When I asked him about the angles he told me that it was designed this way because the client needed sound control in the rooms (about six lined up on one side on the hall). The plans called for 5/8″ GWB which is a common standard for wall thickness.

I asked him if he had considered a sound dampening drywall. Even though he was an estimator and not a GC or an architect, I was surprised when he told me that he had not considered such a product and I am not convinced he had ever heard of it.

Sound Dampening Drywall

In the past three years to five years there has been an increased demand for sound dampening and privacy enhancing products. Two such products are QuietRock from Serious Materials and SilentFX™ from Certainteed, among others. These products have a polymer layer built in that adds significant sound dampening.

The same 5/8″ drywall is the equivalent of eight (8) sheets of standard drywall – and that is if you are only putting the product up on one side of the wall. With my familiarity with the product I saved the estimator some time and gave him the alternate price. It turned out that the six rooms could be framed, single side, with the special drywall for under $5,000.

The Benefits of Sound Dampening Drywall

This turned out to be an easy sell to the client. Plus the walls did not have to be installed at an angle; this saved a significant amount in construction labor as an offset to the increased drywall cost. Another benefit is that if the purpose of the building is ever changed, they won’t have to tear out walls to get a more functional standard rectangle shape.

In addition to the drywall, there are a significant variety of related products; for flooring, ceilings, etc. It is easy to overlook and undervalue these products. They are often value-adding without being budget breaking.

If you have questions about these products or other sound dampening products, call the Cumming building contractors at All American Construction at 678-455-4719.

Effective July 1, 2008 Residential, Commercial and General Contractors are required to hold a Contractors License. It is the home owners responsibility to ensure that their Contractor is licensed by the State of Georgia and a permit has been issued for their project. Failure to comply will result in fines and stop work orders from the state against the Homeowner.

2. Seek Referrals

Seek referrals from friends, family, neighbors and co workers who have had remodeling work done before.  You can also gain advise from independent trade contractors, building material suppliers, architects, home inspectors as well as your local area associations such as NARI National Association of  the Remodeling Industry.

3. Permitting

Home Owners can suffer serious consequences if the proper permits are not obtained by their Contractor. Once you have chosen your Contractor , have them pull a permit. Once done, your Contractor becomes responsible for compliance to the building code. In exchange for your permit fee, you obtain an inspection to verify the work was done properly.
4. Written Contract

Be sure your contact includes the following information; start and finish dates, written scope of work, a statement of how the contract can be canceled, dated copies of all draawings and diagrams, one year warranty, and a statement of what the contractor will provide.

5. Contractor Provides

Be sure your Contractor agrees to provide affidavits of final release, final payment or final lien waiver from all subcontractors and suppliers.

A successful remodeling project takes a more then a guy in a pick up truck in this day and age. Design-build streamlines project delivery through a single contract between the owner and the design-build team. This simple but fundamental difference saves money and time. Design-build is a method of project delivery in which one entity – the design-build team - works under a single contract with the project owner to provide design and construction services. One entity, one contract, one unified flow of work from initial concept through completion. Design-build is also known as design/construct and single-source responsibility.

Employing a design/build firm for your project is the best way to maximize and protect the value of your remodeling investment. Design/Build firms integrate the entire spectrum of a construction project under one roof, ensuring continuity, rigorous oversight and the highest quality finished product.

Design/Build is fundamentally different than the classical approach of the Architect/independent contractor. The advantages to a true Design/Build are fully realized with the seamless transition from design to construction. The trust and relationship developed during the design process is carried all the way through the actual building process. Your remodeling consultant is a consistent fixture, from the initial meeting all the way to the final walk-through.

Owner/Agency Benefits

Faster Delivery — collaborative project management means work is completed faster with fewer problems.

Cost Savings — an integrated team is geared toward efficiency and innovation. Design revisions remain flexible. Decisions are made on the front line. Waiting time is decreased between owner and contractor.

Better Quality — design-builders meet performance needs, not minimum design requirements, often developing innovations to deliver a better project than initially imagined.

Singular Responsibility — one entity is held accountable for cost, schedule and performance.

Decreased Administrative Burden — owners can focus on the project rather than managing disparate contracts.

Reduced Risk — the design-build team assumes additional risk.

Reduced Litigation Claims — by closing warranty gaps owners virtually eliminate litigation claims.

All American Construction is a design/build firm with a cohesive staff that includes architects, estimators, project coordinators, interior and exterior design consultant, and support staff. Our fully integrated process of design, pricing and construction management is efficient and rewarding – saving both time and money.

Our qualified architects and designers, working in tandem with experienced project managers and crews have an excellent opportunity to provide you with a finished project that responds to your needs and desires, and has been developed with your financial investment in mind. Overseeing every aspect of any clients projects are All American Constructions Founders Mike Sircy and Don Rowland.