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JUNE 2011 ISSUE
Greetings!

We're excited to present the June edition of our e-newsletter to help you get more from your home. Each month, we'll offer valuable information on maintaing your home, getting the best value for your new construction or remodeling project, and we'll even share a laugh together.

Let us know what you think, and any ideas or resources that you'd like to share with other homeowners.
HOME OWNER TIPS
3 Things to Think About When Building the Perfect Patio

Outdoor patio and cabana in Monmouth County, NJ 

The outdoor patio is one of our most favorite things about spring and summer. What's better than enjoying friends and family comfortably and casually out back on the patio and in the pool? That's what this time of year is all about. 

 

If your backyard patio isn't perfect yet, or you're just ready to have it re-designed or building a new one, here are 3 important areas of consideration when designing and building an outdoor patio.

 

1. Location

Where is the patio in relation to the house? Do you have a natural view, view of your pool and backyard area or something entirely different? 

The perfect patio design should take access points into consideration. Where will people enter and exit the patio? Do those locations compliment potential uses such as grilling, dining and enjoying the sun? A patio is an extension of the home, so plan accordingly. Determining the patio uses you have in mind and how they work with the house and with its inhabitants will better prepare you for the next step and the perfect patio.

 

2. Size

How much space do you have to work with and what size patio makes the most sense for your needs? Remember, you'll likely be entertaining family and friends on your patio so ensure that the size is enough to handle everyone. As a good rule of thumb, the size of your patio should be based on the maximum number of people you expect to be using it at anytime. 

Another important size consideration is how much grass or other backyard features do you want to have? Parents with young children may want larger areas of grass than baby boomers on the cusp of retirement.

Some homeowners have a tendency to initially want one large patio, but as it turns out, if the space is available, most homeowners are better served with a few smaller patios - a cooking and dining patio, a sun deck patio and a "living room" patio.

 

3. Materials

The look-and-feel of your outdoor patio is largely based on the materials that are used. There are quite literally and endless array of finishes, materials, colors, etc.  Obviously, you need to choose carefully, but which factors go into such a decision?

Start with the end in mind. What do you want your patio to look like? What kind of "feel" should it have? Are you envisioning a dark motif or something more casual and light? Knowing what you like (surfaces, colors, lines, etc) and the type of look-and-feel you're hoping for will make those decisions about materials much easier.

 

Still can't envision the perfect patio for you and your family? Give us a call, we're always happy to help. Of course, we do have some experience in building the perfect patio

PROJECT OF THE MONTH
Pool collage

1. Backyard with pool, hot tub and sun shelf.
2. Pool with precast concrete coping.
3. Superman logo made with mosaic tile.

4. Poolside chaise loungers and view of guest house.

HOW TO BUILD...
The Right Way: The Importance of Regular Maintenance    Building a home is exciting for everyone involved, especially the homeowner. However, not all homeowner's relish regular home maintenance. That's fine as long as your home's necessary maintenace is being properly performed. Whether you do it yourself, regular home maintenance is essential not only to the performance and enjoyment of your home, such maintenance will usually identify any potential issues before they become big problems.    

The Wrong Way:
 Waiting Until Something Goes (Very) Wrong

Unfortunately, it's just too easy to let routine maintenance go and end up with a much bigger problem...a problem that likely could've been identified and corrected earlier with less cost. Little problems typically become bigger with larger costs as maintenance is overlooked. Don't let a small problem in your home go unresolved and turn into a larger problem.

Decor by the Shore Event Last Two More Weeks

 

Designer Show House - Decor by the ShoreA Designers ' ShowHouse is being staged in a magnificent historic mansion built in 1906 in Deal. The rooms are decorated by well-established interior designers, as well as decorative painters and landscape designers.

 

The event runs through June 30. We had a chance to visit the home earlier this month, and trust us, you don't want to miss these designs!

 

Learn more about Decor by the Shore and buy your tickets now.

Joke Corner

A project manager, a superintendent, and a field engineer are helping out on a coastal project. 

They decide to walk up and down the beach during their lunch hour. Halfway up the beach, they stumbled upon a lamp. As they rub the lamp a genie appears and says "Normally I would grant you 3 wishes, but since there are 3 of you, I will grant you each one wish."

The superintendent went first. "I would like to spend the rest of my life living in a huge house in St. Thomas, with no money worries and surrounded by beautiful women."

The genie granted him his wish and sent him on off to St. Thomas. The field engineer went next.

"I would like to spend the rest of my life living on a huge yacht cruising the Mediterranean, with no money worries and surrounded by beautiful women."

The genie granted him his wish and sent him off to the Mediterranean. Last, but not least, it was the project manager's turn.

"And what would your wish be?" asked the genie. 

"I want them both back on site after lunch" replied the project manager. 

Thanks for reading this edition of the Monmouth Custom Builders e-newsletter. See you next month! Don't hesitate to contact us with any questions or comments about the newsletter, an upcoming project or anything pertaining to new construction or remodeling at the Jersey Shore.

Sincerely,

Jon Levy
Monmouth Custom Builders
In This Issue
Home Owner Tips
Project of the Month
Right Way/Wrong Way to Build
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 SERVICES:
New Homes
Renovations
Kitchens
Bathrooms
Backyards
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259 Monmouth Rd.
Deal, NJ 07723

732.517.0400
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PROJECT OF THE MONTH VIDEO

The current project of the month is a remodeled kitchen and bathroom. Monmouth Custom Builders created a modern, unique space to perfectly fit the homeowner's vision and desires.

Watch the video now.