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Focus on Living, not Aging

May 14, 2018 By John Biancini Leave a Comment

JB talks accessibility with NARI speaker Louie Delaware. (Photo courtesy NARI MN.)

Although I earned my CAPS (Certified Aging In Place Specialist) credentials many years ago, I was eager to hear Louie Delaware from the Living In Place Institute in Colorado speak at the NARI MN meeting last week. I wanted to learn what’s new to help people live comfortably and safely in their homes for as long as they like.

While the information was very familiar, marketing of the design principals certainly has evolved. If Louie is right, it’s more about what you don’t say to get homeowners to adopt and invest in accessibility upgrades to their homes.

Making Accessible Design Appealing

He expained that the movemement toward barrier-free living started in the 1950s. The American Standards Association published the first acessibility standards in 1961. By 1973 some 49 states had adopted their own rules. Federal guidelines came in 1984.

The initial Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements applied to public spaces and businesses, not private homes. And many of the products designed to achieve accessibility looked decidedly institutional. The first focus was on people with physical disabilities. Later, the concept of Universal Design broadened the scope to benefit people of any age or ability. The idea was that accessible design could look attractive and make life easier, safer and more comfortable for everyone. That was followed by the “Aging In Place” buzzword, which spoke to the enormous Baby Boomer generation that wants to continue living independently in their private homes.

According to Louie, the trouble is that most people don’t want to focus on aging; they prefer to think about living. Which is why he founded the “Living In Place Institute” to teach and certify contractors and designers.

The principles are the same whether you call it Universal Design, Aging In Place or Living in Place. Good design is about more than good looks. It also should improve your quality of life at home, however and whenever that life changes.

Here’s just one example from Louie’s talk. Install a GFCI-protected electrical outlet behind your master bathroom toilet when remodeling the space. Use it for a nightlight now. But it will be available to support a bidet toilet seat down the road. Louie claimed inability to take care of personal toileting is what causes many people to enter a nursing home.

Bottom line, you can count on APEX to keep an eye on the horizon even if you a focused on the here and now.

Complete Shower Design Guide

April 6, 2018 By Tom Sweeney Leave a Comment

If recent trends are any indication, bathrooms should be renamed shower-rooms. Busy families not only prefer showers to tubs for their daily bathing. They also are investing careful thought and money to design and equip them for exceptional beauty, functionality and safety.

Shower Design Checklist

Designing a shower involves much more than choosing tile. To specify the ideal shower, you also need to consider:

Size and shape
Pan/curb vs. curbless/drain
Enclosure/door style
Surfaces
Showerheads choice and position
Hand showers choice and position
Shower controls and placement
Grab bar design and placement
Lighting
Ventilation
Steam
Sound

I interviewed leading plumbing supply showrooms and Twin Cities bathroom designers for their best shower advice. Here’s what they shared.

Size Considerations

Marble tile shower photo Small bathrooms can only accommodate small showers. Shower size also may be pre-determined when replacing a tub/shower. However, small showers often can be enlarged during remodeling. This especially applies if you are willing to reposition fixtures or move a wall. Many homeowners gain shower space by jettisoning a jetted tub. Out with the noisy Jacuzzi that seldom gets used.

Generally, larger showers are more accessible and comfortable than smaller ones as long as they are shielded from cold drafts. Larger showers also are great if you occasionally share the space with a partner and have more than one showerhead. Designer Lisa Stoll from Sparrow & Stoll considers 3X4 feet the minimum for a shower that gets regular use by tall people. “While those larger showers are very nice, sometimes we just don’t have enough room for them,” notes JB from APEX. He considers 3×3 feet an absolute minimum.

Large shower with glass enclosure.

Pan, Curb and Drain Choices

Curbless showers eliminate the barrier between the bathroom floor and the shower pan for unobstructed wheelchair access. It requires the shower floor to slope away from the shower door or entry, usually with the drain along the far wall. The catch is that the main bathroom floor needs to be a bit higher to stay dry. That can create a transition issue between the bathroom and the adjacent hall or room.

Preformed shower bases speed installation and reduce costs, but they limit shape and drain placement. With the waterproof membrane approach such as Schluter Systems, custom tile showers can accommodate any footprint and drain configuration.

Tip: When choosing a drain, try to mimic the shape of the fixtures. For instance, a square drain would coordinate better with a big square rain showerhead than a round one. Square or rectangular drains also are much easier to tile around.

Shower Door and Enclosure Decisions

With fancy custom tile designs so popular today, it’s no surprise that frameless, clear glass enclosures are a top choice among remodeling clients. Although clear glass is higher maintenance and provides no privacy, it makes any bath look larger and showcases one’s tile investment. To avoid water spots and soap buildup, Pappas suggests treating the glass with Rain-X, rinsing the surfaces with a hand shower and drying surfaces with a squeegee. Alternatively, Stoll specifies seeded glass to obscure water spots.

Frameless glass shower enclosure photo

Selecting surfaces

Tile is the preferred shower surface because of its design and installation flexibility. Horizontal patterns are more tradition, vertical more contemporary.

Stoll notes that horizontal patterns also are more relaxing, adding to the spa feeling that that so many people want to achieve.

Pappas notes that a mid-wall, horizontal accent strip not only breaks up a tile surround but also helps bathers maintain balance by orienting them after they open their eyes or turn. “Think of it like a horizon line,” she explained.

Many designers prefer the updated look of larger tiles, but subway tile remains a classic for period decors.

Designer DeAnne Koppendrayer of Designs by D favors 12×24 tile on the shower walls, installed in a subway tile pattern or straight stack depending on the look of the room.

“I like to use a pattern or shape on the shower floor, like penny, hexagon or shaved rock stones. I also like to incorporate accents like repeating the shower floor tile in the shampoo niche or doing a waterfall of a coordinating tile or the same tile but in a different pattern.”

Koppendrayer also encourages clients to integrate tile accents with countertops. “Whatever I choose for the vanity top I use it to cap the shower knee wall, the curb, the bench and the corner shelf. It helps to tie the whole room together and makes it easy for the tilesetter to pitch the surfaces for drainage,” she said.

Meyer, too, prefers large format tile. “The bigger the better for fewer grout joints,” she said. “Horizontal pattern is considered transitional because it can be tradition or contemporary. Vertical pattern is contemporary.” If large tile is used for the base, she often carries it up the wall. Meyer specifies porcelain tile rather than natural stone because it is easier to maintain.

Showerheads Can be Tricky

At one time, showerheads would reliably emerge from an interior sidewall, perpendicular to the door. Now they also may extend down from the ceiling or even be installed flush with the tile ceiling.

This placement freedom owes at least part of its success to flexible plastic PEX tubing that allows plumbers to effortlessly snake supply lines practically anywhere. However, it still is preferable to avoid installing plumbing within exterior walls where freezing can be a problem. If you must install fixtures on an outside wall, build out the framing to maintain effective insulation behind the supply and waste lines.

Showerheads offer a variety of water patterns that change the force, footprint and feel of the spray. Showrooms such as Ferguson’s and Aspire have shower walls with functioning showerheads so you can see difference and at least feel it on your hand. They are only plumbed with cold water and offer no privacy so don’t count on a full shower experience.

To conserve water while maintaining a decent shower experience, look for the WaterSense badge. These fixtures use 20 percent less water than standard showerheads without compromising performance.

Hand Showers Have Many Uses

Hand showers have become ubiquitous in today’s showers and for good reason.

Facilitates cleaning the shower itself
Great for pet washing
Enhanced body rinsing
Hydro massage
Flexible positioning and improved accessibility

Hand showers are most effective when mounted on a vertical bar so both the height and the angle of the spray are adjustable. A lower position is ideal for small children, pet washing, and elderly or disabled users who may need to sit when bathing. If the shower has a bench, the hand shower wand should reach a bracket within reach of the seated user.

“Many of my clients primarily want a hand shower for cleaning the shower, said Meyer. “Hand showers on a vertical slider also are popular among women who don’t wash their hair every day. They adjust it so it hits their bodies and not their heads.”

Zsavonne Perryman from Ferguson is a huge hand shower fan. “Hand-held showerheads offer complete flexibility. They work great for all ages. Also, cleaning become a breeze.”

If you plan to use a vertical hand shower bar as a grab bar, be sure that it is rated for such support. Many aren’t.

Some hand showers operate off diverter valves that shift the water supply from the main showerhead to the auxiliary head. Hand showers with separate controls are better because they allow you to use both heads at once. When installed opposite or at a right angle to the main showerhead, it can eliminate cold-side showering and increase comfort when sharing.

Make Room for a Bench

Fold up teak bench

All of the designers recommend benches in showers for accessibility, safety and convenience if space allows. Integral tile benches should be sloped slightly for drainage. When space is limited, consider a stylish fold-down teak seat. Most designers are not keen on freestanding seats because they are less stable than fixed ones.

Even the smallest shower can incorporate a toe rest (think low shampoo niche) for use when shaving legs. Simply position a small niche a foot above the shower pan. Include a vertical grab bar for stability.

Mission Control

Shower controls often align vertically with showerheads to create a balanced look and simplify plumbing. However, it’s important to be able to reach the controls to turn on the water without getting wet. For a large shower, consider positioning the controls within reach of the door.

Photo of open shower with low niche and forward controls

Accessible controls and low footrest niche.

Shower controls have temperature and pressure balance features that can be set to prevent scalding when someone flushes a toilet or goes full hot. Make sure the plumber checks the high temperature limit during installation. The most sophisticated shower controls feature digital displays that enable individual users to set (and see) their preferred temperature for an ideal shower experience.

Perryman says parents with young children like the Delta Temp2O fixtures because they display the temperature digitally and have an easy to understand color indicator (blue for cold, purple for warm and red for hot). Stoll notes that the color displays also are good for people with poor vision.

But Pappas says many of her clients “are not into gizmos.” Most people know where to position the lever for their preferred showing temperature,” she said.

Grab Bar Placement

A grab bar should be positioned vertically where you can hold on comfortably when entering and leaving the shower. Stoll says a second horizontal bar is helpful along the long wall perpendicular to the showerhead. Avoid configurations where the bar and hand shower hose would conflict. You should be able to grasp the bar without having the hose in the way.

Most remodelers install solid blocking behind shower surfaces to anchor future grab bars, but designers suggest you don’t wait to incorporate this proven safety feature in your new shower. Just be sure to coordinate the bar design and finish with the other fixtures so it looks like it belongs.

Moisture, Steam & Ventilation

Hot showers produce enormous amounts of moisture in a small confined space. Many designers turn this into a plus by installing steam generators for a spa experience. Whether you have a steam shower or a regular shower, a properly sized exhaust fan is essential to remove excess moisture and avoid mold. For maximum effectiveness, the fan should be installed just outside the shower.

Many bathroom fans have become so quiet that manufacturers suggest they be controlled by timer switches. This enables you to set the fan to run after you finish a shower and never forget it on. Stoll notes that the larger the bathroom the longer the fan should run. “I tell clients 20 minutes minimum,” she said.

When choosing a steam shower, install the steam generator where it will be quiet but accessible for servicing.

Modular Enclosures and Curtains

Many of the designers agree that there still is a place for prefabricated shower enclosures and shower curtains for basement or secondary showers.

Shower curtains provide privacy and can add a splash of color to a bathroom with plain surfaces. And panelized shower enclosures are affordable and easy to clean.

If your budget is tight, it might make more sense to splurge on the new kitchen and skip the fancy tile and glass in the bathroom,” one designer observed.

Tour Award-Winning Laurel Ave. Addition in Remodelers Showcase This Weekend

March 15, 2018 By Tom Sweeney Leave a Comment

The charming Laurel Avenue addition that APEX Construction Management will feature in the Parade of Homes Spring Remodelers Showcase this weekend (March 23-25) is unique among the 63 projects on display during the tour.

Spring 2018 Remodelers Showcase We hope you will visit the home, not so much because you want something just like it, but because you don’t. At a time when many trendy makeovers look so familiar and cool, the 1660 Laurel Ave. addition is a decidedly different and heartwarming reminder of an era when life was simpler. The point is, APEX loves different.

The owners, Richard and Shirley Erstad, view homes as “durable goods.” Most importantly, they believe remodeling should build on the past, not erase it. APEX’s John “JB” Biancini truly listened (no small feat for someone who is profoundly deaf). He worked with designer Carmin Meyer, Project Manager Matt Grudzielanek and the homeowners themselves to deliver the period perfect environment while hiding modern conveniences in plain view.

Indoors or outside you will be hard pressed to identify where the old house ends and the new addition begins. But the homeowners certainly appreciate the difference a larger kitchen, new main level bath, improved entry and basement laundry make in daily life.

The remodeled space incorporates a new bank of Marvin windows that overlook the picturesque backyard, custom cabinetry from Modern Design, a custom commercial tile floor, and salvaged art glass, entry door, balustrades, and plumbing fixtures. There even is a functional antique wall phone! The kitchen features a fully restored, eight-burner, three-oven circa 1920s Reliable gas stove and 1930s GE Monitor refrigerator.

Remodelers Showcase Adds to Project’s Acclaim

The acclaimed APEX remodeling of the 1912 home already has generated plenty of attention leading up to the home tour. Last November, the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) named APEX Minnesota Contractor of the Year (CotY) for additions up to $250,000. Then the industry group chose APEX last month for the best addition in its nine-state North Central Region. The project is a finalist for the national title next month. Finally, the Builders Association of the Twin Cities (BATC) is featuring the project in an editorial spread (page 22-23) in the Parade of Homes Remodelers Showcase guidebook publication.

Remodelers Showcase guidebook article

“These clients knew how they wanted the space to look and feel. It was up to APEX to figure out how to make it work,” JB remarked. “Now the family has an unforgettable addition that embraces their storybook backyard.”

Meet APEX Construction Management

The project is R60 in the Remodelers Showcase guidebook. The home will be open to visitors from noon to 6PM Friday through Sunday. For more information contact APEX at 651.653.6300 or jb@apexdesignbuild.com.

CotY Judges Say ‘Vive La (APEX) Différence!’

February 2, 2018 By Tom Sweeney Leave a Comment

Feb. 1, 2018 – APEX Construction Management was named 2018 Regional Contractor of the Year (CotY) today for residential additions $100,000 to $250,000 for a unique Laurel Ave., St. Paul, project it completed last fall.

Regional judges from the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) chose the APEX entry in the three-tier competition. APEX first won at the state level last November. As winner of the North Central Region title this week, it is a finalist for the 2018 National Contractor of the Year title. That winner will be announced at the association’s Evening of Excellence event in Charlotte, NC, on April 20. This is APEX’s Construction Management’s third Contractor of the Year recognition.

NARI MN President Jennifer McAlpin congratulates JB on his 2018 Regional CotY win.

The project appears in the current issue of the Pioneer Press’s glossy SPACES magazine and is featured on Houzz. You also can see the remodeling and speak with APEX owner John Biancini and project designer Carmin Meyer during the Spring Remodelers Showcase Tour, March 23-25, in conjunction with the Parade of Homes. Carmin worked with Modern Design for the custom cabinetry.

APEX designed and built the rear addition at the 1912 home of Richard and Shirley Erstad. APEX annexed a small corner porch to square off the new kitchen and bumped out the foudation and main level for a new entry area, three-quarter bath, porch and basement laundry. Outside, APEX used narrow lap siding with mitered corners, salvaged turned porch railings and mirrored roof lines for a seamless transition between new and existing spaces. But the real drama unfolded inside.

Homeowners had clear vision and APEX delivered

The Erstads view homes as “durable goods” that should be enhanced over time without erasing their past. While they wanted all the conveniences of a modern kitchen, it had to look and feel like something out of the 1920s. A fully restored eight burner, three-oven 1920s Reliable gas stove and a vintage Monitor refrigerator anchor the design. Complementing them are freezer drawers and a microwave oven hidden in the custom cabinetry.

The new kitchen features green, white and natural cabinets and both marble and granite countertops to suggest that storage was added over time. A center island would have looked out of place. So Modern Design built a large table with drawers, which Richard finished himself.

“We certainly didn’t expect all of the awards, but we knew our project was unique,” Richard said. “What’s most interesting is that it is a very convenient and comfortable,” he continued. “We spend a lot of time in the kitchen. It turned out just the way we hoped. And, after nearly six months, there isn’t much of anything we would change.”

“This was a challenging project and very much a team effort,” John recalled. He credits Project Manager Matt Grudzielanek for overseeing trade partners and Carmin for ensuring that the nostalgic elements would come together visually and provide needed functionality. He also acknowledged the homeowners themselves for their research and skillful DIY contributions.

“Some contractors steer clear of remodeling hundred-year-old homes in St. Paul because of the challenges they pose, but we love it,” John said. “I guarantee you won’t see another project like this on the Spring Remodelers Showcase tour. And you won’t soon forget it.”

CotY Judges Evaluated More Than 400 projects

The CotY Award judges apparently agreed. The 26 NARI judges evaluated more than 400 projects from eight regions with a value that exceeded $123 million. NARI officials said CotY Award winners “demonstrated remodeling excellence.” Judges considered functionality, problem-solving, aesthetics, craftsmanship, innovation, degree of difficulty, and entry presentation.

Curb Appeal Projects Top Payback Report

January 13, 2018 By John Biancini Leave a Comment

Each year at this time, Remodeling Magazine publishes its annual “Remodeling 2018 Cost vs. Value Report” on the average cost of 21 popular remodeling and replacement projects and the value each would retained at resale. Not surprisingly, lower-cost curb appeal projects dominated the top 5 list.

The survey said installing an upscale garage door would actually be worth 12.6 prcent more than its $3,591 Minneapolis market cost. A $1602 midrange-quality steel entry door would hold onto 93 percent of its value. Replacing 300 square feet of vinyl siding with manufactured stone veneer around the entry would retain 91% of its $7,996 cost for third place. Number four was adding a $12,735 16×20 pressure treated wood deck at 79.7 percent. The only interior project was fifth-ranked mid-range quality Minor Kitchen Remodel. The report said it would retain 72.7 percent of its $24,351 cost.

According to research by RemodelMAX, 2017 labor and materials costs for a bathroom addition increased the most (6.5 percent) of the 21 projects from 2016. The price of a minor kitchen remodel rose the least at 2.7 percent.

Cost vs. Value Report Data Considerations

The Remodeling Cost vs. Value Report findings are useful for homeowners to get general idea of what projects might cost in the Minneapolis market. And the payback estimates could help them avoid over-improving their homes if they plan to sell in the coming year. However, the authors warn that the data was assembled last summer and fails to take into account significant lumber price increases our market experienced this past fall.

It’s also important to remember that most homeowners remodel to improve their own quality of life at home, not to make a profit off the investment. More importantly, the survey didn’t even try to put a price on the value of a happy spouse, creating an environment that’s a hangout magnet for your children and their friends, or the peace of mind and safety that comes from an accessible bath in retirement. We’d say it’s “priceless.”

Complete data from the Remodeling 2018 Cost vs. Value Report can be downloaded free at www.costvsvalue.com.

January Right to Launch 2-Step Remodeling Process

December 20, 2017 By John Biancini

Remodeling is a journey, some would say an odyssey. But nothing dictates that you must travel the route nonstop.

Over the years, I’ve met many homeowners who were reluctant to start down the remodeling path because they weren’t quite ready to commit to spending money on construction. In reality, we would have to cross a number of bridges before we would be prepared to build. So I suggest starting the first leg of the trip sooner and reserving an informed construction decision for later.

By initiating preliminary discussions in January or February, you will be ready to move forward with construction in late winter or early spring when others are just getting started. In our high demand remodeling market, that can make the difference between completing your project in April before grad parties and weddings or waiting until September.

Remodel Feasibility, Budget, Timetable, Design & Estimate

The first step in APEX remodeling projects is to establish goals and get comfortable with each other’s communication style. The communication component is especially important for me because I am profoundly deaf and must read lips. Expect my full attention when we meet. I do have a special office phone that enables me hear most callers when I’m at my desk.

As a General Contractor, our goal is to manage the remodeling process for the smoothest client experience and for the completed project to enhance the quality of life at home for the people we serve. Time spent assessing goals and preferences is critical to achieving this end.

Our first “deliverable” typically is an initial design and preliminary budget estimate. We’re good listeners, but it’s not uncommon for homeowners’ remodeling visions and initial cost expectations to misalign this early in our discussions. When that happens, we explain the various expenses and, if needed, offer options to narrow the gap without compromising quality.

With agreement on the general project roadmap, we will schedule a trade partner preview to confirm the project costs and help drive a more accurate project budget and timetable. Now that we know what is included, how much it will cost, and how long the project will take, we can schedule construction immediately or put it on hold for a couple of months.

You can’t make an informed decision about remodeling until you have a scope of work, project budget and timetable. Ready for Step One?

APEX Earns 2017 CotY Gold for Laurel Ave. Addition

November 20, 2017 By Tom Sweeney Leave a Comment

John Biancini and Carmen Meyer with CotY Award.

The National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) has named APEX Construction Management a winner of the 2017 Minnesota Contractor of the Year ( CotY ) Award. APEX received the top, gold-level honor for Residential Additions under $250,000. It beat Schrader & Co., Edgework Design Build and Jones Design Build for the state title.

NARI recognized contractors in a total of 25 CotY categories plus best in show and best newcomer at its annual Gala at International Market Square on Nov. 16. APEX President John “JB” Biancini and designer Carmin Meyer accepted the crystal trophy. They were cheered on by more than 300 colleagues and guests, including Troy Eiden of Modern Design, which built the custom cabinetry for the project.

Photo of remodeled kitchen with vintage look.

Vintage look with 2017 amenities.

Unique Kitchen and Seamless Exterior

APEX won its latest CotY Award for a unique addition it built at the Laurel Ave. St. Paul home of Richard and Shirley Erstad. APEX expanded the kitchen, enhanced the rear entry and added a three-quarter main level bath and lower level laundry.

The primary challenge was to create an authentic looking 1920s kitchen for the couple’s painstakingly restored vintage gas stove and refrigerator and antique fixtures. From the storybook backyard, the addition needed to blend in seamlessly with the home’s 1912 architecture.

Here’s what Rich said:

“We absolutely love the new space—it is so inviting that we constantly find ourselves hanging out there. We were purists about doing the renovation in a totally period style—we wanted everything to look like it’s been there for decades. So it was a challenge for the team since a lot of things we wanted done were not the way they are done now. In the end, the project turned out just as we had envisioned it, only better. It’s inviting, functional and beautiful. And it fits seamlessly with the rest of the house.”

Rear porch moved from left and blends seamlessly.

NARI Judges Praise APEX CotY Project

NARI member judges in Milwaukee scored the project on six criteria: identifying and meeting client goals, functional improvements, aesthetic enhancements, craftsmanship, innovation and degree of difficulty. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

“Man…. this is right up my alley. Absolutely love this renovation. As an advocate of using reclaimed materials; just loved scrolling through this presentation.”

“Good use of materials to blend with the eclectic design expression. Great use of space.”

“The scope of work seems well executed with respect to customer preferences and within the period of the home. All points well supported by use of photos and the overall presentation in general. Nice work!”

APEX Team, Clients Collaborated on Design

JB said he was not surprised. “I sensed this would be an award-winning project from the moment the clients approved the plan,” JB said. “While remodeling projects can have a familiar look, this one is very special.”

JB, Carmin and the clients worked closely to conceal modern conveniences from view. For instance, electrical outlets are tucked under the upper cabinet rather installed in the backsplash and Sonos Wifi speakers are installed in vintage radio cabinets. Meanwhile, the freezer, dishwasher and microwave are hidden behind cabinet doors and drawers. And the antique wall phone actually works.

Outside was all about making the addition look like it was part of the original architect’s plan. New Marvin windows and the addition’s rooflines reflect the style, scale and period of the original architecture. The relocated entry porch features an ornate, reclaimed balustrade and classic beadboard ceiling. And lap siding was installed with true mitered joints rather than the more common corner boards. APEX’s Matt Grudzielanek managed the construction.

Plan to tour the project for free during the spring 2018 Parade of Homes Remodelers Showcase.

2017 NARI MN CotY Gala

Bath Remodel Punctuates Period Style

October 30, 2017 By Tom Sweeney Leave a Comment

At APEX, we love the challenge of remodeling century-old homes, making everything fresh and safe while preserving the period charm. Luckily, we’ve had plenty of opportunities this year. Here is a St. Paul bathroom we recently renovated for some great new clients who discovered APEX on Angie’s List.

: Custom Comfort-height Vanity

: Original medicine cabinet

: Original Laundry Chute

: Classic Tile Floor

: Classic Chair Rail

: Tub-Shower Versatility

: Shower Niche Mimics Window

: Tub Niche Matches Medicine Cabinet

: Custom Linen Cabinet

The owners, Curt and Susan, wanted to restore their 1924 upper level bathroom (and the water stained living room ceiling below). But first we needed to address code issues. That meant running all new plumbing supply lines and electrical cables from the basement and replacing an overburdened fuse box with a properly sized circuit breaker service panel. The old hot water line was completely blocked so we installed new PEX lines to all of the fixtures. We also added ground-fault protection for the electrical outlet.

Bath remodel retains period touches

The old bathroom lacked storage so we built a partition wall at the foot of the new soaking tub/shower and designed a custom, built-in, floor-to-ceiling linen cabinet and comfort height vanity. Curt and Susan wanted to keep the original window, built-in medicine cabinet, and chute to the basement laundry, so we mirrored their style in the new cabinetry and the all-tile shower niches.

The new white subway tile that wraps the lower wall is larger than before, but Curt and our tilesetter collaborated to select narrower tiles above the decorative chair rail to give the bottom more visual weight. We also chose a larger mosaic for the floor tile for the same reason. The original chair rail was accented with blue pencil tile. Susan opted for a black pencil detail in the new bath for a more neutral touch that would accommodate future decorating.

Tub-shower maintains versatility

Although large, luxurious showers are popular in bath remodels today, Susan preferred to stick with the tub shower configuration for versatility and resale appeal in this main hall bath remodel. “The house is meant for families, and it is a lot easier to toss a kid in a tub,” she explained. But the new tub needed to be as deep as the old cast iron tub for soaking.

With the living room ceiling repaired and repainted, the home’s extraordinary main level woodwork is back to its former grandeur.

Susan told Guild Quality, “We are totally satisfied with our APEX bath remodel! Working with Matt and JB was a breeze.” The feeling is mutual. We look forward to returning to remodel the master bath.

APEX Clients Survey

October 27, 2017 By John Biancini Leave a Comment

At APEX, we take grades seriously. We strive for an A+ score on each project and ask clients to tell us directly how we did. We also use the industry’s leading independent customer satisfaction researchers, Guild Quality, to survey our clients after we complete their projects. Guild Quality contacted us this week to say the last 20 APEX clients they surveyed gave APEX the highest score possible for “Likely to Recommend.”

Thank you to all of our APEX customers who take the time to share their experiences through online reviews and these Guild Quality surveys. Guild Quality starts by emailing its survey. If the survey is not completed, it tries again. If that doesn’t work, it calls. And finally, it mails a postcard reminder.

APEX reviews appear on many online platforms, including the APEX reviews page, Google, Houzz, Angie’s List, the Better Business Bureau, Home Advisor and Facebook. The Guild Quality survey is the most time consuming and important because it asks multiple questions. But most people can complete the survey in less than five minutes. The other reviews go even faster.

Repeat business and referrals are the cornerstones of how we have built APEX. These customer satisfaction surveys and online reviews are what keep us on course. Thank you.

Time-Sensitive St. Paul Remodel

October 1, 2017 By Tom Sweeney Leave a Comment

Many remodeling projects are similar. This one was anything but. It also was one of the most rewarding and satisfying challenges APEX faced all year.

Vintage stove in kitchen addition.

Start with a beautiful 1912 St. Paul Victorian on a tight lot with no open access from the alley. Then add accomplished DIYr clients who envisioned an authentic environment for vintage kitchen appliances they had been collecting and restoring for years. Finally, bump out to improve the kitchen layout and add a mudroom and bathroom without encroaching on their storybook backyard. Oh, and the “new” space needed to blend seamlessly with the old so you would never suspect it wasn’t part of the original house.

None of this was a problem for APEX because JB prides himself on listening (okay, reading lips) . He’s also good at assembling the perfect team to execute the clients’ remodeling vision and overcome unexpected obstacles, which are as common as sloping floors in historic homes. And he has the processes in place to manage complex projects.

Remodeling Clients Inspired Us

Truth be told, the real stars of this project are the clients themselves, Rich and Shirley. Rich is an attorney who appreciates that details matter and who happens to be a heck of a woodworker, painter and eBay/CraigsList shopper. Shirley is an avid gardener and executive director of a nonprofit that supports parks and trails.

Richard said something to me as the project drew to a close,“Houses are durable goods.” He feels remodeling should improve upon the past, not erase it. That’s why the kitchen has three types of cabinets, marble and granite countertops, and millwork profiles that matches the rest of the house.

The vintage appliances are extraordinary, but my favorite feature is the bank of four new windows that look out over the Secret Garden with its colorful sauna and plantings.