Neapolitans know that the true treasure of Naples is enjoying the outdoors year round. After a day on the boat or soaking up some sunshine at the beach, you can take pleasure in the cool evening breezes while cooking for your friends in a custom outdoor living space – complete with kitchen, media room and soothing water features.

Outdoor Kitchen Construction

The outdoor kitchen area is the epicenter of perfect conversation with friends over wine, or a time to reconnect to your family. Modern outdoor kitchens include a whole lot more than just the bbq, they can be as elaborate as your indoor kitchen.

This custom outdoor kitchen in the Grey Oaks community features granite counter tops, a BBQ with additional side burners, refrigerator and wine chiller. It delivers all the conveniences of the main kitchen, with the comfort and enjoyment of Naples’ temperate climate.

Outdoor Media Room

What outdoor living area wouldn’t be complete with a full plasma TV and surround sound? Plush seating and well placed furniture create a weekend oasis any day for taking in the game or putting your feet up for a delightful movie. Can’t you just imagine enjoying your favorite movie with the sunset in the background?  The options for comfort and creativity related to your outdoor media room are as varied as your imagination.

Water Features

More than just a pool, you can create the water features of your dreams. Water features can include items like waterfalls cascading over beautifully designed rocks, building a bar into your pool, or incorporating LED lighting for a sparkling night swim. The options and features are endless. With its sheer size, your pool will likely be the focal point of your outdoor living space. Take the time to enhance it with features that will bring in the tropical beauty while enhancing your outdoor oasis.

Naples Construction company, PBS Construction, has been serving Collier and Lee Counties since 1986. The firm includes three LEED Accredited Professionals, with an average of 30+ years in the construction industry and nearly 2,500 new home projects and residential renovations under their tool belts.

As your Concierge Builder, PBS Construction will manage the entire construction process for you using our long standing relationships with design teams and subcontractors to deliver the project of your dreams on time and on budget. Click here to call or email us and schedule your complimentary renovation consultation.

If you’ve lived in Florida for more than a day, you’ve likely walked into a home that smelled a little ‘off’, a little musty. Many people dismiss the odor as just the humidity… It just comes with living in Florida.

The truth is that musty smell isn’t normal, it won’t go away and it could be causing you health problems such as:

• Allergies and Infections
• Mold can irritate mucous membranes
• Volatile compounds (VOCS) produced by mold can cause headache, attention deficit, inability to concentrate and dizziness
• Some molds produce toxins that can suppress your immune system, with systemic effects on your skin, lungs and intestines.

Both the National Association of Home Builders and The US Environmental Protection Agency agree, the only way to control indoor mold growth is to control moisture. And, an ounce of moisture prevention is worth several pounds of reaction.

If mold does have a chance to infest your home, the toll that it can take on your pocket book, health and the future value of your home can be devastating.

Even in Naples, Florida, the two most common causes of mold are humidity and water intrusion. The good news is that when leaks are fixed quickly, you can easily avoid the headaches and hassles of a mold problem.

Your air conditioning system can be your first line of defense against the Florida humidity. When allowed to run on auto, the air conditioning unit is naturally removing humidity from your home.

The system does need regular maintenance, including sanitizing the cooling coils, emptying the drain pan, and properly changing filters. Many air conditioning contractors offer a maintenance agreement so that you have one less thing to worry about.

Besides high humidity, the most common cause of mold is water intrusion – which can come from several sources inside and outside the home. Here are the most common signs to look for:

1)      Condensation or rusting around a pipe

2)      You can hear running water, when nothing is turned on

3)      Running toilets and dripping faucets

4)      Abnormally high water bills

5)      Discolored or damaged walls

6)      Warped flooring

7)      Condensation on or around your windows

If you are not sure, trust your nose. If you notice a damp, unpleasant smell, call your contractor immediately to locate the leak and repair it immediately. The longer a leak is present, the more likely mold will surface.

PBS Construction has been serving Southwest Florida since 1986. With 3 LEED Accredited Professionals and a Certified Mold Inspector on staff, the firm is well equipped to handle all of your green needs. For more information call (239)643-6527 or visit www.pbscontractors.com

Wind Ratings

Basically, the codes change the way wind rating for a building is calculated. An architect now has to calculate the effect of wind on each wall surface of a new or existing home or condo if you change a door or a window.  This complex calculation is required from an architect or professional engineer.

Energy Code

It is evident that the state is paying much closer attention to energy consumption. As these methods transition, it is crucial to get accurate calculations to ensure proper product selection. One of our professional partners, Naples Lumber, recommends using the NFRC total unit performance information.

So what do these new codes mean to you?

As codes change, there are a series of products that will meet the new code and there are products that are deficient. Accurate pricing, smooth permit application and ultimately the successful completion of your renovation, depends on having a professional remodeler that pays attention to the details.

With accurate wind ratings and proper specifications,  Naples Construction Company, PBS Construction works closely with subcontractors to ensure that your project is completed on time and within budget.

Serving southwest Florida since 1986, we know the ins and outs of managing your project from start to finish. As your Concierge Builder, PBS Construction will manage the entire construction process for you using our long standing relationships with design teams and subcontractors to deliver the project of your dreams on time and on budget. Click here to call or email us and schedule your complimentary renovation consultation.

Finding the right contractor

As you begin the process of finding a  Naples general contractor, look for one who not only meets the minimum state requirements for construction but is also the right fit for you. The right contractor will effectively manage the entire construction process keeping you in the know without overwhelming you in too many details of the construction process. A recommendation from a friend, co-worker, or even online testimonials from your builder can certainly help make the process easier.

Experience does matter

Check to make sure your general contractor has proven experience in the type of renovation or remodel that you want to complete. With the economic downturn, we saw many ‘handy men’ start businesses without the right knowledge or experience.

When searching for a general contractor, look at the experience of the entire team that will be completing your renovation. With extensive years of experience, the right contractor should have a good mix of experienced professionals that have additional education and certifications such as LEED accreditation.

Trust your instincts

When it comes right down to the bottom line, you have to trust your relationship with your contractor. Will it hold up from beginning to end? Do you trust your contractor to handle your schedule and your budget with honesty integrity?

During your initial visit with your remodeler, does the sales person actively listen and understand your desires? Or, do you feel like that person is just getting you to sign the contract?

If you have questions about the proposal, do you feel like the sales person takes the time to explain the process? Or do you feel like a ‘burden’?

Your initial impressions during the proposal phase can make all of the difference in your relationship during the renovation project. Not only will it affect the project’s completion, but it could be the difference between your dream home and a nightmare.

PBS Construction values our relationship with our customers, our design teams and our subcontractors which translate to happy customers whose project wasn’t a burden, but an easily managed process that produced the home their dream home.

Serving southwest Florida since 1986, we know the ins and outs of managing your project from start to finish. As your Concierge Builder, PBS Construction will manage the entire construction process for you using our long standing relationships with design teams and subcontractors to deliver the project of your dreams on time and on budget. Click here to call or email us and schedule your complimentary renovation consultation. 

“Many of our clients have taken advantage of real estate opportunities, purchasing a home that needs to be customized to their tastes or remodeling their current home to maximize space and functionality,” described Bart Zino, president of PBS Construction.

Owners at all price points are seeking functional value in design, so contractors have to be able to understand the real needs and design philosophy for each client. The real magic is maintaining the integrity of that design philosophy throughout the design, construction and interior design phases.

Fortunately, there are still companies that take the time to forge solid relationships with industry professionals so that the clients benefit from having a ‘Dream Team’ working towards a single goal.

Naples, Florida construction company, PBS Construction completed a renovation of a seventh floor unit at The Grosvenor in Pelican Bay. The owners were in Europe for the summer and needed the renovation of their condominium completed on a tight deadline to comply with association construction rules.

Lead by the owner’s representative Friley Saucier, PA, the ‘Dream Team’ included PBS Construction’s design and construction division as well as interior designer Diana Hall. Using a design build concept, the project went from concept to design to construction to completion in three months.

“Home owners are increasingly aware and educated about the building industry. It takes a genuine effort to build trust and follow through on the service that you promise,” said Zino.

PBS Construction is no stranger to high standards. The firm was recently named Builder of the Year by the American Institute of Architects Florida Southwest for their sincere and genuine interest in encouraging and affecting outstanding craftsmanship and workmanship. Working closely with architects that maintain the highest standards in protocol and workmanship, PBS Construction demonstrated outstanding organization, experience and positive working relationships with all construction professionals.

“All of our chapter members who have worked with PBS Construction have spoken highly of their work, and their principles,” said Joyce Owens, AIA FLaSW immediate past-president.

PBS Construction has been serving Collier and Lee Counties since 1986. The firm includes three LEED Accredited Professionals, with and average of 30+ years in the construction industry and nearly 2,500 new home projects and residential renovations under their tool belts. For more information, contact call (239)643-6527 or email info@pbscontractors.com.

So, what should you expect?

“Our team is committed to providing extreme customer service. Our relationship managers may assist with airport pick-up, home-watch, errand-running – whatever is needed to fully serve our customers before, during and after the job,” said Bart Zino, LEED AP, president of PBS Construction, Inc.

While the economy has challenged many contractors to survive by reducing staff and offering cheaper products, PBS Construction has filled a unique niche by complimenting high quality construction with a fully customized experience for each customer.

“Throughout the project, Bart was in constant communication with me… I always felt like I was his only customer and he was put on this earth just to complete my project!” said recent customer, Josie Sheppard (visit www.pbscontractors.com/testimonials to watch more of Ms. Sheppard’s testimonial).

Had the company set out to become “the Concierge Builder™” by identifying and providing extreme customer service, it likely would have failed.  Real customer service, after all, is born from putting one’s self in the customer’s place, in seeing the world from their point of view and in recognizing their needs and limitations.  In other words,  Naples, Florida Builders, PBS Construction became The Concierge Builder™ not by deciding to call itself that, but by actually being that.

So for PBS Construction, the company approaches each new project as it always has.  When a customer needs gutter cleaning, for example, or a lift to the airport, or help with an errand, PBS Construction is there, and that distinguishes the company like nothing else in an industry hindered by a general lack of accountability and reliability.

What’s more, the company brings the same degree of commitment to each customer, regardless whether the job was a million dollar top-to-bottom renovation or the reconfiguration of a closet.

PBS Construction has been serving Collier and Lee Counties since 1986. The firm includes three LEED Accredited Professionals with an average of 30+ years in the construction industry and nearly 2,500 new home projects and residential renovations under their tool belts. For more information, call (239)643-6527 or email info@pbscontractors.com.

Perhaps you have thought of turning your master bath into a high tech spa or you have considered some new smart appliances for your kitchen. Here are three popular upgrades and a construction company that will definitely increase the real estate value and comfort of your home.

Hide your TV in plain sight

It is either “go huge or go home” with television sets these days. But when you bring one of those drive-in and movie sized screens at home, it can distract from the style of your home. Today, you can have it all- a huge screen and a big style.

Contemporary designers are hiding these gigantic screens behind the walls of your room and then covering them with an artwork or mirror to conceal them when not in use. Your guests will barely know it is there! When you decide to place it above the fireplace, you can always make it appear like a framed mirror or perhaps a piece of your favorite art.

Cooling drawers for your kitchen

Dollar for dollar, you can maximize the value of your home by investing into your kitchen or bathroom. From its sleek granite to state of the art kitchen appliances, today’s kitchen can be as sophisticated as you can dream.

Refrigerators can be outfitted with hidden panels that make them easily blend with cabinets, but if you need additional ‘cooling space’, you may want to consider a cooling drawer. These drawers feature various temperature settings so you can use it for storing wine, snacks, soda, ice cream and other goods. They are usually designed to be individual drawers so you can be seamlessly installed throughout your home.

Landscape lighting at its finest

With warm summer nights approaching, you might want to consider enhancing the mood of your outdoor space with lighting. Your landscaping and water features can be highlighted while giving you and your guests a charming place to relax. With solar options, you can add lighting without adding to your electric bill.

PBS Construction has been serving Collier and Lee Counties since 1986. The firm includes three LEED Accredited Professionals, with and average of 30+ years in the construction industry and nearly 2,500 new home projects and residential renovations under their tool belts. For more information, call (239)643-6527 or visit www.PBScontractors.com.  

One of the most important services that the Florida Commission on Human Relations provides is discrimination mediation – designed to help prevent costly litigation while protecting the rights of Florida citizens with valid claims.

Over the five year period from FY 06-07 to FY 10-11, the Florida Commission on Human Relations successfully resolved 7,835 cases with 4,500 of those cases ending in a “No Cause” finding and 508 cases successfully mediated. This process saved Florida businesses nearly $61 million in litigation expenses or over $12 million a year.

In the upcoming legislative session, the Florida Commission on Human Relations is supporting legislation that would discourage non-meritorious administrative appeals for discrimination cases, as well as add protective measures for seniors living in state-recognized 55+ communities (HB 1125).  In addition, the Commission will be closely watching a number of other bills that have been filed that, if enacted, would impact the operations of the Commission and could affect the rights of Florida citizens.  These bills cover topics such as adding sexual orientation and gender identity or expression as a basis for discrimination; limiting an employer’s use of an applicant’s credit history, credit score, criminal history or unemployment history in making employment hiring decisions; and authorizing aggrieved persons to go directly to court for alleged housing discrimination rather than go through the Commission’s investigations process.

Mario Valle is a Relationship Manager at PBS Construction, Inc., based in Naples, Florida. A graduate of Florida State University, Valle is a Florida State licensed Real Estate Broker, Residential Contractor and Certified Mold Remediator/Inspector. He is a past President of the Golden Gate Estates Civic Association and past Vice-chair for Collier County’s Affordable Housing Advisory Board. He also served as the Vice-chair of the Naples MS Walk for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society for  five years. In 2004, Valle graduated from Leadership Collier and was named to Gulfshore Business Magazine’s 40 under 40. Currently, Valle serves on the Development Services Advisory Council of Collier County.

“Rev. Stephanie Campbell is a special person and we are so happy to be able to help build the facility where so many young children will learn the language, literacy and life skills that they need to get ahead,” said Bart Zino, president of PBS Construction.

The campus’ sanctuary building is being renovated to incorporate four large classrooms, with the flexibility of opening the space back into an auditorium. The project was designed with families in mind – incorporating bright colors, open spaces and natural lighting to make this a fun place to learn and grow.

“With this renovation, Grace Place will better serve the at-risk families in our community, providing a much richer community,” Commissioner Tom Henning.

To see additional photos of this project, visit www.GracePlaceNaples.org.

Why waste the time and space with standard black mats and a treadmill, when you can have a fitness room that inspires you to get moving.

Exercise equipment has evolved as we have become more adventurous. If you love rock climbing, we could install a rock climbing wall in your studio. For boxing fans or martial arts fans, a customized training ring can be configured.

Your home fitness center can also incorporate design elements to bring the family together. How about a dance studio for ballet, ballroom dancing or yoga? Incorporate a video screen and Wii and you can have endless fun for all members of the family.

The key to success here is to enhance your space with something that compliments your lifestyle – not just replicate a standard gymnasium.

Today’s healthy lifestyle is a blend of nourishing the mind – body – spirit. Your customized home fitness center can be designed to energize or relax with the soothing sounds of a built in waterfalls, calming lights and built in sound systems.

One of the most popular trends taking hold in the home fitness center is a family spa atmosphere with a steam spa or sauna, massage room, cold and hot tubs for mineral water or mud baths.

With the holidays packed away, we are all considering our healthy resolutions for the upcoming New Year. Why not make your resolution a gift of continued health and vitality for years to come?

Take this opportunity to really evaluate the space, what you want to feel when you are in the room, what you want to experience while you are in your home fitness room but also to express yourself and make it uniquely yours a “total workout environment”.

Our team of trained design and Naples based construction professionals can help bring your dream to reality. Click here to call or email us and schedule your complimentary design consultation.