Remodeling articles from July 2004

Remodeling archives from July 2004

The errors of your ways.(First Word)
July 1, 2004... Like any business, remodeling involves risk. It doesn't take a lot of money to get started, but once you're up and running, you have a lot of skin in the game. The problems that take you down can accumulate slowly over a period of months or...

The new Remodeling online.(.comment)
July 1, 2004... The Web site has an updated design with quick database links and a dedicated magazine archive. It's all about the magazine. Now we have an area devoted to the cur rent and past issues of REMODELING. Your most-wanted feature stories are...

A leg up.(Call Back)
July 1, 2004... I just read "Not a Leg to Stand On" (June 2004, page 41), and I want to say "'Bravo!" to guest columnist James Ebel. This article was long overdue. For years, we have been going on one-leggers and selling more than ever. In order to work...

Call for 2005 Big50 entries.(Call Back)
July 1, 2004... Visit remodelingmagazine.com and go to the Big50 tab to nominate a company (including your own) for our 2005 Big50 awards. The nomination form and candidate application may be downloaded as Excel or Word documents or in printable Adobe Acrobat...

On target.(In Person)
July 1, 2004... One highlight of this year's Remodeling Show is keynote speaker Robyn Waters, who for 10 years served as vice president of trend, design, and product development for Target Corp., the Minneapolis-based retailer that championed the idea that...

Report looks at mold and health.(News + Notes)
July 1, 2004... A recently released report takes a major step toward discovering the truth about mold, though there's still a lot of research to be done. Mold has been anecdotally blamed for ailments ranging from coughing to cancer. In an effort to begin...

Who'll be there for you now?(Nut House)
July 1, 2004... We knew that the series finale of Friends would result in more business for movie theaters and bowling alleys on Thursday nights. But who would have guessed that remodelers would be affected as well? According to a recent survey conducted...

Too close for comfort.(Nut House)
July 1, 2004... You know how annoyed you get at your husband's snoring or the gargling sound your wife makes when she brushes her teeth? You put up with it because you love your spouse, or for the sake of the kids, or because he's elderly and rich. It's a...

Global giving.(News + Notes)
July 1, 2004... Minneapolis-based Vujovich Inc. just won a National Contractor of the Year award from NARI for an over $1 million whole-house remodel. Intricately designed, high-end projects such as that are the rule, not the exception, at the $6 million...

Economic indicators a mixed bag.(Market Watch)
July 1, 2004... BUILDING MATERIALS PRICES The cost of doing business continues to rise for remodelers, who are faced with astronomical prices for framing materials. Lumber cost an average of $456 per thousand board feet in May (though the price had...

Keep up the markup: can changes in labor mean lower markups? Perhaps, but small remodelers should still mark up at least 50%.(Commentary)
July 1, 2004... Changes in how jobs are completed--with lead carpenters, with subcontractors, and with lumberyards installing product--mean it's worth re-examining markups, at least for experienced contractors. At conventions, contractors always tell me...

You're fired: most of us are sloppy hirers and terrible, procrastinating firers. These two traits spell chaos in a small company.(Commentary)
July 1, 2004... Oh, that Donald Trump. He's made "You're Fired!" a household phrase. Maybe some of that will trickle down. You can't be in business very long without needing to fire someone. Unfortunately, none of us mortals do it with such vigor and...

The right client: you can control who you work for--and that can make all the difference in a project.(Commentary)
July 1, 2004... If you're like most remodeling organizations, you have at one point or another experienced a client with whom, in hindsight, you regret having ever entered into a contract. In some cases, the project was beyond your competency or comfort zone;...

The long goodbye: leaving a business to a son is made easier with a long-term training plan in place.(Commentary)
July 1, 2004... My dad, Jim LeFaivre, formally began the exit process in 1999 after he'd owned the J.R. LeFaivre Construction Co. for 23 years. But I believe he had a plan in mind long before he actually set things in motion. I joined the company full...

Down to the letter: a Virginia remodeling company stays out of court and saves its reputation with careful documentation.(Ways + Means)
July 1, 2004... This is the story of how a piece of paper saved a design/build company. Home Equity Builders of Great Falls, Va., was asked to do a kitchen addition at the home of a local couple. Jeff Rainey, president of HEB, sent the clients information...

Family matters.(Ways + Means)
July 1, 2004... What triggered the policy was the dog under the waterbed. "I had a job where I knew the dog would hide in an 8-inch-high spot under the waterbed frame," says Dave Chmura, explaining the origins of his get-to-know-the-family meeting. "I...

Exclusion clause.(Ways + Means)
July 1, 2004... By the time the plans are finalized for a typical design/build project, the job has gone through several iterations, with certain elements that were once included eventually left out. It is a fairly common occurrence, then, for a client to be...

The art of delegation.(Work + Life)
July 1, 2004... Q: I'm trying to achieve work/life balance through delegation, but every time I let go, something goes awry. What am I doing wrong? A: Before "letting go" ask yourself: Do the people I'm delegating to have the information they need to make...

Costly lesson.(Bottom Line)
July 1, 2004... When Troy Cannaday of Cannaday Construction had clients who refused to pay him the last $12,000 they owed for a whole-house remodel, he knew he had to take some sort of action. The couple claimed they had reasons for not paying--including a...

Payroll taxes.(Bottom Line)
July 1, 2004... Understanding and complying with payroll rules can go a long way toward avoiding unpleasant tax situations. As an employer, every contractor must withhold income taxes and other amounts from the wages of workers each time that worker is paid....

Bond aid.(Bottom Line)
July 1, 2004... The Small Business Administration's Surety Bond Guarantee (SBG) Program is a partnership between the federal government and the surety industry to provide bonding to small and emerging companies. "Small contractors seek bonding assistance...

Marketing workshop/before + after.(Sales + Marketing)
July 1, 2004... Before Using two colors puts you in a category that's not as professional as using four colors for a brochure. If the company is going for a middle-range client, the brochure is OK. If it's going to higher-income people, it's going to end...

How are you doing?(Sales + Marketing)
July 1, 2004... Bob Fleming of Classic Remodeling & Construction has discovered a powerful Web-based tool that allows him to measure how management-level employees perform with customers. It helps him compare project managers with each other and also to those...

No free consultations.(Sales School 101)
July 1, 2004... What happened: One guy had a leak in his bathroom, and boy, I spent a lot of time in that home. I said, "I don't see any evidence of the bathtub leaking, maybe it's the toilet." He said, "What do you do for that?" I said, "The toilet has to be...

Tracking tools.(Field Notes)
July 1, 2004... Bosch Power Tools is partnering with the software company ToolWatch to prevent tool theft. ToolWatch Express is designed to reduce the incidence of theft on the jobsite by holding employees accountable for the tools they use. Bosch is...

Safety manual.(Field Notes)
July 1, 2004... When state authorities fined Terry's Quality Service, Spokane, Wash., $250 for safety violations on a roof installation, company owner Terry Henderson knew it was time to act. "It was a first time offense, but I knew next time they would not be...

Mentoring, Part I.(Field Notes)
July 1, 2004... Mentoring is a great way to create a skilled crew and encourage camaraderie and sharing on the jobsite. Though oftentimes the mentor relationship focuses on the younger employee's work ethic, the mentor's attitude is just as important, because...

Hide and sink.(By Design)
July 1, 2004... Yes, that's right, it's leather. MCM Construction installed the tile on the walls of this powder room and on the floor in the library in the same house, creating a distinctive high-end look for a two-story condominium. Architect Thomas Vivoda...

Design on time.(By Design)
July 1, 2004... Mark Walmer, lead designer at S.J. Janis Company in Wauwatosa. Wis., knew that bottlenecks in the design process could dramatically slow down the company's ability to move profitable projects into production. He also Knew that the company used...

Making time for everyone.(Tech@Work)
July 1, 2004... Everybody wants to save time. but no one wants to sacrifice quality. Bill Simone, president of Custom Design & Construction in Los Angeles, has found a way around that. Trying to coordinate his clients' busy L.A. lifestyles with Simone's...

Cash in on home technology without rewiring.(Tech@Work)
July 1, 2004... Higher-end "home technology" projects demand over-the-top installations that can cost as much as a starter home. But what about your average homeowner who just wants to share the Internet with a couple of computers, or wants a little more...

Details, details.(Good Form)
July 1, 2004... Once Tim and Janeen Welsh have signed a design agreement with a client and received a down payment, they sit down with the homeowner for what they call a "specification gathering session." They have found that there's too much going on in a...

Profile: Max Isley.(Close Up)
July 1, 2004... It might seem like filling out a materials order would be relatively simple, but anyone who has done it long enough will tell you that there are myriad things that can go wrong. Transpose a number and you end up with the wrong color cabinets,...

Second look: Michael D. Beldon.(Close Up)
July 1, 2004... Even in 1986, when Beldon Roofing Company won its Big 50 award during the first class of inductees, the company's main focus was on roofing and not remodeling. So in 1997, when the San Antonio firm dropped the remodeling component, owner...

Track or trust: how do you monitor employee hours?(Solutions: Bigso answers to big business questions)
July 1, 2004... Q+A JAN WILLIAMS Williams Builder Robbinsville, N.J. Big50 1987 Our office personnel are salaried, so we don't need to track their hours. For field crews, we use time sheets. The foreman on the job is responsible for...

Reading list: Big50 remodelers recommend their favorite business books.(Live + Learn)
July 1, 2004... Jim Strite, CR, CGR Strite Design + Remodel Boise, Idaho Big50 1989 The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable, by Patrick M. Lencioni, is about when and why a team doesn't work. One of the main points is that in the...

Hard knocks: not seeing red.(Live + Learn)
July 1, 2004... Double check everything; it's a simple rule and easy to forget. And it only takes one little slip to cost a contractor a chunk of cash. Fred Bueler (Big50 1994) found that out a week into what should have been a simple bathroom addition. Bueler...

Perfect choices: a design/build firm nurtures the art and craft of giving customers what they want.(Before + After)
July 1, 2004... Owners Beverly and Adam Hess have to think hard when asked to identify something in their $500,000 remodel they would have done differently. "Well, we might have traded the six-panel [interior doors] for more authentic three-panel doors,"...

Managing tough customers: turning out a quality product is the easy part. The challenge is controlling the house full of people living on the jobsite.
July 1, 2004... It goes against everything we've always been taught: It's not about fine craftsmanship. For demanding clients, masterful design and brilliant execution are not enough to save a job from unraveling. Call them discriminating or just plain...

Closed for business: outside forces can wreak havoc on a business, but sometimes the most damaging dangers come from within. The weaknesses of an owner's management skills are often unknown until exposed by extreme circumstances. Three remodelers offer candid looks at their decision to close their businesses.(Cover Story)
July 1, 2004... GREG MOORE MOORE GENERAL CONTRACTOR Philadelphia WHAT HAPPENED Greg Moore's company had handled restoration and high-end renovation projects for 26 years when he decided to actively pursue more commercial work. That decision,...

Balancing act.(Reader Panel)
July 1, 2004... By nature, remodelers are a hands-on group. But as companies grow, there's too much for just one person to handle; owners must give more responsibility to others. More than half of respondents have delegated production, bookkeeping, and payroll...

Bright and right: use a combination of ambient and task lighting to create bathrooms that are functional and beautiful.(Design Clinic)
July 1, 2004... Homeowners spend hours choosing just the fight bath tile, countertop, flooring, fittings, and fixtures, but lighting is often an afterthought. Designers forget about creating a lighting scheme that will showcase the finished project. "If...

What homeowners want.(Design Clinic)
July 1, 2004... A recent survey by Wilsonart Laminate reveals that 97% of homeowners would change something about their kitchens. Of those, the top three features they would like to change are cabinets, size, and flooring. When asked about the last time...

Manufacturer contests.(Management)
July 1, 2004... DECORA DESIGNS If you are a Decora dealer or a designer employed by a Decora dealer, you are eligible to participate in a showroom and kitchen design contest. The kitchen project must be completed between January 1, 2004, and December 31,...

Ugly duckling to swan.(Management)
July 1, 2004... When designer Barbara Schmidt saw the winner of American Standard's Ugliest Bathroom Contest, she laughed out loud. The master bathroom had a 1970s decor that included shag carpeting, foil wallpaper, a plastic vanity top, and hanging globe...

Cabinetry.(Spec Book)
July 1, 2004... Cabinetry is looking more and more like furniture every day, and that's the way consumers want it. Whether it's a simple kitchen upgrade or putting together a whole new look for the bathroom, homeowners look to cabinetry to set the tone, and...

Kraftmaid.(Cabinetry)
July 1, 2004... Cashmere, one of three new glazes, provides a warm, versatile background on the Recessed Panel Maple Doors with Angle Profile shown in this kitchen. The door features square veneer recessed panels, a 2 3/4-inch-wide rail and stile full overlay...

Starmark.(Cabinetry)
July 1, 2004... The Licorice finish provides a rich backdrop for a variety of decorating styles, from country to contemporary. The slightly distressed look is achieved by robbing the finish, which exposes the wood. A nickel glaze is then applied to highlight...

MasterBrand.(Cabinetry)
July 1, 2004... The Diamond SuperCabinet creates storage solutions for today's overstuffed kitchen. Featuring large-capacity pullout shelves, door storage, and wire baskets that hold up to 45 pounds, the cabinet can hold pantry items, pots and pans, or that...

Yorktowne.(Cabinetry)
July 1, 2004... Graceful detail and intricate carving ale featured on the Decor Creations Accents line, featuring carved decorative corbels, arched valances, rosettes, architectural columns, and furniture feet and legs. The Basketweave and Leaf collections...

Merillat.(Cabinetry)
July 1, 2004... One of the latest options in the "sensibly chic" Classic line, La Belle emulates the look of custom cabinetry with its bead detailing and mitered comers. Designed to reflect the look of fine furniture, these solid wood, full overlay doors are...

Yestertec.(Cabinetry)
July 1, 2004... The Hidden Kitchen armoire conceals an entire kitchen for use in any room in the house. It includes a two-burner cook top, a convection/microwave oven, a sink, countertop, undercounter refrigerator/freezer, a single drawer dishwasher, and...

Plain & fancy.(Cabinetry)
July 1, 2004... The Island Airs collection brings a breezy yet practical approach to kitchen decor, says the company. Alongside traditional Cherry and Walnut cabinetry, Maple with a Fennel finish adds a light touch. A well-thought-out set of storage designs in...

Wellborn.(Cabinetry)
July 1, 2004... The Arlington Arch features a flat panel and eyebrow arch in five finishes, including Pickle and Teaberry. The collection also offers a recess-mounted medicine cabinet that provides additional storage under the guise of sleek styling. (800)...

Mid-Continent.(Cabinetry)
July 1, 2004... Two miter door styles optimize classic good looks in the kitchen and throughout the home. The Portico door style features a flat panel bordered by elegant stiles and rails. The Villa's raised center panel is emphasized by slightly arched stiles...

Aristokraft.(Cabinetry)
July 1, 2004... Adding decorative furniture details to cabinetry is a big part of creating a custom look. New from the Embellishment line are ornamental halt-spindle turnings that can be used to finish a row of cabinets or outline special features. They...

Installation situations: there are pros and cons to using subcontractors to install windows on your projects.(Windows)
July 1, 2004... When it comes to using subs for window installations, many remodelers just say no. Design/build companies, especially, tend to limit subcontractor involvement in any job to excavation, foundation work, mechanicals, and other highly specific...

Full-service siding: design/build companies with a siding division go to market differently.(Siding)
July 1, 2004... Terry Skilling had just gotten off the phone with a prospect. She was referred by her sister, who had her kitchen remodeled by Skilling's company, Rhino Builders, in Kansas City, Kan. She wanted someone to come out and look at her windows....

Perfect world.(Siding)
July 1, 2004... Q: If a company has multiple product lines, should the salesperson be selling all some, or just one of those products? A: In a perfect company--with perfect leads, perfect production, and perfect salespeople--you'd have salespeople selling...

Convection conversion: quick cooking is a major advantage of convection ovens.(Trends)
July 1, 2004... As with most innovations in the food preparation industry, convection ovens earned their success over nearly 50 years of use in commercial kitchens. They have been available to home chefs in the high-end segment for the past 15 years. Now...

Luxe laminates.(Trends)
July 1, 2004... Laminate may be one of the least-expensive countertop materials available, but it can be a great way to add a little pizzazz at a low cost. Laminates can also be a good cost-efficient choice for those who like to change out their countertops...

World view: sliding and patio doors offer valuable views.(Trends)
July 1, 2004... When it comes to choosing a sliding or patio door, unobstructed outdoor views and lots of light are at the top of the list for homeowners. "Multipanel and taller doors that maximize views go along with bigger homes to create a monumental...

The right wood for the job.(Reader's Choice)
July 1, 2004... When remodeling the exteriors of older houses, Danny Feig-Sandoval and his colleagues at Small Carpenters At Large (SCAL) in Atlanta found that the newer composite woods just didn't work for them. They didn't look right against the older woods...

Warming trend.(Reader's Choice)
July 1, 2004... There's nothing like a fireplace to up the cozy factor in any home. Owning a construction business in Colorado means that Brenda Warren installs a lot of them. Her favorite is the Fireplace Xtrordinair by Travis Industries. "They have a really...

Circ saw safety.(On The Job)
July 1, 2004... Circular saws are dangerous if you don't use them properly. Even glancing contact with a moving blade can result in serious injury, and, like any other power tool, circular saws can present electrical hazards. Using any power tool carelessly...

Siding: vinyl and fiber cement options give wood a real run for its money.(In Focus)
July 1, 2004... Vinyl siding has long been a sensible choice for consumers who want to refurbish the exteriors of their homes. Now, new technology and fresh ideas are making vinyl siding not just practical but aesthetically appealing. More and more, homeowners...

Atlantis Building Products.(In Focus)
July 1, 2004... Cedar-way's Hand Split Shake siding is designed to combine the look of authentic cedar with low-maintenance performance. Each 18-inch panel has 37-inch exposure, with 22 panels per 100 square feet of coverage. The company regularly runs...

Revere Building Products.(In Focus)
July 1, 2004... Harbor Pointe Shakes and Scallops provide durable performance and graceful good looks. Available in 14 shades, including Venetian Red, the siding's polymer construction withstands 160-mph winds with a locking system that secures the panels. For...

Mitten.(In Focus)
July 1, 2004... Six new color choices enhance the options from Sentry premium performance vinyl siding. All feature a.c.t. Advanced Color Technology, which resists heat and comes with 25-year fade protection. Colors include Academy Gray, Grenadier Green, and...

Georgia-Pacific.(In Focus)
July 1, 2004... Georgia-Pacific. The Board & Batten siding collection has the look of painted wood in eight colors: Beige, Clay, Cream, Gray, Mist, Pearl, Tart, and White. Its 7inch vertical profile--5.5-inch face, 1.5inch batten, and .5-inch projection--has a...

SmartSide.(In Focus)
July 1, 2004... Panel siding is 39% lighter than standard fiber-cement siding and can be cut using regular wood cutting tools, making it easy to install. It can be nailed directly to studs, which eliminates the need for wall sheathing. Its cedar-grain texture...

Nichiha.(In Focus)
July 1, 2004... Sierra Premium Smooth lap siding is 60% thicker than average fiber-cement lap siding and is able to resist 111 mph winds when blind nailed. Sealed on six sides, the 1/2-inch-thick panels are available in 7-inch and 8 3/4-inch profiles....

Reynolds.(In Focus)
July 1, 2004... Reynolds. The Cedar Reflections line offers a variety of options with a Double 4 1/2 inch Horizontal, Double 4 1/2-inch Dutchlap, and Vertical Double 5-inch panel. Offered in a variety of colors and designed with a low-gloss random grain to...

Crane.(In Focus)
July 1, 2004... Part of the Solid Core Architectural Essentials series, the Band Board makes for an effortless and attractive transition between separate siding products. Installed with a special back plate, each panel is 7 1/2 inches wide and 20 feet long....

CertainTeed.(In Focus)
July 1, 2004... Cedar Impressions Triple 5-inch Perfection Shingles offer a rustic appearance. Molded from real cedar boards, the shingle panels are available in 12 colors. Each 15-by-60-inch panel consists of three rows of 5-inch shingle exposure. The...

Avalanche Ranch.(Lighting)
July 1, 2004... Meanwhile, back at the ranch... the Barnsley Collection is lighting up the hacienda in style. Embellished with rugged images of maple, aspen, ivy leaves, and cedar boughs, the collection is available in three glass shades--Amber Bell, Frosted...

Ameritec.(Lighting)
July 1, 2004... Nature comes to life in the Hewn Stone series of finishes. Earthenware ceramics combine with pre- and post-fire treatments to create rustic, stone-like finishes in four varieties: Sandstone, Sedona, Grey Quartzite, and Slate. They can be...

Holophane.(Lighting)
July 1, 2004... Holophane. The Quad luminaire is the latest addition to the Illuminaire line. Recommended for mounting heights up to 25 feet, the fixture is 13.3 inches high and 23 inches wide and is available in three photometric distributions: 90% uplight...

Ginger.(Lighting)
July 1, 2004... The sine sconce light from motiv fits into both refined and casual settings. Part of a complete series of coordinating bath accessories and mirrors, the sconce joins a mouth-blown glass shade with a solid brass base, available in polished...

Cooper.(Lighting)
July 1, 2004... The 4-inch lensed shower light trim from Halo consists of a full reflector cone optic with a removable glass prismatic lens for easy relamping. For use with the company's H99 recessed housing line, the gasketed plastic trim ring is...

Lumenton.(Lighting)
July 1, 2004... The SL730 steplight matches safety with style for both indoor and outdoor applications. The 4 1/2-by-11-inch size makes it easy to install on stairways, aisles, building facades, pathways, ramps, and more. The housing and faceplate, made of...

Liz's Antique Hardware.(Lighting)
July 1, 2004... Liz's Antique Hardware. Among a number of other antique options, this Los Angeles-based company offers these Danish lamps dating from the 1970s, designed by Lars Schioler. Made of wood-grained plastic, the lamps require simple assembly and are...

Progress.(Lighting)
July 1, 2004... Michael Graves lends his styling talents to two collections of bath lighting fixtures. Both the Oval Collection and the Star Collection combine etched opal glass with a choice of brushed nickel, polished chrome, or matte chrome. Each is...

W.A.C. Lighting.(Lighting)
July 1, 2004... W.A.C. Lighting. Architecturally styled, the Norfolk Series is designed for the modern commercial interior. The collection includes pendants in two styles, matching sconces, ceiling, and close-to-ceiling mounts, and all are available in...