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Bonus Room Renovation

Whether is it called the bonus room or simply an extra room, we at Greens Reconstruction and Renovation can help make it into an asset for your family. There are ideas for all sizes of rooms and with some thought on the functionality and purpose for who will be using it, you can turn previously unused space into a room that fills a need in the home.

Sometimes a room referred to as a ‘bonus room’ is one that has no outlets, windows, or closet. In New Jersey, in order for a room to be considered a bedroom, it must have a window, door and closet and outlets as well. The bonus room may have a slant in the ceiling or be a little low. Depending on the size of the bonus room and your imagination we can help create a room that meets the needs of your family.

A small bonus room idea that makes the most of the available space could include built-in bookshelves and recessed lighting. Both serve to free up floor space for games and other activities. Using neutral color palettes helps a room look larger and the impact would be improved by natural light through an installed window if there is no one there. Using a striped rug will make the room look larger. In fact, you may be surprised at how well you can turn a relatively small room into a combination gym, and home office. Some decor ideas may not work if you have a very small bonus room, but you can also do a lot to maximize the extra space you have found.

For larger bonus room spaces, perhaps, your dream bonus room is a home theater. Smart technology has made it possible to achieve an at-home theater experience that rivals your local cinema, as well as creating the right acoustics and ambiance.

A bonus room playroom is ideal for a family with children.

  • A built-in stage for playacting
  • Chalkboard wall for drawing.
  • Installed closets or bookcases for toys.
  • As children grow so could the room for gaming or studying.

Depending on where the bonus room is in the home, sometimes there is no possibility of an actual window. An illusion of a window can be created which increases the sense of space in the room. A media room can be a useful, one that includes banks where phones, tablets and laptops would be centrally located. A couple of desks and a designated nook for reading, and now there is a place for books as well as media.

As you can see, there are many possibilities to a bonus room that can benefit your family, let us help. Whatever your vision is, we can help bring it to life and make it a reality. At Green Reconstruction and Renovation, we have the expertise and professionalism to work within your budget to turn your bonus room into useful space for your family.

Remodeling - 05/15/2021
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Smoke Damage

Whether smoke and soot damage occurs because of a brush fire outside the home, an electrical issue behind the walls, or a fire in the home, it is invasive and harmful. First of all, it stinks, and the smell doesn’t go away on its own. The smoke itself acts as an acid and will eat at materials if left too long.  Soot can lead to the permanent yellowing of walls and ceilings, including wood and vinyl. Porous stones like marble or granite countertops can be permanently damaged. The ash can cause any exposed metal within your home to start corroding, leading to blemishes, and possibly structural integrity.

  • Smoke:  Visible suspension of carbon or other particles in the air, usually one emitted from a burning substance.
  • Soot: A black powdery or flaky substance consisting largely of amorphous carbon, produced by the incomplete burning of organic matter.

Smoke and soot cause damage by seeping into small cracks and crevices, as the particles are so fine. This can go undetected for an extended period of time, with a lingering smell of smoke that can last for months. The only way to remove the smell from your home is to remove or clean the affect items.

Smoke damage is considered anything that is has a detrimental effect when it is covered by smoke and soot.  It will pool throughout the home, cling to walls, seep into furniture, sink onto clothing, damage electronics, and fill in any available space within the ductwork.

Smoke and soot damage:

  • Adversely affect the color of walls, as well as ceilings as smoke rises.
  • Corrosion of metals, meaning pipes as well as any exposed metal. This includes smoke and soot getting into an HVAC system.
  • Can affect breathing as particles get into the lungs.

Smoke damage is most noticeable by its smell. If you can sniff out the lingering smoky smell in certain parts of your home or office, you have smoke damage. Electronics will be affected with smoke damage are more likely to overheat. Soot gets into the inner workings of electronics often with a black film, affecting the insulation as well as any moving parts. Depending on the extent of the damage and as well as what structural there may be a need for replacement of damaged walls or flooring.

After assessing the damages, you want to talk to a company that knows how to make your home whole. You want a company that knows how to talk to your insurance company about reconstruction services as well as a company that will listen to YOU for how you want the remodel to go. Green Restoration and Reconstruction is the company for you.  They have years of experience in remodeling and expertise in dealing with the parameters of what is your insurance and staying within budget.

Being prepared for the worst is being proactive against it. Having the right insurance coverage and the right team to assist in making things right again is peace of mind worth having.  Green Reconstruction and Remodeling is the right company for your family to make the worst of times better.

Fire Damage - 04/15/2021
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In-Home Leaks

Life can be funny sometimes and it will usually be at the worst possible time. The washing machine does a jig spewing water and suds everywhere. Not everything that happens to your home, happens as a result of weather. Water seepage can occur wherever there is a container to hold it and a leak, either the pipes or the water heater or a leak in the kitchen faucet goes unnoticed until the subflooring and flooring is affected. When it happens in the kitchen, it often means repairing not just the leak itself, but everything that leak affected.

Leaky faucets can also end up causing damage to your foundation, walls, and floors. It’s not so much the leak itself that can be hazardous to you and your family’s health, but the mold, mildew, and material damage that leak has caused. These problems can develop unseen in the structure and foundations of your home and might only be discovered after it has caused costly damages.

Stagnant water can cause allow unwanted insects and bacteria to breed around your home or office. These potential problems can all be avoided by getting an experienced professional to look at your leaking taps or pipes when you first notice them.

An unchecked water leak can:

  • Lead to deteriorated caulk and grout, which can result in water leaking through and damaging floorboards and ceilings throughout your home.
  • Can cause costly structural damage to your home if left unchecked.
  • Can affect subflooring as well. Will easily add ten percent to your water bill.

After assessing the damages, you want to talk to a company that knows how to make your home whole. You want a company that knows how to talk to your insurance company about reconstruction services as well as a company that will listen to YOU for how you want the remodel to go. Green Restoration and Reconstruction is the company for you.  They have years of experience in remodeling and expertise in dealing with the parameters of what is your insurance and staying within budget.

Being prepared for the worst is being proactive against it. Having the right insurance coverage and the right team to assist in making things right again is peace of mind worth having.  Green Reconstruction and Reconstruction is the right company for your family to make the worst of times better.

Water Damage - 03/15/2021
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The Bathroom Remodel

Thinking of remodeling a bathroom, Green Restoration and Reconstruction can help guide you. Whether it is a major overhaul of the guest bathroom or making a bathroom more child friendly, our company wants to work with you to achieve the bathroom that works best for your family.

Bathrooms are one of the most heavily used in the home, and over time things can break down. Broken tile, and leaky faucets, as well as poor lighting can contribute to the desire for an upgrade. Bathroom upgrades add significantly to the value of a home when sold. That said, wouldn’t it be even better to get to use those upgrades for you and your family members now?

At Green Restoration and Reconstruction, we listen to what your ideas are, what your budget is and work within it to give your bathroom the lighting, cabinetry, tile as well as bathroom and toilet fixtures that make this room better. The options are endless, dependent on your budget and needs. Sometimes the tile needs replacing, or the towel racks are in the wrong location. Some people cannot see a bathroom without a tub as well as a shower and others, don’t need the tub at all. Depending on the size of your family and how the bathroom is used, you may want a total remodel which generally takes one to four weeks. We have designers that will help you design and plan out the remodel and order the parts necessary. Maybe you just need a few upgrades for issues like a leaky showerhead, broken tiles, or dim lighting; we can replace what is broken from cabinets to plumbing needs.

The wonderful accents available for bathroom remodeling today extend from recessed lighting to unobtrusive medicine cabinets, to toilets designed to save on water; and bathroom tiles that are easy to clean using grouts that resist mold, humidity, and stains. Colors are an option as well, either for the tub or shower, and tiles, cabinets, and flooring. Adding lighting to the interior of a shower can give one a better sense of safety. Bathrooms need a vent or sometimes even a window to release the moist, warm air that permeates them. Vents can be installed unobtrusively without the often-clanging noise that is the sign of an older vent system.

As you are thinking of what can make your bathroom better in functionality and even comfort, give Green Restoration and Reconstruction a call for all your bathroom remodeling questions.

Remodeling - 02/15/2021
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Other Winter Hazards to Consider

Winter in the greater New Jersey area, brings with it special circumstances when it comes to the vulnerabilities of your home, from flashing on your chimney to the frames of your doors.

When temperatures drop below freezing, moisture in the soil beneath a home freezes and expand. This expansion causes lateral pressure to the foundation above it and causes an upheaval movement. This movement can cause cracks in the walls, floors, and ceilings, which can lead to further damage.

Winter Hazards to Consider:

The windows and doorways which keep winter outside your door, have their own set of issues:

  • Fluctuations in winter temperature cause caulk to pull away from windows, which in turn creates drafts that let warm air out and cold air in.
  • Your doors when exposed to wintry conditions after a harsh winter often need to be shimmed.
  • The frames around your doors can grow soft and damp, which can lead to wood rot and a welcome mat to termites in the spring.  If the damage to the frame is extensive consider replacing the entire door frame.
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The chimney can present particular issues, among them:

  • The bricks of your chimney expand and contract during daily winter temperature fluctuations, this can lead to displaced bricks.
  • Flashing, the metal sheet where the chimney and roof meet does not always adhere to the roof properly which means water and ice can leak into it and then your home.
  • The displaced bricks of your chimney can lead to a pest problem, like mice, rats, and other outside vermin will always seek warmth, shelter, and food.  And rodents will chew wires as well as insulation.
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Though most decks are built to withstand the elements if your deck is not weather coated correctly:

  • Winter moisture is a breeding ground for mold and mildew.
  • Moisture leaching can cause discoloration of your deck.
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After assessing the damages, you want to talk to a company that knows how to make your home whole. You want a company that knows how to talk to your insurance company about reconstruction services as well as a company that will listen to YOU for how you want the remodel to go. Green Restoration and Reconstruction is the company for you. They have years of experience in remodeling and expertise in dealing with the parameters of what is your insurance and staying within budget.

Being prepared for the worst is being proactive against it. Having the right insurance coverage and the right team to assist in making things right again is peace of mind worth having.  Green Reconstruction and Remodeling is the right company for your family to make the worst of times better.

Remodeling / Water Damage - 01/15/2021
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Ice Hazards

Ice brings with it a different set of issues, some very hazardous to your home. As winter comes to be upon us, there will be more weather reports concerning snow. And depending on temperature, wrapped into snowstorms there are concerns for sleet, freezing rain or ice. When you can hear the snow, it is no longer snow. While sleet is made up of pellets that will bounce off a surface, freezing rain will form a solid sheet of ice, making it the more dangerous of the two.

Effects of ice on your home:

  • Yes, icicles look pretty dangling from your home. The weight of these ice formations can rip the gutters off your house! As well as damage your shingles.  So, remember to clear off the icicles and check your shingles after a storm.
  • Ice can freeze and melt and refreeze several times during the cold weather, depending on temperature and how warm your roof gets.  This can damage your drywall and plaster, as well as seepage into your attic causing water-stained ceilings.
  • Ice dams occur when your gutters get overwhelmed with ice.  An ice dam is a ridge of ice that forms at the edge of a roof and prevents melting snow from draining. The water that backs up behind the dam can leak into a home and cause damage to walls, ceilings, insulation, and other areas.
  • Ice forming on your roof can cause serious problems.   A roof collapse can happen when a roof cannot bear the weight of ice and snow.
  • The bricks of the chimney expand and contract during daily winter temperature fluctuations. And water can get underneath the chimney flashing.   Water gets behind the mortar and flashing causing it to freeze, which leads it to fail after the inevitable thaw.
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The roof is not the only cause for concern regarding ice hazard issues. Ice can damage your foundation due to the frost heave cycle: when the ground freezes and then ultimately melts again. The frost heave cycle can result in the soil shifting and moving under your home’s concrete foundation, causing cracks and other damage. While trees are great for shade in the summer, ice covered limbs can easily prove a hazard not only to power lines but to possible damage if a large limb falls on your home or siding.

After assessing the damages, you want to talk to a company that knows how to make your home whole. You want a company that knows how to talk to your insurance company about reconstruction services as well as a company that will listen to YOU for how you want the remodel to go. Green Restoration and Reconstruction is the company for you.  They have years of experience in remodeling and expertise in dealing with the parameters of what is your insurance and staying within budget.

Being prepared for the worst is being proactive against it. Having the right insurance coverage and the right team to assist in making things right again is peace of mind worth having.  Green Reconstruction and Remodeling is the right company for your family to make the worst of times better.

Remodeling / Water Damage - 12/15/2020
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Basement Remodel Advantages

There are so many reasons for a basement remodel that sounds right, right about now. It could be the obvious, as even after the water damage from a leaking hot water heater was repaired, the floor was damaged beyond repair. If you are going to replace the flooring, why not the rest of it as well. Or wild wind damage whacked a good size hole where none existed before. It could be something as simply as when spending more time at home, what can be done to this space to better accommodate us as a family? Everyone who owns a home has the long to-do-list or the when-we-get-to-it-list. Now can be the time to get something off the list before it grows again, and as it often does.

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Taking into account your vision, your budget and the size of the space, Green Restoration and Reconstruction can make your basement into:

  • A game room for the children.
  • The entertainment center for the whole family.
  • The entertainment center for the whole family.
  • The functional home office with a kitchen.
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The benefit beyond the comfort of your family, is that a well-done basement remodel can add a significant value to your home. A finished basement, on average, gives you a 75% return on your investment. Instead of a bonus room, you will have a finished room!

Working with our professional team means that you have nothing to worry about; we walk you through the process, so you know what is planned and what you are paying for.

The four critical stages of a basement remodel:

  • Design / Layout
  • Framing Stage / HVAC Stage
  • Installation /Drywalling Stage
  • Hardware/Flooring Stage

Through each of these steps we guide you and answer all your concerns and questions.

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We can complete your living space with many customized features including bathrooms, wet bars, entertainment centers, desk and computer units and cedar closets. If you have preferences in building materials, lighting fixtures etc. please feel free to discuss them with us during your consultation.

We want to work with you to give your space and your family the basement remodel that best serves your needs. Call Green Restoration and Reconstruction to get started.

Remodeling - 11/15/2020
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Wind Damage to My Home

Oh, the beauty of the changing seasons, the heat of summer leaving on the cooling breezes of Autumn. Except when those breezes turn to winds that get carried away and do damage to your roof and home.

Straight-line winds of 50-60 miles per hour are considered damaging winds. These winds can not only strip shingles from your roof, but also damage soffits among other issues.

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To protect your home, you need to be aware of potential threats:

  • Make sure your doors and windows are securely fitted.
  • Secure your roof, check for loose shingles which can then also become projectiles.
  • Ensure your garage door is in good condition.
  • Check your trees for loose or failing branches.
  • Store anything that might become airborne, including the pool slide, children’s play equipment and lawn furniture.

No one thinks about it, but windows are designed to withstand pressure up to certain point before breaking. And while on occasion it will be simply wind pressure breaking a window, more than likely it will be a projectile hitting the window that causes it to break.

Wind speeds can cause different damages:

  • At 45 to 57mph: Wind can cause loose shingles to break off or cause loss of granules, the sandpaper-like part of the shingle.
  • At 58 to 74 mph: Wind can toss entire tree limbs or uproot trees. Rip off well anchored shingles and damage chimneys.
  • At 75 mph or more: This when significant damage is going to happen regardless of precautions taken.

Due to the damage wind can cause, there is also the possibility of leaking inside the home. If either the fascia or the soffits are damaged due to wind this can cause leaking inside the home. The fascial and the soffits are both required for a stable roof and gutter.

After assessing the damages, you want to talk to a company that knows how to make your home whole. You want a company that knows how to talk to your insurance company about reconstruction services as well as a company that will listen to YOU for how you want the remodel to go. Green Restoration and Reconstruction is the company for you. They have years of experience in remodeling and expertise in dealing with the parameters of what is your insurance and staying within budget.

Being prepared for the worst is being proactive against it. Having the right insurance coverage and the right team to assist in making things right again is a peace of mind worth having. Green Reconstruction and Remodeling is the right company for your family to make the worst of times better.

Wind Damage - 10/15/2020
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Water Damage in Your Home

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When the mistiness of spring leads into a soggy summer sliding into a sopping fall, where rivers rise, crest and spill over the banksand small creeks swallow land and trees, water damage can literally enter every crevice of your home. One of the several problems with water is that even when it ‘stops’ moving; it can still cause significant damage simply by pooling; leading to the formation of both mildew and mold. Wood that has been compromised being submerged in water may be susceptible to deterioration as well as insect infestation.

Water damage, increases the risk of fire as well as structural damage:

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  • Attempts to use electrical appliances that have been exposed to water.
  • Improper generator use or maintenance.
  • Damage to above-ground gas lines.
  • The pressure on the foundation walls increases and can result in cracks and leaks that allow water to penetrate the foundation.

What you do not want to do is add issues or stress to an already upsetting situation.

As with any crisis contact your insurance company as soon as possible; as well as calling for remediation services, which will handle the clean out and cleanup the damage. This is important not only for assessing damages, but also for peace of mind for you and your family.

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You want a company that knows how to talk to your insurance company about reconstruction services as well as a company that will listen to YOU for how you want the remodel to go. Green Restoration and Reconstruction is the company for you. They have years of experience in remodeling and expertise in dealing with the parameters of what is your insurance and staying within budget.

Being prepared for the worst is the right protection against it. Having the right insurance coverage and the right team to assist in making things right again is a peace of mind worth having. Green Reconstruction and Remodeling is the right company for your family to make the worst of times better.

Water Damage - 09/15/2020
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Recovering from a House Fire

The causes for a fire are often beyond our control, whether it is a lightning strike, or a behind the wall fire or fire related to flammable or combustible liquids. A fire is caused by three elements:

  • Heat – From a hot stovetop burner, an unattended lit cigarette, or the spark from a worn electrical wire.
  • Fuel – Nearly everything in your home can be fuel for a fire, from drapes to carpets, to furniture. When fire burns it ‘warms’ up other items which then are easier to burn.
  • Oxygen – The oxygen in the air fuels the fire.
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Heat, fuel, and oxygen all act together to produce a fire incident. Fire will continue until the fuel sources are gone. Additional fire damages are the chemical and thermal irritants thrown into the air because of the fire. Carbon monoxide is a result of incompletely burned fuel like gasoline, wood, or oil. Some signs of poisonings are dizziness, weakness, and confusion. Smoke inhalation is another hazard. Getting out of a fire situation is paramount for your health and safety.

After the fire, no matter the size of the fire, the damage can be considerable. Smoke damage and burned items is just the beginning. If the fire is significant enough to have a fire response, i.e., the fire department was called to the scene, it is likely that many items will be drenched and ruined. It is important to contact your insurance company right away; as well as calling for remediation services, which will handle the clean out and cleanup the damage. Beyond fire and water damage, there may also be broken windows to contend with as well as holes cut in the roof.

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You want a company that knows how to talk to your insurance company about reconstruction services as well as a company that will listen to YOU for how you want the remodel to go. Green Restoration and Reconstruction is the company for you. They have years of experience in remodeling and expertise in dealing with the parameters of what is your insurance and staying within budget.

Fire Damage - 08/12/2020

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