Remodeling articles from May 2006

Remodeling archives from May 2006

Taking it to the top.(ViewPoint: FirstWord)
May 1, 2006... As often as we write in these pages about the importance of creating and following a mission statement, some of you may wonder if we in the editorial department practice what we preach. We do. Here at REMODELING, our mission is "to inform,...

Socialized medicine no solution.(ViewPoint: CallBack)
May 1, 2006... I disagree with April's editorial ("A Healthy System," p. 17). Sal Alfano should move to Canada and discover just how great socialized medicine is. Canadians have a longer life expectancy because of the make-up of their population, not their...

Lead paint deadline extended.(ViewPoint: CallBack)
May 1, 2006... The EPA has extended the comment period for the proposed "Lead Renovation, Repair, and Painting Program" rule (March issue, p. 25). Comments will now be accepted via the EPA Web site through May 25.

Corrections.(Correction notice)
May 1, 2006... In the April Trends department (p. 144), a photo credit was inadvertently left out of the "Open Invitation" story. The photo should have been credited to Jackson & McElhaney Architects, Austin, Texas. In the same story, we mistakenly...

Immigration issue heats up.(ViewPoint: News+Notes)
May 1, 2006... On April 10, hundreds of thousands of people representing many different races and ethnicities demonstrated in dozens of cities across the United States. As REMODELING went to press, a nationwide "Day Without Immigrants"--where immigrants were...

Playing with house money.(ViewPoint: MarketWatch)
May 1, 2006... The U.S. housing market has an estimated $20 trillion in assets. The combined value of all the companies traded on the New York Stock Exchange was $13.9 trillion as of January 2006. Last month's launch of a housing futures market, therefore, is...

Figure this.(ViewPoint: MarketWatch)
May 1, 2006... 30% Percentage of men who identified themselves as the primary decision-maker in home improvement projects 25% Percentage of women who identified themselves as the primary decision-maker in home improvement projects 55% ...

Grappling with growth: growth is a journey, not a destination. Think carefully about why, how, and when to begin it.(Commentary)
May 1, 2006... Many years ago, an industry insider told me that no remodeling company would ever grow to more than a million dollars in volume. So much for predictions. Tell me you want to grow your company, and I'll respond by asking: Why? How? When?...

Ten most common sales mistakes: avoiding these common mistakes will go a long way toward boosting your sales performance.(Commentary)
May 1, 2006... Learning takes place in many ways. Most often, we introduce something new or we learn by imitating a best practice, step-by-step. Sometimes, however, we can make the most progress just by learning to avoid mistakes. That's especially tree when...

Seize the day: daily debriefing presents an opportunity to find ways to improve systems.(Commentary)
May 1, 2006... Every mistake is also a learning opportunity. That's why I stress the importance of a daily debriefing for business owners. Whether you spot a huge mistake or it's just business as usual, every day presents an opportunity to find ways to...

Climb any mountain: base your plans on where you want to go, not where you've been.(Commentary)
May 1, 2006... Do you dream of leaving your company to a family member or a trusted employee? Possibly you're interested in selling your company outright, or perhaps you want to establish a company that can run without your everyday attention. If one of these...

HR handoff.(YourBusiness: Ways+Means)
May 1, 2006... When payroll started to become yet another full-time job for Jeanne Duval, co-owner and controller of River Crest Design Build, Annapolis, Md., she decided to outsource the function. Not long after, the $6 million, 33-employee company began...

Quality control.(YourBusiness: Ways+Means)
May 1, 2006... If you assume that it's OK to put a heat register under a window, inevitably your client will say, 'I want to put a big plant right there,'" jokes Chris Withers about the hundreds of moments in a remodeling project when decisions must be made....

By law: lien leverage.(YourBusiness: Ways+Means)
May 1, 2006... Often, those in the construction industry must perform first before they will be paid. In essence, many jobs are done "on credit" with the hope that payment will be received when some or all of the work is completed. American law...

Try a staffing company.(People+Skills)
May 1, 2006... When it came time to hire an office manager, Trish Schroeder, co-owner of Schroeder Design/ Build, Fairfax, Va., was dismayed. Alter being part owner of a successful remodeling company for years, she knew that the process of hiring a...

Profit-sharing plan pays back in employee loyalty.(YourBusiness: BottomLine)
May 1, 2006... Menno S. Martin Contractor Ltd. in St. Jacobs, Ontario, had a profit-sharing plan for years. In 2004, when president Laverne Brubacher went into semi-retirement, he came up with a formula to scale back his salary and distribute more profits...

Figuring comparisons.(YourBusiness: BottomLine)
May 1, 2006... Bill Weidmann of Weidmann & Associates in Alpharetta, Ga., found it hard to compare his company to other companies in his networking group. The group had large and small companies, and comparisons using owner salaries only told part of the...

Green with interest.(YourBusiness: Sales+Marketing)
May 1, 2006... Former remodeler David Johnston anticipated homeowner interest in green remodeling more than a decade ago when he sold his company and began to write and consult about green-building practices. Today, that interest is so intense that he travels...

Workshopping the room.(YourBusiness: Sales+Marketing)
May 1, 2006... When The Home Depot came to town more than a decade ago, Hampton Kitchens struggled briefly before asking the question that revived its business to this day. "We thought, 'What makes us different?'" remembers Max Isley, owner of the Wake...

Rewards for referrals.(YourBusiness: Sales+Marketing)
May 1, 2006... Past clients and referrals give Terry Bennett Builders & Remodelers (TBBR) about half its projects, and "we take nothing for granted," says Mary Bennett, vice president. Here's how the Westlake, Ohio, company keeps its word-of-mouth network...

Money on the table.(SALES SCHOOL 101)
May 1, 2006... THE CHALLENGE How to keep prospects from reeling with shock over the probable cost of their project. THE SOLUTION Discuss budget straight away, suggests Jack Hauber, a sales coach with the Sandier Sales School. On the phone, ask...

Holding subs to task: four strategically timed phone calls keep subcontractors on schedule.(YourBusiness: FieldNotes)
May 1, 2006... Subcontractors are an integral part of the Mark IV team, and their buy-in is essential to our success. * Two weeks out: The superintendent (project manager) calls to schedule the date we would like to see them on site and to explain our...

Longer days, shorter weeks.(YourBusiness: FieldNotes)
May 1, 2006... Summer is a good excuse for contemplating the four-day workweek. Crews will work 10 hours instead of 8, but they'll still have some natural light when they get home. And with school kids on break and vacations in swing, "it's a nice morale...

Lighten the load.(YourBusiness: ByDesign)
May 1, 2006... Selecting lighting can be one of the most difficult aspects of a remodeling project, from the overwhelming number of products available to the difficulties of getting working clients to take the time to go from store to store. Even remodelers...

On time.(YourBusiness: Tech@Work)
May 1, 2006... Frustrated that his field staff weren't always thorough--or honest--in recording their hours, David Adams invested in the Jobclock Time and Attendance System by Exaktime (www.exak time.com). "I thought this would be a good way to keep everybody...

Web site don'ts.(YourBusiness: Tech@Work)
May 1, 2006... Recently I looked for Web site templates for remodelers that I could recommend. I did find a few sources, but they mostly missed the mark. Instead, this month I'm going to tell you what not to do on your Web site. "SKIP INTRO"--FOREVER ...

Design project summary.(YourBusiness: GoodForm)
May 1, 2006... For years, Thomas Buckborough had been looking for ways to add structure to his company's in-house design process. His quest finally bore fruit in the form of this "design project summary" sheet, first shown to him by a member of his peer group...

Take two: when a house gets sold mid-remodel, there's nothing to do but keep working.(Before+After)
May 1, 2006... They could have felt like Sisyphus if they'd let themselves. "There were times when things were very tense," says Michael Menn, architect and principal of Design Construction Concepts, Northbrook, Ill. "The subs were [annoyed], we were being...

Big 50.(Cover story)
May 1, 2006... The Big 50 is about the best of the best: Remodelers who distinguish themselves by their exceptional business acumen, first-rate customer service, and high-quality work. Respected by their peers, recommended by their clients, they stand as...

Breaking through: getting to the next level of growth.
May 1, 2006... For 12 years, Ann Arbor, Mich., remodeler Gary Rochman expertly steered his company along on an even keel. Trained in both architecture and carpentry, he loved the flexibility and control of being able to execute every aspect of a job. A...

Climbing the ladder: creating a career path for field personnel helps companies and employees succeed.
May 1, 2006... Whether you call it a career track or a framework, whether you spell it out in a handbook or tell people during job interviews, you must have a path for field personnel to follow if you want them to grow and take on more responsibility....

Less is more; new toilet technology reduces water usage.(Kitchen+Bath: DesignClinic)
May 1, 2006... The product of intensive, computer-driven engineering, today's low-flow toilet is a far cry from its much-reviled predecessors. Both market and regulatory forces have urged manufacturers forward, with consumers demanding performance and...

Planit fusion: creating stacked moldings: software trainer Nick Ritota offers tips on designing with CAD software.(Kitchen+Bath: Management)
May 1, 2006... One of the hottest trends in kitchen design is the addition of stacked trim to wall cabinets. You can use Planit Fusion software to automatically add this graphic to your designs in a simplified procedure in two layers of the program, and then...

Elkay.(Sinks)
May 1, 2006... Perfect for a kitchen island or preparation area, the Mystic 2812 undermount sink is designed to be the focal point of entertainment gatherings. Available in 48- or 26-inch-long styles, water cascades from the faucet to the drain at the...

Bates and Bates.(Sinks)
May 1, 2006... From the Artistry in Ceramics collection comes the fun colors line of basins, reflecting a new hue in sink products. Five pastel colors are now available for a variety of basin styles and patterns, and each ceramic glaze is created from organic...

Astracast.(Sinks)
May 1, 2006... The fireclay farmhouse sink fuses durability with the warmth of handmade pottery, creating a traditional look. The apron-front sink has a high-gloss glaze and is highly resistant to chipping or scratching because of its firing process....

Oliveri.(Sinks)
May 1, 2006... A single round bowl with European-style drainboard, the model LR521 stainless steel sink is suitable for the kitchen, laundry, or bar, and allows enough room for a dishwasher beneath. The sink's satin-finished, 304-grade stainless steel...

MTI Whirlpools.(Sinks)
May 1, 2006... The Seafoam Green Jentle Jet Laundry Sink combines fashion with function. Three powerful micro-jets, a three-speed control knob that adjusts whirlpool action, and a quiet, 1.0-bhp pump ensure that garments, from delicate to bulky, receive...

The sunny side of roofing callbacks.(Replacement: Roofing)
May 1, 2006... Don't let dark clouds hang over problems. Treat them instead as golden opportunities. "Honestly, I don't mind callbacks," says Robert Criner, owner of Criner Construction based in York, Va. "The trick is in not making them a sore spot...

Durable deck railing.(Replacement: Decks)
May 1, 2006... When the paint begins to fail on a wood balustrade, suddenly the price of polyurethane no longer seems so high. "The only thing as certain as death and taxes is the fact that wood will rot," remarks Eric Borden of ESB Contracting in Toms...

Vantastic: the versatile Dodge Sprinter heads the class of functional work vans.(Products: Trends)
May 1, 2006... There's a lot to be said for work vehicles that really work for you. A recent entrant to the work van market is the Dodge Sprinter (far fight), which rolled out in 2005. Sprinter's three available wheelbases (118, 140, or 158 inches) and up to...

Green machines.(Products: Trends)
May 1, 2006... Because big trucks are among the worst gas-guzzlers, remodelers are feeling the pinch. Fortunately, the latest pickups offer increased fuel efficiency through alternate-fuel or "hybrid" gas/electric engines. In 2005 GM introduced hybrid...

Popular faux: manufactured stone offers unique looks at a low cost and light weight.
May 1, 2006... Manufactured stone is becoming an increasingly popular choice among building pros for exterior and interior applications. "You'd be hard-pressed to find a residential development that doesn't have some sort of stone veneer on it someplace,"...

Panasonic.(High-Tech Tools)
May 1, 2006... The high-resolution 500 NIT LCD display is 250% to 300% brighter than commercial-grade notebooks, the maker says, enabling them to work more efficiently in bright daylight conditions. The display is available in select Panasonic Toughbook...

Ridgid.(High-Tech Tools)
May 1, 2006... Even inexperienced operators can locate remote transmitters, pipes, cables, and utility lines with the improved NaviTrack II line locator, the maker says. The new locator surpasses the original with superior accuracy, a higher-definition LCD...

Stanley.(High-Tech Tools)
May 1, 2006... Measuring distances up to 40 feet with an accuracy of +/- 0.5%, the IntelliMeasure Ultrasonic Estimator allows users to quickly measure interior spaces and calculate square footage and volume. The measurer also has a large, easy-to-read LCD...

Hilti.(High-Tech Tools)
May 1, 2006... Equipped with the company's Smart Power system and Active Torque Control, the new DEG 600-P angle grinder provides unrivaled power and control, the maker says. A multi-finger, two-position switch and slim, easy-to-grip "rat tail" design make...

Ideal Industries.(High-Tech Tools)
May 1, 2006... The 350 Series of digital multimeters accurately measures voltage, resistance, and continuity, and has the added advantage of a built-in non-contact voltage indicator that detects and alerts the user of the presence of a live circuit (80 to 600...

Hitachi.(High-Tech Tools)
May 1, 2006... The new C12LDH 12-inch compound miter saw comes with an LCD display that digitally reads the miter and bevel angles, and is equipped with the company's patented laser marker. The saw's 15-amp motor with 1,950 watts of maximum output power cuts...

Strait-Line Electronic Tools.(High-Tech Tools)
May 1, 2006... The X3 Laser Level has a Micro-Adjust knob that allows the user to adjust the laser line up or down after the level is adhered to the wall, eliminating much of the trial and error in trying to achieve a precise mark or line, the maker says. The...

McGill.(High-Tech Tools)
May 1, 2006... Offering workers reliable protection against electric shocks, the portable in-line triple-tap ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) is 120-volt/15-amp-rated and can be used with up to three power tools. It detects and shuts off dangerous...

Overhead Door.(Garage Doors & Openers)
May 1, 2006... Galvanized steel garage doors from the Renaissance Collection combine the look of custom wood with the value and durability of steel. The doors' Thermacore polyurethane insulation provides an R-value of 12.76, the maker says. Finished in white,...

Clopay.(Garage Doors & Openers)
May 1, 2006... Combining the warmth and character of wood with a traditional panel design, the company's Classic line of raised-panel garage doors is available in cedar, hemlock, and redwood, and can be customized to include handcrafted windows. The versatile...

Real Carriage Door Co.(Garage Doors & Openers)
May 1, 2006... Homeowners no longer need to sacrifice the convenience of automatic door openers for the historic feel of swing-out garage doors. Available in a wide range of panel designs and window configurations, these carriage-house doors automatically...

Chamberlain Group.(Garage Doors & Openers)
May 1, 2006... Operate your automatic garage door opener even in times of power-outage, thanks to the EverCharge Battery Backup System for the company's Liftmaster Estate Series garage door openers. The battery provides power for up to 20 full cycles over a...

Taylor.(Garage Doors & Openers)
May 1, 2006... With the introduction of its Country Estates Collection, the company offers its own unique take on the familiar carriage-house door. These galvanized steel doors provide the classic look of wood carriage-house doors without the maintenance...

BioBased insulation.(Insulation)
May 1, 2006... Derived from American soy oil, BioBased 501 spray foam insulation is installed in liquid form and, the maker says, expands to 100 times its original size in seconds. It has a Class 1 fire rating, does not support mold growth, will not shrink,...

GreenSeal.(Insulation)
May 1, 2006... Sealection 500 is a nontoxic spray foam insulation that has a Class 1 fire rating and reduces heating and cooling costs by as much as 50%, the maker says. The product also limits airborne noise and dust, improving indoor air quality....

Sherwin-Williams.(Insulation)
May 1, 2006... E-Barrier radiant barrier coating contains microscopic reflective particles that are said to reduce radiant energy transfer in and out of homes. When applied to the underside of an uncoated attic roof deck, the low-E, low-odor coating can...

CertainTeed.(Insulation)
May 1, 2006... The company enters the insulated concrete wall market with the ThermaEZE Thermal Insulation System for above- and below-grade poured concrete walls. Panels are placed within wall forms before pouring; the panels' webbed construction embeds in...

Teknor Color Co.(Products First Look: The newest products for the remodeling market.)
May 1, 2006... Recreating the hues of earth, wood, and stone, TEKpro Construction Colors now offers 14 new light-stabilized colorants for polymers used in a wide range of building applications. Available in concentrate and dry-color formulations, the colors...

Symmons.(Products First Look: The newest products for the remodeling market.)
May 1, 2006... Using its unique "shower shock" pressure-balancing technology, the Visu-Temp with Clear-Vue shower system eliminates unpleasant temperature spikes that can occur when water is run in another part of the house. A piston-style pressure valve...

Armstrong Hardwood Flooring.(Products First Look: The newest products for the remodeling market.)
May 1, 2006... Century Farm Hardwood Flooring boasts hand-sculpted beveled-edge wood planks made by bonding several wood layers in a cross-ply construction. Shown in hickory honey butter, the engineered floor comes in 20 colors and five species, and is backed...

Worth Home Products.(Products First Look: The newest products for the remodeling market.)
May 1, 2006... The Magic Pendant Light converts a recessed can into a pendant light, instantly transforming a room's ambience, the maker says. Equipped with a socket adapter, a canopy cover, a lamp holder, and a glass shade, the retrofit kit's screw-in design...

Earlex.(Products First Look: The newest products for the remodeling market.)
May 1, 2006... Eliminating messy paint trays, the new Autofeed Cordless Painting System offers a fast and easy way to paint large surfaces such as walls and ceilings. With a 0.8-gallon container, the cordless system holds enough paint to cover four...

Smart VENT.(Products First Look: The newest products for the remodeling market.)
May 1, 2006... The company has introduced insulated wood wall flood vents that mount between 2x4 or 2x6 wood studs and into garage doors. The vents screw in from the front much like a window, making it easy to retrofit vents into a garage while remaining...

Acrilex.(Products First Look: The newest products for the remodeling market.)
May 1, 2006... The company's Acriglas Marble/Granite series of acrylic sheets offers an attractive alternative to natural stone, available in a rich assortment of 12 natural colors. Custom hues and varied degrees of translucency are also offered. The sheets...

Sashco.(Products First Look: The newest products for the remodeling market.)
May 1, 2006... Be prepared for any roof repair with Through the Roof the company's new all-purpose roof sealant. The clear sealant expands and contracts together with roof materials, guaranteeing long-lasting protection, the maker says. It can be used on...

Big50 closeup.(LastWord: BenchMark)
May 1, 2006... As we have in recent years, once again we use this space in the Big50 issue to present some of the data gathered from this year's class. We have grouped companies by 2005 revenue, but most of the other figures come from 2004 totals or five-year...