The one hour prime time docu series uses their construction know-how to not only rescue restaurateurs and save small business owners from stalled renovation projects, but to help give local businesses that are at the heart of their communities a pick-me-up! Whether establishments need to be redesigned for functionality or rescued from disaster, the ultimate goal is to improve local businesses and the communities in which they live.

The Mazzei Group Construction goal was to rescue a Downtown Staten Island restaurant from a construction nightmare. Endless delays and poor contracting left the owners desperate and out of cash. Piles of garbage and poor construction required a total makeover.

Ettore was chosen for two reasons, his expertise in the construction business and his 30 years experience building renovating & operating restaurants, catering halls & hotels.

Day 1 Tuesday 2/16 start time 3pm The Mazzei Group Construction was greeted by piles of garbage, termite damaged beams, miles of dangling electrical wires & a crumbling façade. The interior was quickly demolished and rebuilt; sistering termite damaged studs and a fire damaged ceiling. The existing bar was demolished and floor joist repaired. The exterior fluted block was made safe until an engineer could make his evaluation. Working round the clock, Day 1 goal was accomplished with no glitches.

Chances are, buying a home is the single biggest investment that the average American will make in their lifetime. Improving upon the value of this vital piece to your own economic puzzle should be paramount. An instant way to increase the value of your prime investment is an increase in the square footage. But, how can you increase the square footage of a home without an expensive addition? The answer is simple, waterproof your wet basement for more livable room.

By sealing your foundation and creating a waterproof seal you can instantly add livable square footage and finally realize that comfortable finished basement you’ve always dreamed of. Whether it’s to become a large bedroom for a child whose outgrown their childhood bedroom, or a fully functioning bar and games area, a finished basement increases both the perceived and actual value of your home.

In addition to those obvious values, with a finished, waterproofed basement you can also stop worrying about costly flooding because of unpleasant weather. That means no more moving boxes around whenever it rains. Finally by keeping your basement dry you significantly reduce the risk of dangerous mold occurring in your home.

If you’re interested in more information about waterproofing your basement or converting to a finished basement please contact us, we’re happy to take questions and provide serivce should you require it.

The American Society of Interior Designers’ Foundation and the U.S. Green Building Council have partnered on the development of best practice guidelines and targeted educational resources for sustainable residential improvement projects.

This program will increase understanding of sustainable renovation project practices and benefits among homeowners, residents, design professionals, product suppliers and service providers to build both demand and industry capacity.

Whether you’re a renovation professional or a savvy do-it-yourselfer, let REGREEN help green your next project. REGREEN is easy to use and chock-full of information, but if you find you have any questions, please e-mail regreenprogram@usgbc.org.

Download the PDF on their site here.

At GHR’s homepage you can find more than just this PDF, you can also find information about REGREEN webinars, useful checklists, and slideshow presentations.

We here at The Mazzei Group are behind the Green Movement and would love to REGREEN your building! Contact us, and we’ll get you up to code.

]]> http://mazzeigroup.com/have-you-seen-the-green-home-renovations-guide/feed/ 0 http://mazzeigroup.com/hardi-plank-armor-for-your-castle/ http://mazzeigroup.com/hardi-plank-armor-for-your-castle/#comments Thu, 03 Sep 2009 21:18:48 +0000 Chris http://mazzeigroup.com/blog/?p=15

HardiePlank is an alternative to Vinyl & Wood siding. Out of the three most common sides of siding, Wood, Vinyl and HardiePlank, Vinyl is the least expensive and wood is the most expensive. Hardi Plank is a happy medium. The Mazzei group will proudly design your home or business exterior and install HardiePlank making it look fabulous for many years with little or no maintenance.

Here are some HardiePlank facts and comparisions:

• HardiePlank is fire resistant unlike wood and vinyl which is combustible
• HardiePlank is green, made from abundant materials to include sand cement and cellulose fibers and is warranted for 50 years.
• HardiePlank is available in many colors or you can order it primed and paint it any color and it looks much like wood.
• HardiePlank is as thick as wood. In comparison to thin Vinyl siding, HardiePlank is much more sturdy.
• HardiePlank is insect resistant..
• HardiePlank is cheaper than actual wood siding, but more expensive than vinyl.

If you are interested in purchasing and installing HardiePlank on your home or business, please contact The Mazzei Group at 347 723 1825 or email us at ettore@ mazzeigroup.com.

Steel Decks with IPE Wood decking are becoming popular in all neighborhoods in NYC.

On July 1^st, 2008 the NYC fire department adopted a new fire code based on the model code of the International Fire Code (IFC). One of purposes of the new code is to protect neighboring houses from catching on fire when another is burning. When applying for a new permit to renovate the fire department in conjunction with the NYC Building Department is requiring sprinkler systems and non combustible materials for decks in some instances depending on the distance between neighboring houses.

IPE hardwood also known as Ironwood is naturally resistant to fire, moisture, insects and can be used in ground contact without preservatives or additional treatments. It is rated in the same class as steel and concrete.

The initial capital investment will be greater to build with steel and IPE wood and in the long run your cost per year will decrease given that you will probably never have to replace the deck or decking.

Right here you’ll find information on our renvoations and other work, as well as hear our insights on construction and architecture in general.