HOME Gallery ABOUT CONTACT BLOGS © Gulf Stream Homes Made with Honesty.im PALM COAST CUSTOM BUILDERS By GSHomes on February 6, 2015 - Palm Coast Builders Gulfstream Homes takes pride in being a custom builder. We enjoy meeting with customers to create their dream home. If you can dream it we can build it. Not only are we a custom builder we also specialize in screen enclosures, custom trim work, framing, additions, and so much more. With our new construction homes our standard features include everything from clearing the lot to flooring. We offer energy efficient and money saving advantages along with handicap accessible options. Allowances in several areas of building are given from lighting and to kitchen cabinets. The customer is involved with every step of planning and building. If it’s a job on a preexisting home, we have experienced staff to help you with any job you are looking to do! Please call us with any questions you may have or to schedule you free estimate. You can also visit our website at www.gulfstreamflagler.com FLOORING OPTIONS By GSHomes on January 29, 2015 - Flagler County Builder Flooring Plays a big role in the feel, functionality, and most important, the look of your home. From classic hardwood to tile, explore flooring surfaces to find the best option for your budget and lifestyle. If hardwood floors interest you, then you’ll need to decide between solid or engineered. Solid hardwood is milled from a single piece of wood. Because it can be sanded and refinished, it can last for decades. Solid hardwood cannot be installed in damp areas due to the fact it is susceptible to temperatures and humidity changes. Engineered hardwood is created by bonding layers of hardwood together in a cross-grain construction. The layers give more stability and because it can withstand higher levels of humidity, it can be installed in more areas then solid hardwood. It can be stapled, glued or it can “float” (affixed to itself rather than the subfloor). There are different widths, species and colors to choose from. An underlayment is recommended with hardwood floors. The underlayment provides a base for the floor along with helping limit noise. For moisture prone areas a vinyl and/or plastic line underlayment is best. Laminate flooring is the chameleon of flooring. It can look like hardwood, tile or stone for a lower price. It’s an earth-friendly choice in flooring because it uses fewer trees then real wood and it can be pulled out easily and reused or recycled. The sturdiness makes laminate a favorite for many homeowners especially those with pets and kids. An underlayment is required to serve as a moisture barrier and to muffle sound Tile comes in a variety of size, shape, and styles. With versatility, durability, and elegance, it’s no wonder tile floors are so popular. Ceramic tile is crafted from a mix of clays. A protective glaze is put over the porous tile. Ceramic is prone to wear, cracking, and chipping. Porcelain tile is made by firing finely ground clays and minerals. It is a harder and denser tile which resisting water and stains and is often used outdoors because it won’t crack in cold weather. It is harder to install than ceramic tile. Natural Stone tile is usually made from travertine, limestone, marble, granite, or slate. It is the most durable tile, improves with age and last a lifetime. However, it is the most expensive option. Grout is the adhesive used to fill the space between tiles. It comes in a variety of colors and creates a seamless look when matched with the tile. You can also dress up the tile floors with a variety of border medallions or mosaic. Carpet is a very popular choice in homes. The basic material in a carpet is fiber. Nylon is the most common fiber and is durable and resilient. It offers good stain resistance and camouflages the dirt, but is prone to static. Polyester is a hypoallergenic fiber. It resists fading, withstands stains, and offers a variety of textures and colors. It is susceptible to crushing. Polypropylene/Olefin stands up to sunlight, bleach, and stains, but is less resilient. Color selection is limited though. Wool has a luxurious and feel and purifies indoor air, inhibits dust mites and bacteria growth, and inherent hypoallergenic properties, It is the most expensive type of carpet. Acrylics offers the look and feel of wool at a lower cost. It is known as a man-made wool, acrylic fiber. It resists static, moisture, mildew, stains, but is not durable enough to withstand heavy traffic. Padding helps prolong the life of the carpet and serves as an insulator. There are plenty of flooring options to choose from to make your house a home! ROOFS By GSHomes on January 8, 2015 - Flagler County Builder With so many decisions to make on a new home, choosing a roof style would seems to be a no brainer. But with several different styles and types of roofs, this could make that no brainer decision a little harder than expected. A very common roof type is the Hip roof. All sides of a hip roof slope down to meet the walls of the home. A hip roof is more involved then other types of roofs but building the walls for such a house is actually easier as they are all the same height. They are very good for homes in high wind or hurricane areas as they offer better internal bracing and are less likely to be peeled from the home. The roof also protects more of the home from elements such as sun, wind, and rain, which over time can require increased maintenance for the structure. Hip roofs internal roof space is less which makes access for maintenance more difficult and offering less storage space. Gable roofs are another popular choice. It has two roof surfaces of the same size that are pitched at the same angle back to back, forming a triangular roof. Its simple design makes it inexpensive and easy to build. The shape of the gable roof allows for good ventilation, sheds water, and provides the most ceiling space. It is not ideal for high wind areas like the hip roof and is the most likely of roof types to suffer damage. Adding the recommended bracing to the end wall will help properly brace the roof. Now to pick Asphalt Shingle, Slate, Tile, or Metal. Asphalt shingles are the least expensive roofing material and is light weight, fire resistant and available in a variety of colors. This style roof can be installed over an existing roof. The asphalt is infused into a fiberglass core. The material is then covered with color granules. For a flat appearance you would go with a single layer of shingles and for a textured look you would use double layered architectural shingles. Shingles do age more then any other roof type with a lifespan of 15-20 years for single layer or 20-25 years for architectural shingles. Tile offers a wide range of looks. They will not burn, rot or attract insects. It also provides optimal attic insulation. Mined clay is shaped, glazed or painted, then baked. Concrete tile is made up of sand and pulverized rock which are mixed with concrete, tinted, then poured into molds. The lifespan on tiled roofs can be a lifetime if it is installed with sound underlayment. Clay tile can be expensive and some types can crack under foot if walked on. It adds weight to the structure of the home and replacement cost could result in higher insurance rates. Clay roofs are the only roof product that doesn’t fade, but instead gets darker. Slate is actual slate stone pieces cut to form. The lifespan can be a lifetime when installed correctly. Slate is impervious to fire, rot, and insects. It also has greater impact resistance, less maintenance, and can be easier to repair then tile. It is expensive to purchase and install and with the weight it could require extra support. Like tile it can add to your home insurance cost. It does have a high wind resistance because it is mechanically attached. Metal roofs are thin sheets of stainless steel, aluminum, copper, or zinc. They are measured, cut into panels and seamed for customer installation. Metal can be formed to look like shingles, tile, and slate. Metal is lightweight, durable, and protects against fire, rot, and insects. The lifespan of the metal roof is a lifetime, but could require recoating. Pricing may be higher with metal and can be noisy with rain and hail and show surface dents. Professional installation is important to the longevity of the roof. There are pros and cons to every decision. As long as you talk it over with your contractor and get the right professional to install the roof,it all comes down to preference! ENERGY EFFICIENT HOLIDAY DECORATING TIPS By GSHomes on December 5, 2014 - Flagler County Builder With the Holidays coming and decorations going up, Gulf Stream Homes & Construction would like to help you put a little jingle back into your pockets! Who doesn’t love to light up their house for Christmas? Here are a few tips to help you out! When it comes to holiday lighting, I’m sure we all have the tubs full of the old incandescent lights we’ve been putting up for the last few years. The amount of power it takes to operate one 7-watt incandescent bulb could power 24-foot LED strings of lights. ENERGY STAR qualified LED lights uses 70% less energy then traditional bulbs, they’re brighter, eco-friendly, and are safer. They can also last ten times longer and have no filaments or glass to break. So what do you do with those tubs of old lights? You can bring your old incandescent lights into your local Home Depot to recycle and receive a $3-$5 discount towards Energy Star LED lights. Please visit Home Depot website or local stores for more information. If you are hanging outdoor LED lights or putting out any other outdoor decorations, plug them into a power strip to make it convenient to turn them all off before bed. You can also purchase timers for your holiday displays so you can control the amount of time they are on without worrying about forgetting to turn them off. For those of you who would prefer not to make yourself dizzy putting the lights on your tree, consider a pre-lit tree with LED energy efficient lights to help save you money and time. Go energy free with your holiday displays with ornaments such as wreaths, ribbons, and other decorations that doesn’t consume energy. We, at Gulf Stream Homes & Construction hope you enjoy your Holiday Season! 2 BUILDING TIPS By GSHomes on November 21, 2014 - Flagler County Builder One of the biggest questions when building a new home is do I pick Wood Frame or Block? Living in Florida, this decision is an important one for several different reasons. Palm Coast Builders can build either Block or wood frame, but in the end, it all depends on the customer’s preference. Below we have listed some pro’s & con’s on both. Wood Frame Homes: Much more energy efficient due to the ability for several types of insulation Gives customer much more freedom to design for multiple wall heights, angles, curves & other design details Greater moisture control with house wrapping Greater chance of termite issues Higher expense to build Higher insurance Block Homes Durability during a hurricane Better protection from termites Lower building cost Better Fire rating Not as energy efficient Better chance of Dampness Making this decision can be hard but talking with your contractor will ease your mind to make the best decision for your home. FROM OUR HOUSE TO YOURS By GSHomes on November 6, 2014 - Flagler County Builder There are not many stories these days about people helping people in small communities which is why my family and I would like to share our story. As a mother of 2 and a wife, there’s nothing more important than having a safe home for your family. We were currently living in a wooden framed home that was built in 1958. Due to the age, the home had seen better days. The roof was about to collapse and the floors were caving in and we just could not seem to ever have enough money to make the repairs it needed. It was brought to my attention from a dear friend, that we may consider finding a local contractor that may be able to help us do some of these repairs but there were many obstacles standing in our way. Until we came across “Gulfstream Homes & Construction”, owned and operated by the Marquis family, also being an Espanola resident. Gulfstream Homes & Construction and J & M Carpentry has served Flagler County for over 20 years. We felt confident after meeting with James “Josh” Marquis, that there was hope. Due to the extensive amount of repairs, Gulfstream Homes & Construction agreed to build us a new home. He understood what our family was in need of, our financial hardship and how important it was that we stay in our community. Josh took our story and his plans to the Flagler County Building Dept. and worked diligently to make this a reality for us. Working closely with the Flagler County Planning & Zoning, Health Dept. and Property Appraisers, it was approved to have Gulfstream Homes & Construction tear down the old house and build our “Dream Home”. This took our confidence & dreams to a whole new level. Seeing that this was a community project, Josh obtained help from many local companies to assist him with the labor on the home at discounted prices. A special Thanks goes out to: Advanced Insulation of Central Florida, Beachfront Drywall, Burney’s Septic Tank Services, Bryan Gainey Concrete & Co., Builders FirstSource, Masonary Team Inc., Class A Printing, Coastal Site Contractors Inc., Cody Pest Control, Eisenhart Enterprises llc., Extreme Concrete Inc., Florida Style Trim, Bell Drafting, Home Depot, JB Fries & Associates, Profast Supply Inc., Riverside Roof Truss, Caprock llc, Simmons Electric Inc., SRM Cabinetry, VanDeusen Roofing & Sheet Metal, Master Construction Products, Vickers Stucco & Plastering LLC, R&R Timber Harvesting & Bob cat Services, Halifax Tile & Floor Covering, International All Contractors, Lee’s Painting, Advanced Plumbing, Strickland Sod Farm, Honest Heating & Air, Associated Mirror & Shelving. None of this could have happened without the extreme help of the Flagler County Building Dept., Planning & Zoning, Health Dept., and Property Appraisers. Gulfstream Homes & Construction has given “community” a whole new meaning. My family and I have a beautiful new home and we are so thankful to Josh and his entire staff at Gulfstream Homes & Construction for giving us not only our home but a whole new outlook on life. The Jefferson Family HELPFUL HINTS ON PICKING INTERIOR PAINT By GSHomes on October 31, 2014 - Flagler County Builder Whether you are building a new home, redecorating, or adding an addition, picking paint is an important step in the process. Color accounts for 60 percent of our response to a room. With so many colors to choose from the process can be overwhelming. There are a few tips to help you chose the right color for your home. If you are unsure about where to start, pick a small room, hallway, or an accent wall to experiment with color. When selecting a color select a favorite color from artwork, a rug, and an accessory or furniture piece as a main color or accent. Consider the mood you are trying to accomplish for that room. Soft, cool colors and neutrals create a quieter feel while strong colors are selected for drama. Warmer, contrasting and brighter colors add to a sociable mood. Be carefully in choosing intense bright colors for kid’s rooms, you may not know it, but some brighter colors can lead to unrest and irritability. Lighting has an impact on selecting colors as well. Natural lighting shows truest colors, incandescent lighting brings out warm tones and yellows, and fluorescent lights cast a sharp blue tone. Choosing the right paint sheen can be as overwhelming as choosing paint color. There is a few different paint sheens to choose from, flat, eggshell, satin, semi-gloss, and gloss. When picking paint sheen there is a basic rule of thumb to follow. Higher sheen means higher shine to the paint and is more durable. Flat paint has no shine to it. Flat/Matte paint provides a smooth subtle finish, is ideal for low traffic areas such as living room, hallway, ceilings, and bedrooms. It does hold dirt and is more difficult to clean. Eggshell/Low Lustre paint offers a low sheen finish and is best for low traffic areas such as living room, dining room, bedrooms, kitchen, and foyers/hallways. It is more washable than flat sheen. Satin paint can be wiped clean and is ideal for active rooms such as playroom, laundry room, kitchen, guest bathroom. With so many different types of paint, Gulf Stream Home & Construction understands how overwhelming the choices can get. We will be more then happy to help with your selection and providing professional painting services. FPL BUILD SMART PROGRAM By GSHomes on October 24, 2014 - Flagler County Builder As a custom builder we are always looking for programs to benefit our customers. Gulf Stream Homes & Construction has teamed up with FPL Build Smart Program to insure we build a FPL approved energy efficient home. With the Build Smart program there are two methods through which Gulf Stream Homes & Construction may comply in order to receive home certification. There is the Prescriptive method and the Flexible method. Under the Prescriptive method a home must include the prescriptive energy efficiency measures. Under the Flexible method a home must achieve and energy performance improvement of at lease 20% above the applicable baseline home. It is calculated using an energy rating tool that is required by Florida Energy Efficiency Code for Building Construction. Once the home goes through the initial review process and the home is finished being built a FPL Build Smart representative will come out and inspect the home to make sure it passes a final inspection. Once the home passes inspection the homeowner will be awarded a Build Smart Certificate. For more information regarding program guidelines visit http://www.fpl.com/residential/energy_saving/buildsmart/ Let us build you a custom “smart” home! A NOTE FROM A FLAGLER COUNTY BUILDER By GSHomes on September 10, 2014 - Flagler County Builder Living in the beautiful Sunshine state we have the pleasure of year round outdoor living. Screened-in porches help to keep all of those pesty and irritating Florida bugs outside where they belong so that you can enjoy yourself. They also create a more livable area, adding comfort and a much cooler area for you to enjoy… Turn that empty space next to your home into something that you can enjoy every day! We offer many options when it comes to Sun Rooms and can build them in any size… Added comfort, living space and enjoyment for your home. Glass Rooms are a great addition that comes with many options. Glass or acrylic windows, insulation, electric ready, and more… Our Aluminum Swimming Pool Enclosures are made with high grade materials which means you will have years of worry-free comfort… Have a torn panel on your pool enclosure or screen room? Holes in old screen, tears from pets, or just plain old screen that needs repair? We can help with that too…