Brimer Construction

The Elements: How Cold Affects Your Home

Fri, 22 Jan 2016 11:21:07 -0500

Most every house or commercial building has some amount of air infiltration. In the winter time, the cold outside air finds a way into some vulnerable areas of your house. Even without air infiltration, you get the effects of thermal heat or cold transferenceâ€“heat energy escaping and cold energy entering the building. That process happens mostly in areas of your house that get outside airflow or aren't insulated against the elements. The areas we typically see this are in crawl spaces, attics, and garages.

Most crawlspaces and attics have vents that allow the outside air to flow freely in and out. Some that are sealed up and donâ€™t have vents still get very cold since they may have little, or no, insulation and are often not heated. Garages are also problem areas since they are typically not heated and the large roll up doors, although sometimes insulated themselves, do not usually have a very good seal, letting in a lot of outside air.

There are many water pipes that run in and out of the attic areas, under the crawlspace, above the garage, and in the walls of the garage and exterior walls. Even though the pipes may be insulated and run in the walls or ceiling, this in itself does not mean they are safe from freezing. While water freezes at 32 degrees fahrenheit, you wonâ€™t usually have an issue with your pipes freezing until the temperature outside is around the 20â€™s or lower. When this happens, you will have the potential of your pipes freezing. The temperature drops lower at night and thatâ€™s when youâ€™re most prone to freezes, however temperatures during the day can get low enough to cause freezing as well.

In most cases, if you have a frozen pipe, you wonâ€™t know about it until the temperature warms up enough for the pipe to thaw and then reveal itself. This creates a great potential for even more problems. If your pipes freeze at night, they may not thaw until the next afternoon when you are away at work and no one is around to catch the water from pouring into your house and damaging all your worldly belongings.

Click here to read about ways to help prevent frozen pipes in your home.

Ways to Help Prevent Pipes from Freezing and the Ensuing Water Damage

Fri, 22 Jan 2016 11:48:29 -0500

Shut off all your outside water faucets and disconnect the garden houses.
Insulate! Wrap pipe insulation around the pipes you can see in your attic or under your home. Strap foam blocks around the outside water faucets around your house. Use heating elements wrapped around your pipes in areas especially prone to extreme cold.
Make sure the temperature in your home is around 68 degrees or higher. The warm air inside your home will radiate into your walls, attic, crawlspace, and other areas of your home that may typically get too cold.
Use space heaters in your garage or other areas that are not heated. (Do not leave heaters unattended)
Let your pipes drip. Find the faucet that is the farthest point from where the water enters your house and turn it on just enough to keep the water flowing through the pipes. The water flow will help keep it from freezing in the line.
Get some new home tech. With all the advancement of sensors and other technology, we have seen some great new items that help monitor and notify you in case of a water leak.

Utilizing some of these things can help you be able to respond sooner to water leaks to keep the damage to a minimum, save you thousands of dollars and a lot of headache.

Help! I have a Water Leak!

Mon, 14 Dec 2015 16:29:37 -0500

Typically this is how you might feel when you discover a water a leak. But you know what, that's the right response. The reason it's the right response, is because water leaks can cause major damage quickly. All the questions start rolling through your head, and you start to get frantic. No need to fret, you are about to find out exactly what you need to know when this happens.

Try to find the source of the leak and turn it off. Every home has cut off valves that control the flow of water to your water receptacles. Check out the table below for possible locations of cut off valves. If it's coming from an area where you can't find a valve, it might be best to turn off the water at the main control valve, this is normally outside the house, in the front yard near the street.
Call the experts! At Brimer Construction we specialize in emergency services. We're experts at restoring damage from any unexpected catastrophes. Speaking with us will help you select which route is best when determining how to pay for repairs. Most of the time the damages are covered by your homeowner's insurance. We deal with insurance companies everyday. This is what we do.
Call your insurance company. This helps to present more options on how to proceed with repairing damage. If a claim needs to be filed, this will start the process in the repair work. Remember, the faster we're able to address the issues, the less damage to need addressing. So having all your ducks in a row regarding an incident at your home, is knowing what your insurance policy will cover.

So, those are the initial steps in handling a water leak. Here, in the metro Atlanta area, we deal with all sorts inclement weather that can also contribute to water damage. Whether it's flooding and outside water coming in your home, or having a roof leak from heavy rain. All of these situations need to be handled correctly. This leads us to the next step, drying out the affected area.

When people think of drying, they think it's something you can handle on your own. Well, let me tell you a little story. Back in 2009 the city of Atlanta experienced a flood that damage numerous homes. Many people thought that when the waters receded they could vacuum the excess and their homes would be fine. Unfortunately that led to more damage than they ever expected. This was because of the growth of mold.

Mold is why water damage can be a catastrophe. It only takes 16% of surface water to create mold on porous materials. What does this mean? It means that our beautiful homes create the perfect breeding ground for mold. Our homes are full of drywall, wood, and concrete which all happen to be porous. If a large amount of water has touched any of these surfaces it needs to dried out.

Drying is a science, not a do-it-yourself project. It takes specialized equipment and education to dry a structure out properly. Remember, this is where you and your family spend the majority of your time. The result of drying properly eliminates the chance of your home becoming mold infested and causing potential health damage to you and your family down the road.

We at Brimer Construction have the training and experience to accomplish the job. We are not your typical restoration company, we handle the claim from beginning to end. We live and operate in the Gwinnett County area. This is our backyard and we know the common causes of water damage as well as their resolutions. We're the people that will be fighting for you to get your home back to its original state.

If you need help with a water leak, mold, or anything else give us a call at 404-428-1255, or email us at contact@brimerco.com. And, if you want, you can use our emergency contact form if you want to.

Leak Source	Cut-Off Location
Kitchen Sink Faucet	Cabinet under the sink.
Bathroom Sink Faucet	Cabinet under sink.
Washer Faucet	Cabinet under the sink.
Outside Faucet	Check crawl space for a cut off valve.
Water Heater	At the top of the heater. Look for pipes coming out the wall.

The table above is a simple guide to give you some areas where you can hopefully save your home from further damage. But remember, if you cannot identify where the leak is coming from, just turn the water off at the main line. Typically the valve for the main line is somewhere in your front yard near the street. You can a use crescent wrench to turn off, however, best tool to have on hand for this is a Meter wrench.

Dear Loyal Customers

Fri, 02 Oct 2015 17:00:30 -0400

We at Brimer Construction would like to personally thank all of you, our loyal customers, for supporting our growing company throughout the years. With your help, we have continued to expand our services and increase our value to you.

As we continue to improve our service and offerings we have created a new division of Brimer Construction, "Brimer: Fire, Water, Restoration", providing remediation and restoration services. We will be available 24/7 in case of any number of emergency issues you may face. From frozen or burst pipes, to sewage backup, to overflowing appliances and house fire damage, we will respond immediately with the knowledge, equipment, and care to mitigate and remediate the situation.

In an effort to provide an even higher level of service we have recently completed additional education and training and have obtained our Residential and Light Commercial General Contractor's License. This Contractor's License allows us to move quicker on projects, ensuring all the proper permits are pulled and inspections are passed.

Our investment in education, training, and equipment is just another way for us to show we appreciate and value the trust you've put in our hands, especially while dealing with some of the toughest moments and biggest decisions in the life of your home.

Sincerely,
Jeremy Brimer
Licensed Contractor RLQA003837
Brimer Construction Inc.

Drip Edge Now Required for All New Georgia Roofs

Tue, 16 Sep 2014 15:33:32 -0400

A big code change for Georgia roofers happened recently. Drip Edge, the slim flashing around the outer edge of a house, is now required for all roofing contractors.

Drip Edge (definition from Wiktionary):

A metal flashing or other overhanging component with an outward projecting lower edge, intended to control the direction of dripping water and help protect underlying building components.

What does this mean for homeowners?

If you're a homeowner and in the market for a new roof, make sure the contractor you hire has "drip edge" included in your estimate. If not, you should look elsewhere.

If you're looking to purchase a new home, anything built within the last two years should have drip edge installed. If you can't tell by looking at it where it's there or not, have an inspector make sure it's there before you make your purchase. If it's not there you may want to use this in your negotiations for getting the house.

MRN HOMES OF GA has more details about Drip Edge if you're interested.

Freestanding Canopies with built-in Gutters

Wed, 02 Sep 2015 16:53:27 -0400

Custom Metal Canopies

Brimer Construction creates and installs custom crafted metal canopies in Suwanee. Not only are the canopies designed to bring architectural interest to a building, but are also a very practical addition. All custom metal canopies are constructed with a built-in gutter system using two simple drain spouts on both sides of the canopy, to protect the person and doorway from the rain. It also guards the expensive mill work from premature rotting due to rain and sun exposure that is all too familiar to a Gwinnett County house.

Competitor awnings are made of canvas, with no built in gutter system. This leads to sheets of rain flowing over the edge which soaks a person approaching the door. In addition canvas materials have a life of five to fifteen years, depending on the weight of the material. In contrast, Our canopies will last as long as your Suwanee home.

We realize variety is the spice of life, therefore we produce our canopies in a choice of two metals. One is 100% copper, a vibrant and beautiful metal that will patina over a six month period, for a classic appearance. The second is a thick gauge aluminum that can be painted to match any decor or it can come with a baked on finish. We can match any color you need to best fit the style of your home in Gwinnett.

Installing a canopy over your front entry can be a huge money saver. Depending on how much sun and rain exposure you have, your front entry could need maintenance every few months just to make sure you don't receive any rot. If left unchecked for a while, it could lead to costly repairs with replacing door jambs, side lights, or even having water get farther into the house and start to rot out flooring or leak into the basement. Add some style to your entry door and cut down a little on maintenance with a new custom canopy by Brimer Construction, Your Suwanee Contractor.

5 Tips to Prepare your Home for Winter

Wed, 02 Sep 2015 16:53:01 -0400

It's that time of the year, the weather is cooling down, leaves are changing colors and cinnamon brooms are invading your local grocery stores...that's right folks winter will be here before you know it. We've made it easy to get your home ready with these 5 tips.

1. Inspect your roof, gutters, and drains

Check to see if you have any missing, damaged or warped shingles replace as necessary, before you have a leak.
Check for worn or deteriorated flashing at the chimney, walls, and skylights and around vent pipes. With roofing cement and a caulking gun, seal any joints where water could penetrate.
Check your gutters and downspouts to make sure they are secure, re-secure if loose or sagging. Ice and snow can add a lot of stress and loosen or pull gutters off the house.
Clean gutters of any debris. To prevent flooding around your foundation when ice melts make sure downspouts extend away from the house by at least 5 feet. Full gutters could also lead to water backing up into the house or even ice damming.
Ensure all vents and openings are covered to prevent insects, birds, and rodents from getting inside to nest in a warm place.

2. Caulk Windows and doors frames

Caulking around windows and door frames, is one of the least expensive maintenance project you can do to prevent major repairs and utility costs. It will prevent heat from escaping, as well as water from getting into these openings which cause cracks and mold build up.

3. Get your chimney inspected and cleaned

To prevent chimney fires and carbon monoxide from leaking into your home, get your fireplace inspected by a chimney professional they will let you know if your chimney system needs to be cleaned or repaired.

4. Make sure your heating systems is working properly

Don't wait for the first cold day of winter to make sure your heat pump or furnace is working properly, now is the time to have a technician inspect your system, they will make sure it is clean and in good repair, and that it can achieve its manufacturer-rated efficiency. The inspection also measures carbon-monoxide leakage.

Look for a HVAC contractor that belongs to the Air Conditioning Contractors of America and employs technicians certified by the North American Technician Excellence (NATE) program. The contractor should follow the protocol for ACCAs "national standard for residential maintenance" (or the QM, short for "quality maintenance").

5. Drain sprinkler systems

Your irrigation systems need to be drained as well as outside spigots to prevent freezing. Putting insulation around your water pipes can help prevent pipes from freezing and bursting.

Outdoor Living

Wed, 02 Sep 2015 16:52:44 -0400

Many backyards in the Atlanta metro area are the most beautiful and yet overlooked area of a home.

Brimer Construction can help create a true escape right in your backyard, that is both easy to care for and sustainable. Creating beautiful outdoor living spaces to fit anyone's needs, budgets and designs. Take a look at some of our services below.

Low Maintenance Decks

If your tired of sanding, scraping, staining and sealing your deck year after year, then it's time to upgrade to a composite decking. Made with a mix of wood or cellulose fiber and plastic, these boards only require the occasional cleaning.

There are also non-wood railing options in a variety of materials including composite, vinyl, glass, and metal that will completely transform your deck to a low maintenance wonderland where you will be able to do more grilling and relaxing then upkeep.

Thinking about starting with a fresh new deck design? Then think outside the 'box', today deck designs have evolved into more than just a place to store your grill or patio furniture. Decks are being designed and used like additional rooms in your home, with activity-specific areas and different levels built for entertainment, cooking, dining and relaxing.

Don't forget to add deck stairs so you're not stranded from other parts of your backyard oasis. Brimer construction can easily add deck stairs to your existing deck as well.

Pergolas

Pergolas are a perfect combination of form and function not only do they provide a cool shady spot so you can enjoy your deck or patio on hot summer days, it also increases the value of your home and add instant appeal.

Screened Decks

Enjoy warm summer nights without being a dinner course for annoying mosquitoes, why not add a fire place that can be enjoyed in the cooler seasons.

Fire Pits

Build a fire pit for smores and a whole lot more. Your friends and family will never get enough!

Outdoor Kitchens

An outdoor kitchen with beautiful counter space to prep all your sauces, marinades and rubs, a direct gas outlet to your grill so you never have to refill the propane tank and every night can be pizza night with your own pizza oven. You call yourself the 'Grill Master', then it's time for an outdoor kitchen that truly reflects your skill.

Whether you are looking to add one key feature or completely makeover your backyard, don't wait call Brimer Construction today to get a free estimate. It's time to go outside and enjoy the fresh air and glorious beauty of your entire home, inside and out!

Hot Kitchen Trends for 2013

Wed, 02 Sep 2015 16:52:08 -0400

Take a look at 5 hot Kitchen trends cooking up in 2013

White Cabinets or light wood cabinets are going to pair nicely with contemporary accents that are also trending for 2013, they reflect light and thus give the space a more open feeling, which is great way to make your small kitchen feel bigger without knocking down walls. Using white or a light colored wood gives a neutral pallet to build on, and is a smart choice for a long term investment.
Stainless Steel appliances are still a hot choice for 2013, commercial gas stoves with griddle surfaces or more than 4 burners have become very desirable. Homeowners also want appliances to do double duty, microwaves that double as second ovens and warming drawers, and refrigerators with convertible drawers that can act as the fridge, freezer, or wine fridge. Appliances like the microwave are going undercover, being built in under countertops.
Hardwood Floors are a strong trend for kitchens in 2013, so if you're looking to replace your ripped up vinyl floors this year consider a wood flooring option. For example engineered wood floors are a great option for kitchen flooring, because they are more resistant to higher moister areas than solid wood flooring. Another great option is porcelain floor tiles that have wood grain. This option gives a similar look as wood, but with less maintenance and better water tolerance.
Quartz is now king of the countertop world, because of its durability and virtually no maintenance qualities. Although Granite is no longer the reigning king of countertops, it will continue to be a popular choice.
Stylish Sinks are a great option if you are able to make only one update this year. 2013 will see a continued trend towards stone, copper and fireclay farmhouse sinks. Companies like Kohler are introducing farmhouse sinks in styles to compliment even the most modern style kitchen like brushed nickel and stainless steel.

Brimer Construction can update your kitchen with any or all of these trends in your upcoming kitchen remodel. Brimer Construction is a full service residential and commercial construction company based in Suwanee, Georgia. Serving the Suwanee, Duluth, Johns Creek, and surrounding Metro Atlanta Area. Contact us today for a free quote.

Building to Code - Don't Believe the Hype

Wed, 02 Sep 2015 16:52:27 -0400

Believe me when I tell you, you DON'T want your next home improvement project built to code. That's right I said you DON'T want your project built to code! Why is that?

Building to code has somehow become linked to something superior when it really means that you are simply building to the bare minimum requirements. Adding to that from year to year minimum code changes and evolves. Something that was built to code even 1 to 2 years ago may no longer be up to the bare minimum of current building code standards.

For example, locally in the Suwanee, Duluth, Johns Creek and extended area's We have seen many decks built by well-known builders, using minimum code, only to need to be rebuilt 5-10 years later (a properly built and maintained wood deck should really last 20 or more years).

Tip for Homeowner:

When getting pricing for an upcoming project ask your contractor for pricing options that range from minimum code to preferred building options. Ask a lot of questions about the building procedure and materials being used. Also, when considering major construction projects, never be satisfied with the bare minimum building code.

At Brimer Construction we leave the minimum building codes for the other guys, our team is dedicated to doing the project right and building something that is not only safe but will outlast any projects that were simply built to "code". Our entire team stays current on all new and innovative construction products and building techniques to go above and beyond in delivering a superior product.

Make Sure You're Getting the Best Roof for Your Money

Wed, 02 Sep 2015 16:51:48 -0400

Simply put, you can just call Brimer Construction at 404.428.1255 However, if you are looking for more information then read on.

The first tip is to always get written estimates or agreements specifying the work to be done and materials to be used. Find out specifically what things will and won't be covered in case something should happen. (For example : a large amount of roofing material fell onto your patio furniture and damaged it. Or, your sheetrock ceiling was damaged due to the roofer dropping something in your attic while changing some decking.) Whether or not you choose a company that will cover some of those type items is up to you, but you just need to get these things covered in writing before the project starts.

Make sure you are getting apples to apples estimates. Just because two companies are both offering you an estimate including 30 yr. shingles does not mean that they are equal products, and the cost of these shingles can vary a few hundred dollars between one 30 yr. shingle and the other. Make sure of all the features of the shingles they are offering such as Wind Resistance, Algae Resistance, Product Warranty Length, and (more important on higher quality products is) Fire Rating, and Hail Impact Rating. Also look into the other products offered, not just the shingles. What about an underlayment? If your estimate says felt will be used, is it 30lb or 15lb rolls? As with everything else make sure it's in writing and it is specific.

The best quality for the best price. As with most people you probably want the best quality work done but don't want to pay an arm and a leg for it. The truth is roofing products cost a good bit and the more protection you receive the more you will have to pay for it. To try and get more for your money don't think that just because you decided to hire two guys with a pickup truck that you will be paying less. Nine times out of ten you will end up paying more and having the project drawn out over a longer period of time. Find out where they get materials from, if they are ordering everything from Home Depot or Lowe's your most likely paying more. The accounts we have setup with suppliers give us the opportunity to provide our customers with better products and prices.

Find out about previous work. In todays economy many people have been laid off of work and are looking for some income, so make sure you are dealing with a professional who has a portfolio to back them up and a company to support them. Brimer Construction has many homes in the Atlanta area that we have worked on and can show you finished work and give you customer references to back it up.