From Rusty to Luxury

 

This Spring we remodeled a house near Muskegon for a retired couple who winters in Florida.

 

We were on track to deliver their custom home remodel before they moved back for the summer when the coronavirus hit. Michigan ordered lockdowns that threatened to stop many construction projects, ours included.

 

This presented us with a challenge. The state of Michigan stopped all non-essential projects, and we were right in the middle of a remodel. The couple is in a vulnerable population. If we had to stop construction, then they wouldn’t have a safe place to quarantine. There was no way to clean the place until the job was completed.

 

We Get the Job Done

 

We worked to get the custom home remodeling project classified as essential so that we could complete it on time. With the go-ahead on the project, the remodeling could continue. 

 

 

 Innovative Materials Come with a Learning Curve

 

The house was originally built on a slab and near the water. So we raised the house, built a basement addition beneath it, and blocked up to the home. After giving the interior a complete makeover, we redid the exterior as well. 

 

The couple was creative people and they designed their own landscape plan. JKC helped to make it happen. They chose a new plastic retaining wall system that worked super well for their landscape. The finish resembles wood, but it’s more durable and can better withstand the forces of time and the weather.

 

Another product we used on this project was a new siding system by ASEC. We partnered with a painting contractor to specify the right finishes. We trained the installers, and we worked hard to understand its specs. However, working with new materials comes with a learning curve, and there was a snag. 

 

 

When There’s a Problem, We Take Care of It

 

When you work in construction, problems are a fact of life. After we installed the new siding, we noticed that the paint wasn’t performing up to our usual standard of fit and finish. It turns out for one of the colors, the paint deviated from spec and had problems adhering completely. 

 

We knew that matching the paint to the new siding required careful attention to specs. You can do everything in your power to deliver a perfect job and things can still go wrong, especially when working with new materials. What matters most is how you respond when problems happen! 

 

We understood the problem, and we committed to residing the entire house next spring to fix the error.

 

A Happy Ending

 

The couple moved into their remodeled home on time, and they are now happily and safely living in a home they love. At JKC, we are passionate about giving people a home they love through custom home remodeling.