Another Great Week in Syracuse

I left Ogdensburg at 5:45am Tuesday morning to return to the basement job in Dewitt. Thank God, the roads were clean and the lake effect snow was nowhere in sight. I arrived at the job at 7:55am with five minutes to enjoy what used to be a fresh, hot cup of coffee.
As I opened the door to the basement stairway, even after 4 days, the smell of Clorox faintly remained. No more dusty, mildewy smell - exactly the thing I needed to start my morning off right.
The next 2 days I spent removing the old tile floor and scraping away the mastic that held it in place. Forget sit ups and push ups, this right here is how I keep in shape. Spending 10 hours a day for 2 days with an 8 inch scraper and 700 square feet of flooring. Luckily day 2 was more productive in that Bob Shultz, from Shultz Construction was there to join in the fun.
With the old flooring removed, and the concrete floor scraped and vacuumed, I began painting. We decided to paint the concrete foundation walls in order to further insure that the smell of old was not going to return. Though aesthetically for the moment, the basement looks much cleaner and brighter with the white wash of the walls, the new paint will soon be covered. We will be studding out the perimeter of the basement (minus the part which will house the home's mechanicals) and applying sheet rock which should make this basement as functional and enjoyable as the rest of the home.
I know I said in my last post to check my Portfolio for the pictures of this job, but, I think I'll keep everyone in suspense until the job is complete. (This part of the job anyhow, we're not sure if the homeowners are going to want the new drop ceiling and windows put in yet.) But just as soon as we're outta there, I'll have the dramatic before and after photos up for everyone to see.
Next Week: the new Tile Floor will be installed, the walls will be studded, the sheet rock will be hung, taped and mudded, all new electrical will be run for the outlets/lights, and maybe we'll even get to the new baseboard heaters.

Back from the "Cuse"

So, unlike I predicted, I did leave Ogdensburg for Syracuse early Monday morning to start the basement remodel job in Dewitt. I went in and removed all the clutter, ceiling tiles, paneling, and walls. Boy oh boy, was this ever your typical "storage basement". Probably 20 years ago this basement was enjoyed by someone as there was a bar and a wood-burning fireplace. But, nothing about this basement could be perceived as enjoyable as of late.
After everything was removed for the dump, I - with my trusty bucket of Clorox and Hot Water - began to wreak havoc on the cob-webs and mildew smell that covered every surface of this dungeon. From the floor joists above that were incased by the old ceiling tiles, to all the plumbing lines and the mechanicals that were connected to them - nothing was untouched by my disinfecting solution.
So, as of Thursday evening, the basement was left in what seemed to be an empty state, except for our tools, and the new smell of good things to come.
The one drawback to commuting to Syracuse this time of year is the dreaded drive through the "snow belt". The ride home Thursday night was actually pretty good.... until I got to Sandy Creek. Traffic on I-81 slowed to 40mph as the snow was blinding, and the wind was pushing my SUV every way but straight. There was an accident in the SouthBound lanes where we could see the flashing lights of the Fire and Emergency vehicles through the trees in the divide. Hopefully Spring is on the way, and I won't have to battle the elements as I travel back and forth. For now, I plan to rest up and enjoy the weekend ahead before I return to continue this basement overhaul.
To see some of the pictures from this project, check out my Portfolio at NorthZoneConstruction.com

Put the lid on it!

Although it was still -9 degrees at 10 o'clock yesterday morning, I managed to wrap up the barn roof replacement over on Black Lake. With this job complete, I welcome the next. Not sure exactly what it's gonna be, but I'm excited. Take a look at a before and after photo here, and for a collection of my before and after job photos, take a look at my online portfolio on my North Zone Construction website.

Wrapping it up

It's another bitterly cold morning in the North Country, and the sun is still just trying to peak up from the tree tops. I'm headed back over to Black Lake today to wrap up a job replacing a metal barn roof that got destroyed by a downed tree. Metal roofs and below freezing temperatures aren't a good mixture, but someone's gotta do it. With lots of rope, and multiple layers of clothes, I'm sure I'll "getter done".
With probably 6 hours left on this job, I'm already thinking of the next. I'm scheduled to be in Syracuse, NY Monday morning for a total basement remodel job, but I suspect a delay. The contractor that I regularly sub for - that is also contracted for the Syracuse job - is having me quote an Oak hardwood flooring job this afternoon. So, should I go south, or stick around for the flooring job, I'm definitely going to be busy.
There are a few large jobs ahead for North Zone Construction already. One, a major addition to a home including two new bedrooms and two new bathrooms, all to set on either a new full basement or perhaps a crawl space. Another, the continuation of the CastleView Townhomes project in Blind Bay, NY. And of course the projects that my wife would like done to our own home this year including: the addition of an outdoor wood furnace supplying radiant in-floor heat, a new zone for the crawl space, and perhaps a new jacuzzi tub... the removal and replacement of our shingled roof, about 3,000 square feet... and the remodeling of our breezway that connects the house to the garage.
There are still some smaller jobs scheduled for this spring and early summer including a few siding jobs and decks/stairways, but I still have plenty of time for others. If you would like a quote for your job, or would like me to put some ideas together in my computerized 3-D software, send me an email or give me a call. All of my contact information can be found on my website at NorthZoneConstruction.com.

What is North Zone Construction?

A new name, same great work!
North Zone Construction was established on 1-26-09 by Kenneth Moore. He was born and raised in the North Country, and after leaving the area to attend college, he decided there was no place like home. Since returning to the North Country in 2004, Kenneth Moore has worked in the construction feild for both individual home owners and businesses.

Construction in Northern New York is a great way to make a living, and make living a little more comfortable for those you work for. And this is basically the mission statement for North Zone Construction - to provide quality work at affordable rates and to promote a greater comfort level and quality of life for those we work for.

North Zone is fully insured. If you'd like to take a look at some of the projects that Kenneth Moore has worked on, please visit the Portfolio on the North Zone Construction website. References are for a wide range of work and available at your request.

North Zone Construction would love to quote your next project. Whether it involves ICF's - Insulated Concrete Forms, Framing, Finish - Trim Work, Custom Wood Work, Roofing, Tile, Dry Wall, Painting, Hard Wood Floors, Kitchen and Bath, and minor Plumbing and Electrical, we're sure we can provide the best work at the best price. We work with contractors and independents that specialize in certain trades, and if we can't do the job as well as them, we can put you in contact with them.

North Zone Construction - serving Ogdensburg 13669 and all of Northern New York.

Call today for a free quote

315-323-8264