The Journal
Plain notes on building well.
Educational writing on the topics our clients ask about most. How basements are lowered. What waterproofing actually involves. How to read a renovation estimate. The questions that come up before the contract is signed, answered honestly and without sales pitch.
Heritage
Heritage Homes: General Renovation Considerations
Renovating a heritage home is one of the most rewarding kinds of construction. It is also one of the most demanding. Here are the considerations that matter most.
May 31, 20266 min readConstruction
What Goes Into Building a Wine Cellar
A wine cellar is part construction, part HVAC engineering, and part interior design. Here is how the three come together in a room that actually keeps wine well.
May 30, 20266 min readEstimates
How to Read a Renovation Estimate
Two contractors can quote the same project and produce wildly different numbers. The difference is rarely the contractor. It is what is, and is not, inside the quote.
May 29, 20266 min readDesign
Designing a Basement That Doesn't Feel Like a Basement
A finished basement and a real lower floor are not the same thing. Here are the design principles that move a basement from one to the other.
May 28, 20267 min readPermits
Permits for Basement Renovations: A Primer
Almost every meaningful basement renovation needs a permit. Here is how the process generally works, and what to expect.
May 27, 20266 min readBasements
Understanding Basement Waterproofing
Waterproofing is the part of a basement renovation that no one photographs and everyone needs. Here is how it works.
May 26, 20266 min readBasements
Choosing Between Underpinning and Benching
Both techniques lower a basement floor. They are not the same. Here is how the choice between them usually breaks down.
May 25, 20265 min readBasements
What Underpinning Means, and When It Makes Sense
Underpinning is one of those words that gets thrown around in basement renovation conversations. Here is what it actually means and when it tends to be the right answer.
May 24, 20266 min read