MENU
- 30 years of superior performance, craftsmanship & service
You’re ready to remodel and need to select a remodeling team. You’ve seen the term design-build and aren’t really sure what that means . We’d like to shed some light on why you should hire a design-build firm for your next remodeling project.
The more traditional approach for hiring remodeling professionals, sometimes called design-bid-build, requires first working with a designer or architect to draw your plans. Once plans are complete, a general contractor would have to be hired to interpret those plans and handle construction. However, as the term suggests, a design-build firm integrates the designer and general contractor into the same company.
We believe the design-build model ultimately results in a less stressful remodeling experience for the client. Let’s dig a little deeper into why the one-stop shop option might be the best option for you.
We bring together our design professionals, construction experts, engineers, and specialty trades (electricians, plumbers, roofers, etc.) to consult on your project early in the process. This means potential “tricky” issues are often worked before construction begins.
Our designers and craftsmen work together on a daily basis. They are in constant communication throughout your project. Since we’re used to working together we can quickly work through any issues that may arise during the job. There’s less reason for any finger-pointing or blame shifting, which can sometimes occur between architects and contractors if something goes wrong. Since we all work for the same company our goals are aligned.
In the typical “design-bid-build” model, there’s a perceived notion that you can save money on construction by getting multiple bids. However, often the initial bid doesn’t match the final price. Poor communication between designer and contractor can sometimes lead to excessive changes, missed deadlines and project delays. With the design-build model, the team collaborates from the beginning and foreseeable issues are addressed early resulting in fewer contractor-driven change orders during the project. This ongoing communication results in a smoother process with fewer delays that can add to your costs. At Classic, we also begin ordering your product once you’ve signed a contract so that most materials are on-site at the start of construction.
Regardless of how simple or complex your remodeling project is, it can be an overwhelming process by its very nature. A design-build firm reduces the number of people with whom you need to coordinate and communicate. As your full-service design-build remodeler, we handle everything. We’ll guide you through design options and selections, handle permitting and inspections and leave you with a well-built, beautiful new space to enjoy for many years to come.
We hope this helps shed some light on what a design-build firm is and why you might want to hire one for your next home remodeling project. Visit our website for more insight into our design-build process.
Hurricane season officially begins this month! Now is the time to get prepared. We’ve got 9 tips to prepare your home for hurricane season.
Make sure you don’t have any missing tiles or shingles. Check for shingles near the edge that are brittle or loose. Have any necessary repairs made now.
CLEAN UP YOUR LANDSCAPE
Now is the time to remove any low-hanging branches and unstable bushes or trees. These items can easily become airborne during a storm. Proper tree pruning can also increase the likelihood that your trees make it through the storm. Additionally, cleaning up your yard now will allow plenty of time to have the debris hauled away.
Leaking windows and doors can allow moisture in. Take the time to make sure that all of your windows are properly sealed. Not only does this protect your home during a storm, but it can also make your house more energy efficient.
Inspect things like carports, porches, decks, pergolas, and sheds to make sure they are securely attached. If they need any repairs, make them now.
Clean gutters and downspouts help prevent water from collecting around your home. By making sure gutters and drains are clear, you can help prevent instant flooding during a storm.
If you don’t have storm panels, go ahead and stock up on plywood now. This is an affordable way to protect your windows from airborne objects. And stocking up now will ensure you can get supplies. Waiting till a storm is approaching may leave you unable to locate the materials you need.
We’re talking about a whole house surge protector that can be added to your electrical panel. While this is something you’d need to hire an electrician for, these surge protectors can decrease the risk of power surges that can knock out your appliances and HVAC units.
You may want to consider protecting your outdoor air conditioning unit from projectiles and airborne debris, which can cause damage to the system. Look into a manufacturer-approved protective cover. While many people may consider using a tarp or garbage bag, using these types of DIY solutions can void your warranty and trap moisture inside.
Each year, you should walk through your home and inventory your possessions.
There are a variety of apps available to help you document the contents of your house, as well as your insurance policies. This helps you keep track of what you own and what your policies cover.
We hope these tips to prepare your home for hurricane season will help you be ready in advance of a storm. Of course don’t forget to make sure you have your hurricane kit prepared, as well as a plan for your pets and an evacuation route. For more tips on Hurricane preparedness, check out the South Carolina Hurricane Guide.
We’re back! After a 2 week hiatus, Classic Remodeling resumes operations under new safety guidelines. Although construction services were deemed an essential business and not required to close due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we decided to temporarily suspend our operations. We determined this was the best course of action for the health and safety of our employees and clients.
During our temporary shut down we required our staff to abide by the shelter-at-home mandate. While our employees were staying safe at home, we were working to gather the supplies necessary for our staff to safely return to work. We procured masks and hand sanitizer for the office and all job sites. Our management team ensured that dedicated hand washing stations would be available for each project. They also developed new procedures for material deliveries and established strict social distancing protocols.
Now that we have resumed operations, we are working under these new safety guidelines. Our staff has been adhering to the new guidelines for the last 2 weeks and so far things seem to be working very well. We are currently working on a number of outdoor projects, as well as a couple of unoccupied spaces. This allows us to limit contact with clients – for everyone’s safety. Our design staff continues to schedule virtual meetings at our clients’ request, and are also available for in person meetings if necessary. We will be adhering to the social distancing/mask protocols for any in person meetings.
We’d like to thank everyone for their patience and understanding. The health and well-being of our clients and staff is very important to us. We felt a responsibility to do our part to help our community flatten the curve.
We’re grateful to be back on the job and doing what we do best!
Now, more than ever, I’m sure many of us are looking for our own little escape; some “alone time” away from the kids you’ve been homeschooling all day, or the spouse/significant other/roommate you’ve been with 24/7 for the last month. When you can’t leave home and need to escape, create a spa at home! A space where you can relax, meditate and enjoy a little peace and quiet – even if it’s just for a few minutes.
Classic is ready to help you turn your ho-hum bathroom into a luxurious retreat. We can design an oversized walk-in shower or elegant stand-alone bathtub where you can soak your troubles away. You can add things like heated floors to soothe you or integrated home automation so you can pipe in relaxing music, control the lighting or even the water temperature. We can make all of those things a reality for you, creating your own little piece of heaven right in your own home.
However, if the timing’s not quite right for a home renovation, we do have a few tips to help you create a relaxing bathroom escape right now!
![Bathroom Vanity](/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Jones-Randall-Bath_1-683x1024-1.jpg")
It’s really hard to relax in a space where the laundry has piled up in the hamper and bath products are strewn across the vanity. The first step in creating a soothing place to escape is to clean it up! Get things off the floor and take all the “stuff” off the countertops. Create a tidy space so that the mess doesn’t take up unnecessary mental space.
Add a little nature to the room by bringing in fresh flowers or house plants. Live plants help to create a healthy environment and help create a more comfortable, tranquil space.
Indulge in a relaxing warm shower by switching out your standard shower head for a rain shower head or massaging shower head. This is an easy, inexpensive upgrade you can do on your own. No professional required!
While we love a beautiful, built-in bench seat, if you aren’t renovating right now you can still order a seat from Amazon or your local home improvement store. It will still enhance your shower and help to create a more relaxing experience.
If you don’t have dimmable lights and built-in sound just yet, set the mood with your favorite scented candles, a bluetooth speaker and your favorite playlist. If you’ve got them on hand, essential oils can also enhance the experience.
So while we’re all “sheltering at home” and enjoying all of the togetherness with our families, there are still ways to escape and enjoy a few quiet, relaxing moments. Create your own escape and when this is all over, give Classic a call and let us design and build the master bath of your dreams!
As we continue to deal with the ongoing changes brought about by this pandemic, we are announcing some temporary changes to our business operations. We hope that these changes will help with local efforts to flatten the curve and protect our city, healthcare workers, and all other essential workers in the community.
Out of an abundance of caution for the health and safety of our clients, employees, and their families we have decided that our best course of action is to follow the city of Charleston’s guidelines to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Our staff will be “sheltering at home” to ensure they are minimizing their risk for exposure to the virus.
Classic Remodeling staff will return to work with revised job site safety procedures. We will continue to follow the CDC guidelines. This includes ensuring access to hand-washing stations, hand sanitizer and protective gear for use on tasks or in conditions where maintaining a safe distance of 6’ is not feasible.
We are fortunate to have several outdoor projects ready to start that require little, if any, access to the home. This will, again, help us to ensure the safety and health of both our clients and employees.
For those who have a project in the design-phase, we are continuing to work on those projects. Our design staff will be working from home, as they are able, and will be available via video-conferencing to continue to meet with you and review your project.
Although we wish we could continue with “business as usual” the reality is business is highly unusual right now. We believe that these temporary changes to our business operations will help protect the health and well-being of our Classic Family and community.
If you have any concerns regarding these changes, please reach out to your Classic Remodeling team. Our designers and production managers are available to answer any questions you may have.
Spring has officially arrived in the Lowcountry and that means it’s time for Spring home maintenance. Since most of us are finding ourselves stuck at home with a little extra time on our hands this is a great time to start tackling some of these projects. So, if you are bored, and looking for ways to be productive while this Coronavirus has us “social distancing” from other humans, here’s a few ideas for you:
Go ahead and run your sprinklers/irrigation system and walk the property. Make a note of any damaged sprinkler heads and adjust the locations as needed. You want to make sure you aren’t wasting water by spraying the porch or the sidewalk.
The pollen has already made itself at home in the Lowcountry. Now’s a great time to tackle windows and glass doors, getting rid of all the dirt, grime and yes – pollen.
Make sure your gutters and downspouts are free of debris like pine needles and leaves. Also take this time to make note of any repairs that may be needed.
We’re already starting to see them make their yearly appearance. Take a walk around your property. See any standing water? Get rid of it where you can or determine if repairs need to be done to prevent it.
Check your screens for any holes or tears that might let bugs in. Small repairs can be done with repair kits available at most home improvement stores.
Deck or fence looking a little “tired?” Go ahead and take the time to reseal them! Make sure to clean them well before applying the sealer.
Time for some good ol’ spring cleaning! Since we’re stuck at home, this is an ideal time to tackle a deep clean. Dust the tops of cabinets and ceiling fans. Clean baseboards. Vacuum upholstered furniture. In the kitchen, de-grease backsplashes and walls. In the bathroom clean and inspect tile for any needed repairs to ensure you don’t end up with water damage down the road.
Check the attic for mold and make sure no critters have taken up residency during the colder winter months.
If you’ve got a wood-burning fireplace, the end of winter is a good time for a clean out. Remove charred logs and ash and clean the fireplace surround. Leave chimney cleaning to the professionals for a later date.
These are just a few spring home maintenance projects you can tackle while we’re waiting out our “social distancing” mandates. If we’ve got to spend more time at home, we may as well take this time to make our homes as clean and healthy as possible. And if some of the needed repairs can’t be done right now, at least you can make a list of things to address when life returns to normal.
Happy Spring!
It’s a whole new world! Thanks to the Coronavirus outbreak (COVID-19), the last few weeks have seen some dramatic changes in the way we live and interact with each other.
For those who are in the midst of a remodel or anticipating the start of their project, you may be wondering how this will affect your project.
Fortunately, as remodelers, the very nature of our business requires us to think creatively and problem-solve on a daily basis. So, we’re uniquely prepared to deal with the ever-changing guidelines and government regulations. We are monitoring the situation daily and making adjustments as necessary to comply with the current CDC guidelines.
Currently, our plan is to continue with your projects as scheduled, while adopting the necessary precautions to keep everyone safe, including increased hand-washing, sanitizing and social distancing.
If we have meetings scheduled with you, we will reach out to determine how to best interact with you to keep your project moving forward. We can continue to meet in person, maintaining social distancing guidelines, or we can schedule online meetings. If you are more comfortable postponing, please let us know and we are happy to do so.
Anyone on our staff who is sick will be sent home for monitoring until they have recovered. Any of our clients who become ill during the course of their project should also let us know so that we can take appropriate measures. This could result in a slight delay in your project schedule. We will keep you informed of any anticipated changes.
We are in daily contact with each of the local municipalities to determine their operating agenda regarding permits and inspections. As they make changes to their procedures we will update all clients on any effect that may have on your project schedule.
This is new to all of us and the situation is a very fluid one. As such, ongoing communication between our clients and their Classic project team is critical. If you have any questions about how the Coronavirus outbreak will affect your remodel, feel free to reach out to your designer or project manager or contact our office for more information.
We appreciate your patience as we work through this trying time.
We’re proud to announce that Classic Remodeling & Construction has won the 2020 Guildmaster Award and Best of Houzz Awards for service and design.
Each of these awards reflect the focus we place on quality and customer service.
This is our 16th consecutive Guildmaster win and our 6th Best of Houzz win. Additionally, we are 1 of only 6 companies nation-wide to have received the Guildmaster award each year since its’ inception.
Each year GuildQuality, a third-party customer satisfaction surveying company, recognizes members who deliver exceptional customer service.
They established the Guildmaster Award in 2005. The award recognizes home building, remodeling, and contracting professionals who demonstrate the highest level of customer service in their industries.
Over the past several months, GuildQuality reviewed thousands of survey responses for Guildmaster candidates. In order to win, candidates must get a minimum recommendation rate of 90%.
In 2019, Classic Remodeling’s received a 97% recommendation rate from customers surveyed by GuildQuality.
The Best Of Houzz award is given in two categories: Design and Customer Satisfaction.
Design award winners’ work was the most popular among the more than 40 million monthly users on Houzz.
The Customer Satisfaction winners are determined by the number of reviews and the pro’s overall overall rating on the platform.
Just 3% of the 2.5 million home design and building professionals on Houzz receive a Best of Houzz award each year. We’re thrilled to be among them!
Houzz is a great tool for those looking for home renovation and design ideas! You can create ideabooks, ask the pros questions about products or design dilemmas, and stay up to date on the latest trends. In addition, it’s a great way to find highly recommended professionals in your area. Be sure to look for the “Best of Houzz” service and design winners. These companies have the confidence of other Houzz users. Award winners will have “Best Of” badges on their profiles to make them easily recognizable.
Providing exceptional customer service is one of our core values at Classic Remodeling. We’re so grateful to our clients who take the time to provide valuable feedback on our services.
Check us out on GuildQuality and Houzz to view our latest projects and client reviews!
We did it! We met our goal of doing 30 charitable acts over the course of the year. Here’s what all we were able to accomplish during our 30 for 30 campaign:
This was the project that kicked off our 30 for 30 campaign, back in March. We collected pop tabs throughout the year and donated them to the Ronald McDonald House of Charleston to help provide funds for the needs of their residents. Thanks to contributions from our employees, family and friends, we turned in almost 10 lbs worth of pop tabs!
We made the first of what would be 4 donations to MUSC Children’s Hospital. This month we donated infant toys like trucks, musical instruments, shape sorters and baby rattles.
We paid a visit to our local fire station on Maybank Highway and dropped off lunch for the firefighters there, as a way of showing appreciation for all they do. In addition, by purchasing lunch through Firehouse Subs, a portion of our purchase will go to the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation, to be used to provide lifesaving equipment to first responders.
We’ve made a total of 4 donations to the Lowcountry Blessing Box Project over the course of the year. This first donation was delivered to the Blessing Box located at the Johns Island Public Library.. With boxes all over the Tri-county area this is an easy way to provide essential goods and hygiene products to those who have maybe fallen on some hard times. It’s a give what you can, take what you need program and there’s no easier way to give back to the community.
We were thrilled to be able to provide lunch for the teachers and staff at Haut Gap Middle School here on Johns Island. The staff was so appreciative of the gesture!
Our second donation for MUSC focused on preschoolers. We provided coloring books, puzzles, and a variety of toys for the kids.
In May, we met Landon over at the Pet Helpers facility. Landon was a tough case and needed lots of work. Having lived his entire life chained up in a backyard, he had never had much interaction with people so he had a lot of learning to do, but you could tell he just wanted to love and be loved. So, we sponsored his adoption fee in the hopes that we could remove any obstacles between him and his perfect family.
One80 Place is on a mission to end and prevent homelessness in the Lowcountry. They provide job training, shelter, and Veteran services as well as help people get into permanent housing. By providing Move-In Kits, you can make the transition from the street/shelter to a new home much easier by providing some of the “necessities” that help make a house feel like home. In June we donated a cleaning kit which included items like toilet paper, paper towels, dish soap, and laundry detergent.
Our second donation to this worthy cause was made this month – this time in the box located just across from our office at the corner of River Road and Maybank Highway.
We purchased school supplies to donate to Charleston’s First Day Festival, which provides free items like backpacks, paper, pencils, and rulers – everything students need to start off a successful school year.
Another donation to MUSC Children’s Hospital this month! This time we focused on the teenagers staying at the hospital. Loads of fun socks, bath products, handheld games, cards, journals and makeup were donated to help ease their stay at MUSC.
Some of our office staff took some time out of their morning to head over to the Ronald McDonald House to prepare breakfast for their residents. Ronald McDonald House provides 3 meals a day – at no cost – to their residents.
We all know that teachers are underpaid and too often have to use their own money to purchase supplies for their classrooms. We had the privilege of being able to purchase ALL of the items on the wish list for the Art Teacher at Buist Academy, who teaches art to approximately 500 students in grades K-8.
Educational Passages provides students with an opportunity to build a five-foot long, unmanned sailboat, complete with GPS tracking. Once building is complete, they launch their boat and monitor it’s progress over the course of the year. We’ve donated a boat to the students at Buist Academy who will be working with their sponsor and the team at Educational Passages to learn about ocean currents, weather, technology and more.
This month we sponsored Clark Kent. A good boy who was getting overlooked in the shelter. Hopefully, with adoption fees covered, he would find his forever home!
Another donation to One80 Place – this time a kitchen kit. One of the goals of One80 Place is to get people into their own homes. Providing basic kitchen supplies like dishes, pots and pans, silverware and pot holders, helps make the transition a little easier.
We put our employees to work, collecting new and like new clothes, books and stuffed animals for Lowcountry Orphan Relief.
We have really enjoyed having the opportunity to work with some of our local schools this year, especially those where some of the younger members of Classic’s family attend. This year we are pleased to sponsor the College of Charleston Symphony Orchestra and the Stiles Point Elementary’s Fall Festival.
Our donation this month was delivered to James Island – a box located on Folly Road near Martin’s BBQ.
Although Hurricane Dorian swept through the Bahamas in September, the work to rebuild the Islands will take years. Water Mission, a locally based non-profit agency that works to bring clean, safe drinking water to the people most in need had boots on the ground from the very beginning. Their work continues in the Bahamas as the country still work to restore water service and repair infrastructure. We kicked off a campaign, through Water Mission, to help aid their work in the Bahamas recovery. If you’d like to donate, the campaign is still open. You can make a donation by clicking here.
NOVEMBER
Our final donation to the blessing box project was delivered to the box near the Barrier Islands Free Medical Clinic on Maybank Highway. This is such an easy way to provide much needed food and personal hygiene products to those in need in our community!
Our donation this month checked off not only one of their suggested move-in kits, but also some of their most needed items! Linens! We provided sheet sets, bath towels, wash cloths, hand towels and pillows to the shelter this month.
One last donation for the year to MUSC. This time we loaded them up with art supplies –crayons, markers, color books, paints, glue sticks, craft kits and so much more!
At our annual client party this year we asked all of our guests to bring a new, unwrapped toy to donate to Toys for Tots. Our guests were so generous that by the end of the night our donation table was overflowing and toys were lining the wall. We filled the back of a Suburban and it took 4 people 3 trips each to unload everything. We’re so grateful for everyone’s generosity!
We sponsored 2 kids through the Salvation Army Angel Tree program this year – a 9 year old boy and a 10 year old girl. We provided clothing and a few special toy requests for each child.
Operation Christmas Child, sponsored by Samaritan’s Purse, delivers shoeboxes full of Christmas goodies – with everything from toys to school supplies and personal hygiene items. These shoeboxes are delivered to children from around the world. Our team put together 12 shoeboxes – 2 boys and 2 girls from each age group.
When one of our employees approached us to tell us about a toy drive being sponsored by her church that had fallen well short of their goal, we said Let’s help! Specifically, they hadn’t received much in the way of donations for older kids. So we sent in a variety of thing – games, jewelry making kits, purses, backpacks, clothing and lots more!
Just before Christmas a few of our employees volunteered their time to build a ramp for Operation Home. Operation Home is a local organization that provides things like wheelchair ramps, critical home repairs, and a heating/cooling program that helps improve accessibility and living conditions for those who need it most. Their program caters mainly to veterans, the elderly and those with young children living in the home. We were honored to be able to provide this new wheelchair ramp for a local resident, and hopefully improve her quality of life in her home.
We’ve finally reached #30 on our list, just in time for the holidays and our company Christmas party. We’re having one last get-together before we close down for the holidays. This was the perfect time to get everyone in the company to participate in our last act of giving for the year. Our employees donated canned goods for the Lowcountry Food Bank, which will be delivered just before Christmas.
We can’t express how much we’ve enjoyed getting to know some of these wonderful organizations around town who give so much. We were happy to just be a small part this year.
The weather may have been gloomy, but nothing could dampen our spirits this past Friday night as we gathered together with clients, coworkers, family and friends to celebrate Classic Remodeling’s 30th Anniversary.
Harborside East in Mt. Pleasant proved to be the perfect venue for this occasion. The evening went off without a hitch, thanks to the coordination and planning by Stacey Events. Cru Catering treated us to some delicious food, (including the requisite oysters) and Fowl Play provided the musical entertainment for the evening.
This year, we asked our guests to bring a new, unwrapped toy to donate to Toys for Tots, and everyone came through. The toys were spilling over our donation table by the end of the night!
Thirty years in our industry is quite the milestone. We are very grateful to our loyal clientele. Thank you for inviting us into your homes and giving us the opportunity to do what we love to do. We also have to thank our partners – all of our subcontractors and vendors – many of whom joined us to celebrate. You help us deliver on our promises of quality and craftsmanship. Finally, to our employees, your dedication to your craft has made Classic the premier residential remodeling company in the Lowcountry.
Thank you for 30 wonderful years! We’re looking forward to many, many more!
1832 River Road, Johns Island, SC 29455 T 843.763.3297 | F 843.766.9342 E dreams@classicremodeling.com
© 2024 Classic Remodeling. All Rights Limited.
