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How to Finish Your Basement

We all love our home and if you have ever bought a home you probably know the value of having an unfinished basement vs a finished basement. You might be thinking that a finished basement is great but if its not how you would have designed it then its probably less than stellar. So, when you’re looking at buying a home and you’re the DIY type then you’re probably looking at ones with unfinished basements. Park Range Construction has a ton of experience and information when it comes to the construction of homes. Therefore, here are some tips that we have when it comes to finishing your own basement.

The first thing that you’re going to want to consider is what you want in your basement. Do you want an extra bedroom? A complete bathroom? Is it just going to be a game room? This is what you need to decide first. Once this has been decided, you can then start planning the layout of your basement accordingly. Where are you going to put walls? How big do you want the room? Is the HVAC going to get in the way? These are all things that you must consider before you even begin to work on your basement.

After you have considered all your options then you’re going to want to put some things into motion. If you’re not wanting to spend a lot of money on your basement then keep things simple. There are a lot of different options when it comes to materials and it will be the cheapest if you do it yourself versus hiring it out to someone else. The first thing that you’re going to want to do is make sure you’ve got the proper permits needed. They plan what HVAC will be needed for proper vents in each room. Start on framing your walls after that. Once that has been completed you will need to consider where you want outlets and other connections. After you have everything that you need in your wall then you can begin to dry wall. The process continues with painting, trim, flooring, doors and the like.

If you’re not really wanting to finish the basement yourself then don’t worry. Park Range Construction can help you with that! We preform renovations, remodels and finish basements. Call us today to be able to get a free quote and talk to our professional team about exactly what you’re wanting for your home.

Published on 2-27-2019

Brick and Stone Repair

Here in Colorado there is a look that builders try to attain because of the beautiful nature that surrounds the homes and businesses here. Stone and brick around the homes and business buildings here is pretty much a staple. However, with this comes the maintenance of brick and stone. Park Range Construction wants to help you with all your home repairs and that includes structural and superficial repairs on the outside of your home. Here are some ways you can repair the brick and stone on your home and even stop the process happening from the beginning.

When you think of masonry, you probably don’t give it much thought other than it’s on your home. However, there is more to consider than just that it is on your home. Although it is on your home it is not immune to weather and water. Water can cause terrible damage to it, especially in Colorado. The damage occurs because of the freeze and thaw cycle that happens with water in the winter. This process causes cracks in the masonry. One of the ways that you can help prevent this from happening is to apply a sealer. You will have to do your research in which sealer to buy and how to apply it but will ensure that your home stays healthy.

If you already have cracks and mortar that is falling out, then you have moved straight up to making repairs. When making repairs there are a lot of things to consider but the most important thing to consider is the type of mortar you decide to repair it with. It needs to be of equal strength, composition, and appearance. It will also keep your mortar from cracking. There can be a lot of complications when you don’t take the time to make sure that the type of mortar is correct.

By making sure that you clean your brick or stone annually and that you have the proper sealer applied to it will help to ensure that there will be very little damage to the masonry on your home. However, if you already have damage to it and find it daunting to repair it yourself, don’t worry. Call us to have an evaluation done! Park Range Construction can help you with more needs than just this. Often times this can also be a sign that there are foundational issues, in which we are able to repair as well.

Published on 2-14-2019

Snow and Your Foundation

Winter brings snow and for the most part we don’t think much about it unless we must scrap off our cars or shovel our driveway. Beyond that life just continues when the snow comes down. Here at Park Range Construction we make sure to help make sure that you have the best knowledge when it comes to the home care of your home. We are also there for any mishaps that may happen as well! Winter can pose a lot of threats to the health of your home. We will help you understand what those threats are and how to go about making sure that your home is healthy.

Discharge Line

Sump pumps help to make sure that your basement doesn’t flood. This means that there is a discharge line that dumps outside the home. When it isn’t properly laid the line can end up sending water back into the home. This is a concern no matter what time of year it is. However, when you get into winter it can mean that your discharge line freezes and yet again you are stuck with water coming back into your home. The simple fix to this if it’s not yet frozen inside is to make sure that it is sloped down. If it has already frozen then you can still fix it, it just means it's going to be a little more difficult.

Cracks

Cracks appear in your foundation when the soil around your home hasn’t settled. This is generally because of the shifting of the soil. In winter it can be because of something different. The soil in the winter can have left over moisture and when it gets cold enough that moisture then freezes and causes the soil to expand. The expansion of the soil causes pressure on the foundation that results in hardline cracks. These cracks can do enough damage to your home over the course of time that it's important that you get them repaired from the beginning.

These are just two things that you need to watch out for with winter about us. If you start to see your foundation cracking or moisture leaking into your home, then call us today! Don’t wait till the problem gets worse. We can help you with any foundation and drainage issues that you made be having with your home.

Published on 2-14-2019

Home Maintenance for the Fall

There are a couple of different items on the list that must be done during the fall to make sure that your home will be safe to the type of conditions that fall, and winter bring along. When it turns colder out most people start to spend most of their time inside. It’s warm and cozy inside but that doesn’t mean there isn’t work to do on the outside. So as cozy as it is inside, find your warmest jacket and get ready to do a few outdoor chores.

Gutters

Fall brings changing leaves that eventually end up on the ground. These can cause a blockage in your gutters. When that happens long enough it allows for water to comes and seep around your foundation. When this happens long enough the soil around the foundation will start to shift. When this starts to happen, you’ll notice in your basement foundation that cracks start to appear on the floor and up the walls. If this starts to happen then you need to get such foundations issues fixed right away before it becomes worse. This can be done several different ways and Park Range Construction can help you find out the best solution possible.

Drainage

When checking the gutters on your roof make sure to look at the rest of the drainage system. This is a crucial part to making sure that you don’t have any foundation issues. When doing so you have to check to make sure that the run offs are still going down away from your home and not puddling around your home because of the soil shifting. If you see puddles around the foundation of your home that are long lasting, then you should have them looked at to make sure that they won’t cause any foundation issues.

Park Range Construction is your local construction company that can help you with any foundation issue that you may have. That isn’t the only thing we are able to help you with though. Our list of services also includes structural repairs and additions to the home. So, when you’re in need of repairs to be done to your home, call us today.

Published on 2-14-2019

Signs Your Deck Needs to be Repaired

The summer brings about a wonderful time of year to get together for BBQs and sit outside as the sun is going down. The best place to take a moment of rest from a hard day’s work should be just a few steps from a fridge full of cold drinks and a pantry full of food. A deck can be the perfect oasis for you and your family. Creating the perfect space can be challenge when your deck is old, falling apart, or rotted out. This can cause several safety issues especially if you have young ones. If you think your dreams of having a beautiful deck and oasis for your home is too farfetched, then think again. Park Range Construction can make this happen! We specialize in renovations for homes and buildings. Included in the many things we do is deck repairs.

The first thing that you need to do is inspect where your deck’s health is at. Make sure to go around the foundational post and take a screwdriver to poke the wood at the base. If it is soft, then your deck might be starting to rot. There can be treatment done for a small scale of rotting however there might be rotting on a large scale going on. If that is the case, then you may need to have those foundational posts replaced. There can also be rot in the beams. There needs to be an over check across the joists and beams.

Along with rotting there are can be warping and splitting that happens over the years. This makes your deck uneven and susceptible to water damage and rot. You might not be thinking that it’s a big deal but over time thinking that allows for it only to sit there getting worse until you have to replace the whole deck. Therefore, it is advantageous to identify the issues that are going on from the beginning. When you catch it at an early stage you’re able to keep your deck looking good as well as healthy.

If you’re noticing that your deck isn’t as healthy as you though it was, and you’ve got some rotting going on then call the professionals today! Park Range Construction is able to do any repairs and renovations that you’ve got planned for this summer. The best thing about having it contracted out is that you don’t have to do any of the work and it gets done fast. Additionally, you can be relieved that it has been done right and at a high-quality standard. Call the professionals today!

Published on 2-14-2019

Helical Piers vs Push Piers

Helical Piers vs Push Piers

What is the difference between helical piers and push piers? Why are they even important? If you’ve ever owned a home that over time the soil had shifted and it was no longer structurally sound you understand the importance of helical piers and push piers. They are both used as structural support systems to make a building structurally sound. They do this in various ways while still being very similar to each other. So, what are the similarities and differences?

Helical Piers

Helical Piers are a steel tube with a fitted helical plate attached to it. That plate looks very much like a post hole digger. A hydraulic motor turns the pipe to screw it into the ground. This process causes the plates to pull the pier into the ground rather than push the pier into it. Helical piers are driven into the ground until the proper depth is reached. Each depth will vary from project to project because it is based on the load capacity that needs to be achieved. Helical piers can hold up to a ten-story building. The piers are also strategically placed around the building to share the weight of the building. Once the piers have seen screwed into the ground to the proper depth, the foundation bracket is then secured to the building. This method stabilizes the foundation that have weakened or needed support because of the soil condition.

Push Piers

Push piers are very similar to helical piers in that piers are put into the ground to shift the weight of a building. There are many differences as well though. One of the major differences is how push piers are placed into the ground. They are installed exactly how it sounds, by using a hydraulic motor to “push” it into the ground until it has hit stable soil. Another major difference between them is with a helical pier it is fastened to the foundation bracket at the end however with a push pier the foundation bracket gets secured first and the pier is pushed through the bracket. At the end, the weight of the building is then evenly distributed.

These are some of the differences between helical piers and push piers. For more information on them take a look at the Helical page. Here at Park Range Construction we specialize in structural support. We understand how important it is to have a structurally sound building. We have done many projects from commercial building, historical buildings, to residential communities. Call us today for more information!

Published on 2-14-2019