From the Workshop

A popular trend in the flooring industry is 17-billion-dollar industry that is LuxuryVinyl Planks (LVP). Is Luxury Vinyl Planks a luxurious flooring product or is it asubstandard finish flooring product? There is a broad range when referring to acronym luxury vinylplanks in conversation, because the low-quality brands are mixed in with higher quality brands, however all LVP are called LVP. Therefore, it is upon the buyer to find a product which meets theirbudget and goals for this product.What are some […]

Today’s framing of residential homes would be classified as “Western DeckFraming” or also referred to as “Stick Framing”. Overall independent sections/parts of theframe are connected through load paths, which transfer from its origin all the way to thefootings that support the foundation. Because sections of the frame are being done insmaller units, efficiency and accuracy can be achieved by an experienced builder. What isattractive with this approach to framing a structure is that a relatively smaller crew canperform this task. […]

If I had to use generalities to highlight today’s present home build vs. yesterday’shome build; what are some broad generalities that a potential home buyer should be awareof? This is a perspective from a person who has spent their entire working adulthoodremodeling homes, building new homes, and designing homes in the residentialconstruction industry. Today’s homes have some meaningful attributes, which can include: Both new and old homes have positives attributes, which can be blended into one,but planning, budgets, and experienced […]

Roofing shingles are constantly being tested daily, yet most consumers know little about their composition, functionality, and advancements over time. Whether it’s exposure to harsh weather conditions, UV rays, or physical impact, shingles must withstand numerous elements while protecting homes from the outside world. Today’s roofing shingles are primarily constructed using a heavy fiberglass mat-base, which provides strength and durability. This base is then coated with ceramic-coated mineral granules, which are tightly embedded in carefully refined, water-resistant asphalt. These components […]

What I have been seeing in the last decade on the decorating and finishes for myprojects in the Seacoast of New Hampshire would likely be classified as “FarmhouseCoastal Contemporary” and “Coastal Contemporary”. I would define the “Farmhouse Coastal Contemporary” and “CoastalContemporary” as the same in decorating details, but one is set in older home (100 yearsor older) while the other is in a relatively new house that is less than thirty years old. I believe that it is important to […]

In New England, crossover trim blends classic charm with modern style. I am fortunate to live and work as a remodeling contractor in the Northeast where the towns and cities are museums of classical architecture, especially on civic buildings. However, there is also an abundant number of residential homes that would be classified as modern, which would be classified as minimal traditional, ranch, split-level, contemporary, and shed. Most customers I work with prefer classical architectural millwork details, but they live […]

A potential silent killer that homeowners in New Hampshire should be aware ofwhile purchasing and owning a home is Radon gas which includes air and water. Radon istiny radioactive particles that can be carcinogenic to your lungs and other internal organsover prolonged exposure. Radon gas is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the US.Over 21,000 Americans die yearly from this silent killer. I remember helping my father install numerous Radon fans on his new homes in theSeacoast of […]

As I drive around the Seacoast of New Hampshire for work-related activities I havebeen noticing a phenomenon concerning new home builds. Building lots that were onceconsidered undesirable are now being built on. The seacoast of New Hampshire and theSouthern Maine coastline have become desirable areas to live in, and the new constructionhome industries have been strong for the last decade. The purpose of this blog is to focus on sound building fundamentals and methods ofconstruction. My concern for these new […]

Building materials and indoor air pollution are critical factors to consider when making decisions about constructing or renovating a home. Avoiding short and long-term health risks for you and your family when choosing building materials for your next remodeling project or new home isnecessary. Although I am an experienced carpenter and General Contractor, I am nota health expert on indoor air pollution. Indoor air pollution can be 2-5 timesgreater than outdoor air pollution, according to the EPA. I have looked […]

Occasionally, I wonder how people regard my profession as a carpenter andbusiness owner. I can see how some people see my profession as an athlete. Others maythink of my profession as a backdoor to earn a decent living without formal training. I’vecome across others who probably see this career as a multi-step career in which you startas a laborer and end in some sort of management position. I see my job through many lenses, but to the outsider I think […]

If you live in the Seacoast of New Hampshire or Massachusetts a residential starterhome that is not uncommon to find in older housing development is the Split-Level home.Dover, Durham, and Portsmouth have numerous older developments with this stylearchitecture and most of these homes are over fifty years old. Overall, this stylehome began its popularity in the mid to late 1950’s and stopped being mass built by thelate 1970’s. The Split-Level home is essentially a multi-level ranch that maintains its horizontaldominance, […]

As a general contractor that works in the Seacoast of New Hampshire, I haveregularly been asking customers if they are planning on purchasing an electrical vehicle inconjunction when doing a larger remodeling project. The reason for asking this question isthat this future electrical demand of an EV Purchase should be evaluated when altering or expandinga homeowner’s electrical Panel during a remodel. Homeowners who have a 100-Amp Service at their home are likely going to have toupgrade their Electrical Service to […]

Through the decades American Building & Design, LLC has done many remodeling& renovations in Dover, NH. Dover historically is the oldest settlement in New Hampshireand the seventh settlement in the United States. Since the early 17 th century Dover, NH has had a variety of architectural styles whichrange from pre-colonial to modern day architecture. Dover has an abundant number ofarchitectural styles from the Victorian era that range from Greek rival to Second empire.Although there of examples of Victorian Era architectural […]

An exciting home heating option that has been growing market share is the pellet boiler. It isprojected that the pellet boiler will grow at 8.2% CAGR (Compound annual growth rate)in the next decade according to Global market insights. What is a pellet boiler? Mechanically, it’s virtually identical to your oil or gas boilerother than the fuel source. The fuel-space storage is larger for a pellet boiler, which maymake this option unrealistic for some homeowners. Overall, a hopper is required, and […]

Roof truss systems very from home to home. Through the years of being in business I have had the opportunity to frame a lot of homes and additions. One of the more complex aspects of the framing project can be the roof system, because the roof system is the culmination of how accurate the previousframing steps were executed. This blog has some general highlights for the pros and cons of a truss roof systemover a traditionally framed system. Honestly, I […]

An old fashion common architectural detail that has fallen to the wayside is thelaundry chute. Not all households would see this architectural detail as useful, but somehouseholds would certainly use this building feature if one existed. Why have laundry chutes disappeared from new house construction? The mostcommon answer is the fire code. Laundry chutes are an avenue for flames to travel rapidlyfrom floor to floor. Most municipalities have outlawed the construction of these receptacles.In my opinion stairwells are more guilty […]

If you have recently moved to the Seacoast of New Hampshire as many familieshave in the past few decades, a worthwhile field trip is to visit Historic Strawberry Banke,Portsmouth N.H. Strawberry Banke, Portsmouth N.H Strawberry Banke was settled in 1630 by Captain Walter Neale who named thesettlement Strawberry Banke because of the abundance of strawberries along the banks ofthe Piscataqua River. Strawberry Banke remained a neighborhood until the late 1950’swhen the Urban Renewal Development began slowly restoring 37 individual homes, […]

What is pressure treated lumber and what is it used for? Pressure treated lumber inmy region of the country, New England, is Southern Yellow Pine species, which is theninjected with a preservative to protect the lumber from outside elements such as fungi andinsect damage. The treated lumber can have a life span of approximately forty years,which can drastically vary depending on how it’s used and where it is used.Generally, decks, exterior staircases, Pergolas, and any area of a structure that […]

A common occurrence in late spring in New England is the awakening ofcarpenter ants. If you start noticing carpenter ants in your house or around adoor or window, it is a tell-tale sign that you may have an infestation.Carpenter ants burrow in moist wood, however they do not eat the wood,rather they build colonies, which can compromise the integrity of a structure.If you see a lot of carpenter ants, you have two issues. The first issue isthat the structure of […]

A common theme that I noticed when quoting a large room addition is thatthe addition is an attempt to correct a faulty-existing floor plan. Of course, theone room addition that serves as a sun room or bedroom is not part of thisequation, but rather the multi-purpose room addition generally is.Besides the multi-purpose room addition being expensive and potentiallymaking your house the largest home in your immediate area, I pose the questionas a residential design professional and General Contractor, “Can you […]

When you are doing an interior or exterior remodeling project, thenumber one goal from the onset of the project should be the discussion with thehomeowner about the style of the home’s design or future home’s architecturalstyle. This obvious but important bullet point is not always followed bycontractors and homeowners when planning and executing a project. In thescenario when function is paramount and style and budget is either lacking ornot available, this blog does not apply. The money and time spent […]

Vinyl windows have a large market share of all windows being used onthe market, however there can be drawbacks to using this type of window. Not all vinyl windows are necessarily a substandard window, howeversun exposure, quality of construction by the manufacture, and installation areextremely important when using a vinyl window.

When I am designing a house, addition, or remodeling project, how do Iknow when I have developed a reasonable option for a residential designsolution? This can be a difficult question to answer when you’re faced withtime restraints, the momentum of a project beginning, and high benchmarks ona design which solves all issues for a customer. Like anything, sometimes, a residential design just comes togetherquickly and most times it is a process of elimination. However, there is one question that usually […]

I absolutely love building custom cabinetry and please understand thatperspective when reading this blog. Custom cabinetry is not always a cost-effective avenue to travel when designing your future kitchen, but it can beviable option when you have a kitchen that is larger or atypical in dimensions.If your kitchen is large in scale, it can be a cost-effective manner toexplore the costs of having a local cabinet shop quote your project becausemanufactured price point is geared on smaller to mid-sized kitchens. […]

Through the years I have installed many types and brands of “New Construction”windows, which have varied in sizes and complexity. I have developed a preference forcertain window manufacturers over others. However, the purpose of this blog is not tohighlight brand preference, but to educate a consumer on three factors that a skilledcarpenter must battle when installing a window unit that operates flawlessly.The first issue is the manufacture connection of the L-Finn to the frame of thewindow system. If the L-Finn […]

Your home’s roof is more than just a protective covering; it’s an integral part of your property’s overall appeal and structural integrity. However, over time, roofs can become vulnerable to the growth of unsightly and potentially damaging organisms like algae, moss, lichen, fungus, and mold. Fortunately, there’s a natural and environmentally friendly solution to combat this problem: installing zinc strips combined with rainwater management. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll delve into the details of how this simple yet highly effective […]

As a residential General Contractor since 1996, I have had to inform countless homeowners of costly repairs that either a knowledgeable or a skilled home inspector overlooked when performing the home inspection. For the record, I am not a licensed home inspector, but I have taken the necessary 75-hour course that makes you eligible to take the National Home Inspection Exam, which I do plan on taking. I have formed strong opinions on this subject and have seen the ramifications […]

Challenges are our favorite I am frequently asked the question “What is your favorite type of project to do?”. I find this question difficult to answer, because I do not dislike any project. However, as much as I enjoy all aspects of design-build remodeling (framing, roofing, siding & boxing, drywall, door installation, window installation, flooring, tile, interior trim, cabinet making, kitchens, baths and decks), there is one project that I love doing the most and it’s building custom staircases.  The […]

What does remodeling really mean The residential building industry has many synonyms which essentially equate to the same definition; however, depending on the individual, we favor a term in our vocabulary to describe the residential building industry’s task.Through the years, I’ve had the same statement posed to me many times, “We knew that you built additions, but we were not sure if you also staircase, decks, installed windows, roofing, installed siding, constructed barns, installed hardwood flooring, installed drywall & finished […]

Are they making a comeback? Through the years I have built a large variety of extremely detailed decks, along with my share of decks that I would classify as a “basic” deck. A “basic” deck consists of several footings, a platform, rails, staircase, and all wood materials consisting of pressure treated lumber. Overall a “basic” Deck is about function and affordability.From 1996 through 1999, I built well over eighty “Basic” decks, which were for a variety of track builders and […]

Are storm windows a viable energy saving option and what are the additional benefits? Do you feel like the interior of your home is too cold in the winter? Or maybe it is too hot in the summer months? If you feel like maintaining a comfortable temperature in your home is an issue then storm windows may be worth a look. Today’s question: are storm windows a viable energy option? Well, read on and let’s discuss the answer to that […]

Is Vinyl the Right Choice for Replacement Windows? Is Vinyl the Right Choice for Replacement Windows? When it comes to improving the efficiency and performance of your existing windows, most homeowners and contractors usually have a range of options to consider. You have the chance to opt for a simple and low budget DIY fix, for instance, installing window films or replacing weather stripping. You can also go for a more capital intensive alternative where you can replace the whole […]

Finding the right window for your home can either make or break the entire home design. Whether you are renovating an existing property or taking on the full construction of your house, new windows are one of the key features to creating an aesthetically pleasing yet energy-efficient home. Energy-efficient homes may be the ultimate goal in updating your windows but one can not overlook the importance of style. Achieving energy efficiency while maintaining style can be achieved by picking the […]