Monday, December 19, 2011

Thank you for visiting our Blog Ask a Remodeler.


I have been in building since graduation form college where I majored in Industrial Technology and Business. After being graduated from East Carolina University my father took me as his partner and we started our current business of Conrad & Conrad Inc. where we continued to build new homes and started changing our focus to additions, remodeling and repairs to residential and commercial properties with our main focus on quality building, customer service and customer satisfaction.  Visit us on Facebook also.


 My wife Angie worked part time with us until 2 years ago and then joined the team full time in 2008.  She attended Lee's McRae College and has taken several business classes at Forsyth Technical College and continues to attend seminars and continuing education events with me.


Our mission at Conrad and Conrad is quality remodeling and building with very personalized service and assistance in the design, product and material selection and completion of your project.  We want you informed of where your money is going.  We will visit the suppliers with you if desired so you will know exactly what you are getting. We use various trade subcontractors that are licensed and insured that have completed many projects with us during our 24 years of service.


We have and are;


  • NC Licensed General Contractors
  • a member of the local BBB
  • a member of HBAWS and NCHBA
We are experienced in;
  • Room additions of all types
  • Kitchen Remodeling
  • Bath room remodeling
  • ADA and Aging in Place Remodeling
  • Basement and Attic Remodeling
  • Screen porch and Sun room Building
  • Deck Building and repairs
  • Custom Home Building
  • Pre Engineered Steel Buildings
If you have questions, please post them and we will see if we can help you.
Thank you and we look forward hearing from you.

Friday, December 16, 2011


Now that we have everything tore out and cleaned up, its time to get started putting your dream bathroom back together.  At this point,  you have selected your fixtures, tile or vinyl, faucets, lighting and they are already here.
Items that we would assist you with which is a part of our service;

  • Toilet
  • Tub or tub/shower
  • Tub or tub/shower faucet
  • Vanity and top
  • Lavatory faucet
  • Floor covering (vinyl products, tile, hardwood...)
  • Floor tile and pattern, shower tile and pattern and grout colors
  • Paint colors

Monday, December 12, 2011


The tear out is probably the most intrusive part of the entire process. It is loud, quite a bit of traffic and dusty.
We try to keep things simple as possibly to protect you and your home. Let's get started and walk through the process.

    All floors and the rest of the home have to be protected
  1. Install carpet guard, 6mil polyethylene and drop cloths on the path to the work area
  2. Install 6mil dust barriers on all openings to non work areas and seal with painters tape
  3. Cover HVAC ducts or turn off HVAC system to prevent dust transfer
  4. Next question is, was my home built before 1978 and if so, is my contractor a Lead Certified Renovation Firm
  5. If your home was built in 1978 or earlier, you need a Certified Lead Renovator to take care of your project so lead safe practices are used

Once everything is covered and protected the tear out can begin.
If possible, remove as large of pieces as can be managed safely. This reduces sawing (dust) and beating (busting of cast iron tubs...).
At this point it may be a good idea to strip at least the exterior walls to the stud so insulation can be checked and installed if needed.
All the while the tear out is going on, the bath exhaust can be running, a window opened to help remove any dust and if a pre 1978 (lead test and lead safe remodeling).
After everything is tore out, clean the work area well.

Now lets prep the new bath
  1. Before any of the prep work begins we have a new design in place and know where the new fixture locations are going to be and how that is going to happen
  2. Ideal lighting locations are selected
  3. Necessary plumbing fixtures and faucets have been ordered, have arrived and have been checked before anything is torn out
  4. Remove sub floor to relocate plumbing fixtures if that is part of the plan
  5. After all plumbing and electrical is installed it is a good idea to take pictures so you will know where each is for future changes or repairs
  6. Patch the sub floor and we always insert screws through the sub floor into the joist to help prevent squeaks
  7. Install electrical for bath vent fans, special lighting and switching
Visit our web site Conrad & Conrad Inc. to see some of our completed projects and give us a like on our Facebook page.

Our next post will cover the process of putting your bathroom back together.