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Residential Remodeling

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Bittersweet APEX Remodel

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Val had scheduled her initial APEX consult for just after the 2019 Minnesota State Fair because her partner, David, would be too busy parking cars to meet during the event. With thoughts of aging in place together, they wanted to add an accessible main level bath to the St. Paul home.

home addition

As planned, APEX would demolish the deteriorating double-decker deck. Then we would build a small addition off the 1916 home for the new bathroom with a curb-free shower, a small mudroom and an expanded basement with an egress window. It was reminiscent of another St. Paul remodel that had earned APEX the 2017 NARI Regional Contractor of the Year Award for additions under $250,000.

APEX completed Val’s addition in June and her stamped concrete patio in July, but David didn’t get to enjoy either. Sadly, he died on May 9. Today, the project stands as a beautiful reminder of a good man. Val loves it.

“There is hardly a day that I’m outside in my yard, when a neighbor doesn’t give me a compliment on the addition or even ask to come in to see it,” Val said.

Interior Designer Lisa Stoll says the project also serves as a poignant reminder that universal design benefits everyone and can look beautiful — and that we never know what tomorrow may bring.

“You don’t have to be older or disabled to appreciate an adjustable hand shower, large curbless shower, shelves that are rated as grab bars, a comfort height toilet and better lighting,” she observed.

John Wardell drew the plans for this APEX addition as he did the award-winning project. A door replaces a window off the back of the house and the sheltered landing is served by dual stairs.  Val originally hoped for a little second floor balcony where she could “shake a mop,” but she got a good-sized deck over a flat EPDM roof.

Read Val’s full review here.

  • Before
  • Before

Simple 3-Season Solution

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When Nancy bought her St. Paul home last fall the three-season porch with its old storm windows was rotting away.  She loved the natural light and the natural plank ceiling, and the roof was fine. But she knew she needed to do something about the vertical surfaces.  APEX replaced the walls, windows and door this spring, and she recruited her brother to repaint the floor. Now it is her favorite space in the house.

The AZEK difference

The key to the project’s success was the choice of  materials, windows and doors. APEX finished the porch with AZEK panels and trim. The cellular PVC material contains no wood fibers so it can’t absorb moisture, rot or suffer insect damage like the old porch. The shell provides UV and scratch resistance. It will never need to be painted.

Versatile Eze-Breeze

The windows are triple hung units from Eze-Breeze. The Cabana door also is from Eze-Breeze. They use clear, 10-mil memory vinyl in place of glass. The three panels nest so two-thirds of the the space can be opened for ventilation. Meanwhile, integral screens keep insects out.

After the project, Nancy wrote APEX, “I’m just so pleased. I walked out on the porch on a 37-degree morning after you finished.  What a difference the new windows and a door make. I could have a cup of coffee and read the paper with just a tiny electric heater. Unbelievable!  Of course, I had to send pictures to my 10 brothers and sisters and got nothing but favorable responses. Matt was so skilled!”  Summer was even better. 

Small project, big improvement

It is not common for APEX to take on small projects like this, but it made a big impression on this very nice client. At APEX, it’s all about improving your quality of life at home. Contact APEX if we can enlarge or improve your home to help you get through Covid more comfortably. 

APEX is sensitive to Covid protocols. Initial consults typically are via video conference after receiving phone photos of the existing space.

Maplewood Master Bath Plus

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Ken and Cindy had served as their own general contractors and did much of the work themselves when they built their Mankato home years ago. But when they moved to Maplewood  last year to be closer to their sons, they chose APEX Construction Management to handle the remodel.

APEX clients

Their goal was to annex one of three bedrooms to create a master bath. They also wanted to move the laundry from the basement to the main level. With the limited space available, Designer Lisa Stoll combined the requirements. The former bedroom now pairs a three-quarter bath and side by side washer and dryer.

“The challenge was that the new bathroom would be on the front of the house and they wanted to retain the large window,  so wall space was limited,” Lisa recalled.

The new space features a shower with an adjustable-height hand shower. The custom vanity has one sink and a makeup desk. Both the rod for the hand shower and the toilet paper holder double as grab bars.

Suite door features stained glass

While the bedroom itself remained the same size, APEX moved the closet and the door. Ken had a hand in the the project’s most special element. He made the stained-glass panels APEX’s cabinetmaker fitted into the bedroom door.

“I had made the three stained glass panels for a china cabinet in our old house,  but I replaced them with clear glass before we left,” Ken explained. “APEX did a beautiful job incorporating them into the master suite door.”

After APEX completed the master suite remodel, the couple had them back to install a backyard patio, just in time for their son’s September wedding.

Kind words for the entire APEX team

The couple had high praise for the entire APEX team. “Lisa understood what we liked. She brought tile and carpet samples. She hit the nail on the head,” Ken recalled.

They credited Project Manager Matt Grudzielanek with keeping the project on schedule and had kind words for his trade partners. “Everyone was friendly and they cleaned up,” he said.

Cindy noted that when JB learned her father had died from COVID during the project, he brought roses to the door. “JB and Matt are good guys,” Ken remarked. “We had a great experience. We wouldn’t have changed a thing.”

National magazine features APEX project on July cover

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Old House Journal, a national magazine geared to people who own and remodel older homes, is featuring an APEX Construction Management project as its July cover and feature story. The publication, which is on newsstands now, covers the Laurel Ave., St. Paul addition, that earned APEX the 2018 NARI Regional Contractor of the Year (CotY) Award and the 2017 NARI Minnesota Contractor of the Year Award. Both were for additions costing less than $250,000 category.

Old House Online feature on APEX project

https://www.oldhouseonline.com/house-tours/1912-foursquare

The unique remodel enlarged the kitchen and added a main level bathroom, mudroom and covered entry to the back of a 1912 Four Square. Designer Carmin Meyer themed the cabinets and finishes around the homeowners’ antique appliances and fixtures. Modern Design built the cabinetry and the distinctive table.

New Basement for COVID-19 Stay Home

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Do you wish you had improved or enlarged your home before COVID-19 made social distancing and staying home the new normal? The quickest and most cost-effective solution now may be to finish or update your basement.

remodeled basement photo

APEX will continue to design kitchens and bath remodels this summer using video calls, screen sharing and email. But our near-term production focus has shifted to basements, side additions and exterior exteriors. These projects will keep construction crews and clients safely apart.  Contact APEX President JB Biancini today to discuss your project.

When all materials are on hand before demolition begins, APEX’s production speed is hard to beat. If you approve a basic basement design and selections in two weeks, APEX will employ its refined construction management process and loyal trade partners to substantially complete your full basement remodel in just 6 to 8 weeks.

Imagine gaining a safe and comfortable new bathroom, laundry, kitchenette, bedrooms and recreation area downstairs before the dog days of summer arrive. You will appreciate the bonus space whether family members must quarantine or just need some alone time from the rest of the clan.

APEX finished this Lake Elmo basement just before COVID-19 struck Minnesota. Lisa Stoll from Sparrow & Stoll designed it. Matt Grudzielanek was project manager. Photos illustrate the transformation better than words. The remodeled space features new windows overlooking the backyard. The design includes a bathroom with a large tile shower, a laundry room, two bedrooms and a big, bright recreation area with a gas fireplace.

Basement after remodel

  • Large shower
  • Double vanity
  • Laundry
  • Code-compliant bedroom
  • back bedroom
  • Family room with gas fireplace

This project would have been ideal during the COVID shut down because crews had direct access from the backyard. If your basement lacks a door to outdoors, we will seal off the entry route with plastic so crews are isolated from your family and pets.

Demolition day

  • Demolition day
  • Walkout basement
  • Original bedroom
  • Existing egress window

Forward Progress during COVID-19 Stay Home

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Hello friends,
 
How are you doing? I pray that you and your loved ones are spared COVID-19. As someone who has been through cancer and collapsed lungs, I know firsthand the pain and anxiety of struggling to breathe. We can’t be too careful as Minnesota battles this personal health and financial challenge.
 
At this point, construction is considered an essential service in Minnesota. So APEX and its trade partners continue to work with appropriate safeguards. But I’m afraid it will not business as usual for a while. For us this means shifting from interior remodels to projects we can accomplish without entering your living space.
 
With everyone home, this may not be a good time to renovate a kitchen or bathroom. But we can replace deteriorated siding and roofing, dangerously old decks, undersized garages and finish basements with direct access to increase your living space. We also can design and build side additions because 90 percent of the work would be completed outside before we break through the wall to the existing living space.
 
When times are tough, as they are right now, we all need to envision better days to have hope  (another cancer lesson). Consider embarking on a dream kitchen journey over video chats and email with our award-winning designer Lisa Stoll.  Who needs HGTV when you can collaborate on a 3D plan with virtual Lisa! If you have been thinking about doing a project, this is a great time to get that dream built on paper.
 
Let’s get through this together and be ready when the COVID-19 crisis passes and the economy recovers. Until then, be well.  APEX’s mantra is to improve your quality of life at home. Please contact me when you are ready for our help with that.
 
Take care and stay well,
JB
 

John Biancini photo

 
 

COVID-19 Guidelines

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Dear APEX Clients,

  1. Projects in production – We are monitoring the health of our workers, our clients, and ourselves daily and will not go to work if anyone is not feeling well. When we do go to work we are taking extra precautions to keep our distance via additional containment barriers on the jobsites and asking clients to respect the new social distancing norms. We will also ask clients on a regular basis if they are comfortable with us continuing our work in their homes.
  2. Projects in design  – Aside from the physical on-site need to take measurements, we are/will be using technology for all communications: email, teleconferencing, and when possible, video teleconferencing via Webex with presentation/whiteboard capability.
  3. Future projects – When possible, we are replacing on-site project previews with client “before” photos, sketches, and emails to assemble a general scope of work and render a ballpark budget range.

 I expect projects currently in the design phase to continue into construction if essential services continue to be allowed to work.

JB Biancini,
President
APEX Construction Management

 

APEX Earns Coveted Guildmaster Award

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March 10, 2020 – The National Association of the Remodeling Industry recognized APEX Construction Management tonight for having just received the 2020 national Guildmaster Award for service excellence. APEX is one of only four Minnesota remodelers to earn the distinction from GuildQuality. It is the country’s leading independent customer satisfaction survey company.

To be considered, contractors must allow the organization to survey their last 20 or past year customers. While the industry average for customer satisfaction among remodeling clients is 70 percent, Guildmaster recipients must score at least 90 percent to qualify.  GuildQuality reported that APEX earned a perfect 100 percent score on its last 38 customer surveys.

GuildQuality goes deep

Unlike reviews on Google, Houzz or Angie’s List, GuildQuality verifies that each survey participant is an actual client. It also goes well beyond the typical 5-star rating system to ask a number of questions that probe specific construction-related performance areas. They include experience, professionalism, schedule, budget, quality, value, communication, problem resolution, cleanliness, safety, trust, punch list and likelihood to recommend.

NARI-Minnesota President Donella Olson commended APEX President John “JB” Biancini for his Guildmaster achievement at the association’s bimonthly Firm Nite. The event was held at the new Select Surfaces showroom in Plymouth. Some 110 NARI members and guests attended.

JB on GuildQuality and Guildmaster achievement

“We have GuildQuality survey APEX customers for quality control as much as for recognition,” Biancini said. “Houses are not perfect and neither is APEX. But everyone on the APEX team pulls together to improve our clients’ quality of life at home.”

The St. Paul remodeler credited APEX clients for successful remodeling outcomes. “It takes mutual trust and respect to deliver a positive remodeling experience. We are fortunate to serve good people who understand there will be highs and lows during their projects,” he said. He also recognized APEX Project Manager Matt Grudzielanek and Designer Lisa Stoll of Sparrow & Stoll for their support.

APEX has been a GuildQuality member for five years. This is the first time it has applied for the Guildmaster Award. APEX also is 2018 NARI Regional Contractor of the Year for Additions under $250,000. It is Better Business Bureau accredited. And APEX is a member of Housing First Minnesota and the National Association of the Remodeling Industry.

Remodel for a healthy home

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When remodeling your home, why just make it look and function better? Seize the opportunity to create a healthy home environment for your family. That starts with improving air quality.

About 90 percent of the breaths most people take each day are inhaled indoors. The air doesn’t need to smell or look funky to cause discomfort and serious chronic health issues. Cancer-causing radon soil gas, lethal carbon monoxide from combustion appliances, mold sensitivity from excessive moisture are just some of the hidden health dangers you can remedy during your next remodel. You also can mitigate dangers from lead, asbestos and chemical poisoning and respiratory problems from allergens. 

toddler on healthy hard flooring

What’s your Hayward Score?

APEX assembled this checklist to help you identify and overcome indoor air hazards and achieve a healthy home. Become more air-quality aware by obtaining your homes’ Hayward Score. The interactive online survey tool asks a series of questions and generates a customized action plan for improving your indoor air.  Some measures are easy and inexpensive. Others are more costly and involved. All are at least worthy of consideration.

APEX doesn’t raise these issues to inflate the cost and complexity of your remodel. It’s entirely your choice. However, our mission is to improve your quality of life at home, and health is the cornerstone of quality of life. What would you spend for family members to avoid cancer, developmental problems, lung disease, chronic fatigue or accidental death?

Top 5 Indoor Air Quality Factors

Bill Hayward invented Hayward Score after his own home made him and his family sick. He believes that maintaining healthy indoor air comes down to five things:

  • Continuous fresh air
  • Proper sealing and insulation
  • Non-toxic materials and products
  • Cleanable surfaces
  • Healthy habits

Here is how APEX can apply these health factors in your remodel.

Healthy fresh air

By fresh air, we typically think of air that enters your home whenever you open doors or windows. However, air also is drawn into your home by differences in air pressure and it is not always healthy.

Kitchen range hoods and bathroom exhaust fans expel moisture and bad air, and forced-air heating systems circulate air and reduce dead air zones. Unfortunately, the fans also lower indoor air pressure. HVAC ducts can spread airborne contaminants throughout the home.

Installing an air exchanger will equalize indoor and outdoor pressure so your exhaust fans, flues and and clothes dryer don’t cause carbon monoxide from your furnace and water heater to spill into your home. It also will scrub the air before it mixes. This is particularly useful in homes with finished basements that are susceptible to radon soil gases. With Minnesota’s long winters, we cannot rely on windows alone to provide fresh air and balance air pressure year-round.

A direct-vent, sealed-combustion gas fireplace will produce warmth and ambiance without potentially compromising air quality like a wood-burning fireplace with a chimney. The same is true for high efficiency, furnace, boiler or water heater. They draw combustion air directly from outdoors rather that from indoors. They are far less likely to spill deadly carbon monoxide into the home.

Be sure to test your home for cancer-causing radon, especially if you plan to finish your basement. If your radon level near the 4.0 action level and you already have drain tile and a sump pump, we may just need us to install a pipe from the sump to above the roof. If it is higher, we will need to wire and install an in-line fan to mechanically draw soil gases from the drain tile, so they don’t enter the basement. APEX also is licensed to deal with peeling or chalking lead paint., which can cause developmental problem in children.

Home sealing and insulation

Thorough air sealing and insulation go hand in hand with ventilation to prevent mold contamination. Done correctly, it will reduce condensation and mold where warm moist air meets cold surfaces.

Proper air sealing and insulation requires gap-free insulation and vapor retarder plastic taped at seams and around electrical boxes.

Spray Polyurethane Foam (SPF) insulation is considered the gold standard for both air sealing and insulation. However, it must be applied by an experienced, licensed professional who understands how to achieve proper curing and prevent prolonged chemical outgassing. The spray foam industry recommends residents and pets stay out during spraying and until the expanding foam cures (typically 24 hours) and dried trimmings are removed. If that is not practical, the contractor will increase ventilation and manage air pressure to reduce indoor exposure in living spaces.

healthy SPF Insulation

Non-toxic materials and products

For a healthy home, choose natural cleaning products. Chemical residue can build up in a home over time. Using safer products will reduce the risk.

When remodeling, use low VOC finishes and formaldehyde-free building products. Limit the pesticides around the foundation of your home that can leach into your drain tile and sump and get into your basement. To avoid mold, direct your lawn sprinkler away from your siding.

Cleanable surfaces

Carpeting and wallcoverings trap dirt, contaminants and bacteria over time.  It’s even worse if you have a dog or cat. If your carpeting is 20 years old, it should be considered contaminated. Wetting the fibers during cleaning can make matters worse by reactivating mold spores and bacteria and leaving behind chemical residue. 

Consider limited area rugs or in-floor heat to improve barefoot comfort where needed. Hard flooring surfaces such as wood, luxury vinyl or tile are healthier and easier to clean than wall to wall carpeting.

healthy Luxury Vinyl Flooring

Healthy home habits

Homes don’t come with operator manuals, so user errors are inevitable. You can improve your home’s health chart with these simple habits.

  • APEX recommends a kitchen range hood that vents outdoors. We will suggest a quiet one and encourage you to use it whenever you cook.
  • APEX will recommend a bathroom exhaust fan even if there is a window. Always use the fan when you bathe and let it run 30 minutes after you get out of the tub or shower.
  • APEX designs functional mudrooms with benches and storage that encourage clients to remove their shoes at the door, so they don’t track contaminants indoors. What could be more Minnesotan! 
  • APEX prefers central vacuum systems that vent outdoors to portable vacuum cleans that recirculate fine particles back into the room. Vacuum carpeting weekly using long, slow passes and twice a week if you have pets.
  • Store pesticides, fertilizers and other hazardous in an outbuilding if possible or attached garage if not. Don’t keep them in your basement, especially not in the furnace room where contaminants can be drawn into heating ducts.
  • Have your furnace or boiler cleaned and tuned annually to minimize carbon monoxide and make sure your central air conditioner condensate line is clear, so bacteria do not build up in the pan.

Contact APEX President John Biancini to learn more about how remodeling done right can lead to a healthier home.

Most Popular Remodeling Projects in 2019

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If you think remodeling your old kitchen will make you happier, you probably are right. Complete kitchen remodels achieved a perfect “10” Joy Score in the 2019 Remodeling Impact Report. The most popular remodeling project also is the top-rated improvement to make a home more desirable among future homebuyers. The findings are based on extensive surveys by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) and the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) this year.

popular kitchen remodel

To be clear, updating your kitchen won’t improve your profit at resale. You’ll only recoup about 59 percent of your investment. But your home will be more appealing and should sell faster and you get to enjoy it until you move.

Seriously, we could have guessed these results without a survey of nearly 2,200 consumers and 4,400 NARI members. Kitchens are the center of both family life and entertaining. It’s no wonder a more functional and attractive kitchen will serve up smiles.

 

favorite remodeling projects

What does remodeling joy mean?

The joy index is based on answers to three questions: First, does the project make you want to spend more time in the space? Second, do the improvements actually enhance your enjoyment of the space? Third, do you feel a sense of accomplishment after completing the improvements? I think the first two questions overlap and skew the scores. But because the same rules apply to all 20 projects, the study is a useful tool to compare alternatives for one’s remodeling dollars.

The good news is that you don’t have to overhaul your home’s social and functional hub to find happiness. The survey said renovating a closet also carries a 10-point joy grade and for a fraction of the cost. What’s more,  repainting your home’s interior finishes a close second at 9.8. Just be sure the results look professional and you choose the right colors.

 

Buyers value new roofs

Remodeling ROI in 2019

The survey also estimates how much of your remodeling investment you are likely to recoup if you sell your house in the next few years.  For example, if your home would sell for $400,000 with your old kitchen and you spend $68,000 on a new kitchen, the survey predicts you will get $440,000 at resale. So, you are at least partially remodeling the space for yourself, which should be anyone’s prime motivation. 

Once again, the only projects that Realtors say homebuyers will value more than they actually cost the sellers are replacing an old roof or installing new wood flooring.  The Realtors valued the payback on a new roof at 107 percent and wood flooring at 106 percent.

Homebuyers probably appreciate new roofs because lenders won’t underwrite mortgages unless deteriorated roofs are replaced. Meanwhile, wood floors are seen as a healthier alternative to wall to wall carpeting, which collects bacteria, allergens and cleaning chemicals residue over time that can compromise indoor air quality. Installing wood flooring after purchasing a home also would delay the move in date.

Visit the National Association of Realtors  HouseLogic link to view the entire Remodeling Impact Report with Joy Scores, costs and paybacks for all 20 projects.

How the remodeling report was done

In June and July of 2019, HouseLogic surveyed consumers on the last remodeling project they undertook. A total of 2,193 respondents participated. The Joy Score was calculated by combining the share who were happy and those who were satisfied when seeing their completed project and dividing the share by 10 to create a ranking between 1 and 10. Higher Joy Scores indicate greater joy from the project. In March and June 2019, NARI emailed a cost survey to its 4,400 members. A total of 378 responses were received. The survey had an adjusted response rate of 11.6 percent. In July 2019, NAR emailed an interior remodeling project survey to a random sample of 52,491 Realtors. A total of 2,485 responses were received. The survey had an adjusted response rate of 4.7 percent.