So a new home or office building has just been constructed. It’s brand new, so it should be in pristine condition and without a scratch, right?

Not always. The very process of constructing a new building can cause small amounts of damage all around the interior and exterior of the structure. There is a lot of potential for builders to cause damage to walls, floors, and other parts of the building, often without realising. And it can be frustrating to move into a new home or business premises only to discover that there are already repairs that need to be made.

Which is why many construction companies in the UK now commission ‘snagging reports’. A snagging report is an inventory of every item of damage to a new building. Everything from chipped tiles to stained flooring, scratches and dents in walls to cracked window frames, is itemised and entered into the report. Contractors are then brought in to repair each item of damage, ensuring there are no nasty surprises left when the new occupants move in. If the snagging report caught every problem, and the contractors did a good job, the whole process should have gone unnoticed by the new residents.

But working from a snagging report can be expensive and time-consuming. Each different type of surface or material requires a different type of contractor – carpenters to repair wood, tilers to repair or replace damaged tiles, plasterers, roofers, and many more. Paying for each of these different experts and finding the time for them each to do their part in the repairs can cause a lot of unwanted expense and delay.

What if there was one type of contractor who could make all these repairs in one visit?

There is.

Magic Man are specialists in repairing, resurfacing and restoring all kinds of damage to the inside or outside of buildings. They work with the construction and insurance industries, as well as private clients, to fix everything from burnt worktops to antique baths and radiators. Magic Man’s technicians are trained in the repair and restoration of all types of surface within the home, including tiles, brickwork, flooring, window frames, and enamel sinks and baths.

This all-round expertise makes Magic Man the perfect contractor for dealing with snagging reports. In just one visit, they can tick off every item on the list, going from kitchen to bathroom to bedroom, making all the repairs necessary and saving a great deal of time and money in the process.

If you’re in the construction industry and need a reliable and cost-efficient contractor to deal with your snagging reports, get in touch with Magic Man today. They could make a big difference.

Not all log homes are created equal. In fact, there are a variety of methods and materials utilized to create the look and feel of log construction which either use manufactured or milled logs, half or split log, log panel, or a combination of these various elements.

Manufactured or milled logs are complete log components throughout which require chinking ( a type of caulk ) to seal the surface joint where the logs rest on one another. Since they are machined, this method usually requires a hidden spline detail as well as an additional means of adjoining the two components.

Half log or split log is essentially a facade treatment which affixes half log components to a conventionally stick framed structure as is the method of log panel type construction.

The highest level of craftsmanship can be found in the method of hand scribing where each log component is hand scribed and then hand-peeled using a draw knife. The result is a tight fit that requires no chinking. This is achieved by the hand scribing and wedge notch corner detail.

Improvements in technology and engineering have brought innovations to the industry which have allowed for improved standards of quality such as the use of through- bolting which secures the vertical walls through the sill plate and into the foundation or footing walls. This allows for periodic adjustments and take up as the logs continue the process of drying and the structure settles which maintains a tight fitting, straight settling wall.

The look and feel of a true log home is quite incredible. They engage all of the senses as there is an almost surreal aura about them. As you walk through you experience the wonderful aroma of the wood, the vastness of the open truss construction, the visual beauty of large scale natural building materials, and an overwhelming sense of tranquility and belonging.

It has long been noted that earth tones are calming and there is probably no better illustration of this notion than an organically constructed home.

The written word does not capture the essence and beauty of such a home. It must be experienced first hand.

Robert Kaufman is a licensed Realtor as well as a Township Zoning Administrator in Southwest Michigan with an extensive background in Land Use Controls and Planning.