Creating that perfect space
Triple R received the opportunity to create the space that Kelli was dreaming of. An 1100 sq ft basement into exactly what she had build in her head. A full bathroom, a kitchenette, workout room for her husband, a craft room for her, spare bedroom for guests, and a really nice area for her grandchildren to play in.
We started out with the rough layout, snapped a few chalk lines on the floor and sparked excitement. The next day we rolled into framing. We try not to use old material, but after redoing her kitchen we saved the old cabinets to install in the basement. We reworked the cabinets for a nice layout and framed the kitchen to the cabinet specs which is very backwards from he norm. We insulated against the exterior walls and the bedroom to minimize sound.
Kelli had this project in her mind when they were looking to buy. There was already plumbing stub outs coming out of the basement slab which makes life so much easier for everyone involved. So we build the bathroom around the stub outs and it came out perfect.
The sub trades came in and rocked out the electrical, plumbing, and HVAC adding vents for the basements. We gotta have that space nice and comfortable for those grandchildren! I had a drywaller come in and rock that out in a few days (amazingly quick) and we painted. Flooring was next carpet in the play area and bedroom, lvp everywhere else for easy clean up. Hung cabinets, doors, casing, baseboard, and drop ceiling… BOOM we were all done.
Of course we had a major hangup throughout this process. After drywall and flooring were installed we came to find out that the basement leaked! We tore the drywall back off removed a few studs to find the culprit. A small crack in the concrete was letting water weep in 3” from the floor. Even with small cracks in the basement walls they usually don’t leak. Waterproofing membrane is applied from the exterior walls to stop this from happening. The usual plan of action is to dig down from the outside, apply polyurethane through drilled ports than reapply waterproof membrane. Only hang up this spot was directly under the garage floor….. no access. So we do what we do best… make it happen. We were able to install pressure ports on the inside of the basement walls. We then pumped polyurethane into those ports will the poly came threw the crack instead of water. It expanded dried and bam…. dry basement.
This was an amazing opportunity as we are very thankful to be the ones trusted to build out this basement. No shortcuts, no expensive change orders, all up to come, and DRY.
Steam Shower Comeback: Neeta & David’s Bathroom
We kicked off 2025 with a wild one. Neeta and David hadn’t been able to use their master shower for years — they knew something was off, and sure enough, mold started showing up in the basement ceiling below. That’s when we got the call.
Once we tore into it, the problem showed itself fast. The old shower failed because of bad waterproofing and almost no slope on the floor. Some of the drypack had turned back to dust, other spots were still soaked from a slow valve leak. The subfloor was rotted, moldy, and even had fungus growing. Yeah… not good.
We stripped everything out, cleaned it up, replaced the subfloor, checked the wall cavities for moisture, and started fresh. Brand new shower system went in — this time with a valve that pushes over 15 gallons per minute to feed two shower heads and two body sprayers. It’s got some serious power now.
Neeta pointed out about 18 inches of dead space behind the shower that was just walled off before. Of course, we had to use it. We extended the shower, added a bench — but that made it a bit far from the other heads, so… why not add another? Now there’s a fifth shower head in the mix, with its own thermostatic valve.
She also wanted a rainfall shower over the bench, but with a slanted ceiling, the escutcheon didn’t fit right — so we custom machined it to make it work clean.
The old drop-in whirlpool tub was outdated and bulky, so we swapped it for a freestanding tub with all the bells and whistles — the kind you actually want to use.
And while we were at it, we built a custom vanity with a matching backsplash, plus added all new towel bars and hooks around the space to finish it off right.
We wrapped it all up with a Schluter heated floor system (the old one didn’t work), new paint, and replaced the ceiling drywall in the basement where the leak had damaged everything.
Now, Neeta and David have their dream bathroom back — a true spa setup that actually works this time.
We’ve Got Great News!
We’ve got great news! Triple R is officially operating as a licensed contracting business! After months of acquiring the proper study books and materials, and weeks of studying, Chris passed the North Carolina General Contractor License test. We are so proud of him!
What does this mean for us as a company? Did you know that in the state of North Carolina, you can practice as a general contractor without a license for up to a $40,000 job? While this could allow a company to offer more competitive pricing, they may not be your best option for home remodels and renovations. Having this license gives us the confidence to plan out whatever project, no matter how big or small, with the knowledge and confidence of state laws, building codes, the backing of our required insurance and the ability to pull whatever permit is needed to move your vision forward.
What are you waiting for? Our family is so excited to be serving Alamance and Orange counties here in North Carolina. After taking this step, we are ready to help bring creative solutions and your vision to turn your family’s house into your home. Reach out to us today about your project!
Crawlspace Nightmare
Find out what’s going on underneath your house.
We looked at a crawl space last week that was straight out of a horror movie. There were multiple broken floor joists, black mold everywhere that was covered in cobwebs of white fuzzy mold. The rim joist were also buckling out. After killing two black widows, I had had enough.
All of this was easily avoidable. An inspection done twice a year, done by yourself or by a qualified inspector, could have saved this family $80,000 in repairs.
If you’re not sure what to look for, or what the red flags are, here is a checklist:
Crawlspace Inspection Sheet
If you have any questions, you can always email us at info@triplernc.com