Expanded Kudzu Review

When writing the review for Kudzu.com on DPS, I had no idea it was limited to 250 words. You can't write a good review in that amount of space! People want details! And here is the full, expanded review of our experience with DPS.

When we first decided to undergo an extensive home addition project, we heard plenty of horror stories from folks whose general contractor experiences were disasters. What we found with DPS (which we found on Kudzu.com) was a very atypical contracting experience compared to what we had heard. By reading this review, you may have just stumbled onto one of the best general contractors in the state.

If you are looking for a company that prides itself on integrity, accountability, quality, communications, and a genuine concern for the customer, then be sure to include DPS in your mix. They are big enough to handle the job, but small enough to work one-on-one with you so you're not just a folder or a number on the books.

Our project was very complex, a two-story addition tied into our existing home. This was basically building a small house, as the project had all the elements of a new build ... permits, demolition, foundation, framing, roofing, electrical, plumbing, and all the finishing touches for approximately 1100 sq. ft. We also had our kitchen countertops replaced and our front stoop demolished and a full front porch constructed.

In the bidding process, Todd (the owner of DPS) was great to listen intently to what we were asking to have done, then he would acknowledge the possibilities, but would also encourage us to consider alternatives we may not have realized were possible, and many of these were at cost savings to us. He would even sketch out his thoughts on our architectural drawings or in his notebook to be sure we understood what he was envisioning. He educated us without belittling us.

Todd and his crews handled each stage of construction with diligence, professionalism and quality. Even when challenges came up during the project, they were met head on with solutions and even alternative solutions when it warranted, and we were fully engaged and kept informed of what our options were. While we started in August and finished in early November, the true bulk of our project was concluded in a little over two months ... well within the timeframe expected, and with less than a 2% overage in budget, much of which was attributed to unexpected expenses that seasoned contractors just can't forecast. For a project this large, we were very pleased with the results.

The construction site was kept clean, and DPS did as much as they could to minimize the impact of construction on our daily lives. This was of utmost importance as we have three children in our family. We had full trust in having DPS at our home during the course of this project.

So what's the catch? These guys are in demand and their reputation is growing ... much of their success is attributed to repeat business from existing clients who have discovered what a great experience it is to work with DPS.

Two words of wisdom from our positive experience with DPS ... when you enter into a contract with a general contractor, go into it with the sense of partnership. Working WITH your contractor results in a much more pleasant experience ... and if you can secure a contracting company like DPS who will meet you in the middle and is dedicated to striking the balance between customer needs and running their business, then you've struck gold. Also, for large projects, be sure to build in time every week or so to review the project expenses to date ... it may help drive decisions as you work through the various stages in the project. You'll be glad you did.

If you are planning a remodeling or addition for your home, contact DPS. Their slogan is "Building Relationships with Homeowners" ... and we found that to be the case.

"It's the Ghost Light!!!"

OK ... this is just funny. Last night, I was in the guest bedroom. During our addition, we had a ceiling fan installed in this room, and it's on a remote.

When I was leaving the room, I turned the fan off and the light off. I put the remote down and while I was exiting the room, the light came back on.

Weird.

I went back, looked at the fan (which was still slowing down from spinning) and turned the light off again, and stared at it. No light. OK, so I put down the remote and was leaving the room. Light back on. I whipped around and looked at it again. Light goes off ... then comes back on again.

Getting freaky.

I started to apply some logic ... perhaps there was a loose wire and the slowing motion of the fan was slightly wobbly and causing the wire to engage. While highly improbable, since the turning off should cut power to the fixture, it was the best I could come up with. I tapped the fan blades to slow it to a stop, and turned the light off again, and dropped the remote and ran into the kitchen.

This time, the light stayed off. OK ... mystery solved. But was it. I peered around the corner. As if a ceiling fan angel was playing a game with me ... the light comes back on.

Blimey!

So I step back in the room and wondered if there were strange electrical forces at play. About that time, Veda comes downstairs from Leah's new bedroom. I pointed to the fan, somewhat speechless. She said, "What?" I said, "The fan ... it's possessed." At that point, she began to laugh and said, "No wonder ... that explains it!"

[Confused look.]

"We were just experiencing the same thing in Leah's room, and could not figure out what was going on," she said. Ah-HAH! It was the battle of remotes, both still on the default codes from the manufacturer.

And there was much relief.

The CO is In!

Well, it's official. We have our CO in hand. (Certificate of Occupancy) ... so we can live in it now!

I guess the pressure will really be on now to get photos out. It's like a dream ... our backyard is now a living space and we are really excited to start using it for the holidays!

[Doing the happy dance.]

The Final Stretch

We're coming around the final turn and into the home stretch. And boy does it look good!

Not much left to do ... the major thing left is carpet. All the other stuff is "knick-knacky."

Amazing. I promise photos to come. Veda's grandmother passed away this week, and we're coming up on back-to-back weddings. But photos will be here eventually.

Down to the wire ...

It's amazing how much of an impact items have when you get toward the end of a remodeling or an addition. The items here at the end are the visual ... the outward appearance of all the good things that have been building up to this moment!

We have granite countertops. Cabinets. Tile floors. Painted walls. Lights everywhere (with electricity to come). Thermostats. Ceiling fans. Shower door. Vanity tops. Faucets.

Literally, when I walked in the house last night ... it was a steady procession of "whoa ... wait, whoa! Look over there ... whoa! Awesome ... exciting ... doesn't this look good? WHOA!"

Pictures to come. You'll just have to wait.

Movin' Right Along

Progress just keeps coming ... one thing after another!

Tile is gone from the kitchen ... goodbye white and blue. Here comes travertine (the only place in the house where we could afford it ... in little squares!) =8^]

Leah's shower has been templated out for the frameless glass. Tile for gathering room and paint are up next. Cabinets and carpet are on the way.

It's very cool.

Where has the time gone?

Yes, it's been a while since the last post. Things have progressed so quickly, it's been tough to keep up! And we've been shopping for everything under the sun. Bathroom tile, countertops, granite, carpet, lights ... you name it! Exciting!

Here's some of the latest photos. Basically, we have sheetrock and trim up, and the tile in Leah's bathroom is well underway and almost done (no grout yet). We'll have to take photos of that soon.

Metal roofing on front and back porches is progressing piecemeal. It is really shaping up!

Before you know it, we'll be done! Woo-hoo!

http://picasaweb.google.com/commguy101/20081013Web

Like a hazmat area

Our project continues to move along at a good clip. Doors, windows are all in. Plumbing (pipes, drains, etc.) and electrical wiring and subpanel are in.

Today was insulation. And somehow our general contractor has our doors tied into the alarm system. Very cool.

Next up is sheetrock. In an effort to keep the dust at bay, we have two huge sheets of plastic up to seal off the new construction from the old. Our breakfast area looks like a scene from E.T. (when he was dying at the end) or one of those scary biohazard movies when something is dangerously wrong (for those of you too young to remember E.T., which is a shame in itself.)

Once the sheetrock is in place, I'll take another round of pictures. Veda took some today for me before the insulation got put in so I'll remember where all the wires are.

No words ...

We were just about speechless this week. Things went very fast! The front porch, rear "pavilion" and everything in between is just amazing. It's really easy to get excited when you see things coming together and a plan being executed! Enjoy the pics.

http://picasaweb.google.com/commguy101/20080920Web#

Gathering Room ... In the Buff

Here are some pics of the first floor "without it's clothes on" ... I had to head to church before getting to the upstairs. More to come!

http://picasaweb.google.com/commguy101/20080914Web#

Like Extreme Home Makeover ... but BETTER

I've always thought it was pretty amazing to see folks build a house in a week on Extreme Home Makeover.

But now we're looking at it in our own back yard!

In two days, the framers have just about done the entire job. It's 2 p.m. and they are still working. It's possible (from my untrained eye) that they may finish before the day is out.

The front porch framing looks totally done. As does the back porch and the breakfast knockout. They have built the stairs to the upper floor, and they are tying in the roof at the top.

http://picasaweb.google.com/commguy101/20080913Web#

FYI ... for best viewing of the photos, click the link, then click on one of the pictures. Then advance manually. Doesn't stick the captions on top of the photo where it can block out some of the image.

Concrete Progress

There's concrete at the Bush household, and it really looks good. The front and back porch have been poured, and both are going to be great places to sit, visit, and enjoy company.

The foundation block wall is also now in place, and they should start backfilling the area on Monday.

http://picasaweb.google.com/commguy101/20080906Web

Steel, wire and plastic

All the underpinnings of a slab porch, and they were there on the ground last night! The back patio (future screened-in porch) is going to be awesome.

Concrete blocks and materials arrived this morning, then Veda called and said a concrete truck was at the house. Pictures to come!

Dig, dig, dig

Structural engineer says to keep digging in some places. And so they dig. Pretty soon, we'll have a direct route to take Amy for a visit to her ancestors. China, ya know.

The aggressive plan ... engineering signoff tomorrow or Thursday ... more rebar laying and footings poured Thursday or Friday.

Smiles, everyone. Smiles.

Project Break

I'll take a break in our project (trenches and footing holes drying out) to share something important. DO NOT MISS THIS. GO SEE IT ON OPENING WEEKEND. I'm not kidding. We were very fortunate and grateful to screen the movie at the Fox Theater this evening. Do your life and your marriage right ... get your tickets and go. Not married? Doesn't matter ... it's something we all need to hear. Especially in these times. Opens September 26th. DO NOT MISS OUT.

What happens when ...?

What happens when you are skirted by a tropical storm that has moved inland and is sucking up moisture from the Gulf of Mexico? You get about four inches of rain.

What does four inches of rain in a short amount of time do to the ground? Yes, makes it softer. What does softer ground do to an inspector? Makes them frown. What does a frowning inspector do to a mason? I think it drives them to curse, particularly when the ground was rock solid when they dug out the trenches and footing holes to begin with. What does a cursing mason do to a good general contractor? Drives him to act.

What does a good general contractor do when he's driven to act? He pulls in a structural engineer to find out alternatives. He assesses the situation and determines if it is cost effective to delay the schedule a couple of days to let the trenches dry out before a reassessment from the structural engineer. He weighs out the benefits and the risks. He monitors the weather forecast. And then he communicates what's going on to the client.

What happens to a client when he has a good general contractor? He grins, knowing he made the right decision on his selection for the job.

=8^]

So ... now you know.

And as a side note ... what happens when fluid mysteriously pockets below your lung when you have not had any sickness? It feels like a heart attack. Just FYI. Never mess with those symptoms. Get it checked. Pronto. I mean it.

A new amusement ...

Six Flags is pleased to announce the unexpected opening of their newest park: White Water West Cobb.

Thrill to the dangers of Footings Flume, where you'll take a few drops around the dangerous rebar before landing in the murky Back Wall Gulch. Catch the Gulch on the west end, and you'll be over the embankment and floating down a Lazy River toward the wonderful view of Bovine Valley.

If excitement is not your thing ... try out our new Plastic Porch Playground, a slippery sliding area complete with three watering holes ... perfect for that quick plunge.

White Water West Cobb ... visit quick before it evaporates!

Day 7 Update with Photos

Here's where we are as of 24 Aug 2008. Man, when things start, they get off to a bang!

The front porch stoop (concrete and posts) are gone. Amy called me at work and said, "Daddy, the front porch has disappeared!!" The roof is still there, but the ugly rotting posts are history.

The rear footings have been dug and trenched out. They will support the exterior walls and will be blocked up to hold the fill for the concrete slab.

When we were reading reviews of our contractor on Kudzu.com, so many folks noted how Todd and his crews keep the jobsite clean. Check out the photo of the old pavers that Todd and Chris pulled up ... they STACKED them.

We took Todd, Chris, their wives, and Lee (our HVAC guy) and Trudy, his wife and Veda's sister out to dinner Friday evening. It was nice to actually get to talk with them outside of the job and we're looking forward to the project progressing.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7995859@N02/show/

We Demand a Shrubbery

Well, I think we're officially on Day 2! Veda called me yesterday morning and said, "Well, there's a tractor in the back yard." Perhaps a backhoe ... I didn't see it. What I did see when I got home yesterday was the absence of bushes! (No pun intended.)

Work continues on figuring out the front porch issue, but we're getting to an answer there. It's a minor glitch that will work out. This is why you find great people to work with ... they work WITH you. Did I tell you we had great people? They are OUR people. Call them up and use them if you can.

We bought the tile we were looking at for a while now ... and it had been further discounted at Home Depot Clearance Outlet! Gotta love a sale at a clearance outlet! It cemented our decision on the tile, and it's very nice. For you tile oficionados ... PEI rating of V. It's Brazilian tile, so the grading doesn't match ANSI standards, but it's First Quality and classified as LD, which is for commercial uses (heavy traffic) and all residential applications. It's about 1/3" thick (8.5mm) and we got it for a steal at 60¢/sq. ft. They were so heavy, we could only buy half of the amount we needed. Veda went back to buy the other 14 cases today so we could have tiles from the same batch for coloring.

http://picasaweb.google.com/commguy101/20080814Web

Pulling up to the starting line

GC Todd called today and has our permits in hand. Woo-hoo! It was late in the day, so we'll probably start Monday.

Appraisal came through today ... much better than the computerized valuation. So that is a total relief.

Our front porch is morphing somewhat. The original drawings had the lower sill of the center window lined up with the sills of the bedroom windows, but in reality, it's about eight inches (or three bricks) lower than the others. That flattens out the gable of the front porch.

So we're reworking it somewhat. I even got into the act and digitally edited the preliminary design to see if we can keep the gable design, which we really fell in love with at the start. Hopefully it will all work out. We have a GREAT architect and a GREAT general contractor, so I think we're in the best hands.

Here are some photos of the house before the real work began!

A New Day 1?

OK ... so Wednesday didn't pan out on the zoning, but GC Todd was relentless to chase them down, and we finally got word that our temporary permit was cleared today. So the project can begin!

This after GC Todd led me to believe they hadn't cleared us, because it meant they would have to start granting temporary permits for everyone. But fortunately he didn't hold on to that story for long and he let me off the hook. I told him I needed to go change my shorts, because what he had been saying meant the project would be held off until October.

What goes around, comes around.

You see ... I had it coming to me. I did the same thing to him when I called him to let him know they won the bid. I had texted him and asked him to call me, because I did not want to email what I needed to talk with him about. He called immediately, and for a brief minute, I talked as if we had gone with someone else, but finally gave in and told him the truth.

Touché. Point ... Hanlin. Tie game. This is going to be a FUN project. Stay tuned ...

BIG Day

August 13th ... a big day for us.

• We should have an answer from the zoning commission as to whether or not we will get our temporary permits.
  
• The appraiser came by this morning to give us our current value for our equity financing.
  
• We're signing the contract. If all goes well, today will be considered Day 1!

The Calm Before the Storm

OK ... we're in that quiet moment before everything starts. Eerie.

We completed our variance application and dropped all that paperwork off with GC Todd, who is coming back from his family vacation. We're in Gulf Shores for our family reunion and our short but sweet family vacation.

It's like taking a deep breath before diving in.

But it's going to be awesome. I just feel it. For those of you who would be so inclined (and even those of you who wouldn't), please be praying for our project, our contractor and our subs and their families, for safety during the project, and for sanity. AMEN.

The First Panic Attack

Well, it was inevitable. The first hurdle to be thrown up when you're doing a good thing.

Our existing garage (not a part of our remodeling job) is not in compliance with county zoning.

Our GC Todd was prepping to pull permits and noticed on our survey that the garage sits beyond a 45' builder setback from the curb by about 8', and that our new front porch is drawn in a manner that clips it by about a foot as well. While we were under the impression from the surveyor that this shouldn't be an issue, in reality, this was not going to work.

And submitting a variance would not be approved until the public hearing on October 8th.

Blimey!

To top it all off, they could not find any variance which allowed for the garage to be where it is on the property. If there were a variance already on file, we could proceed under that variance. How could that have happened? Our neighbors are on a 35' setback ... did someone think we were also? If there was not a variance, how did our home get approved for occupancy when it was built if the garage was not behind the line? Oy vey.

I tracked down the previous owners in Columbus ... they had no idea. They were either not the first owners or they bought it as a spec house. We're also trying to contact the original builder, but no success yet. We'll keep trying.

Our options? Well, waiting until mid-October is out. Changing the depth of the front porch would help with the new construction, but we'd still have a property out of compliance. For those of you who know me personally, I'm a big rule follower, not a rule breaker. I need to pick up the house and shift it back 10'. Also out of the question, methinks.

This is where a really good GC steps in. And he did in spades. Todd and I had a phone tennis match for the next half hour, and he had been in the zoning office figuring out what our options were. There was a folder for our subdivision missing from records in the basement ... it's possible our variance is in that missing folder. Anyway ... we're going to keep moving and try to work with the zoning office within the appropriate rules and regulations so we can get permits to proceed.

Todd left for a well-deserved family vacation, and we've got our homework to do ... filling out the variance application and getting letters from our neighbors stating they have no objections to the existing garage (which has been there for years, obviously) and no objections to the new front porch. Should not be an issue. Stay tuned.

Breathe in ... breathe out. Ahhuuuummmmmmmmm. [Repeat]

Early "Contractions"

We met with Todd on Tuesday night to go over the statement of work and the draft contract. It's much tougher than we thought ... so many decisions to be made. Options left and right. But after two and a half hours, we were really close, and I think we've made our decisions about what stays and what goes so the statement of work can be finished and the original quote revised into a more accurate picture of what will happen. At least, as we see it this week.

One of the funnier moments ... we were reviewing the contract and there is a line item in it that talks about the contractor's right to bring other potential clients in during the project so they can see work in progress. The discussion went something like this:

Todd: "Now realize ... I won't be sending someone over to your house to walk around and look at stuff by themselves."

Veda: "Oh, let me tell you ... we've got hawkeyes for neighbors. They have already called in the past saying, 'Veda, there's a guy sitting in a truck out in your driveway,' or 'Veda, I just wanted to be sure you knew that someone is in your backyard.'"

Todd: "Well, we won't have a client just showing up at your doorstep saying, 'Todd said I could come over and look at your new room.' They would be with us."

Veda: "Right. Well, I've told the neighbors, 'There's going to be all kinds of strange men coming in and out and around the house in the next few months, so not to worry.'"

Chip: [Scowls, making that same face when you hear something that's not quite right. If you're not sure what it looks like, go to a mirror and pretend your spouse just said that there will be many individuals of the opposite sex coming to your house while you're not there. Yep, that's the face.]

About the Contractor

This had to be one of the toughest decisions we've made as a married couple. We started out with five contractors bidding on this job. Originally, we separated the front porch job from the rear addition, but as time marched on, we merged the jobs into one monstrous undertaking.

By the time we were down to two contractors, the decision was becoming almost uncomfortable. We had two Godly men, both displaying integrity and honesty. Both showing that they had the skills to undertake the job. Each bringing a set of positives and negatives to the table that just about balanced out each other. But we could only pick one.

And that selection went to Todd Hanlin of Distinguished Products & Services.

We'll reserve final judgement on Todd for the end of the project, but for now, we've been impressed. He's not only a general contractor with rave reviews on kudzu.com (which is actually where we found him) and excellent feedback from the referrals we called, but he's also the team lead for the D.i.R.T Ministry out of Wildwood Baptist Church in Acworth. They have partnered with a local church in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi for the purpose of helping with disaster rebuild efforts from Hurricane Katrina. As of this posting, they have actually just returned from one of their trips.

So, next step is the contract. Pray for us all on that one! =8^]

About the Architect

We chose Peek Design Group to draw up the plans for our addition and the front porch remodel.

This was a debate ... not selecting Peek, but whether or not to have architectural drawings and the expense that comes with it. But boy, was it worth it!

The main benefit is that it gave us concrete plans to hand over to prospective contractors and to say, "Bid on this." Levels the playing field quite a bit.

Dale was great ... he met us back in May (I think) and listened very intently to what we wanted to do. Then he brought out Lauren to draw up initial designs based on our feedback. What we got back was beyond what we could have dreamed up. They were brilliant. Two thumbs up!

These are just the preliminary drawings. The architectural drawings are so detailed, I thought it was just easier to drop the prelims out here.

FRONT VIEW


SIDE VIEW


REAR VIEW

The journey starts here ...

Years ago, when we bought our current house, we made some choices. The biggest one was selecting a wonderful house that did not have a basement. We knew that would have stipulations on how we would grow with the house over time. But we absolutely love our cul-de-sac, our neighbors and our location. Combined with the current economy, moving has been dismissed as an option.

So now we're building our basement, and you're invited along for the ride.

No, no, no ... we're not digging out a basement under the house. We're adding on ... creating a "wing" if you will. A two-story addition coming off the back of the house. The first floor will be a new "gathering" room. The second floor with have a new bedroom and bath. There will be a new set of stairs to connect the two, and an extension of our breakfast area. We're also ripping up our front porch stoop and replacing it with a true Southern gathering porch.

Why would we do these things? Three primary reasons:

1) We love our home, and we love opening our home to others when we can. We think that God is positioning us to be more active in hosting adult events at our home, such as teaching Intimate Encounters through our church. With adults comes children. Sometimes more kids than adults. And with only one stairwell that lands in the current great room, it makes it tough to have a place for kids to play inside and to come and go outside without interruption.

2) We want to be the home that our pre-teen daughter and her friends want to come and crash at. Watch a movie. Play games. Veda and I both grew up in homes like that.

3) Our oldest is getting to the point where it will be easier on ALL of us if she has her own bathroom. Once she graduates, we'll pass the bath along to the next child.

So, we're in for a fun 3-4 months ahead. Grab a Coke and some popcorn and join in the mayhem. We promise we'll keep it PG.

FRONT ELEVATION

REAR ELEVATION