Remodeling articles from January 2005

Remodeling archives from January 2005

Resolute habits.(First Word)
January 1, 2005... Even the casual observer would agree that my office is cluttered. Some would say that's putting it kindly. I've tried to create a daily routine for decluttering When that failed, I tried to instill a weekly then a monthly, routine. Failures...

Online leads.(comment)
January 1, 2005... A new online service called Remodeling Leads is now available as part of a partnership between our publisher, Hanley Wood, and ServiceMagic, an Internet lead-matching company that processes over 125,000 homeowner service requests each month....

Corrected cost vs. value data available online.(Call Back)
January 1, 2005... Errors discovered in the 2004 Cost vs. Value Report after the November issue went to press have been corrected. The corrected National Averages table is reproduced here, and corrected tables for all projects are now available online at...

HIRI predicts high spending.(News+Notes)
January 1, 2005... It's morbid--and a bit of a cliche--to say that someone benefits from a natural disaster, but if you're looking for a silver lining in the thunderclouds that lurked over the Southeastern United States during hurricane season, you'll find it in...

Distinctive dozen.(News+Notes)
January 1, 2005... ServiceMagic, an online service that matches consumers with registered contractors and home service professionals--recently announced the winners of its first "Best in Business" awards. (Hanley Wood, the company that publishes REMODELING, has...

Materials pricing still volatile.(News+Notes)
January 1, 2005... While 2004 was a strong year for the construction industry as a whole contractors were faced with dramatic price increases on certain materials. Good news--in the form of projected price decreases--was announced by experts at the NAHB...

Truck recall.(News+Notes)
January 1, 2005... Under pressure after a CBS News report and a recommendation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DaimlerChrysler has announced a recall of Dodge Dakota pickup trucks and Dodge Durango 4x4 SUVs with model years from 2000 to...

Breaking the mold theory.(News+Notes)
January 1, 2005... A recent study has found that the difference between homes with mold problems and those without is qualitative, not quantitative. According to Elliott Homer, laboratory director at Air Quality Sciences, in Atlanta, the study looked at...

RMI up in third quarter.(Market+Watch)
January 1, 2005... Strong gains in the South and West pushed the NAHB's Remodeling Market Index up in the third quarter of 2004. Current market conditions gained a full point nationally from the quarter before, and future expectations went unchanged. Both...

Commercial breaks.(Market Watch)
January 1, 2005... Mark Scott of Mark IV Builders, in Bethesda, Md., got out of commercial construction when the market turned bad back in 1981. By the end of 1982, the residential remodeling market--which had been strong--suddenly fell off. Over the years, Scott...

Figure this.(Market Watch)
January 1, 2005... 40% Home purchases made by first-time buyers National Association of Realtors 9% Portion of all remodeling projects that cost more than $30,000 to complete National Association of the Remodelling Industry $48 billion...

Markup redux: remodelers may need to re-examine the way they mark up subcontractors' work and high-priced products.(Commentary)
January 1, 2005... When it comes down to it, the real point of being in business is to charge enough money for every job so that the company is making a profit on every project. That means contractors need to know what their overhead is on a monthly, quarterly,...

Sharpening the saw: in the new year ahead, don't forget to maintain your most important tool: you.(Commentary)
January 1, 2005... I love the fresh start of the new year. The hard work, road-blocks, and disappointments of last year are forgotten. The slate is clean, and we can plan, create, and hope again. Just as each new year calls for a new business plan, people...

Peaks and valleys: manage your market risk by knowing how to ride the fluctuations.(Commentary)
January 1, 2005... Several years ago, economists at Harvard's Remodeling Futures Program believed home remodeling was counter-cyclical to new construction. In other words, they thought that remodeling surged when new home construction starts fell off, and vice...

All flash, no substance: why TV's "remodeling porn" is bad for remodelers and their clients.(Commentary)
January 1, 2005... As everyone knows, This Old House began the television remodeling program business some 25 years ago. The show's original premise was disarmingly simple: A couple of Northeastern yuppies, armed with a seven-figure budget, matching funds from...

Keep 'em laughing to keep 'em.(Ways+Means)
January 1, 2005... According to the online career management service Monster.com's 2004 Work/Life Balance survey, 82% of Americans are unhappy with their work/life balance and 89% hoped to change jobs within six months of the August survey. Unhappiness among...

Community involvement.(Ways+Means)
January 1, 2005... Tom Avallone, Cobb Hill Construction, Concord, N.H., encourages his staff to join nonprofit boards, code review committees, and service and community organizations. "This increases our visibility, and it is good for our company to be...

Wish you were here?(Ways+Means)
January 1, 2005... Step right up. See the remodelers who took a 20-day European vacation and didn't phone the office! When they returned their business was still standing! Believe it or not. Ripley's has got nothing on Paul and Nina Winans, of Winans...

Say thanks the right way.(By Law)
January 1, 2005... In the remodeling business, we generally use the term "inducement" to refer to the giving of something of value--cash, a coupon, a free gift--to a prospective customer and, in exchange, we are able to demonstrate the product, conduct a sales...

Management material.(People+Skills)
January 1, 2005... "Management would be easy... if it weren't for the people." Title of a book by Patricia J. Addesso, Ph.D. Few of you got into business for yourselves because you relished the prospect of managing a team of people. But as most of you...

Home sweet home office.(Bottom Line)
January 1, 2005... A new book, Home Business Tax Deductions." Keep What You Earn, by attorney Stephen Flshman (Nolo, www.nolo.com, $34.99), is a tax primer designed to help people who work from home keep their taxes to a legal minimum by taking advantage of the...

Money talks.(Bottom Line)
January 1, 2005... Endless phone calls. Extra trips to the site. Irate, tired-of-waiting customers. All of these problems worsen when a budget question crops up mid-project and goes unresolved for a period of time because only the company owner can answer it. ...

Meet the press: 8 tips for preparing a press release.(Sales+Marketing)
January 1, 2005... There's a general assumption that getting your company mentioned in the local paper is free publicity. Yes, it's publicity--but it ain't free. In tact, if done poorly, it can be a most costly experiment in futility. The vehicle for most...

Turning pride into marketing.(Sales+Marketing)
January 1, 2005... When Tim Lawrence and his sharp marketing team at Blue Ridge Home Improvement, in Seattle, were looking for an easy way to build their exposure, they came up with a creative solution that increases their visibility and endears them to their...

Turn to the Bible.(Sales+Marketing)
January 1, 2005... Michael T. Zabec knows the remodeling industry. As the executive vice president of Homeview Contractors and host of the weekly WCBM radio show "Your Home, Your Views," he has 36 years in the business behind him. That also means 36 years of...

Fitting machine.(Field Notes)
January 1, 2005... The Home Depot has introduced a new rental excavator to make life easier for remodelers who occasionally need an excavator for tight spaces. The new Micro Excavator has a 36-inch base that can be easily manipulated through garden gates,...

Electrical hazards.(Field Notes)
January 1, 2005... The most common electrical hazard on today's construction sites is from ground fault electrical shock. In order to reduce shock-related injuries, the OSHA electrical standard requires employers to provide either ground fault circuit...

Keeping up with codes.(Field Notes)
January 1, 2005... A familiar scenario is repeated all over the country: An inspector arrives on the job and even though a detail was included in the permit set of plans, and you were not informed by the inspection office, your job fails because of a code change....

True model home.(By Design)
January 1, 2005... With clients there's sometimes a vast distance between imagination and visualization. Complex rooms, intricate rooflines, and curved walls can be great ideas but difficult for a client to picture and to understand how each piece must relate to...

Go for all-in-one Web services.(Tech@Work)
January 1, 2005... Internet penetration, particularly among those in a full-service remodeler's target market, is often more than 90%. "If you don't have a Web site. you're at a competitive disadvantage," says David Alpert, president of Continuum Marketing...

Software shopping.(Tech@Work)
January 1, 2005... The year 2005 is upon us, and the odds are pretty good that you'll be shopping for some software to remodel your own operation. Here are the steps we use to make sure that our clients' shiny new software doesn't become next year's "shelfware."...

Questionnaire authority.(Good Form)
January 1, 2005... There are two reasons why Denny Conner gives potential clients this questionnaire. First, it encourages his clients to start thinking and reflecting before the first design meeting. Second, it provides a record of the evolution of the project....

Profile: Josh Baker and Lawrence Weinberg.(Close up: insight and opinion from the BEST in the business)
January 1, 2005... When Josh Baker (left), Lawrence Weinberg, and their company, BOWA Builders, were named Big50 in 1992, they already had strong numbers and a great approach to their work. In recent years, however, they've taken steps to ensure that all their...

Second look: Jim Maguire.(Close up: insight and opinion from the BEST in the business)
January 1, 2005... J.P. Maguire Associates has always been involved in reconstruction, but five years ago, president Jim Maguire (Big50 1989) noticed the industry changing and transformed the company from reconstruction-only to a full-service cleaning,...

Is it worth it to participate in home shows?(Face off: insight and opinion from the BEST in the business)
January 1, 2005... "There are few other events where you can meet 1,500 people looking for home improvement answers and introduce yourself as the industry expert." --Chris Stebnitz NO BUSINESS LIKE SHOW BUSINESS Stebnitz Builders has been active in...

Complaint box: Big50s rarely have customers complain about their employees. How do they handle it when they do?(Q+A)
January 1, 2005... BRIAN ALTMANN Dutchess Building Specialists Poughkeepsie, N.Y. Big50 2003 The first thing I do is assure the customer that I'm not going to go back and tell the employee that "Mrs. Jones said you didn't clean up adequately."...

Subject: your remodel: e-mail goes the distance during a North Carolina home renovation for absent clients.(Before+After)
January 1, 2005... Not many people could buy a house 1,300 miles away, hire a design/build firm, then return home to wait out the remodel. But Candace and Larry (they've asked that their last names not be used) are just the sort of people who could do it--and...

Get to know continuous cast acrylic: easy cleaning and durability make homeowners happy and increase referrals, making more and more contractors want to ...(Special Advertising Section)(Advertisement)
January 1, 2005... How do contractors please today's customers and increase referrals? When it comes to the bathroom, more and more, the answer is continuous cast acrylic. Recent research identifies two key items that can make homeowners most happy: First,...

Marketing 101: understanding marketing basics can help you power up business and prevent pitfalls. Here's a primer for beginners or a refresher for old pros.(Cover Story)
January 1, 2005... What is marketing? Consultant Stephen Wilson thinks of it as the circus coming to town. Paint a sign saying the circus is coming: That's advertising. Harness the sign to an elephant and march him downtown: That's promotion. The...

The minority market: minority homeowners make up a growing but largely untapped remodeling market.
January 1, 2005... If the buying power and homeownership rates of minorities increase as predicted, remodelers across the country who want to break into this lucrative market will need to understand the needs of and target Hispanic, African-American, and Asian...

Targeting profitable jobs: it takes smart planning, thorough knowledge, and total control--with a little bit of pickiness thrown in--to cultivate a high profit project mix.
January 1, 2005... Mark Richardson is an authority on the topic of targeting profitable remodeling jobs. His company, Case Design/Remodeling in Bethesda, Md., expects to complete around 4,500 projects this year through its design/ build firm and its 60 Case...

To market, to market: marketing seems to be something contractors do largely on their own, when they can, with the help of an employee or spouse.(Reader Panel)
January 1, 2005... Barely 29% of remodelers surveyed prepare a marketing plan and budget each year, and 80% spend 3% or less of annual revenues on marketing. What's holding them back'? Well, nearly 20% say they have more leads than they can handle, and 72%...

Splendor in the glass: glass block is a versatile design element that allows light in while maintaining a home's privacy.(Design Clinic)
January 1, 2005... The need for light, privacy, and decorative accents are the driving forces behind the use of glass block in bathrooms. Designer Peter Lawton says glass walls allow light to pass through so they give the perception of a larger space. "In a...

Innovative space.(Design Clinic)
January 1, 2005... When Gary Milici of Coastline Construction began work on this 1925 kitchen, he and his team were challenged by the small breakfast nook connected to the kitchen via a narrow arched doorway. The homeowners did not have any suggestions, so the...

Countertops.(Spec Book)
January 1, 2005... Countertops are quickly becoming the new high-end upgrade. Laminates still top the list for popularity, with solid surface a close second, but natural surfaces such as stone, granite, and quartz are rapidly gaining ground. The selections for...

Cambria.(Countertops)
January 1, 2005... With a look similar to that of granite, the Quarry Collection has a natural-cut look in a variety of styles and palettes. Six colors are offered, including Windsor (shown). The quartz surfaces are easy to care for and are two times stronger...

Samsung.(Countertops)
January 1, 2005... A 100% acrylic solid surface, Staron offers a variety of particulate sizes and colors in its seven color categories. Nine new colors, including Pebble Cedar, Sanded Ginger, and Breccia Stoneware, add more sparkle to the collection. The surface...

Avonite Surfaces.(Countertops)
January 1, 2005... New eye-catching colors join the Studio Collection series, including New Caldron, a deep red embedded with translucent chips, and Tiger Eye, an earthy, bold green. The acrylic solid surfacing can be made in 1/8-inch, 1/4-inch, and 1/2-inch...

Green Mountain Soapstone.(Countertops)
January 1, 2005... Soapstone is made up of mineral deposits created by nature that are quarried from the earth. It won't burn or stain and requires only minor maintenance. The company's countertops are complemented by soapstone sinks and tiles. All are available...

Formica.(Countertops)
January 1, 2005... Terrazzo solid surface has an opaque tinted base with translucent brown and clear chips, accented with pearl. Created from an acrylic/polyester copolymer, the solid surface offers stain resistance and deep color clarity. Shown is Blanco...

DuPont.(Countertops)
January 1, 2005... Corian's six new colors, inspired by Japanese design, offer a range of muted, neutral hues. Two grays--Green Tea, with a touch of sage, and Dove--are joined by Canvas and Raffia, subtle yellows. Rice Paper and White Jasmine, two soft whites,...

CaesarStone.(Countertops)
January 1, 2005... Embedded with semi-precious stones, Concetto quartz surfaces are a unique choice for high-end countertops. Seven different shades and patterns are offered, each with its own distinctive look. Shown here are two choices: Camaieu, a melange of...

All hands on deck: focusing on one type of business increases efficiency.(Decks)
January 1, 2005... The time is perfect for re placement decks," says Jim Craig of Craig Sundecks and Porches, based in Manassas, Va. "CCA-treated wood came on strong about 30 years ago and was the primary decking until recently. These decks will need replacing...

What lies beneath: on re-siding jobs, it's what's under the siding that counts.(Siding)
January 1, 2005... Today's re-siding industry has improved from the bad old days when vinyl- or aluminum-siding contractors hacked off window sills and brought J-bead right to the edge of the sash. Now, best practice typically calls for stripping the wall down to...

Measure U.(Siding)
January 1, 2005... Q: Does money trump all when gauging a salesperson's value? A: While having lunch at the Remodeling Show, I overheard two salespeople comparing notes. Both worked for full-service companies and had been selling for about five years. One...

Distressing news.(Trends)
January 1, 2005... High-end flooring and cabinetry is looking a bit better for the wear these days. Manufacturers and craftspeople are taking hammers, chains, chisels, and custom-made blades to fine wood in service of a hot new trend: the distressed look. ...

Classics with a twist: traditional interior door styles and materials still reign supreme, but personalization options abound.(Trends)
January 1, 2005... Homeowners no longer content with simple slabs to close one room off from the next are looking for bigger doors with pizzazz that enable them to create "illusions of grandeur"--a trend toward striking interiors where all components harmonize,...

The upside of selling siding.(Trends)
January 1, 2005... How do you sell vinyl siding to upscale customers who think it's beneath them? Many remodelers have found an easy answer to that question in the new crop of insulated siding that's on the market today. Rusty Gregory of Exterior Siding...

Picture perfect.(Reader's Choice)
January 1, 2005... Remodeler: Steve Zimmer, CR Company: Steve Zimmer Remodeling, Cincinnati Product: Canon PowerShot A300. www.usa.canon.com. Circle 107. Steve Zimmer used to use an instant camera to record site conditions before he started a...

A beautiful spray.(Reader's Choice)
January 1, 2005... Remodelers: Jeff and Robert Jertberg Company: Van Berg Construction, San Diego Product: Grohe Relaxa Plus body spray shower, www.grohe america.com. Circle 108. Installing the Grohe multiple-head body spray shower gives clients a...

Software: more programs and products promise to streamline business and simplify the design process.(In Focus)
January 1, 2005... Remodelers who have yet to take the technological plunge may wonder where to start. "Evaluate your business size, your future goals, and the technology your business is ready for," suggests Daniel Hayden, director of product development for...

Kitchen Draw America.(Software)
January 1, 2005... Kitchen Draw software is a downloadable program that boasts 2-D and 3-D planning capability along with photo-realistic images. Available in 25 different languages, the program has a Catalog Creator Tool that allows cabinet manufacturers and...

Degussa Admixtures.(Software)
January 1, 2005... 3D Home Architect Home Design software now allows users to experiment with virtual renderings that show how colored concrete (made from Chromix coloring admixtures) can enhance driveways, pool decks, kitchens, bathrooms, and more. Chromix...

Intuit.(Software)
January 1, 2005... With several new features, Master Builder Version 10 is for the growing contractor who needs to upgrade to a more comprehensive office system. Improved job costing and inventory solutions, combined with a new report scheduling feature, make the...

UDA Technologies.(Software)
January 1, 2005... In its version specifically for remodelers and small contractors, Construction Office 2004 includes the company's Specifications, Estimating, Financing, and Mobile Integration components, among others. The California version includes contracts...

SoftPlan Systems.(Software)
January 1, 2005... An added module to SoftPlan 12.5, SoftPlan reView works as a drawing viewer and mark-up tool that allows access to SoftPlan drawings anywhere. Using a PC or pocket PC, the program lets everyone involved in a construction project view, comment...

Autodesk.(Software)
January 1, 2005... AutoSketch 9 software offers a complete set of CAD tools, along with a series of tutorials and well-stocked content libraries. The program enables users to create professional quality floor layouts, house project plans, electrical drawings, and...

Graphisoft.(Software)
January 1, 2005... ArchiCAD 9 Virtual Building solutions software features enriched capabilities and tools for greater ease-of-use, a more polished work flow, and more powerful functionality, the maker says. Existing functions have been refined and new...

@Last Software.(Software)
January 1, 2005... Touted as "3-D for the rest of us," SketchUp is a 3-D conceptual design program that allows quick and easy model creation, viewing, modification, and presentation. Its tool set includes a pencil, eraser, orbit, and push-and-pull tools, as well...

AMSCO.(Windows)
January 1, 2005... The Renaissance Series composite window is composed of an alloy of four resins and wood fiber and will not warp, peel, rot, or absorb water, says the maker. The windows come with a lifetime warranty for service and parts and are offered in six...

Great Lakes Window.(Windows)
January 1, 2005... Presented in double hung, casement, picture, awning, and slider styles, Safe Haven Impact Resistant windows are engineered to reduce the chance of impact fracture. They also protect against severe wind loads, wind-borne debris, and...

BFRich.(Windows)
January 1, 2005... The Cabernet vinyl window features a new beveled interior sash and a Simulated True Divided Lite grille package option. Boasting a fusion-welded sash and frames, double-cam locks and doublevent latches, and a locking screen, the window is...

Weathershield.(Windows)
January 1, 2005... The HR175 Historic Renovation Windows combine good looks of old with modern energy efficiency. Designed for use in historic structures, the windows are available in sizes up to 5 feet wide and 10 feet tall and in a variety of styles including...

ViWinTech.(Windows)
January 1, 2005... The GrandVista Patio Door Collection presents four options: traditional sliding, French sliding, center hinged, and French. All are available in three interior wood grain options and two exterior color options. Several hardware colors and grid...

ODL.(Windows)
January 1, 2005... Two new designs join the company's line of decorative bath windows. The Cadence (shown) sports an arrangement of vertigo and ripple glass in semicircular and square shapes along with floral patterns. The Heirlooms style features satin nickel...

CertainTeed.(Windows)
January 1, 2005... CertainTeed. Now offered on all the company's vinyl replacement and new construction windows and patio doors, PrismGrid provides the look of beveled glass without the expense or high maintenance. An optical film from 3M is applied inside the...

Republic.(Windows)
January 1, 2005... Republic. The company's slider windows now come with anti-lift blocks, a fix for out-of-square window openings as well as an added security feature. The blocks allow the sash to lift out for cleaning from the inside and prevent the sash from...

Atrium.(Windows)
January 1, 2005... Atrium. SafeHarbor Impact-Resistant windows are crafted with a 90mm polyvinylbutyral film sandwiched between two 1/8-inch-thick pieces of annealed glass anchored in a heavy-duty aluminum frame. Designed to meet coastal building codes, the...

White river hardwoods woodworks.(Interior Trim)
January 1, 2005... Four new styles of hand-carved, full surround mantels enhance the company's line of interior molding and millwork products. The mantels are ornately detailed and come unfinished in three ready-to-install pieces. 800.558.0119....

Kuehn Bevel.(Interior Trim)
January 1, 2005... The company's new decorative edge trims are constructed of moisture-resistant MDF board. The trims are offered in four different woodgrain finishes--red oak, maple, ash, and cherry--and a number of profiles. They have twice the internal bond...

Trim-Tex.(Interior Trim)
January 1, 2005... Drywall Art Crown Moldings boast easy installation and maintenance. According to the maker, they install in about the same time it would take to paper tape and mud an inside corner. The vinyl moldings come in 2 1/2- and 3 1/2-inch sizes and...

Century Architectural Specialties.(Interior Trim)
January 1, 2005... Ideal for trim installations that require a soft contour curve, Formalex contour molding is flexible and can be manufactured from any crown, chair rail, or frieze molding that the company makes. The trim is available as inside radius (concave),...

Outwater.(Interior Trim)
January 1, 2005... TexturePlus panels are high-density polyurethane panels offered in an array of styles: Stone, Brick, Natural Rock, Slate, Garden, Castle or River Stone, Concrete, Asphalt, Beach Sand, Barn-board, Driftwood, Tree Bark, and Bamboo. They can be...

Youngdale Mfg Corporation[R].(Remodeler's Choice)(Advertisement)
January 1, 2005... Youngdale self-closing knife hinges have been a favorite of remodelers and refacers for many years. You can use them with or without face frames. No frame cutting or modification is necessary. The feature a 180 degree opening range, nylon...