We had a master closet that needed some major renovations. Originally it was two separate closets. The wall in between was knocked out, both doors closed and a new entry made. Once that was complete we used SketchUp to re-create the shell of the new closet with exact measurements. Below is what we came up with. It was then on to a custom build and I mean custom. Birchwood Plywood Panels were ripped down to exact measurements and built to suit. After a good 2 months of on and off building the final result turned out pretty amazing! #custom #closet #SketchUp
Securing your Real Estate - IOT and OT Security
Gone are the days where we can just lock our doors and call it secure. With new technologies that connect your personal properties to the internet (Aka "Internet of things" or "Operational Technology") you leave your properties access wide open for others to gain entry. Examples of such devices are smart connected HVAC controls, lighting, solar, security cameras, security systems and more. There are many ways for "bad actors" to gain control of information or actual control of your property, this isn’t just a physical means of entry anymore. Just purchasing any smart connected doorknob or camera and throwing it up connecting it to whatever service may be offered is NOT SECURING your property. In fact, you could purchase a security system, install it and be in worse off condition than if the system wasn’t even there. Yep, you heard that right!
Let’s examine real world data from one of my own properties. I'll display two examples within a 24 hour window. The first example are external bad actors or systems scanning to login to a server. Here you see sources inbound from Hong Kong, China Mainland and Russia attempting inbound access. Security controls were placed on the regions blocking inbound traffic from those regions. This is just one step in securing your network. Bad actors can still use a VPN and attempt the same access from a different country.
The second example is a cheap smart doorknob that connects wirelessly back to the internet so that I can lock and unlock a door remotely. This lock is a well-known brand sold on Amazon and many purchase this lock to be used in their Airbnb rentals as well as condo associations in order to change door lock combinations remotely during tenant turnovers. The below shows traffic outbound to a server in Singapore. This is the mechanism that communicates with the lock wirelessly to the hub, then on to a server in Singapore, then back to your phone.
The screenshot below is also the same App and lock that shows additional communication to Mainland China once the App is opened. I found that if you blocked the Mainland China communication but left open the Singapore traffic it all still functions, but if you turn off both communications the function ceases to work. So, what is the communication to Mainland China and what data is in that traffic if it works without that? I’ll spare you the boring details, but let’s just say you probably just want the function of your door, but without data spewing all over the world. If your data ends up in the wrong hands then what? This is just a door we are talking about, but what about hospitals, nuclear power plants, banks or industrial process control centers. Yikes! This is the reason, in 2019, the NDAA (National Defense Authorization Act) banned the purchasing or installing of products by several companies that were used by government contracts or on government properties.
So how do you secure your property properly you say? Just go back to AOL days where all you got was online mail and AIM you say?!!? Nah we live in the now! This is where proper firewall controls and network security architecture come into play. You can’t just turn off all communications because cloud servers are needed in order to provide function to the device you deployed in the first place. There are many steps, but some would be isolating internet connected devices that control your property into their own segregated network, firewall controls and two factor authentication greatly reduce or practically eliminate others from accessing your building controls. Keep this information in mind as you build out your future connected businesses or real property and block the bad actors! If you need consulting services securing your building, wireless setups or general network configuration feel free to give us a call! JWWireless LLC 850-276-2430
TV and Fireplace Wall
This project involved building a wall for an electrical fireplace and heater. As well as a mount for a TV. First step was removing trim in its location and centering the frame to built in cabinets and a bed across the room. The frame was overbuilt to uphold the weight of the MSI granite Stone. The fireplace and TV were also mounted higher than normal so the view of both could be seen while lying down on the bed across the room. Hardie backer board covered the frame, then stone was laid. Cheers!
Steel and Brick
When steel rusts it expands. If it is embedded into masonry such as seen here with this brick it damages the brick due to the expansion. This project involved replacing the steel doorway. The doorway was cut out, then the opening was repaired and smoothed out with mortar in preparation for its replacement. The remaining steel embedded into the brick holding the opening up was brushed to remove any left over rust then treated with a rust barrier. The brick was repointed then a new door was custom built using pressure treated wood and Trex type board for looks and maintenance free care. Hardware was marine grade stainless steel. The end result turned out fantastic.
Recessed Can Light Conversion
A fan was wanted in place of a recessed light. There are can light convertor kits that could be bought but they are expensive and why not build and convert yourself. Depending on the can and how it is built out this is possible with just wood and screws. Here the can was removed with the help of a Dremel but the guts of the electrical wiring were left. Then wood cut and attached to structure and made flush to the ceiling. The hole left was bigger than the ceiling fan mount so an 9 to 6 inch plate needed to be used. Once the fan was installed the savings on converting it yourself vs a kit was significant. $70 for a kit or wood and some screws. You be the judge.
110-277 VAC Wireless Power?
Nah I’m just kidding :P If that existed we would all have 4 eyes and 50 fingers and who knows what else. RunLessWire has come up with something that accomplishes almost the same thing though. They’ve created a 5 amp receiver and switch which communicate via 902 Mhz. Basically you attach the on/off receiver to whatever you want to turn on and off wirelessly. Then there is a wall switch that can be literally placed anywhere as there are no wires or even battery to power the thing. It uses kinetic energy from the pressure applied when pressing the switch to transmit a signal over 900 Mhz to the receiver that turns on and off the appliance. We used it to add a wall switch to landscape lights. A nearby receptacle outlet was used and we had to run zero wires for the switch. The bonus? Made in the USA. AMAZING! Check these guys out. runlesswire.com
Deck Joist Rot
Leaving your deck joists exposed to the weather will rot them out much faster than if they were protected. Here is an example of the top joist of a 2x12 rotting from being moist all of the time. Only a half inch of the entire 2x12 was destroyed so no need to rip the entire joist out. The joists were strengthened with extra pressure treated wood near the top where moisture sits. This way when deck boards are laid they are flat to the touch via the new board. Then we wrapped with either commercial grade garbage bag plastic and/or roof tar paper. You can also paint the wood with a weather proof membrane, but I find thick plastics and tar paper the are best protection.
There is always this stuff as well: https://www.amazon.com/TimberTech-PRO-Tac-Flashing-Joist-Tape/dp/B07VQPTB37
But for $90, I’m sure you can find an alternative
Remember if the under side of the deck is exposed you must think about aesthetics to what the repair will look like. In this case it does not matter as the bottom is getting covered with under decking. Cheers!
Seawall Failure
We had a seawall installed after hurricane Michael. It started failing after 2 years. Yes we knew the contractor was new at this, but they had done previous good work for us and was a Father Son team as family comes first. An entire new seawall had to be installed over the first one so we paid twice for one seawall….Yay! Hire specialty trades for marine work - Fixed and Built by RJ Gorman Marine. #LiveandLearn but #LoyaltyFirst
Creating Spaces
Anytime there is an opportunity to create additional spaces due to function or aesthetics it should be done. In this situation there was a water heater sitting in what should be a functional bedroom closet. The water heater was removed, sheetrock opened, plumbing re-routed and then buttoned up. The water heater replacement was moved to an outdoor on demand unit. A proper closet system was installed for more functionality. Yahtzee!
Drywall Hole Repair (California Patch)
There are a couple of ways to repair drywall holes. I’ve always used the wood method where wood gets screwed to the drywall on the inside of the hole, then the hole is plugged and mud and tape is applied. This is called the California patch, where you use the paper already attached to the plug and mud is applied to the inside and outside. The final repair turned out pretty good and is super strong. This method is a faster and easier route!
2021
2019 and 2020 have been rough years for LA (Lower Alabama), 2020 for the world. Here's to ripping out the 💩 in your life and building right and fresh in 2021, no shoes, shirts, pants, 😷 or adult curfews required. Remember to love, keep your heads up, defenses up and stay free! Happy New Year! 🥳🍻🥂- Woolard Construction | JWW
COVID-19 Response
In response to COVID-19 and it’s impacts on the economy, persons mental and physical health we are refunding 10% of April’s rent to all residents who’s leases are not expiring this month. Expect this reimbursement shortly.
In addition we are offering a one time free rent program with prepayment plans to help with these uncertain times. The plans are as follows: 3 months prepaid rent get 1 month free / 6 months prepaid rent get 2 months free / 12 months prepaid rent get 3 months free. Plans cannot be combined. This offer only stands within the remainder of April and May 2020 and to those who currently reside with us that are in good standing. One day paid out of those months and the offer does not apply. If interested in any of these offers please get with me so we can work out the details.
We will also NEVER QUIT working/repairing on private property regardless of orders. Cat 5 hurricanes, old world law, new world law, shelter in place, zombie apocalypses, warfare, it doesn’t matter what flag is flying, we’ve got your roofs and your six. We hope this information gives comfort to all who reside with us. Stay safe, stay healthy and keep your heads up. You live in the United States of America, better yet, you’re under Southern roofs! JWW and Crew
Scribe Angles in Trim Carpentry
Finding angles and making perfect snug fits in Trim Carpentry doesn’t need to be difficult. There are plenty of tools available in order to find angles such as sliding or polycast protractors. With these tools all you do is snug the tool up against the angle you are locating and lock it into place. Then transfer your angles to the material in use. For multiple or tricky angles all you need is some cardboard and a utility blade. Cut the piece out to fit your angles then transfer the cardboard to the material in use and trace it out. Easy does it.
Your screws are loose!
Your screws are loose! No silly…..your screws are actually loose. How do you fix that? You could use bigger screws so that when tightened the threads are bigger and are able to grab the wood or you could use the same screw. Old timers would use hardwood toothpicks. You can cut them down in size and stick a couple of pieces in the hole. When you tighten the screw the wood jammed in the hole will be pushed against the old threads and the screw will tighten. No toothpicks? Find whatever you think will work and stick it in the hole. Here we used a pink zip tie. Seemed to work just fine!
French Drains vs Gutters
Deciding between installing gutters or a french drain with exits on the drip line from the roof? It’s simple really. You need to think about what will happen in the future. When, not if, the gutter fails so does part of your structure depending on how long the leak has occurred on the siding and facia. If the in ground drain fails it doesn't harm the structure. So when gutters fail you are paying for the gutter repair and the structure repair. When a french drain fails you are only paying for a french drain repair. Your #1 enemy of any structure in the South is water and moisture so why would you keep water on the structure directing flow away from it? Wouldn't you want the water off the structure ASAP? It all depends on the situation really. Here we have a french drain where rain falls off the roof directly into the drain then directed away from the structure in the ground to a lower elevation. Cheers!
