Deck Tear Down and Rebuild

Removal of existing deck.

Framing Project--Lake Helena

West Side Renovation

The first photo is a before picture. You can see that the front door is eclipsed by a large tree. You will notice in the in future posts that extensive landscaping has taken place. The front door is no longer obscured.







After tearing off the old siding, we added foam insulation to help make the home more energy efficient. After insulating, we installed housewrap. You can see the foam insulation through the wrap.


During the siding installation.

Removed existing ceiling/roof. Removed existing stairs and rebuilt to allow for more storage. New stairs will be finished with oak tread, oak balusters and custom metal hand rail.




















Reframed to add vaulted ceiling and window. Existing 2x4 side walls have 3-1/4" Cor-Bond spray foam insulation.































Newly vaulted ceiling has received a custom plaster finish by Art & Faux.

Framing & Siding

This is project we worked on in August. We did both the framing and the siding on this home.

Metal Siding Update

This is a common home in the Helena area.
The home is small with metal siding and corners. The siding is in good condition but looks dated.




















A few simple changes give the home a whole new look. The metal siding was removed from the gable and replaced with shake, a custom made gable vent was added as well as pickets to the lower third of the home. Corner trim, window/door trim and a "belly band" (the trim below the shake) were added to give the home an updated look. The renovation is completed with a modern paint scheme.

Detail of the metal siding update

Hollins Exterior Renovation

This project wrapped up in Mid-July. As you can see, the before and after is dramatic.
Previously the home had a simple black and white color scheme with rock facade detailing, giving it a dated look.
The homeowners chose warm tones that soften the look of the home. The siding is Certainteed Fiber Cement, Northwest Factory Finish in Rock Creek. Though you cannot see it in photos, this finish has the look of stained wood. The new gable shakes and doors were painted khaki while the window trim was changed to chocolate brown.
The front posts were wrapped and painted. Pillars were added to the bottoms giving a more substantial appearance. This simple addition turns boring posts into a nice feature that add a lot to the overall appearance of the home.
The homeowner's have chosen to use a portion of their Shop Helena! rebate to have a decorative finish added to their cement patio. Art & Faux by Janet will be providing the finish. Photos will be posted later.

For more photos of this project, information on the siding products and details of the Shop Helena! program, visit our website at http://www.kellybuildersmt.com/

Lower West Side Update

This is a volunteer project we helped our friends with. It demonstrates well how relatively small changes can make a huge difference. In the before picture you can see that the house is black and gray with a stucco base and T1-11 siding. There is no trim detail and the awning is old fashioned.
The after picture shows the pre-existing siding painted with a modern color scheme, broken up by new trim detail to balance the house. A larger, custom built awning adds size to the door that previously had been dwarfed by the upper portion of the home.

Re-Side In The Valley

This ranch style with detached garage is located in the Helena Valley. Formerly it was sided with vinyl siding. The homeowners chose to reside with Certainteed Fiber Cement in Khaki.
The before and after on this job isn't overly drastic as the color scheme remained very similar. However, the crisp lines of the fiber cement and the new corners create a nice finished look.

Cost vs. Value Reports

Cost vs. Value reports are a great resource for consumers. They show the average of a home project and then the recoup value of the project at time of sale. For example, in 2008 the national average cost of siding replacement was $10,256 with a resale value of $8,274 for an 80.7% cost recoup. Cost/Value reports list all sorts of projects from attic bedroom remodels and garage additions to window replacement. The statistics can help you decide which projects will bring you the most bang for your buck.
The Kelly Builders website now offers links to two different versions of the 2008 reports. One of the reports lets you see the figures for your region and if you want to get even more specific, you can download information for select cities within your state.
Click on the link below.
http://www.kellybuildersmt.com/Helpful_Articles

"Helpful Articles" Added To KellyBuildersMT.com

As our website continues to evolve, we hope to make it a resource to help you plan your projects. With that in mind, we've added a new page to our site, "Helpful Articles." Here you will find articles and links to help your project run smoothly.
Other links that you may find helpful are found on the "Siding" page. http://www.kellybuildersmt.com/Helpful_Articles

The Coffee Spot Joins Shop Helena!

We would like to welcome The Coffee Spot to our Shop Helena! program. The Coffee Spot is a great little coffee shop located in the Great Northern Town Center right across from Silver Star. They offer full espresso service, treats from Park Avenue Bakery, gelato and light lunches. One of my favorite menu items is Green Tea Chai. It can be a little hard to come by so I'm happy to see it offered. If you haven't stopped by already, swing in and give them a try. You won't be disappointed. And once again, welcome to Shop Helena!

2009 Home Builders Show

The 2009 Helena Building Industry Association Home Show was held March 28 and 29. Thanks for stopping by our booth. We enjoyed meeting everyone and learning about your upcoming home improvement projects.
We are looking forward to working with you soon.








Congratulations to Ken Abrahamson! He signed up and won our Shop Vac give away.

Shop Helena! Welcomes Capital Sports and CrossCurrents

We would like to welcome Capital Sports & Western Wear and CrossCurrents to the Shop Helena! program.
Capital Sports has everything you could need to enjoy an outdoor lifestyle; camping, kayaking, skiing, hunting, biking and plenty more.
CrossCurrents is Helena's flyfishing headquarters. Those of you who enjoy flyfishing or are interested in learning will find their website very informative.
You can learn more about both businesses by clicking on the links on our website's Shop Helena! page.

Shop Helena!

What is it?
Shop Helena is a construction rewards program designed by Kelly Builders to benefit the Helena Community. Our goal is to draw attention to some of the great locally owned businesses we have right here in Helena.

How does it work?
When a you choose Kelly Builders, 3% of the total cost of your renovations will be returned to you in the form of gift certificates to locally owned businesses. When your project is complete, you may choose from our list of participating businesses and we will purchase a gift certificate from the business of your choice.

We have some great local businesses involved. We will also be running a special at the Home Builders Show. Learn more http://www.kellybuildersmt.com/Shop_Helena_

Gearing up for the Home Builders Show

The 2009 Helena Home Builders Show will be held March 28 & 29 at the Lewis & Clark County Fairgrounds. We are excited to be a part of it.
This year we will be featuring a variety of siding options, fiber cement and vinyl. We will also be displaying some beautiful options for interior renovations.
We have also been busy getting our Shop Helena! Program up and running.

Hoback Project