Your go-to blogs if you want to learn more about Parasol Properties' way of constructing homes, plus tips and helpful information about Construction!  

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

There is nothing like a home that has finally reached the drywall stage. It’s the time that turns the inside of a home to start feeling like a home, rather than a mash of sticks and wire to the untrained eye. A particular sequence needs to be followed before a painted finish coat, and I’ll explain it below.

So, after all the rough-in mechanical, plumbing, and electrical systems are inspected and the insulation is put in place, it’s time for drywall. Drywall is a type of gypsum board used all across North America. It is faster than plaster (a spreadable soft cement) and much less costly than precast cement walls. Drywall is generally made of gypsum, paper, and additives such as mica, clay, and resin, produced in sheets that give it a little flex and permeability.

The two common thicknesses are a thinner 1/2″ and a thicker 5/8″ (we avoid anything thinner). The 1/2″ is typically used in sidewalls, and 5/8″ drywall is used for ceilings. While 5/8″ is heavier, it’s also stiffer and prevents sagging between the ceiling rafters. Realistically 1/2″ or 5/8″ can be used for the walls. 1/2″ is more economical and standard. 5/8″ drywall will require additional design consideration for doors jams, windows, and around bathtub/showers that could unnecessarily surprise a homeowner. The sound difference is negligible even though it might be advertised.

Drywall is available in various lengths or widths, so most walls can be covered in one or two lengths. Did you know that drywall is hung (or industry term for installed) horizontally to produce 25% fewer seams? It also helps to hide uneven studs and is easier to finish.

A home is not entirely covered in drywall on the inside, even though it may look like it. Certain areas use a different type of sheeting, like a cement board.

Moisture-resistant cement boards, along with waterproofing membranes, are used for wet areas to prevent disintegration or swelling when exposed to water. Normal household drywall will mold when it gets wet, as it acts as food for these microorganisms, while the cement board resists the growth of mold altogether.

Cement board is also approved for use by hot areas and have one or more hours of fire rating in assemblies and is UL Classified.

Drywall tape has only one purpose, to help make the seams invisible. That it!  There is no holding strength at all (that’s where the drywall screws come in). If you skipped the tape and just used joint compound (mud) to fill in the seams, the seams would become visible again after the compound dried or over time as the home expands and contracts with the moisture in the environment.

Whenever you see these kinds of drywall pictures, the tape is at every drywall edge. Long horizontal lines and the 4 feet vertical lines indicate where the tape is located on the walls. Also, tape bonded with metal is used for the corners to ensure a nice 90-degree angle is kept even when we bump into it.

The joint compound (known by pros as mud) comprises mainly of gypsum dust mixed to a cake frosting-like consistency. All the tape is covered by the joint compound to make the walls seem smooth, as mentioned above, but it’s important to note the small white patches. These are for covering drywall screws. Drywall screws are black because they have a phosphate coating that is supposed to keep the wet drywall compound from causing the screw head to rust. The nice thing about having a naturally dark screw coating is seeing if you missed covering a screw with mud.

The application of the joint compound to the ceiling is called ceiling texture. Texturing the ceiling was considered an inexpensive way to add additional acoustic treatment to a room and a way to add interest to a rather plain “plane.” Originally spray-on texture was also a way to hide a multitude of sins of inexpertly finished gypsum board ceilings. While it is still used for this purpose, we purposely take pictures at this stage for quality control and to showcase our work.

As we hinted above, the quality of the drywall work is usually found at the finishing stages. Can you see wide gaps between a straight piece of manufactured crown molding or ceiling beams? The better the workmanship, the smaller the gap. Do the corners line up when the finisher has to complete the trim around a door? These are important questions to ask and to look for in your own home.

I hope you enjoyed this little primer and viewing the work on our current job! 

This one is in Clearwater and we're open to future home projects in the following location: Tampa, Lutz, and Dunedin. Are you interested in building your projects with a trusted general contractor/renovator/custom home builder? 

We hope you do because we're here to help you :)! 

The two common thicknesses are a thinner 1/2″ and a thicker 5/8″ (we avoid anything thinner).

Stay updated with our work process. This way, you can be assured that you're considering the right home builder. 

Drywall and Finishes – Union Street, Clearwater, FL

Ceilings are what elevate a room. They change the space and can make smaller rooms seem large and larger rooms seem even more significant. In comparison, most homes in Clearwater and the surrounding Tampa Bay areas have textured walls and ceilings with an orange peel textured finish. We just wanted to point out some specific differences in this post.

A vaulted ceiling slopes upward from both sides to form a peak. While their symmetry defines cathedral ceilings: they feature two equal sloping sides that meet at a higher point in the middle and often conform to the shape of the roof.

It’s pretty neat to see the before (during drywall stage) and after of our ceiling. We’ve added a wood surface finish, with a fan and potlights installed. The standard crown molding and popcorn ceiling texture around the edges.

There are a couple of ways to keep cool during these scorching days. One way is with a ceiling fan. Now in summer, you want to run your ceiling fans counterclockwise during hot weather and if you’re in the room.

Ceiling fans make you feel cooler in the summer by creating an artificial breeze that evaporates moisture from your skin. The faster the fan spins, the cooler you feel. This allows you to set your thermostat higher, saving money on air conditioning bills. But it doesn’t actually change the temperature of the air. It only makes you feel cooler. That is why you should turn the fan off when the room is empty. Otherwise, heat from the motor will actually increase the temperature in the room.

The other way to keep cool is by using air conditioning. Now in the picture below, you can see the return air vent in the hallway's ceiling (the cool air ducts are in the bedrooms). That black device on the wall is a smart thermostat that can be programmed to efficiently cool (and heat) the home when people. We’ve used an Ecobee smart thermostat, but there are other highly rated ones you can use.

Don’t worry about the white speckles on the wall. Those are just natural repairs we have to do with the texture on the walls.

Do you find these pieces of information about home ceiling helpful? Would you like your future home, perhaps in Tampa, Lutz, Dunedin, and Clearwater to have the same high-quality ceiling? If you need help, contact any trusted custom home builders, renovators, or general contractors from those areas. Doing so will definitely be worth it :).  

Ceilings are what elevate a room. They change the space and can make smaller rooms seem large and larger rooms seem even more significant.

We always have this notion that the room temperature is connected with one's ceiling. But the thing is, how?  

Ceilings – Union Street, Clearwater, FL

More of an update of progress than anything. Clearwater has been moving ahead steadily, even amongst COVID. Luckily with construction, we can control the trades, and we ensure one trade is in at a time. This time we have the cabinets and shelving put in.

We went with two-toned cabinets. A darker cabinet is used for the island, while the wall-attached cabinets are white. Here you see the boxes more for styling before doors are installed with a wide range of depths, widths, and lengths, each with their own purposes. You might notice a deeper set of cabinets to the left-center with boxes inside. These cabinets are intended for pantry storage. While immediately beside the cooktop area, you’ll see two narrow spaces intended for cutting boards and baking trays. Even the island cabinets facing us can be used as extra storage, even though there will be an extended countertop and bar stools in front of them in the future.

Here you can see the floating cabinets mounted and the rough-in electrical and plumbing for the master bedroom bathroom. There are his and her sinks. One on each wall with lots of space and drawers between the center cabinet left for plumbing. You’ll notice a single drawer under the window, which is the space for a built-in makeup table.

The master bedroom walk-in closet looks impressive. With lots of space for hangers and shelves, it’s important to note that each item can be flexible and adjusted to the homeowner’s tastes. Having a high-placed window and a tree specially placed will allow natural light and privacy for the room.

Please take a look at the cabinet door faces for our different bathrooms. The designs are not the same, but the stain on the wood is similar to follow the theme. Also, the countertops are installed on these cabinets as well. The sink design is slightly different to give some interest and uniqueness to each space.

While we’ve shown this fireplace wall before in on the drywall post, here it is again but with a tile finish, concrete top platform, and a couple of concrete shelves. These thick floating shelves need internal brackets mounted to the wall to be held up. You won’t be to see them. The brackets are formed out of plywood and pieces of lumber to form the shape. You can see the supports required for the platform below. The concrete is applied as a topcoat. This way, it is easier to install, configure, and be supported than a poured-in-place concrete slab or precast concrete. Another alternative is using a stone like quartz or granite to build the shelves, but it depends on the overall interior design. In this case, concrete matches the tile of the fireplace to create a modern industrial vibe.

Do you find these pieces of information helpful in ensuring that your future home, perhaps in Tampa, Lutz, and Clearwater would be ok. If you need help, get it from trusted custom home builders or general contractors from the area. You'll surely find it worthwhile! 

We know how important shelving and cabinets are. Take a look at how we construct them in different areas of our site in Clearwater. Use them to envision yours.  

Cabinets and Shelving – Union Street, Clearwater, FL

It is always cozy in the living room watching your favorite Netflix show while the fire is burning on the fireplace. It keeps us warm during the nights when the cold front sweeps in and temperatures start to drop in the winter months.

We complete this stunning residential home in Union Street with an amazing industrial-inspired built-in gas fireplace. I love how it turned out. Here’s how we did it.

We first mark the fireplace. From there, we started building the framing of the drywall system. However, we don’t close this up to still have enough room to work with when layout the wirings and installing the vent.

Next, we run the electrical wirings and add switches. Sometimes two switches are installed for fireplaces—one switch and wiring for turning the fireplace on or off. And a second switch for an optional fan to blow heat into the area. The second switch is uncommon in Florida. But in colder locations, it’s a must.

After the wirings, the pipping for the vent is next. The flue expels the toxic fumes and particles that may pollute the air in the living room. Albeit, there are ventless gas fireplaces.

We made a 1/2 in. of space between the wood framing and the fireplace on both sides. The extra gap creates an allowance for any discrepancies when fitting in the unit. Screw the metal tabs on the fireplace to the wood frame to secure it.

We finish off the gas fireplace by cladding it with concrete tiles to give a modern industrial look—finally, we utilize the space on the right side by adding shelves. See the completed fireplace.

If you think of having a DIY fireplace installation, keep in mind that the fireplace opening can begin before the fireplace itself has shipped to you. However,  we highly recommend having the appliance on-site to check against before installing the structure. That way, we are 100% sure that the unit will fit in.

Wood vs. Gas vs. Bio-Ethanol vs. Electric

Deciding what kind of fireplace is best for your home may be a daunting question. But here’s a quick comparison:

Marking the location up the fireplace was easy, but the dirty work comes in when laying out the wirings, installing the vent, and installing the drywall system. Nevertheless, we had a lot of fun building this modern industrial-inspired fireplace. If you plan to do a DIY of a built-in fireplace, remember to have the appliance on-site to check if the opening will fit in. Moreover, if you have a hard time choosing which type of fireplace (wood, gas, or electric) to use, it will depend on your priority, budget, and goal.

Do you need to install a modern industrial fireplace with the help of a trusted home builder for your Clearwater, or Tarpon Springs Property in Tampa Bay? 

 If you plan to do a DIY of a built-in fireplace, remember to have the appliance on-site to check if the opening will fit in. 

The fireplace is indispensable especially during winter. Make sure yours functions well and doesn't cause any harm to your health. 

Installing This Modern Industrial Fireplace

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. Underlayments 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!

One of the main functions of underlayment is to act as a 

Roofs are not complete without components that offers protection, and moves moisture efficiently. 

Roofing – Underlayment and Shingles – Clearwater

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. 

Our Union Street project in Clearwater, Florida, now has a roof up! No shingles yet, but the wood framing has already begun. At last, the walls, roof trusses, and sheathing are up. This is a great stage because now, most of the water will be directed away from home when it rains. Meaning our staff, equipment, and materials will not be rained on, sitting in pools of water, or exposed to the environment.

Communication Electrical Lines HVAC Ducting

Aside from insulation, there is quite a bit that goes on in our attic spaces. Here we have communication, and electrical lines are routed through the roof trusses. It’s hard to see, but they are secured to the sides of the trusses and underneath truss webs. The reasoning behind this is that when people are stepping up top, they do not compress and impact the wiring when moving about.

Pot lights are also measured and put in place using metal brackets and canisters to protect their potentially hot bulbs from being in contact with anything flammable.

Other types of channels include ducting for both bathroom fans and air conditioning. They use thermal ducting so that the air stays cool when it travels to the correct room.

A relatively dry area now for working in and mterial storage. Here you can also see the electrician was in to put in some lines part way.

Above you can see a web of thermal ducting for the air conditioner.

If you haven’t seen how the building was before with only concrete block walls, we now have added wood framing as a border around doors and windows to help properly set each item. We need to put this lumber framing here for the frame of the windows and doors to affix to it. Without it, it would be hard to make adjustments for level and plumb. You probably can’t see it in these pictures, but there is spray foam insulation around the frames to provide a continuous barrier of protection.

You might see some slightly green-colored wood here or there. Those pieces are pressure-treated wood. Pressure-treated wood is softwood lumber that’s been chemically treated to resist rot, decay, and termites. One of the key ingredients is copper, and that’s why it has a green shade to it.

In some of the pictures, you can see wood in between parallel studs and trusses. Most of this is blocking to create a stiff and stronger structural component. Some of it is backing, to allow for cabinets or other wall-hung devices to be supported off the wall. Lastly, some are used for finishing, such as a coffered ceiling for design purposes.

Wood framing at this stage includes the interior walls, bulk heads, and blocking.

Even oversized patio doors look amazing even though the view outside isn’t perfected yet.

The outdoor patio is completely covered with a roof, providing a comfortable spot outside.

Do you have a property in Tampa city, Lutz, and Dunedin that you would like us to work on? Contact us today!

This is a great stage because now, most of the water will be directed away from home when it rains.

If you want to see a glimpse of how a general contractor/custom home builder/renovator from Tampa works, this one's a recommendation. 

Wood Framing – Union Street, Clearwater, FL

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

In lieu of our recent issue with damage, it is a good time to review security at construction job sites and development projects. Not only can security help with damage prevention or reporting, but it also hinders criminal activities like vandalism and thievery. These places are increasingly targeted by criminals, a trend that is only expected to continue. Equipment like generators and tools tend to disappear when no one is looking. Also, it’s a big waste of time for reporting and finding replacements. Lastly, it becomes dangerous for our staff and the public when mischief-makers break something unintended and run off into the night without warning others of the safety hazards.

So why does this matter? When clients are on a cost-plus contract, it will increase their project costs. Even on fixed-price contracts, it would be a line item. Whether as simple as ordering fencing or going to the higher expense of patrols, there are costs associated with construction site security. Another important consideration is time. Damaged materials or work would have to be reordered and time spent to restore the area. There are the direct costs of the products, but the indirect costs of the construction mortgage financing are associated with the extra amount of time. The other aspect is the sense of safety. Our clients need to be at ease knowing the home isn’t open to the elements and we’re doing everything reasonably possible.

The first line of defense is a physical barrier. Putting a fence up can protect site workers and the general public. From a worker’s perspective, we can close off the site and lock down the entrances. That makes sense, really, if there are active construction sites all around and other projects look like better targets. For the public, it is a lot more intimidating with restricted access. Also, there are less likely to have children (or curious clients) walk into and become a danger to themselves. Fencing is just general safety practice. Furthermore, we can put up a bit of marketing to showcase ourselves.

Oddly enough, just having construction doors installed with locks is enough to keep most people out. We try and install this as soon as the framing is up. Only the people who need access have access. Construction Doors and locks are basically old doors and locks that can get banged up while the rough-in work is being performed. There will be hundreds of times when a tool belt will scrap along with a door or paint drops on the knob, that we understand the importance of using temporary solutions instead of the final products.

Often, we will use “smart” key locks that we can rekey on the fly. We keep one set for our trades and then reuse for each project and change it to a brand new set before the owner moves in. Certain people prefer having a physical key. But copying keys is timely and more costly in the long run.

The best way is to have a punch code lock configured to have a unique code per trade. The old-style punch locks allow multiple codes but don’t keep a history. The new ones keep track of usage, but construction sites don’t have wifi installed early on.

Within the last couple of years, manufacturers have addressed this issue. Now locks generate their own hotspot or use Bluetooth, which can track access with each code usage. While these locks are getting “smarter,” it’s a solid barrier that keeps unwanted guests outside, and those are the best sorts of deterrents.

It can be difficult to uncover what motivates an intruder to enter a construction site uninvited. For this reason, it’s tough to generalize the statistics. However, it was discovered that a majority of the convicted burglars would scan for surveillance cameras before entering a property and that the presence of surveillance cameras would be motivation enough to seek a different target. In addition, if a theft were to take place, having cameras gives enough evidence to speak with the police and also filing an appropriate insurance claim.

When we put cameras in, we need to find a high enough space and overlook the job site. And place the cameras close enough to determine license plates from the clips. Typically it should be pointed at where materials are because this is the most common area thieves would try to access. In areas where multiple jobs by different companies are taking place, a competitor can take a forklift and steal an entire stack of lumber for another job at the expense of the first company. Usually, one or two wide-angle lensed cameras are sufficient to cover the job site. Sometimes if something odd happens on-site, it’s good to have a record of what happened and review it.

With the notion of “more lights, less crime,” the idea that well-lit spaces deter crime, studies have shown that this is true. Dimming or turning off streetlights at night increased crime rates in those neighborhoods. The lights study found that the developments that received new lights experienced crime rates that were significantly lower than would have been the case without the new lights. Better lighting will deter offenders who benefit from the cover of darkness. Also, timers can be added to power cables, run lights, and even a radio that turns on at conspicuous hours to deter unwanted guests.

Legally, no one can live in a construction zone at night. As much as we love building, camping in the home isn’t really an option for us. The only other alternative is to have patrols. Now we don’t tend to resort to the patrol option unless it’s for subdivision development or if the home has particular assets (i.e., golden light fixtures). Trust me, fixtures are some of the most expensive items of any home that need extra protection from magically disappearing if they aren’t installed right away. This is all balanced against what the budget is and what the risk tolerance is of the client. A patrol is likely to push anyone who isn’t supposed to be there. The costs are usually $500 and up for monthly spot check surveillance at night or to hire a security guard at $25 per hour.

Leaving tools out and about is just asking for trouble. Having an untidy workplace with unsecured tools is an easy target. Every day, at the end of each day, the site should be clean and clear. Even with fencing, locked doors, and cameras rolling, if there is nothing left out to be stolen, then nothing will be stolen. If anyone suspicious were to walk along, it should look like an empty site. An empty site that isn’t worth their time, and they would just leave to the next target.

The last thing I wanted to mention is about having good people around us. If we only hire professional trades and subcontractors, who also, in turn, hire professional people, we will reduce the chances that a stray person with bad intentions will be exposed to our job site. The cheaper and more economical trades are lower for a reason. Maybe that reason is that they don’t do background checks. However, it could mean disaster, especially since these individuals are granted access to the site. And while it seems obvious, we have to respect all the individuals on our job site. Acting inappropriately and unprofessionally could come back to haunt us when the other party wants to get even.

We really have to take additional care when it comes to in-progress work sites, especially the safety or security of unoccupied construction zones after hours. This has been a glimpse of the preventative measures that construction companies can take. Hopefully, it has given you some enlightenment, and you can feel secure about our measures at Parasol Properties.

Ensure the success of building your home by taking the first step--securing the construction site. 

Parasol Properties remains open during COVID-19.

As COVID-19 continues to evolve, Parasol Properties has been taking precautionary measures. We will be adjusting our protocols to ensure the health and safety of our employees, clients, and community.

Our office remains open. Our clients can be assured that their needs are, and will continue to be, well-served. We have implemented proactive measures relating to sanitation efforts, meetings, events, and travel to limit exposure to this virus. Subsequently, we are also contact tracing. In addition, should some or all of our people need to work remotely, we have contingency plans and resources in place to ensure that our service continues uninterrupted.

Given the fluid nature of this Pandemic, we are actively monitoring its evolution. Similarly, through the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and all the relevant government agencies and local authorities. Ultimately, we will continue to adapt our practices to protect the welfare of everyone in our community.

We will provide updates as the situation unfolds. However, it may be immediate or remain unchanged. Above all, during this unprecedented time, we wish you and your loved ones continued good health. As well, please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or if we can be of assistance to you as you navigate these challenges.


Eric Leung

IT and Marketing Director
Parasol Properties

Your safety will always be one of our priority. 

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 joined 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 is 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. :)

Live Oaks are found in the wild, growing between Southeast Virginia and then continuing south. Essentially, Live Oaks cover all of Florida south to the northernmost Florida Keys. In the days of wooden ships, live oaks were the preferred source of the framework timbers of the ship, using the natural trunk and branch angles for their strength. The tree crown is also very dense, making it valuable for shade, and we see that at our site in Clearwater, Florida.

Diameter at breast height, or DBH, is the tree diameter measured at 4.5 feet above the ground. The smallest DBH of the Live Oaks at 2888 Union Street is 17 inches, while the largest one is 42 inches.

The first 10 inches in diameter indicate an age of 76 years. Each inch after that adds six-and-a-half years up to age 154. After that, each inch adds six years.

Live Oak Trees at 2888 Union Street, Clearwater, FL

At our site (2888 Union Street, Clearwater, FL), there are six large Live Oaks on the land.

Crepe Myrtle trees, affectionately called the lilac of the south, are chiefly known for their colorful and long-lasting flowers. Flowers are borne in summer and autumn in panicles of crinkled flowers with a crepe-like texture. The timber of some species has been used to manufacture bridges, furniture, and railway sleepers. In Europe, the crepe myrtle is common in the south of France, the Iberian Peninsula, and most of Italy; in the United States, it is an iconic plant of gardens across the southern United States, including our own 2888 Union Street, Clearwater, FL residence.

The DBH, Diameter at the breast height of the Crepe Myrtles at 2888 Union Street is relatively the same at about 15-16 inches. Therefore, this would mean they were planted at the same time.

Crepe Myrtle Trees at 2888 Union Street, Clearwater, FL

This attractive small tree or shrub is valued for its long blooming season and its low maintenance growing requirements. There are three of them on site. Consequently, they are positioned right beside the two support posts of the outdoor living space, which includes a lanai, an outdoor living room, and an outdoor kitchen. Certainly, take a look at the details of 2888 Union Street, Clearwater, FL.

While our gallery showcases all the current trees on 2888 Union Street, Clearwater, we are removing some poorly conditioned trees as per our arborist’s report.

Crepe Myrtle trees, affectionately called the lilac of the south

There are just some things you should be familiar with. And some of those, are the trees near you. 

The Trees of Our Union Street, Clearwater, FL Project

construction-update Blogs

Site Clearing – Union Street, Clearwater, FL

Drywall and Finishes – Union Street, Clearwater, FL

Ceilings – Union Street, Clearwater, FL

Cabinets and Shelving – Union Street, Clearwater, FL

Installing This Modern Industrial Fireplace

Roofing – Underlayment and Shingles – Clearwater

Construction Material Delivery

Wood Framing – Union Street, Clearwater, FL

Tree Protection – Union Street, Clearwater, FL

Construction Site Security

Parasol Properties Response to COVID-19

RIP Our Beloved "For Sale" Sign

The Trees of Our Union Street, Clearwater, FL Project