Remodeling articles from March 2005

Remodeling archives from March 2005

Different worlds.(ViewPoint: First Word)
March 1, 2005... Beginning in the 1990s, the tendency in new construction and in the distribution chain that supplies it has been toward fewer companies controlling a larger and larger share of the market. Is a similar consolidation in store for the remodeling...

Reality TV?(ViewPoint: Call Back)
March 1, 2005... I found the column on "remodeling porn" entertaining, and I do agree with some of Jonathan Ward's philosophies. However, I see a positive side to the growing number of the new breed of remodeling shows. I'm witnessing a change in the public...

Correction.(Correction Notice)
March 1, 2005... In "Turning Pride Into Marketing," (January 2005, page 54) we incorrectly identified the location of Blue Ridge Home Improvement as Seattle rather than Blacksburg, Va. We regret the error.

The case for franchising.(ViewPoint: News+Notes)
March 1, 2005... Some six years after selling its first franchise, Case Handyman Services has expanded rapidly, with 66 partners nationwide. Now, its sister company, Case Design/Remodeling, a Bethesda, Md.-based firm that served the Washington, D.C....

Selling more seniors on The Home Depot.(ViewPoint: News+Notes)
March 1, 2005... It's a marriage of giants, but are remodelers invited to the wedding? A "strategic alliance" between The Home Depot, the world's largest home improvement retailer, and AARP, the lobbying powerhouse for Americans age 50 and over, kicked off in...

Record year for existing home sales.(ViewPoint: Market Watch)
March 1, 2005... For the fourth consecutive year, sales of existing single-family homes have hit an all-time high. According to data from the National Association of Realtors (NAR), approximately 6,675,000 units were sold in 2004, up 9.4% from 2003. ...

Taking stock.(LOCAL FORECAST)
March 1, 2005... Every day, Tom Kelly takes a moment to log on to the New York Times Web site to see how the stock market did the previous day. But he's not there to check out his own portfolio; the head of Neil Kelly Co. says he doesn't play the market. But...

Figure this.(ViewPoint: Market Watch)
March 1, 2005... 672,805,000 Amount, in board feet, of hardwood flooring shipped in 2004, the highest level since 1966 Source: NOFMA 5 million+ The number of people who searched online for professional tradesman to work on their homes ...

The new workforce: more and more builders are using immigrant subcontractors to build homes. Will the trend cross over to remodelers?(Commentary)
March 1, 2005... In the past decade or so, almost all of the largest new home builders, and many mid-sized and small companies, have turned to subcontractors to assemble every part of the homes they build. One reason is that as suitable land becomes more scarce...

Gaining focus: attention deficit disorder isn't just for kids anymore. Make sure you don't bring it upon yourself.(Commentary)
March 1, 2005... Betty, the remodeler's assistant, whispered in my ear, "He just can't stay with anything. I've been trying to get him to finish some estimates that might turn into jobs but he doesn't settle down and do them?" Betty's assessment fit well with...

Meetings are your job: if you work at it, you can make every meeting count.(Commentary)
March 1, 2005... Have you ever felt that if you had to preside over one more staff meeting you would scream? if so, you're not alone. And if you feel that way about running the meeting, imagine how your team feels about sitting through it. Until about 10...

License to build: rigorous licensing and certification is good for contractors and consumers.(Commentary)
March 1, 2005... Our business is weird, seriously weird, says Bill Murray of himself and his cohorts who joined the Army in the movie Stripes. He could have been speaking of the remodeling business. What are the barriers to entering this industry? Not many,...

Out of the shadow.(Your Business: Ways+Means)
March 1, 2005... There are more than 800,000 remodeling businesses in the United States; nearly 50,000 do over $1 million in yearly sales. But it's a market that manufacturers often miss. So you may have to go to the mountain to get discounts. That's the...

Fulfilling filing.(Your Business: Ways+Means)
March 1, 2005... Anyone can clean up their office," says Anne McGurty of Strategize and Organize in Denver, "but the key to getting organized is having a process to retrieve things quickly." One of McGurty's clients, a two-person remodeling firm, was being...

Winning the bidding war.(Your Business: Ways+Means)
March 1, 2005... Nobody likes bidding for jobs, but one northern New Jersey remodeler who prefers to remain anonymous has a method that helps him maintain some control. For the past five years he's kept a log of competitors' bids. It started with a $1.3...

By law: outside forces, escalation clauses.(Your Business: Ways+Means)
March 1, 2005... In the early clays of our legal system, a contract was considered an absolute promise to perform. No excuses were acceptable, regardless of war, earthquakes, labor problems (like strikes), or other such catastrophes beyond one's control. Fast...

The formal side of communication: systems ease the flow of information.(People+Skills)
March 1, 2005... There are really two sides to communication: First is the interpersonal side of communication, which includes active listening, body language, and eye contact. We discussed those last month. The other side of communication is the system created...

When representatives of Mark Four presentations, they always include program as part of the presentation.(GE Consumer Finance: Retail Sales Finance)(Advertisement)
March 1, 2005... "Our people hove learned that PROJECTLINE con really help button up the sole," said Marc Leen, Vice-President and Legal Officer of the Fairfield, NJ, company. "The biggest question for o customer is 'Can I afford this project,' and with...

Estimating templates for QuickBooks.(Your Business: Bottom Line)
March 1, 2005... If your estimating software can't export to QuickBooks or doesn't produce what you want after exporting to QuickBooks, you can still enter the data by hand. It's not as hard as it might seem. First, you'll need to figure out which...

Learning about personal finance.(Your Business: Bottom Line)
March 1, 2005... As part of their benefits package at Crane Builders, owner David Crane pays for a personal finance seminar for his employees. It helps them understand and plan their own finances, and it makes them more sensitive to the Nashville, Tenn.--based...

Easy living.(Your Business: Sales+Marketing)
March 1, 2005... Active adult communities may not register on most remodelers' radar screens, but they should. Boasting fitness centers, open floor plans, and other amenities that appeal to affluent, socially active homeowners, these age-restricted communities...

Oh, Those folks!(Your Business: Sales+Marketing)
March 1, 2005... The Artisans Group was down to its last $1,000 when co-owners Chris McDonald and Randy Foster bet the farm, so to speak, on a regular advertising spot in the local newspaper. Three years later, that high-stakes gamble has led to $350,000 in...

A "brand" new Web site.(Your Business: Sales+Marketing)
March 1, 2005... What aspects of your remodeling business put it in a class of its own? By "branding" them and featuring them prominently on your Web site--and then using other marketing tools to drive traffic there--you'll help your company shine in a...

Disposal database.(Your Business: Field Notes)
March 1, 2005... The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) recently updated its online Construction Waste Management Database to assist the building industry in reducing construction and demolition waste. To assist end-users, the database has been improved...

Temporary state.(Your Business: Field Notes)
March 1, 2005... Remodeler Scott Chatel uses a temporary agency to provide carpenters during peak seasons. "It's a helpful way of being able to staff during peak times. It's good to bring someone on for a week and let them go--there is no long term commitment,"...

Documentation.(Your Business: Field Notes)
March 1, 2005... Complete documentation is essential for the success of the lead carpenter system. The salesperson or owner does not have everyday contact with the jobsite, so the lead carpenter is responsible for making decisions. For a lead to make...

Shutter beauty.(Your Business: By Design)
March 1, 2005... Shutters have a great historical tradition. They were used for safety and to keep out bad weather. Today shutters have become a symbol of a quaint cottage or are used simply to dress up a house. By remembering shutters' original purpose, you...

Tablet? Sure.(Your Business: Tech@Work)
March 1, 2005... Jeff Rainey of Home Equity Builders could hear water-dripping onto the main floor of a house where a plumbing subcontractor had been installing a shower liner. The plumber had not yet arrived. Rainey took digital photos of the water coming down...

Laptop, tablet, SmartPhone, or PDA?(Your Business: Tech@Work)
March 1, 2005... Thinking about some mobile technology for spring? Here's my short take on your choices. Laptop PCs have come down so much in price that you can pick up a usable brand new (but plain-vanilla) model for less than $700. For that price, no way...

Short-order change order.(Your Business: Good Form)
March 1, 2005... Most remodeling projects of any size inevitably go through some adjustments in terms of scope of work. Typically, the process involves a series of phone calls among the homeowner, lead carpenter, and company office, with the end result being a...

Profile: Jake Schloegel.(Big 50: Close Up)
March 1, 2005... The bulging online "blogosphere" is stuffed with political blogs and gossip blogs, academic blogs and travel blogs. But remodeling blogs? At www .remodelagain.com/blogger .html, in the first known blog of its kind, clients and staff of...

Second look: Tony Collins.(Big 50: Close Up)
March 1, 2005... Custom Design Works has a similar sales volume and a similar number of employees as when owner Tony Collins was named Big50 in 1994. However, the remodeler has adjusted his advertising and systems to serve the quality-conscious homeowners of...

Should the initial contact take place in your office or the clients' house?(Big 50: Face Off)
March 1, 2005... NATURAL HABITAT I prefer to have the first meeting with clients in their home. I want them to be in their environment so I can get to know them and their house. The feeling I want to convey is that I understand them, their home, and their...

Trial periods: what's your probation period for new employees?(Q+A)
March 1, 2005... PAUL ERIC MORSE, CR Morse Constructions Somerville, Mass. Big50 2003 We have a 30-day, "see if there is a fit" period. During that month, both the company and the employee take the time to make sure expectations are being...

2004 Cost of Doing Business survey.
March 1, 2005... The National Association of Home Builders conducted the Cost of Doing Business survey of remodelers in September 2004 to provide a detailed picture of the financial performance of remodeling companies. The survey questionnaire was mailed to a...

Franchise fundamentals: is purchasing a franchise a viable option for your company? Should it be?
March 1, 2005... A residential construction-related franchise can be a great investment--for the right firm or manager. However, the price remodelers have to pay is more than just the purchase cost--it includes significant capital to buy the territory and set...

Landing the Big One: taking a shot at a larger project should be full of challenges but not surprises.(Cover Story)
March 1, 2005... Cindy and Joe Roeser had been in business for 15 years and had built a solid reputation in St. Louis. Their average job size was around $100,000, and they'd handled a few $250,000 jobs successfully. Then, a previous client bought a house that...

Franchise rights.(Remodeling: Reader Panel)
March 1, 2005... Though most remodelers do not own construction-related franchises. 33% of our respondents have considered purchasing one. Of the owners that purchased a franchise, 70% still own their original company and 67% manage both companies themselves....

Make mine a Manhattan: this small-kitchen expert recommends opening tiny kitchens and providing creative storage.(Kitchen+Bath: Design Clinic)
March 1, 2005... When it comes to Manhattan apartments, the city's famous high style is often crammed into a small space. Jacob Kindler's designs of tiny Manhattan apartment kitchens are more complicated due to the fact that he prefers to use full-sized...

Appliance smarts: adding appliance sales to a kitchen and bath showroom provides an additional profit center and keeps customers coming back.(Kitchen+Bath: Management)
March 1, 2005... Callier & Thompson Kitchens Baths and Appliances has always sold appliances with their kitchen designs. But when owners Gary Callier, Thompson Price, and David Callier wanted to increase revenue, they analyzed this division and found it...

Range hoods & ventilation.(Kitchen+Bath: Spec Book)
March 1, 2005... A gleaming, stainless steel range hood can be a stunning centerpiece in a luxury kitchen High-end ventilation hoods account for 40%, of total revenue in the hood industry, according to numbers from Zephyr Ventilation. Companies are showcasing...

Range hoods & ventilation.
March 1, 2005... A gleaming, stainless steel range hood can be a stunning centerpiece in a luxury kitchen. High-end ventilation hoods account for 40% of total revenue in the hood industry, according to numbers from Zephyr Ventilation. Companies are show-casing...

Non-asphalt jungles.(Products: Trends)
March 1, 2005... Seen mostly in commercial applications now, "green" roofing systems have the potential to revolutionize residential roofing. Cities like Seattle and Chicago are starting to specify the systems, which create rooftop vegetation, on city- and...

Storage time.(Products: Trends)
March 1, 2005... Organization gurus promise that getting rid of clutter is the secret to a happier, healthier life. They're selling books on Oprah and cleaning out guest rooms on The Learning Channel's Clean Sweep. It seems that a yard sale and a new set of...

One man's trash.(Products: Trends)
March 1, 2005... Builders and remodelers have been environmentally conscious for years now, mostly with energy-saving exterior building products or more efficient appliances. Recycled products--those made from discarded materials--have been in and out of vogue,...

Doors: featuring high design and low maintenance, fiberglass doors make for great entries.(Products: In Focus)
March 1, 2005... The Craftsman style is the look of the moment in doors. More than just a trend, the clean lines and solid elegance of the Arts and Crafts era make it a versatile style, just as at home in rustic suburban settings as it is in the city. And the...

Orbit Manufacturing Co.(HVAC)
March 1, 2005... The Nexans radiant heating cable is a durable, economical choice for interior floor warming and space beating and exterior snow and ice melting applications, the maker says. Its patented hidden welded splice feature has splice points marked to...

SunTouch.(HVAC)
March 1, 2005... Thermostats continue to get more elegant with the Programmable FloorStat. Available in 120vac and 240vac, the thermostat is easy to install and program, according to the maker, and has built-in fault protection with no need for a separate GFCI....

Mitsubishi.(HVAC)
March 1, 2005... Three new models have been added to the Mr. Slim line of split-ductless air conditioning and heating systems. The MSZ09UN, MSZ12UN, and MXZ30TN are ideal for additions, sunrooms, and basements, according to the maker, because they allow users...

Comfortmaker.(HVAC)
March 1, 2005... The Performance 12 Series air conditioners' offer 12 SEER efficiency. A coated inlet grille is corrosion-resistant and provides added protection for the condenser fins; a triple-step paint process provides weather-resistance. The top discharge...

Heil.(HVAC)
March 1, 2005... The 35-inch-tall PS80 gas furnace packs an energy-efficient punch into its compact frame. The line features multipoise models that can be installed in upflow, downflow, or horizontal left or right configuration without the need for an accessory...

A.O. Smith Water Products.(HVAC)
March 1, 2005... Designed for installation with the ProMax Side Loop residential gas water heater, the ProMax Circulating Loop Heat Exchanger provides an isolated source of hot water for radiant floor heating, Ian coil heating, hydronic air handling units, and...

Nuheat.(HVAC)
March 1, 2005... The MatComfort 82F is the only programmable thermostat specifically designed to meet the requirements of warming engineered wood and laminate surfaces, the maker says. The Energy Star qualified thermostat ensures that the floor is kept at or...

SunStar.(HVAC)
March 1, 2005... The Corcho line of vent-free gas room heaters now offers a 10-year limited warranty. Each model has an Oxygen Detection Safety Pilot, which shuts off the gas supply if oxygen in the room falls below 18%, and a Flame Failure Safety Device, which...

Wirsbo.(HVAC)
March 1, 2005... Assuring hot water ill seconds, the D'MAND hot water delivery system uses a pump to quickly deliver hot water to the desired plumbing fixture. Its structured plumbing layout uses the company's Aquapex system of PEX tubing in a loop that starts...

Kwikset.(Locksets & Hardware)
March 1, 2005... The ANSI Grade 2-rated 6-Way Steel Latch is now included on the company's entire line of entryway, privacy, and passage knobs, levers, and handlesets. The latch, one-piece drive-in collar, and chassis are constructed of steel. The latch comes...

Weiser Lock.(Locksets & Hardware)
March 1, 2005... The Carlisle knob set and the Monterey leverset have been added to the company's Elements Series. The oval Carlisle knob (shown) blends well with modern or traditional decors. Both styles are available in five Decorator Finishes. 800.677.5625....

Vanguard Plastics.(Locksets & Hardware)
March 1, 2005... The 2-Point Mortise Lock for patio sliding doors is made from hardened steel components. It doesn't require precise door frame alignment, making it easier to install, and it allows for .3 inch of lock height adjustment. The lock exceeds AAMA...

Valli & Valli.(Locksets & Hardware)
March 1, 2005... Celebrated architect Frank O. Gehry designed two new door levers for the Italian manufacturer. The stainless steel Arrowhead Series (shown) is available in satin and polished finishes and includes a door handle on rosette, pull handle, window...

Baldwin Hardware.(Locksets & Hardware)
March 1, 2005... New to the Lafayette Collection, the Melbourne, New Orleans, and Roanoke handleset designs offer French Country, Tudor, Colonial, and Spanish Colonial styles. The units include a birdcage-style handle that has the look and feel of hand-wrought...

All business is show business.(Remodeling Leadership Conference: May 19-21, 2005)
March 1, 2005... "Every year I look forward to joining my fellow remodelers at the Remodeling Leadership Conference. It's a great forum for exchanging ideas and learning tips to help your business." SETTING THE STAGE FOR THE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE Every...

Doors.(SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION)(Advertisement)
March 1, 2005... Doors may perform a simple function, but their features are anything but simple. Performance and construction are big considerations for doors, especially exterior doors. Manufacturers are applying the latest technology and using better...

Permit drivers: one of the places slippage goes unnoticed is in the uncaptured cost of securing permits.(Last Word: Bench Mark)
March 1, 2005... All remodelers are robbery victims. The thief is slippage, which is the amount your profit falls short of plan. The root causes of slippage are often simple--but that doesn't mean they're easy to find. And while some sources, like inconsistent...