Remodeling articles from June 2003

Remodeling archives from June 2003

See what I'm saying? (First Word).
June 1, 2003... I'm having air-conditioning added to my home in Washington, D.C., just in time for the hot, humid summers we typically get here. The first day of the job, the contractor mentioned that we may have to "heavy-up" the electrical. I had no...

NAHB courses at 2003 Remodelers' Show. (.comment).
June 1, 2003... Full-day classes for the NAHB Remodelors Council certifications will precede the opening of the 2003 Remodelers' Show in Baltimore this fall. If you're working toward certification for either CGR (Certified Graduate Remodeler) or CAPS...

Correction. (Call Back).
June 1, 2003... In our May 2003 "Big50" feature, the information about Morse Constructions on page 130 is correct, but the photo shown is a duplicate of the Otterbeck Builders staff picture that appears on page 126. The corrected version of page 130--with the...

FTC establishes do-not-call list: new regulations hamper telemarketing efforts. (News+Notes).
June 1, 2003... Contractors who rely on telemarketing for lead generation are finding the going a bit rougher this summer. That's because consumers have begun registering for a national do-not-call list, part of a group of amendments to the FTC's Telemarketing...

Re-tooling. (News+Notes).
June 1, 2003... Two of the most well-known tool manufacturers have joined forces. As of 2003, S-B Power Tool Corp. and Vermont American Corp. merged to become Robert Bosch Tool Corp. All brands previously manufactured by either of those two...

Mold award cut back. (News+Notes).
June 1, 2003... A court of appeals has thrown out a significant portion of the $32 million originally awarded to Melinda Ballard in her lawsuit against Farmers Insurance Group. Only $4 million in compensatory damages remains from the award, with attorney...

Weather still wreaking havoc. (News+Notes).
June 1, 2003... It's June, and that means, for nearly all parts of the country, that battles with snow and ice are at least four or five months away. The effects of this past winter's weather, however, are still being felt by remodelers in the nation's...

Water-less world: Santa Fe, N.M., adopts strict water regulations for new construction. (News+Notes).
June 1, 2003... Faced with an extensive drought, city officials have imposed stringent regulations regarding new construction in Santa Fe, N.M. "In order [for someone] to build, they have to zero out their demand on the city's water system," says Joe...

D-I-Y more popular than ever. (News+Notes).
June 1, 2003... A national survey sponsored by American Express shows that home improvement is high on the list of priorities for Americans. However, the results also indicated a continuing proliferation of do-it-your-selfers. Surveyors telephoned 341...

Slow growing. (Market Watch).
June 1, 2003... [down arrow] REMODELING MARKET INDEX Compared with the first quarter of 2002, remodelers' views of current market conditions and their expectations for the future receded in the early part of 2003. Both sections of the NAHB's index showed...

Don't shortchange yourself: professionalism and a willingness to be aggressive are all you need to charge more for your work. (Commentary).
June 1, 2003... Some time ago, a contractor who'd attended a seminar I gave came up to me the following year and said that while he thought I was nuts when I suggested a minimum 50% markup, he wasn't making any money. So he'd tried it. And it worked. This...

A system for systems: standardizing the way your company does business is essential to growth. (Commentary).
June 1, 2003... How do we transform today's new hire into tomorrow's superstar? It's not easy. It happens at companies when two key elements are in place. The first is a meaningful culture that teaches the company's core values and encourages and rewards the...

Fear factor: follow the facts, not your fears, when making business decisions. (Commentary).
June 1, 2003... These days, it's difficult to feel gung ho about our business decisions. If you review the past several years, we've been thrown a major curve ball about every six months. It all seems to have started about three years ago, with Y2K--remember...

Sell the intangibles: if you're like most contractors, you're worth more than you're charging. (Commentary).
June 1, 2003... What is a market position? One good way to explain it is to think about retail stores that sell clothing. Any chain you can think of picks a position based on demographic appeal. Wal-Mart and Kmart, for instance, are low-cost clothing...

Come together. (Ways+Means).
June 1, 2003... Bob Sturgeon was in the middle of an employee review when the idea came up: The employee wanted to know if it would be possible to hold a monthly or weekly meeting for everyone in the company. Two weeks later, Sturgeon set up a weekly...

Repeat performance. (Ways+Means).
June 1, 2003... Roughly one out of every five jobs Dutchess Building Specialists, Poughkeepsie, N.Y., does is for a client the company has worked for previously. Yet in the past, when crews went to begin a job for a repeat client, they often had to start from...

Trading places. (Ways+Means).
June 1, 2003... What happens in the kitchen/bath showroom on a designer's computer screen and what takes place in the field when a job's installed are often not the same. So when designers are hired at Tegeler Design & Remodeling, Hiawatha, Iowa, they're...

Dating game. (Ways+Means).
June 1, 2003... Coordinating work schedules around employee vacations and days off was never a problem for Halsey Platt--when his company was small. But today, Walter H.B. Platt Builders and Cabinetmakers, Croton, Mass., has 29 employees. Because employees...

Take control. (Bottom Line).
June 1, 2003... Some business owners who aren't particularly strong in financial management rely on their office staff and outside consultants to help them understand and analyze the data that could have significance for their company. If you are one of those...

Retooling company image. (Sales+Marketing).
June 1, 2003... A name change and marketing makeover turned into a bonanza of market understanding for a Denver remodeler. As a result, Rick Pratt, of the newly renamed Classic Homeworks, expects to continue his 25% annual growth rate. That should pay off the...

Everybody sells. (Sales+Marketing).
June 1, 2003... Who's your best salesperson? The answer should be everyone. Your employees either help or hurt your business based on their interaction with clients or prospects. The sales process--recruiting and capturing customers--must be shared so you can...

5 techniques for snagging search engines. (Sales+Marketing).
June 1, 2003... Partners Barry Wright and Mike Brenner of $1.5-million Good Neighbor Contracting received few leads from their Web site (www.atlanta-remodeling.com) after launching it three years ago. Then, they met Todd Miechiels during a bathroom rehab....

Focus in. (Sales+Marketing).
June 1, 2003... Does it make sense to conduct a focus group? The answer is yes, but let's qualify that: What do you expect to learn? The best remodelers' focus groups address six issues: * Appraising marketing and public relations campaigns; * Getting...

Biting the dust. (Field Notes).
June 1, 2003... Recently, DeCiantis Construction was hired to complete a $50,000 master bathroom remodel by a homeowner who has acute allergies to dust. The Stonington, Conn., company went above and beyond the standard route of putting up a plastic barrier....

Writing a change order. (Field Notes).
June 1, 2003... Change orders can be difficult to estimate because they involve items that are usually not apparent at the current stage of construction. Moving a wall 1 foot will affect the amount and cost of floor coverings six months later. If they...

Brighten the corners. (By Design).
June 1, 2003... Island Construction owner Barry Riordan "opened up" this master bath and dressing area in a Gulf Coast/Marco Island, Fla., condominium without adding square footage or significant ceiling height. Riordan's visually cohesive design instead...

Lab partner. (By Design).
June 1, 2003... To introduce and sell lighting design to his customers, electrician Phil Blosser created a "lighting lab" in Blosser Electric's expanded Telford, Pa., office space. Installed in the lab's two rooms are an array of lights and enough furniture to...

Design pointers. (Tech@Work).
June 1, 2003... By now, laptops are common at pre-sale design meetings. Modeling software makes it easy to help the customer see what they're buying. Designer Joe Dellano extends the potential of these interactive presentations using equipment more often found...

Getting in sync. (Tech@Work).
June 1, 2003... If you've ever wasted time working on the wrong version of an estimate on your laptop while the right version sat on your desktop computer, you know the importance of keeping multiple computers in sync. Here are several proven solutions. ...

Cover your bases. (Good Form).
June 1, 2003... In a perfect world, homeowners would leave the technical side of the business up to the remodeler. Among other things, that would mean trusting the pro to spec materials that he is confident are appropriate for the job. And that's usually how...

Profile: Scott Barr. (Close Up).
June 1, 2003... The most painful part of downsizing is deciding to do it," says Scott Barr, of Southwest Exteriors, San Antonio. And Barr should know. When he was named Big50 in 1995, he had 33 employees and $4.5 million in revenues. That was three years...

Second look: George A. Thomas. (Close Up).
June 1, 2003... When owner George Thomas was named Big50 in 1996, his company had an insurance restoration niche that netted $2.5 million in sales per year. He grew GTC to a $7-million-a-year company by making existing divisions into separate companies and...

Should you hire former company owners? (Face Off).
June 1, 2003... "Having a former owner out in the field is an incredible asset. These guys are experienced in working with clients of all types"--Greg Bellamy EXPERIENCE COUNTS Running a remodeling business is a complicated thing. There's the obvious...

Penny pinching: what expense do you cut first when times are tough? (Q+A).
June 1, 2003... MIKE CARDEN MUI Corp. Birmingham, Ala. Big50 1993 The largest expense in the remodeling business is employees. You must understand what they cost you annually to know which employee to release when times get tough. For...

Game, set, match: a plain-Jane ranch grows into a gracious manor with a remodeler who knows how to hit the sweet spot. (Before+After).
June 1, 2003... Janet Lukens liked the way Debra Hudacek went after passing shots on the tennis court and regularly served up aces. Hudacek played like the match depended on each point. Lukens, an interior designer and owner of JML Interiors, and Hudacek,...

Fresh perspectives: what can an attorney, an accountant, a salesman, and a minister teach you about running your business? Plenty. (Cover Story).
June 1, 2003... Not all remodelers come to the business by way of the craft. In the examples collected here, the ability of four individuals to adapt skills and expertise from other vocations enabled them to overcome a lack of hands-on construction knowledge...

Slip-sliding away: the game of remodeling can be fraught with missteps. Here's how to keep your margins from ...
June 1, 2003... How does a projected 28% gross profit margin on a second-story addition slip to 6% by job's end? That's what Houston remodeler Leslie King wanted to know five years ago, when it happened to her. "Our wake-up call," the president of Greymark...

Remodeling's kitchen design contest: three winning approaches to transforming an automated kitchen.
June 1, 2003... Our contest challenged designers to remodel the functional but dated kitchen of a 1960s split-level house. Entrants had the option of transforming the space within three categories: remaining within the existing footprint; borrowing space from...

Serious about leads: remodelers have lots of ways of generating leads. But they favor, and depend on, past clients--the lead source that provides the most reliable prospects for work. (Reader Panel).
June 1, 2003... Most remodeling companies we surveyed get the largest percentage of their leads the old-fashioned way: from previous customers. Other lead sources prove secondary by comparison. For that reason, most companies--69%--survive perfectly well...

Over the range: designers and contractors stress the importance of correctly sizing, designing, and installing range hoods for maximum efficiency. (Design Clinic).
June 1, 2003... Cooking areas have become a strong focus in the kitchen--due in part to the rising popularity of professional-style ranges. The cooktop-and-range-hood combination forms a design anchor in the kitchen, often showcased with special treatment,...

Sizing it up. (Design Clinic).
June 1, 2003... The "capture area" of range hoods should cover most of the range surface. David McNulty prefers to have the hood extend 3 inches beyond the left and right edges of the cooktop. For example, if he specifies a 36-inch cooktop, he'll choose a...

Ventilation certification. (Design Clinic).
June 1, 2003... Designers and manufacturers recommend purchasing range hood and ventilation products that have the Home Ventilating Institute (HVI) label. HVI is a nonprofit association of the manufacturers of home ventilating products. The label assures...

The air in there. (Design Clinic).
June 1, 2003... David McNulty uses hoods with an airflow of 600 cfm for standard cooktops but upgrades to a 1,200-cfm hood for commercial-style ranges. He cautions that hoods over 900 cfm exert a powerful pull that can cause problems with air quality. In...

Hidden assets. (Design Clinic).
June 1, 2003... When remodeler Soren Jensen was asked by his clients to hide all the appliances in this kitchen remodel, the one item that proved to be most difficult to cover was the microwave. Because the formal living room is adjacent to the kitchen, the...

GE. (Appliances).
June 1, 2003... The GE Profile Energy Star built-in dishwasher with an annealed stainless steel interior can accommodate up to 16 place settings and tall kitchen items. Top and lower racks, with fold-down tines, are adjustable. (800) 626-2000....

KitchenAid. (Appliances).
June 1, 2003... The over-the-range Ultima Cook speed oven combines the quick heating power of a microwave with a quartz element and halogen lights for roasting, grilling, baking, and browning. The 1.7-cubic-foot capacity allows room for large dishes, and an...

Whirlpool. (Appliances).
June 1, 2003... The g2microven SpeedCook combines the cooking speed of a microwave with the cooking results of a conventional oven. Using the Accuwave System, the oven allows for grilling, baking, broiling, browning, and roasting and features a nonstick...

Maytag. (Appliances).
June 1, 2003... The Atlantis washer's agitator features a double spiral design and flexible fins that more effectively rotate clothes; a three-way rinse system; and an optional automatic temperature control. (800) 688-9900. www.maytag.com. Circle no. 101. ...

Jenn-Air. (Appliances).
June 1, 2003... The CustomControl dual cooking element for electric cooktops mimics the cooking performance of a gas range, says the maker, and features a higher temperature range, consistent heating, multiple temperature settings, and more controllable...

LG Electronics. (Appliances).
June 1, 2003... The LG Bottom Mount Freezer Refrigerator is available in 19.7-cubic-foot and 22.4-cubic-foot capacities, placing the refrigerator component at eye level. A multi-airflow system provides each interior shelf with its own venting duct. (866)...

Handle with care: windows in unusual shapes, sizes, or finishes call for a little extra effort and planning. (Windows).
June 1, 2003... Ryan Schleper, owner of All City Builders, Buffalo, Minn., remembers working on a framing crew when the window shipment from the supply yard arrived. It included a half-round window that didn't fit. "We spent several hours remodeling what we'd...

Fit and trim. (Siding).
June 1, 2003... Last summer, Ralph Streano, owner of Lifetime Remodeling Systems, in the Portland, Ore., suburb of Milwaukie, began installing fiber-cement siding. Streano, whose company had specialized in seamless vinyl siding, had done his homework. "We'd...

Countering negatives. (Siding).
June 1, 2003... Q: My competitor is telling prospects that we're overpriced and can't control quality because we install with subs. How do I counter those negatives? A: Here's what I'd say: "Whoever told you we're overpriced told you exactly right. We are...

Overhead decor. (Trends).
June 1, 2003... While most residential ceilings are left unadorned for the span of their lifetimes, many homeowners choose to decorate this surface with tin tiles; wood beams, planks, panels, and beadboard; or wood-look laminates. Matching ceilings with a...

Nature underfoot: cork, bamboo, and linoleum flooring combine earth-friendly attributes with design versatility, high performance, and durability. (Trends).
June 1, 2003... The continuing interest in green building and in products that are manufactured with renewable resources has many homeowners considering alternatives to traditional building materials. The flooring category in particular is attracting a lot of...

Neatnicks. (Reader's Choice).
June 1, 2003... Remodeler: Mike Cordonnier Company: Remodeling Designs, Dayton, Ohio Product: ZipWall Poles by ZipWall LLC. www.zip wall.com. Circle no. 111. Mike Cordonnier's company is known for its jobsite cleanliness, because on every...

Sealed tight. (Reader's Choice).
June 1, 2003... Remodeler: Patty McDaniel Company: Boardwalk Builders, Rehoboth Beach, Del. Product: Dow Great Stuff PRO Window and Door foam sealant.www.dow.com/ greatstuff/pro. Circle no. 112. Getting a good insulating air seal around door and...

Sky view. (Reader's Choice).
June 1, 2003... Remodeler: Sharon Bellamy Company: Bellamy & Sons Construction, Scotia, N.Y. Product: Velux Roof Windows and Skylights. www.velux-america.com. Circle no. 113. Sharon Bellamy estimates that Bellamy & Sons Construction has been...

Decking: composite decking expands its reach with new add-ons and colors. (In Focus).
June 1, 2003... As competition between manufacturers of composite decking increases, and as the category itself grows and claims a larger share of the market, composites manufacturers are adding to their product lines with new coordinating accessories such as...

ODL. (Skylights).
June 1, 2003... Roof Windows, featuring insulating glass and bronze tinting to reduce heat gain and increase energy efficiency, have been reintroduced to the market with vinyl frames. The new models are available in white with flat insulated glass or an...

Solar Innovations. (Skylights).
June 1, 2003... Available in both aluminum and aluminum-clad wood, skylights from Solar Innovations are 100% thermally broken. Configurations range from double pitches, pyramids, and hip ends to barrel vaults and domes. An array of decorative options,...

Velux. (Skylights).
June 1, 2003... Q Series self-flashing skylights are available in both curb-mounted and deck-mounted versions. The Q Series skylights feature a specially formulated, flexible, self-sealing EPDM synthetic rubber side flashing and integrated gaskets that...

Wasco. (Skylights).
June 1, 2003... Ten architectural baked-enamel color frames that help provide a seamless roof appearance are now available on the maker's full line of skylights, including the self-flashed E-Class unit with Ultraseal Flange. New colors include bone white,...

Sun-Tek. (Skylights).
June 1, 2003... Through only one opening in a roof, the Spyder Multi-Tube tubular skylight system allows natural light into multiple rooms in a home. The skylights come in 10- and 14-inch diameters and can be installed in double, quadruple, or mixed...

Andersen. (Skylights).
June 1, 2003... Low-E, impact-resistant glass for protection against wind-borne debris is now available on the seven smallest sizes of the manufacturer's 400 Series skylights. The glazing features an inner pane of glass and a heavier, laminated outer pane....

Patio Enclosures. (Room Enclosures).
June 1, 2003... The manufacturer's entire line of sunrooms is now available with SunClean self-cleaning glass. A coating fused to the glass uses UV rays to create a sheeting action that loosens and breaks down dirt on the window's exterior. Rain or a light...

Oak Leaf Conservatories. (Room Enclosures).
June 1, 2003... Custom-designed conservatories are made of a variety of hardwoods with mortise-and-tenon constructed frames and doors. True divided-light, double-glazed windows are made with tempered safety glass. Glazing options include tinting, laminating,...

Mon-Ray. (Room Enclosures).
June 1, 2003... Glasswalls porch enclosures feature a three-light design with all-wood frames treated to protect against rot. Available in six standard sizes and heights up to 81 inches, Glasswalls panels have full-length fiberglass screens and interchangeable...

Vixen Hill. (Room Enclosures).
June 1, 2003... The Modular Cedar Porch System uses modular wall panels and pre-engineered posts to enclose patios or decks for three-season use. Various architectural trim insert options, as well as removable insect screens and tempered storm glass inserts,...

Tanglewood Conservatories. (Room Enclosures).
June 1, 2003... Made of mahogany, oak, maple, or other hardwoods, each conservatory is custom-designed with mortise-and-tenon construction. Glazing options include laminated and tinted varieties. (800) 229-2925. www.tanglewoodliving.com. Circle no. 134. ...

Nana Wall Systems. (Room Enclosures).
June 1, 2003... Available in framing from extruded aluminum to wood to aluminum-clad wood, Nana Wall glass panels ride on hidden overhead tracks and stack on either track side. They come in several opening styles. (800) 873-5673. www.nanawall systems.com....

Americana Building Products. (Room Enclosures).
June 1, 2003... Scenic Vue screen enclosures with built-in aluminum railings and framing are available in custom-manufactured, preassembled kits. Included in each kit are pre-cut wall, floor, and ceiling channels; aluminum corners; preassembled sections; and...

PGT. (Room Enclosures).
June 1, 2003... Eze-Breeze Sliding Panels are designed and made individually to fit a client's project needs. The aluminum-framed, vinyl-glazed panels are lightweight and easy to operate. If the vinyl is dinged or bumped, it will return to its original shape...

Artistic Enclosures. (Room Enclosures).
June 1, 2003... The Sunbreeze Cambridge Window Wall System is constructed of solid wood and features a no-maintenance exterior trim package and a solid-cedar interior trim package. Several glazing and grille options are available. The system comes in removable...

Four Seasons Sunrooms. (Room Enclosures).
June 1, 2003... The Easy Living Collection Sun and Shade Rooms come in straight and cathedral designs and are constructed with slim-profile aluminum frames, insulated glass, sliding windows with screens, and energy-efficient roofs. (800) 368-7732....

Analyze this. (BenchMark).
June 1, 2003... Establishing benchmarks is of no value if you don't put them into practice. By definition, benchmarks are standards against which you should measure your performance. This holds true for internal benchmarks as well as those established by the...