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Creating an Outdoor Living Space for All Seasons
We are excited to share with you the details of this spectacular, award-winning screened porch project that won a 2018 Alabama Remodeling Excellence Awards (AREA) in the category of Outdoor Living.
This house had a simple small back deck with old patio furniture and a faded umbrella. The homeowners wanted a screened covered porch that could be used as a place to drink coffee and host guests outside without worrying about the weather or mosquitos. The original deck had begun to show a lot of moisture damage and some rot especially along the edges. It seemed much older and more worn than the rest of the house and it also didn’t match the house.
We could have easily done a deck replacement, but the homeowner wanted a true outdoor living space with protection from all the elements. This remodel needed to match the rest of the house in style. We wanted to make this new addition look like it had been a part of the house since the beginning, while also maintaining the feel of a true outdoor living space.
The deck was replaced and expanded so that more seats and an outdoor dining table could fit comfortably. The main supports and columns were a specific size and were spaced to a certain length, not just for structural support but also for style. The column size and spacing created an interior look while the size of the screen around the columns and framing still made it an outdoor area. The combination created an atmosphere that could be enjoyed during any season and for any occasion. These homeowners actually had Thanksgiving lunch on the outside patio just after completion.
See more photos of this project in our portfolio here.
ELM Construction Celebrates 10 Years: Our Anniversary Story
We at ELM Construction LLC are excited to announce the celebration of our company’s 10th anniversary in business!
There is no quick and easy formula for long-lasting success. Just ask Elliott Pike, our managing member who officially started this business on October 28, 2008. That was the same year our country’s economy was going under, and most people would say it was not a good time to start a business. However, Elliott was willing to begin small and persevere through the tough times. He is someone who likes to work with his hands, is quite the DIY’er, and has always been interested in construction projects. Therefore, he had a great desire to own his own remodeling business.
ELM Construction is an acronym for Elliott’s wife, LeArden, and his two daughters, Emma Grace and Mary Laslie, who were very much involved in the growth of the company. For eight years, Elliott and LeArden moved the company office from one location to another as they grew. Starting with a folding table in a corner of their master bedroom, then moving to their daughter’s nursery, the garage, graduating to rental space in Hoover, and finally to our current location in Vestavia Hills. The process wasn’t entirely painless, but ELM Construction not only managed to survive—we flourished!
Today ELM Construction has evolved into a professional design/build remodeling company that specializes in kitchens, baths, home additions, basement renovations and custom homes. Our company serves Vestavia Hills, Homewood, Mountain Brook and the Birmingham Metro area. Our amazing team has the expertise to provide our clients with a tremendously satisfying process and the beautiful finished projects they desire.
We are very thankful to our clients, employees, vendors and subcontractors for helping ELM reach this wonderful 10-year milestone! Based on the firm foundation of the past 10 years and the current strength of our company, the ELM Construction team is moving forward with great expectations for future success.
Above Left: Elliott and LeArden serving lunch to volunteers at a Habitat Build in 2010. The little red head toddling around in the background is their youngest daughter who was about two years old at the time. Last April she turned ten!
Above Right: Elliott with his family who are the inspiration for the ELM acronym: LeArden, Emma Grace, and Mary Laslie.
ELM Construction and Elliott Pike’s Achievements in the past 10 years:
Associations
2018 Remodeler of the Year by the Greater Birmingham Association of Home Builders
2018 2nd Vice President Board of Directors of the Greater Birmingham Association of Home Builders
Past President of the Greater Birmingham Association of Home Builders Remodelers Council
2018 Home Builders Association of Alabama Remodelers Chairperson
2018 Serving on Board of Directors of the National Association of Home Builders—Remodelers
Current Member National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)
Certifications
Master Remodeler
Certified Graduate Remodeler (CGR)
Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS)
Alabama Accredited Lead-Based Paint Renovator
Awards
January 2016 National Association of Home Builders Remodeler of the Month
Alabama Remodeling Excellence Award Winner 2014, 2015, 2018
2014 Home Builders Association of Alabama Remodeler of the Year
Best of HOUZZ 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
2012 Professional Remodeler 40 Under 40