AdvanceCD

Custom Home Construction

 New Construction  Comments Off on Custom Home Construction
Dec 052018
 

Beautiful home            Beautiful remote location        Congratulations to our crew!

It’s funny  how many places in New Mexico claim to be “the middle of nowhere”.  But this location can certainly make that claim.  One can see over a hundred miles in all directions.  Stunning.  

Getting there was a bit tricky, 20 miles of forest service roads that the rain and snow played havoc with.  As always, our crew met the challenge.  We delivered most of the materials ourselves.  We met very nice people along the way, some wildlife and even a stray dog who found a home with our general manager.  

This was a complete building project including plans, engineering, soil testing, foundation, plumbing, mechanical, electrical, propane, framing, roof, stucco, and finishes.  We even laid the brick floors!  Beautiful finishes chosen by the homeowner make this a truly unique custom home.  

Advance Concept congratulates the crew on a job well done.
     

 

 

 

 

 

EPA RRP Lead Refresher Course Q&A’s

 Lead Paint  Comments Off on EPA RRP Lead Refresher Course Q&A’s
Jun 192016
 

How do I get my refresher certification?
There are now 2 types of refresher classes, hands-on (live) and on-line.

What is the expiration of the refresher certifications?
The hands-on (live) class is good for 5 years.
The on-line class is good for 3 years.

Any other differences?
You must take a hands-on (live) refresher class at least every other time you take the refresher.

I can’t decide which class to take.
After teaching refresher classes for over  a year, we recommend you take the live class as your first refresher.  Rules have changed and been clarified.  It seems to be helpful to folks to have an instructor to ask questions and clarify the ruling.  We also have tips for you, both of our instructors are EPA Certified RRP Renovators and have done lead safe projects.  Our goal is to have you be confident and have the knowledge you need to do these renovations safely without breaking the pocket book.

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Snow and Ice Removal

 Repair and Restore  Comments Off on Snow and Ice Removal
Dec 282015
 

That was quite a snow storm.  With I-40 closed going on it’s second day now and the East Mountains with 2-4′ of snow, travel is difficult or impossible.  To make it worse, the rain that came first left a layer of ice under all that snow and now the winds have their own idea about where the snow will be.  Advance Concept Construction provides 24 hour snow and ice removal.  Our contracts can be on demand (when you call us) or auto dispatch (when you’re pre-set threshold is met).  We have blades, ice removal equipment and even snow blowers.  Our snow blower can move snow that’s 30″ deep in a path that’s 84″ wide. And it shoots the snow up to 50′!

Gather your kids around, they’ll love this video!

We also spread ice melt where requested.  Commercial customers – snow removal will reduce your liability exposure.  Call us to get a quote!  And we are fully licensed and insured. And since we are self-performing, your job will be done by our staff, not a subcontractor.

Call us (505)715,5481, ext. 1 to reach our staff (not some answering service).

Cleaning – made easy

 Repair and Restore  Comments Off on Cleaning – made easy
Jun 092015
 

Look what 4000 psi and hot water does to this mold on a swimming pool deck.  The homeowners had tried chemicals and good ole scrubbing, but nothing would clean this mold and stain.  We also used the wand on their landscape rocks, what they thought were drab gray were really a pretty orange hue rock.  It even cleaned up the large granite boulders.  Just think what this can do for your place!  Cleans mold, old paint residue, hard water discoloration, oil, etc from decks, sidewalks, driveways, and exterior siding.  Residential or commercial…..call us for a free estimate.  Remember, no chemicals necessary!

 

EPA RRP Re-Certification

 Lead Paint  Comments Off on EPA RRP Re-Certification
Oct 222014
 

The EPA has extended the re-certification date for all of you that took the initial class before April 22, 2010.

In the October 2014 newsletter, the EPA announced:

Renovator certification expiration date

Renovator certification is typically for 5 years from the date of course completion. However, in 2009, EPA extended the 5-year certification of renovators who took an EPA accredited renovator training before April 22, 2010 until July 1, 2015. The extension ensured that renovators who received training early, before the regulations work practice standards were effective, weren’t penalized for doing so.

The EPA has also announced that renovators are responsible for providing their initial certificates to the training provider to prove eligibility to take the refresher course.  If you took your class from KTM WWG LLC or from Advance Concept Education, no worries – we have your certificate on file.  Just let us know prior to class and we will have your copy ready.

Eligibility for refresher training

A certified renovator or dust sampling technician is eligible to take the refresher course if the course is completed before their previous certification expires. The trainer must collect a copy of each student’s prior course completion certificate demonstrating their eligibility to take the refresher course. The trainer must retain these training certificates for a period of 5 years.
Don’t let your certification lapse!  If it goes over the 5 years, you will be required to take the initial course again (8 hours) instead of the refresher course (4 hours).

Renovators seeking re-certification who complete a 4-hour refresher training before the expiration of their current certification are certified for a period of five years from the date they complete the refresher course, not from the date of expiration of their previous certification. Renovators will have to take the 8-hour course if they fail to take the refresher training before the expiration of their current certificate.

Questions? Please call us at (505)715-5481 ext. 1101.  We provide continued support to our students!

We will begin teaching the refresher course in the spring.

Advance Concept Education is EPA Certified RRP Instructor.  Classes are held in Albuquerque, NM.  Classes can be held around the state for a minimum of 8 students.  Contact us for details.  (505)715-5481 ext. 1101 or email inquiries to anne_bowker@advanceconceptgroup.com

We look forward to having you in class.

 

Holiday Gift Giving Ideas

 Specials  Comments Off on Holiday Gift Giving Ideas
Oct 212014
 

Looking for holiday gift ideas that are unique, useful, and will long be remembered after the gift wrap is gone?  Is there someone you’d like to gift but they’re always the impossible person to buy for?  We have some ideas for you:

Easiest gift to give:  a gift certificate, but not just any old box store gift certificate.  For just $75, your gift certificate will buy an hour with one of our experienced and friendly staff to do handyman repairs, plumbing, mechanical or electrical repairs. Continue reading »

Gates and Exterior Doors

 Specials  Comments Off on Gates and Exterior Doors
Oct 212014
 

Looking for a custom gate or door to set your home or business apart from the others?

Advance Concept Construction’s fabrication shop has gates and doors for sale or they can bring your ideas to life.  We’ll help you decide if wood, metal, or a combination would be best for your site.

photo 2  gate3 compressed  bonsai gate

Custom gates at some of our project sites.

gate sun $1500.  This gate features removable wood panels so they can be replaced when the sun has damaged them.

New Mexico sun can be hard on wood so metal might be a better choice for a south facing door or gate.

Gates for sale at our showroom:

gate french door style French door style (one side shown here) $1400 (pair)

wood gate with bars Garden gate $950.  Shown unfinished, you pick the finish.

gate with speak easy Gate with speak easy $1800

Also available: Alder door, unfinished $1500, door with acrylic stained glass $1600.

Our showroom is open, but sometimes we are at a job site.  Please call so we don’t miss you.  (505)715-5481 ext. 1101.  Located at 2420 Comanche Road NE Suite C-1, near I-25, Albuquerque, NM 87107

 

 

 

 

Heating and Cooling Change Overs

 Plumbing  Comments Off on Heating and Cooling Change Overs
Oct 222013
 

Don’t forget to do your cooling and heating change overs. You need to winterize and service your swamp cooler for winter.  Also, you want to make sure that your furnace is working properly and you have no carbon monoxide leaks to put you and your family in danger.  We can service your swamp cooler, put your cover on it for winter, light your furnace, make sure it is working properly and check to make sure there are no carbon monoxide leaks.

Swamp Cooler Maintenance Continue reading »

How I learned about lead paint, with Lincoln, the Advance Concept mascot.

 Lead Paint, Lincoln the Advance Concept Mascot  Comments Off on How I learned about lead paint, with Lincoln, the Advance Concept mascot.
Jul 312013
 

Today we’re going to visit a home in Albuquerque to look at doing a remodeling job.  New places to explore and new things to look at, oh boy I love my job.  This house is in an older part of town with tall trees and quiet side streets.  Kurt, my contractor friend, is talking  to the homeowners about their house so it’s time for me to go exploring.  Hmm, what’s this, did somebody drop some crumbs for me to lick up?. Sniff, sniff. Nope, it’s just paint chips. Continue reading »

ICF Block Homes with Lincoln the Advance Concept Mascot – Completed

 Lincoln the Advance Concept Mascot, New Construction  Comments Off on ICF Block Homes with Lincoln the Advance Concept Mascot – Completed
Apr 202013
 

Lincoln here, as mascot of Advance Concept, I’d like to take you on a picture tour of the completed ICF block home in Northern NM.  If you been following my other blogs, you have seen pictures of the layout, caisson foundations, laying of the ICF blocks, the structural steel welding, and yes, even the septic tank installation.   Today, I have lots of pictures for you, so let’s get started. Continue reading »

Concrete Block Homes by Lincoln, the Advance Concept Mascot

 Lincoln the Advance Concept Mascot, New Construction  Comments Off on Concrete Block Homes by Lincoln, the Advance Concept Mascot
Mar 152013
 

Cute little dog mascotLincoln here with my friends at Advance Concept hard at work at the new home they are building in Northern New Mexico.

Today a lot of materials came on a big truck.  My little friends back home have building blocks so imagine my surprise to see giant building blocks like these. Continue reading »

Lincoln, the Advance Concept Mascot, Learns About Caisson Foundations

 Lincoln the Advance Concept Mascot, New Construction  Comments Off on Lincoln, the Advance Concept Mascot, Learns About Caisson Foundations
Feb 202013
 

Lincoln, the Advance Concept mascot, here with an interesting story about foundations.  My buddies at Advance Concept Construction are building a house in the hills of Northern New Mexico.  Like most of the areas we visit, there are lots of rocks, but these are really big rocks and some of them are really soft.  The other problem is that there is a lot of clay, (I guess that if why my feet got all dirty).  The clay soil is also a problem because it wasn’t stable enough for the house , clay soils can expand and contract depending on how much moisture content they have.  Because of the soft sands, clay, and the rocks the house could settle on one side and heave on the other .  Kurt, the general manager at Advance Concept, always doing the right thing and never taking dangerous short cuts,  had already called his friends at the geo tech service and the engineer and had testing done. Continue reading »

Lincoln, the Advance Concept Mascot, Observes a Septic System Installation

 Lincoln the Advance Concept Mascot, New Construction, Plumbing  Comments Off on Lincoln, the Advance Concept Mascot, Observes a Septic System Installation
Feb 012013
 

Lincoln here, on site in Northern New Mexico, watching the Advance Concept Construction crew complete the septic system.  I overheard my buddy Kurt explain to my little friends, that a septic system is for all the waste water.  That is all the water that goes down the drains in a house.  Except this house will be unique.  Water that isn’t too dirty, like laundry and bathing, will go into a special tank so that water can be used to water the trees and bushes and flush the toilets.  It will be combined with the rain water they collect from the roof.  This is called a grey water system.  Continue reading »

Lincoln, the Advance Concept Mascot at the site of a new home

 Lincoln the Advance Concept Mascot, New Construction  Comments Off on Lincoln, the Advance Concept Mascot at the site of a new home
Jan 052013
 

Me here, on my way to Northern New Mexico to our new job site.  We will be building the house my buddy Jeremy designed and created the plans for.  Jeremy is an architect, and along with Sofia, our interior designer, they met with the homeowner to make everything just the way she wanted it.  That’s what I call team work!   We took a lot of trips to government buildings to get everything approved and permited and now we’re ready to start building.  Continue reading »

The Home Show by Lincoln, the Advance Concept Mascot

 Lincoln the Advance Concept Mascot, New Construction, Remodel Ideas  Comments Off on The Home Show by Lincoln, the Advance Concept Mascot
Jan 032013
 

UPDATE FROM LINCOLN:  You are invited to visit our display anytime, it’s always set up at our showroom in the Comanche Business Park.  Please call the office before coming, sometimes we’re all out at a job-site and we don’t want to miss you!

Hi everybody!  Yup, it’s me, Lincoln, the Advance Concept mascot.  I’m sitting here on the Advance Concept semi truck with all the products that will be displayed at the home show in Albuquerque. Continue reading »

My first job site – reminiscing by Lincoln, the Advance Concept Mascot

 Lincoln the Advance Concept Mascot, New Construction  Comments Off on My first job site – reminiscing by Lincoln, the Advance Concept Mascot
Jan 022013
 

The first job site I went to was a long ride in the semi truck to a place called Chama.  We traveled over a lot of roads through NM and we brought tractors and materials and acouple of my friends, the guys who work for Advance Concept Construction.  Driving the semi was my buddy Kurt, General Manager. Continue reading »

Floor Coverings

 New Construction, Remodel Ideas  Comments Off on Floor Coverings
Dec 052012
 

There are so many options in floor coverings, wood, carpet, tile, vinyl, linoleum, and engineered wood (like pergo).  And so many choices!  Do you go with the bargain stores or the high end stores?  Wouldn’t it be nice to just have someone come spend an hour, at your home or business, and show you your options? Continue reading »

Holiday Gift Idea

 About Us, Remodel Ideas  Comments Off on Holiday Gift Idea
Nov 232012
 

   Maybe you’ve seen this little poster, it’s been making it’s way around Facebook for several weeks.  The message is a good one, yes, let’s shop local and support our local employers!

We’ve also got a great idea for shopping weary gift giving:  a gift certificate for handyman services.  This would be the perfect gift for someone who needs somethings fixed around the house.  Our craftsmen will fix cabinet doors, squeaky hinges, put up some weather stripping, we’ll even send one of our plumbing staff to change the furnace filter or install a programmable thermostat.  The gift certificate is just $75 and covers a full hour of quality repairs, that come with a warranty!  (Materials are extra but will be discussed before beginning any project). 

We hope you have a happy holiday season.
The staff at Advance Concept Construction (505)715-5481

Contacting Advance Concept Group

 About Us  Comments Off on Contacting Advance Concept Group
Nov 142012
 

Advance Concept Group – your one stop shop for all your construction projects.

If you have filled out a form on one of our website pages, we will contact you soon.

If you need our 24-hour emergency service, please give us a call at (505)715-5480, extension 1.  And what if you’re not sure if it’s an emergency?  The phone call is free and we’d rather have you call and be sure!  You will speak to an Advance Concept team member, not an answering service.  We are here to serve you.

We look forward to working with you.

 

 

Roofing 101 – What you should know about your roof.

 New Construction, Remodel Ideas  Comments Off on Roofing 101 – What you should know about your roof.
May 312012
 

Advance Concept’s roofing department has this advice for all you home owners.  We’ll call it Roofing 101:

  • First and foremost, what you need to know about roof repair is ALWAYS make sure your roofer is licensed, insured and bonded.  If you don’t have a licensed contractor, this is what you’ll be facing:  any legal action if someone gets hurt, any property damage and paying for the job twice if not installed correctly.
  • On pitched roofs you can put many types of materials, shingles, tile or metal.
  • On flat roofs you can put modified torch down, tar and gravel, foam or standing seam metal. Continue reading »

Answers to the top 10 questions about the EPA Lead Paint Rule

 Lead Paint, Remodel Ideas  Comments Off on Answers to the top 10 questions about the EPA Lead Paint Rule
May 312012
 

1.  Does my home have lead paint?
A.  If your home was built before 1978, it could have lead paint.  The older the home, the more likely it has it.

2.  What is the danger of lead paint to me, my family, and pets?
A.  Lead paint is hazardous if it is chipping or if it is disturbed in a remodeling or repair project.                          
Continue reading »

ADVANCE CONCEPT’S 7 TIPS FOR SELECTING PAINT COLORS

 New Construction, Remodel Ideas  Comments Off on ADVANCE CONCEPT’S 7 TIPS FOR SELECTING PAINT COLORS
May 312012
 

Color greatly impacts the way we see the world; it is one of the most dominant characteristics in a room. So when we’re talking about remodeling – whether it’s our home or business – updating the color can give you the biggest bang for your buck. But choosing the right color scheme can be challenging, given the wide range of paint colors available to you.  The following tips should help make the paint selection process a little less daunting and a little more fun.

themed bedroom custom paint

Continue reading »

IS THIS A GOOD TIME TO REMODEL MY HOME?

 Remodel Ideas  Comments Off on IS THIS A GOOD TIME TO REMODEL MY HOME?
May 312012
 

 

The general sentiment in this economic downturn is one of frugality and penny-pinching, but believe it or not, it may be a good time to invest in home improvement.  The biggest benefits of remodeling are the same as they’ve always been: Remodeling increases the value of your home, and it makes your home more functional and beautiful.   Continue reading »

Advance Concept Presents: Time to Xeriscape

 New Construction, Remodel Ideas  Comments Off on Advance Concept Presents: Time to Xeriscape
May 312012
 

Spring is in the air and people are starting to pay attention to their yards again.  It’s time to get things in shape for the barbecue parties!  If you’re like me and live in Albuquerque, the task of creating and maintaining a beautiful yard can be daunting. Not only is water a hot commodity, the high sun exposure can wreak havoc on green turf and other plants.  But if you’re ready to move up from rocks and junipers, then you should consider the drought-tolerant type of landscaping called xeriscaping. Continue reading »

8 Popular Kitchen Counter Tops: Pros & Cons

 New Construction, Remodel Ideas  Comments Off on 8 Popular Kitchen Counter Tops: Pros & Cons
May 312012
 

 

If you’re thinking about remodeling your kitchen and are having some trouble deciding on which countertop to select, I don’t blame you.  The truth is there are so many options on the market, and so many variables to consider, that the single task of choosing the material that’s right for you can be downright exhausting.  So to help you narrow down your search, I’ve compiled 8 of the most popular materials used for countertops and outlined the pros and cons of each. Continue reading »

EPA RRP Classes in Albuquerque, NM

 Lead Paint  Comments Off on EPA RRP Classes in Albuquerque, NM
May 312012
 

Advance Concept is an EPA Certified Instructional Facility. Upon completion and passing of the class, students are given their individual certificates.

What makes our classes unique?  We offer extended support to our students. After completing our class, if you have questions about a lead project or come across a situation you aren’t sure of how to handle, we will talk you through the problem.  And if we don’t know the answer, we’ll find out from the EPA and let you know!   Continue reading »

Kitchen Lighting Project

 Remodel Ideas  Comments Off on Kitchen Lighting Project
May 312012
 

After years of being subjected to bad fluorescent lighting in their kitchen, the owners of this home decided to make a change and hired Advance Concept Construction to design and install a better option.  Continue reading »

Energy Saving Tips from the Advance Concept Plumbing Team

 Plumbing  Comments Off on Energy Saving Tips from the Advance Concept Plumbing Team
May 292012
 

Looking for ways to save energy this winter?  The Advance Concept plumbing, heating, and air team has put together this list to help you lower your energy bills.  We also have a special to help you make it happen!  We service Albuquerque, Los Lunas, Placitas, Bernalillo, Rio Rancho, and the entire East Mountain area.  We service and repair and we make emergency calls, residential and commercial. Continue reading »

Winter tune-up Special for your furnace

 Plumbing  Comments Off on Winter tune-up Special for your furnace
May 292012
 

While New Mexico enjoys a little break from the bitter cold, have you notice your furnace is still turning on all the time?  Does it seem to turn off and on more often?  It could be time to change the filter.  A new filter will pay for itself in savings on energy costs.

If you’ve never changed your filter before, an internet search of your furnace make and model should provide you with that information.  Or call our plumbing team to schedule a mid-winter tune-up.  We’re keeping our fall special prices at just $75. Continue reading »

Emergency Repair Service

 Plumbing, Remodel Ideas  Comments Off on Emergency Repair Service
May 292012
 

We hope you never need this information, but as homeowners, and even as tenants, emergencies do happen and it’s best to know what to do.  Have you ever wondered if something was an emergency with your home?  The big top three are:

1.  If there is a fire, get out of the house (or apartment) and call 911.
2.  If you smell gas – again, get out and call 911.
3.  And of course medical or life threatening emergencies, call 911.

If water is coming into your house from a roof leak or plumbing leak, OR
If there is structural damage from a disaster, OR
If your heating and cooling system isn’t working, OR
If you need snow or ice removal:

Call Advance Concept Construction, we make house calls!  (505)715-5480

We serve Albuquerque, Rio Rancho, Bernalillo, Placitas, Los Lunas and the entire East Mountains including Moriarty and Estancia. 

Continue reading »

Lead Paint Rule – A few new changes

 Lead Paint  Comments Off on Lead Paint Rule – A few new changes
May 292012
 

The EPA has made a few changes to the Lead-Safe RRP Rule.  First, RRP certification allows for the collecting of paint chips to be sent to a lab for testing.  This is good news because it helps with the cost of hiring a dust sampling technician.

Second, the EPA has clarified the containment ruling for exterior work.  If the wall being worked on is less than 10 feet from the property line, vertical containment is required. Continue reading »

Advance Concept’s ICF Block Construction: A Great Way to Build

 New Construction  Comments Off on Advance Concept’s ICF Block Construction: A Great Way to Build
May 092012
 

Proponents of ICF claim that it will soon be the preferred construction method in North America. They advocate the many benefits of this building material, and shun all others. So, what exactly is ICF, what about it is so great, and what makes it one of the greenest materials in construction? Continue reading »

Aging in Place Series: Advance Concept Bathroom Design

 Aging in Place, Remodel Ideas  Comments Off on Aging in Place Series: Advance Concept Bathroom Design
May 092012
 

 

This article is the second one in our Aging in Place Series. Last week I wrote about the importance of creating a safe and usable kitchen for those of you who plan on staying in your homes for the long run. As I mentioned then, as we grow older and face certain restrictions with our bodies, we need our environments to adapt to our needs. Bathrooms are another critical room in our homes where safety and usability is of upmost importance. Continue reading »

Aging in Place – Kitchen Design

 Aging in Place, Remodel Ideas  Comments Off on Aging in Place – Kitchen Design
May 092012
 

 

There are many things you should consider when remodeling your kitchen for maximum safety and usability as you get older.  The following are just some basic ideas that should help get you started in your plan.  Advance Concept’s team has years of experience with environmental modifications for disability access.  Located in Albuquerque, we service all of NM. Continue reading »

Advance Concept’s Aging in Place Series

 Aging in Place, Remodel Ideas  Comments Off on Advance Concept’s Aging in Place Series
May 092012
 

The idea of aging in place is growing in popularity. As Baby Boomers get older, we’re seeing a widespread demand for resources that will accommodate them in their homes long term. According to a poll conducted by AARP in November 2010, nine out of ten people 65 and older expressed a desire to remain living in their homes (as opposed to moving to an assisted living facility) as long as possible. It certainly sounds more appealing to stay in one’s community amongst friends and family than moving to a nursing home and forfeiting independence.  But the truth is, as we get older, our needs change.  Even the healthiest and active elders require that their environments adapt to make life easier.  And there is often a wide gap left between wanting to stay in one’s home and actually being able to.  

Advance Concept Construction has provided many seniors and persons with disability the environmental modifications they needed to make their homes accessible and safe.  We provide free estimates and will discuss your options.  Kurt Bowker, General Manager, has over 20 of experience in construction and as a paramedic in both rural and urban areas.  He is uniquely qualified to show you your options and what will work best in your home.  Based in Albuquerque, we service all of NM.

Continue reading »

5 Tips for Kitchen Remodels

 New Construction, Remodel Ideas  Comments Off on 5 Tips for Kitchen Remodels
May 092012
 

Are you considering a kitchen remodel? If you’re like many Americans, you and your family may spend much of your time hanging out in the kitchen– cooking, eating, cleaning, and entertaining. Some people even go as far as to suggest that the kitchen is the modern day living room! If this sounds like you, then it follows that your kitchen should be a well equipped, comfortable and efficient part of your house. Not to mention beautiful. If you’re considering investing in remodeling your kitchen to be all that it can and should be, then read on.

custom kitchen remodel

Continue reading »