Remodeling articles from June 2006

Remodeling archives from June 2006

Ahead of the curve.(ViewPoint: FirstWord)
June 1, 2006... As I write, a U.S. Department of Energy report lists the average price for a gallon of regular gasoline in the Mid-Atlantic region at $2.94. In 1973 during the OPEC oil embargo, the price was about $1.80 in today's dollars (see www.zfacts.com)....

Two in favor ...(Single-Payer Health Care)
June 1, 2006... Thank you for your excellent editorial in the April issue ("A Healthy System," p. 17). Your description of the advantages and cost savings of the single-payer health care system clearly states the facts and dispels the propaganda about...

... And two against.(Single-Payer Health Carr)
June 1, 2006... I can't believe my eyes! I am a hardworking business owner whose biggest obstacle is the government, and I read an opinion in a trade magazine that advocates more government. You are correct in pointing out the crises we face with health...

Make your way to the Windy City.(ViewPoint: InPerson)
June 1, 2006... In 2006 the Remodeling Show heads to the Lakeside Center, McCormick Place, Chicago. This year's Show, owned and operated by our publisher Hanley Wood, LLC, is expected to attract more than 10,000 remodelers and home improvement professionals...

Down in the dumps: remodelers are struggling to keep up with rising disposal costs.(ViewPoint: News+Notes)
June 1, 2006... Recently, Jeff Rainey noticed that the price of the 20-yard containers his company uses for construction debris had risen again, this time to about $425 per drop-off and pull. He checked with local colleagues to see if this was normal, and the...

RAI indicates growth slowdown.(ViewPoint: MarketWatch)
June 1, 2006... Growth in the industry leveled off during the first quarter of 2006, according to the latest Remodeling Activity Indicator (RAI), released in April by the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University. Homeowners spent an estimated...

Figure this.(ViewPoint: MarketWatch)
June 1, 2006... 4.8% Annual growth in the gross domestic product in the first quarter of 2006, up from 1.7% in the final quarter of 2005 U.S. Department of Commerce 6.6% Percentage by which sales of 69 retailers rose in April, the best month...

Smart show.(LOCAL FORECAST)
June 1, 2006... Ben Thompson, assistant vice president at Thompson Remodeling, says his Grand Rapids, Mich., market is in an extended down period. As a result, he's had to come up with more creative ways to keep the company in good financial shape. In...

Home schooling: employee education is getting better all the time.(Commentary)
June 1, 2006... Twenty years ago, whenever I told a group of remodelers to budget for staff education, a hand would invariably rise, followed by this objection: "But if you educate your employees, they'll just use it to compete against you when they leave." I...

Who will fire you? Moving forward can require a push--even if you're the company owner.(Commentary)
June 1, 2006... Many years ago, I was having lunch with a very successful businessman. He had been successful at several different levels in his career, and I asked him what he thought the next stage might be. His answer really struck a chord: "I am looking...

Mentoring wisdom: advice to remodelers who are just getting started in their business.(Commentary)
June 1, 2006... Recently I was facilitating a group of remodelers at a "Mentor Visit" meeting. The idea was that the host, an experienced and successful remodeler, would serve as a mentor to visiting remodelers, answering their questions and offering advice...

"Sell" is not a four-letter word: dispel negative images by establishing a trusting relationship early on.(Commentary)
June 1, 2006... Selling is one of the least understood practices of communication. Many people are deluded or simply misunderstand the selling process, frequently assessing it as manipulation, chicanery, or worse. After years of researching sales in the...

Everything old is new again.(YourBusiness: Ways+Means)
June 1, 2006... Jonathan Mills, owner of Mills Builders in Sacramento, Calif., says, "We tear down homes that have nothing wrong with them all the time out here." Mills didn't feel fight about dumping the materials. From his company's inception in 1999 he...

Stop assuming.(Work+Life)
June 1, 2006... Q: My spouse does my business' bookkeeping but isn't involved in the business' daily operations or overall direction. This causes her to second-guess many of my decisions, which creates friction at work and at home. How can we alleviate this?...

Share the wealth: a tiered bonus system tied to gross profit offers incentives for everyone.(People+Skills)
June 1, 2006... After having tried many incentive programs over the years, Bob Fleming, president of Classic Remodeling & Construction, Charleston, S.C., says his company's new program "is the first one that is designed to address problem areas and distribute...

State of the union.(YourBusiness: BottomLine)
June 1, 2006... Simply doing the right thing for employees is the reason remodelers like Neil Kelly Co., in Portland, Ore., and Roeser Construction, in Kirkwood, Mo., have been using union labor from the get-go, but the companies benefit, too. "We thought it...

Postcards or letters?(YourBusiness: Sales+Marketing)
June 1, 2006... Like Phillips-head and flathead screwdrivers, both postcards and letters are useful tools, says marketing consultant David Alpert. "It's just that you use them differently." To choose the fight mailing tool, evaluate your objectives and your...

From hot to not.(YourBusiness: Sales+Marketing)
June 1, 2006... The sales professionals of Weidmann Remodeling look for five potential red flags when they first visit a prospect at home. If they observe two or more, the client is likely to be difficult and the job should be politely declined, says Bill...

Minority first-time home buyers.(SALES SCHOOL 101)
June 1, 2006... THE SITUATION Even as many homeowners decide to postpone big remodeling jobs, minority and immigrant home buyers "still want to buy, but for totally different reasons" says Michael Lee, a marketing consultant with EthnoConnect. ...

Three paths to sales.(YourBusiness: Sales+Marketing)
June 1, 2006... Craftspeople by nature and salespeople by necessity, many remodelers believe that their company's good work will speak for itself, convincing smart prospects to work with them. This is sometimes true, but there is often a "sales process"...

Leading them on.(YourBusiness:FieldNotes)
June 1, 2006... Some production managers visit jobsites daily to keep their lead carpenters on task. But when Chris Levitas became production manager at Teakwood Builders, Saratoga Springs, N.Y., he wanted to be a hands-off "coach" who could help his leads...

Training that rocks.(YourBusiness:FieldNotes)
June 1, 2006... Anderson-Moore Builders may have found the key to unlocking the minds of change-averse field staff: relevant, useful training. Last winter, when they learned about a two-hour seminar on proper installation techniques for James Hardie siding...

Just the fax.(YourBusiness:FieldNotes)
June 1, 2006... I'm often asked about the use of communications technologies on the jobsite. My answer is simple: small steps. Although a few lead carpenters are using wireless laptops and/or BlackBerries, the biggest technology trend appears to be jobsite fax...

Rooms of their own.(YourBusiness: ByDesign)
June 1, 2006... Getting clients to make design decisions well before building helps to streamline the remodeling process and cut down on change orders and schedule glitches. Now there's a Web-based system to help with this process: RemodelVision. Intended...

Four plans.(YourBusiness: ByDesign)
June 1, 2006... A kitchen or bath floor plan can get pretty cluttered when you include every cabinet, faucet, appliance, sink, tub, and toilet paper holder. Blackdog Builders in Salem, N.H., used to draw plans that way, but over the years the designers,...

Hardware help.(YourBusiness: Tech@Work)
June 1, 2006... Recently, Gene Shekhtman, an IT consultant, spoke with the Remodeling Industry Technology Group based in the Washington, D.C., area about workstations and servers. These are Shekhtman's rules of thumb when buying new hardware: Do not skimp...

Get your Web site online fast.(YourBusiness: Tech@Work)
June 1, 2006... Last time I wrote about what not to do on your Web site. This month I'll cover what you should do. Register your domain name. Owning your "domain name," www.yourbusiness.com, is the first step in enabling your customers to find you on the...

All the steps.(YourBusiness: GoodForm)
June 1, 2006... Homeowners, especially those going through their first remodel, rarely realize what the entire process entails. They often have misconceptions about price or how much time the project will take. "I've met with so many people who think they can...

Profile: Andrew Shore.(Big50: CloseUp: Insight and opinion from the BEST in the business)
June 1, 2006... When Sea Pointe Construction (Big50 2004) began its 20th year in business, owner Andrew Shore (far fight, with Larry Anderson, left, and Rick Little, middle) and his team decided to use the milestone to transform the company from good to great....

Second look.(Big50: CloseUp: Insight and opinion from the BEST in the business)
June 1, 2006... In 1993, Kansas City, along with the rest of the Midwest, was flooded in one of the worst natural disasters in the U.S. Allen Townley, awarded Big50 that year, had six feet of water come through his office and showroom in 15 minutes, leaving...

Past-due blues: how do you handle clients who do not pay invoices?(Q+A)
June 1, 2006... Q+A WALLY ORFIELD Orfield Remodeling Minneapolis Big50 2003 This is not a very common occurrence, so we don't have a set policy. I usually handle it on a case-by-case basis. Our production manager picks up the...

Reading list: a Big50 remodeler recommends ...(Big50: Live+Learn)
June 1, 2006... Willie Delfs, president Able Homebuilders Sioux City, Iowa Big50 2005 I am currently reading the National Association of Home Builders' "Model Green Homebuilding Guidelines" as a reinforcement of the principles and practices...

Hard knocks: missed utilities: a lost ticket number for utility location is almost cause for a fine.(Big50: Live+Learn)
June 1, 2006... When an excavator for MRF Construction (Big50 2002) began digging for a garage addition project, it hit a gas pipe in the street. "There was potential for an explosion," treasurer and designer Carolin Fast says. The Tacoma, Wash., company...

Retrofitting: Contractor Mike Kelly puts his 30 years of experience to use by creating spaces for modern living inside an older house with multiple additions.(Before+After)
June 1, 2006... When purchasing this sprawling yet compartmentalized older home, both husband and wife knew that they were in for a challenge. The home, built in the 1880s near Pittsburgh, had seen multiple wings added over the years but no upgrades in...

Money, money, money: stick to your guns when a client says your price is too high.
June 1, 2006... Like a lot of other remodelers, Strong Construction in Fremont, Calif., can't afford to waste time with clients who want to push $50,000 where $100,000 should go, or who get fixated on some magic number for a project's cost. But co-owners Steve...

Outside in: looking beyond the industry for new employees is an increasingly popular strategy.
June 1, 2006... Remodeling is a highly technical art. It requires a grasp of the principles and practice of electricity, plumbing, engineering, geometry, and architecture. It requires a high level of craftsmanship as well as an ability to manage homeowners'...

In addition: there's more than one approach to designs that fit.
June 1, 2006... When Doug Walter says, "I channel dead architects to try to figure out their original intent," it gives the listener a clear picture of how the former restoration architect might approach the design of an addition. On the other hand, architect...

Risky business: in the remodeling industry, companies are at risk from two separate yet equally important groups: employees who steal and the owners who lack checks and balances.
June 1, 2006... Unraveling embezzlement can be as complicated as an episode of Law & Order. Remodeler Joe Christ says the trade background of most remodelers leaves them at a disadvantage. "We don't know business, so we are vulnerable and naive about the...

Building solid partnerships: making it work--through good times and bad.(Cover story)
June 1, 2006... The 30-year business partnership of Terry Streich and Gary Welton at Silver Bullet Design & Build has outlasted many marriages. It's experienced as many ups and downs as well, from the highs of the extended canoeing trips the two enjoyed before...

Yours, mine, and ours.(ReaderPanel)
June 1, 2006... The more official your partnership agreement is, the more likely it is to last. Half of remodeling partnerships begin as informal "handshake" agreements, but only 37% of these last more than three years. By comparison, 59% of partnerships last...

Remodeling therapy: a master suite renovation improves the health and lifestyle of the homeowners.(Kitchen+Bath: DesignClinic)
June 1, 2006... Doni and Leonard Felman wanted to renovate the master bathroom in their Pittsburgh condominium to accommodate Leonard's water therapy for scoliosis. They called on designer Michael Braun of Braun Architectural & Interior Design and contractor...

Jenn-Air.(Appliances)
June 1, 2006... Inspired by the growing interest in metallic finishes, the company has added the oiled bronze appliance suite to its product line. The burnished hue is complemented by stainless-steel handles and hardware and gives homeowners an alternative to...

Bosch.(Appliances)
June 1, 2006... The Integra and Evolution dishwasher lines offer a variety of features across the maker's 300, 500, and 800 series. The Integra has inconspicuous controls mounted on the door's edge, while the Evolution's controls are mounted on the face of the...

LG Electronics.(Appliances)
June 1, 2006... The SteamWasher is the latest addition to the company's Tromm Laundry System. The 4-cubic-loot-capacity unit incorporates a unique steam generator, which the maker says enables superior performance, energy efficiency, and water conservation...

Sharp.(Appliances)
June 1, 2006... The 24-inch built-in Microwave Drawer joins the company's product line. The 1-cubic-foot KB-6014L model provides an alternative to countertop units and can be easily installed in an island or a run of base cabinets. The 100-watt Microwave...

Mixing it up: how one contractor uses cellular PVC on vinyl-sided upscale homes.(Replacement: Siding)
June 1, 2006... The latest high-end vinyl siding products have opened up a new market niche for replacement contractors: house makeovers in more upscale neighborhoods where owners want to escape the maintenance headaches of painted wood exteriors without the...

Truly custom windows: stock millwork often won't make the grade for large openings or complex designs.(Replacement: Windows)
June 1, 2006... All replacement windows are custom to a point. They're built to fit specific openings, often in old houses that are wickedly out-of-whack. While most top-of-the-line manufacturers offer a wide range of specialty shapes, such as circle segments,...

In the clear: manufacturers take glass to new heights on a variety of surfaces.(Products: Trends)
June 1, 2006... Next time you're asked to remodel a bathroom, look to the mirror for inspiration. More than just functional reflectors, mirrors are the foundation of a growing trend in the use of glass in the bathroom. Formerly discreet powder rooms are...

Homes that suck: central vac retrofits yield healthy, valuable homes.(Products: Trends)
June 1, 2006... As central vacuum systems gain interest, remodelers can provide clients with built-in tools to keep their homes looking great. "This product category has grown by double digits in two out of the last three years" says Larry Hartley, marketing...

Closets with class: consider the sales opportunities in helping clients maximize existing storage space.(Products: Trends)
June 1, 2006... Ask what prompts their interest in remodeling and many homeowners' say, "We need more space." Steve McCamley, marketing director, Schulte, Cincinnati, says, "For a long time our solution was just to throw more space at it. A better...

Decking: sturdy and stylish.(Products: InFocus)
June 1, 2006... Your clients want great design; you look for strength and durability. They ask for tiers and terraces; your mind is on safety. When it comes to reconciling homeowners' big dreams for outdoor living with the mechanics and maintenance of a...

Universal Forest Products.(Decking)
June 1, 2006... New railing options are available in the Latitudes Ornamental Railing line, which combines composite handrail and post options with metal accents, including balusters, post caps, and centerpieces. Designed to imitate the look of traditional...

GeoDeck.(Decking)
June 1, 2006... The new Designer Post Cap series offers the Merrit, Vero, and Cocoa lines to add custom touches to decks with a variety of profiles. Of the three, Merritt caps fit budget-conscious applications, while the Vero style has better quality for more...

Duradek.(Decking)
June 1, 2006... Offering an alternative to deck coatings that peel, crack, or delaminate, Duradek Ultra waterproof vinyl flooring is available in five styles. The material is made of textured PVC laminated to a polyester reinforced fabric for strength. Roll...

DeckTools.(Decking)
June 1, 2006... For this company, "deck tools" are more than just hammers and nails. Its DeckTools Software includes easy design features for capturing any custom deck in photorealistic 3-D. The software includes a 3-D Materials Library of brand-name parts and...

TAMKO.(Decking)
June 1, 2006... The new Elements Grain composite decking features varying wood grains on both sides for a natural look. Available in four naturally weathering colors--Cape Cod gray, cedar, redwood, and weathered wood--the extruded decking material is made from...

Xccent.(Decking)
June 1, 2006... Offering "snap and lock" technology, DryDeck Aluminum Watertight Decking gives moisture nowhere to go but off to the integrated gutter system at the edge of the deck. The patented gasket between planks provides a watertight seal and gives a...

Grace Construction Products.(Decking)
June 1, 2006... Protect against corrosion and joist rot with Grace Vycor Deck Protector self-adhered flashing. Installed between the connector and pressure-treated wood, the flashing membrane seals the tops of deck joists against moisture, reducing the...

CertainTeed.(Decking)
June 1, 2006... EverNew SnapWrap vinyl post wrap offers a quick way to wrap wood porch posts to improve their look and endurance against the elements. Available in sizes that fit 4x4 or 6x6 posts, SnapWrap can be field-cut to fit lengths up to 10 feet. The...

Velux.(Skylights)
June 1, 2006... With an adjustable angle adapter, the company's new line of sun tunnels can be installed in a straighter line to the ceiling, resulting in more light output, the manufacturer says. A stable dome-to-flashing connection protects against expansion...

B&B sheet metal.(Skylights)
June 1, 2006... The Gable Skylight is one of the company's traditional-style, custom-made skylights crafted by in-house artisans and technicians. Customers choose from copper, stainless steel, ternecoated stainless steel, or lead-coated copper and also have...

Sun-Tek.(Skylights)
June 1, 2006... As record-breaking storms batter the U.S., Extreme Weather Skylights aim to fill a growing consumer demand. The high-impact and high wind-velocity units are available for 120-mph or greater wind zones. All six available models have passed the...

Solatube.(Skylights)
June 1, 2006... Bypass rafters and other ceiling obstructions more easily with the 0-to-90-degree extension tube. Composed of three built-in 30-degree-angle adapters, the tube is made with the company's proprietary Spectralight Infinity material to allow...

Creative Structures Conservatories.(Room Enclosures)
June 1, 2006... Creative Structures Conservatories are designed to complement any architectural style. Choose from seven traditional designs or create a custom room to suit virtually any taste. Built with mortise-and-tenon joinery, insulated glass windows, and...

Nana Wall Systems.(Room Enclosures)
June 1, 2006... The Undercover Deck Enclosure makes unused space beneath a second-story deck useful. Floor-to-ceiling windows in wood, aluminum, and aluminum-clad wood frames glide on top and bottom tracks. Panels engage multiple locking points for security;...

TEMO.(Room Enclosures)
June 1, 2006... Hurricane-strong all-thermal sunrooms feature the industry's first prime sunroom window designed to meet residential-window code standards, the maker says. Sunrooms offer 3 5/8-inch insulated walls with thermal break option, and a 3/4-inch...

Gorell.(Room Enclosures)
June 1, 2006... Grand Additions Presidential Series vinyl sunrooms feature a 3-inch-thick expanded polystyrene roof system with a heavy .024-gauge aluminum stucco-simulated skin. Standard 7/8-inch double-insulating tempered safety glass or optional Energy...

Jeld-Wen.(Products: FirstLook)
June 1, 2006... Create versatile passageways to the outdoors with the company's IWP Exterior Folding Door System. Combining style and functionality, the doors slide on an overhead track and neatly fold away "accordion style," allowing full access to the...

BHK of America.(Products: FirstLook)
June 1, 2006... Add the ambiance and warmth of wood to any room with Moderna Logo Ceiling Planks. The tongue-and-groove profile and a patented clip system make the laminate planks easy to install. With a limited lifetime warranty, the material is resistant to...

Bilco.(Products: FirstLook)
June 1, 2006... Rounding out its line of specialty access products, the company introduces the ScapeVIEW Series 6000 Foundation Window System. Constructed of vinyl for durability and corrosion resistance, the two-piece window assembly consists of a...

Latta Equipment Co.(Products: FirstLook)
June 1, 2006... The portable Eliminator filtration system for wood-floor sanding uses three high-powered vacuum motors to eliminate dust from the environment while sanding. The maker says the high-efficiency cyclone removes 98% of dust into a self-bagging...

Masonite.(Products: FirstLook)
June 1, 2006... The Barrington Craftsman Series complements mission or Craftsman style architecture with the durability of fiberglass. The series features three recessed panels and a unique one-light glazing system. The door is factory-glazed with a...

Bristol and Bath.(Products: FirstLook)
June 1, 2006... The aesthetic appeal and decay resistance of teak is rediscovered in the Teak Collection of bathroom vanities and accessories. Vanity styles range from a 20-inch-tall floating wall-mounted unit, to a 72-inch-wide open shelving piece (pictured),...

ZipRoute.(Products: FirstLook)
June 1, 2006... The patented new ZipRoute template can speed the cutting of electrical and water lines. Weighing less than 10 pounds, the template is made of chemical-resistant, impact-modified nylon, and fits any standard router. At 60 inches tall, 15 inches...

Hunter Fan Co.(Products: FirstLook)
June 1, 2006... From the Contemporary product family, the Retro ceiling fan puts a cool spin on classic style. Retro is powered by a 172mm-by-15mm AirMax low-temperature motor built with the maker's exclusive impeller to keep the fan running cooler from the...

JACLO.(Products: FirstLook)
June 1, 2006... The company has added the Luxury and Deluxe specialty grab bar lines to its shower systems products mix. The new grab bars are available in 14 lifetime-warranted designer finishes, including satin nickel and oil-rubbed bronze. The Luxury line...

Time is money: focus on the schedule to keep clients happy and put money in your pocket.(LastWord: BenchMark)
June 1, 2006... Increasing field efficiency means improved margins, but some tactics are better than others. Purchasing inferior materials is shortsighted because you will have to spend warranty dollars down the line. Using less expensive subcontractors may...