Termite damage and how an expert fixes it

I worked on another home damaged by termites recently. Unfortunately, termites are one of the realities of living in Mid-Michigan. They can get into your house and do damage for months or even years before you notice. Thankfully, the area effected in this home was relatively small. Even though the damage was bad, I was able to save a lot of the wood.

Once again, this customer had been told major demolition would have to be done, then called me for a second opinion. I work with craftsmen and experts and as a finish carpenter myself, I can confidently give an estimate that saves much of that trouble for the homeowner; something that saves them money too.

With that said, since we’ve been talking a lot about termites here lately, I thought I’d talk about my approach to dealing with them.

The first thing is you do is let the pros come in and kill the termites. Exterminators are another trade that I work frequently and I always recommend the people who do it right and get rid of the bugs the first time.

Next, I inspect the damage. I get into every affected area and determine how each and every board was effected. Some wood has superficial damage and can be saved. Some has to be removed. Be wary of a contractor who blindly says you need to do a full demolition. They may be seeking easy money. For me, I’d rather put in the effort of earning your future business.

“I get into every effected area and determine how each and every board was effected. Some wood has superficial damage and can be saved. Some has to be removed.”

The photos tell that story and the story of how we did the re-framing, then the put new drywall in place, then painted and even did the carpet on the stairs.

Please, if you suspect you have termites or want a second opinion, call me at (517) 819-0429 or email me at zischkebuilders@gmail.com and get a free estimate. I can help you find an exterminator and give you an honest estimate and a path out of trouble!

"Soda Blasting" to strip historic home features

I’ve gotten quite a few questions about stripping and restoring historic homes. There are concerns a historic home owner may have about preserving original parts of the home.

During the holidays, I had the pleasure of restoring these stairs with my fiance! We were asked to come and see what we could do because these stairs were part of a historic home. The stairs and molding needed to be stripped and traditional sanding can cause undue damage to the wood, so we used a method called “soda blasting.”

Soda blasting uses Sodium Bicarbonate to strip the paint and is much easier on the surfaces beneath. We use a tight containment and negative pressure system to make sure we don’t cause a mess in your home. Then with some delicate finish sanding we’re good to go to stain it and finish. It’s inexpensive and environmentally friendly. It’s a service we are uniquely qualified for in historic homes as she is a restoration expert and I am a finish carpenter, each with decades of experience!

Here are some photos from the work in progress:

“It’s a service we are uniquely qualified for in historic homes ”

Here is a link to a DIY article on Soda Blasting if you think you want to try it out or are just interested:

https://www.doityourself.com/…/using-soda-blasting-for-pain…

If you do need some restoration work on your historic home or your home requires some delicate care, give us a call (517) 819-0429 or shoot me an email at zischkebuilders@gmail.com and I’ll come out and take a look. You can also follow us on Facebook. We love to work together and truly love restoring historic Michigan homes!

Tarp-Off work after a fire to prevent further damage

Just before the snow came in this week, I responded to a call in the middle of the night. A family had suffered a fire in their home. Between the fire and firemen doing everything they could to save the home, some significant holes were left in the home that needed some attention before the family could get back into their home and get a permanent solution in order.

Jobs like this are called Tarp-offs and are another service I am happy to provide the local community as a builder. I know going out in the middle of the night for me is no inconvenience compared to what a homeowner goes through in this situation and all I can hope for is to make their home a little more secure and offer them some peace in an otherwise terrifying situation.

I’m honored to provide this service to Mason, Michigan and the greater Lansing area, but I think the real credit goes to our firefighters! Brave men and women like them saved this house and have saved countless lives! I strongly recommend following your local fire department for news and information that could save you and your family!

I hope you never need tarp-off work, but if you find yourself in need, please call me at (517) 819-0429 and you can also follow me on Facebook.

Termite damaged home gets second opinion and second chance! Part 2

“They asked how much it would cost and I had to tell them it would actually save them a lot of money...”

I want to give you guys a progress update from one of the worst rooms in a Lansing area termite damaged home to give you an idea of how we are saving this house using skills and precision. If it doesn’t look like the same room as the previous post, it’s because we’ve transformed it!

The ceiling joists holding the original drywall up for the flat ceiling were chewed through by the termites. We removed them with intentions of replacing them, but that’s when we started to get creative ideas …

The house’s roof was built with rafters and not trusses, so we talked some options over with the homeowner. They said they didn’t really use the attic and that the house felt small to them. We asked how they felt about vaulted ceilings. They asked how much it would cost and I had to tell them it would actually save them a lot of money from labor time and materials. Their faces lit up and we got to work.

We put in the horizontal boards towards the top of the ceiling to create a beautiful shape for when we add drywall later. It’s also a nice spot to mount a large ceiling fan so we can circulate the air up there. This home went from feeling tight and small to feeling spacious and when we are done it will be comfortable and perfect for entertaining.

Along the way, we’ve had to replace load-bearing walls. The only way to do that in a home this damaged is stud by stud. This is how you save a home other contractors would demolish. Non essential walls came out between the living room, dining and kitchen areas. What started out as a disaster is turning into the homeowners’ dream home remodeling.

There’s a ton of work to do, but I’m very happy they went with us and didn’t let somebody knock their home down! I really look forward to the crew and I making their dreams come true out of this nightmare.

Follow me and I’ll keep you posted as this project progresses so you can see how my team brings it all together. You can follow this and other projects here on my blog or on the Zischke Builders Facebook page.

Termite damaged home gets second opinion and a second chance! Part 1

Imagine discovering your home is so infested by termites that some local contractors tell you it has to be knocked down (it doesn’t). This has to be the worst news for any homeowner. Hopefully, you’d think to get a second opinion in this case. My client did and it saved the house and will save them money and time too.

This isn’t because the contractor you are using is dishonest, it could be that the home does need demolition. It could be that the contractor isn’t experienced with termite damaged homes or doesn’t have a crew of craftsmen who do. Inexperienced contractors will often see any stud touched by termites will think it needs to be replaced and that isn’t always the case.

“ a quality builder can save a home with precision, quality carpentry and a crew of skilled craftsmen!”

This is why you should have a second opinion if you are told you need your home or a part of your home demolished. I will gladly come out to give you that second opinion for free.

This is a home I’m working in right now in the Lansing area and over the course of tie and a few future posts, I’m going to show you how a quality builder can save a home with precision, quality carpentry and a crew of skilled craftsmen!

In the meantime, if you think you may have a termite problem, have termite damage and have been told your home needs extensive demolition or you just have questions about restoration, give me a call at (517) 819-0429 or reach out to use through our contact page here. I’ll give you some advice or come out for a free estimate.

What does "tarp-off" work mean? It's the first step for many recovering from a home emergency

With the weather we’ve been having, it’s important to check on your home and make sure it’s secure. The wind can blow shingles off and expose your roof to further damage from the storm. You may think you need to wait for insurance money to come through before you can do anything!

That’s not true. While yes, most homeowners will want to have insurance involved before they can start full restoration work, you can always have a contractor come and perform a tarp-off. Tarp off work protects your home from further damage in an affordable manner while your insurance processes your claim.

“Tarp off work protects your home from further damage in an affordable manner while your insurance processes your claim.”

Tarp off work isn’t just for roofs and shingles. Tarp off work is often necessary after fires, tree damage and any other damage that compromises your home and exposes it to the elements.

Tarp off work is something I provide to the greater Lansing area from St Johns to Jackson. Protect your home, your family and your hard earned money. If you need a tarp off, call me any time at (517) 819-0429 and I will help you secure your home. You can also visit our Facebook page. Stay safe and stay warm everybody!

Why I became a contractor

I remember the day I decided that I was going to be a carpenter for life. I was on a parking ramp, waiting in line to park at Lansing Community College. I was halfway through year two and had plans to transfer to Northern Michigan University In the UP. I had been taking pre req classes and hadn't figured out what I'd been going to school for. It was ... just what people do, right? Then I thought about my uncle.

The reason I became a carpenter was because it was a part of my family. I started because of my uncle. He was a finish carpenter and got injured on the job. I looked up to him and wanted to help. I was almost 16 when I started going to work with him. My Dad owned an engine machine shop, but my older brother worked there and he had help.

My uncle’s injury got worse and I started to do more around the business for him. Because of school, I mostly worked weekends and in the summers. Eventually, he couldn’t work anymore and I kind of just took over his spot on the crew he ran with his cousin. I was still in high school at the time. When a lot of my classmates were partying, I was learning a craft.

When I turned 18, I started my own business and became a full fledged carpenter, but I still didn't consider it'd be how I made my living until I was in that line at the parking garage at LCC. I started looking at what I'd made so far. Everything I had, I'd made for myself by being honest, working hard and doing right by my clients. I thought "What could be more satisfying than making my living this way?"

For the record: I don't think there is anything wrong with college. I value the time I spent there, the friends I'd made and how it helped me come to my choice.

That was nearly 20 years ago and I've seen Michigan go through tough times. I always knew if I treated clients with honesty and respect, a tradesman like me would stick it out, even as so many left the state. It wasn't easy. Now, I have a family of my own and it feels like things have come full circle ...

I started doing this for my uncle, but now I do it for my family, especially the little munchkins in the photos. Things have gotten better in Lansing and all over Michigan and I'm proud to say I made it here.

I want my customers to know that when you choose Zischke Builders, this is who you are doing business with. I look forward to decades of providing dedicated, quality craftsmanship to Lansing and the surrounding communities. Give me a call at (517) 819-0429 or shoot me an email at jessezischke@gmail.com and I'll gladly help you and your family. You can also find me on Facebook.

Jesse Zischke,
Zischke Builders