Monmouth Custom Builders was honored to once again work with a local fire department on a training and exercise drill in Monmouth County.

A client of ours is building a new home in Ocean Township. Part of the on-site work required the old house currently on the property to be demolished. We knew that meant an opportunity for local firefighters. After securing permission from the client who owned the property, Monmouth Custom Builders worked with the Ocean Township Fire Department to conduct a fire training and drill exercise at the property earlier this summer.

On the day of the training a “dummy” was placed inside the home which was then boarded up and filled with smoke to re-create the type of scenario faced by firefighters. One of the goals of the exercise was to rescue the dummy from inside the home. As the house filled with smoke , the firefighters knocked down the door, fought their way in and rescued the dummy victim. Seeing the firefighters in action even during a drill, gave us an entirely new perspective and appreciation of the work they do.

“Seeing the house fill with smoke and then watching the firefighters go into the house was awe-inspiring,” said Jon Levy, Vice President of Monmouth Custom Builders. “The level of danger faced by firefighters on a daily basis is hard to fully grasp until you see them in action.”

We were honored to be able to assist the Ocean Township Fire Department with this important exercise. Thank you to our client who allowed the exercise to take place on their property, and our continued appreciation goes out to the firefighters and all first responders. They have the toughest and most important jobs in the world.

Hurricane Irene and other large storms that recently passed through New Jersey raised awareness of the need for fully functioning sump pumps, along with ready-to-implement back-up plans in case of emergency. In the weeks following Irene, our office received hundreds of phone calls regarding sump pumps, pump installation and generator back-up. Below are a few basic recommendations from Monmouth Custom Builders to ensure that when an emergency strikes, your home is protected.

Most pumps for a residential sump pump system typically last 3-5 years. If your pump hasn’t been replaced in the past 5 years, it’s time to do so now. The days or hours before an approaching hurricane is not the time to find out that your sump pump isn’t operating correctly. That’s exactly what happened to far too many people this year who then visited their nearest home improvement store only to find the pumps completely sold out.

In addition to the main sump pump currently in use at your home, buy an additional pump and keep it in the box. That way, it will be ready and can be quickly installed when needed. If your main pump burns out, which they all do eventually, you’ll be comfortable knowing that its replacement is ready to go to work protecting your home. If you’re unsure about installing a new pump, just call Monmouth Custom Builders or any reliable handyman.

When the power goes out, battery backup for most sump pump lasts about 1 hour. We recommend having a generator available in case of such situations. If a generator is purchased prior to an emergency, which of course would be the optimal time, you’ll need to ensure its functionality and your familiarity with the machine. The moments following a power outage are usually not the best time to find out your generator isn’t functional or you’re not sure exactly how it works. Become comfortable with the generator prior to an emergency to ensure easy, convenient operation when the time comes, which eventually it will.

Install a water sensor connected to your alarm system on the sump pump so that you can be notified when the pump stops working. Using modern technology, you can now receive a notification on your smart phone when the sensor’s alarm is triggered by rising water. You’ll be instantaneously made aware of what could be an emergency situation at your home.

The peace of mind that comes from knowing your home is protected is worth the small investment  to ensure that your home’s equipment is functioning and running properly.

Still have additional questions about sump pumps, battery backups, generators or water sensors? Don’t hesitate to call us at 732-517-0400. We’re always happy to help.

Qualified Remodeler magazine recently featured Monmouth Custom Builders in a story about construction software. We custom developed a construction management app that allows us to keep all project documents, files, photos, work orders, etc right at our fingertips. It empowers our clients to conveniently and knowledgeably make decisions about change orders, design options and every facet of new construction and remodeling. It’s an incredibly powerful, wireless system that has been embraced by our clients, project managers and executives.

We built the software after testing most of the off-the-shelf systems currently available. They simply didn’t meet our needs. So, we built a custom software solution specifically for Monmouth Custom Builders. Go figure! Click here to read the Qualified Remodeler article.

Monmouth Custom Builders was honored to recently be named to Qualified Remodeler magazine’s annual Top 500 list. The list, in its 33rd year, ranks remodeling companies nationwide by annual remodeling revenue. Monmouth Custom Builders was ranked as #148 based on 2010 revenues.

“It’s an honor to be included in the Top 500 list,” said Jon Levy,Vice President of Monmouth Custom Builders. “Our greatest thanks go out to our clients. They made this designation possible.”

Fourteen amazing designers are decorating a home in Deal during the month of June. We visited the house during opening week and the work being done there is incredible. The event is called “Designers’ ShowHouse – Decor by the Shore.” It’s a month-long, real-time design showcase located at 136 Ocean Avenue in beautiful Deal.

There are special events throughout the month including a cocktail party, decorators lunch and art event. Learn more and get your tickets today by visiting the Sephardic Community Center.

Luxury Home Quarterly magazine featured a backyard cabana built by Monmouth Custom Builders for a Monmouth County homeowner. Outfitted with the latest audio and video technology, the cabana is perfect for entertaining summer guests. Read the story now.

Each month we send out an email newsletter to local homeowners interested in remodeling, home improvements and new construction. It’s an easy way to keep up with what’s new in residential building, get timely home maintenance tips and check out a couple of our favorite projects. You can now view the March edition, which was sent to subscribers a few weeks ago.

Don’t want to miss the next newsletter? Sign up for free monthly delivery now in the top, right-hand corner of this page and get the best home ideas, tips and information sent directly to you each month.