To read the full article, please visit MyNorthwest.com.

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Green Building, sometimes referred to as Sustainable Building, is a type of construction ecologically-minded General Contractors are using that focuses on designing, building, and renovating structures in a manner that is environmentally responsible. The objective of Green Building is to reduce the impact of buildings on human health and on the environment.

Why go green?

According to a study released in 2006 by the Center for the Built Environment at the University of California (Berkeley), occupants of green buildings were found to be more satisfied with thermal comfort and air quality than occupants of conventional buildings.

Some other benefits of Green Building include:

1.    Improving air quality in the home
2.    Saving money on utility bills
3.    Lowering dependence on fossil fuels
4.    Having a global impact
5.    Qualifying for tax breaks and Energy Efficient Mortgages

In addition to the benefits listed above, some Seattle Contractors and General Contractors around the world are building green to make living spaces more comfortable, reduce maintenance costs and, of course, to help preserve the earth.

In February of 2000, the city of Seattle, WA adopted a sustainable building policy in order to demonstrate the City’s commitment to environmental and economic preservation.  This policy affects all City facilities exceeding 5,000 square feet and Seattle Contractors working on these buildings are to ensure each building meets a minimum LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver rating. (The complete rating levels are: Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum).

Keever & Associates, Seattle General Contractors, provide sustainable building solutions. We are proud to be a part of the Green Building movement. For more information on Green Building, contact us at 206-200-5582.

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Contractor just shows up

A Contractor appears at your door out of nowhere. You didn’t call him. As far as you know, you have no need for his services. But there he is, standing on your front porch. What will he say to gain your trust? He will probably say something like how he was just working up the street and noticed something on your house that needs immediate repair.   This is a scare tactic that no reputable Residential Contractor would use. A good Contractor doesn’t just appear out of nowhere in an unmarked van.

You need to pay him now

Giving a portion of the money upfront as a down payment is not unreasonable (it may be needed for supplies, etc) but if the Contractor explains that he needs all of it upfront in order to do the work, watch out. He may never return after receiving it.

He has no credentials

A good Residential Contractor will be able to provide references upon request or will be able to direct you to various online testimonials, reviews, or perhaps a Better Business Bureau report. (Keever & Associates has an A+ Better Business Bureau rating).

Is your would-be Contractor in Seattle? If so, he’ll have to be an EPA certified Contractor to work on houses built in 1978 or before.

The good news

Finding a reputable Residential Contractor is actually quite easy. The same basic tips apply as when searching for a Commercial Contractor. Check for websites and online reviews. Be sure to interview your Residential Contractor and, above all, do not sign any contracts until you are comfortable with what you’ve learned.

Keever & Associates, Seattle General Contractors has been providing Commercial Contractor and Residential Contractor services since 1977. We are happy to assist you with your General Contracting needs.

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Explaining Design-Build

Design-Build is a method of construction where one entity is contracted to provide both design and construction services. This entity, the Seattle Design-Build Contractor, will handle all aspects of the project from its initial concept to its completion. The Design-Builder is usually a General Contractor who employs professionals from both the construction and design sectors. The Design-Build Contractor oversees the entire project.

Why choose Design-Build?

Design-Build is quickly becoming a popular alternative to the ways in which construction projects have traditionally been handled. It is estimated that by 2015 more than 50% of all Commercial Construction projects in the U.S will be Design-Build. In a study conducted by Pennsylvania State University, researchers found that the Design-Build method of construction cut overall project costs by up to 6% and project completion time was also found to have an improvement of 33%.

Keever & Associates provides Design-Build Contractor services in Seattle WA and throughout King County WA.

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When hiring a Commercial Contractor it’s important to be selective. Whether you are the owner of a restaurant, an apartment complex, or a shopping mall, your building is the first thing visitors will see and it’s important to make sure that first impression is a good one.

Hiring a good Commercial Contractor is the first step in establishing your new business. Whether you are renovating an existing building or having an entirely new one built, a good Commercial Contractor will know how to approach it. But how do you find such a person?

Knowing what you want done will tell you a lot about what kind of professional you are looking for. A General Contractor is usually a safe bet because they are knowledgeable in both Residential and Commercial Contracting. Before hiring anyone though, there are certain things you should do.

Check for a website

A reputable Commercial Contractor or Contracting Company will have a website. This is important because a website will (or should) allow you to view pictures of the work they’ve done, read customer testimonials, and provide contact information. If you’re lucky, they will also have a profile page listing each team member’s specific specialties. This type of attention to detail shows that the company is professional and serious about their work.

Interview the Contractor

Your potential Commercial Contractor should be open to answering any questions you may have and should be able to supply examples of their work or direct you to their website where such examples can be seen.

Ask for references

Don’t be afraid to ask your Commercial Contractor for references. If you haven’t been able to view any customer testimonials online and have looked for online reviews but haven’t been able to find any, you shouldn’t be afraid to ask your Contractor to provide you with the names of people who can attest to their work.

Don’t settle for cheap

Finding a cheap deal is tempting but it may not be the best way to go. In the current economy Contractors across the country have lowered their prices so it really isn’t hard to find good work at fair prices. Always keep in mind that the price should match the work being done. If it sounds too good to be true, you may be dealing with a Contractor who will cut corners and you could end up with an unsafe building that doesn’t meet code. When it comes to the very foundation of your business (the building itself) your best bet is to find a Commercial Contractor with reasonable prices and happy past customers.

Keever & Associates Seattle Contractors are happy to assist clients with their Residential and Commercial Contractor needs in Seattle, WA and throughout King County.

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We were contacted to provide Seattle design build services for a basement finishing project in north Seattle.  As far as Seattle unfinished basements go this one had good head room and a relatively level floor.  The existing sewer pipe access for the new basement bathroom was too small to accommodate a full bath.  To increase the size we determined there was a 4″ side sewer line under the driveway at sufficient depth to obtain proper slope.  We then cut and demoed the concrete to create a path for the plumbing waste lines.  We then poured back the concrete floor and framed the new walls in the basement.  Insulation has been installed and drywall will be installed shortly.

With the week economy Seattle general contractors are seeing an increase in customers looking into basement finishing or converting other spaces into livable space to add living space in an economical way.

Keever and Associates, Seattle general contractors.

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If you are considering a major Seattle remodel or new Seattle custom home, design build can be a great way to go.  In a design build project the design team and Seattle general contractor are all woven together at the beginning of your project.  The design team and General Contractor work together as a design build company and partner with you the owner.

Why hiring a Seattle Design Build team might be right for you.

Designers and architects are instrumental in taking your ideas and illuminating them on paper allowing the owner to see what their ideas look like in practice.  This of course is the best time to make changes, while the project is still on paper.  In Seattle design build construction the Seattle general contractor is an active part of the team from project inception.  As the owner conveys her wish list to the Seattle design build company the Seattle general contractor is providing valuable cost feedback.

Having the designer, Seattle general contractor and owner working as partners in a Seattle design build project there can be a much more efficient process moving the project forward on time and on budget.   The lines of communication are built into the arrangement and the project team has one singular goal:

To create beautiful and long lasting spaces for the client so contact Keever and Associates – Seattle design build for a consultation.

A past post along the same Seattle design build lines can be found here. \

Seattle design build.

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Seattle general contractors need to anticipate material cost shifts.

I have a list of blogs I read for inspiration in writing new Seattle general contractor blog posts.  There’s always a lot of information to sift through.  Some of the information I come across is relevant to Seattle general contractors and some is not.  Seattle general contractors need to continuoulsy browse for new and interesting information to remain relevant and a valuable resource for their clients.

I found this article from Englewood Construction informative.  It’s on a subject that is near and dear to my heart and should be to any Seattle General Contractor.   In a nut shell the article notes the time lags in large commercial construction projects and the need to anticipate construction material price fluctuations.  They also make the point that planning your project without having a commercial Seattle general contractor on board early in the process will leave out a large part of the budget planning puzzle.  No matter what the size of the project having your Seattle General Contractor providing cost feedback early on can save time and money.  Of course with smaller projects the price of materials will have less of an impact but it still pays to work with Seattle general contractors that keeps up with construction material costs.

Seattle general contractors recommends the article linked below.

http://commercialconstructionblog.com/commercial-construction-material-costs/

Seattle General Contractors

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There probably hasn’t been a more affordable time for Seattle remodeling.  With interest rates at historic lows and most Seattle remodeling contractors cutting their rates to stay afloat in this economy, home improvement never looked so good.  Of course when considering a Seattle home renovation project its always wise to know what the cost vs resale value is.  Some home remodeling project costs are more easily recouped than others. 2009-10 survey by Remodeling Magazine gives some great data on cost vs value of some popular Seattle home renovation projects.

Seattle remodeling top ROI

Interestingly the top return on investment according to the survey is simply installing a new front entry door.  It’s the only Seattle remodeling project that returns more than it costs.  This is probably due to the fact that not many other Seattle home renovation projects go as far to improving curb appeal and first impressions as a new entry.

Up or down with a Seattle Remodeling

Because I’m a Seattle home renovation Contractor and have done a lot of Seattle remodeling I get asked weather someone should go up for more space in there house or down (ie: finishing a basement).  I’ve always recommended going up as it has a better resale value.  Well the survey bares that out with a dormer bedroom addition being one of the best returns on the list of Seattle remodeling projects.  Of course this may not always be practical but if both options of up or down expansion are available, up seems to be the right Seattle home renovation choice.

Another high value Seattle remodel project on the survey is replacing your siding with fiber cement and upgrade window replacement.  This makes sense to me in that new siding is protecting the house and new windows are making the house more efficient.  You get better protection, higher curb appeal, lower heating bills and low maintenance.

Now we can’t base all of our Seattle remodeling decisions on highest return on investment.  If your roof is shot and you need a new one, it may not have the highest return on investment but you’d better do it or you won’t have an investment.  But if we are weighing your Seattle remodeling options it might help to look at the numbers in the survey as one more piece of data to help make the decision.

It makes $ence -Seattle Remodeling

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When you flip on the tv or the radio you hear a lot about pollution and air quality.  Especially when it comes to 2nd hand smoke.  As a Seattle contractor I found the article below very interesting if not disturbing.   You would think architects and Seattle contractors would make indoor air quality top priority but there is a lot going on there that makes it less than straight forward.  Hope you enjoy the article.

Seattle Contractors and indoor air concerns.

Functional Ambiance: Designing for Clean Air | 20 Oct ’10 from Daniela

http://builtecology.blogspot.com/2010/10/functional-ambiance-designing-f…

Seattle Contractors, Keever and Associates, Inc.

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