Remodeling articles from April 2003

Remodeling archives from April 2003

Tighten up the slack. (First Word).
April 1, 2003... There's no denying that it's still pretty slow out there. If there's a silver lining, it's that you now have time to run your business instead of running alongside it, struggling to keep pace. Still, the sputtering economy creates pressure to...

New NAICS code. (.comment).
April 1, 2003... Earlier this year (see "Stand and Be Counted" January 2003, page 11), we explained how a new economic survey by the U.S. Census Bureau would for the first time compile critical data for the residential remodeling industry. The key is the new...

Arbitration? No way! (Call back: the sound and the fury ...).
April 1, 2003... As I read "Arbitration Clauses" (February 2003, page 40), the exchange that came to mind was the following: "Honey, I love you! Will you marry me? You will? Wow! You've made me the happiest person in the world. Oh, by the way, in case our...

Better, but not best. (Call back: the sound and the fury ...).
April 1, 2003... While the remodel of the 19th century buildings in your "Before + After" feature is a vast improvement for the Smithtown streetscape ("Home Turf," January 2003, page 69), it is disconcerting to see that no one showed concern as to how the...

Corrections.
April 1, 2003... We experienced a technical glitch in our February 2003 issue, and on two stories, the last line of text was omitted. On page 42, Victoria Downing's full byline should read: Victoria Downing is president of Remodelers Advantage, Fulton, Md....

Housing numbers a good sign for remodeling. (News + Notes).
April 1, 2003... New home sales in 2002 rose to record levels, along with sales of existing homes. Housing starts are at their highest level since 1986. That's all great news for builders, but what about the home improvement industry? Kermit Baker, senior...

Beware of DIY mold testing. (News + Notes).
April 1, 2003... The recent hysteria over mold has sent many in the remodeling industry reeling. Remodelers have had to revamp their contracts to detach themselves from mold removal and have had to explain the reasons for that to homeowners. And when the...

Flush testing causes controversy. (News + Notes).
April 1, 2003... A study completed late last year by the NAHB Research Center has caused quite a stir in the toilet manufacturing industry. Two public utilities groups, Seattle Public Utilities and the East Bay Municipal Utility District (Oakland, Calif.),...

Safety codes available. (News + Notes).
April 1, 2003... Updated editions of the International Code Council's International Codes are now available. Of the 14 codes, two should prove to be most useful for remodelers: the International Existing Building Code and the International Residential Code. ...

Battery chargers recalled. (News + Notes).
April 1, 2003... Bosch has announced that it is recalling approximately 2 million battery chargers for its Skil Warrior drills. The company has received about 160 reports of transformers within the chargers overheating. In one instance, a fire resulted, causing...

Outlook: not as good. (Market Watch).
April 1, 2003... CONSUMER CONFIDENCE In February, consumer confidence plunged to its lowest level since October 1993, marking the third month of falling levels. Fear of war with Iraq, surging energy prices, and a weak labor market contributed to the drop....

May the best sales system win: the remodeling industry may be ready for a new level of sophistication when it comes to the way projects are sold. (Commentary).
April 1, 2003... Forty years ago, most remodeling companies were small. The owner was salesman, production manager, and sometimes carpenter as well. Only a few owners had any idea how to charge for or sell their products. On the other hand, in that era,...

Legacies: the occasion of a birth in the family gives pause for reflection. (Commentary).
April 1, 2003... My first grandchild is due to appear April 13. The parents have steadfastly refused to learn its gender, which increases the anticipation. In preparing for a family baby shower, I asked each attendee for advice they'd like to give the new...

Type casting: knowing whether your business is client-based or project-based is an important step toward truly filling the needs of your customers. (Commentary).
April 1, 2003... Asked about the size of their client base, most remodelers aren't sure how to answer. Some take a guess based on the size of their mailing list or the number of holiday cards they send out each year. Others are prompted to question who...

The final leap: the last step in building a great company is a giant one--stepping back. (Commentary).
April 1, 2003... For several years, I've wanted to become the full-time president of my company. I knew we could achieve the next level of success, and I yearned to spend my time focusing on the big picture rather than being consumed by the day-to-day realities...

Moving on out. (Ways + Means).
April 1, 2003... Don't take it the wrong way, but George Strother doesn't like having people around--clients, that is. Two years ago, Strother decided his company, Stroco Building and Remodeling, Denville, N.J., would require clients to vacate the premises...

All wrapped up. (Ways + Means).
April 1, 2003... Anthony James Construction, Westfield, N.J., wants clients to know they're in good hands. The company follows up its sales presentation with a thank-you note and, following the signing of a contract, sends clients information detailing how the...

Setting standards for efficiency. (Ways + Means).
April 1, 2003... The shop floor of any manufacturing plant is carefully laid out to maximize efficiency. When John Scroggins went to work for Mark Troyer Remodeling Co., Plain City, Ohio, he asked himself why a remodeling company couldn't be organized the same...

All systems go. (Ways + Means).
April 1, 2003... We all know that working with systems based on sound policies can help us avoid mistakes, increase efficiency, expand customer satisfaction, and drop more dollars to the bottom line. But few remodelers have a complete set of written policies...

Pay early to save. (Bottom Line).
April 1, 2003... If you purchase materials during one month, the typical supplier will ask that you pay the bill by the end of the next month. But many suppliers offer an incentive for paying early. For example, my supplier offers a 2% discount if I pay by the...

Late tax payments. (Tax Tips).
April 1, 2003... The IRS requires you to pay 90% of the year's tax liability or 100% of last year's obligation by January 15. What should you do when you can't meet your obligation? Send a partial check on the due date, and attach a letter saying you cannot...

Square--and plumb--meals: can I interest you in some dessert with that remodel? (Sales + Marketing).
April 1, 2003... If you promised to cook a gourmet meal after your clients' kitchen was done, would they take you up on the kitchen--and dinner? That technique has brought mixed results for amateur chef/ remodeler Thomas Buckborough of Thomas Buckborough &...

All ears. (Sales + Marketing).
April 1, 2003... Chris Donatelli hangs up his remodeler hat for two hours a month and wears a different cap: advice nurse. The San Jose, Calif., remodeler uses that time to answer phone calls and e-mails from past clients about minor home problems. His...

Secret sales force. (Sales + Marketing).
April 1, 2003... Like it or not, subcontractors represent your company every time they come in contact with your clients or prospects. They'll do a good or bad job based upon their relationship with you. At the jobsite, clients grill subs on everything, so a...

Direct mail on a shoestring: get the most bang for your buck. (Sales + Marketing).
April 1, 2003... Here are five tips that can help you develop a direct mail campaign on a tight budget: Go pro. You may have the software, and you might think you have the savvy to create your own mailer, but they're not enough to deliver the right...

Last meal. (Field Notes).
April 1, 2003... Al Gernhardt's crew found this shocking sight behind the wall on a kitchen remodel. The production manager of Dutchess Building Specialists in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., says lead carpenter John Froehlich was pulling out drywall when he came across...

Labor projections. (Field Notes).
April 1, 2003... Last month, we used a spreadsheet to calculate how much a lead carpenter should produce in a month. Change some variables, and you can also use the spreadsheet as a quick way to determine how much additional labor you need to hire to handle...

Senior-friendly design. (By Design).
April 1, 2003... The National Center for Seniors Housing Research awarded University of Arizona architecture student Travis Bunt first place in its annual Aging In Place design competition. This year's contest challenged students to design a senior-friendly...

Keep in touch. (Tech@Work).
April 1, 2003... As vice president of business development at Waller Construction, Jimmy Waller maintains the company's contact database. That means annually updating information for more than 3,000 subs, suppliers, prospects, and past customers. "The...

Show stoppers. (Tech@Work).
April 1, 2003... If you're into technology, the International Builders' Show was a great place to be. Here's a handful of highlights from Las Vegas. Mission control. Remodeler Norm Serf's BetterACT! was the first, and is still the best,...

Comprehensive compensation. (Good Form).
April 1, 2003... Halsey Platt, of Walter H.B. Platt Builders and Cabinetmakers, estimates that at least 50% of his new hires have previously worked for him as subcontractors. But the Groton, Mass., contractor ran into a problem: Because of his extensive...

Profile: Jim and Kevin Ahern. (Close Up).
April 1, 2003... Jim and Kevin J. Ahern of Litchfield Builders (Big50 2001) have made education a cornerstone of their Hamden, Conn., business. So much so, in fact, that the CGRs are sending three lead carpenters to CGR training. They may have two more...

Second look. (Close Up).
April 1, 2003... Remodeling, Lynn Motheral says, requires X-ray vision. That's one reason Motheral (Big50 1996) moved to insurance restoration last year. Another reason is that Calvary Construction owner Frank Jones told Motheral that the Dallas-Fort Worth...

Should you collect change order payments up front or at the end of the job? (Face Off).
April 1, 2003... PAY ON DELIVERY We collect change order payments at the end of the job. This is because of the market in central Florida and the type of work we do. Our company does a hybrid of remodeling, insurance work, roofing, and new home...

Sub standards: do you shop subcontractors? (Solutions: Big50 answers to big business questions).
April 1, 2003... Q+A KEN SKOWRONSKI KS Remodelers Franklin, Wis. Big50 1992 We have a solid core of guys, including some subs we've been using for 10 or 15 years. Some come to the top of the list more than others. We pretty much stay with the same...

Get to know acrylic: easy cleaning and durability make homeowners happy and increase referrals, making more and more contractors want to ...
April 1, 2003... How do contractors please today's customers and increase referrals? When it comes to the bathroom, more and more, the answer is acrylic. Recent research identifies two key items that can make homeowners most happy: First, bathroom surfaces...

Wicked curve: production snafus and budget expansions couldn't ruin the successful outcome of the remodel of an 1865 brick Victorian. (Before + After).
April 1, 2003... The job was rocky from the start, literally. Excavators unearthed boulders and hit bedrock. Then it started raining, which meant pumping. The $5,874 excavation budget ballooned to $15,025. If remodeler Jim Sasko of Teakwood Builders...

Small wonders: use everything available to you--light, views, and materials--to eke all the usable space out of little, detailed rooms.
April 1, 2003... Architect Sarah Susanka was one of the first to articulate the concept of a smaller house that is tailored to a resident's lifestyle. Her successful book, The Not So Big House, offers language to define the feeling created by a cozy and...

Trickle-down design: want to stay up-to-date on the hottest design trends in remodeling? Look at new homes.
April 1, 2003... Who would have guessed? Wood-fired pizza ovens are a hot new trend in high-end new construction kitchens. The homey, Old-World brick ovens symbolize a broader trend: homeowners' growing desire for simplicity, warmth, quality, and...

The new consumer: today's savvy client is demanding better design and products, more value for their money, and a professional attitude from their remodelers.
April 1, 2003... Remodelers are finding more educated customers who have across-the-board demands. These new consumers want great design. They want to know the pros, cons, and pricing of all their product choices. They want a true custom remodeling job that...

Show them the money: a well-crafted bonus plan can make your company more efficient and your employees more productive.
April 1, 2003... Stephen Howell, owner of Howell Design & Build, North Andover, Mass., remembers what it was like when he founded his company six years ago. Howell says he was always motivated to get jobs done on time and on budget. If he did, "I'd make more...

Spec specialist. (Management).
April 1, 2003... Remodeler Mike Owings no longer has to worry about helping his clients select plumbing products. Consultant Robin Barker works with the clients of Owings Brothers Contracting, Eldersburg, Md., to choose faucets and fittings. She orders the...

Display dividends. (Management).
April 1, 2003... Bill Feinberg of Allied Kitchen & Bath in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., found a great way to exchange leads with his appliance dealer: He put a company display in the dealer's two showrooms. His investment in the 10-foot displays at Florida Builder...

Baths: myth vs. fact: contractors comment on what manufacturers say are product myths. (Management).
April 1, 2003... Myth #1: A one-piece shower unit is easier to install than a three-piece unit. Fact: According to Timothy O'Connor, Sterling's director of brand merchandising, multi-piece shower units are 30% easier to install than a one-piece unit....

Over wrought. (Details).
April 1, 2003... Remodeler Frank Spivey and his team transformed his sketch of an imaginative wrought iron structure into an installed base for an island. The owner of Spivey Construction in Indianapolis based the design on criteria given to him by salesperson...

Hanging straight. (Details).
April 1, 2003... For hanging straight cabinets on a long or high wall, remodeler Gary Moffie now uses engineered studs in the wall. The president of The Remodeling Company in Beverly, Mass., says he's had issues with standard studs. "The demand has been so high...

Range hoods. (Spec Book).
April 1, 2003... The newest kitchen range hoods combine powerful blowers with sleek good looks. The latest models evacuate smoke and odors efficiently while providing a stylish accent for the kitchen.--S.L.M.

DCS Appliances. (Range Hoods).
April 1, 2003... Euro Vent Hoods are available in 30- and 36-inch widths, and the Euro Downdrafi system is available in a 36-inch width. Both feature 600 CFM blowers, dishwasher-safe filters made of 304 stainless steel, and halogen lighting. The systems...

Air King. (Range Hoods).
April 1, 2003... The Vision Series range hood features an electronic touch pad control, a four-speed motor, a blower delay timer, and a "clean filter" indicator. The quiet-operating series is available in 30- and 36-inch widths and in white, bisquit, black, or...

Abbaka. (Range Hoods).
April 1, 2003... Available in stainless steel, brass, copper, or combinations of these metals, the Craftwork range hood features accents such as mirror-polished and brushed finishes, a scalloped breast plate, and an offset bottom apron. (800) 548-3932....

Kenyon Custom. (Range Hoods).
April 1, 2003... Now available in a 36-inch-wide unit, the Sirocco under-cabinet slider range hood features a blower that slides out of the upper cabinet for use. The hood is operated by a four-speed mechanical slide control. The unit is also available in...

Fantech. (Range Hoods).
April 1, 2003... The SHL Series Stainless Steel Range Hood Liner is available in 36-inch and 48-inch sizes and features variable speeds, halogen lighting, and removable aluminum filters. The liner is pre-wired to work with the company's fans. (800) 747-1762....

Zephyr Ventilation. (Range Hoods).
April 1, 2003... The newest addition to the Europa Collection, the Milano range hood comes in an all-stainless finish and a combination of hand-blown glass canopy with stainless steel chimney. The hood features 715 CFM blower operation, a six-speed fan, and a...

Vent-A-Hood. (Range Hoods).
April 1, 2003... New range hood liners can be customized with wood, plaster, or tile panels or covers. Featuring the maker's patented Magic Lung centrifugal blower system, the hood liners provide up to 300 CFM and remove up to 99% of grease, smoke, and odors...

Rangecraft. (Range Hoods).
April 1, 2003... Universal Inserts for wood hood covers or panels are available in stock sizes or can be custom sized for wall-mounted, ceiling-mounted, or island applications. The fan is available in 600,900, or 1200 CFM options. All inserts come with the...

Broan. (Range Hoods).
April 1, 2003... Featuring multi-speed push button controls, two-level halogen lighting, a delay timer control, and dishwasher-safe filters, the Best K30 range hood operates off a high-efficiency motor that blows up to 500 CFM of exhaust. To accommodate...

Gaggenau. (Range Hoods).
April 1, 2003... The AH600 range hood uses multiple fans to create a backflow of air that completely rids the kitchen of cooking smoke, odors, and vapors, says the maker. Three 50-watt halogen bulbs provide targeted illumination on four different level...

Windows of opportunity: successfully upselling or cross-selling window replacement customers is all about focusing on what they need. (Windows).
April 1, 2003... Bob McKay, owner of McKay Building Co., Birmingham, Ala., sometimes gives his window customers options. But not always. On a recent kitchen remodel, McKay specified three replacement windows--running between $600 and $700, installed--and...

Weathering the storms. (Siding).
April 1, 2003... After a tornado blew through in the spring of 1998, Minnesota home improvement contractor Dean Williams began to get questions from prospects about the wind and impact resistance of the siding products he installs. "[Homeowners are] all...

Don't bid it, sell it. (Siding).
April 1, 2003... Q: There are three bids and mine's the highest. What now? A: It takes no selling on your part to offer the lowest price. So now's when the selling begins. What does your prospect want, the lowest price or the best price? This is a...

Rare vintage: a good built-in wine cellar requires more than just rows of racks--it takes know-how. (Trends).
April 1, 2003... Building a wine room addition or converting an existing room for wine storage requires more than placing a few racks in a room. It takes knowing how to achieve and maintain the conditions that allow wine to age properly without spoiling--or...

Green Air. (Trends).
April 1, 2003... Since the Clean Air Act was amended in 1990, fiberglass insulation manufacturing plants have been required to limit emissions of formaldehyde, phenol, and methanol--hazardous pollutants produced by the manufacture of fiberglass insulation....

Keeping it together: Whirlpool hopes to turn the laundry room into the family room. (Trends).
April 1, 2003... The laundry areas of homes have traditionally been relegated to basements, utility rooms and mudrooms, and various other out-of-the-way spaces. But Whirlpool Corp. is attempting to bring the laundry room out of these cold and remote locations...

Keep it quiet. (Reader's Choice).
April 1, 2003... Installing a quiet bathroom exhaust fan may seem like a small concern, but it can make a big difference in a homeowner's satisfaction with a bathroom remodel. "The biggest complaint that people have about fans is about the noise," says David...

Flex appeal. (Reader's Choice).
April 1, 2003... The designers at JFCI Design & Remodel have speced Tyvek HomeWrap for years. But crews installed other manufacturers' metal and adhesive flashings, which had to be cut down, around doors and windows. When DuPont introduced Tyvek FlexWrap window...

Retrofitting a patio door: to evaluate a suitable header, you must consider both strength and deflection. (On The Job).
April 1, 2003... To retrofit a slider or French door, you have to knock a 6- or 8-foot hole in an exterior wall--probably a structural, weight-bearing wall. To evaluate a suitable header, you must consider both strength and deflection. Strength is obvious: The...

Roofing: laminated shingles are high on style and low on maintenance. (In Focus).
April 1, 2003... There's a lot more to roofing than simply covering a roof: It has become one more opportunity to make a design statement--and the new favorite material of choice for making such a statement is the laminated shingle. "Laminated shingles...

MonierLifetile. (In Focus).
April 1, 2003... The Barcelona one-piece "S" tile provides the look of a two-piece tile for an Old World Spanish-style roof. An optional cap can be installed as a decorative tile to enhance the two-piece tile appearance. The tiles are available in several...

Tasman Roofing. (In Focus).
April 1, 2003... Manufactured of a corrosion-resistant, aluminum-zinc alloy coated steel, the Decra Shingle Plus profile features an increased edge thickness for the appearance of heavy-cut wood shingles. Available in five colors, the shingles can be installed...

Custom-Bilt Metals. (In Focus).
April 1, 2003... The Titan line of metal roofing is available in several looks: traditional shake, modern tile, and smooth SnapLock Panels and Standing Seam Panels (shown here). Ultra-Cool coatings, which meet the EPA's Energy Star specs for cool roofs, are now...

Tamko. (In Focus).
April 1, 2003... Heritage XL laminated shingles provide a wider-cut appearance in five new colors: Canyon Brown, Desert Sunrise, Slatetone Grey, Black Forest, and Weathered Stone. A 10-year algae-relief limited warranty is included, and the shingles exceed ASTM...

CertainTeed. (In Focus).
April 1, 2003... Color Companion Products is a new approach to matching low- and steep-slope roofing products. Available colors are Burnt Sienna, Colonial Slate, Heather Blend, Resawn Shake, Driftwood, Weathered Wood, Moire Black, Hunter Green, and White. (800)...

Slate/Select. (In Focus).
April 1, 2003... Slate/Select fiber cement roofing provides the appearance of natural slate but is made of a proprietary cement matrix with non-alkaline glass fibers. Available in a variety of colors, blends, and antiqued shades, the roofing is colored...

Georgia-Pacific. (In Focus).
April 1, 2003... Laminated fiberglass Summit Series Architectural Shingles provide the appearance of wood shakes in a wide variety of colors, as well as in fungus-and algae-resistant versions. The shingles are available in two weights and are sized for...

Owens Corning. (In Focus).
April 1, 2003... Offering the look of slate with the durability of an asphalt shingle, the Berkshire Collection Shingles and matching hip and ridge accessories are available in 12 natural-slate colors. The shingles come with a 15-year algae-resistance warranty...

EcoStar. (In Focus).
April 1, 2003... Manufactured of recycled rubber and plastic, Seneca Cedar Shake Tiles offer the traditional appearance of wood shakes in a lightweight alternative, says the maker. The tiles are available in nine colors and in random widths of 6, 9, and 12...

Crestron. (Home Automation).
April 1, 2003... The Honeywell Enviracom T8635L microelectronic communicating programmable thermostat is now incorporated into Crestron's HOME automation system to provide status updates of room temperature per zone as well as outdoor temperature climate. (800)...

CorAccess. (Home Automation).
April 1, 2003... The Mobile Companion wireless device allows homeowners to access and control home lighting, security, HVAC, and whole-house audio systems from any room in the house. The 2 1/2-pound, 8 1/2-inch-high device features an enclosed wireless 802.11b...

Elan Home Systems. (Home Automation).
April 1, 2003... The VIA!dj Digital Music Server allows homeowners to view, control, and play CDs and mp3s from any VIA! Touch Panel or television in the home, allows CD tracks to be recorded at four different rates, and can store up to 28,000 hours of music....

OnQ. (Home Automation).
April 1, 2003... The 2x10 KSU/PBX Telephone System uses standard telephones to provide up to 10 extensions per phone line and manages calls through an auto attendant. Each extension is given its own voice mail box. The system allows fax calls to share phone...

HAI. (Home Automation).
April 1, 2003... An indoor/outdoor temperature and humidity sensor features internal circuitry coated to resist moisture and can be used to sense and control temperature and humidity in any room or outbuilding. The sensor reports high and low humidity...

DITEK Home Surge Protection. (Home Automation).
April 1, 2003... The Stormshield 2000 system is designed to stop power surges at or near the location where electricity, telephone, and cable or satellite services enter the home. This permanent whole-house surge protection system is UL certified and will...

Jackson Systems. (Home Automation).
April 1, 2003... The Automatic Zone Register (AZR) is designed to improve temperature control in a zone control system or by itself with a wall-mounted thermostat. The register senses the temperature where it is installed to help eliminate overheating or...

Belden. (Home Automation).
April 1, 2003... HomeChoice Banana Peel Composite Cables feature a patent-pending design that joins individual cables at a center spline, eliminating an outer jacket and allowing instant identification of individual data, coaxial, and fiber cable components....