Tag Archives: custom building

Holiday Gift Ideas from a Cape Cod Builder (Seriously!)

November 6, 2019 Jen Kain Defoe

With Halloween in the rearview mirror, the holiday season is officially upon us, bringing with it another surge of gift-giving anxiety. If your loved ones absolutely don’t need any more knickknacks, scarves, or gift cards, we suggest opting for meaningful, practical gifts from your favorite custom builder on Cape Cod. We’ve got a few ideas:

For your friend who spends all year looking forward to grilling season, a barbeque shelf like the one we installed above is a space-saving way to up their outdoor entertaining game, plus a time-saving route for passing food items and serving pieces from the kitchen to the patio. Plating burgers at next summer’s cookouts will be easier than ever.

For your loved ones who keep busy households running smoothly, creating a secondary laundry room can be a serious game-changer. Adding a laundry space on the floor of the home where most of the laundry originates will save time, hassle, and that dreaded one-too-many trip up the stairs.

For your most organized friend, a custom-made, built-in TV cabinet, like the one we installed in the home above, will help corral clutter and complete the visual feel of their living space. Coffee tables strewn with stuff will be a thing of the past.

For the one in your life who can’t resist a bit of luxury, there’s this decadent dual outdoor shower. Just after a long day at the beach and just before a fabulous summer dinner, there’s nothing like relaxing, rinsing off the sand, and not having to take turns!

Finally, for your loved one who’s always reading classic novels and browsing antique stores, a gorgeous gas-burning lantern is an eye-catching way to add some Old World elegance to their home. Makes you want to drive up in a horse-drawn carriage, doesn’t it?

This year, skip the so-so presents and give the Cape Cod homeowners in your life gifts that will last a lifetime. Contact us today for a holiday consultation!

Questions to Ask a Cape Cod Builder

September 27, 2019 Jen Kain Defoe

You know that moment at the end of an important meeting when you’re asked, “Do you have any questions?” and your brain draws an inescapable, panic-inducing blank? I absolutely have questions, you think to yourself. Probably several! But now you’ve put me on the spot and I can’t remember a single one.

It happens to the best of us. When you first meet with a builder, a lot of important information is exchanged, which can make it hard to remember the burning questions you had right on the tip of your tongue as you drove to the meeting. But fear not: We’ve gathered some of the most asked (and most important) questions to have at the ready when you start your relationship with a Cape Cod builder, so you can leave that first meeting feeling confident and enthusiastic:

“Could you provide some references?”

While a helpful word-of-mouth recommendation can get you on the phone with a builder of your choice, you want to make sure they have plenty of positive feedback from clients to back up their reputation. Referrals from homeowners they’ve worked with in the past, subcontractors with whom they collaborate, or other professionals in the industry will set your mind at ease.

“Are you insured and licensed?”

When it comes to Cape Cod, there’s no guarantee that every homebuilding professional is, in fact, licensed and insured. Make sure the pro you’re thinking of engaging is by taking a look at the necessary licenses and proof of insurance for yourself. You don’t want to wake up in a cold sweat mid-project wondering if you’re covered in the event of a very specific and wildly unlikely potential mishap. Raccoons probably won’t stage a coup and attack the site of your new custom addition, but you never know.

“Could I see an itemized proposal?”

Before you move forward with your project, your builder can and should provide you with an itemized proposal with estimated costs for the work you’re considering. This document is incredibly important to have on hand through every stage of the process, both for builder and client. It is as sacred as Belichick’s playbook.

“What’s your history with meeting budgets?”

One of the reasons that itemized proposal is so important? Your project’s budget. For many homeowners, if a builder they’re considering tends to finish projects over budget, it could be a deal breaker. Whether budgets have been met on projects past can speak volumes about a builder, so be sure to get that info.

“When can you start this project?”

Even if your potential builder can’t give you a firm start date, it’s a good idea to ask about the general timeline you can expect with your proposed project. If business is booming but you need your basement refinished ASAP, for example, you may need to look elsewhere.

“How long will this project take to complete?”

While your kitchen is being remodeled, how long will you be eating takeout? Will your new mudroom be ready by Halloween? Will you have passed away peacefully in your sleep before you ever set foot in the converted apartment above your garage? These are important questions.

“Do you have an online presence? Can I take a look at your website?”

You probably took at least a brief look at your builder’s website before setting up a consultation, but you should also ask if their online presence extends elsewhere. Their social media pages, including profiles on Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn, can provide greater insight about their work and how satisfied their clients are. Don’t be afraid to do some Google-hunting for customer reviews, either.

Do you have a project in mind for your Cape Cod home that you’d like to get off the ground? The expert team at C.J. Riley is at the ready with answers to these key questions (and any others you remember on your ride home).

Cape Cod Custom Builder

Say WHAT? Learning to Speak ‘Builder Lingo’

January 31, 2019 Jen Kain Defoe

If you’ve ever watched Flip This House on A&E, you’ve probably noticed that builders speak their own language. When they talk about a “doghouse dormer” or a “header,” they’re not referencing canine housing or an Olympic dive.

Confused? Read on and we’ll break it down.

Dormers

In general, a dormer raises a portion of the roof in a home, creating added interior space. When a home has a steeply pitched roof, so common in New England, this is a cost-effective way of increasing space without raising the overall height of a structure, a crucial consideration in adhering to zoning laws. In the photo above, a home we built, two “partial dormers” were used. The smaller one, on the left, allowed added windows and floor space in the bedroom shown.

A “shed” or “full” dormer, shown below, runs nearly the full length of a home, greatly increasing the interior living space. A “doghouse” dormer (beneath) adds visual interest to the exterior and is a great way of adding a nook with a window seat to an upstairs room.

Cabinetry: Custom, Semi-Custom, Stock

In virtually every kitchen, whether in a new home or renovation, cabinetry is the priciest element. Custom cabinets are the most expensive and allow complete flexibility in style and size. “Stock” cabinets, those that are pre-made, offer the least flexibility. But as available options have increased in recent years, stock cabinets, like those in the kitchen we built shown above, can be a great way to trim costs.

The middle ground in cabinets is “semi-custom.” These are also pre-made and then delivered to a job site, but have many, many options available for style and finish. With the variation in size increments of semi-custom cabinets less than one inch, compared to three-inch variations in stock — which can lead to wasted space — semi-custom cabinets are the perfect middle-of-the-road option for most homes.

Roofing & Siding

When it comes to roofing and siding, shingles and clapboard are the primary materials used for homes on Cape Cod. Each has its pros and cons.

Cedar Shingle Siding | Cedar Shingle Roof: Pros – This is the quintessential Cape Cod look. The shingles will weather to a natural silver color. Cons – Although they will last for decades, salty sea air can cause rot and curling; they need to be power-washed every couple of years to get rid of mold.
Dipped Cedar Shingle Siding | Cedar Shingle Roof: Pros – With “dipped” shingle siding, you can opt for natural or a color; they last longer than untreated cedar shingles and are not prone to mold. Cons – They are pricier than untreated shingles.
Dipped Cedar Shingle Siding | Asphalt Shingle Roofing:Pros – Asphalt roofing shingles like these come in a variety of colors and are the least expensive roofing option. Cons – They can look “flat” on a home.
Clapboard Siding | Architectural Shingle Roof:Pros – Clapboard siding adds a regal look and works beautifully for both antique homes and more contemporary styles; architectural roof shingles are also made of asphalt, but they add depth. They also last longer. Cons – Clapboard siding needs to be painted every few years.

Decorative Woodwork

Decorative woodwork — or “millwork” — is just what it sounds like: purely for aesthetic value, rather than serving any structural purpose.

Beadboard: The ultimate Cape Cod add-on, beadboard can be used in virtually any room for added texture and visual interest (though it can warp in full baths because of steam).
Shiplap: Chip and Joanna Gaines created a nation-wide love of shiplap with their show Fixer Upper.Like beadboard, shiplap is lengths of wood joined together, but the pieces of wood are much wider, and shiplap is often installed horizontally rather than vertically.
Chair Rail & Crown Molding: While chair rails, wood trim installed at waist height around the entire perimeter of a room, can serve a practical purpose — they were initially used only in dining rooms so that chairs wouldn’t ding the walls — they are now primarily ornamental and work in most rooms. Crown molding wraps around a room where the ceiling meets the walls. Both add a rich finishing touch to a space.
Coffered Ceiling: Woodwork arranged in boxes on a ceiling, creating the look of a grid. Always an exquisite addition to a space, coffered ceilings can help delineate spaces within an open floor plan living area.

Please let us know if we can provide you with additional information, or if you would like to arrange a complimentary consultation.

Cape Cod Custom Builder

Cape Cod Home Watch: Keeping Your Home Safe in the Off-Season

August 2, 2018 Jen Kain Defoe

With Independence Day behind us, summer will be over before we know it. (We know, we know; we’re sad, too.) Closing up your Cape house and heading back over the bridge can be stressful, but we offer a number of off-season property management services on Cape Cod that ease the Labor Day transition and promise peace of mind while you’re away from your summer dwelling.

Seasonal Closings

When you’re ready to close up house for the fall and winter, our team will take care of draining pipes, storing and securing outdoor items, and making sure your home is ready to withstand whatever the unpredictable Cape Cod climate throws at it through May.

Storm Watch

Remember the seemingly endless stream of storms this past March? We can help you brace for a possible repeat. When a nasty nor’easter is due, we’ll check on your home both before the storm hits and after it’s passed. If there’s any damage, we’ll send photos and make recommendations for repairs and, if you’d like, repair it as needed. By the time summer rolls around again, your home will be good as new.

Walk-Throughs

Who wants to arrive on Cape for Memorial Day Weekend and discover a problem that could have been solved long ago? A leaking pipe, an unwelcome pest, a malfunctioning appliance…the list goes one. We offer regular walk-throughs of your home to make sure all is well, especially after rough weather or a cold spell. Opt for ongoing walk-throughs on a regular basis, or call us as needed: you’re in the driver’s seat.

Visit Preparation

Planning to spend the holidays on Cape Cod? Or simply prone to making spontaneous weekend escapes? With our visit preparation services, your home will always be ready to welcome you back. From pulling out outdoor furniture to setting the thermostat for optimal coziness, we’re here to make sure your transition is seamless.

Seasonal Openings

And when summer finally, mercifully returns, the C.J. Riley team can prep your home for the best time of year. No more worrying about turning the water back on, servicing the pool, or pulling the patio furniture out of time-out. We’ve got this. All you have to remember is the sunscreen.

Let our expert team take a load off your mind: contact us today to learn more about C.J Riley Builder’s seasonal services.