We were asked by Curtis Hart to rebuild his deck. The deck was 20+ years old and was in bad condition. We deconstructed it and were able to reuse the existing joists. There was a sag in the joists from years in their positions, we were able to turn them over and use them in the opposite direction. We also added double band joists around the perimeter of the structure to strengthen and prevent the structure from sagging over time.  The homeowner wanted a composite material on the deck surface because it lasts longer and has less maintenance during the life of the product. A Trex Trancends material was chosen in a color of Spiced Rum. We chose to lay the decking with a “picture frame” border because it disguises the end grain of the decking boards and makes the end product look better. When installing the decking boards we used a hidden fastener system that installs to the joists and holds down the decking boards by hooks and grooves in the boards. This gives a clean unobstructed look to the deck. He also chose a composite railing system from the same manufacturer. The composite railing has a hidden assembly system that keeps the look of the railing clean and concise. The posts what were holding up the deck were positioned on top of retaining walls, surprisingly the posts were not anchored in any way to the deck or the retaining wall. We reused the posts but as we rebuilt the structure we anchored the posts to the deck and to the concrete of the retaining wall. The columns holding up the deck and the porch between the decks, were found to be hollow and not of structural value enough to safely hold the weight of the porch. These columns were replaced with steel columns welded to steel plates that we anchored to the structure of the deck and porch and as well to the concrete slab below. The overall result was a deck that the homeowner is happy with and structure that looks as good as it is safe and strong.

With spring coming up quickly, many think of “Spring Cleaning” and getting out of hibernation. How well do you clean your house? Do you clean out every kitchen cabinet and vacuum your ceiling fan blades? If your going to those lengths to get your house clean are you spending any thought on your indoor air quality? The quality and cleanliness of the air in your house is directly related to your health. Its the air you and your family are breathing in and out every day. Your house and your HVAC system determines how clean your air is. You may change your filter regularly but that’s not enough. When was the last time you removed your register and actually looked at the condition of your ducts? Or when was the last time you cleaned out your register. If your registers are in your floor, dirt and trash and other debris can easily fall into your duct-work and sit there for years, as air passes over it. If your home is over 10 years old there is a high chance that there is dust and dirt accumulation within the duct-work.
If your ducts were not properly sealed when installed then the air that comes from your heater or air conditioner can leak out of the ducts, also air from the uninsulated spaces in your home can bring pollutants into your home. Dust mites, mold, radon, and carbon monoxide are just a few of the things that could be in your duct work and in the air you breathe. So do you know how clean your air is? Outside the Box Construction can be your Indoor Air Quality specialists. We are trained to test and clean your duct work. We can seal and insulate your ducts and make your existing system work better. You owe it to yourself and to your family to keep up with your air quality in your house because its your health and your home.

There are many reason why people choose to build and live in ways that help the environment or reduce overall consumption of resources. These reasons can include, wanting to ‘save the planet’ or ‘reduce carbon emissions’ or reduce money spent on utilities. Whatever your reason, there are ways to help you get money back for choosing efficiency upgrades to your home. There are rebates from power companies such as Georgia Power and Cartersville Electric System. There are also tax rebates from the federal government.
Georgia Power offers many different incentives for energy efficient upgrades, such as a $400 rebate for converting an old gas furnace to a high efficiency heat pump system. Also, up to $2200 back if you choose improvements based on a whole house approach. A water heater can account for a lot of the power consumption in your house, Georgia Power offers a rebate on Marathon Water heater of $525.
The federal government through the EPA and the Energy Star program offer tax credits for energy efficient upgrades. These credits apply to upgrades in HVAC, insulation, water heaters, and other items listed on their website.
For any reason you choose to ‘go green’ let these programs help you keep more of your “green” in your pockets.

Outside The Box Construction is proud to be the construction partner for the Bartow County Habitat for Humanity and the city of Cartersville. The Bartow County Habitat for Humanity received a grant from the Georgia DCA (Department of Community Affairs) to build six houses in the downtown Cartersville area. Outside the Box Construction was chosen to be the general contractor for these builds. In building these houses we hope to create a home for six families that they can be happy in. When we are considering what is going to go into these houses and what it takes to build a house, we are making efforts to make the house both energy efficient and sustainable. We would not want to build a house for a family and then have the utility bills above their reach so that they could not afford or would struggle to afford to live there.

We are asking for those who have been blessed to donate and give what they can to this effort. We are accepting donations of building materials, home furnishings, and much more. Even if you dont think you have anything to give, give of yourself, donate your time and the joy you receive will overflow beyond what you could imagine.

Even though Bartow Habitat has received this grant, it doesn’t go to their everyday operating costs, it only covers the building costs of the six homes. So it is very important for donations to still be made to their offices in money or item donations to the ReStore. It is up to our community to support an organization like this that does so much for individuals and families in our community that just need a little help.

Bartow Habitat can be contacted by:

We just completed another home performance evaluation at the home of Robert Bertens. A gentleman who had purchased a home that was in foreclosure and has done some remodel work to it already. We came to give him some information on how he could make his home more efficient. He has four HVAC units for his home along with three hot water heaters. His utility bills were a lot higher that he would want them to be and we hope to help him lower them.

The assessment started off with a walk-through of the house with the homeowner. He showed us through and explained his discomforts with different rooms and sections of the house. The core of the house was 24 years old and had many things wrong with it that were not taboo in the time that the house was built but better solutions were not yet known. Now building science has improved and we know better how to improve these problems. We went from living room to family room and kitchen to crawl space looking over the entire house and inspecting all of it for air leaks and areas of improvement. We then set up the blower door which depressurizes the house and exaggerates the air leakage of the house. With his running we were able to walk around the house again and tangibly feel the air that would leak into the house in a normal situation. The homeowner was very enlightened to see the effects of this test and feel the air moving so much where he hadn’t noticed it as much before. While we were walking through we found large areas that were open to the outside and attic space that was uninsulated these are major reason why they bedrooms would be so cold and the heaters would have to run constantly to keep the areas warm. In our inspection of the HVAC units we gathered the serial numbers and model numbers from the units so that we could find out their manufacture date and SEER rating on the units to let us know how efficient the units are running. We also take pictures of the faults that we find in the home as it relates to its performance such as duct work that is crushed or the plastic wrapping is torn off or the supply registers are not sealed or insulated. These pictures are referenced in the comprehensive report that is given to the homeowner after the assessment is completed.

Every time that we perform a Home Performance Assessment with the homeowner present to learn new things about their house, they are always happy and we feel good leaving the homeowner having learned more about their home’s performance and how we can potentially save them money for doing a few small tasks that make a big difference.
The home performance evaluations are reasonably priced and vary based on the size of your house. It is simple to figure out how much it might cost to have your home tested for its performance.

• $350 for the first 1500 square feet, includes the first HVAC and combustion zone.
• Then, $0.10 per square foot above 1500,
• And, $50 for each additional HVAC or combustion zone.

Rebates are available from Georgia Power that will refund 50% of the evaluation up to $200 back into your pocket.
Let us know today how we can help you better understand your home.

As we enter the winter season and temperatures continue to drop we stay indoors more often and use our homes and offices to keep ourselves warm. This can be a simple and easy act of coming inside to a warm home where you can be comfortable all throughout or it can be stressful because your home is cold and turning up the heat still doesnt help, it just costs more and more. It doesnt have to be stressful. You can be comfortable in your home. You DESERVE to be comfortable in YOUR HOME.

“EPA estimates that homeowners can typically save up to 20% of heating and cooling costs (or up to 10% of total energy costs) by air sealing their homes and adding insulation in attics, floors over crawl spaces, and accessible basement rim joists.“

Up to 20% savings!!! Take a look at your utility bill…how much are you spending each month?…each year?…Wouldn’t you like to reduce that number by up to 20%? Who wouldnt? The solution is simple. Efficiency. If your house is leaky then it isnt working efficiently and you are wasting money. Thats it. Its as simple as that. All of the air leaks are costing you money, its a cycle, as the heated air in your house goes out through leaks in the ceiling, around windows and doors, can lights that arent air tight, electrical outlets, and others cold air is coming in and your HVAC system has to turn on or be turned up to warm the air back up then that air could be leaking out before it even gets to your bedroom if the ducts that it is traveling through aren’t sealed properly, that air is wasted into your attic or crawlspace. Then your heating system has to continue to run to keep up with the loss and the longer it works the more money you are spending. Don’t waste any more money!

Air sealing and insulation are the best ways to make a difference in your home as far as comfort and energy savings. How do i find the air leaks? Simple, when your heating system is on feel around the perimeter of the house, the ceiling and the floors for cold air coming in. Also, cobwebs are a typical sign of an air leak because spiders like moving air to make their webs. Dirty ceilings around duct registers, recessed can lights, and ceiling fans or lights are also signs of air leaks where the air moving in from the attic is carrying dust that is deposited on the ceiling. Windows and doors are the big offenders. If the weatherstripping around your exterior doors is more that 5 years old or it is compressed so much that you see light from around the door, it is time to replace the weatherstripping. Windows that you can feel a draft need weatherstripping under the sash and caulking around the frame and trim.

Insulation is very important in keeping your house comfortable. I is common to put a coat on to go outside when the weather is cold, the coat is acting as insulation for the heat that your body produces. The thicker the coat the warmer you are. Unless you have a hole in the coat or leave it unzipped. Then the warmth of your body escapes and you feel cold. The same principle applies to your house. The insulation in your attic and walls keeps the inside of your house warm from the heat that your heater produces. If you dont have enough insulation then the heat will transfer trough easier. If you want to know the science behind insulation and the R-Values HERE it is. But for those that need it a little simpler, the lower the R-value the quicker heat can pass through it. In most situation, the greater the R-value the better the insulative properties.
Most older homes today either have blown in cellulose or fiberglass batt insulation, but most homes dont have enough. Most homes in the southeast are recommended to have insulation to meet an R value of 38. Thats 12″ of fiberglass batts or 11″ of blown cellulose. If you dont have that much then you need more, also if your blown in insulation is packed down after being stepped on or boxes placed on it for years then it isnt performing at the level it should be. It needs to be fluffed to be insulating properly or simply add more on top to reach the recommended levels. Typically if you see your ceiling joists when you look in your attic, you need more insulation.

When air sealing your home yourself you need to be cautious of noxious gases such as carbon monoxide that your combustion appliances may produce. If they arent sealed combustion units then they need additional venting to the outside. This provides fresh air for combustion and vents the harmful fumes out to a safe area. Contact a professional if you are unsure about doing this yourself.

So how efficient is your home? How much money are you wasting a month? How much could you be saving? What steps could you take to make a difference in your home? These questions could be answered by a Home Performance Assessment. A Home Performance Assessment is performed by a professional such as Outside The Box Construction and provides a comprehensive report on the performance of your home. Check out our website for more details about a Home Performance Assessment. Also the Energy Star Website has more information on what to expect. The Assessment typically takes about a day and produces a prioritized list of improvements that would help your home perform better and save energy and money.

Contact us today if you have any questions. We are more than happy to answer your questions and possibly schedule a HPA for your home.

Outside The Box Construction, LLC.

Project Manager
Scott Mason – 770-547-1527
scott.outsidethebox@gmail.com

Owner
Don Liotta – 404-993-8187
donliotta@gmail.com

www.outsidetheboxconstruction.com

Just a few pictures of the deck project.

Before

More progress has come along at the home of George and Elizabeth Noe. Here are some pictures of the things we have done there. Here are before and after photos of the front door project. Before there were old wooden french doors, and now there are strong steel doors with energy efficient glass inside and details in the steel to match the design details on the front of the house. The doors were installed by Scardino Doors of Atlanta. Three other sets of doors were replaced by Scardino Doors, they are Anderson Patio doors and are on the other three entrances to the home, they are energy star rated and provide excellent security with their sturdiness and locking systems.
Other photos of the work that we have done there will be available in a gallery soon.
After

Well, what a journey it has been…
I have seen a lot and learned even more while managing this job. We started out to do a simple gut and remodel of a master bathroom that was too small and also update an office bathroom that didnt have enough space. Simple, right, wrong. Never assume you know what is behind the walls or under the floors when working on an existing house. Not only did we find layers of paint holding up horsehair plaster but also found live knob and tube wiring in this house. Still very much in use, and very dangerous. As we had been told by the homeowner, as he recounted the history of the house as he had learned it, a section of the house had been burned out in the ’40′s. We found the evidence of this. As we were opening up the floor to rerun the plumbing for the new shower, we found a chase that extended down the main level and on into the basement. This chase had wood that had very visible char and flame marks, and also the soot could be found behind every board that we pulled off of the walls. The original scope of work included the moving of two HVAC units. One was in the office bathroom and was moved into the attic space above where it was. The other was adjacent to the master bathroom and was moved out and into a new closet space built into the the upper landing area. Mostly new duct work was installed as well. The discovery of the knob and tube wiring nearly put a hold on the project all together but the homeowners understood that the wiring was dangerous when used with most modern appliances because the lack of a ground wire. So we ended up rewiring half of the second story in order to eliminate as much of the knob and tubing as we could get to without gutting the entire house.

We also did closet remodels as well. The clients werent happy with the storage they had in their closets so we went with a built in closet system for them to optimize the space that they did have. Before they put the closet system in we paneled the entire walls and ceilings of the closets with tongue and groove cedar. This gave the closets the protection from moths and other pests along with the nice aromatic smell of western red cedar. The energy efficiency things we did were to install dimmers on the lights and also in the closets to install occupancy sensors to automatically turn on when you enter and to turn off when there isnt any activity in the closet for a specified time. This prevents energy waste by automatically turning on and off your lights when you come and go. Also the exterior walls that were exposed were sprayed with soy based insulation which will prevent heat loss through conduction, it also acts as an air barrier as well so it wont allow air to move through the walls around the windows.

New Anderson Patio doors were installed on the main floor. These doors are energy star rated not to allow solar heat loss or gain due to its Smart Sun Glass. Three sets of these doors were installed. Upstairs in the master bedroom and the bathrooms that are being remodeled, Anderson Sash replacement windows were installed as well. These have the same Smart Sun glass and are energy star rated as well.

The area where the HVAC unit next to the master bathroom was, became the walk in shower for the master bath. The adjacent bathroom to the master bath, which was exclusive to the guest room was gutted and is now as shared powder room. The office bath which had an old claw foot tub and a shower head above it, now has a tiled corner shower unit with an overhead rain-shower head and a waterless urinal along with a dual flush water saving toilet. The master bath has a main area that the majority is taken up by a huge jacuzzi salon spa whirlpool big enough for two. With a teak wood frame top and a waterfall tub filler valve, it looks amazing and relaxing without even stepping into it. Since this area was taken up by the tub, the vanity for the client was moved outward into the hall adjoining to the master bedroom, a wall was erected and a pocket door was enclosed within. The old door and doorway were removed and no evidence remains of them except that the pocket door was made from the previously existing swinging door. Custom wood vanities were crafted and topped with a greenish black stone with black under-mount sinks and satin nickel faucets.

Also while all of this was going on, we had the entire house wired for the clients home automation system. Now he can control all of his multimedia from any remote from anywhere in his home. The system also can control lights, has the ability to control cameras and his security system, so when traveling around the world he can make sure his lights are on or off and his alarm is enabled, all from his computer or phone.

A new front entry door made from tube steel and wrought iron will complete this phase of the remodel. More work is scheduled for the outside of the house and the deck and the outdoor spaces. So more updates will follow. Maybe not so long in between though.