COMMERCIAL RESIDENTIAL KITCHEN RENOVATIONS AWARDS & HONORS TESTIMONIALS BLOG They'Re Coming Will Cord October 29, 2021 The secret is out. Living in the Upstate of South Carolina has its benefits, and people are moving here in droves. Daniel Builders has met with numerous new residents from the Northeast, Northwest and West Coast. We’ve added some very gifted employees to our team from other parts of the country as well. Why are they coming? Here are 7 positive characteristics that make Upstate of South Carolina - Greenville, Spartanburg, Anderson, Oconee and Pickens – so appealing. Proximity to Metropolitan Areas – The I-85 corridor from Charlotte to Atlanta is becoming known as “Charlanta”. Here’s the point. Living in Upstate SC grants you easy, access to these metro areas while not having to live in them. Instead you can choose a town size that suits you. Low Property Taxes – South Carolina ranks as the 5th lowest in terms of property taxes. Beautiful Landscapes – From mountains to lakes to rolling landscapes, Upstate residents have an abundance of beautiful views. And this natural beauty intensifies each Spring and Fall as brilliant colors are everywhere. Friendly People – Nice people may be going into extinction, but not here. Genuine southern hospitality characterizes so much of our service industry. Political Sanity – SC is no political utopia but compared to other areas it may appear that way. Integrity and rational thought are still part of our political system. And voters are motivated to elect leaders who value freedom. That may very well be the single greatest attraction to our State. Small Business and Employment Opportunity – Daniel Builders is the perfect example. We began in 2007 and today we’re a thriving business employing over 30 people. If we did it, then it’s possible for anyone. It’s not just small business opportunities either. Big employers like BMW, Michelin Tires, GE, Miliken, and Wal-Mart are investing heavily in the local workforces. Recreational Opportunities – Whether you’re a College Football fan, a Cycling enthusiast or Bass Fishing guru there’s countless ways to spend your free time doing something truly enjoyable. Vast amounts of people are choosing to move here rather than remain in other states. We warmly welcome all and hope no one loses sight of what makes this a great place to live. Whether you’re new to the area or been here for decades, we’d love to hear your renovation ideas. Call us at 864.506.5546 to begin the process of transforming your home. Beneficial By Association Will Cord September 16, 2021 Daniel Builders is a proud member of the Home Builders Association of Greenville (HBAGVL). Accountability, education, advocacy and endless opportunity to form productive partnerships is how HBAGVL has become a force for positive change in residential construction. Which ultimately benefits the homeowner. As part of our ongoing effort to Build Trust we recently interviewed executive VP, Taylor Lyles (TL), on behalf of our client base. DB: Why have an HBA? TL: Great question. On a local level the Home Builders Association educates both builder and consumer. We have an Approved Professional Builder program to help consumers identify quality, vetted builders, which also provides criteria for home builders and renovation contractors seeking to establish a good reputation. DB: What qualifies a builder to be an Approved Professional Builder? TL: We have some pretty rigorous expectations. Our builder members must be licensed, bonded, insured. Have been in business more than 1 year. Have ZERO outstanding liens and free and clear of major complaints within 1 year. Workers Compensation that is consistent with South Carolina State Law. All while using a written contract in all aspects of business with consumers. As we start looking into the future, we envision a continuing education for SC builders that will continue to ensure a high standard of quality. DB: How can a consumer know they’re hiring a good builder? TL: Right out of the gate make sure they are licensed and bonded. Make sure the builder provides a written contract. Too often we see “fly-by-night” contractors disappear with a $20K-$40K down payment. That’s completely avoidable and should never happen. The HBA is here to help the consumer vet contractors. DB: What is the biggest threat from a government standpoint facing our industry? TL: Three words. Land. Development. Regulations. And also, moratoriums. This is where governing bodies like a county council can halt all new construction. That’s very detrimental. In Greenville we need +100K more houses built over the next 20 years. Trying to stop new construction now will only create huge problems for citizens living in Upstate SC. It’s interesting to see council members standing with golden shovels in hand welcoming a new plant or business to the Upstate but giving no thought to where their labor force will live. Also, fewer housing options drives up pricing. So affordable housing can quickly become nonexistent. DB: The HBAGVL is a resource for all, but who can become a member? TL: Great question. Anyone involved (or seeking to get involved) in the construction industry is eligible to be a member. That includes everyone from appliances vendors to those who provide insurance. And obviously Builders, Remodelers and Skilled Trade partners play a huge role in our membership. Each member has the potential to not only benefit our association but receive even greater benefit in return. Visit HBAGVL or contact them at 864.254.0133 to learn more. Concrete Thinking Will Cord August 25, 2021 Despite being known as industrial flooring, concrete is gaining traction (yes that's a pun, couldn’t resist) in the residential realm. Here are 3 intriguing concrete flooring options for your home. Polished Concrete – First, let’s clarify what constitutes polished concrete. The starting point, as you would imagine, is a concrete slab. Through systematic grinding and polishing the slab is transformed into a lovely surface. That’s an oversimplified explanation, but polished concrete is distinct from a sealed slab. Sealed slabs require much less prep before applying an acrylic sealer. Unfortunately, sealed slabs don’t reach the same level of beauty and uniqueness as polished concrete. Getting there requires a combination of planetary grinders, diamond abrasives and chemicals such as densifiers and stain protector, which are used to progressively refine and polish the surface. That process continues until the right level of smoothness and gloss is reached. This form of flooring is surprisingly slip resistant – even when wet. For those wanting additional color options, polished concrete can be dyed or inlayed with an artistic design. As you can see, residential polished concrete options are customizable and limitless. Broadcast Resins Floors – Broadcast resin floors are a great combination of function, protection and aesthetics. After preparing the concrete substrate with diamond grinding or shot blasting (no acid etching here!), a resinous primer is applied, and the selected media is broadcasted into the wet primer. Wood chips are the selected media in this photo. Once the resin has cured, which only takes 4-8 hours, the excess media is removed, and a resinous grout coat is installed to cover the broadcasted material. Because these flooring systems have additional, non-resinous materials integrated into them, they are much thicker than a traditional “neat” resinous flooring system. This makes the floor more durable and impact resistant while also being slip and chemical resistant. Makes a really nice garage floor! Metallic Resinous Floors - Metallic resinous floors start with clear resins, then colored metallic powdered pigments are added to create an iridescent effect. This surface appears to have a unique depth and texture even though it's completely smooth and level. Depending on the desired effect, single or multiple colors can be added. The gloss level of the protective topcoat can be selected – matte, semigloss or gloss. Because of the artistic nature of the application, no two metallic floors are alike. Each is an original masterpiece. Are you ready to incorporate concrete surfaces into your Design-Build renovation? Tell us your ideas and we'll guide you through the process. Call 864.506.5546 *Special thanks to Derek Zearley of Zefco for providing insights and info for this blog. Home Prices Soar Will Cord June 15, 2021 You probably noticed homes are selling for significantly more now than a year ago. As a homeowner this is great news, but not-so-good-news if you’re trying to purchase (much less find) your dream home. Homes are disappearing from the market at sonic speed, or at least faster than many would-be home buyers can even compose an offer. The good news is you have options and equity to Design-Build renovate your current home into a dream home. Recently, the Building Trust Blog (BTB) reached out to respected mortgage lender, James Anderson (JA) to get his take on what's happening. BTB: How much longer can we expect to see these “historically low" rates? JA: There is not a crystal ball in my office, but it is clear they won’t last forever. Inflation will eventually catch up to the bond markets, and then mortgage rates will follow. BTB: How frequently do rates change? Are you seeing significant volatility day to day? JA: Mortgage rates can change at any time. Until a loan is locked, there is no guarantee. Many times they can move up or down several times during the day. Some days are fairly quiet, and we can see stable rates for a week or more, but then it can change on a dime. Typically rates creep DOWN, and shoot UP very quickly. BTB: With home values on the rise, would you recommend starting a renovation now? JA: If you like your location/neighborhood but want some better options and functions in the dwelling- renovation is a great option. Yes, now is a great time to add value to your property. BTB: When it comes to investing in your home, which is the better option a Renovation Loan or Cash Out Refinance? Why? JA: Both are great options depending on each individual case. The main reason for the renovation loan is to tap into the future equity once the project is complete. The budget and scope of work will also drive the decision for which financial path. BTB: What makes a mortgage lender elite? Truly beneficial to the client? JA: Many banks “say” they offer construction and renovation products, but the execution of the product and program is severely lacking. HomeTrust Bank has shown a great track record in the execution and delivery of renovation loans. Our process results in taking care of the client’s needs. Want to explore funding options for your renovation? Reach out to James at James.Anderson@htb.com Going Airborne Will Cord May 3, 2021 Health and wellbeing have been at the forefront of everyone’s mind over the past year, or more specifically avoiding COVID has been. At Daniel Builders we aren’t health professionals, but here are 6 common sense ways to protect your respiratory health during a renovation. Dust & Particle Containment – Once you begin tearing down walls and ripping up floors the air inside your home becomes filled with all types of particles. Containing these particles is accomplished by putting up temporary barriers such as Zip Walls. Air Purification Equipment – Where will these airborne particles ultimately go? This is where having the right equipment such as BuildClean is important. A home normally has approximately 100K particles (larger than .5 micrometer) per cubic square foot of air. Whereas a home under construction has anywhere between 500K – 1M particles. HVAC – Change HVAC filters throughout the project and then once it’s complete. Air Out Building Materials – Before installing materials with high VOC (volatile organic compounds) levels such as carpets make sure they have time to first “air out” in a well-ventilated area. And if possible, keep windows open during installation. This reduces the risk of VOC when levels at they’re at their highest. Keep Paint Sealed – Be sure to keep paint cans and paint thinners sealed when not in use. Good Ventilation – The goal is to get clean/fresh air into your lungs. This is only possible if fresh air is circulating throughout your home. You're probably aware of the huge push to make buildings as energy efficient as possible. Which is great as long as air quality isn’t sacrificed. Learn how to get the good air inside. A clean, organized and safe work environment is one advantage to choosing Daniel Builders for your renovation (see all Six Advantages here). Protecting the respiratory health of our clients is just another example of how we're committed to Building Trust. Renovating A 120+ Year Old Home Will Cord March 29, 2021 Last summer we rolled up our sleeves and began renovating a home that's been around for more than a century. Needless to say we encountered some unique challenges, but all our effort recently culminated with a stunning outcome! Watch as David Bass narrates the renovation of a home that predates us all. Lake Keowee Home Renovation Overview Will Cord March 11, 2021 Our team at Daniel Builders collectively possesses a wide range of skills. Certain skills go undetected for years before they surface without warning. Our Build Director, David Bass, recently ventured into the realm of videography to showcase a hidden talent for composing and narrating renovation footage. See "Before", "Renderings" and "After" shots in this video overview of the renovation process. Worth watching! (And be sure to click Subscribe) Older Posts DESIGN-BUILD BUILDING TRUST BLOG TEAM COMMERCIAL GALLERY RESIDENTIAL GALLERY CAREERS ANDERSON, SC864.506.5546INFO@DANIELBUILDERS.COM