A typical day in Clearwater, a typical day in construction

It was a typical day in Clearwater, Florida, when Ron woke up. The bright sun had already risen and was starting to cut through the slight chill of the night. With plants starting to perk up from the dose of sunlight, it was perhaps a little bit overly humid than ideal at this time of day. Still great, nevertheless. After a hearty breakfast, Ron was pumped to get going. Grabbed his partner in crime, a fresh home-brewed coffee steaming in his travel mug, off he went to inspect one of our construction sites. Being the neighborhood builder, the first stop was only 5 minutes away. But something was going to be off today…

So a little bit about construction, something is always off. Our normal is being filled with safety hazards to avoid, “disputes” with contractors on how to do the right thing, scheduling and delivery miscommunications, haggling with vendors to get the best deal, or negotiating with mother nature to send the weather a little further away to sea. There is always chaos, and chaos is part of the job. It’s what we do and why people don’t do it themselves.

If we deal with so many issues, what was off today? So Ron drove to our project on Union Street, and lo and behold, our for sale sign that we had placed on the property was damaged. Smashed right in two and ruined beyond repair. The little guy only had maybe 5 months under his belt—what a way to start a day.

Designing the sign was not as simple as just typing some words in a word processor and sending it off to someone to make. We knew the contents of what the sign would say. It had to say “For Sale,” it had to have our company website/phone number, our logo, what we did, and our contractor license. But a sign goes a little beyond those words. It’s almost like the first impression you get when you meet someone. We had to think about all the components that join together and make a melody that represented us. We didn’t realize that at first, but sign creation was part of our growing process and evolution to be a different kind of construction company. When Ron and I first got together, I had sent him a sign like every other. It was red. All sales signs are red. The realtor’s signs are red somewhere. What they teach you in marketing to grab attention, you need red. Red this, red that, red red. And that’s what I did.

But the first edition was a quick "no" from Ron. It was bland, it was boring, and it was what everyone else did. We need to figure out what company colors were and how to integrate the elevation concept. I cycled through different backgrounds and font colors. In addition, there were physical attributes like the actual size and post styles. It turns out the default size for "For Sale" signs is a 24"x36" swing post for realtors. But we're not a realtor. We're a construction company. We're Parasol! 

Ultimately, we opted for 4.5 feet high x 4 feet wide post and panel sign, white PVC posts with nice post caps. We added curved corners influenced by the theme of our website. On the top half, we used a purple-blue to turquoise gradient to showcase our fresh nature, modern appearance, with white lettering to highlight our phone number, then our website. On the bottom half, we stuck to our company’s traditional grey color scheme and logo and company focus “High-End Custom Homes and Renovations.”

From start to finish, the sign was designed in April 2019, produced by a local sign company in Lutz in July 2019, installed onsite Clearwater in September 2019, and found deceased in December 2019.

All in all, the sign was $450 to produce, plus hours of designing, debating, and installation by our team. While this sign was a loss, we still managed to sell the property before this misadventure, and reproduction can be done easier now with the source files safely tucked away on the cloud, so its sacrifice was not made in vain. Who did this terrible deed? It is unknown and not worth the public’s funds to investigate. Upon signing the purchase agreement, I secretly imagine the new homeowners couldn’t contain their excitement and performed a celebratory smash to prevent any other buyers from jumping in. In conclusion, our company has learned and gained from experience together, and like any off day, we must make light of the situation and look at things on the bright side.

But the first edition was a quick "no" from Ron. It was bland, it was boring, and it was what everyone else did.

The best thing that could ever happen to a "For Sale" signage is being taken out. :)

This is a photo of current material delivery to the construction site at 2888 Union Street Clearwater, Florida, constructed by Parasol Properties. Being on-site to receive materials goes a long way with placement and communication.

This is how we manage our construction materials deliveries.

Parasol tries to eliminate the duplicate handling of materials

Maximizing efficiency means reducing the time and number of steps needed to get materials from point A to point B:

As the home builder, we will need to rely on delivery personnel and our construction manager to transport materials to the right location within the site. This includes dealing with specifics and variables that occur on that particular job site. We want to prevent our crews from having to use their valuable time re-locating supplies after they’ve been dropped off, keeping costs in check and the project working on time.

It’s key that we refrain from moving materials more than once. The goal should be to get materials as close as possible to either the installation or a centralized, well-organized storage area.

Parasol has to make sure we coordinate the deliveries so the right people will be available to help unload supplies or provide direction on where materials should go. Although we outline a delivery schedule that the suppliers can adhere to set in our calendars, we still have to keep it flexible enough to accommodate special activities and shipments for which delivery times are harder to pin down.

Checking material delivery slips and performing material counts

We need to be at every material drop-off. It’s important to get the packing slip and perform a material count to ensure we receive everything sent before signing off on a material delivery. Missing product is both costly in terms of time and money. Also, damaged material will not be accepted and will be sent back.

Take the weather into account. Some supplies can be stored outside. For example, set on pallets to protect them from ground moisture and covered by a roof or tarp. Alternatively, other items, such as power tools, need to be kept inside at all times. Especially when they’re not in use.

Sort materials when they arrive, prioritizing items in the order we’ll need them to provide ready accessibility.

Make sure we have space to sort waste by type (metal, wood, drywall, etc.) before it’s removed from the job site.

Having the correct storage solutions in place will make materials easier to manage throughout the duration of the project.

Minimize the distance people need to go to get materials

Every minute counts on our job site, which is why having materials close at hand is important.

Supplies are ideally be kept as close to the installation site as possible. Therefore, we reduce the time our crews need to spend retrieving and replacing tools and equipment. We keep smaller items in dedicated, well-organized containers and replenish them from on- or off-site inventories as often as necessary.

Having the right tools – including best-in-class equipment and fully stocked inventories – makes all the difference. We typically cycle our equipment and tools to ensure we’re not stuck with depreciated assets. We also manage our inventory so that nothing surpasses its usefulness due to degradation.

We’ve implemented a tracking system that lets us monitor the flow of resources and people on our job site to identify:

Flaws are associated with the planning process.

Insufficient supplies of the necessary tools, parts, and equipment.

Ultimately, these are all factors that can influence the efficiency of the crews and the costs (both material and labor) you incur.

Having construction materials delivered on time and crews ready to go are critical to meeting timelines.

Place material in a central location where they will be used.

Inspection of material deliveries can prevent unwanted costs or time required to send back to the supplier. 

Framing (Lumber, Roof Trusses, Floor Joists).

We want you to get the most of what you've paid for so we make sure to be there once the construction materials were delivered. 

"Maximalism is all about saying yes to the items that make your heart sing and bringing them into your home whether they match or not. Mixing materials and styles make for an interesting home, bringing surprising elements in that your guests might not expect."

 - Barbeline Lusandu, textile designer and founder of Barbeline London, HouseBeautiful

2020 paved an incredible year for home renovation and design because government-mandated restrictions kept people from moving from one place to another. As more and more activities were encouraged to be done at home, people began to think of new ways to make their home living meaningful, comfortable, and aesthetically pleasing. Reports published by HomeStars in their 2020 Special Reno Report found that 57% of Canadian homeowners did one or two major projects on home renovations. Commonly sought improvements ranged from bathroom renos to additions and overall structural improvements that maximize living space and make homes more functional based on the report.  

Most likely, this contributed to the trending interior designs this year that I will share in a little while. Keep reading to get the latest ideas in the world of interior design this year.

The first on our list is the return of the Maximalist -- bold accents, striking patterns, and flashy displays. Well, they weren’t gone at all. They are just around the corner, waiting to get back the spotlight from the rule of minimalism. And that year has finally come! Fast forward to 2021, more homes welcomed layering, texture, pattern, motif, and repetition.

In his statement from the site, The Spaces, Luke Edward Hall, mentioned how maximalist interiors provide an escape -- where one can lose themselves freely. That is probably the reason why more people have learned to love it. It offered a way to express their personality through acceptable forms in a pandemic era.

Mixing different themes with maximalism is possible! It can be perfectly paired with different themes -- retro, classic, tropical-inspired, all these types of styles work wonders with Max. 

Those with nostalgic sentiment could go for retro-styled home designs like the one below. 

The achromatic white wall was elevated with eclectic shelves and a sideboard decorated with various retro-style elements like graphic prints, record player, rattan basket, plants, and many more. Meanwhile, the eye-catching Victorian carpet on the floor is paired with sofas that perfectly blend with the pillows' hues of purple and blue and throws on geometric patterns, which give the entire living room a 1970s vibe.

If you like the vibe that that maximalist retro-styled living room is giving, it's now time to display some meaningful compact items on your shelves, buffets, or sideboards. And don't forget to invest in your couches because retro-styled interiors are meant to create a cozy and heartwarming atmosphere. 

While retro seems inviting, not all maximalists may go for it. For some maximalists who find an escape through representational and sequential arts, comics and pop art-inspired rooms could be a good idea. 

Aside from featuring the works of visual artists Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein, this type of visual art blends incredibly with expressive and bright colors like the scarlet tomato background of the interior above. Meanwhile, notice how contrasting the surrounding decors are. In this type of style, the mirror, sofa, pillows are meant to contend with the background to exude peculiar beauty energy. 

If you want to try this type of design, you may opt to consider some more features like good room lighting, vinyl stickers, and furniture with unusual shapes and colors. 



On the other hand, for those who love the 1920s vibe, art-deco-inspired embellishments, and bold geometric prints, a Great-Gatsby inspired design like the one below is highly recommended.

This type of interior is often characterized by a conspicuous display of wealth and glamour. This Art-Deco-based design utilizes luxurious wood furnishings, accent chairs, sleek, linear, geometric patterns, bold and rich colors to represent youths' exciting and lavish lives in roaring twenties. If you were captured by the romantic drama that inspired the revival of this 1920 style,  leaning into opulent furnishings and modern designs is advised. 

Maximalists who love summer getaways all year round may opt to go for interiors inspired by distant shores. Simply incorporate watercolor paints featuring South Sea Island arts that vary from deep inky tones to soft aqua that give a tranquil vibe. Integrating colors that showcase Hawaiian landscapes can also be considered. 

Which among these styles fit your maximalist persona? Retro, Gatsby, Comics and Pop Art, or Tropics?

Are you ready to say "yes" to Max? If yes, then getting the right materials to ensure your home’s prepared for this overhaul is highly encouraged. Think about your Dunedin home space, is it ready for Max? How about your property in Tampa, Clearwater, and Lutz? Do they need some renovations? If you think they are, contact a trusted custom home builder or renovator in your area so you'll not miss this exciting style for your home.  

And in case you're currently into building your new home, don't forget to share these thoughts with your general contractor before they finish the planning for your home. :)

 

This post is the first in our four-part web series about Interior design trends that became popular this year.  See this link to know which one comes on our list.  :)

Design that resonates with your wildest dreams, vibrant personality, remarkable life journey, and desire for elegance takes the spotlight once again on the most unexpected era we have never imagined. Max is finally back!

This is a photo of the lot at 2888 Union Street Clearwater, Florida, constructed by Parasol Properties.

They say there is a home landscape locked within every soul. It is a geographic-specific bit of land and water that fully represents you. Also, your family and all the people that reside there. This place is built into your sub-conscience from your memories and influences. It’s where you return to your most profound dreams and is at the center of your mind’s eye scenery that appears when you visualize your home.

Most of us can readily identify such a location. Our primary focus towards apparent factors like convenience, safety, lifestyle, and cost. We can quickly narrow down our search. Finding that safe neighborhood, nearby work or schools, and close to the amenities we enjoy at the right price can be a treasure hunt. But that still leaves us with “what next?” questions. If you found the areas you want to live in, you’ll need to find a home that you can conform to or locate a piece of land to stake claim over.

There are enough realtors out there willing to showcase the existing homes on the market, so I won’t discuss that. And I won’t go into neighborhood assessments or walk scores since there are readily available websites that do that already. More importantly, I want to talk to you about lot selection and guide you through our process as a custom home builder.

As a top-down approach, let me first mention the sun. The sun will provide light, generate heat, and provide shade. In central Florida, the sun rises south of due East during the winter to a maximum of 38 degrees from the horizon at noon and sets South of due West. In summer, the sun rises north of due East at 86 degrees at noon and sets North of due West. While the exact numbers may be used for solar panel installers, these values will also be needed to determine energy efficiency. Such as how many windows should be in the home or what position a home should sit in to avoid excessive cooling bills.

Not to mention understanding the sun's position for comfort. For example, having a dining table on the West side of the home without long enough awnings will cause you to leave the windows blinds and drapes closed most of the time. At dinner times, the light will blind the family members who may, unfortunately, be facing the windows. To translate, your lot position should also dictate the home positioning on the lot, alter design choices of the exterior, and location of individual rooms on the interior.

The other above-ground item to consider is the weather. While we try to avoid hurricane damage, your home will undergo two strong forces: wind and rain. If your residential lot is vast and your home sits in the center of this, it will be attacked from all sides. The better the view of the water, a park, or other open areas, the stronger defenses you’re home will need to be built against that driving rain and wind pressure.

If your home is an infill or built between two other homes, you’ll have some protection in numbers. Aside from other structures, you can also use landscaping to help mitigate issues such as high fencing or a line of trees at the perimeter. While trees act as a deflector of the prevailing winds, you will also need to be aware of the damage of broken limbs or falling trees. Ultimately you want to be mindful of the direction of where environmental factors come in from.

We mention trees above, but we should also point out the type of soil on a piece of land that will impact site selection. The more organic content of the land, such as trees and bushes, the more the soils will retain moisture for water management and healthier landscapes. Peaty soils are entirely unsupportive. At the other end of the spectrum, bedrock is excellent for supporting foundations. In between, there are three different main soil types.

Soils are composed of sands, silts, and clay. Sandy soils allow for quick drainage and compaction. Sandy soils allow for speedier construction and concrete work because of the faster drying times and minimally site impacted when it rains. Having a desert may not be the best curb appeal. On the other hand, Silty soils have finer grains than sandy soils that promote water retention and air circulation. However, because it tends to retain moisture, silty soil is cold and drains poorly. Clay soil does an excellent job of holding onto both moisture and nutrients. However, clay is cohesive, which means it expands and exerts pressure when it is wet, significantly impacting foundations. Understanding your soils and the impacts it makes on construction will prevent drainage issues and improve foundational stability.

The grade or slope of the land also impacts site selection. First, having a flat piece of property is like having a plain white sheet to paint on. It’s simple for designing and easy for estimating costs associated with excavation and backfill. There always still needs to be some drainage to allow water to run away from the home that is mandated to avoid water issues. Having more towering slopes will open up the canvas to perform additional landscaping, swales, and retaining walls that will be unique to your future home.

We’ve seen many houses that convert retaining walls into raised planters or a private garden spot to overlook your backyard. Also, Southward facing slopes can collect a lot more heat on their surface, a potentially useful and potentially harmful item to pay attention to. Selecting a lot with a gradient can provide a secluded interest or create a commanding view.

Under the surface, you have to think about water. Our greatest enemy for homes is moisture infiltrating the home and causing damage to both drywall and spawning harmful molds and mildew. The threat of water damage from a high water table may be continuous or deceptively transient, depending on the soil type and underground geology.

If you’re by a river or stream, find out where the flood plain is. Determine if your property is beyond its reach. If it isn’t, you’ll need to build in flood mitigation techniques in basements or crawlspaces. Having a sump pump is mandatory, but also installing barriers will help you avoid these issues. Many low-lying areas in Florida have groundwater very close to the surface. As a result, instead of building down for square footage, we build up instead.

Ultimately, you want to focus on planning on how to utilize your real estate. How can you employ the land’s natural characteristics to enhance, protect, and support what you want to build?

Not only visual privacy but also privacy from noise, smells, and light pollution.

A home clustered near friends, family, and neighbors for mutual support, safety, and companionship.

Owning the title of your lot doesn’t mean you own all the rights to it and can do whatever you please. It’s common for the city or a utility company to access a corridor above for power lines. As well as below ground to lay cable, pipes, and place roadways. Also, city regulations and homeowner association bylaws may have restrictions on the placement and design of your home.

While you can manage short views by landscaping your site, as mentioned above, you can’t do much about the long views.

What was the land used for before? Was it always residential, or was it used for manufacturing or industrial? Do you need to test soils for toxins? Or is this a historical building with restrictions on what you can do and restore?

Where in Tampa Bay would you like to buy a piece of land? Clearwater, Tarpon Springs, Lutz, Dunedin, Safety Harbor, or Tampa City? Once you're done with the lot, secure your property by hiring a trusted custom home builder.  

Most of the time your guts got it right for you but do you think it is enough in choosing the right lot? In this blog, we've provided some tips to make sure you got the best lot for your future home. 

How to select the right piece of land for your home

You fell in love with your new neighborhood in Tampa. Moreover, you wanted to move in after several months. However, you are undecided between new construction or buying existing. According to studies, twice as many people in America prefer new construction to existing homes. We are going to enumerate the advantages of new construction.

But how do we classify new or existing? Well, “new” means a recently constructed home, and no one lived there before or homes purchased in the pre-construction phase. On the other hand, “existing” or resale homes are considered pre-owned properties. For the same price, 2 in 5 Americans — a sizable 41% of the population — either somewhat or strongly prefer a newly-built home over an existing one.

Homebuyers who prefer existing or older homes usually like the unique architectural charm. Besides, the less maintained or renovated each decade needs a little TLC. Also, they are slightly less expensive than a new construction home. However, new construction homes have advantages that might outweigh their older, more established counterparts.

One of the advantages of new construction is flexibility. Homebuilders are offering buyers the ability to customize. Homebuyers can get a vast number of options such as lighting, flooring, cabinetry, countertops, wall coverings, paint colors, and landscaping from a wide variety of choices so that you can keep up with the current design trend. Some of the favorites are considered upgrades. These will add to your base price, but now builders are adding options that are still considered part of the original price package. You have a customized home!

Building technology evolves, and construction materials innovate. As a result, buildings and construction materials are more durable, cost-efficient,  and earth-friendly. That is why utilizing new construction materials is usually more energy-efficient, which means potentially lower utility bills. Not only are these newly-built homes rated higher for insulation, but many new homes are also incorporating renewable sources of clean energy like solar. Moreover, new construction homes are often equipped with the latest technology built right in. Think cable, alarm systems, speaker systems, high-speed wired internet, digital thermostats, and detectors — when they’re just the flip of a switch away, you save you lots of time and money, not to mention holes in the walls.

All of this new home tech could save you thousands over the years you live in the home. 

Since your home is new, you have fewer maintenance and repair bills. Plus, new construction usually has a warranty. A significant financial benefit to a new home is that you won’t have much maintenance to do for quite a while. With modern, new appliances, plumbing, heating, and air, you should be able to live repair-free for a few years.

When you buy new from a reputable and established builder, you can include your selected upgrades into the original purchase price and mortgage amount, financing them. When you purchase an older home, you will have to secure a mortgage, buy the house, and begin renovations on a separate line of funds. That means that the money for the upgrades will have to come directly out of your pocket. This setup can be adamant for homebuyers who are low on cash after paying a substantial down payment. New construction, however, allows you to make your choices of upgrades and additions and have those costs incorporated into the home’s overall purchase price. That way, you can finance these upgrades rather than pay for them in full, out-of-pocket.

The home’s utility systems (electrical, plumbing, sewage lines, central heating, and air) already meet today’s codes and standards. It is always much more efficient and practical to have these systems built into a new home rather than upgrade and retrofit existing older systems. Retrofit sometimes involves ripping into the walls, floors, and ceilings to access the critical home systems, which is very inconvenient for some homeowners.

Moreover, some may enjoy paying a visit to the local hardware store to tick off your to-do list when renovating your home. However, for some, it is a nightmare. Buying a new construction home allows you to enjoy your weekends at home after unpacking.

Having gone for new construction outweighs the existing. New construction saves you from upgrading your outdated utility systems and large cash out for retrofitting. Moreover,  new construction gives you the flexibility to customize your home to fit your need and the current design trends. You can check out our newly built home in Clearwater.

However, you are undecided between new construction or buying existing.

If you are thinking of getting a home for your family, take advantage of the perks of getting one!

Knowing when to hire and knowing the best contractor or custom home builder for you to build your dream home is a bit tricky. For those who don’t know, a general contractor is someone who can help you build your home. They oversee the overall construction, admin works, and general construction. Constructing or renovating homes will always be a fun journey if you hire and find the best contractor to fit your needs.

If you are considering changing your bedroom color, hiring a general contractor is not the best move. If you want to build a house from scratch on the other end of the spectrum, then hiring one is necessary. So, how do you know if you need to hire a pro?

1. If it’s going to more than a week to finish a job.

2. If it’s going to involve talking to a lot of professionals and subcontractors.

3. If you need a permit to execute your plan.

In one of our projects in Tarpon Springs, we renovated a portion of the house. Although it’s only a balcony renovation, several subcontractors, engineers, and laborers must complete the project.

Now that you know when to hire a contractor, the next question would be to learn the best general contractor for you.

There are several factors to consider, and it depends on your priorities, of course. But keep in mind these pointers.

Some people want to make the most out of their budget, while others don’t mind paying higher quality. 

How do you prefer to be with your contractor?

Involvement, every step of the way, or prefers little interactions as possible.

Know their portfolio. It goes beyond checking the online portfolio. If you have a chance to visit their actual / completed works, then make it a priority. Know their track record, deliver the project on time, cost, and the highest quality. Actions speak louder than words. You’re now your contractor based on their quality of output. The best way to spot a quality construction is by checking the terminations, joints, and corners. The cleaner, refined, and sharp they are, the better.

When dealing with many professionals, complicated timelines, and the magnitude of work, hiring a contractor is the best advice. Also, the best contractor for you is the one that fits your priorities. So, know your contractor before you enter into any contract. Lastly, enjoy the journey knowing that you are in good hands.

If you're from Tampa, Lutz, Clearwater, or Dunedin, we got you. :)

Knowing the best contractor for you to build your dream home is a bit tricky. 

Never waste a day in your construction journey. Make it count. :)

When to Hire and Who is the Best Contractor for You?

Once the Union project passed permitting stage and is given the all-clear from the City of Clearwater, we perform a flurry of activity which includes marking off the site for where the house will sit, clearing out the organic materials, and adding structural fill.

Here we’ve marked off the area where the house will sit with survey posts and flagging tape.

Existing healthy trees marked with flagging tape and are blocked off with tree protection.

We have to ensure excavation occurs well beyond the tree to prevent the tree roots from being damaged.

A portable generator is brought in with a wheelbarrow to provide power for tools.

You’ll notice a difference in the color of the ground. This denotes a difference between the original fill material and the structural fill material that is brought in.

Here you can see the natural sandy soils depress easily, or leave tracts, and why it is important to bring in structural fill material which compacts.

The organic contents of the soil must be removed where the house will sit.

When preparing any foundation, organic soils must be removed because they are subject to decomposition and volume changes. Excavation is required to reach the specified depth of the foundation surface where
the foundation has sufficient bearing strength to support the structure.

Organic fill materials:
■ Have a low permeability
■ Are an inferior foundation support
■ Not acceptable for pavement subgrade
■ Have some expansiveness
■ And are very difficult to compact

If performed improperly, settlement of the soil could occur and result in unnecessary maintenance costs or structure failure.

Sometimes structural fill needs to be brought in to meet the requirements, and this replacement soil should have high compaction levels. In Clearwater, much of the soils are sandy, which is great for drainage but sometimes not strong enough for compaction.

There are five principle reasons to compact soil:
■ Increases load-bearing capacity
■ Prevents soil settlement
■ Provides stability
■ Reduces water seepage, swelling, and contraction
■ Reduces settling of soil

Results of poor compaction:
■ Slab cracks
■ Pool (and in some cases basement) cracks and leaks
■ Pipe leakage and breaks
■ Erosion of the foundation
■ Erosion gullies under abutments
■ Utility trench settling.

Improper compaction can lead to those problems, and proper compaction can ensure a longer structural life, eliminating future problems.

Get an idea of how Parasol Properties perform "Site Clearing" by taking a look at the blog below. Scroll until the end for some short but helpful tips!

Site Clearing – Union Street, Clearwater, FL

Ongoing our underlayment and asphalt shingles for our roofing.

This is a photo of current roof membrane and asphalt shingle additions to Union Street Clearwater, Florida, constructed by Parasol Properties.

Underlayment is a water-resistant or waterproof barrier material that is installed directly onto your roof deck or plywood. It is applied under all other roofing materials as an added layer of protection from severe weather.

Asphalt roof shingles offer protection against the elements, move moisture efficiently, and require little maintenance compared to other common roof systems. Asphalt shingles are by far the most popular residential roofing material utilized in North America today. When properly installed by a qualified roof contractor, asphalt shingle roof systems are long-lasting, effective, and durable.

The first component to be installed on the roof is underlayment. Underlayment’s are manufactured and designed with different properties for the home, climate, and roof covering materials needs.

One of the main functions of underlayment is to act as a moisture barrier.   Most roof covering materials are not waterproof but water-resistant. They are designed to be installed over a waterproof or water-resistant underlay or in conjunction with the underlay.   Some underlays are designed with superior strength to act as secondary protection should there be damage to the roof (i.e., wind blow-off). In comparison, others help to achieve a Class A fire rating for the product being installed.

Roofing underlay is also useful to protect the roof structure below. It provides a second line of defense against water entry. It also protects the roof deck from condensation that forms on the underside of the roofing material. Protecting the roof sheeting and the structure from moisture is important in maintaining the integrity of the building. 

Asphalt shingles are by far the most popular residential roofing material utilized in North America today. According to the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association, four out of every five homes in the U.S. are roofed with asphalt shingles. More than 12.5 billion square feet of shingle products are manufactured annually – enough to cover at least 5 million homes!

How have you learned about this part of house construction so far? Would you like to ensure that your next home construction in Tampa Bay will be headache-free? There's one guaranteed solution for that, a trusted custom home builder!

Asphalt roof shingles offer protection against the elements, move moisture efficiently, and require little maintenance compared to other common roof systems.

Educate yourself on how your roof is done by reading this blog. Time to learn more about underlayment and shingles!

Roofing – Underlayment and Shingles – Clearwater

I thought I would go back and talk about the importance of tree protection. Tree protection barriers must be installed to protect trees from damage during construction. Damage may occur to tree trunks, branches, and roots. As visitors of our website, you understand that the trees on this job site in Clearwater, Florida, are an important feature to the future homeowners and us as builders. We purposely built large expansive barriers that roughly cover the edges of the tree canopy. While some areas only protect the tree trunks, damage to roots could kill the tree and lead to its ultimate demise.

Tree protection barriers are required as a condition of building permits, demolition permits, development permits, development variance permits, and subdivisions. Tree protection barriers stay in place until substantial completion of the home is performed, and we get the green light from the building inspector to remove them. Any time you still could have heavy machinery or trucks drive on-site would be a potential danger to the trees.

We encircled each of the trees on the lot with fencing that we created out of 2×4 SPF lumber. You can see our starter materials laid out in order and we give space away from the fencing when we place those materials down.

This was an enormous area to work in. Our job site is within the City of Clearwater, so we didn’t want to waste too many materials to achieve the same result.

Within the barriers, we still have to trim the vegetation to prevent overgrowth.

Point of view from the tree “Keep those machines far away from me”

The edges of the property are protected by existing neighborhood fencing.

Lots of space for vehicles to move around; otherwise, we would have done more. Often we have to balance decisions for the homeowner, environment, and city of Clearwater requirements. You can see the area for the initial slab of the home.

It took us a couple of hours, given the size of the project. We went around each tree canopy and sledgehammered the posts into the ground, then used normal 2×4 SPF lumber that was nailed together until the trees were surrounded. We worked on this while we were clearing up the site.

We thought of some alternatives using a criss-cross pattern or using plastic orange plastic mesh fencing as facing. But we ultimately decided against it. Partially due to time, partially due to the consideration that the site was wide enough to observe and maneuver around the trees. If this was a tighter location, a truck backing into the trees could be a real problem, but in our large lot, the feel of the location did not warrant the extra expense to the homeowner. Also, treated wood was a consideration, but since chemical leeching could occur for fully exposed wood (compared to treated wood that ultimately would be covered by sheathing and cladding material). We also felt that this normal 2×4 material could be repurposed later if required as blocking or other future tree protection.

Experts agree that tree protection during construction is more important (and less expensive) than tree expansion programs after the fact. Construction activities such as paving, sidewalk installations, excavation, and road widening can severely affect existing trees. Some areas of impact are root cutting, branch abrasions, and trunk fractures. These injuries can lead to rot and decay, structural damage, canopy loss, or tree death. Properly valuing green space and implementing a strategy to monitor, sample, measure, and protect vegetation is critical to development.

Doing this before construction will effectively preserve the urban forest and maintain its integrity. Our professional arborist recommends how to protect and preserve trees near the construction project.

Similarly, there is a wealth of information on the complex relationship between trees and building foundations related to soil types, surface drainage practices, and the variation between species of trees.

Tree protection barriers are required as a condition of building permits, demolition permits, development permits, development variance permits, and subdivisions.

Discover how we follow the rules and regulations in one of our sites to make sure your home construction experience is smooth and headache-free. 

Tree Protection – Union Street, Clearwater, FL

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