I like to reminisce about the days of old with my team, back when I carried one of those large brick suitcase cell phones to the job sites. Times have changed so much since then! Calyx has grown so much since my wife Joanne and I started this business. We have been in the construction business for over 40 years and through it all the one constant has been change!
The building codes have changed, on average, every 3 years. So that is over a dozen revisions. Many of the code changes are for the better, such as better connectors to attach decks to a building and requiring stronger framing for decks. Decks are an area where people gather for parties and the sun and decks were falling and pulling away from houses and causing serious injuries. Other code changes can be debated as to whether they fixed a problem or were just a response to an isolated incident. Exterior spigots were required for a period of time to have backflow preventers, but due to the volume restriction that it caused and the fact that Homeowners were removing them after inspection is what I think is the reason they were removed from the code.
Building Science has progressed tremendously over the years. Understanding how a house breathes and reacts over time to the stresses of the changing weather and the day-to-day use by a family is more important than ever. There are many things that are done that make a house safer than ever before. One of the major ones is the way that we weatherize a house. Thicker insulation, air sealing and proper ventilation help to keep the energy costs lower and the house warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. Using insulated bathroom fan hoses vented to the outside removes a tremendous amount of moisture that can cause mold and mildew.
Over the years we have worked with hundreds of team members, suppliers and trade contractors. We have some team members that have been with us for over ten years and some for less than a quarter. One of our trades poured the first foundation for us in 1986 and still works with us to this day. Retirements, deaths, moving to another state all cause change. We are constantly reviewing who works with us and we look to make sure that we are using the best people that we can.
Clients have changed too! Due to the internet and the cable shows, we have more discussions than ever about our projects. The tv shows are not real and place expectations with clients that are unrealistic both for timing and for cost. We are here to help you figure out what is the right answer for your project. Our years of accumulated experience for our team members, trades and suppliers give you the assurance that we are making good decisions for your project.
Call us to tap into our over 40 years of experience! You can email us at Inquire@CalyxBuilds.com to setup a complementary consultation.
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