Remodeling articles from March 2004

Remodeling archives from March 2004

Guilty of insanity.(First Word)
March 1, 2004... Back in the late '80s, I had a conversation with my plumbing contractor while we worked side by side buttoning up a remodeling project that was nearing completion. I don't remember how the conversation turned to licensing exams, but the story...

The wrong questions?(Call Back)
March 1, 2004... Some of the most important things I have learned from REMODELING magazine are methods to ensure that customers' needs are met. The opening editorial in the January issue ("No Stupid Questions," page 11) talked about a survey that differentiated...

In code mode.(News + Notes)
March 1, 2004... A recent Minnesota Court of Appeals ruling reminds remodelers to be on the lookout for code violations and extra work, even in the middle of a job. In 1998, a woman fell and broke her hip at a middle school. She sued the school district,...

Heads up!(News + Notes)
March 1, 2004... To run a successful advertising campaign, you have to use your head. Soon, you might be able to use someone else's, too. Since September 15, a Providence, R.I.-based company called Headvertise has employed college students to wear temporary...

Homeowner spending up.(News + Notes)
March 1, 2004... Homeowners spent $130.4 billion remodeling their homes in 2003, according to the latest Remodeling Activity indicator (RAI) released by the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University. That represents growth of more than 7% from...

Trust me.(News + Notes)
March 1, 2004... A recent survey of 500 remodeling clients shows, once again, that the quality of your business is just as important as the quality of the work you do. Commissioned by Intuit, manufacturer of Master Builder and QuickBooks, the study found...

Most economic indicators looking up.(Market Watch)
March 1, 2004... REMODELING MARKET INDEX Remodelers were upbeat about the market in the fourth quarter of last year. The RMI current conditions index was up 7.1 points from the final quarter of 2002, and the future expectations index jumped 9.2 points in...

Getting started: there's opportunity out there for someone who wants to start their own company. But there are pitfalls, too.(Commentary)
March 1, 2004... Thinking about starting a remodeling company but afraid there's too much competition? Not to worry. In the remodeling and home improvement universe, there's plenty of room for contractors doing as little as $100,000 per year in total volume,...

Guess who's coming to dinner: one person can make a difference. Here's how one remodeler put his talents and resources into improving a community.(Commentary)
March 1, 2004... Bill Medina, of Medina Construction Co. in Salina, Kan., is a remodeler and a philanthropist. The story of Bill's journey to community-based giving involves a few elements--his passion for cooking and his ownership of a 1,600-square foot loft...

Training: expense or investment? A customized training program is an essential part of a remodeling company's growth strategy.(Commentary)
March 1, 2004... A number of years ago, I sat on a panel of speakers addressing a group of MBA students about growth strategies. The speaker just ahead of me was describing the key ingredients to his organization's success with a chain of restaurants. He said...

Dream team: hiring can be an expensive crapshoot or a team-building exercise. It all depends on your interviewing approach.(Commentary)
March 1, 2004... How many times have you hired someone because that person happened to be in the right place at the right time, only to find out later that he or she wasn't really qualified? Then began the frustrating experience of picking up the slack for your...

Mars and Venus remodel: men and women really do shop differently.(Ways + Means)
March 1, 2004... It's why men will do seemingly anything to avoid a Saturday of hitting the malls with the wife or girlfriend. And it's why women would just as soon let them stay home. OK, that's a generalization, but there's some truth to those...

Go with the flow.(Ways + Means)
March 1, 2004... Be it computer software, plain old pen and paper, or abacus, most business owners have a way of keeping track of their cash flow. Kelly Vogan, president and owner of Vogan Associates in Silver Spring, Md., has a method that does what he says...

Building up to rewards.(Ways + Means)
March 1, 2004... Whether for business or personal reasons, you probably participate in loyalty incentive programs, like frequent flier miles. If you do, you might share the common complaint that it often takes far too long to earn rewards. Such programs...

Restart your engines.(Work + Life)
March 1, 2004... Q: My business is stagnant; I don't have a plan; I'm out of juice. What's the solution? A: Leaders set the tone for their business. When a leader loses passion, his business does, too. Often this happens because he has lost focus on what...

Checking checkup.(Bottom Line)
March 1, 2004... Fraud is a quiet, insidious form of theft. It is not uncommon for a major fraud to cause a company to fail, and the criminal seldom makes restitution or goes to jail. In my years of experience as a CPA and certified internal auditor, I have...

Breaking the barrier.(Bottom Line)
March 1, 2004... After years of confusion, Bill Medina of Medina Construction finally found a simple formula to calculate his company's break even point--the point when gross margin equals overhead. Break even sales = Overhead dollars/Gross margin...

Divorce protection.(Tax Tips)
March 1, 2004... Divorce is terrible, but its financial consequences can be minimized. The best time to prepare, financially, is before you are married. If you own a business, it is a good idea to draw up a prenuptial agreement. The binding contract says...

In with the older crowd.(Sales + Marketing)
March 1, 2004... Many remodeling clients over age 55 have a medical condition that the project needs to accommodate or are anticipating old-age infirmities that they want to plan for. In these situations, contractors have advantages over occupational therapists...

Finding gold in tracking leads ... from 1998.(Sales + Marketing)
March 1, 2004... How do you halve lead costs? Tom Poulin of Poulin Design Remodeling, Albuquerque, N.M., has done that since hiring lead manager Joe Turowsky six years ago. Lead costs at his $4 million-a-year company have dropped to 3% of sales, from 6%. ...

Look good: present your best.(Sales + Marketing)
March 1, 2004... At some point in the sales dance, you have to present yourself. A presentation portfolio, done well, can help bring the meeting to a positive close. Look professional. You're not well served by photocopies and Polaroids. Once you determine...

Making one-leggers walk.(Sales School 101)
March 1, 2004... What happened: In my largest job to date, I dealt solely with the wife, a repeat customer. We'd meet, she'd talk with her husband, and then she'd tell me their decision. What I learned: Most salespeople won't go on one-leggers, but I'll go...

Roll the tape.(Field Notes)
March 1, 2004... Remodeler Tim Cross used to video-tape at the beginning of his remodeling jobs. The president of Merrick Construction, in Rumson, N.J., came up with the idea when he was doing insurance restoration work. "For those jobs, we had to take the...

Leading the way.(Field Notes)
March 1, 2004... Dale Nikula, president of Encore Construction Co., knew that he wanted to grow his $1.2 million company into something much larger. But he was afraid that expansion might mean losing the high level of customer contact he felt was essential to...

Jobsite paperwork, Part 3: delivery receipts.(Field Notes)
March 1, 2004... The bookkeeper needs accurate and timely receipts from the jobsite for several reasons. First, receipts indicate the product arrived on the site, so the supplier can be paid. Second, the cost coding on the receipt provides information on how...

Dormer monitor.(By Design)
March 1, 2004... Dormers can add greatly to the exterior aesthetics of a house, as well as provide more space inside. But because of their prominence, poorly designed dormers can mar an otherwise pleasing facade. To design dormers the right way, follow...

Woodwright[R] double-hung windows.(Andersen[R] New Product Spotlight)
March 1, 2004... The new Andersen[R] Woodwright[R] double-hung window delivers traditional styling that incorporates the latest technology and performance benefits. As part of the popular Andersen 400 Series product line, the Woodwright window emulates...

Two-story addition turns ordinary saltbox into extraordinary showcase.(Before & After)
March 1, 2004... Windows Make A Winning Statement: A contemporary, non-traditional, or hollow vinyl window would not match the age and style of the home. The Andersen[R] Woodwright[R] double-hung seemed the perfect fit, tying together the new addition with...

Andersen remodeling market news.(Before & After)
March 1, 2004... NEW Andersen Web Site For Remodelers This new web site is loaded with useful information, resources and tools! www.andersenwindews.com/remodelers * "First to Know" Andersen[R] product news to help you stay out in front of your...

Window design & installation tips from the journal of light construction: full-frame window replacement.(Before & After)
March 1, 2004... To measure the rough opening of a window for full-frame window replacement... a) pull the old interior casing off. Or... b) drill a hole in the old window through the jams and sill, insert a wire into the hole until it stops, measure...

Knockout punch.(Tech@Work)
March 1, 2004... CAD may be an indispensible tool for design/build remodelers, but setting up and running most high-end CAD software is a costly and complex endeavor. Punch! Software's latest release, Architectural Series 3000, offers an alternative tot...

Test your TQ.(Tech@Work)
March 1, 2004... Good software and hardware often turns into "shelfware" because you bought it to address the wrong problem, or because your company just wasn't ready for it. I call a remodeler's potential to successfully use technology his...

Letter of intent.(Good Form)
March 1, 2004... Like many contractors, Rick Pratt is careful to not count his chickens before they've hatched. He's devised a paper trail to keep it all straight. "I won't put someone on the schedule until they pay me and sign paperwork," says the owner...

Profile: Phil and Tom Callen.(Close Up)
March 1, 2004... It's not always easy for brothers to agree, nor is it for co-owners of a remodeling company. Tom and Phil Callen are both, and they're well aware of the challenges their situation engenders. That's not to say they don't get along. The two,...

Ellen Cheever, CKD, ASID.(Second Look)
March 1, 2004... When Ellen Cheever was named to the Big50 in 1987, she had just left her kitchen and bath design practice to join Whirlpool Corp., as a marketing manager for their St. Charles line of cabinets. A few years later, she left and signed on with...

Should the company owner sell?(Face Off)
March 1, 2004... "No salesperson has the passion and inner feelings of the one who worries about paying bills and keeping everyone busy." --Terry Bennett NO ONE SELLS LIKE THE OWNER Owners should sell. How much they actually sell depends on their...

Whine tasting: what is the complaint you hear most often from your clients? How have you resolved it?(Q+A)
March 1, 2004... JIM KLAPPA JDJ Builders, Greenfield, Wis. Big50 1999 We do not seem to have a single item that stands out as the number one complaint. And none seem to reoccur from year to year. Some examples, though, would be the project took...

Get to know acrylic: easy cleaning and durability make homeowners happy and increase referrals, making more and more contractors want to ...(Special Advertising Section)(Advertisement)
March 1, 2004... How do contractors please today's customers and increase referrals? When it comes to the bathroom, more and more, the answer is acrylic. Recent research identifies two key items that can make homeowners most happy: First, bathroom surfaces...

Less is more: by adding just a 155-square-foot addition, remodeler Bob Fleming pieced together an efficient remodel that fits a Charleston family just right.(Before+After)
March 1, 2004... When remodeler Bob Fleming was a child, he liked jigsaw puzzles. To challenge himself, he would dump the pieces of three or four puzzles together and do them all at the same time. "Physical space is easy for me to visualize," he says. That...

Making change: the best time to form a line of defense against uncertainty is before it has occurred.
March 1, 2004... Change is constant, but rarely convenient. And remodelers admit they spend too much time putting out fires ignited by change and not enough time devising solutions to insulate their companies from getting burned again. Indeed, the rapid pace of...

Markup madness: too many remodelers are miscalculating their prices and losing serious money because of it.
March 1, 2004... In his book Professional Remodeling Management, REMODELING contributor Walt Stoeppelwerth wrote that the Number One cause for failure for remodelers is "not knowing the true economics of the business." He penned those words nearly 20 years ago,...

Changing faces: full-service remodelers have been slow to hire foreign-born workers. But a steady stream of willing hands could help them see beyond their borders.(Cover Story)
March 1, 2004... Decades past, Americans proudly declared this "a nation of immigrants." We celebrated the idea of the United States as a Melting Pot, a nation capable of welcoming and assimilating just about from anywhere who sought refuge or opportunity here....

2004 KBIS show product spotlight.(Special Advertising Section)(Advertisement)
March 1, 2004... K*BIS is the world's largest international trade event dedicated to the kitchen and bath industry. The 2004 show will bring together dealers, designers, distributors, retailers, home centers and many other high-quality kitchen and bath...

Foreign affairs: our panel finds the industry receptive to immigrant labor.(Reader Panel)
March 1, 2004... Since 1990, new immigrants have entered the American work force in unprecedented numbers and altered its makeup as never before. In few industries is the change more apparent than construction. Confronted with a shortage of American workers,...

Tile one on: glass tile brings excitement to kitchens and baths--along with exacting installation and a higher price tag.(Design Clinic)
March 1, 2004... The range of color and styles of glass tile are catching the eye of designers and their clients. More manufacturers are offering extensive lines of large tiles and mosaics, which are finding their way into kitchens, baths, and even the living...

Cosentino USA.(KBIS Preview)
March 1, 2004... Muro tile backsplashes are made up of 4-inch-square tiles of quartz surfacing with a demi-bullnose edge grouped in various color combinations on a mesh backing. The tiles can also be used for shower wall installations. The backsplashes are...

Dacor.(KBIS Preview)
March 1, 2004... The Epicure 36-inch Warming Oven can hold up to 12 appetizer plates, six dinner plates, or three oversized serving platters. An adjustable moist/crisp slide controls humidity levels while a four-hour timer control provides continuous healing....

Progress Lighting.(KBIS Preview)
March 1, 2004... New to the Hide-A-Lite undercabinet lighting collection, Hide-A-Lite X undercabinet lights feature xenon bulbs that are rated for 10,000-hour lamp life and offer low heat. The fixtures have a peel-and-stick attachment and come with a...

Samsung Staron.(KBIS Preview)
March 1, 2004... Two color groups have been added to the Staron line of solid surfacing: Talus and Quarry. Exhibiting translucent qualities, the Talus colors combine crystal flecks with color particulates and come in Oyster, Sandbar, and Luna. Featuring large...

Delta.(KBIS Preview)
March 1, 2004... Faucets and accessories from the Michael Graves collection come in three finishes. Kitchen products include deck-mount, high-rise, and bar/prep faucets, while bath fixtures include two-handle centerset, mini-widespread, and widespread lavatory...

Fisher & Paykel.(KBIS Preview)
March 1, 2004... The SmartLoad top-loading clothes dryer's drum tumbles forward and reverse, in a reverse-tumble drying action, to reduce creasing and tangling and improve the evenness of drying. The full-size dryer has five cycles, including wrinkle guard,...

Marvel.(KBIS Preview)
March 1, 2004... Monochromatic door frames, handles, hinges, plates, screws, and interiors in the Luxury Series Wine Grotto Wine Cellars and Luxury Series Beverage and Wine Refrigerators give the appliances a more seamless appearance. The undercounter wine...

Wellborn Cabinet.(KBIS Preview)
March 1, 2004... The Savannah cabinet door now comes in cherry. Available in four standard and two specialty finishes, the door's puffy miter design, decorative half turnings, acanthus and dentil inset moldings, and acanthus corbels offer greater refinement in...

Cambria.(KBIS Preview)
March 1, 2004... A line of four granite-like colors offers multi-dimensional color and depth in Cambria quartz. Victoria, Park Gate, Kensington, and Windsor blend colors and shades to create a naturally varying quartz surface. The quartz is nonporous and does...

Eljer.(KBIS Preview)
March 1, 2004... Constructed with a core of EnduroCast, the Gibraltar tub weighs only 89 pounds, making it a good alternative to cast iron tubs, the maker says. Dual stabilizing bars under the tub eliminate the need for leveling, and a 40-degree Luxury Lumbar...

Aga.(KBIS Preview)
March 1, 2004... Constructed of enameled steel, the Aga Legacy dual-fuel range has a chunky form and retro spiral handles and features six gas burners ranging from 5,000 to 15,000 BTUs. Two high powered wok burners are included. The appliance also has one...

Deep clean: most remodelers and homeowners are unaware that central vacuums can be fairly easily retrofitted into existing homes.(Trends)
March 1, 2004... Central vacuums have been around since the 1850s and have evolved into ever-more-efficient household appliances. The systems saw their most drastic improvements in motor power and filtration during the 1990s, and many homeowners have since come...

Flickering flames.(Trends)
March 1, 2004... The majority Of homeowners say they prefer the heat, scent, and sound of a wood fire, but many choose to replace their wood-burning fireplaces when remodeling. Gas fireplaces are still the reigning choice, but electric fireplaces are gaining...

Sleek surfaces.(Trends)
March 1, 2004... For several years now, solid surfacing has been the material of choice for homeowners looking to upgrade their kitchen and bathroom countertops. While solid surfacing entered the market as an upscale product with a matching upscale price, those...

Wheel away.(Reader's Choice)
March 1, 2004... Acting as a general contractor for the Disaster Response Corps after Hurricane Isabel in September, David Powers found his Lufkin Measuring Wheel indispensable. The small-diameter model he uses has a telescoping handle, meaning Powers doesn't...

Window of time.(Reader's Choice)
March 1, 2004... Kevin Ahern's company has been using vinyl windows from Simonton Windows for several years, but in the past two, he's come to use them with increasing frequency. The manufacturer's turnaround time of one week helps Litchfield Builders keep a...

Clean breeze.(Reader's Choice)
March 1, 2004... Remodeling generates a lot of dust, so Chip Jennings uses negative air machines to contain and filter dust. "They're not inexpensive, and they're big and bulky, but they work real well," Jennings says. The HEPAAIRE negative air machine he uses,...

Cold-weather tool tips: a contractor's guide to winter work.(On The Job)
March 1, 2004... I usually try to plan my work according to the weather; I like working outside when it's sunny and warm and inside when it's cold. But I live and work in a cold climate, so my plan usually doesn't pan out. Here in South Dakota, temperatures may...

Doors: a profusion of wood species, architectural panel styles, and glass panels dress up lackluster interior doors and make for some grand openings.(In Focus)
March 1, 2004... Homeowners trying to differentiate their homes are on the lookout for interior fixtures that are not only functional but also are an extension of the home's decor. Interior doors are now playing a larger part in adorning inside spaces and...

Simpson Door.(In Focus)
March 1, 2004... Redi-Prime Shaker style interior doors feature flat rectangular panels with square sticking and come factory-primed, ready for painting. The doors are available in a variety of panel door and bifold configurations and in standard widths from 1...

Beveled Glass Works.(In Focus)
March 1, 2004... The Rustic Door line features prefinished and prehung doors handcrafted in nearly any species of wood. With a variety of furniture-grade finishes, there are more than 58 possible combinations of woods and stains. The door line can also be...

Andersen Windows.(In Focus)
March 1, 2004... Three hardware collections designed to complement the maker's 200 and 400 Series patio doors have been added. The Metro Collection includes Tribeca and Anvers. The Estate Collection features Newbury, Whitmore, and Covington. The Andiron...

Therma-Tru.(In Focus)
March 1, 2004... Constructed of pultruded fiberglass with tempered low-E glass and double weather stripping, the Slim-Line Patio Door System combines thermal performance with low-maintenance qualities. The patio doors are available in one-, two-, three-, and...

CraftMaster Door Designs.(In Focus)
March 1, 2004... CraftMaster Caiman Smooth doors feature a two-panel design and come in passage and bifold configurations. Standard 6-foot, 8-inch and 8-foot heights are available. The doors are manufactured from high-density molded fiberboard and will resist...

Jeld-Wen.(In Focus)
March 1, 2004... IWP Sculpted Glass doors, featuring three-dimensional artistic glass panels, are available in a wide variety of wood species. The doors come in six styles: Vineyard, Harvest, Art Deco, Ocean Waves, Mediterranean, and Game Room. The doors are...

Masonite.(In Focus)
March 1, 2004... The Palazzo Series of interior doors features raised moldings and high-definition panel profiles in two designs: Bellagio with two arched panels and Capri with two squared panels. The company's Premcor door core and a wood frame lend the weight...

Signamark.(In Focus)
March 1, 2004... Master Suite doors featuring art glass panels are available in a wide range of styles, sizes, and configurations to high-light the entrance to a home's master bedroom. Decorative glass options include beveled or grooved glass and sandblasted,...

Stanley Door Systems.(In Focus)
March 1, 2004... The Decorative Collection of Mirror Doors comes in four embellished styles: Silver Leaf, Brushstroke, Ornamental Wood, and Floral Leaf. All styles feature 3-inch-wide frames and 3.0 millimeter safety-backed mirror glass. The doors come in 4-,...

Medeco.(Locksets & Hardware)
March 1, 2004... Constructed of solid brass and featuring the maker's Maxum deadbolt, the Cambria lever set has an ornate one-piece design and comes in Satin Nickel, Oil-Robbed Bronze, and Anti-Tarnish PVD Brass. A dummy lever set is also available....

Architectural Products by Outwater.(Locksets & Hardware)
March 1, 2004... The Vintage Hardware line is manufactured of solid forged brass or solid forged iron, depending on the style, and the line includes door pulls, push plates, door latches, hinges, knockers, mail slots, door stops, door knobs, and back plates....

Ultra Hardware.(Locksets & Hardware)
March 1, 2004... A variety of lockset styles, from tulip- and ball-knob to decorative scroll levers in entry, privacy, passage, and combination sets feature all-metal latches for security and durability and polished latch faces and strike plates. A wide range...

Amerock.(Locksets & Hardware)
March 1, 2004... Featuring a tooled leaf pattern surrounded by a raised armor framing, knobs and pulls in the Ambrosia Collection's Garden Armor design are precision cast and finished in two pieces, then fused to achieve two-toned finishes in Pewter and Satin...

Baldwin Hardware.(Locksets & Hardware)
March 1, 2004... The maker has introduced two suites in contemporary and traditional styles: Melon and Dominion. The Melon suite (shown) features knobs, as well as cup and spindle pulls, with modern profiles available in satin chrome, polished chrome, polished...

Providence Artworks.(Locksets & Hardware)
March 1, 2004... Constructed of solid stainless steel and designed to complement high-end stainless steel appliances, the Absolute Zero Collection's Knull cabinet hardware combines the appearance and operation of both a pull and a knob. Mounted with a single...

Soko.(Locksets & Hardware)
March 1, 2004... Hand-cast of stainless or satin stainless steel, as well as bronze, the Hearst Castle Collection of decorative hardware reflects the designs of the seaside estate of William Randolph Hearst, the maker says. Grand Entry Door Pulls and Back...

Valli & Valli.(Locksets & Hardware)
March 1, 2004... Refined and reproduced from traditional designs in the company's archives, the Ornate Collection of door hardware features scrolls and floral motifs on door levers and knobs. Constructed of solid brass, the levers and knobs are available in...

Kwikset.(Locksets & Hardware)
March 1, 2004... The auburn-tinged Venetian Bronze finish is handcrafted to reveal copper highlights along the hardware's edges and comers, the maker says. Offering the appearance of aged metal, the finish carries a 10-year warranty and is now available on the...

Omnia.(Locksets & Hardware)
March 1, 2004... Decorative Stainless Steel and Max Steel latch sets and locksets provide contemporary and traditional styles to coordinate with a variety of decors. Stainless Steel lever latch sets offer a modern, sophisticated look, says the maker, and are...

Ridge Tool Company.(Hand Tools)
March 1, 2004... Three RapidGrip wrench sizes have been added to the maker's line of heavy-duty, self-adjusting pipe wrenches. Designed for one-handed operation, the wrenches feature a rapid ratcheting action, a patented tooth de sign, and a spring-loaded hook...