Remodeling articles from March 2003

Remodeling archives from March 2003

Assembly required. (First Word).
March 1, 2003... A lot of problems in the remodeling industry can be traced to poor communication. Something as small as a simple transposition can end up creating huge problems. Consider a whole-house remodel my company completed back in the mid-'80s....

Design/build addendum. (Call Back).
March 1, 2003... Thank you for Walt Stoeppelwerth's "Design/Build Does It All" (January 2003, page 33). He's always worth reading. I'm an architect employed by a remodeling design/build firm and had the following comments on his column. Walt writes that...

Worth the pain. (Call Back).
March 1, 2003... Prior to reading the editorial about the Census economic survey ("Stand and Be Counted" January 2003, page 11), we had been "cussing" the time and effort it took to fill out the very long and detailed questionnaire. Now we understand how...

Green remodeling program launches in Atlanta. (News+Notes).
March 1, 2003... Green building may not have caught on yet with remodelers, but the creators of Atlanta's EarthCraftHouse program hope to give the movement a push. Since 1999, EarthCraftHouse has taught home builders how to build green and then certified...

Slick ideas. (News+Notes).
March 1, 2003... WD-40 is giving away 100 limited-edition tool belts. All you have to do is give up a trade secret. The company is looking for tips and trade secrets from construction industry professionals to help build the WD-40 JobSite, an online resource...

NARI's McNulty moving on. (News+Notes).
March 1, 2003... Only two and a half years after joining the association, COO and executive vice president Kevin McNulty has left NARI to join the Chicago Southland Chamber of Commerce. "We're very sorry to see him go," says NARI president Julius...

Man's best friend is mold's worst enemy. (News+Notes).
March 1, 2003... It could be cocaine or peanut butter--it just doesn't matter: Properly trained, Bill Whitstine says, a dog can find anything. Whitstine runs the Florida Canine Academy. He's trained thousands of dogs for police work, search and rescue, and...

Plan brings U.S. and Canada closer on lumber. (News+Notes).
March 1, 2003... A Commerce Department proposal for resolving the lumber trade dispute between the United States and Canada has brought the sides closer, but doubts remain about the likelihood of an agreement. The proposal calls for the United States to...

Confidence falters despite positive numbers. (Market Watch).
March 1, 2003... REMODELING MARKET INDEX Both components of NAHB's Remodeling Market Index fell at the end of 2002. The RMI is not seasonally adjusted, so comparisons from the same quarter year to year are most useful. The RMI for current conditions...

Eliminate surprises: systems of ongoing customer communication help ensure client satisfaction. (Commentary).
March 1, 2003... Do your customers know what they're actually getting when they buy a remodeling project from your company? Probably not--unless you tell them. Take product selection. Contractors are familiar with the products that go into remodeling...

A Mickey Mouse operation: the systems developed at one of America's most successful companies are all about service. (Commentary).
March 1, 2003... Obviously there's nothing Mickey Mouse about Disney Enterprises, and in fact, there's a lot for remodeling business owners to learn in the systematic way Disney "wows" the families who visit its world-class theme parks. Consider how Disney...

Healthy, wealthy, and wise: avoid the common misconceptions of remodeling business fitness. (Commentary).
March 1, 2003... When it comes to your physical health, modern medicine has a variety of monitoring tools. Some, like scales, are simple; others, like MRI machines, are more sophisticated. None, however, are foolproof. Occasionally, a test yields a "false...

Culture shock: managing Spanish-speaking employees requires some finesse, and a willingness to listen and learn. (Commentary).
March 1, 2003... Five years ago, my company, Waller Construction, bought a roofing operation and set it up as an in-house division. At the time, almost all the roofing installers were Hispanic, and they spoke only Spanish. Since then we've hired a few new...

Clean and comfortable. (Ways+Means).
March 1, 2003... When Maurice Forde, of Forde Windows & Remodeling, Northbrook, Ill., receives fan mail, letters often mention the fact that the clients' home was always clean. "In my opinion," Forde says, "you can do a mediocre remodeling job--not that we...

Fax me up. (Ways+Means).
March 1, 2003... In January, a new carpenter at Four Corners Construction, Westborogh, Mass., completed his 90-day probation period and received, at company expense, his fax machine. Four Corners Construction gives key employees a plain-paper fax to...

A gift basket for your thoughts. (Ways+Means).
March 1, 2003... Many companies survey clients at the end of a project, but Stephen Howell of Howell Design & Build, North Andover, Mass., takes follow-through to another level. At the conclusion of a job, the company hands clients a survey with 40-plus...

Design in small pieces. (Ways+Means).
March 1, 2003... The thought of a remodeling project often overwhelms clients, especially first-timers. So three years ago, Alpha Remodeling, a design/build company in Ann Arbor, Mich., broke its design process down into "bite-sized" pieces. In the first...

Go with the cash flow. (Bottom Line).
March 1, 2003... Even companies earning good profits can go out of business for lack of cash. Yet few remodelers take the trouble to align client payments with their own need to pay suppliers and subs within a week to 10 days. Those who do employ a variety of...

Cost-plus pluses. (Bottom Line).
March 1, 2003... Remodelers working with cost-plus contracts often operate with margins of 15% to 20%. That's low compared with fixed-price jobs. How can they charge less and still make money? They can't, but they make up the difference by invoicing as...

Dressing a duck. (Sales+Marketing).
March 1, 2003... How many ways can you dress a duck? The answer's plenty, if you ask DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen by Worldwide, of Waco, Texas. The company reminds clients about who remodeled their bathroom with a bath toy--a rubber duckie, with a twist. Among the...

Selling "The Works". (Sales+Marketing).
March 1, 2003... A Boise, Idaho, remodeler says he's come up with a way to keep his company on his customers' minds: He provides a home-needs inventory and then serves those needs. In fact, it's such a good system that John Frazier of John Frazier Construction...

Winning business from mistakes. (Sales+Marketing).
March 1, 2003... Prospects who call Castle Creek Construction to talk about a design/build remodeling job receive a booklet, with a paintbrush attached, entitled "15 Biggest Remodeling Mistakes... and how to avoid them." "The purpose was to be able to...

From tears to tax refunds. (Sales+Marketing).
March 1, 2003... After seeing a client in tears beside a Dumpster during a gut remodel, mourning the loss of old windows and teak moldings, remodeler Ray Gauthier figured there had to be a better way. Now, he has discovered a sales edge to...

The kid's all right. (Field Notes).
March 1, 2003... Stephen Howell of Howell Design & Build, North Andover, Mass., found a great carpenter's helper through one of his customers. The client's son was interested in the construction field, and Howell agreed to have the teen work for him over the...

Production goals. (Field Notes).
March 1, 2003... Last month we calculated that the three leads at our hypothetical company need to produce $40,000 each per month to meet our yearly projected sales volume of $1.5 million. Is this monthly goal realistic? To decide, you need to find out how much...

Drawing board/family first: designers can make sure a secondary entry area isn't second best. (By Design).
March 1, 2003... Houses usually have a formal entrance, but most families inevitably use a secondary entry--often near the garage or driveway. "The family entry is part of the ongoing discussion about how garages dominate the front facade of many houses," says...

Keep track of change orders with outlook. (Tech@Work).
March 1, 2003... Every change order is a potential miscommunication. Arnold Thompson, president of The Bottom Line Construction in Delray Beach, Fla., uses Microsoft Outlook to prevent costly mix ups. Using Outlook's appointment calendar, Thompson keeps a...

Can uReach me? (Tech@Work).
March 1, 2003... Remodelers have enough credibility problems without being labeled "unreliable." But that's exactly what happens when important calls and messages fall through the cracks. If you're missing messages, you may want to try uReach.com's unified...

Applicable application. (Good Form).
March 1, 2003... About a year ago, Jim Sasko, president of Teakwood Builders, found that he was spending too much time interviewing job candidates who simply wouldn't fit in with his company. To solve this problem, he developed a series of questions designed to...

Profile: Michael McCutcheon and Jordan Lourie: two northern California remodelers join forces and create a company that they hope will exceed the sum of its parts. (Close up: insight and opinion from the best in the business).
March 1, 2003... Nurturing a company's culture or values as it grows is difficult. Trying to meld the values and practices of two growing companies can make for a doubly difficult task. That's the challenge faced by Michael McCutcheon, McCutcheon...

Second look. (Close up: insight and opinion from the best in the business).
March 1, 2003... Connor & Company had three divisions in 1999. Now it has five. Window restoration and commercial services joined the firm's handyman, design/build, and construction divisions. To prepare for the added work, the company moved to a larger...

Is a punch list at the end of the job a bad thing? (Face Off).
March 1, 2003... "This should be a celebration of a job well done, not a `final inspection' that focuses on minor defects."--Jerome Quinn ZERO PUNCH, ZERO PROBLEMS Our goal, from the start of the job, is to not have any punch items by the time we reach...

Is it best to pad the completion date or to give clients the exact timetable? (Solutions: Big50 answers to big business questions).
March 1, 2003... Q&A DANA JURAK Jurak Remodeling Plano, Texas Big50 1991 One of the responsibilities of our lead carpenters is to prepare a realistic schedule that we share with our customers. We offer it as a guideline only. We never guarantee...

Book smart: two major remodeling jobs on a modernist house in sunny California elevate practical storage spaces to works of art. (Before+After).
March 1, 2003... Once you've designed and built a pricey, avant-garde residential addition--especially a complicated project that challenged your crew and thrilled the homeowners--the sweetest phrase you can hear from those homeowners is, "Let's do Phase Two."...

Extreme profit: what does it take to consistently earn profit margins that the rest of us consider radical?
March 1, 2003... One in 10 remodelers, experts say, earns more than 40% gross profit and 10% net profit. Finding that one isn't easy, and finding that one who's willing to explain how he does it is tougher still. But the secret is no longer secret. Paul...

The big green monster: mold may be the biggest issue facing the remodeling industry. Can the asbestos, radon, and lead paint scares teach us what to expect, or are we facing a whole new animal?
March 1, 2003... Five years ago, when Brothers Strong, in Houston, came across household mold in the course of a project, "you didn't even talk about it," recalls company owner Michael Strong. "If it was small, you'd scratch it down and spritz some bleach on...

Managing for results: how winning teams deliver 2003. (Remodeling leadership conference: featuring the Big 50).
March 1, 2003... Managing for Results: How Winning Teams Deliver The demands of remodeling require every successful business owner to manage for results, nearly always in changing conditions. Attend this information-packed conference and you'll...

Successful succession: it's never too early to start planning your exit strategy--at least if you want a payoff when you leave.
March 1, 2003... Remodelers, like most entrepreneurs, typically enjoy the excitement of starting up and growing their companies. But figure out how to leave? They don't know how. To make matters worse, they have no sense of how succession choices affect the...

No exit: without an exit strategy, remodelers may find retiring as difficult as staying in business. Among those on our Panel, few have planned a way out. (Reader Panel).
March 1, 2003... Remodeler Robbie Robinson is learning that if you expect your business to help pay for your retirement, you'd better plan ahead. Robinson, 71, hoped to retire this year and pass on his repair and home inspection business to his stepson and...

Table for six, please. (Details).
March 1, 2003... Howard Miller's empty-nester clients wanted three things for their small kitchen: space for a table, room to entertain, and plenty of storage. The owner of Howard Miller Kitchens in Northbrook, Ill., came up with an idea that fulfilled his...

Grout expectations. (Details).
March 1, 2003... David Mackowski of Quality Home Improvements switched from standard cement grout to epoxy grout two years ago to provide his customers with a low-maintenance material. The Raleigh, N.C., remodeler says Laticrete's SP100 grout worked well in his...

Plastic for payment? Do you accept credit cards for deposits or payments? Why or why not? (Management).
March 1, 2003... ELLIOT LEBAN Accent Kitchen & Bath Baltimore I prefer a check, but if the customer has no other way of paying or they want to collect free airline mileage, I'll accept credit cards. About half of my clients use credit cards. On large...

Jenn-Air. (Sneak Peek).
March 1, 2003... To provide better eyelevel access to the fresh-food section of the refrigerator, the company has moved the freezer to the bottom half of its new model. The refrigerated section of the 20-cubic-foot model JCB2059GE has been moved up to a counter...

Wellborn. (Sneak Peek).
March 1, 2003... Featuring a recessed center panel with a beaded molding outline, the Melrose door is available in the Premier and WoodCraft series in three standard and six specialty finishes. It is shown here in parfait. (800) 336-8040. www .wellborn.com. ...

Vita bath. (Sneak Peek).
March 1, 2003... AromaSpa bathtubs feature bottom-mounted body-sized air injection systems that result in therapeutic aqua-massages, says the firm. The digital-control tubs come standard with automatic purge cycles and are available in numerous colors and many...

Moen. (Sneak Peek).
March 1, 2003... The Kingsley faucet collection is a mix of turn-of-the-century ornamental and antique Shaker, says the firm. Two-handle center set, two-handle mini widespread, widespread bathroom faucets, and Roman tub faucets and shower controls are...

GE. (Sneak Peek).
March 1, 2003... The new Profile Harmony Clothes Care System features a 4.0-cubic-foot-capacity washer that delivers load information to a 7.3-cubic-foot-capacity dryer that automatically determines the ideal drying cycle for the load. The pair will be...

Delta. (Sneak Peek).
March 1, 2003... Shown in Brilliance Stainless Steel, the Victorian bath collection also is available in Brilliance Polished Nickel. The finishes are the latest addition to the line and also are featured on coordinating Victorian bath accessories. Four...

Matched sets. (Trends).
March 1, 2003... Composite and vinyl decks offer durability, low maintenance, and aesthetic benefits like non-fading colors. More and more homeowners and remodelers are taking notice. As the popularity of this product category continues to grow, manufacturers...

Keeping up appearances. (Trends).
March 1, 2003... Restoring a home's windows raises many concerns and considerations for remodelers. Homeowners want windows that require low maintenance and offer smooth operation and energy efficiency, but they also want to maintain a cohesive interior and...

Panel decision: sagging floor panels may be a thing of the past. (Trends).
March 1, 2003... Weyerhaeuser recently introduced a new professional-grade floor panel that, according to the company, yields a more stable floor because the panels are manufactured and installed flat. Structurwood Gold floor panels are single layer panels...

Personal assistant. (Reader's Choice).
March 1, 2003... AJ Paron-Wildes and the rest of the design staff at DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen used to spend hours running around "all over town," she says, looking for just the right lighting fixture. "We were having an impossible time trying to sell lighting...

Heat wave. (Reader's Choice).
March 1, 2003... "Every one of our clients who has had NuHeat installed has told us that they are really happy they took our advice," says Darlene Gayler. "They love the feel of that warm floor, and every time they walk on it, they thank us." NuHeat's...

Making tracks. (Reader's Choice).
March 1, 2003... Jack Philbin had been looking for a lighting system to use in undercabinet applications in kitchens, but he was never completely satisfied with the systems he tried. That was, he says, until he came across the Ambiance LX linear lighting system...

Doors: wood stand-ins are gaining a foothold in door manufacturing. (In Focus).
March 1, 2003... Many manufacturers are taking the wood out of their doors and frames to help prevent water damage to the most commonly exposed areas of a door. They are removing the natural wood around door glass and from lower door jambs, bottom rails, and...

Stanley door systems. (Doors).
March 1, 2003... The Smooth Fiberglass patio door features a compression-molded smooth fiberglass skin that resists warping, cracking, and denting, says the maker. Flush glaze-light construction provides a smooth appearance, and the fiberglass surface can be...

Integrity windows and doors. (Doors).
March 1, 2003... The Integrity Sliding French Door features a solid pine interior, Ultrex pultruded fiberglass exterior, a dual-point locking system, a top-hung screen, and low-E II glazing. An 8-foot height is available, as well as 6 foot, 5 inch and 6 foot, 8...

Therma-tru. (Doors).
March 1, 2003... A multi-point locking system that will keep the doors seated properly in their frames is available on the entire line of entry and patio doors, says the maker, ensuring good door alignment and consistent weather sealing. The system engages the...

Peachtree doors & windows. (Doors).
March 1, 2003... A selection of aluminum-clad wood hinged patio doors is available in center-hinge swing, French-style swing-in, and French-style swing-out. All have pine interiors ready to stain, seal, or paint. Five prefinished exterior colors are available....

Phoenix door. (Doors).
March 1, 2003... The New-Tech Signature Series interior door is available in more than 90 standard designs and in sizes from 6 feet, 8 inches to 8 feet tall. The door features raised or flush molding on a solid panel for a raised-panel appearance. Made of a...

Simpson door. (Doors).
March 1, 2003... Cherry has been added to the lineup of wood species available on Shaker and traditional lines of interior wood doors. Door options include French, panel, bi-fold, and decorative French in both lines. The cherry doors are available in heights of...

American weather-seal. (Doors).
March 1, 2003... The Astoria Pro Vinyl Sliding Patio Door is a modified version of the maker's original and offers equal-sized glass panels to ensure more accurate grille alignment, according to the maker. The new model is fully reversible and features a weeped...

Weather shield. (Doors).
March 1, 2003... Alder joins the lineup of wood species in the Custom Wood Interiors Collection, which includes oak, mahogany, maple, knotty pine, pine, American fir, and cherry. The collection, available on many of the company's windows and entry and patio...

Jeld-Wen. (Doors).
March 1, 2003... New door widths in the Continental profile are available in the company's Interior Molded Wood Fiber Doors. Made with a 1/8-inch high-density fiberboard skin with several core and frame options, the Continental profile features a smooth surface...

Milgard windows. (Doors).
March 1, 2003... Combining the appearance of a French door with the space-saving features of a sliding door, the French Rail Sliding Glass Door is constructed with wider stiles and rails. Made of vinyl, the frames will not rot or peel and do not require paint,...

Pella. (Doors).
March 1, 2003... The Architect Series sliding patio door features the maker's Integral Light Technology, giving the appearance of true divided light, and the Rolscreen Retractable Insect Screen. (888) 847-3552. www.pella.com. Circle no. 122. ...

Gorell windows and doors. (Doors).
March 1, 2003... Two triple-glass systems are available on 6000 Series sliding patio doors. The Thermal Master III and Energy Master III both qualify for the Energy Star label and feature triple-insulating glass and Solarban 60 low-E coating. (800) 946-7355....

Acore door company. (Doors).
March 1, 2003... Fiberglass Doors come prehung and feature stiles and rails constructed of a non-cupping, non-twisting, waterproof composite material and a high-density polyurethane core. The doors are available in wood grain or smooth panel finishes. (800)...

Madawaska doors. (Doors).
March 1, 2003... Available in any wood species, design, and size, Curve Top Doors are made of 100% natural solid wood. Options range from side lights, weather stripping, and transoms to oak sills, brick molding, and embossed panels. (800) 263-2358. www...

Leica geosystems. (Hand Tools).
March 1, 2003... The fifth-generation DISTO Classic(5) handheld laser distance measuring tool features a built-in 2X telescopic viewer and a built-in leveling bubble for precise horizontal measurements, says the maker. Too tool also includes an integrated...

Vaughan & Bushnell. (Hand Tools).
March 1, 2003... Three models of the company's MiniBear Saws are designed for tree pruning, PVC cutting, and woodworking. The Pruning Saw is able to cut through 2-inch tree branches; the PVC Pipe Mini-Saw cuts through PVC as well as ABS piping and polystyrene...

Zircon. (Hand Tools).
March 1, 2003... The CF12 Circuit Finder is designed to allow one user to correctly identify which breaker controls which circuit. The tool features automatic calibration, plus lights and audio alerts that indicate the location of circuits. (800) 245-9265....

Klein tools. (Hand Tools).
March 1, 2003... The Journeyman Crimping/Cutting Tool, model #J1005, is designed for use on insulated and non-insulated 10 to 20 AWG solderless terminals and connectors. A tapered nose allows for working in tight spots, and the insulated and non-insulated...

Marshalltown. (Hand Tools).
March 1, 2003... Providing five tools in one, two Paint Tools function as scrapers, spreaders, roller cleaners, putty removers, and crack openers. Both tools feature high-carbon steel blades. One features a DuraSoft handle for comfort; the other's handle is...

Weiser lock. (Locksets and Hardware).
March 1, 2003... The company has expanded the Decorator Finishes on its Welcome Home, Prestige solid forged brass, and Powerbolt Keyless Home Access series doorware and locksets to include Venetian Bronze. The finish was developed to coordinate with the warmer,...

Omnia. (Locksets and Hardware).
March 1, 2003... The Amagansett Entrance Handleset, part of the Hampton collection, can be customized with knob or lever trim. The mortise lock handleset provides security and durability in a variety of configurations, says the maker. The Amagansett is...

Baldwin hardware. (Locksets and Hardware).
March 1, 2003... The company has added Aged Brass as a hand-relieved antique finish to its Estate Lock Collection, which includes the Pasadena and Richland Arts & Crafts designs. The new finish is available on 16 Estate mortise entry sets, 12 knobs and levers,...

Kwikset. (Locksets and Hardware).
March 1, 2003... Available on UltraMax Security doorknobs, the Kwik-Install feature can reduce installation time to three steps and eliminate common mistakes, the maker says. The Kwik-Install device features alignment plates and pre-installed lead screws that...

Rocky mountain hardware. (Locksets and Hardware).
March 1, 2003... Solid bronze escutcheons and levers comprise the contemporary line of sandcast door hardware. Patinaed colors and textures oxidize naturally to form a deep bronze luster on simple and unadorned shapes. www.rockymountainhardware.com. (888)...

Schlage. (Locksets and Hardware).
March 1, 2003... The Artisan Series of door hardware protects against break-ins with Maximum Security line features such as a 1-inch deadbolt, pick-resistant pins, 3-inch drive-in screws, and brass key cylinders, says the maker. The locksets and handlesets are...

Sealflex. (First look: the newest products for the remodeling market).
March 1, 2003... EZ Strip Adhesive Remover leaves no chemical residue and will not resurface or' re-emulsify once removed. The product removes 99% of one-part polyurethane, latex, acrylic, and ESD conductive acrylic adhesives from concrete and other substrates,...

Equator. (First look: the newest products for the remodeling market).
March 1, 2003... The Energy Star rated EZ3612CEE ventless Washer-Dryer combo is redesigned with a 14-pound-capacity stainless steel tub and drum, nine wash cycles, seven wash temperatures, and ADA-compliant height. (800) 935-1955. www.equatorappliances.com. ...

Hardnox. (First look: the newest products for the remodeling market).
March 1, 2003... The Door Jak 50 is a portable cart designed to allow one worker to transport and install heavy doors of all types. Weighing 60 pounds, the cart is rated to handle steel, fire-rated, solid-core, and commercial-grade doors up to 250 pounds, and...

Daimer industries. (First look: the newest products for the remodeling market).
March 1, 2003... The KleenJet Steamer Ultimate 400 is a self-contained, chemical-free system that uses a continuous flow of dry steam to clean, sanitize, deodorize, and degrease most hard surfaces with an unlimited flow of hot, low-moisture vapor, says the...