Minneapolis Exterior Design: Minnehaha Parkway Case Study

Building Health, Case Studies, Construction Defects, Design

Overview: For this 1925 south Minneapolis stucco home, a poorly integrated second-story addition done in 1980 resulted in major deterioration and mold inside the walls. Primary contributors were trapped water from seepage around windows and trapped moisture from poor ventilation systems.

Moisture testing indicated the damage was extensive and throughout the structure. Our remedial construction services worked with our client to establish the areas which would require careful repairs to ensure the home’s structural integrity. After the removal and repair of rotted sections, new sheathing and windows were installed followed by new insulation and exterior cladding.

Minneapolis-exterior-design-minnehaha-defect-project

 

An important part of project for the new homeowners was redesigning the appearance to blend into the neighborhood. Rounded corners were transformed into modern straight lines, windows were enlarged to create more balance and were framed in black to add depth, and cedar wood was included to give warmth and texture. Appreciating the draw of an established neighborhood and the home’s floor plan, the family can now also enjoy living in a healthy and beautiful home along Minnehaha Creek.

Original Built Date: 1925

General Description: Two-story stucco single-family home

Initial Analysis: Construction defect caused by a second-story addition that was put on in the 1980s. Water seeped in around windows and other connection points trapping moisture within the walls causing extensive rot. Additional damage occurred from an unbalanced ventilation system to manage building humidity.

Scope: Following moisture tests, we determined the extent of damage, proposed our construction remediation process and provided an estimate of cost to see if potential homeowner wanted to purchase home and proceed with project.

Remediation Plan: Removed stucco, eliminated rotted areas, reconstructed damaged portions, reinsulated, installed new windows, reclad with James Hardie and cedar siding, and integrated windows and siding correctly to prevent future water intrusion.

Challenges & Solutions: Generating a sound plan to negotiate the sale of the house to adjust for the required remediation work. Once work began, we discovered the extent of deterioration was more substantial than the original testing indicated.  We were able to rebuild structural wall components to reestablish home’s integrity.In the end, we formulated a fresh modern design that enhanced the facade in an established wooded neighborhood.

Additional Project Notes: Our project scope included enlarged windows which were selected with black framing to create dimension and balance plus add more interior light. The main doorway was enhanced using color, natural wood and lighting to avoid previous confusion of what door guests should go to enter the home. The rounded radials were removed and rebuilt to continue the new angular design. The chimney was re-framed to match the straight lines used throughout the project.

Notable Project Partners: Randall Buffie Architect

Completion Date: July 2015

Other:
NARI National – 2016 Contractor of the Year (CotY) Award
NARI Regional – 2016 Contractor of the Year (CotY) Award
NARI-MN – 2015 Contractor of the Year (CotY) Award

Minneapolis CotY Award Winner 2015

Construction Defects, Design, Residential, Siding, Windows
Minneapolis-Contractor-of-the-year
Owner Paul Schmidt, Field Manager Jim Hansel, Painter Tony Rodriguez, Owner Matt Schmidt

An exterior design and renovation project in Minneapolis recently earned a 2015 Contractor of the Year (CotY) award from the National Association of Remodeling Industry – Minnesota Chapter. The CotY recognizes excellence in remodeling projects.

Led by AMEK owner Paul Schmidt and field manager Jim Hansel CRPM, the exterior design project began with the challenge of doing extensive remediation construction work before beginning the exterior design makeover. Due to the improper installation of a second story in the 1980s, water was trapped inside the walls which caused large-scale rot and mold. Once the removal and repair work was done, the transformation could begin to create a modern appearance with an accent of warmth.

More pictures & information here.

Water Damage Minneapolis, MN: The Risks to Your Home

Building Health, Construction Defects

Water damage in your Minneapolis, MN home can be a huge headache. Water can cause a variety of problems from warping and rotting wood to peeling wallpaper and ruining drywall, carpeting and rugs.

While those are the cosmetic and structural problems related to water in your home, a major health concern results when that water causes mold to form inside a house.

Mold can form in your home when stagnant water combines with naturally occurring mold spores in the air to create a growth of mold.

Common health problems associated with mold include aggravation of asthma, skin and eye irritation, symptoms similar to hay fever such as sneezing, runny nose, red eyes and a skin rash.

In extreme cases, “black mold” can grow which is considered a toxin and can cause loss of energy, bouts of coughing and even extreme nausea and vomiting. Continue reading Water Damage Minneapolis, MN: The Risks to Your Home →

Construction Defect Advice on Water-Related Damage To Your Home

Construction Defects, Destructive Testing, Siding

As experts in Minneapolis construction defects, we see a variety of issues affecting home owners. While there are many types of construction defects that can occur to a home, water-related construction defects can be among the most damaging and long-lasting.

Typically water-related construction defects occur when water seeps into a home’s wall from the outside, getting behind the home’s exterior siding and into the framing. Once water reaches the framing long-term damage such as wood rot and mold can occur.

While water-related defects can occur with any siding, stucco siding is known to be particularly vulnerable. There are potential legal remedies to water-related construction defects, including any warranties associated with the construction or provisions in the building contract.

Part of any legal process includes a defect investigation, and no matter the legal outcome homeowners should get the problem fixed.

When choosing a contractor to repair a construction defects involving water damage it makes sense to find a firm that does construction defect investigations for law firms, provides expert witness testimony if the case goes to trial and also repairs the problem.

AMEK Custom Builders is such a firm. AMEK co-owner Paul Schmidt manages the company’s siding division and has investigated hundreds of cases of water-related construction defects and has personally directed more than 70 stucco renovation projects.

AMEK was among the first Minnesota contractors to replace leaking stucco siding with new fiberglass siding. Images of the work show what can happen when water seeps behind a home’s siding.

AMEK’s siding and construction defect water damage expertise is what prompted the firm to help pioneer fiberglass siding in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area.

That’s because the fiberglass siding is not only water resistant, but the APEX fiberglass siding system used by AMEK includes an innovative water management system that keeps water from seeping into the house frame.

APEX Fiberglass Siding Limits Water Damage

Construction Defects, General, Siding

Water damage resulting from seepage behind house siding can cause health problems for those in the home because of the mold that can form inside the walls.

It can also prove costly to tear off the siding, do mold remediation and re-side the house.

Such water damage is known to occur with improperly installed stucco siding, but can occur with all types of siding.

The newest siding technology — fiberglass siding — helps resolve potential water and mold damage in several ways. First, fiberglass is water and rot resistant and won’t expand and contract with the weather, which opens up the opportunity for water to penetrate the siding. info