Scott Martin Construction 740-215-0234

WELCOME

2020-06-30T19:49:00.000-05:00

Welcome to the Scott Martin Construction Blog. A day by day look at projects we are currently working on as well as a look back at some of the completed jobs of which we are proud.

Please use the directory at the right to find any specific job you may be interested in.

We specialise in all aspects of residential home construction and remodeling from design to finish, and while the range of projects listed on this site is broad, it does not contain all of the projects that that we have done or can do.

Please feel free to contact me regarding all of your building and remodeling projects in Hide-A-Way Hills and the surrounding area. Estimates are always free and I would be happy to show you( in person) many of the projects that you can view on this blog as well as others not shown here.

FREE GAS

2011-06-23T06:23:00.002-05:00

NEW CONSTRUCTION HOME ON CATAWBA COURT

2009-10-06T19:03:00.006-05:00

We are starting a new home in Hide-A-Way Hills. There are a few important things to consider when building in Hide-A-Way Hills which may be different than when building in other areas.
1) The building lots in H-A-H are much smaller than lots outside of the Hills.
2) The building lots in H-A-H tend to have a much more aggressive terrain than in other areas.
3) There are no public utilities in Hide-A-Way Hills.
4) Hide-A-Way Hills is an hour away from a large metropolitan area.
5) Hide-A-Way Hills institutes vehicle load weight limits during the winter months.

After looking at several different lots with myself and their Realtor, my customers decided on a half acre lot on Catawba Court. Before purchasing the lot we had a soil evaluation done to assure that a septic system would be approved for the size home they wanted to build.

The next step was to select an area on the lot to build the home and driveway, and to clear the trees. In Hide-A-Way Hills there are regulations regarding the removal of trees.

Framing the Golf Course Restrooms

2009-05-26T16:42:00.006-05:00

Over the Memorial Say weekend I gathered some volunteers to help me frame the new Restrooms for the Hide-A-Way Hills Golf Course.

The 3 day weekend was hot, but luckily the rain stayed away so we could get the framing portion done.

Now that the building is framed we can shingle the roof, install the doors and windows, and apply the trim.

Hide-A-Way Hills Golf Course Restroom Project Block Foundations

2009-05-03T17:11:00.004-05:00

This weekend the weather cooperated an we were able to get the concrete block foundations in on the Restroom Project at The Hide-A-Way Hills Golf Course.

Square Foot Building Costs

2009-04-28T21:13:00.004-05:00

I am asked from time to time "How much does is cost a square foot to build a new house?" This is a very difficult, if not impossible, question to answer with a standard square foot cost.

There is no "true standard" in building, and the prices of materials and building styles can vary wildly. Smaller homes usually will cost more per square foot than larger homes, and homes with several bathrooms and/or large kitchens can increase costs.

Building in Hide-A-Way Hills can sometimes have variables that might not be found in other areas of the state. The terrain or steep slopes of the lots in this area can dramatically affect the cost of building, as can finding contractors willing to drive the distance from the city without a travel charge.

I use several different cost estimators to help determine the final costs in an estimate that I provide to my customers. By using computer estimating software, cost books, and years of experience I can provide a free accurate custom estimate for each customers project.

Please feel free to contact me for an estimate for your new home, addition or project.

Hide-A-Way Hills Golf Course Restroom Project

2009-04-27T08:30:00.008-05:00

The Hide-A-Way Hills Golf Committee is starting a project to build new restrooms out on the course to replace the old stinky pit toilets.

A combination of volunteer workers as well as paid contractors will be used on the project.

Scott Martin Construction is volunteering our labor, as we do on all projects for the Hide-A-Way Hills Club.

Today we poured the footers and the block foundations should start going in soon.

Old House Complete Bath Remodel

2009-04-26T09:12:00.007-05:00

This week we worked on a bathroom in a circa 1900 house in Logan. The photos of the existing bath below show the fixtures were originally placed in awkward positions to have a shower in the bath.

We moved the plumbing for the tub from the left side of the room to the right and moved the plumbing for the lavatory and toilet from right to left.

Dealing with a house of this age presents interesting challenges, such as dealing with cast iron drain pipes, and plaster-lath walls.

Below the photos of the reconfigured bath show the new drywall, plumbing fixtures, light fixtures, window, and floor.

Not readily seen is the upgraded wiring, new PEX water supplies, PVC drains, and heat runs.

Kitchen Face Lift

2008-11-10T12:57:00.009-05:00

Recently we worked on a project in a home we were very familiar with. A home that we had worked on a lot for the previous owner was sold. The new owners bought the home as an investment. They wanted to make the kitchen more neutral, and update the look of the cabinets to increase the value and appeal of the home.

The existing kitchen with blue floor tile, blue back splash tile, and laminate front cabinet doors.

The existing floor tile was solid and installed on a concrete underlayment so we were able to install 12"x12" almond floor tile over it and the 1"x1" back splash tile over the existing back splash tile.

The cabinets were in good shape so we only replaced the doors and drawer fronts.

Timber Frame Roof on Kusa Addition

2008-08-19T21:50:00.007-05:00

The Timber Frame Roof on our Kusa Addition is underway. The ridge beam and rafters were sawn from pine logs at a local Amish saw mill.

The 4"x7" rafters are notched to fit the 4"x11" ridge beam.

Framing Begins on Kusa Room Addition

2008-08-19T21:07:00.007-05:00

The framing begins at our Kusa Room Addition. 2x10 floor joists are installed 16" on center to support the 3/4 " Advantech flooring panels. Advantech sub floors are both stronger and more weather resistant than either plywood or osb floors, and offer a 50 year warranty.

The floor panels are glued and nailed to the joists to avoid floor squeaks.

The walls on this project are built with 2x4 studs and 7/16 osb sheathing, which is typical for residential construction.

Lake Front Bathroom Remodel Slideshow

2008-08-05T21:52:00.003-05:00

Paving Stone Patio

2008-08-05T11:57:00.015-05:00

I was recently called by a customer on Nez Perce in Hide-A-Way Hills to replace a patio. The existing patio had been built using 12x12 flag stones. The flag stones had been installed incorrectly and had become uneven and cracked causing an unsightly and dangerous area.

To install the new patio the old stones were removed along with the pea gravel underneath. We then placed a border of pressure treated 6x6 timbers to contain a base of compacted, crushed limestone.

The limestone was then covered with a layer of leveled sand to to provide a stable base to set the paving stones. The patern we chose is called Muster K it is made with offset crosses of 4x6 stones with 4x4 stones filling in .

Foundation at Kusa Addition

2008-07-31T21:09:00.005-05:00

The 2 most important parts of a building are the foundation and the roof. If the foundation is put in properly, and the roof is built and maintained well, the building can last for hundreds of years.

The foundation consists of a concrete footer, in this case 24"x10" with two 1/2" horizontal iron rebar. The footers support the foundation walls which are normally made of poured concrete or concrete block. We chose concrete block on this project to match the existing house. The block is covered with a waterproof membrane to keep moisture out of the basement or crawlspace.

A perimeter drain system consisting of a perforated pipe covered with gravel is placed at the base of the foundation wall to carry away any water at the footer.

It is also important that when the foundation walls are back filled and graded that the ground slopes away from the house, which can be difficult on lots of this type.

Kusa Room Addition

2008-07-31T20:40:00.003-05:00

This week we broke ground

on Kusa Lane in Hide-A-Way Hills. The sloped lot is typical for H-A-H and creates interesting if not difficult building conditions. Our excavator is very experienced working on these types of home sites and was able to create an area to build on that will minimise the effect of the water from the hillside above.

Floor Tile in Lakefront Bathroom

2008-05-29T16:53:00.005-05:00

The drywall on our lakefront remodel is finished, sanded, and primed. Today we installed the tile floor. The owners chose a 1" hexagon tile that we applied over 1/4 " concrete backer board.

Lakefront Bathroom Remodel Continues

2008-05-29T16:24:00.007-05:00

The work continues at our lake front remodel. A new 34"x 60" fiberglass shower has been installed to replace the old 32"x 32" unit. These showers are designed to fit in bathrooms that have a standard 5' tub, but worked out great in our new design.

The walls have been insulated and drywalled and the first 2 coats of joint compound have been applied.

Bathroom Remodel on a Lakefront Cabin

2008-05-15T23:53:00.016-05:00

This week we started work on a Bathroom Remodel on a Lakefront Cabin in Hide-A-Way Hills. The owners requested a larger shower along with adding a laundry. Because of the age and original use of the cabin, there is not a current laundry. Cabins which are missing laundry facilities are not uncommon in HAH. This is the second laundry addition since March.

The pictures taken at the beginning of the project display the old fixtures , paneling, and the original use of space. By expanding the bath area into a small hallway and reconfiguring the two closets, we were able to create an area to add a stackable washer-dryer.

In our demo, we thought we were removing the original bathroom in the cabin. However, in talking with a long time member of Hide-A-Way Hills, and previous owner of the cabin, I learned he had upgraded this bathroom many years ago. I had never heard of such an item, but it appears the cabin was built with a destroy-let, a toilet without water that used propane burners to incinerate the waste.

Hardwood Floor Installation

2008-04-19T18:34:00.000-05:00

Bathroom Remodel on Tillamook

2007-11-22T13:07:00.000-05:00

After the kitchen and living room were completed on Tillamook the customers decided to revamp the bath as well.

We chose a 12"x 12" ceramic tile for the floor.

6"x6" ceramic tile was used on the vanity top with a 3"x12" back splash and a 6" rounded trim edge. We reused the existing sink but dressed it up with a new faucet.

To tie the room together we continued the same 6"x6" tile around the existing tub-shower.

To find out what projects we can do to revitalise your home contact me for a free design estimate.

Fence and Gate

2007-11-18T15:28:00.001-05:00

Lattice Fence and Gate

Interior Remodel on Tillamook

2007-10-16T23:29:00.000-05:00

One of our recent projects has been an Interior Remodel on Tilamook in Hide-A-Way Hills. The "face lift" we gave the home included, a new hard wood floor in the living room, a new ceramic tile floor in the kitchen, new granite tile kitchen counter tops, and a solid maple butcher-block island counter top.

The kitchen before vinyl and carpet floors with laminate counter tops.

The the floors have been prepared for the tile by installing concrete backer board.

The tile has started to be installed with an accent border around the perimeter of the floor.

We chose granite tile for the counter tops over solid granite with about a 75% cost savings.

The Butcher Block Island Top was custom made from solid maple then installed on a repositioned existing cabinet.

The completed kitchen with new tile floor, granite counter, and butcher block island.

The hardwood floor we chose to use is 2 1/4 oak with a natural finish. To cary the border in to the living room from the kitchen an inlay finished in gunstock is installed around the perimeter of the room.

Roof Replacement on Lodge Lane

2007-09-29T13:10:00.001-05:00

Bathroom Coming Together on Nez Perce

2007-09-20T07:35:00.001-05:00

Drywall Ceiling Repair

2007-09-06T15:36:00.001-05:00

Tile Grouted on Nez Perce

2007-09-06T09:21:00.001-05:00

Tile grouted

Ceramic Tile in on Nez Perce

2007-09-04T11:36:00.001-05:00

Tile in

Drywall in at Nez Perce

2007-09-01T18:34:00.001-05:00

Drywall Hung

Bathroom Remodel on Nez Perce

2007-08-31T13:17:00.001-05:00

Demo

Stairs and Landing

2007-08-23T11:48:00.001-05:00

As part of the deck project on Alpine Lane the home owners wanted to replace the stairs on the front porch to give the house a more formal entry and provide a safer hand rail system.

Deck Completed

2007-08-22T14:01:00.001-05:00

New Deck on Alpine Drive Progress

2007-08-20T20:51:00.000-05:00

New Deck on Alpine Drive

2007-08-16T14:04:00.000-05:00

One of our latest projects at Scott Martin Construction is a New Deck on Alpine Drive in Hide-A-Way Hills.

The old 5'x8' deck was in pretty bad shape and needed to be removed.

After the old deck was removed we begin construction of the new 16'x22' multi-level deck.

Holes for concrete foundations are dug 32" below grade, to prevent movement during freezing and thawing. 4x4 support posts are then attatched using galvanised brackets.

2x8 joists are installed 16" on center over twin 2x10 beams.

Golf Tournament

2007-08-11T12:33:00.001-05:00

Today Scott Martin Construction sponsered a hole in a charity golf tournament benifiting Lifeline of Ohio at Pumpkin Vine Golf Course.Lifeline of Ohio is a non-profit organization whose purpose is to promote and coordinate the donation of human organs and tissue for transplantation.

Hard Wood Floor Progress

2007-08-04T08:25:00.000-05:00

The progress continues on our Taos Lane Hard Wood Floor.

Hard Wood Floor

2007-08-02T23:18:00.000-05:00

Our current project at Scott Martin Construction is a Hard Wood Floor installation in a home on Taos Lane in Hide-A-Way Hills. The scope of this project will entail removing all the kitchen cabinets, taking out existing ceramic tile, removing a pantry to allow a new pantry to be constructed in a more convenient location, installing a patio door where a window once was located and re-installing the original kitchen cabinetry.

Shawnee Lane New Build

2007-07-19T13:30:00.000-05:00

It rained today so while I had some free time I took the opportunity to take some pictures of a home we built a few years ago on Shawnee Lane in Hide-A-Way Hills.

The owners on this project had a cabin on Lake Eagle Claw that they wanted to tear down and build a new home closer to the water.

With the new house located closer to the water, we had to design a switch back driveway because of the steep angle of the lot.

Left Side Front

The house is sided with T-111 siding and roofed with 30 year dimensional shingles.

We used oak spindles, handrails, and trim to complete the twin stairways that lead to lofts on either end of the house.

Twin Stairs

Down From Big Loft

Back Doors

Back Deck

Door Replacement

2007-07-17T19:30:00.001-05:00

As part of the porch remodel on Kusa Lane in Hide-A-Way Hills, the owners chose to replace the existing steel front door with a new solid wood door. The Nine light solid fir door was finished with exterior spar urethane to allow the natural colors of the wood to be seen.

Old Door

New Door

Country Porch

2007-07-15T15:07:00.000-05:00

As part of our remodeling project on Kusa Lane, the customers wanted a porch roof added to their garage to cover an existing deck. This porch roof is built using pressure treated 4x4 posts, 2 pressure treated 2x8 beams, 2x6 rafters , and painted steel roofing.

Completed Porch at Clear Creek

2007-07-08T21:16:00.000-05:00

We have completed the porch at Clear Creek Cottage. The 2"x8" rafters are rough sawn pine from an Amish sawmill. The roof is exposed on the underside and was constructed from T-111 plywood over-laid with oriented strand board to prevent the roofing nails from coming through.

Clear Creek Progress

2007-07-04T22:53:00.000-05:00

The dry wall has been completed at our remodel at Clear Creek Cottage. The deck is also finished with the post and beam porch and the roof is underway.

Clear Creek Cottage Remodel

2007-07-02T21:58:00.000-05:00

We've began to work on a new Remodel project at Clear Creek Cottage, a cabin in the Hocking Hills area.
The project entails building a new front deck with a post and beam roof, shingling the porch and house, and completing drywall repairs throughout the house.

Cedar Siding at Kato Court

2007-06-17T01:41:00.001-05:00

The Kato Court Cedar Siding project has been completed. During the siding installation, we were also contracted to build a new back deck along with installing a new patio door and a new window. Changing the siding on this home dramatically changed the appearance. To see how we can bring a new appearance to your home, contact me for a free design consultation

Heated Tile Floor

2007-06-14T13:02:00.000-05:00

Today, we started a bathroom tile floor project on Taos Lane in Hide-A-Way Hills. The interesting aspect of this project is the under-tile heating system we installed. The system utilizes a heating grid which is placed in the mortar, along with a thermostat mounted on the wall to heat the floor to the customers comfort level. Please feel free to contact me for an estimate for a tile floor or any other project.

Kato Court

2007-06-05T10:52:00.000-05:00

The progress continues on the Cedar Reside at Kato Court.

Cedar Reside

2007-05-30T15:59:00.000-05:00

This week we started an exterior siding project on Kato Court in Hide-A-Way Hills. A major remodel is currently occuring on the home. SMC has been sub-contracted to tackle the siding portion of the home's remodel. Originally, the house was sided with T-111 siding. The owner's choice of a new exterior will include a stained cedar lap siding installed over a house-wrap. Does your home need an exterior face lift? Feel free to contact me to discuss make-over options for your home.

Completed Porch

2007-05-24T17:14:00.000-05:00

The porch on Kusa is nearly complete. We installed the tongue and groove pine ceiling, covered it with plywood , and laid the fiberglass shingles.

Porch Remodel

2007-05-22T20:51:00.000-05:00

Today we started a Porch Remodel on Kusa Lane in Hide-A-Way Hills. Like some of our other trademark porches, we're building it using post and beam construction with timbers which were custom sawn at an Amish saw-mill.

Screen Porch

2007-05-12T11:11:00.000-05:00

Recently, I've received increased interest in building porches similar to the one I built at our Nelsonville new build. To offer my potential customers more ideas, here a few photos of the first post and beam porch I built. The screened porch measures 12'x16' contains Hemlock timbers and is roofed with mill finished galvanised steel roofing.

Sky Lights

2007-05-05T13:39:00.000-05:00

This week's project is a roof replacement on Cherokee Lane in Hide-A-Way Hills. The roof had developed some leaks over the Winter mainly in the area of some of the six Sky Lights. When we removed the shingles we found that two of the Sky Lights had been installed incorrectly and that none of them had been installed to our standards.

Water leaks are a common problem with Sky Lights, but with the proper precautions the Sky Lights I install, or the roofs I install around them virtually never leak.

My technique is to apply a self-adhering modified-bitumen underlayment to seal the Sky Light curb to the roof deck creating a watertight barrier. When the shingles and flashing are installed the underlayment is designed to seal around nails that are driven through it to provide continuous protection year after year.

Shelter House

2007-04-26T16:54:00.001-05:00

Over the Weekend I headed up a volunteer project here at home in Hide-A-Way Hills. The Golf Committee aproached me with the idea of building a Shelter House at the Golf Course. As an avid golfer and customer of the Club House I thought it was a great idea. With the help of several volunteers we were able to erect the 24'x32' Shelter House on Saturday and Sunday, and roof it on Monday.

Back Porch Roof

2007-04-25T15:08:00.000-05:00

We installed the Roof on the Back Porch of our Nelsonville new build. We wanted to use the same tongue and groove pine that we had used throughout the project. Because the pine would be both the ceiling and roof, we installed it from above. Before the metal roofing could be applied, the pine had to be covered with a layer of plywood. With this process, we were assured the screws would not show through the ceiling.

Back Porch

2007-04-17T18:04:00.000-05:00

We have begun work on the Back Porch in Nelsonville. To continue the theme from the post and beam front porch, we again used rough cut lumber from an Amish sawmill. 2x8 rafters along with a tongue and groove pine ceiling will be completed with the same green metal roof as the rest of the house.

Bath Room Tille

2007-04-15T19:51:00.000-05:00

April 15 Tax Time! Lately I've been buried in a mountain of receipts trying to get through my taxes. Now I've got them done and have some time to get back to my blog.

We installed the ceramic tile in the first floor bath of our Nelsonville new build. The tub surround was finished in a 12"x12" Terracotta tile with a multi colored mosaic accent. On the floor, we laid 12"x12" antique white tile and grouted them with the same linen as the walls.

Pine Floor

2007-04-10T11:15:00.000-05:00

Recently, we installed the floor in the living room and kitchen at our Nelsonville new build. The material is Southern Yellow Pine in a seven inch wide tongue and groove plank. The owners decided to tackle this project themselves over the week end. They installed the floor unfinished and will sand, stain, and finish later.

Collar Tie and King Post

2007-04-08T15:00:00.000-05:00

Finishing the Collar Tie and King Post was one of the final things we had to complete before we removed the scaffolding from the living room of our Nelsonville new build. The Collar Tie is a beam located about halfway up in the cathedral ceiling. The King Post connects the center of the Collar Tie to the ridge beam of the roof. By covering the structural lumber of the beam with rough-sawn ply wood then staining we were able to match the beams in the kitchen.

Club House Tile

2007-04-06T15:18:00.000-05:00

The Hide-A-Way Hills Club House Face lift continues with the tile being grouted, the ceiling and walls getting a fresh coat of paint, and new bar stools ordered.

Club House Floor

2007-04-01T18:06:00.000-05:00

This weekend I started a project that I have wanted to do for quite some time. The carpeting in the Hide-A-Way Hills Golf Club House was worn and needed replaced. Last Fall during the Buckeye Football Games held at the Club House, the funds were raised to purchase ceramic tile as an alternative to new carpet, which would quickly wear out again. With a host of fellow member volunteers we removed the old carpet, bar stools , and a stationary step which held the stools. The Hardi Backer underlayment and ceramic tile were installed next. We should finish the project in a few days, which will allow plenty of time to be ready for the Club House's season opening on April 14.

Decking Installed

2007-03-31T15:59:00.001-05:00

The 5/4"x6" pressure treated decking has been completed on the back of our Nelsonville new build.

PEX

2007-03-30T20:14:00.000-05:00

Manablock manifold

After much consideration, the home owners and I chose PEX Tubing for the water suply in our Nelsonville new build.
There are several good reasons for using PEX tubing for water supply.

1.High temperature capability, pressure-rated up to 200° F
2.High pressure capability/stability (reduced creep)
3.Smooth wall, excellent flow characteristics
4.Quiet operation
5.Reduced heat loss and condensation
6.Flexibility for design
7.Proven long life, rigorous certifications, highly tested

A PEX installation requires fewer directional fittings. Since most plumbing problems occur at joints, fewer fittings reduce the chances of leaks. The homeowner saves in the cost of the installed system, fewer callbacks, and reduced utility costs when home-run manifold systems are utilized in conjunction with PEX.

Manifold or home run plumbing systems are much like a breaker box for the electrical system in the home. The manifold provides a common location from which all the plumbing fixtures are supplied. Some high-end manifolds also feature fixture shut-off valves allowing the user to shut off the water to individual fixtures from one location. Others are semi-home run manifolds or termination manifolds, which may feed the plumbing requirements for a room or set of rooms and reduce the number of fittings required in the plumbing system.

Back Deck

2007-03-29T21:50:00.000-05:00

Today we began the framing on the Back Deck. The deck will be 12' x 42' with 12' x 22' under roof and screened.

Cricket

2007-03-26T21:05:00.000-05:00

When building a chimney on a house, a major consideration is in diverting the water running down the roof from the back of the chimney. On a house where the chimney is located on the side or near the top of the roof, flashing is all that is required. However, to divert the water on a house where the chimney is near the bottom of the roof, we build a small roof called a cricket. The photos show how the water will be shunted off to one side and away.

Chimney Completed

2007-03-25T17:58:00.000-05:00

The weather has finally broken and spring is here. With the rise in temperatures our masons have been able to complete the block on the chimney. The masons poured the concrete cap on the top of the chimney and removed their scaffold so now we can start to build the decks and the screened porch.

D W V

2007-03-18T19:25:00.000-05:00

Today we completed the majority of the drain waste vent pipe (DWV) system.

The drain waste vent pipe is part of a home's plumbing system that is specifically used to carry waste water down and away from the home, and allows sewer gases to be pushed out through the roof. Drain waste vent pipes are typically plastic.

A specialized building code strictly regulates plumbing systems. A specialized plumbing inspector checks the installation when the pipes are being put in, and again when the home is finished, right before closing, to ensure all codes are followed and the plumbing is safe for the occupants.

Kitchen Beams

2007-03-17T10:21:00.000-05:00

Today we applied the stain finish to the rough-sawn pine beams in the kitchen of our Nelsonville new build. Before we stained the beams we wanted to distress them to give an older hand-hewn look. Carving on them randomly with hand planes, chisels and sandpaper gave the pine more character, and will make them look like they've been there a long time.

Odds and Ends

2007-03-15T08:10:00.000-05:00

Over the last few days I haven't posted because we've been working to finish up some of the various stages that I've already talked about. I thought I would take this opportunity to share some pictures for those of you interested. The Wall Sconces came in and were installed, the drywall in the kitchen has been hung and taped, and we've began to install the siding on the back of the house.

Porch Ceiling

2007-03-10T09:22:00.000-05:00

We have not been truly satisfied with the look of the post and beam porch ceiling since it was built. The design called for the underside of the metal roof to show between the purlins, but the underside of the green metal is white and does not fit with our color scheme.

The tongue and groove pine on the inside exceeded our expectations so we decided to use the same material on the porch.

Ceiling Day 11

2007-03-08T19:19:00.000-05:00

The tongue and groove pine is virtually completed on the inside of the house. Tomorrow we will begin installing pine outside on the porch ceiling.

Ceiling Day 10

2007-03-06T21:56:00.000-05:00

The tongue and groove pine was completed on the bay window and the gable above it today. One more day of installation should finish up this portion of the project.

Ceiling Day 9

2007-03-03T18:02:00.000-05:00

We have finally finished the high ceiling at our Nelsonville new build and have began to start the living room walls and bay window area. We are really starting to achieve the hunting lodge aspect that we have been looking for since we began the design process.

Security System

2007-03-01T20:14:00.000-05:00

Because of the remote location of the home we're building in Nelsonville the owners decided that they would like to have a Security System installed. The system they chose is from Brinks Home Security and it is monitored 24 hours a day for both security and fire. The sensors on the doors and windows as well as the smoke and heat detectors were hard wired to the master control box before the insulation was installed. Now that the furnace is up and running and some of the dry wall is hung we are able to activate the system and provide peace of mind for the owners (and the builder who has a lot of equipment on site).

For more imformation on Security Systems go to http://www.brinkshomesecurity.com/

2007-02-28T03:15:00.000-05:00

A little roof repairing was the order of business today. A commercial roof on a garage in Columbus had been damaged by some of the recent storms. We used a Polymer Modified Bitumen, commonly called torch-down rolled roofing, to patch the problem areas on the roof. While I would never recommend installing a new roof without removing the old roofing material, torching down a patch will solve the problem until later on in the season when the customer can have the entire roof replaced.

Ceiling Day 7

2007-02-27T21:43:00.000-05:00

A few more pictures as we continue on with the ceiling in Nelsonville.

Kitchen

2007-02-23T19:11:00.000-05:00

Of all the kitchens I have worked on this one is my favorite. To be honest it was my favorite kitchen in Hide-A-Way Hills before we remodeled it. The fireplace, antique tin ceiling, and pickled cabinets were already there when w started. The Owners wanted to add an island and the existing cabinet arrangement did not provide enough space.

We began by removing some of the existing cabinetry along with the ceramic tile floor. New oak hardwood floor was then installed to match the dining room so the two spaces could flow together. Granite counter tops were then installed over the cabinets that remained as well as the new island and redesigned sink area. Low voltage pendant track lighting and recessed can lights finished the project.

Hand Split Shake Siding

2007-02-23T16:21:00.001-05:00

Today in Nelsonville we're back to applying urethane to the next load of tongue and groove pine so I thought it might be a good time to go back and take a look at a siding project we finished a couple of years ago.
Being a vacation home the owners had decided that they would rather spend time enjoying Hide-A-Way Hills while they were here rather than the maintenance of the exterior. The siding they chose to use is a vinyl product manufactured by Alcoa in their Discovery line. The resemblance to wood hand split shakes is so close that many people can't tell the difference. To complement the Pebble stone Clay of the siding all the wood around the windows and doors was covered with White custom aluminum trim. White soffit, fascia, and seamless gutters completed the job.
The combination of Pebble Stone Clay shakes and White trim give the House, Boat House, and Unattached Garage, the Lakefront Cottage look we desired. The choice of Vinyl and aluminum will provide years of maintenance free beauty.

Ceiling Day 5

2007-02-21T22:33:00.000-05:00

With a week of working with tongue and groove pine under our belts we have the front half of the ceiling installed, the master dormer and master bath ceiling done. We now are ready for another load of lumber to start applying urethane.

Ceiling day 4

2007-02-20T18:52:00.000-05:00

Today we worked our way up into the loft of the master bed room and started working on the dormer.

Ceiling day 3

2007-02-19T18:35:00.000-05:00

Today we made some more progress on the ceiling. The peak is 21' from the floor of the living room and as we get closer to the top the work goes a little slower.

Ceiling day 2

2007-02-17T19:23:00.000-05:00

Today we worked on the area where the roof lines of the front porch and the house come together. This compound mitre proved to be tricky but provided an excellent look.

Wood Ceiling

2007-02-16T08:42:00.000-05:00

We have began installing the tongue and groove pine ceiling at the Nelsonville new build. As we work on it over the next several days I will post pictures of the progress.

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Floors

2007-02-15T17:54:00.000-05:00

I thought I would take a look at a floor project we installed last year. It was really four projects, three tile floors and one hardwood.

We started with the tile in the kitchen. The owners wanted a custom design and they opted for a clipped 12"x12" blue floor tile with a 4"x4" cobalt wall tile laid at 45 degrees. In the bath we repeated the same pattern with white instead of blue.

Three inch wide oak hardwood was the choice for the dining / living room. To define the living room space, and to keep the project in the budget we were working with, we made an island of carpet surrounded by the hardwood.

Basement Osage Lane

2007-02-13T18:54:00.001-05:00

Soon after we completed the home on Osage Lane, the owner asked us to come back and start a new project in his basement. We had about 1,500 square feet to work with so we had ample area to create the living space he desired. The library panel wainscoting, stair wall, and bar were all hand crafted on site using solid Poplar. The fireplace uses propane gas logs and is direct vented through the wall. The same 12"x12" ceramic floor tile in the bar area was repeated in the curved hearth at the fireplace.

Polyurathane

2007-02-12T19:28:00.000-05:00

The cathedral ceilings and some of the walls are going to be finished with tongue and groove pine barn-siding at our Nelsonville new build. We opted for a natural finish to let the grains and colors of the wood show through. Two coats of water based Polyurethane were applied to protect the wood. The Clear Satin finish will give the pine a light golden tone and allow it to naturally darken over the years to come.

A-Frame

2007-02-11T18:18:00.001-05:00

In the summer of 2005, we took on a remodel addition project on H-A-H Lane in Hide-A-Way Hills.The owners had bought an a-frame cabin that had been unoccupied for several years. As with a lot of projects of this type, the scope of the job expanded as it went on. What started out relatively small, snowballed into a major reconstruction as we found more things needed replacing. It might almost have been less expensive to tear it down and build a new house, but we wouldn't have ended up with a home with anywhere near the character of this one. By project completion we had accomplished the following:
-Built a dormer,installed skylights, and re roofed the house.
-Built a 16'x16' addition on a basement.
-Put in all new plumbing. electrical, and a furnace.
-Installed new windows and doors.
-Created a brand new kitchen and bath.
-Covered the ceilings with tongue and groove pine and the floors with oak hardwood.
-Built over 400 sq. ft of new decks.

Garage Door Opener

2007-02-10T19:26:00.000-05:00

The garage door openers we installed at our Nelsonville new build are Wayne-Dalton I-Drive units. The I-Drive is an opener that mounts on the wall above the door and lifts the door by turning the torsion tubes.

In theory the I-Drive is great. It takes less space there's no unit hanging from the ceiling in the middle of the garage, it runs faster, quieter, and has less vibration. The manufacturer advertises a quick easy installation.

In practice the I-Drive is so finicky it's almost unusable. The door must be in perfect balance to operate, the door may work fine by hand and the opener still won't work properly. It has a built-in locking mechanism that is also problematic, one opener still won't lock at all. The one hour installation advertised turned into four or five. I have installed many other types off openers, screw, chain and belt drives, without any of the problems experienced here.

I hadn't used the I-Drive before, I tried them on the recommendation of a fellow contractor. I will never use them again, and strongly advise against them. I will admit that I made the mistake of not researching this product before we used it. Research since has shown mountains of bad experiences with the Wayne-Dalton product.

To see what others think about the I-Drive go to http://www.pricegrabber.com/rating_getprodrev.php/product_id=15255583/id_type=M/

Drywall

2007-02-09T18:59:00.000-05:00

Today we began to hang some of the drywall at our new build in Nelsonville. Most homes today have all the walls and ceilings finished with drywall. Our home owners have opted to only use drywall on only about 15% of the walls and ceilings. Normally I contract out drywall work, but with such a small amount we decided to tackle it ourselves. Its not one of my favorite parts of the building process to do but it is satisfying because when the drywall is up the framing starts to look like rooms.

To learn more about drywall go to http://usg.com/

First Project

2007-02-08T17:43:00.000-05:00

Back in the summer of 2002, I resigned from Apco Sidings, a company I had worked at for 18 years. I started Scott Martin Construction and began work on our first project a new home on Osage Lane, here in Hide-A-Way Hills, Ohio.

Hand framing, custom cabinetry, tongue & groove pine ceilings, and tiled and hardwood floors are some of the architectural features that have become a standard in our work.

Steps

2007-02-07T23:33:00.000-05:00

The Steps were built today on the front porch of the Nelsonville New build. The most important things to consider when building steps or stairs is the rise and run. The rise is the difference in height from tread to tread. The run is the distance from the front of one tread to the front of the next. I try to build all my stairs as close to a 7" rise and a 9" run as I can. My goal when completed is a set of stairs that provide comfort and safety for years to come.

Foundation

2007-02-06T20:12:00.000-05:00

Over the last few days we have been doing punch list work,finishing up odds and ends, at the new build in Nelsonville. We want to finish up all of the little jobs before we move on to the next step of applying the tongue and groove pine to the ceiling and walls. While this punch work is important, I don't particularly want to write about it. I thought that it would be better to go back to the beginning of the build and catch up.

We hired a local excavator to cut in the driveway, clear the space for the house, and dig the basement. After 10"x24" concrete footers were poured, my masons came in and built the basement walls using 8" concrete block. The walls were then grouted, a process in which concrete and steel reinforcing is inserted into the voids of the block, to add strength and stability.

Fireplace

2007-02-05T19:55:00.000-05:00

A cold snap has settled in in Southeastern Ohio, and has presented some challenges in building a Masonary Fireplace here on the Nelsonville new build. We basically had to erect a tent to enclose the entire chimney and scaffold, then heat it with kerosene space heaters.

There will be two fireplaces built side by side, one in the kitchen and the other one outside in the screened porch. They are being constructed with concrete block and will be covered with cultured stone. It's hard to see what we're doing outside because of the tent, but the inside fireplace can be seen here before the stone was applied.

Insulation

2007-02-03T13:50:00.000-05:00

As the temperatures in Southeastern Ohio have dropped to single digit lows it seems like a good time to talk about the insulation in our new-build in Nelsonville.

The insulation process is one of the many steps in the building of a home that can not be seen in the finished product, but can be felt, if done improperly in both comfort and high heating bills.

The exterior walls were built using 2x6 studs. This allowed us to use an R19 un-faced bat insulation. We then covered the insulation with polyethylene to serve as a vapor barrier and to prevent drafts.

The cathedral ceilings were built using 2x12 rafters. To ventilate the roof we first installed a baffle vent on the underside of the roof plywood. The insulation installed is an r30 incapsulated bat product manufactured by Johns Manville. The plastic encapsulation will prevent drafts while also keeping the dust and fibers out of the air during installation.

For more information on insulation go to http://jm.com/insulation

Tile Shower

2007-02-02T17:23:00.000-05:00

A few days ago I posted an article about the shower pan installed in the basement finish on Otto court. The photos above show both the shower pan before the tile as well as the finished tiled and grouted project.

Six inch tile was installed on the shower floor in a 45 degree checker board pattern of tan and brown. The walls were finished with 12" tile, brown on the bottom and tan on the top, separated by a 2" accent strip. Available inventory of stock tiles at home centers allows virtually unlimited patterns and designs for homeowners at a relatively inexpensive costs.

Bar

2007-02-01T22:19:00.000-05:00

t's that time of year again. As has been tradition for the past 20 years, I'm having a Super Bowl Party! With Super Bowl Sunday right around the corner it's time to finish The Bar, which was started in the summer.

The Bar was constructed out of a 100 year old barn door. A friend of mine found it leaning against the back of his garage when he bought his house. When I saw it, I knew exactly what I wanted to do with it.

The top was tiled with random multi- colored slate that has been sitting in a box for years and years out at my dad's. He found it in an old barn at his dad's, and I thought I should use it before my sons inherited it.

The custom pool table light was constructed using 30 empty Jagermeister bottles. The design was inspired by some Corona lights I saw in a seedy bar when on a cruise in Aruba. While I didn't drink all the Jagermeister myself, I did do my fair share.

Vinyl Siding

2007-01-31T16:33:00.000-05:00

The Home Owners opted to go with a maintenance free exterior on their home. It was decided early in the design process that the roofing would be steel and it's color would be forest green. When exploring their options for siding they found a vinyl product in a color that complimented the roof and in a profile that achieved the overall look.

The siding that we selected is Quest3 Series siding. It is a premium vinyl siding manufactured by Alcoa. It features a double thick nail hem for greater stability and can withstand winds of 190 miles per hour. The color selected is American Walnut. It is muti-colored to give a natural stained woodgrain design. This siding has a lifetime warranty against chipping, fading, or peeling.

The siding, installed over Typar Housewrap should provide years of weatherability and color retention, with very little maintenance.

For more information about this siding go to http://www.alcoa.com/alcoahomes/index.aspx

Demolition Derby

2007-01-29T21:12:00.000-05:00

Back in the fall, SMC decided that we would do a little promoting in the sport of auto racing. Well, really it was more in the sport of auto crashing. We gave sponsorship to a car in the Fairfield County Fair's Demolition Derby. Jake Martin was our driver, and while we didn't win, we did have a good showing. We managed to smash up a few cars on Friday night and several more on Saturday night. It was a fun time for us. You can look for us to be back next year.

http://www.fairfieldcountyfair.com/

Shower Pan

2007-01-29T20:26:00.000-05:00

In the design process of the Basement Finish on Otto Court, the customers wanted a relatively large shower in the master bath. The 9' x 14' area which was available for a bathroom, enabled us to fit a 5' x 6' shower in the room with relative ease. The shower was designed to have 2 shower heads, a full glass door, and would be finished with ceramic tile.

The main concern when building a ceramic tile shower is water leakage. In the diagram you can see the method we used to build a shower pan, with a thick mortar bed over a vinyl membrane. This step can not be seen when the tile is finished but is the most important step in the process, assuming you want the water to go down the drain and not out in the house.

Half Bath

2007-01-28T21:19:00.000-05:00

Winter really has started to set in and the weather has turned bad. On some of my bad weather days, I have decided to start back up on a project on Otto Court here in Hide-A-Way Hills. It is a complete Basement Finish on a newer home involving building a master suite with a bath and sitting room and a family room with a half bath. When we stopped work in the Fall, we had framed the walls, ran the rough electric, insulated, and installed the drywall. We also have both the bathrooms nearly complete.

The picture above is of the half-bath. It has natural slate floor tile with ceramic wall tile behind the sink. The sink is a glass bowl in a wrought iron bracket. The faucets are mounted directly in the wall.

Outdoor Wood Furnace

2007-01-27T19:17:00.000-05:00

Today the Outside Wood Furnace was delivered. It is a model CL 5036 from Central Boiler. It works by heating water in a boiler that surrounds the firebox. The water is heated to a temperature of 180 degrees and circulated to the home through insulated underground tubes. Water-to-air or water-to-water heat exchangers convey the heat into the structure's forced-air furnace. This allows for normal thermostatic control of temperature for safe, even and comfortable heat. This installation will also provide almost all of the hot water for the home. The owners on this project own over 70 acres of woods, so the idea of heating with a system of this type was very attractive.

Today we set the unit and made the outside connections. Tomorrow we will make the inside connections, fill the boiler,build a fire, and have heat. With a high forecast of only 25 degrees I'm sure heat will be appreciated on the job site.

For more information go to

http://www.centralboiler.com

Steel Roof

2007-01-26T00:15:00.000-05:00

This is the first residential steel roof that we have installed at SMC. It was very tricky because of the steep pitch. We love a challenge, and this roof gave us a good one.

While steel roofs are about twice the cost of an average asphalt, or fiberglass shingle roof, the durability and long life make them a good alternative. The looks of a steel roof can't be beat either.

Porch Completed

2007-01-25T22:38:00.000-05:00

The photo above shows a view of the completed porch before the metal roof was installed.