a never ending project. General maintenance and a need for updating are always just around the corner or years overdue. For the average person making decisions of what is best for their home is often difficult. These are not decisions you need to make alone. The Greater Birmingham Remodelers is here as a resource to you. Our goal is that through education and accountability our members

will provide you and your home with the care and respect that it deserves.

When you choose a member of Remodelers for work on your home you are selecting more than just another guy with a tool belt and a pickup truck.

For instance, Remodelers with at least five years of experience in the industry can apply for the Certified Graduate Remodeler (CGR) educational designation. Courses in the CGR curriculum are designed to emphasize business and project management skills as the key to a successful remodeling operation. There are even special courses such as The Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS) designation program which teaches the technical, business management, and customer service skills essential to home modifications for the aging-in-place. Our members also regularly get updates on changes in local, state, and national building codes, and are offered resources for proper insurance and maintaining workplace safety. They are offered regular classes hosted by local material suppliers to ensure they are up to date with the latest’s trends and with technical support for smooth installation.

Weather you just moved into your first snake-inhabited fixer upper, or you have been in the same place for decades, when you need help from an expert start by talking with a Remodeler member. Once you think you have found one that is a good fit for you, take time to get to know your Remodeler and for them to get to know you and your home. This relationship will be one of the most important you can make for the maintenance and updates on your home for many years to come.

I hope you enjoy this edition of Remodel Birmingham and find a new and helpful idea for making your house something better.

Thanks for reading and we look forward to seeing you on your next project!

Zeke Keel GBAHB Remodelers Chair Millwork Specialist at Southern Window Supply

Why Choose a Design Build Remodeling Firm?

Custom showrooms and big box stores can be a great source of inspiration for home projects. But, for example, how do you take the perfectly manicured look of a showroom kitchen and turn it into your kitchen? In this “Do-It-Yourself ” and “Reality-Remodeling” era, homeowners are empowered by the possibility of being able to transform their homes not only without the help of a professional contractor, but also getting it done in the time that it takes to order a pizza.

Although we read and watch about DIY success stories every day, there is a far greater number of disaster stories out there. Imagine getting halfway into a new kitchen project and realizing your new cabinets don’t fit. Or, what happens when you discover that you need to move a gas line to install that new pro-style range? Moving gas means plumbing, which is probably more than you signed up for. So what do you do BEFORE buying a bunch of materials from a showroom and realize that you’re in way over your head?

Clint Lovette, President of Lovette Construction has these tips: Don’t Panic–Consult a Professional Design Build Remodeler

Finalize and Agree

Some home improvement centers will cover basic installations.

However, what is not covered by home improvement centers, or even many boutique showrooms, is customized renovations, such as moving walls, comprehensive storage, updating plumbing, or overall redesign of space, function and lighting. These types of home improvements require specialized planning, skills, and must also be to code. Before you find yourself in the predicament of having decided on materials and layouts that simply don’t work, consult a design build remodeler!

The Process Begins BEFORE Construction A design build remodeler is much more than an installation expert, they’re designers, construction experts and in some cases, crisis managers. During an initial site meeting, you can discuss your wish list, project goals and potential challenges with a professional remodeler.

Once you reach the design-phase agreement, your design build remodeler will help answer the question, “Is this project realistic?”

Don’t be discouraged if your original plan needs to be revised several times - now is the time to resolve any foreseeable issues. In addition, your remodeler will produce the designs, comprehensive pricing, and a summary of work. This gives you, the client, a sense of security and understanding moving forward.

Never jump into a project without confidence. Leading up to the construction, and once you have finalized your plans, the design build firm will guide you through the process of selecting materials. Don’t cut corners! Using a professional may be a little bit more expensive than picking out your own materials or hiring “Mr. Fix-It,” but the construction expert is fully equipped to handle all unforeseen obstacles. Once primary materials are selected, your remodeler will also finalize the construction plans and acquire building permits relieving you of this hassle.

Time to Build Notice all the steps to be taken before construction can begin? A common error made is rushing to finish as quickly as possible without considering project realities and the fact that the project results should last for decades. Before breaking ground, your professional design build remodeler will produce a final materials list, descriptions of work, and construction plans. Once a complete pre-construction “checklist” is complete, it’s time to begin working to build your dream project!

2030 Columbiana Road• Vestavia Hills, AL 35216 • 205-401-2488

lovetteconstruction.com

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GBAHB Remodelers

Certified Experts Professional Designations Set Professional Builders and Remodelers Apart

Member Designations

When choosing a builder or remodeler, you want someone with the skill and expertise to do the job right. In a crowded marketplace, however, identifying a qualified professional can be difficult. That’s why the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) created professional designations that help consumers identify builders and remodelers who have committed themselves to continually improving their skills and being committed to their profession. When a homeowner selects a builder or remodeler with a NAHB professional designation, they are getting a professional with superior training, practical experience, and in-depth knowledge in their chosen specialty.

(205)623-3080

Certified Graduate Builder (CGB) The CGB designation means your builder has met the prescribed standards of practice, possess at least two years building industry experience, has a proven track record of successful project management, has completed a comprehensive education curriculum, and pledges to uphold the program’s code of ethics. The CGB course is designed to emphasize business and project management skills as the key to a professional building operation.

Certified Graduate Remodeler (CGR) The CGR course emphasizes the development of business management skills as the key to a professional remodeling operation. Remodelers holding the CGR designation meet prescribed standards of business practice, possess a minimum of five years remodeling industry experience, have a proven track record of successful remodeling projects, compete a comprehensive education curriculum, and pledge to uphold the program’s code of ethics.

Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS) The CAPS designation program teaches the technical, business management, and customer service skills essential for remodelers doing home modifications for the aging-in-place. The NAHB Remodelers Council, in collaboration with the AARP, developed this program to provide comprehensive, practical, market-specific information about working with older and maturing adults to remodel their homes for agingin-place.

Certified Graduate Associated (CGA) The CGA Certificate program offers associate members an opportunity to enhance their 136

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knowledge of the fundamentals of the home building industry. Modeled after the CGB curriculum, this designation is attained by completing three required and three elective courses that focus on improved management skills and business performance. The CGA designation is maintained by completing one course annually.

Certified Green Professional (CGP) The National Association of Home Builders’ Certified Green Professional™ designation recognizes builders, remodelers, and other industry professionals who incorporate green building principles into homes—without driving up the cost of construction. Classwork leading to the designation provides a solid background in green building methods, as well as the tools to reach customers, from the organization leading the charge to provide market-driven green building solutions to the home building industry.

Master Builder (MB)/Master Remodeler (MR) The purpose of the Master Builder/Master Remodeler Program certification of the Greater Birmingham Association of Home Builders is to further enhance the professionalism of participating members and to provide the consumer with contractors of the highest professional standards. Members of the program must pass a rigorous entry process in order to receive the designation as Master Builder of Master Remodeler. They are screened by a committee of their peers who review customer, supplier, and subcontractor references; check or any current or pending litigation; and verify full liability and workman’s compensation insurance coverage. Membership is reviewed on a yearly basis, and failure to meet the program’s requirements can warrant disqualification from the program.

Graduate Master Builder (GMB) The ultimate designation for the building professional, the GMB designation is for experienced veterans only. Before beginning the GMB designation process, candidates must have the CGB designation, CGR designation, CGA designation with five years of building experience, or ten years of building experience, and have competed three CGB/CGR/CGA courses. GMB course topics include risk management and insurance, negotiating, financial management, and quality construction, to name a few. They are more advanced with in-depth instruction geared for experienced building professionals.

Andrew Wells, CAPS Alabama ReBath

Rob Baugher, CGB Baugher, Inc. (205)283-1955

Kelly Watson, CGP

Bluestone Building LLC (205)874-1188

Tom Coan, CGR, MR

Case Design/Remodeling (205)968-6000

Mike Kelley, CGA, CGR

Kitchen & Bath Dimensions (205)664-3587

Elliott Pike, CGR, CAPS, MR ELM Construction, LLC (205)378-7965

Casey Campbell, CAPS, CGP Gibson-Anderson Company, Inc. (205)823-7714

Britt Thompson, CAPS, MR

HB Thompson Construction Services, Inc. (205)965-9758

Rob Mackercher, CAPS

The Home Remodeling Group, LLC (205)639-9252

George Kurtts, GMB, MB, MR Kurtts Construction, Inc. (205)991-5719

Clint Lovette, CAPS,CGR Lovette Construction (205)401-2488

Michael McKay, CAPS, CGR, MR Oak Alley, Inc. 205-669-3334

George Williams, CAPS, CGP, CGR, MR Precision Homecrafters, LLC (205)733-9583

Roddy Sample, CAPS, CGR, Certified Lead Renovations

Roddy O. Sample & Associates, Inc. (205)621-6621

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top remodelers 2016

Plan for Efficiency When Remodeling Renovating or remodeling a home requires a lot of thought about the design, materials and your quality of life. It’s the perfect time to explore ways to maximize energy efficiency within these renewed spaces.

Consider the following components when starting your remodeling project: Design: When considering the design of your remodel, take into account variables such as window placement. You’ll want to position your windows where you can benefit from cross-ventilation and access to light. Also consider attic ventilation, which can have an impact on roof design and landscaping. A strategically placed deciduous tree (one that loses its leaves in the fall) can provide shade in the summer and allow in warming sunlight in the winter.

Windows: Choose energy-efficient windows such as double- or tripled-paned models. The additional panes of glass create trapped air space that provides a higher insulating value. Even more efficient windows use argon gas between the panes for increased insulating values. Low-emissivity

(low-E) windows incorporate a coating applied between panes that absorbs and reflects radiant heat and ultraviolet rays.

Appliances: If you’re upgrading your home, chances are it’s time to upgrade your appliances. Choose Energy Star products, which can use 10-50 percent less energy than standard models. In addition to refrigerators and ovens, consider upgrading to electric induction cooking.

Heat pumps: You can have more design flexibility when building or remodeling a home with an energy-efficient heat pump.

No flames or fumes means you don’t have to add vent pipes or flues that take up space and you’ll have more flexibility in placing the indoor portion of the heat pump system. Add a programmable thermostat with your new system and you will maximize energy efficiency.

Switch to Convenience

Switch to an Electric Water Heater Electric water heating is fast, clean, quiet and efficient – something you want

for the second-largest energy user in your home behind heating and cooling.

Electric water heaters are matchless – they have no pilot light to light or re-light.

Plus, there are no gas fumes to worry about and no need for venting or combustion air circulation. This allows you to locate it almost anywhere in your home. Need another reason? They’re fast. Electric water heaters heat every next shower or bath faster than a gas water heater.

Heat pump water heaters are a smart choice because they are the most efficient way to heat water. You can cut your hot water costs in half with this energy-efficient technology. That amounts to over $150 in savings year after year for the average household.

Getting new Energy Star appliances is easy at an Alabama Power Appliance Center. You can even finance a purchase through your monthly bill.

Visit AlabamaPowerAppliance Center.com to find a store near you.

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Ask George Q.I recently bought an older home and

will eventually need to remodel everything.

Where should I start?

A. This answer requires an in depth discussion between the client and a Design/Build firm that can guide you through answering numerous questions, creating a realistic budget, providing a design for the new space and completing the work.

1. Let’s start with defining what condition the basic systems are in and what changes are needed. This will include HVAC, Electrical and Plumbing systems.

The range of cost for these items can vary widely and may have a significant impact on overall budget.

2. Can the existing footprint accommodate your future space requirements or will we need to add additional space?

Again adding space will provide more options but also adds to cost. Very low square footadditions don’t allow for any economy

of scale and tend to provide less in new appraised value than the actual cost. Most older homes don’t provide the open floor plan that is more desirable today. We like to evaluate the options to remove walls and change spaces based on the way clients live and use their space.

3. Will your budget allow for all of the work to be done at one time or will it need to be done in phases? There is usually some savings with being able to do all of the work at one time.

4. Is this your forever home, or do you plan to move in five years or less? Major investments in your home that have included higher quality materials and workmanship seldom yield a 100% return in the short term. These investments are generally made to improve the overall quality of life, functionality and will determine how much you really love and enjoy the space and the return on investment is re-

alized over a longer period of time. Profit on short term fix ups frequently include the most superficial upgrades and often include builder grade materials and mediocre workmanship.

5. Today’s world seems to seek instant gratification. Having once lived in a home that was built in 1865 and added on to at the turn of the century, I can suggest from experience that living in a space for a year before making major changes is probably a good idea for most people. This time allows you to really think thru how you will use the space, where you need more room, and how things can be arranged to provide more functionality for your particular lifestye.

Q. I want to turn my deck into usable space all year round. What are my options?

A. It would be highly unusual for a

About the author:George is a past president of the GBAHA and his company has won numerous remodeling awards over the past 19 years.

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deck to have adequate footings and structural support for conditioned space. There are companies that will install sunroom kits on existing decks. However, our experience has shown in these types of projects overall quality of conditioned space is significantly different from the rest of the house. The correct approach almost always requires removing the existing structure and starting over with the design and construction of a new room. Questions to answer are: 1.

How will the space be used? 2. How large does the space need to be? 3. Do I want/ need an extension of existing space or do I want/need a separate room?

4. What will the additional HVAC requirements for this space be?

Many of our clients find a screen porch and/or other outdoor living spaces to be a preferred alternative to extending their living space to the outside. The mild Alabama weather coupled with numerous new products allows us to create outdoor living spaces that are very functional and enjoyable almost year round. Only the most severe heat and cold limit the use of these spaces.

Q.

My kitchen just isn’t functional. I want to remodel, but don’t know how to make the space work.

What should I do?

A. This is what Design/ Build Remodeling Firms do every day. We start with a list of questions which will help us understand what you don’t like about the existing space, what you do like about the existing space and what you would like to

BEFORE AFTER

Q.

We need to remodel our bathroom, but what I want and what my husband wants are totally different. Can someone help us make these design decisions?

A. That depends on what you disagree on and your willingness to compromise and/or make final decisions based on investment return, accessibility, or functionality if they are some of the items affecting the difference of opinion. If the difference is purely stylistic, the challenge will be greater, but we make every effort to work through the process with you. Technology allows us to draw the space so that it can be seen in 3D, providing a real-life perspective. This often helps both parties better see exactly what the end product will look like and more easily make changes, additions, or deletions before the work begins.

have. We will delve further into understanding your lifestyle, any family dynamics that will determine design requirements, and the amount of investment you are able or willing to make. We will discuss options you may not have considered. Once we are able to verbally agree on one or two possible concepts that sound like they would work, a Design Agreement is entered into.

Design Agreements should define the scope of work at a big picture level the area that is being designed and what will be included in the design deliverables. Schematics, Elevations, 3D model, etc., the cost of the design, any product selections that are included and/or cost for assistance with additional

Product Selections. The design documents provided will also be used for obtaining Building Permits and actually building or remodeling the new space. Once the design is agreed upon and product selections finalized, pricing can be pulled together in the form of a proposal. When the proposal is accepted a Construction Contract is entered into for the work to begin.

Precision Home Crafters George Williams 1215 Lake Forest Circle Birmingham, AL 35244 733-9583 PrecisionHomeCrafters.com

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What Does Your Kitchen Say About You?

Your kitchen says a lot about you. Sandra Kelley, kitchen designer, of Kitchen & Bath Dimensions says personal expression is the starting point for a kitchen remodel. “People should strive for design that speaks about their personality and how they live in their home.�

This re-imagined kitchen in a Fultondale ranch home was the result of a happy

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collaboration between Kelley and the home owners, Scott Renshaw of Salon 2412 and his partner, Dennis Sanchez. Renshaw and Sanchez had moved from a very modern home and wanted to maintain some of that clean aesthetic, while creating a more comfortable, warm environment. The result is a light-filled transitional space where everything has its place and a combination of

materials adds texture.

The show-stopping Wolf oven and range with a commanding hood are showcased against a wall of imported Italian tile that the home-owners re-purposed from the foyer. Integrated panels for the 36-inch Sub-Zero refrigerator and freezer repeat the very Shoji-like squares of the metal and glass French doors that separate the kitch-

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en from the dining room.

Perimeter counter tops are Corian, while the island is set off with three-inch dark walnut. The light maple floors contribute to the airiness. Renshaw liked a vibrant color of an antique piece of furniture that he had in another room, and Kelley matched the exact color for the kitchen island to give the room a sense of playfulness. To mitigate the starkness

of too-white cabinetry, Kelley suggested using a subtle brush-stroke of charcoal on the edges.

With more than 50 remodeling excellence awards to their credit, Kitchen & Bath Dimensions, a family-run business, is featured and reviewed on houzz.com, with four highly-coveted Houzz Awards. But their best award is the satisfaction of the homeowner for each project, as in the Renshaw-Sanchez Kitchen.

Kitchen & Bath Dimensions 2726 Chandalar Place Drive Pelham, AL 35124 205-235-8410 kitchenbathdimensions.com

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Process THE

The remodeling process can be overwhelming, filled with layers of choices, not only about product or color, but about budget and who you’ll select to complete your project.

If you put in the time to research and build a list of what you like—with pictures— you will have a better sense of which professional can help you achieve your goals.

Inspiration

Finding inspiration in design and styles of other homes gets you one step closer to envisioning what your dream home could look like.

Where can you find inspiration? Many homeowners research books, magazines or the Internet to get inspired.

Reasons to remodel

You want to make your home more comfortable and attractive. Your family is expanding, and you need more room.

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Your home is outdated, and you want to make the style more current.

Your home is not functional for your lifestyle.

Your home is in need of repair.

Whatever the reason, think carefully about what you dislike the most about your home, and what improvement to your home will help you overcome those challenges.

Think to the future

Envision your life 5, 10, 20 years from now.

Think about: •Family dynamics and how they will expand or contract.

•How you want to address changes to your family’s physical capabilities over time.

•Your finances and how much you’re comfortable saving to pay for your remodel— and how that will change over time.

•The impact of the remodel on the

environment or your energy usage.

•Natural disasters and how aspects of your remodel could reduce damage.

•Your neighborhood and comparable property values.

•Technology and the role it plays in your everyday life.

•Needs versus wants; wants versus desires •Where to save costs and where extra costs will pay off over the long-term.

Cost of remodeling

One of the most important aspects to remodeling is knowing—and controlling—your budget. There are so many variables that go into determining the cost of a project. Here are a few things that will affect the cost of remodeling:

Size and scope of your project.

Project cost will vary depending on your location, the size of the room, and what features or options you choose.

However, square footage alone is not the indicator of cost; kitchens and bathrooms may be smaller but require appliances, plumbing and electrical features.

Structural changes.

Changing the structure of your home typically will cost more because it requires additional design and engineering work.

Product selections.

Your choice in products will determine the cost of the project. There are many different levels of product quality as well as price ranges. Talk to your contractor about various options to meet your overall goal.

Age of the infrastructure.

The age and condition of your home must be considered. Structural issues more than likely will have a great impact on cost.

Craftsmanship and quality.

Like other areas of life, you get what you pay for—a high-quality craftsman and custom workmanship will cost more.

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ideas DESIGN

You want to change the look and feel of your house, but you also want your remodeling job to look fresh for a number of years and complement the existing features of your home. How do you choose the right project and design for you and your family?

First, take your family’s lifestyle into account when selecting an area of your home to remodel. For example, if you get a lot of traffic through the house, consider hardwood floors. Families who frequently entertain in the kitchen may want to expand the room and add an island or some comfortable chairs. If your bathroom is the place where you escape the world, add a whirlpool tub or a deluxe shower.

After you’ve chosen an area of your home to remodel, the wide array of project options can be both dazzling and intimidating. To get started, consult the resources below, which can give you specific ideas on how to turn your house into the dream home you’ve always wanted.

TV Shows: There are an increasing number of shows and channels focused on decorating and simple home improvement projects to more complex remodels or home makeovers. For example, HGTV features projects that evolve from start to finish on shows like “Buying and Selling” and “Curb Appeal”; check your local television guide for listings.

Magazines: Magazines that cater to home improvement, lifestyle and remodeling can be an excellent source of ideas. Page through publications such as Dwell, Home, House Beautiful, Better Homes and Gardens, Southern Living, Coastal Living, Food and Wine, Country Living, and Good Housekeeping to identify projects and materials that might work in your home. Additionally, you can request a wide range of free or inexpensive literature by completing the mail-in coupons inserted in such publications.

Websites/Blogs: Surfing the Web is a great way to find fresh ideas and to research projects.

Many remodelers, manufacturers and magazines host websites that feature project photos,

buying guides and product information.

Web directories such as the NAHB Remodelers Directory can help you find professional remodelers in your area. Other sites such as Pinterest and Houzz have extensive photo collections for inspiration.

And, an increasing number of DIY and design blogs created by homeowners themselves can also provide inspiration for simple projects you can do around the house.

Sketches and Floor Plans: No two remodeling projects are the same, but you can gain some insight into how another homeowner solved a space problem by carefully studying sketches and floor plans. If, like most people, you are easily confused by plans and drawings, imagine yourself in the middle of the room or space on the plan.

Books: Browse a bookstore with a wellstocked home improvement section, but beware of books telling you to be your own remodeling contractor. Most remodeling projects call for a level of skill and work hours beyond those stated in these books. The job of a professional remodeler requires experience and competence in a wide range of disciplines, and unless you are

highly skilled and licensed in all the trades, you can quickly get in over your head.

Newspapers: Most newspapers publish regular sections devoted to real estate, home design and remodeling. Also, twice a year — usually in the spring and fall — many papers print special home improvement supplements. Each of these sections contains timely articles and useful advertisements on remodeling, home improvement, repair and maintenance.

Friends, Family and Neighbors: Do you know someone who has recently remodeled their home in a style you admire? He or she may still have product manuals, magazines and other helpful information you can borrow, as well as practical advice drawn from his or her own experience.

Remodeling Professionals: One of the advantages of choosing a remodeler early is gaining access to an extensive library of resources prior to starting a project. Once you’ve chosen a contractor, he or she usually can offer you a wide variety of materials, including product manuals, magazines, brochures and blueprints.

Manufacturers and Suppliers: The most obvious place to find information about new products and how to use them is on manufacturers’ Web sites and in magazine ads. Lumberyards, hardware stores and other suppliers also can be valuable sources of information. Many suppliers now offer home planning centers, where you can browse comfortably among the following: plan books, product manuals, sourcebooks, building tips, magazines, brochures, and directories of local remodelers and builders.

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10 Tips 1

Establish effective two-way communication with the home remodeler.

It’s essential to have good communication for a smooth home remodeling project. Does the remodeler listen? Does he or she answer questions clearly and candidly? Can you reach him when you need to? Does he return phone calls promptly? Does he let you know when problems arise and work with you on solving them?

2

Make sure you are compatible with the contractor. You’ll spend a lot of time with your remodeler so it’s important to have a good rapport and trust in him or her.

3

Set a clear and mutual understanding about the schedule. You and your home remodeler should agree on the schedule up front to avoid conflict and problems later in the project.

4

Request a written proposal. Often, two people remember the same conversation differently. Get the proposal in writing and work with the remodeler to ensure it reflects your wishes.

5

Get a clear and mutual understanding on miscellaneous details up front. There are a lot of little details that need to be settled before work starts. What times of day will they be working? How will he or she access the property? How will cleanup be handled? How will they protect your property?

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Follow these 10 tips when you embark on an exciting home remodeling project.

Remember to be flexible. Remodeling is an interruption of your normal life. Remember to be flexible during the project so that you can handle the unexpected and go with the flow.

Discuss and agree on how change orders will be handled. With home remodeling there is always the chance you may want to change materials or other project details during the job. Before work starts, make sure you agree with your remodeler about how these changes will be handled. Also understand that changes could affect the schedule and the budget, so it’s important you have all changes in writing.

Agree on a well-written contract that covers all the bases. The contract should include these elements: a timetable for the project, price and payment schedule, detailed specifications for all products and materials, insurance information, permit information, procedures for handling change orders, lien releases, provisions for conflict resolution, notice of your right under the Federal Trade Commission’s Cooling Off Rule (your right to cancel the contract within three days if it was signed someplace other than the remodeler’s place of business), and details on the important issues (such as access to your home, care of the home, cleanup and trash removal).

6 7 8

Ask for a written lien waiver from the home remodeler upon completion of the work. If the remodeler hires subcontractors for portions of the work, then it is their responsibility to see the subcontractors compensated.

In order to ensure this has been done and to protect yourself, ask for a written lien waiver when the work is finished. This document will verify everyone has been paid.

9

Establish a project plan, covering all phases and dependencies in the work. Plan your big picture goals with the remodeler and discuss your needs. Hire a remodeler who will plan with you, listen to concerns and answer questions.

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top remodelers 2016

BEFORE

THE PORCH

REVIVAL AFTER Those of us of a certain age are well familiar with the porch. Yet few know the interesting story of the porch’s evolution in America. In early American times, porches were nonexistent because they were not part of the architectural tradition in the British Isles. It was only after immigrants from other places brought varying traditions in the 1800s that the porch came to be.

By the Victorian period, porches were common in residential design. Wrap-around porches, sun porches, 2nd floor porches and sleeping porches were all common. Even modest southern homes built in the first part of the 20th century often had two porches; one for sitting and entertaining and a second one for sleeping during the hot summer.

Things changed dramatically later in the 20th century.

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Case Design/Remodeling 4220 Cahaba Heights Court, Suite 116 Birmingham, AL 35243 205-968-6000 CaseBham.com

BEFORE AFTER Suburbs popped up with air conditioning and more people used cars instead of walking. Together, they killed the porch reducing it to a small square of concrete that my family called a stoop. As the porches disappeared, patios and wooden decks appeared in our backyards.

Fast forward to now, I am delighted to report that the porch is back! After decades of blistering ourselves on our decks, we’ve rediscovered the wisdom of a structure that expands a home’s living space and blocks the harsh sun and mosquitos.

How do you make a modern porch addition great? 1. By accounting for the location of the sun during prime use hours and controlling shade to the client’s needs. 2. Locating, sizing and detailing the structure to make it fit seamlessly with the home. 3. Selecting materials and finishes that connect the porch to the interior space, and 4. Specifying lighting, fans, fireplaces and TVs to meet performance needs.

How much are you using your deck or patio? If the answer is, “not much”, a porch may add a wonderful new dimension to your home!

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top remodelers 2016

2030 COLUMBIANA ROAD • VESTAVIA HILLS, AL 35216 • 205-401-2488 148

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LOVETTECONSTRUCTION.COM

SPECIAL PROMOTION

As a design build firm, Lovette Construction provides a huge benefit of having contractors and designers under one roof. This means the details of your home remodeling project are carefully monitored from start to finish.

Clint Lovette founded the company over 11 years ago with a simple mindset: Be fiercely dedicated to your clients, your employees and the industry and everything else will take care of itself. This mission shows throughout their projects, customer reviews and the multiple awards they have achieved throughout the years.

In 2016, Lovette Construction was awarded the coveted Best in Show for the Alabama Remodeling Excellence Awards and bestowed Remodeler of the Year by the Greater Birmingham Association of Home Builders.

A home is often the single, largest investment of a lifetime. Touching such an important asset is a huge responsibility and one Lovette Construction takes very seriously. Whether you are looking to increase your living area, remodel a kitchen or bathroom, or redesign outdoor space, Lovette Construction will do whatever it takes to provide the results you expect and deserve.

GBAHB REMODELERS SPRING 2017

MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY Contractors A.J. Homes, Inc.

Ashley Colburn 8455 Scott Drive Trussville, AL 35173 www.ajhomesinc.com (205) 365-7496

Al Foster Construction Company

Al Foster 4437 Cahaba River Road Birmingham, AL 35243 (205) 969-2536

Appleseed Workshop, LLC

Mike Gibson 409 Richard Arrington Jr., Blvd.S Birmingham, AL 35233 www.appleseedworkshop.com (205) 789-1518

Baugher, Inc.

Rob Baugher, CGB 527 Currie Way Homewood, AL 35209 www.remodelit.info (205) 283-1955

Bill Harris Realty, Inc.

Bill Harris 616 B Gadsden Hwy Birmingham, AL 35235 (205) 836-7407

Bluestone Building, LLC Kelly Watson, CGP 4 Office Park Circle #314 Birmingham, AL 35223 www.bluestonebuilding.com (205) 874-1188

Case Design/Remodeling

Tom Coan, CGR, MR 4220 Cahaba Heights Ct. Ste 116 Birmingham, AL 35243 www.casebham.com (205) 968-6000

Champion Window Co. of Birmingham, LLC David Sanders 309 H Cahaba Valley Pkwy.

Pelham, AL 35124 www.championwindow.com (205) 444-0096 150

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Day Star Construction Inc

Stephen Dorsky 4005 2nd Avenue South Birmingham, AL 35222 daystarconstruction.com (205) 591-0751

Disaster Restoration DKI

Ken Pate 1915 Courson Court Leeds, AL 35094 www.pateandcompany.com (205) 699-5932

Drake Homes Andrew Lange 2700 19th Place S. Ste 200 Homewood, AL 35209 www.drakehomes.net (205) 637-3646

Dreamworks Home Construction Brent Cate 7046 Bradstock Court Birmingham, AL 35094 (205) 500-9585

ELM Construction LLC Elliott Pike CGR, CAPS, MR 4100 Autumn Lane #104 Vestavia Hills, AL 35243 www.elmbuilds.com (205) 368-3109

Foundation Repairs & Home Improvement, Inc. Greg McBride P O Box 805 Bessemer, AL 35021 (205) 426-2770

Gibson & Anderson Construction, Inc.

Earl Gibson 2539 Rocky Ridge Road Birmingham, AL 35243 www.gibsonanderson.com (205) 823-7714

Grace Klein Construction, Inc.

Jason Waltman 1678 Montgomery Hwy Ste D304 Vestavia AL 35216 gracekleinconstruction.com (205) 390-2211

H. B. Thompson Construction Services, Inc. Britt Thompson, CAPS, MR 780 2nd Street Helena, AL 35080 (205) 965-9758

Harwell Building Company Barry Harwell 3732 Dunbarton Drive Birmingham, AL 35223 harwellbuilding.com (205) 296-2100

Historical Home Crafters, Inc.

James Wagnon 932 Copena Drive Pelham, AL 35124 www.historicalhomecrafters.com (205) 991-9694

Holsombeck Construction, Inc.

Stan Holsombeck 249 York St. Trussville, AL 35173 205-369-5708

Home Maintenance Associates Inc.

Eddie Dorough 4000 Eagle Point Corporate Dr. Birmingham, AL 35242 www.hmainc.net (205) 956-1820

Home Remodeling Group, LLC

Rob MacKercher, CAPS 2467 Huntington Glen Drive Birmingham, AL 35226 (205) 639-9252

Homes By Indianwood, Inc. Bill Kinnebrew 2116 Old Montgomery Hwy. Pelham, AL 35124 (205) 369-4541

Imperial Construction, LLC Tony Holman 5341 Hwy. 17 Helena, AL 35080 (205) 929-7320

Jones & Jones, Inc.

Walter Jones 1120 Canoe Creek Road Springville, AL 35146 www.jonesandjonesinc.net (205) 929-7320

KAM Construction Co., Inc. Richard Keydoszius 2103 County Road 46 Montevallo, AL 35115 (205) 668-4339

Ken Underwood Development, Inc.

Ken Underwood 577 Shoal Ridge Drive Leeds, AL 35094 (205) 702-2726

Kitchen Potential, Inc.

Michael Schuster 3800 2nd Avenue South Birmingham, AL 35222 www.kitchenpotential.com (205) 870-8467

Kurtts Construction Inc.

George Kurtts, GMB, MB, MR P O Box 380067 Birmingham, AL 35238 www.kurttsconstruction.com (205) 991-5719

Lorino Construction, Inc. Gaeton Lorino 1270 Parliament Lane Birmingham, AL 35216 (205) 365-0621

Lovette Construction

Clint Lovette, CAPS, CGR 2030 Columbiana Road Birmingham, AL 35216 www.lovetteconstruction.com (205) 401-2488

M U I Corporation Mike Carden, CGR 232 Portsouth Lane Alabaster, AL 35007 www.muicorporation.com (205) 967-2570

Rigsby Construction

Twin Construction, Inc.

McKay Building Co, Inc.

RK Nelson Construction, LLC

Willow Homes, LLC

Alagasco

Roberts Building Group, Inc.

Wyatt Building Corp. Inc.

Allegion Schlage Lock Company

Roddy O. Sample & Associates, Inc.

Suppliers & Manufacturers

Bob McKay 57 Glynn Hollow Circle Columbiana, AL 35051 www.mckaybuilding.com (205) 980-1718

Newport Builders, LLC

Marshall Newport 5800 7th Avenue South Birmingham, AL 35212 www.newportbuildersllc.com (205) 807-4757

Nix Design Build Jeremy Nix 920 Oxmoor Road Homewood, AL 35209 (205) 352-4100 Oak Alley, Inc.

Michael McKay, CAPS, CGR, MR PO Box 157 Chelsea, AL 35043 www.oakalleydesignbuild.com (205) 669-3334

Precision Homecrafters, LLC

George Williams, CAPS, CGP, CGR, MR 1215 Lake Forest Circle Birmingham, AL 35244 www.precisionhomecrafters.com (205) 733-9583

R.R. of Alabama, Inc. James G. Walton 123 Clark Street Pelham, AL 35124 www.reliablerem.com (205) 988-9194

Ray Building Company

Stephen S. Ray 13 Office Park Circle, Suite 17 A Mountain Brook, AL 35223 www.raybuildingcompany.com (205) 868-6800

Company Inc. Daniel R. Friday 421 1st Street North Alabaster, AL 35007 (205) 663-4456

Rick Nelson 3905 Woodhaven Road Hoover, AL 35244 (205) 370-3110

Mike Roberts 137 West Glenwood Drive Homewood, AL 35209 (205) 901-9301

Roddy Sample CGR, CAPS P.O. Box 1844 Pelham, AL 35124 www.roddysample.com (205) 621-6621

Saunders & Bradford, LLC Mitch Bradford 4100 Autumn Lane #108 Vestavia, AL 35243 www.saundersbradford.com (205) 337-0007

Slate Barganier

Ben Gardner 3172 Cahaba Heights Road Vestavia AL 35243 www.slatebarganier.com (205) 637-3373

Steve McGuire Construction Co., Inc.

Patrick McGuire PO Box 130968 Birmingham, AL 35213 mcguireconstructioninc.com (205) 595-2355

Taylor Burton Company Inc Cris Speegle 3239 Lorna Road, Suite 108 Birmingham, AL 35216 www.taylorburton.com (205) 365-1373

Alabama ReBath

David Siegel P.O. Box 59611 Birmingham, AL 35259 www.twincompanies.com (205) 802-3920

Andrew Wells, CAPS 3411 Lorna Lane Hoover, AL 35216 www.alabamarebath.com (205) 623-3080

Jason Hale P O Box 660851 Birmingham, AL 35266 www.gowillowhomes.com (205) 516-0552

Reynolds Anderson 2101 6th Avenue North Birmingham, AL 35203 www.alagasco.com (205) 834-6780

Randy Wyatt 1077 Commerce Circle Pelham, AL 35124 (205) 988-9466

Air Engineers, LLC

Ben Davis P.O. Box 380157 Birmingham, AL 35238 www.aireng.com (205) 991-6850

Alabama Brick Delivery Jeff South PO Box 5462 Birmingham, AL 35207 www.alabamabrick.com (205) 323-1560

Alabama Cabinet Company, Inc.

Tim Pollard 95 Third Avenue North Birmingham, AL 35204 alabamacabinetco.com (205) 326-3190

Alabama Homescapes Joel Flournoy 129 Mountain Pkwy Maylene AL 35114 alabamahomescapes.com (205) 365-7454

Alabama Power Company Carla Roberson P O Box 2641 Bin # 3S - 1615 Birmingham AL 35291 www.alabamapower.com (205) 226-1442

David Estreicher 3313 Stone Ridge Drive Birmingham, AL 35223 (205) 224-6910

AllSouth Appliance Group Inc.

Tyler Hillman 345 State Farm Parkway Birmingham, AL 35209 allsouthappliance.net (205) 942-0408

American Wall Zone Supply

Malcolm Byers 2520 Pelham Pkwy Pelham, AL 35124 www.americanwallzone.com (205) 663-5553

Andre Toporovicz Andre Toporovicz 106 Big Oak Drive Maylene, AL 35114 (205) 663-5553

Archadeck of Birmingham

John Crews P O Box 13216 Birmingham, AL 35202 birmingham.archadeck.com (205) 970-0121

B-Metro Magazine Cathy Fingerman 1314 Cobb Lane Birmingham AL 35205 b-metro.com (205)202-4182

MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY

Bin There Dump That

Scott Klesius 633 Stuart Lane Pelham, AL 35124 dumpsterrentalsbirmingham.com (205) 406-5850

Birmingham Water Board

Sonny Jones P.O. Box 830110 Birmingham, AL 35283 www.bwwb.org (205) 244-4400

Kitchen & Bath Dimensions, Inc.

Mike Kelley, CGA, CGR 2726 Chandalar Place Drive Pelham, AL 35124 www.counterdimensions.com (205) 664-3587

CR Home of Alabama, Inc Lisa Chapman 223 West Oxmoor Road Birmingham, AL 35209 www.crhomeal.com (205) 943-0680

Blueprint Financial Partners

Creative Cabinets and Design

Brandino Brass Co.

Crossville Tile & Stone

Joey Mure 3125 Blue Lake Drive Birmingham, AL 35243 www.blueprintpartner.com (205)370-8460 Eric Brandino 2824 Central Avenue Suite # 100 Birmingham, AL 35209 www.brandinobrass.com (205) 978-8900

Brian’s Flooring & Design

Brian McCarver 2928 6th Ave South Birmingham, AL 35233 www.shopbriansflooring.com (205)581-1788

Cahaba River Trading Company, Inc. James Hayes 421 1st Street North Alabaster, AL 35007 cahabarivertrading.com (205) 663-1456

Classic Closets, LLC

Barry Tidwell P O Box 398 Haleyville AL 35565 www.classicclosets.net (205) 486-9023

Coleman-Russell & Associates

Morris Kay P O Box 100217 Birmingham, AL 35210 www.colemanrussell.com (205) 833-0700

Jennifer Thompson 131 West Oxmoor Road Suite 113 Birmingham, AL 35209 (205) 365-4045 Anthony Bellew 2820 6th Avenue South Birmingham, AL 35233 www.crossvilletileandstone.com (205) 987-3617

Dale of Alabama, Inc. Tommy Patton 410 Governors Drive Southwest Huntsville, AL 35801 www.daleinc.net (205) 297-0173 Davis Designs Cindy Davis 5560 Cahaba Valley Road Birmingham, AL 35242 (205) 991-2929 Davis Plumbing Company Inc.

Wrendon Davis 5600 Cahaba Valley Road Birmingham, AL 35242 www.davisplumbingcoinc.com (205) 991-2022

Don’s Carpet One

Angie Little 3541 Vann Road Birmingham, AL 35206 www.donscarpetone.com 205-655-8777

Door Exchange

hhgregg - Fine Lines

Durante Home Exteriors

IKO Industries, Inc.

Edwards Chevrolet Company, Inc

In Its Place Design and Organization

Ferguson Enterprises Inc.

Inline Lighting and Electric

Fidelity Bank-

KC South, LLC Pella Windows & Doors

Fixtures & Finishes

Land Title Company of Alabama

Tony Benton 2637 Pelham Parkway Pelham, AL 35124 www.doorexchange.net (205) 621-2323

Jason Durante 2512 Commerce Square West Birmingham, AL 35210 www.durantewindows.com (205) 956-4110

Marty Phillips 1400 Third Ave North Birmingham, AL 35203 downtown.chevyman.com (205)716-3323

Kevin Caton 2800 2nd Avenue South Birmingham, AL 35233 www.ferguson.com/branch/ birmingham-al-showroom (205) 254-3454

Coralie Jackson 2 Chase Corporate Drive Ste 150 Birmingham, AL 35244 (205) 379-1659 Harriet Alley 2500 2nd Avenue S Birmingham, AL 35233 (205)323-5616

Floor Coverings International of Birmingham Lindsay Murphy 2010 Old Montgomery Hwy Birmingham, AL 35244 (205) 332-1460

Four Hearts, LLC dba Advanced Roofing and Metal Works Jim Butters 3898 Park Lane Bessemer, AL 35022 (205) 822-3231

Jarrard Ray 1773 Montgomery Highway S Hoover, AL 35244 www.hhgreggfinelines.com (205) 402-7287

Clay Harbin 1416 Overwood Road Birmingham, AL 35222 www.iko.com (813) 731-4883

Donna DeSeno PO Box 26623 Hoover, AL 35260 orderbringspeace.com 205-475-1275

Stacey Summerville 2721 Pelham Parkway Pelham, AL 35124 www.inlinelighting.com (205) 982-7511

Jillian Mullan 101 Distribution Drive Homewood, AL 35209 birminghamwindowsales.com (240) 601-9836

Mary Steadman 600 North 20th St., Suite 100 Birmingham, AL 35203 www.land-title.net (205) 251-2871

Larson Plumbing

Sean Larson 109 Shelby Forest Rd. Chelsea, AL 35043 (205) 789-3680

Lighting Concepts

Nancy Adcock 570 Simmons Drive Trussville, AL 35173 www.lightingconceptsal.com (205) 655-7285

Link Financial LLC

ProSource of Birmingham

Southern Marketing

Lowe’s Home Improvement

PSA dba The System Shop

Southern Stone Design, LLC

Heather Good 1980 Braddock Drive Hoover, AL 35226 www.LinkFinancial.net (205)558-8000 Daniel Miller 5291 Highway 280 Birmingham, AL 35242 www.lowes.com (205) 981-4100

Masco Contractor Services dba Gale Insulation & Specialties Chuck Clement 3112 Morgan Road Bessemer, AL 35022 truteam.com/galebessemer/ (205) 428-9381

Mayer Lighting Showroom Susan Burks 3200 3rd Avenue South Birmingham, AL 35222 www.mayerlighting.com (205) 583-3400

O M Hughes Insurance Inc. Mark Hughes 300 Union Hill Drive Ste 300 Birmingham, AL 35209 omhughesinsurance.com (205) 956-4500

One Call Roofing, LLC Lori Krauss 840 Ballantrae Pkwy Pelham, AL 35124 www.onecallroofing.com (205) 370-9450

Owl Services, LLC Jerome Howell 7529 Narrows Road Pinson, AL 35126 (205) 681-4247

Pentoir, Inc.

Jonathan Stephens 404 Business Center Drive Birmingham, AL 35244 www.pentoir.com (205) 682-4458

Melissa Pancner 197 Chandalar Place Dr Pelham, AL 35124 prosourceofbirmingham.com (251) 533-4514 Ashley Nelson P.O. Box 380755 Birmingham, AL 35238 (205) 408-0140

Robert F. Henry Tile Co. Andrew Buchanan 4500 1st Avenue North Birmingham AL 35222 www.henrytile.com (205) 592-8615

Rustic Mountain Restoration

Andrew Davenport 3423 N River Rd Birmingham, AL 35223 birminghamresidentialroofing.com (205)999-3595

Sherwin Williams Company

Doug Martin 2524 Valleydale Road Ste 101 Birmingham, AL 35244 www.sherwin-williams.com (205) 981-2370

Siano Appliance Distributors, Inc.

Ralph Siano 5372 Pleasant View Road Memphis, TN 38134 www.sianoappliances.net (205) 560-0777

SK Electrical Service Company

Shad Kimbrell 2407 Rose Hill Rd Nauvoo, AL 35578 www.skelectricalservice.com (205) 544-4487

Southern Bath & Kitchen

Jeff Rodgers 300 35th Street North Birmingham, AL 35232 www.sbkbham.com (205) 581-8600

Terry Falkner 2092 Brook Highland Ridge Birmingham, AL 35242 (205) 276-9051

John Miller 715 Thames Ct. Pelham, AL 35124 (205) 685-8441

Southern Window Supply

Tim Flynn 155 Winslett Rd Pelham, AL 35124 Southernwindowsupply.com (205) 945-9832

Space Cadets

Kim McBrayer 2921 Selkirk Circle Birmingham, AL 35242 www.spacecadetsorganizing.com (205) 368-2425

Surface One Bruce Land 2421 Hwy 11 Pelham, AL 35124 surface1.com (205) 621-1125 Team Elevator, LLC

Steve Bate 5440 Woodford Drive Birmingham, AL 35242 www.teamelevator.net (205) 252-0912

Teeter Cabinets Randall Teeter 495 First Street Southeast Graysville, AL 35073 (205) 674-0233

Trans Load

Ren Heartsill 5149 Meadow Brook Road Birmingham, AL 35242 (205) 849-6125

Triton Stone Group of Birmingham

Jonathan Lambert 4500 Fifth Ave South Birmingham, AL 35222 www.tritonstone.com 205-592-0202

USAmeriBank Daryl Spears 1100 Corporate Pkwy Birmingham, AL 35242 www.usameribank.com (205) 408-2000 VW Gallerie at V & W Supply

Megan Fitzpatrick 3320 Second Avenue South Birmingham, AL 35222 www.vwsupply.com (205) 324-9521

Weathertech Distributing Co., Inc. Tim Upton P O Box 100609 Irondale, AL 35210 www.weathertech.net (205) 956-5400

Weber Mortgage

Clay Brunson 1442 Montgomery Hwy. Vestavia, AL 35216 www.webermortgage.com (205) 296-6679

Webb Concrete and Building Materials

Phil Webb P O Box 35 Heflin, AL 36264 www.webbconcrete.com (800) 600-2195

Wells Fargo Home Mortgage

Joe Reynolds 210 Wildwood Parkway Homewood, AL 35209 www.wellsfargo.com/mortgage‎ (904) 534-2001

Will and Pierce Agency David Walker 237 Kensington Lane Alabaster, AL 35007 www.willandpierce.com (205) 807-6484

SPECIAL PROMOTION

warmer. Our working kitchen faucets allow you to experience the innovative touch technology and its many benefits. We also offer coordinating accessories, cabinet hardware, appliance pulls, and select bath lighting to complete your project.

Our VW Gallerie flagship showroom, in Birmingham, was the first Kohler Premier Showroom to open in the United States. We are the only Platinum Kallista showroom and only Kohler Premier location in Alabama. Our showrooms display products by Kallista, Kohler, Robern, Brizo, Delta, Bain Ultra, California Faucets, Rohl, Newport Brass, Jason, Aquatic Industries, Mr Steam, Sonoma Forge, Waterstone, Victoria & Albert, as well as many others.

VW Gallerie staff is highly trained and dedicated to providing friendly and exceptional customer service to make your experience with us an enjoyable one.

Imagine Your Dream...

Embrace Every Possibility...

Create Your Happiness...

VW Gallerie showrooms feature the most current trends as well as classic favorites. With a wide variety of styles on display, including traditional, transitional and contemporary, you will find the perfect plumbing products and accessories to create the bath or kitchen of your dreams.

We have multiple suites featuring numerous kitchen and bath fixtures, including Aging in Place and water conservation products.

Our Birmingham showroom offers interactive displays, including a working shower that demonstrates technologically advanced showerheads, digital controls, and steam units. You may also experience the warmth of walking on heated flooring, the clean crisp taste of filtered water, and the feel of toasty warm towels fresh off the towel

VW Gallerie Birmingham, Pelham and Tuscaloosa vwgallerie.com

Bold is is of a Bold wealth a wealth of possibilities.

possibilities.

Make a striking design statement in three simple steps.

Choose a spout, handles Make a striking design statement in three simple steps.

Choose spout, handles and faucet finish from theaArtifacts ™ and faucet finish afrom ™ collection to create lookthe allArtifacts your own. collection to create a look all your own.

KOHLER.com/Artifacts

KOHLER.com/Artifacts 3320 Second 3320 SecondAvenue Avenue South South Birmingham, Birmingham,AL AL35222 35222 205.324.9521 205.324.9521

Uncover the possibilities at VW GallerieatatV&W V&W Supply.

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Uncover the possibilities at VW Gallerie www.vwsupply.com www.vwsupply.com 154

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221 Industrial 221 Industrial ParkPark DriveDrive Pelham, AL 35124 Pelham, AL 35124 205.663.1336 205.663.1336

712 20th Avenue 712 20th Avenue Tuscaloosa, AL 35401 Tuscaloosa, AL 35401 205.758.8621 205.758.8621

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SOUTHERN WINDOW SUPPLY WINDOWS SKYLIGHTS DOORS

I

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Serving Birmingham's contractors and residential customer's for over 25 years with quality products and services.Whether it is for a new home, remodel or renovation project the experts at Southern Window Supply will recommend a solution that best fits your needs.

INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS Blend the indoors with the outside and change the space around you, beautifully and efficiently for years to come. Choose multi-slide or folding doors from Western Window Systems and experience a seamless transition to the world outside.

CLASSIC SOLUTIONS Define your inside space with traditional timeless designs. Quaker’s Brighton series windows have the warmth and classic look of wood on the interior, with a high performance clad exterior.

Quaker’s hundreds of options allow us to customize your windows to meet your needs and desires.

SOUTHERN WINDOW SUPPLY WINDOWS SKYLIGHTS DOORS

I

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155 WINSLET ROAD • PELHAM, AL 35124 • 205-945-9832

SOUTHERNWINDOWSUPPLY.COM

SPECIAL PROMOTION

top remodelers 2016

BLUESTONE BUILDING Where Details Make the Difference

When it comes to performance, Kelly Watson and the team at Bluestone Building believe that proper execution of the design details is what matters most.

The Patterson Master Suite Addition and Remodel was a unique project. Designed by Sprott Long & Associates, Hank Long incorporated true timber frame construction into the core kitchen area of

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the addition. The exposed oak beams and columns form the structure and add architectural significance and great visual effect. The beams are hand sawn white oak assembled with a time honored technique of mortise and tenon joinery using only wooden pins and pegs to lock the posts and beams together. The cabinetry was designed and built by Cyndy Cantley. This

newly updated kitchen is a charming blend of both formal and informal details which create a cook’s kitchen. It’s a kitchen which serves equally as a comfortable place to entertain a large party or to enjoy a cup of afternoon tea with a friend.

The bright star and focal point of the kitchen is the “canopy” counterpoint of a Italian-influenced custom stucco range

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hood, white tile back-splash, and a prostyle countertop gas range. Wrought iron pendants and chandelier nod to the Italian aspects of the kitchen, as well, bringing together many elements to create a cohesive whole.

In addition to the kitchen, the Patterson family wanted a master suite on the main level. The bedroom opens to a lushly

landscaped private courtyard. The master bath features a clean traditional design with beaded inset cabinet details and marble floors.

“Building success is all about being meticulous about the details and having a thorough knowledge of the project documents, “ says Watson. “We prefer working with architects, and this project is a good

example of how we protect the integrity of the design through proper execution of the finishes.”

With diverse experience in both commercial and residential construction, Bluestone is uniquely positioned to build any type of project you throw at them.

Bluestone Building, LLC Kelly Watson 205-874-1188 bluestonebuilding.com

WELCOME

To the 2017 Home Building & Remodeling Showcase Spring has always been one of my favorite seasons. From warmer days to baseball games, I love when the weather gets warmer and the days get longer. Another reason I love spring is the annual Home Building & Remodeling Showcase. The Showcase, hosted annually by the Greater Birmingham Association of Home Builders, is being held at the Pelham Civic Center, March 17th-19th.

Tickets are $7 each and children 12 and under are free. Tickets are available for purchase at the door and all major credit cards are accepted.

All current and former Military personnel will receive free admission with Military ID. Hours of operation: Friday, March 17: 10 a.m.- 7 p.m.

Saturday, March 18: 10 a.m.- 7 p.m.

Sunday, March 19: 10 a.m.- 5 p.m.

Do you have some projects you’ve been putting off? A bathroom that desperately needs remodeling but you just aren’t sure how to go about it? A beautiful lot you want to build on, but you can’t decide on plans or a builder? What about ripping out that tired old landscaping and putting in something beautiful and new?

The Home Building & Remodeling Showcase provides a great opportunity to meet industry leaders and see some of the latest trends in building and design. Many industry experts from around the state will be attending and can provide advice on all of your building or remodeling needs.

From landscaping to construction and everything in between, the Showcase has something for everyone. Longer days mean spring projects will soon be getting underway, so timing couldn’t be better. If you are planning on a new project in the next few years, come by and see us at the Showcase. You won’t be disappointed.

Harry Holder ACME Brick Tile & Stone GBAHB 2017 Associates Council Chairman 158

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HOME SHOW

a vendor whose products tie into your renovation plans, you can maximize your focus. There will likely be products and approaches you have not seen before in a home improvement store.

Interacting with the professionals in vendor booths is a great way to get a sense of their personality and how well they communicate. That is a major concern if someone is going to be working on your home for a significant amount of time.

Go for inspiration, keep your mind open to new possibilities, but do your homework after the show. Home Shows are a terrific place to start your research as you can gather as much information on companies and their products/services as you want and need. You are able to visit with representatives from various companies and get their expert opinions on your upcoming project. But remember you will really learn the most after a more thorough home visit for estimating purposes. But the home show is an excellent start.

You might go to the show with a photo album containing photos of the potential project space, and also a fact sheet containing critical information about the project. You can’t do too much planning when it comes to a remodeling project and that mantra should extend to the home show itself.

Make a plan. You know why you’re going, so plan out your time at the show. Have an idea of which exhibitors (or which types of vendors) you want to visit and find out where they are located on the show floor. From there, you can formulate a plan of attack.

Go back for seconds. Make another pass and if you’re interested in a product, stop and talk with the exhibitor and set up an appointment to meet at a later date.

Get ideas. One of the best things about home shows is the opportunity vendors have to showcase new products and designs that spur inspiration among homeowners. So even if you don’t have a specific project in mind when you arrive at the show, you just might by the time you leave.

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Getting the Most out of a

Spring has officially arrived, inspiring lots of families to start thinking about ambitious exterior, landscape, interiors and other home improvement projects. In anticipation of the coming renovation season, you can find home shows are going on everywhere. One of the most exciting is the Greater Birmingham Association of Home Builders These exhibitions feature an array of product vendors and professionals, so homeowners can check out the newest trends and meet the experts who can bring those ideas to life.

All that information comes at a price though. Home shows can be daunting for the uninitiated. Large buildings, plenty of vendors and limited time make it hard to determine where to go, who to talk to and what questions to ask.

So what should homeowners look for when attending home shows?

What should homeowners look for at home shows if they’re interested in hiring new professionals?

What questions should they ask? What are some warning signs to watch out for?

First one needs to ask what are you after: product info, design ideas, pricing queries, or an accurate view of ROI. Maybe you are interested in green/sustainable products or plans. No matter what you are interested in understanding background like square footage, utility bills, things that can be impacted by renovation plans.

Home shows are a good way to see some of the new trends and products that are out there. When you go in with the game plan of visiting

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Play Houses for SafeHouse of Shelby County

For the second year in a row, the Professional Women in Building Council (PWB) will partner with students at Lawson State to build two playhouses that will be given away in a raffle draw at the local Home Building & Remodeling Showcase on March 17-19 at the Pelham Civic Center.

Half of the proceeds from the sale of the houses will benefit SafeHouse of Shelby County, existing to empower survivors of domestic and sexual violence through support and advocacy and to educate the community to prevent future abuse, and half of the proceeds will benefit the GBAHB Educational Trust Fund, offering scholarships to students in a construction-related field at any two or four-year college in the state of Alabama.

“The houses were designed by Instructor Kevin Hitchcock and Lawson State students are constructing them,” said PWB chairwoman LeArden Pike. “We can’t wait to see the end result of these houses, and we are excited students are getting hands-on experience in their field while helping others.”

The houses will be on display and open for bids at the Home Building & Remodeling Showcase at the Pelham Civic Center, March 17-19.

“We are thankful for Donnie Lemmons with 84 Lumber for donating lumber and Dominic Monte with Sherwin Williams for donating paint,” said Pike. “The playhouses would not be possible without their support.”

“The students have an opportunity to practice skills that they would not normally practice in the classroom,” said Hitchcock. “This project also provides the students with the chance to meet builders and vendors at the showcase as well as play a key part in the community.”

For more information on the Home Building and Remodeling Showcase, visit birminghambuilder.com or on Facebook at Home Building and Remodeling Showcase. For more information on Lawson State Community College and SafeHouse of Shelby County, visit lawsonstate.edu and safehouse.org.

The Wall Wizard

Brian Santos, a fourth-generation painting contractor and author of best-selling home improvement books, uses “edutaining” demonstrations in his television appearances and live interactive presentations for industry giants like Sherwin-Williams, Blue Mountain Wallcoverings, Home Depot and Lowe’s, and at Home and Garden Shows throughout the world. Whether it be with paint, paper, or fabric, Brian brings ideas, insights, and inspirations to DIYers and experts alike. Over a touring career of more than 25 years, he has developed a series of “Wizard Workshops” that educate and empower his audiences with the simple tips, tricks, and techniques that help tackle projects around the house with confidence. He has given in excess of 5,000 home decorating workshops to more than one million people all over the world! He has shares his expertise on national TV, including “Good Morning America,” “Today,” and HGTV’s “Smart Solutions,” as well as on TLC and the Discovery Channel. Growing up and working in the San Francisco Bay area, Brian’s past clients include former San Francisco 49ers’ quarterback Joe Montana, actress Doris Day, and Star Wars creator George Lucas.

SHOWCASE SEMINARS Friday, March 17

10:30 a.m. Wall Wizard Painting Secrets 12 noon Clint Lovette: The Top 10 Mistakes to Avoid When Planning a Home Remodel 1:30 p.m. Wall Wizard Painting Secrets 3 p.m. George Williams 4 p.m. Space Cadets 5:30 p.m. Wall Wizard: Quiz the Wiz!

Saturday, March 18

10:30 a.m. Wall Wizard Painting Secrets 12 noon George Williams 1:30 p.m. Wall Wizard Painting Secrets 3 p.m Space Cadets 4 p.m. Clint Lovette: The Top 10 Mistakes to Avoid When Planning a Home Remodel 5:30 p.m. Wall Wizard: Quiz the Wiz!

Sunday, March 19

10:30 a.m. Wall Wizard Painting Secrets 12 noon George Williams 1 p.m. Bill Faragason: Age Old Question….Whether to Remodel or Build New 2:30 p.m. Wall Wizard: Quiz the Wiz! 4 p.m. Clint Lovette: The Top 10 Mistakes to Avoid When Planning a Home Remodel

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SPECIAL PROMOTION

Creative Cabinets and Design

YOUR KITCHEN AS A WORK OF ART

Creative Cabinets and Design is a premier Birmingham cabinetry and design firm. Jennifer Thompson and Lisa Cleghorn each have over 18 years of experience in the design field. Our experience, as well as degrees in Interior Design, and allow us to provide exquisite designs and exceptional customer service. We specialize in kitchen and bath design, but expand our services to any space of your home to include custom-designed cabinetry. Our award-winning work has been featured in many print and online articles as well as being featured in the Birmingham Parade of Homes for over a decade. We partner with Wellborn cabinet company and Dura Supreme to provide quality products for our clients. Our work can be viewed on www.Houzz. com and was showcased in the 2016 Parade Of Homes Ideal Home.

Have you ever walked into an art exhibit and felt your whole mood change? The different colors, textures, and themes were beautiful, warm, inviting and you wanted to stay there for hours.

Kitchens are becoming that very place. Just like art where the painter has an endless choice of mediums and colors, today’s homeowner has an equally endless choice of materials, colors, and textures at their fingertips. Consider your kitchen a blank canvas upon which to create your very own masterpiece.

Paint is the first bold stroke. Whether shades of grey, blue, white, and even green, walls, cabinets, ceilings, and floors can all work in harmony to provide that perfect backdrop. And don’t forget stain, with the ability to transform even the most common and mundane species of wood into a thing of beauty.

Metal is the perfect medium to provide warmth to your painting. As with paint, there is more than one shade to choose from.

Bronze, copper, and brass are just some of the metals capable of not only providing warmth but also texture. Lighting, hardware, fixtures, and tile are a few of metals many uses.

And then there are counter tops, dramatic, modern, classic, and even industrial. This one selection alone, has the ability to set the mood and feeling of any kitchen no matter the background.

Granite, concrete, marble, wood, as well as steel are readily available mediums.

And now for your focal point. Any of the above-mentioned materials has the ability to draw the eye, but what better way to create that “pop” than glass. Whether seeded, frosted, or even clear, glass is unmistakably a show stopper. Here the possibilities are truly endless. Proper lighting gives glass the ability to bring radiant life to the dullest of paintings.

Creative Cabinet & Design 131 West Oxmoor Road, Ste 113 Birmingham, AL 35209 (205) 365-4045

www.creativecabinetsdesign.com

131 West Oxmoor RoadBirmingham, AL Call for an appointment205.423.5510 www.creativecabinetsdesign.com B-METRO.COM

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My Remodeled Life A history in houses, redone.

Photography by Chuck St. John

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Written By Joe O’Donnell

My father bought a house in 1958. It cost $12,000. I was brought home to that house as an infant two years later.

From that day until I moved out 22 years later, aside from a porch over the back patio, some cosmetic and furnishing changes, the house remained the same.

No remodeling. No reimagining.

Many years later I visited the house and the owner at the time let me in to snoop around.

The skinny kitchen was gone, replaced with an open space that took in that old back porch and patio and seemed like the heart of an entirely new home.

So many years later a renovation had touched my childhood home.

I wish my parents could have seen it. I think they would have like it.

Decades later, with a family of my own, I have been through a number of houses; two we built from the ground up, one we just moved into. And one we bought.

One we restored through a whole-house renovation that was an extraordinary experience and contained all of the magical possibilities that the remodeling industry touts.\ It is coincidental that a modern tool like Zillow displayed on an iPad 162

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could lead y o u back almost 100 years to a brick home in Avondale, sitting vacant for the seven years previous. But there it was, first on the iPad and then in person. My wife found it, and when we walked in, we knew that somehow this could be ours.

Built in 1925, the house (two stories with a full basement) was turned into four apartments sometime in the late 1940s. Originally, it was a single home built for the Hinkle family in the mid-1920s. I went to the library to get some background on the house after we purchased it in March 2014.

I found a photo and some ownership documents. In the 1930 census,

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My father bought a house in 1958. It cost $12,000. I was brought home to that house as an infant two years later. From that day until I moved out 22 years later, aside from a porch over the back patio, some cosmetic and furnishing changes, the house remained the same.

Victoria Hinkle is listed as living in the house as a widow with four children, two boarders, and two servants.

As far as we can tell, two other families owned the house after the Hinkles, but the details are murky. When we walked into the house for the first time in the spring of 2014, the main floor was a large apartment entered off the porch through the sunroom. The front door led to a foyer and stairs to two upstairs apartments.

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We opened that front door and saw a beautiful staircase bathed in light from windows on the landing. You could tell this was a house that was lovely just beneath the surface.

It took about nine months to uncover that loveliness. The goal was to turn the house back into a single-family home that would have the authentic feel of the original 1920s construction. The electrical, plumbing, and heat and air all had to be replaced, but the walls remained

(with the exception of a couple that had to come down to reopen partitioned rooms). The moldings and woodwork were all salvageable with the electrical work pulled through the baseboards to preserve the plaster walls. The two fireplaces were originally coal-burning. They were restored with gas coal fireplaces. The heart pine and oak floors were reworked with tung oil applied for a natural finish.

My wife took heirlooms from the homes of

THE RENOVATION EXPERTS

DESIGN / BUILD / LIVE

4100 Autumn Lane, Suite 104 Birmingham, AL 35243 (205) 368- 3109

elmbuilds.com

her grandparents and used those antique glass door knobs and light fixtures (even a dough board now placed in a new cabinet) to merge pieces of her family history into this newly restored home.

That is the beauty, I have found, in restoring a home. Your tastes and personal history become a part of a longer, bigger story of many 166

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families and the arc of lives played out inside four walls.

We moved in mid-June 2015. I was walking down the front steps on a Sunday morning when a car with Texas plates pulled up to the curb. The window opened and a man leaned out and asked if these were still apartments. No, I said, we renovated the house and just moved

in a few days before. Two brothers were in the car with their wives. One lived in Texas; one in Georgia. But they had spent their early teen years in this house, and their father later created the apartments and sold the building in the 1960s.

We walked through each room and they told stories of how their father had delivered

groceries here to Mrs. Hinkle in the 1930s. He had always loved the house and when he grew up and had a family, he bought it. They remembered records in the sunroom and opening the door onto the porch where they danced in stocking feet late into the night.

As they were leaving, one of the brothers teared up and said he had always hoped that

someday he could buy this house, that his father had never really wanted to sell it.

Who would not understand that feeling.

You can do things for many varied reasons, but when you do it out of love you want it to last forever. That’s what a restored house can bring you--a sense that beyond the brick and mortar lives the spirit of rooms occupied by life.

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top remodelers 2016

Making a House a Home

The words house and home are often used interchangeably, but there is a difference between the two. By definition, a house refers to a building in which someone lives. A home is, well, “where the heart is.”

Just like the difference between a house and a home, there is a difference in energy sources used for cooking, heating and everyday living. Natural gas provides a level of comfort that can transform any house into a home -- one full of life and energy. And here’s how: Cooking. There’s a reason 97 percent of professional chefs prefer cooking with natural gas. Natural gas offers precise temperature control, little to no preheat time and great-tasting food, time and time again. While you may prefer to leave the gourmet meals to the professionals, a natural gas stove ensures whatever you cook for dinner makes it to the table – even when the power is out.

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Water Heating. Natural gas water heaters can heat twice as fast as electric. What does that really mean? It means not having to choose who gets a warm bath or shower or prioritizing clean dishes, clean kids or getting the grass stains out of Sunday bests.

Natural gas water heaters outperform electric models time and time again, cost less to operate and reliably provide hot showers for the entire family – even when the power is out.

Home Heating. Natural gas furnaces deliver warmer, more comfortable heat than a standard electric heat pump. In fact, most heat pumps require supplemental or “emergency” heat when temperatures fall below 35 degrees. With heat 25 degrees warmer coming out of the vent, natural gas furnaces provide consistent, reliable comfort –no matter what the temperature is outside.

Laundry. Doing the laundry may not be your favorite thing to do, but natural gas

dryers can help you finish the job quicker, often times drying clothes faster than electric. In fact, you can save up to 48 hours of drying time a year – that’s the equivalent of six days of vacation! Couple that with the fact that natural gas dryers cost less to operate and you might find reason to finally whistle while you work.

Before you start your next remodeling project or buy a new house, consider the benefits of natural gas. Thanks to the reliable warmth it provides, natural gas can help you turn that house into a place you can comfortably call… “home.”

For more information about the benefits of natural gas appliances and current available rebates, visit alagasco.com or call us at 800-292-4010.

How You Choose to Build Makes All the Difference.

Build with Natural Gas Through the energy we deliver, we help create homes that provide a level of warmth and comfort that is unrivaled. From home heating that can be trusted on the coldest of days to the hot water that is reliable for the first shower of the morning to the last, natural gas starts hot, stays hot and lets life be enjoyed to its fullest. There is heat, and there is good heat.

Find us on

Alagasco.com/contactus

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top remodelers 2016

ALLSOUTH APPLIANCE For the kitchen of your dreams.

As AllSouth Appliance Group enters its 20th year in providing the latest in kitchen and bath furnishings to the Birmingham area, Tyler Hillman and his brother and co-owner Josh have plenty to celebrate.

Their new showroom, which opened last summer just off of Lakeshore Parkway, provides shoppers with an opportunity to peruse cabinets, countertops, and over 40 luxury, built-in and freestanding appliance brands as well as outdoor products. Displayed across over 30,000 square feet of retail space, all price ranges are represented with a unique focus on select brands.

The showroom’s custom layout and consumer-friendly design is a testament

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to the company’s emphasis on the in-store customer experience. This allows builders, designers, and homeowners to experience the aesthetics and functionality of the products in person rather than through catalogs or online shopping.

“Full scale displays and products represented in all budget categories was very important to us,” says Tyler. “Our new larger showroom is allowing us to constantly update displays with the most current trends as well as solid traditional styles.”

While the focus on customer satisfaction can be felt in each of their locations, including Huntsville, Montgomery and Chattanooga, the new Homewood show-

room is taking this emphasis to new heights by featuring America’s largest SubZero/ Wolf Living Kitchen.

The Living Kitchen plays host to various events including live cooking demonstrations, lunch and learn sessions, cooking classes and community events.

AllSouth has been offering kitchen and bath design at the Birmingham showroom since 2014. With three designers on staff and a wide array of cabinets, countertops and hardware to choose from, AllSouth gives you all the ingredients you need to make your dream kitchen a reality. Check out their Houzz page to see their most recent projects and Facebook page for updates on upcoming special events and savings opportunity.

AllSouth Appliance 345 State Farm Pkwy, Birmingham, AL 35209 (205) 942-0408 • MyAllsouth.com

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top remodelers 2016

ADVANCED COMPUTER RENDERING WITH PHOTOGRAPHIC LIKENESS BASIC WORKING RENDERING

BASIC FLOORPLAN

3-D Modeling Equals Much Better Remodeling Plans The world is not flat. Why should your home remodeling plans be. Most construction plans are created and presented in 2-D, flat line drawings on a pieces of paper or a computer screen and can be difficult to read and understand. With 3-D renderings, plans become immersive and much more relevant, going far beyond a general idea of where the spaces and components are.

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Plans in 3-D allows you to fully appreciate and understand a space in ways that were not possible just a few short years ago. You can now have a better feel for the scale of things and you can see textures, colors and even the effect that lights or natural light will have on an area. Working with 2-D plans only is like eating a fine meal with a stuffy nose. You are eating the food, but you are not

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PHOTOGRAPH OF ACTUAL FINISHED PROJECT

tasting the food. Working with 3-D clears things up and takes the meal to another level!

Accurate models always begin with a detailed 2-D drawing.

Elm Construction uses a computer aided design (CAD) software and first creates the layout of the space as a floor plan (a drawing that shows the arrangement of rooms of a floor of a home). The layout usually includes walls, doors, windows, cabinets, stairs and other important elements of the home. After the layout is created, finishes or other additional details are added to the drawing.

For example, color is added to painted surfaces using downloaded colors from Sherwin Williams, Benjamin Moore or other paint manufacturers. Detailed drawings of fixtures from Kohler and appliances from Viking can be imported. They can even put a BMW in your garage if you’d like!

Virtually every aspect of the model can be manipulated in one way or another. That’s one of the great things about using these types of software vs the old hand drawings.

Often, homeowners have to rely on their imagination to try and visualize how something will look in their renovate space.

With 3-D renderings, the guesswork is taken away and you can see what it will actually look like! For example, if you are not sure if you want light colored countertops and dark cabinets, they can

show you both. If you’re not sure if you want the cased opening to have a square top or arched top, they can easily show you both.

Having a detailed design with a scope of work for a project is essential to ensure everyone involved is on the same page with the same expectations. Sometimes 2-D drawings, even with elevation drawings (elevation drawings are typically 2-D drawings of vertical surfaces like a wall in a kitchen showing cabinet layouts), lack the finer details and perspective that a 3-D rendering can offer.

The level of detail in a 3-D rendering can vary depending on how it’s being used. For example, 3-D renderings used in live virtual reality walk-throughs have less detail because the image is constantly changing as you move through the space. But other renderings can be created as still images and are so detailed that it can be difficult to distinguish the rendering from a real photograph. The more detailed the rendering, the longer it takes for the computer to process it. In some cases, one rendered image can take 12 hours or longer to produce!

The detail, though, is worth the time.

ELM Construction 4100 Autumn Lane #104 • Vestavia Hills, AL 35243 205-368-3109 • www.elmbuilds.com

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Unlock Your Home’s Potential With Côr™ Home Automation.

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©Carrier Corporation 5/2016

©Carrier Corporation 5/2016

Standard Heating and Air 520 8th Street South Birmingham, AL 35233 (205) 545-8698

Sentry Heating & Air 2490 Rocky Ridge Rd Vestavia, AL 35243 (205) 705-3981

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Your Wall Is About to Get a Lot Smarter.

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POWERING A COMFORTABLE HOME

Š 2017 Alabama Power Company

For a home that brings comfort to your family, think all-electric. An all-electric home, one with an electric heat pump and electric water heater, keeps you comfortable year-round while saving energy. Call 1.800.990.APCO (2726) or visit AlabamaPower.com to find even more solutions that give you the power to save.

AlabamaPower.com