Remodeling articles from January 2006

Remodeling archives from January 2006

Out in front.(ViewPoint: FirstWord)
January 1, 2006... Few people attain first-name notoriety. In sports, Michael, Ali, and Tiger come instantly to mind. In music, for my generation at least, it's John, Paul, George, and Ringo. In remodeling, it's Walt. Walt Stoeppelwerth is not only the...

Free access: visit our growing online community of remodelers.(.comment)
January 1, 2006... Important news: REMODELING ONLINE recently changed its pay-per-view policy for accessing archived magazine articles. We have removed the e-commerce application from the Web site and opened up our archives dating back to January 2002. To access...

Vinyl has value.(ViewPoint: CallBack)
January 1, 2006... The distinction between mid-range and upscale siding made in your latest Cost vs. Value Report (November 2005, p. 106) does not accurately represent all choices available. In fact, not associating vinyl with upscale jobs contradicts recent U.S....

Corrections.(ViewPoint: CallBack)(Correction Notice)
January 1, 2006... On the MarketWatch page in the December issue (p. 32), the final two words were inadvertently left out of the story titled "Consumer Confidence Drops." The final sentence should have read: "Franco indicated that the effects of this year's...

Energy efficiency pays.(ViewPoint: News+Notes)
January 1, 2006... If your New Year's resolutions included a pledge to be more environmentally conscious, then you're in luck. Starting January 1, the Energy Policy Act of 2005 went into effect. The bill, signed by President Bush on August 8, established tax...

Breaking it down.(ViewPoint: News+Notes)
January 1, 2006... The Council of Better Business Bureaus (CBBB) recently invoked a change in the way it lists reports about member organizations. Instead of a simple "satisfactory" or "unsatisfactory" rating, company reports break complaints into categories,...

Lead research.(ViewPoint: News+Notes)
January 1, 2006... The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) is for looking remodelers to participate in a research project being conducted to study levels of exposure to lead-based paint during renovation and remodeling activities. The study comes in...

Economy rebounds.(ViewPoint: MarketWatch)
January 1, 2006... Economists trying to predict the future of the housing market were thrown a curveball with the late-November announcement that new-home sales hit a record high in October. According to the Commerce Department, new homes sold at an annual...

Figure this.(ViewPoint: MarketWatch)
January 1, 2006... 9 Hurricanes predicted for 2006 by Colorado State University professor William Gray, a top hurricane forecaster 81% Chance that at least one major hurricane will strike the U.S. coast in 2006, according to Gray SOURCE: CNN...

Industry pulse.(LOCAL FORECAST)
January 1, 2006... Like many remodelers, Bill Gozzo spends a fair amount of time on the phone with his suppliers--every other day, by his estimate--making orders, checking on prices, and scheduling deliveries. But the owner of Gozzo Building & Renovation in East...

Slowdown strategies: even if the signs of a coming slowdown prove wrong, these practices will strengthen your standing in 2006 and beyond.(Commentary)
January 1, 2006... I'm not much of a prognosticator, but I've heard a number of rumblings that make me wonder just how robust 2006 will be for remodelers. The first came from a group of 20 remodelers from around the country who were discussing their local...

Frog soup: a recipe for success for remodelers who are stewing in their own juices.(Commentary)
January 1, 2006... For many small-business owners, the start of a new year means making resolutions about getting better organized, becoming more efficient, being more productive. Unfortunately, statistics show that more than 75% of those who make resolutions...

Language matters: the words you use in a presentation can make all the difference.(Commentary)
January 1, 2006... I think we all agree that some sales presentations are more effective than others. Many factors account for this difference, but one that is easily overlooked is the language used. Words that have similar meanings or that are often used...

Price points: enlighten customers that being a cheapskate is its own punishment.(Commentary)
January 1, 2006... The second time we talked, the woman asked, "Who can I sue?" The first time, she had wanted me to come out to her newly purchased $800,000 home to find out why water was leaking into the basement. Turned out the master bathroom shower pan was...

Excellent adventure.(YourBusiness: Ways+Means)
January 1, 2006... When Mark Scott of Mark IV builders, Bethesda, Md., wanted to improve his nearly $5 million design/build remodeling business, he decided to take a road trip. "Rather than reinvent the wheel," he says, "I set out in search of the perfect company...

Halo effect.(YourBusiness: Ways+Means)
January 1, 2006... A church isn't necessarily the first place you'd think to hold a trade show, but Steve Klitsch had faith that his idea would work. He was right. In April 2005 he established the Maintenance and Repair Conference (MARC) to bring pastors and...

Site views.(YourBusiness: Ways+Means)
January 1, 2006... To prepare a realistic bid so that clients are not surprised by additional costs after the project begins, Bill Keilty invites his subcontractors to a diagnostic conference or a "bid party." "It has cut down 80% to 90% of unforeseen change...

By law: use a contract not a proposal.(YourBusiness: Ways+Means)
January 1, 2006... Many contractor documents contain language indicating that the job being presented to the consumer--and its pricing--is only an "estimate" or a "proposal." These agreements usually go on to state that if the consumer signs the agreement, it is...

Delegate effectively.(People+Skills)
January 1, 2006... Think about a time that you were delegated to poorly. In some cases, a project was given to you without the information you needed to successfully complete the task. In others, the project was one that no one wanted, and "delegating" was simply...

Account ability.(YourBusiness: BottomLine)
January 1, 2006... There is always more than one road to get you to your destination, but one of those roads is usually better than the others. It's the same with accounting. All three main methods--cash, accrual, percent complete--will get you to the same...

Cooking up new clients.(YourBusiness: Sales+Marketing)
January 1, 2006... A remodeled kitchen, a local chef, and several bottles of wine, that's Anne and Matt Goodwin's latest recipe for goodwill and good marketing. The Goodwins own No Problem Builders, a Beloit, Wis., remodeling company that a few years ago...

Hors d'Oeuvres, not hard hats.(YourBusiness: Sales+Marketing)
January 1, 2006... How expensive? How messy? How disruptive? Such are the questions that rattle the minds of remodeling prospects. HartmanBaldwin, a high-end design/build company in Claremont, Calif., answers them all with its "Home Remodeling In-Progress...

Getting comfortable with money.(SALES SCHOOL 101)
January 1, 2006... THE PROBLEM You're uncomfortable asking customers for what a project should cost. When the client says, "Boy, that's a lot of money," you go back and cut your price. You settle for less than you could have made, and the client gets a...

Targeting marketing.(YourBusiness: Sales+Marketing)
January 1, 2006... Considering hiring a marketing person? Don't waste your time advertising. "The days of business owners sorting through 200 resumes, not knowing what they're looking for, are over," marketing consultant Adrienne Zoble says. As an alternative,...

Staying indoors.(YourBusiness: FieldNotes)
January 1, 2006... Carpenters take a beating in their work, and 30 years of pounding nails, climbing on roofs, and working in foul weather was starting to make retirement look pretty good to Tom Stine, a 55-year-old lead carpenter at Vogan Associates, Silver...

Client communications.(YourBusiness: FieldNotes)
January 1, 2006... The success of any remodeling project may hinge on how well the field crew communicates with clients. To minimize misunderstandings, make these practices and methods of communicating part of your routine. * Hold regularly scheduled jobsite...

Second story.(YourBusiness: ByDesign)
January 1, 2006... Although the two-story volume-ceiling family room in this 16-year-old home with 9-foot first-floor ceilings was attractive, remodeler Wayne Booze says, the acoustics were bad, with sound traveling throughout the house. But more than that, he...

Welcome to the Blogosphere.(YourBusiness: Tech@Work)
January 1, 2006... Think you know to reach your market? Don't blink. Today's 18- to 34-year-old demographic, along with the up-and-coming "'tweens" represent a group of potential remodeling customers almost as large as the baby boomers before them. But...

Finding a good fit.(YourBusiness: GoodForm)
January 1, 2006... Have you ever hired someone who turned out to be a bad fit for their position? Wait, don't answer that--of course you have. Everyone has. This self-rating form is a way that one company solves this common problem when hiring field personnel....

Profile: Halsey Platt.(Big50: Close-Up)
January 1, 2006... To keep up with change orders and to address client issues, Halsey Platt asked his project managers to meet with clients every two weeks. These meetings address the bigger picture, beyond the day-to-day details covered in weekly meetings. The...

Second look: Anne Tegeler.(Big50: Close Up)
January 1, 2006... Since Anne Tegeler of Tegeler Design and Remodeling, Hiawatha, Iowa, was awarded Big50 just three years ago, the company has seen substantial growth. "We probably have the largest showroom in the state of Iowa showcasing high-end kitchens,"...

Do you allow your field staff to accept gifts from clients?(Big50: Face Off)
January 1, 2006... "Employees are usually glowing about this gift and can't wait to share the news with others at the company." "This can put the employee in a place where they have to decide between the interests of the company and the interests of the...

Looking in: why remodelers should work with home inspectors.(Big50: OutsidetheBox)
January 1, 2006... Why is a home inspector good for your customers? For one thing, our professions have a lot in common. Our customer base is virtually the same: people whose homes are not to their liking, need a lot of work, or both. We both evaluate and report...

Leading the way: open, honest communication helps relax client expectations for a successful lakeside remodel.(Big50: Before+After)
January 1, 2006... Remodelers are in the business of making dreams happen, not dashing hopes. But to move on a project, you have to help clients figure out what is important to them, which often means redirecting their expectations. Homeowners Geoff and...

Deconstructing Generation X: log on, open up, and take the time to explain things.
January 1, 2006... Change comes slowly to the remodeling industry, and in many cases--the solar home of the 1970s, the first-generation low-flow toilet--initial resistance has proven wise. But when the catalyst for no less immediate than the people who will...

Know thy market: a step-by-step crash course in market analysis.
January 1, 2006... You're supposed to have done this already. Conventional wisdom suggests that you should do a market analysis before you open up for business, to get a sense of the demand for your services in your area. But if you're anything like Seattle...

Tract teachers: what remodelers can learn from ... new-home builders.
January 1, 2006... Remodelers and new-home builders both build homes; they just go about it in different ways. While tract builders embrace evenflow or slotting production methods, remodelers schedule around the time a client leaves for work. While builders offer...

Woman's work: the remodeling industry is slowly realizing the benefits of bringing a female perspective to offices and jobsites.(Cover Story)
January 1, 2006... Tom Kelly's father, Neil Kelly, began hiring women as salespeople and carpenters in the mid-1970s. "In those days, it was a great business strategy for my father. More of our clients then were stay-at-home wives," he says. As a young man...

Women in remodeling: most remodelers say they would hire qualified women--if only they would apply.(ReaderPanel)
January 1, 2006... Many remodelers find that women, especially those in sales positions, more quickly and effectively establish a firm level of trust with clients. Some male employees still question women's place in physically demanding field positions. Clients,...

Prime storage: designers are integrating closet and cabinet pantries into kitchens to provide homeowners with optimum storage.(Kitchen+Bath: DesignClinic)
January 1, 2006... When remodeler Dave Tyson thinks of pantries, he thinks of three things, storage, storage, and storage. Most clients of David Tyson & Associates, Charlotte, N.C., think of a pantry as a closet near the kitchen. However, today's cabinet...

Lighting for mirrors.(Kitchen+Bath: DesignClinic)
January 1, 2006... You'll need even, shadow free lighting for applying makeup, shaving, or caring for hair. It should illuminate both sides of the face, under the chin, and the top of the head. Plan to use at least 120 incandescent watts. Never aim lighting into...

Double duty.(Kitchen+Bath: DesignClinic)
January 1, 2006... A design center in Dayton, Ohio welcomes both remodeling and new construction clients to choose products in a single showroom location. The 12,000-square-foot Design Centre will include kitchen and bath vignettes and displays for interior and...

Countertops: expanded color selections from countertop manufacturers mean more design options.(Kitchen+Bath: SpecBook)
January 1, 2006... Corian. Inspired by the concrete aesthetic, the company's six subtle new colors evoke feelings of calm and tranquility. Concrete, fawn, serene sage, suede, tranquil, and whisper range from gray and taupe to warm brown and pale aqua. Corian can...

Imitation slate woes: caution remains in the industry after composite slate roofing failures.(Replacement: Roofing)
January 1, 2006... During the last decade, hundreds of composite roofing materials that mimic natural slate have been introduced to the market. Most of these have been fiber-reinforced cement, fiber-reinforced recycled plastics, or recycled rubber molded to look...

Profitable as sold: reps who promise more than they deliver.(Replacement: Roofing)
January 1, 2006... Sometimes reps promise more than they should; more than the company can profitably deliver. Sometimes they give work away, just to get a contract signed. Before you say that you'd simply fire the rep, consider this: Sales reps are the ones...

Window warranties: it's all in writing, but you have to read the fine print.(Replacement: Windows)
January 1, 2006... So much about selecting a good window comes down to the warranty," says Chris Mathis, of MC Squared, a building-science consulting company based in Asheville, N.C. Mathis focuses on windows, doors, and skylights, serves on the ASHRAE and ASTM...

The plot thickens: a new solid surface company gets an edge on the competition.(Products: Trends)
January 1, 2006... No one knows solid surfacing more intimately than fabricators--they're the ones who form it into gorgeous and durable countertops and other surfaces that delight homeowners. So it's no surprise that two fabricators have come up with a new way...

Leveling the field: the latest laser levels offer improved accuracy and features.(Products: Trends)
January 1, 2006... Manual leveling gave way to self-leveling, dots led to lines, single beams split into multiple beams, and functionality increased at the same time that lasers became easier to use. So goes the trend that is evident in today's laser levels. But...

Laundry deluxe: washers and dryers step into the limelight.(Products: Trends)
January 1, 2006... The latest generation of laundry appliances is reaching new heights both in terms of clothing care and design style. According to KitchenAid brand manager Brian Maynard, "appliances are becoming fashion statements across the board, and the...

Custom service.(Products: Reader'sChoice)
January 1, 2006... A devoted customer of Huntwood Custom Cabinets for 10 years, Terry Henderson has watched the company grow from a one-shift plant with 35 employees to a 540,000-square-foot manufacturing facility with more than 700 staff. Despite this growth,...

The great cover-up.(Products: Reader'sChoice)
January 1, 2006... In the roofing business for more than 10 years, Stephanie and Frank Zehna know that clogged gutters mean callbacks. That's why they install the Hallett Gutter Cover, a flat cover with a small curve at the bottom that lets water flow through...

Troubleshooting flat roof leaks.(Products: OntheJob)
January 1, 2006... Just as poor flashing details are much more likely to be the cause of a leak than the roofing itself, many leaks are caused by the use of insufficient or inadequate fasteners for sheathing, flashing, or roofing, and by the attempt to substitute...

Interior trim.(Products: InFocus)
January 1, 2006... Though most beauty shots of interior trim are designed to show off richly carved historic pieces with flowery curves, even the simplest crown molding or understated medallion can benefit a more contemporary room. Trim is an easy way to give a...

Great Lakes.(Windows)
January 1, 2006... With the Energy Star label and tested ability to withstand wind loads in excess of 170 mph, PlyGem Lifestyles windows have a lot to offer. A number of designer glass and decorative grid design options are available, as well as 13 color...

Silver Line.(Windows)
January 1, 2006... SafeGuard impact-resistant windows use Dupont's patented SentryGlas and SentryGlas Plus safety glass. Steel and aluminum reinforcements add strength, and the windows feature the company's newly engineered interlocking tilt latch design and...

Hy-Lite.(Windows)
January 1, 2006... Solar Block Plus acrylic blocks have a nonmetallic, smoke-colored tint that helps block solar heat gain, making the windows more energy efficient, the maker says. The tint is added to the raw acrylic at the fabrication stage and only molded...

Kolbe & Kolbe.(Windows)
January 1, 2006... Old World Classic windows are historic replicas complete with a brass pulley system that uses brass chains and alloy weights. Ogee lugs and sash blocks mimic those used on windows of the past. Offered in various wood species, the windows are...

Integrity.(Windows)
January 1, 2006... The company now offers its standard low-E II insulated glass with an obscure glass pattern in select awning, casement, double hung, and glider sizes. This option comes standard as tempered obscure glass, which simplifies the ordering process,...

Owens Corning.(Software)
January 1, 2006... Developed by industry professionals, ProPink ES 5.0 is an integrated software program for insulation contractors. Features include real-time scheduling, which tracks material requirements, labor estimates, and material costs; and employee...

Sage.(Software)
January 1, 2006... Sage Timberline Office 2005 boasts several improved tools, including a Quick Checks feature in Accounts Payable. It enables users to record an invoice and print a check from a single place. The Estimating feature can now send reports to a...

My Perfect House.(Software)
January 1, 2006... MyPerfectHouse.com is a Web-based tool that allows clients to visualize the remodeled exterior of their home on-screen. The remodeler can then help the client make selections. Remodelers pay either a monthly rate or a per-house fee. The...

Intuit.(Software)
January 1, 2006... Master Builder Version 11 comes with new tools to help contractors and their employees more efficiently manage their business, the maker says. Most notable is the more flexible licensing model, which allows business owners to purchase software...

Xactware.(Software)
January 1, 2006... After an extensive review of user feedback, the company revamped Xact Remodel (previously Xactimate for Remodelers) and added several major enhancements. Improvements include the ability to create an estimate graphically or by line item entry;...

Arsco.(Products: FirstLook: The newest products for the remodeling market.)
January 1, 2006... Beautiful Radiators radiator enclosures are custom made to fit a radiator's dimensions and are offered in three grille styles: Grecian (standard), cloverleaf, and octagonal cane (both custom). Their channel pattern directs heat from the...

Perlick.(Products: FirstLook: The newest products for the remodeling market.)
January 1, 2006... The Outdoor Line of professional-style refrigeration products features the first glass doors for outdoor use with the necessary insulation to keep food and beverages cool, the maker says. The line offers freezers, wine cabinets, and beer...

Frigo Design.(Products: FirstLook: The newest products for the remodeling market.)
January 1, 2006... A high heat/burn process hand applied on real copper tiles creates the distinct look of the company's Seared Patina Copper Tiles. The technique produces random colors, light and dark hues, and iridescent effects. The tiles are designed for...

Worx.(Products: FirstLook: The newest products for the remodeling market.)
January 1, 2006... Outfitted in the company's signature bright green casing, the Assault reciprocating saw boasts the "Revolver" adjustable grip with its 65-degree angle of rotation. The saw also has a keyless blade clamp system, a counterbalance mechanism, and a...

Moberg.(Products: FirstLook: The newest products for the remodeling market.)
January 1, 2006... Through its Classic Fireplace Reconstruction service package, the company can find and procure antique and historical fireplace components. The service also includes specification and fabrication of reproduction pieces such as cast-iron firebox...

PL.(Products: FirstLook: The newest products for the remodeling market.)
January 1, 2006... Polyurethane Roof & Flashing Sealant is specifically formulated for forming water- and weatherproof seals in all exterior gaps and joints. This elastic sealant is paintable and remains flexible to expand and contract with construction material...

Motorola.(Products: FirstLook: The newest products for the remodeling market.)
January 1, 2006... Designed especially for small-to-medium sized businesses, DTR Series digital two-way radios provide one-to-one private calling, enhanced coverage, improved battery life, and clear audio. The radios can be programmed for the specific needs of...

Just the facts: is everyone in your company working with the same information?(LastWord: BenchMark)
January 1, 2006... Owners and employees often operate from a different or an incomplete set of facts. For example, if a company didn't pay profit-sharing bonuses this year, employees might think that the owner was being stingy. They were busy all year so they...