FineCraft Contractors Wins MBIA Award of Excellence

GAITHERSBURG, MD: FineCraft Contractors, Inc., (https://finecraftcontractors.com/) recently won the MBIA (Maryland Building Industry Association) Remodeling and Custom Building Award of Excellence.

On November 22, 2019, FineCraft won the MBIA Remodeling and Custom Building Award of Excellence for a house they remodeled in Potomac in collaboration with Axis Architects. For this specific project, they converted dark and compartmentalized spaces into spacious and light spaces.

Nicole L., a past client, said, “I contacted FineCraft from California after seeing a picture of a bathroom that I loved on Houzz, they answered the phone when I called and emailed me all the information I needed within 24 hours. They really were wonderful. Much appreciated for helping out!!”

Another past client, Dagmar P., stated, “They are my favorite! They always seem to make things right. Even when things are tough they work through them and the outcome is always amazing. They have worked on several projects in my house and all of which are excellent products which reflect the level of detailed work that epitomizes FineCraft. From smaller projects to larger ones, from my experience, I can guarantee they’ll leave you satisfied with the job you contract them for, hands down!”

George Papaheraklis is the founder of FineCraft Contractors, Inc., located in Gaithersburg, MD. Since 1985, FineCraft has been building houses, additions, kitchens, baths and more for discerning families. Their blog can be seen at https://finecraftcontractors.com/blog/ and they can be reached at 301-330-9191. Their Instagram page can be seen at https://www.instagram.com/finecraft_contractors/.

Our custom-built portico is almost done!

By George Papaheraklis

In case you didn’t know, we do build custom pieces for our clients, and when we get the opportunity to do so, we get so excited! It’s a chance for us to be fully creative and create something for you that no one else has.

This time, we’re custom building a portico, which is a covered walkway (typically the porch) that is supported by regularly spaced columns.
Porticos actually originate from Greek architecture and formed the entrances to ancient Greek temples. Porticos give a really great finishing touch to front doors and elevate the entire exterior of the home.

We now have the covered portion of the portico installed above the front door, and we are finishing up the columns that will be supporting it! We’re really excited to show you the finished product - it’s going to be the talk of the town when it’s finished!

But until then, head over to our Instagram page to see our updates on this custom build, and be sure to follow us so you stay updated on all our latest projects!

At FineCraft Contractors, we are experts when it comes to remodels and making sure the design works with your home. If you have a renovation idea or want to remodel sections of your home, call us at 301-330-9191 and we’ll give you a thoroughly thought out estimate.

George Papaheraklis is the founder of FineCraft Contractors, Inc., located in Gaithersburg, MD. Since 1985, FineCraft has been building houses, additions, kitchens, baths and more for discerning families. Their blog can be seen at https://finecraftcontractors.com/blog/ and they can be reached at 301-330-9191.

Silva Construction Added 5 Tips to the Home Remodeling Series

SAN PEDRO, CA: Silva Construction, (https://www.silvaconstruction.com/) a construction company, is adding five tips to their home remodeling tips series for homeowners.

The remodeling process has a lot to consider and take into account. Silva decided to add onto their original list of home remodeling tips to get homeowners as prepared as possible. Their five tips are:

1. Check your calendar, especially if you want your remodel to be done by a particular event or holiday. Look at your end date and work your way backward to make sure you’ll finish on time - and make sure to add in some wiggle room for any unexpected changes or delays.

2. Check the contractor’s references. A good, professional contractor won’t have any problem providing references and copies of insurance before beginning the job. Don’t just rely on the testimonials on their website - find actual customers and find out firsthand what they have to say. And if you feel in your gut that a contractor isn’t the right choice, stick to it.

3. Consider what you do on a daily basis and take that into account during your remodel. The last thing you want to happen is to be in your robe while workers begin their day. So, be sure to clearly state what your daily routine is to come up with a good start and end time for the day.

4. Create a master list to help with budgeting and to make sure you don’t forget anything you need during the remodel. You can add things such as permits, supplies you’ll need, etc. This will help you stay organized and can help you save costs.

5. Create a Reno-free zone so that you and your family have a place to relax a little bit. Your Reno-free zone should have everything you need in one place, such as an electric kettle, microwave, a table to eat at, etc.

Dave Silva and David Clarke are owners of Silva Construction, Inc., located in San Pedro, CA. The company has over 40 years of experience in remodeling construction, and serves Southern California’s South Bay area, including Westchester, El Segundo, Manhattan Beach, San Pedro, Hermosa Beach, Palos Verdes Estates, Rancho Palos Verdes, Rolling Hills, Harbor City, Lomita, Torrance, and other select areas. Their blog can be seen at https://www.silvaconstruction.com/blog3/ and their website can be seen at https://www.silvaconstruction.com/. They can be reached at 310-831-6310.

Big Trees Inc. Transplants Memorial Trees During Winter Street Expansion

SNOHOMISH, WA: Big Trees Inc., (https://bigtreesupply.com/), a tree sales and transplant company in the Seattle area, had an opportunity to transplant memorial trees out of the way of street expansion work this winter.

Big Trees received a standard transplanting request from a contractor involved with a section of street work where the street was being expanded. There were three Paper Bark Maple trees that were around five to seven inches in trunk diameter and the contractor wanted to know if the trees could be moved to a different part of the property. These trees were 12 feet tall and once properly dug into root balls would weigh around 1200 pounds each.

After reviewing the trees, their current location and their new location, including the existence of nearby underground utility lines, it was decided that the trees would best be transplanted using Big Trees’ hand digging techniques and loader tractors to manage the weight of the trees and tricky maneuvering near underground utilities.

“We learned that the three trees we were being asked to dig and transplant were memorial trees for the man’s wife who he had lost to cancer a number of years earlier, and it became clear why these particular trees were important enough to warrant this kind of extra attention. There have been many situations over the years where our projects were more involved than they originally appeared to be.
These memorial tree situations can get pretty emotional. Memorial trees situations come with all kinds of circumstances, and each one gets the full attention they deserve.” said Todd Holmes, Operations Manager of Big Trees.

Nancy Penrose is the owner of Big Trees Inc., located in Snohomish, WA in the Seattle area. The company is one of the largest tree nurseries in the Seattle area with over 120,000 trees available in over 300 varieties. They not only deliver young trees, but also mature trees in a wide range of sizes. Some types of trees available include spring flowering, deciduous, evergreen, and privacy trees. The company also does tree transplanting including large trees. Their blog can be seen at https://bigtreesupply.com/blog/ or http://arboristblog.com/. They can be reached at 360-563-2700.

3 Winter Tree Care Tips

By Nancy Penrose

Ever wonder why trees shed their leaves in the winter? It’s their way of conserving needed water during the cold months and is one way that they protect themselves. There are a few ways we can help protect our trees in the winter so they stay healthy come spring!

Protecting the tree’s roots

Healthy roots are essential for a healthy tree. A few ways you can protect the tree’s roots include:
Insulate your trees with mulch if you don’t have a lot of snow to protect it. The snow adds protection and insulation to trees, but if you don’t have a lot of snow, mulch will do the trick.

Keep road salt away from your trees. They’re pretty harmful to the roots and can dry them out and alter soil structure.

Protecting the trunks

If you live in an area where the day is warm, but then gets freezing at night, we highly recommend wrapping the trunks with a plastic tree guard to prevent sunscald.

Pay attention to any deer that may come around wanting to use the tree’s trunk as a way to smooth out their antlers. This can result in large chunks of wood being taken off of the trunk. If you notice any deer doing this to your tree, you can build a barrier or use a protective wrap.

Protecting the branches

Winter is the best time to prune trees and remove weak branches so the tree is fresh come spring.
Don’t remove ice from branches. Ice can be difficult to remove, which means you may do more harm than good. The best thing to do is wait for the ice to melt.

Do, however, remove piled snow. Snow that gets piled up on the branches can cause them to snap, which hurts the tree and can also hurt you or another person.

At Big Trees, we know exactly how to take care of your trees in the winter months. If you ever have any questions, please contact us. Call us today at (866) 313-2333 to get all your questions answered.

Nancy Penrose is owner of Big Trees Inc. (https://bigtreesupply.com), (tree nursery Snohomish, WA), one of the largest Seattle tree nurseries, specializing in large trees for sale and transplant tree service. Learn more about tree preservation at https://bigtreesupply.com/tree-care-maintenance/ and for more tips on tree care or installation go to privacytree.net. See our video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6vVhNW1XJI and connect with us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Big-Trees-Inc/193731105108.