Remodeling articles from October 2002

Remodeling archives from October 2002

Growth pains. (First Word).
October 1, 2002... The economic boom of the 1990s gave remodelers quite a fide. Although the economy has slowed nationally, remodeling markets are local and many are still going strong. And in areas where new work has slowed, busy remodelers are still working...

Comment. (First Word).
October 1, 2002... Online Survey REMODELING'S exclusive Reader Panel survey has moved to e-mall and the Web. Registered panelists will now receive the latest survey vie e-mail, along with a link to our online survey site. Click on Reader Panel at...

Watch our language. (Call back: the sound and the fury ...).
October 1, 2002... I recently became a registered architect in the state of Ohio. I worked very hard to get where I am today, by going back to school to get a five-year accredited degree and passing all nine required NCARB exams. I am now quite proud to be able...

Join the clubs II. (Call back: the sound and the fury).
October 1, 2002... Your editorial in the July 2002 issue of REMODELING ("Guilt and Associations," page 11) is fight on the money. Association membership is not a luxury, particularly in today's ever more sophisticated and challenging marketplace. A remodeler...

Industry gets involved with charter schools. (News+Notes).
October 1, 2002... A handful of school districts across the country are partnering with local construction firms and unions to create the next generation of vo-tech schools for high school students. The new charter schools give the industry more control over the...

It's time for the Remodelers' Show. (News+Notes).
October 1, 2002... The 2002 Remodelers' Show will take place October 31 to November 2 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis. The three-day event includes a trade show and a full conference program. The, Remodelers' Show is "the information and...

Whirlpool owners sue over "Schmutz". (News+Notes).
October 1, 2002... Whirlpool tub manufacturers Jacuzzi, Kohler, and Lasco are the defendants in a class-action lawsuit that charges their tubs persistently spew residue from their jets, denying the tub owners the bathing experience they paid for. The suit,...

NAHB a big spender on Capitol Hill. (News+Notes).
October 1, 2002... The NAHB has distributed $1.3 million to candidates running for federal office in 2002. Rich Morin, chair of the group's political action committee, quoted that figure to attendees at the NAHB Spring board meeting in June. The Center for...

Remodeling consumers are online. (News+Notes).
October 1, 2002... A study by New York market research firm Scarborough Research this year found that individuals who use the Internet extensively to research and to shop are 19% more likely than the norm to begin a home improvement project. The study also...

Slow recovery. (Market Watch).
October 1, 2002... CONFIDENCE FALTERS Consumer confidence fell for the third straight month in August to its lowest level since last November, according to The Conference Board. A sluggish labor market, disarray in the stock market, and corporate accounting...

Put lumberyards to work; by taking a few extra steps, lumberyards can become the remodeling industry's new best friend. (Commentary).
October 1, 2002... Today's remodeling customers often research products on the Interact before or during their projects. But they also go to home centers, which feature kitchen and bath vignettes. Today's clients still want to touch and feel most products before...

Design by design: design can go awry as quickly as construction. But you can prevent that from happening. (Commentary).
October 1, 2002... Design/build is alive and well and continuing to evolve. Last month, I talked about some new operating methods design/build companies use to improve their businesses. This month, I'd like to share some ways companies prevent themselves from...

Eye on the ball: when your sales triple in five years, it's tempting to become complacent. (Commentary).
October 1, 2002... Last year, our company grossed $5.7 million. The year before last, we generated $6.5 million worth of work. Those numbers represent a substantial improvement over our 1995 sales of about $1.5 million. Where did they come from? I'm not...

Cover yourself on mold issues: ignoring the mold you find could land you in court. (Ways+Means).
October 1, 2002... When you tear up the bathroom floor and find mold, it's tempting to just ignore it. But unless you identify the point where water enters or the source of excess humidity--two common reasons mold grows--simply repairing and replacing the floor...

Proceed with caution on mold. (Ways+Means).
October 1, 2002... Q: Should my contracts include a clause about mold? A: Yes. However, be very careful with this one. Unlike other health hazards, mold is alive. It may not be there today but, due to reasons beyond your control, it could pop up tomorrow, and...

Leaky roofer. (Ways+Means).
October 1, 2002... Stepping outside of established systems and procedures can cost you money. Just ask Jim LeFaivre. The owner of J.R. LeFaivre Construction, Taneytown, Md., has subcontractors he uses regularly. So a year ago, when a roofing contractor (with...

Surveys fine tune client satisfaction. (Ways+Means).
October 1, 2002... Companies that depend on repeat and referral leads for business need to know how clients feel about their project--and the process. That's why, earlier this year, Dave Brady, owner of Oak Design & Construction, Oak Park, Ill., rewrote his...

Percent-complete accounting. (Bottom Line).
October 1, 2002... In most industries, accounting is a straightforward matter of matching revenue from the sale of a product with all the costs of production and delivery within the same accounting period. This is also true of the remodeling business, with one...

M&E deductions. (Tax Tips).
October 1, 2002... Many business-related meals or entertainment expenses are fully or partially deductible. For example, if you take a client out to lunch and talk business, the meal is 50% deductible. The same is true if you buy tickets for a sports event for...

Remodeling on the air. (Sales+Marketing).
October 1, 2002... Are you one of hundreds of contractors hoping to have your remodel profiled on Home & Garden Television? Convince Mike Brunswick, senior producer at Brunswick Media, that your project will dramatically transform the house and that the story...

Going with the grain. (Sales+Marketing).
October 1, 2002... Considering a holiday mailing this year? To usher in 2002, Mueller Nicholls sent 5,000, 8-inch-long, 13-ounce 2x4s to 5,000 former clients, prospects, architects, and vendors--nearly two tons of Douglas fir in all. "One guy called up and...

Wooing clients with a Web of marketing. (Sales+Marketing).
October 1, 2002... A well-executed Web site is a powerful tool. It inexpensively presents a project portfolio and establishes credibility by presenting your profile, testimonials, and awards. But a remodeling business rarely draws clients solely because of...

Full-time help. (Sales+Marketing).
October 1, 2002... Dave Bryan of Blackdog Builders, Salem, Mass., wants to more than double the size of his $4 million company in the next several years. "We knew that effective marketing and the continual generation of high quality leads was going to be...

Radio waves. (Field Notes).
October 1, 2002... Mark Sass uses two-way radios for efficient and fast communication between himself, his office administrator, and his carpenters. He likes the ability to make instant contact. "You don't waste time leaving a message" says the president of Sass...

Evaluating the schedule. (Field Notes).
October 1, 2002... The company owner and/or production manager relies on the schedule to communicate with clients and to meet production goals. But if they alone create the schedule, the field staff may feel the goals are unreachable. If the lead carpenter helps...

Drawingboard/two faced. (By Design).
October 1, 2002... There is a romantic element to an outdoor room--the fresh air and the cool breeges add to a certain mystique. Unfortunately, the things that make an outdoor room romantic can also make it annoying--fresh air can turn to cold air, cool breezes...

Augment QuickBooks for service calls. (Tech@Work).
October 1, 2002... Software integration is an issue everyone grapples with, and a new program that manages service and warranty calls promises to deliver those needed ties to QuickBooks accounting software. The program is Service Management for QuickBooks, sold...

CAD-assisted estimating. (Tech@Work).
October 1, 2002... Many remodelers use CAD to create drawings and sales presentations but skip another important feature: the ability to automatically estimate materials. Chief Architect, SoftPlan, VectorWorks, ArchiCAD, Cadsoft Build!, TurboCAD, AutoCAD, Visio,...

Profile: Mat Vivona Jr. (Close Up).
October 1, 2002... Father & Son Construction of Troy, Mich., was one of our first Big50 contractors in 1986. Then-owner Mat Vivona promoted the $10 million company on the side of a hot air balloon, as well as on refrigerator magnets and pizza boxes (he also owned...

Second look: Deva Rajan. (Close Up).
October 1, 2002... After 35 years in remodeling, Deva Rajan has handed the reins of Canyon Construction over to a 10-year employee. Five years ago, Chris Avant approached Rajah with a proposal to buy the company. Rajan was 60 then and thinking about retirement....

Should you finish a job started by another contractor? (Face Off).
October 1, 2002... "Homeowners will be more likely to want to get even or make up for the beating they just took." --Jack Philbin DON'T GO THERE You hear a client's tale of woe about a bad contractor and think, "I'm a good guy, I won't treat them...

Past due: how do you handle unpaid balances? (Solutions: Big 50 answers to big business questions).
October 1, 2002... Q+A JERRY KREBS, controller Ben Tyler Building & Remodeling Louisville, Ky. Big50 2002 If we do have a client holding out, I first send out a statement saying there was an unpaid balance. I also say that if there's a...

It takes a villa: a house with mismatched additions is reborn as an Italianate villa. (Before+After).
October 1, 2002... When architect Dean Brenneman and remodeler Peter Pagenstecher merged their individual companies to create what they refer to as an "architect/build" firm, they envisioned working on exactly the type of project and with exactly the type of...

Growing up smart: finding the right way to grow demands a plan and the people and systems to carry it out.
October 1, 2002... In 1990, Don Strong started Brothers Strong, a house painting company, with his son Michael, in Houston. After two years they expanded their services to general remodeling, and after six years the company was growing fast. Too fast. "We...

Spin masters: diversifying lets you roll with the market.
October 1, 2002... If life goes according to business plan, an Owens Corning basement finishing system franchise will be Gary Eichhorst's ticket to future retirement. With its straightforward installation, predictably high profit margins, and precisely tailored...

How fast should you grow? Growth can bring pain. It can also spark better planning. Most remodelers say they have been surprised by growth, and the group is split on whether growth is necessary to remain healthy and vital. (Reader Panel).
October 1, 2002... Has your business growth ever been unmanageable? Why? "Yes. Last year, the business growth was unmanageable because I had one person leave, had to get rid of another person who was an inappropriate hire, and I had the old syndrome of having...

All pro: coach, salesman extraordinaire, industry statesman, confidante, and market clairvoyant. Ken Klein will always be, to remodelers, the consummate professional, the businessman others emulate--or envy. For setting the standard in integrity and business savvy, Remodelling awards Ken Klein its Foundation Award for 2002.
October 1, 2002... Ken Klein didn't get here by being a remodeler. Chameleon, maybe. Though not in the underhanded sense of the word. Through the years, he and his business, Kleinco Construction Services, adroitly blushed or brightened with their market's needs,...

Choosing wisely: contractors nationwide are turning to EXPO Design Centers for one-stop product selection, low prices and a customer-service edge. (Special Advertising Section).
October 1, 2002... Your custom home or remodeling project is rolling along like a smooth-running train. Smart interpretation of your client's wish list has resulted in a blueprint the customer loves, and that you can build profitably, on schedule. Permits are...

Making kitchens accessible: universal design makes kitchens more user-friendly for everyone. (Design Clinic).
October 1, 2002... Accessible designs and products in the kitchen help all cooks--whether they are able-bodied, short, tall, elderly, a child, or in a wheelchair. But, says gerontologist Jeff Lefkovich, "the general public will not think about this until they are...

K&B remodeling survey. (Design Clinic).
October 1, 2002... According to a survey conducted by this magazine, about 27% of projects completed by remodeling companies in 2001 involved kitchens and 23% involved baths. The kitchen jobs accounted for about one-quarter of a company's revenues and bathrooms...

Laminate countertops. (Spec Book).
October 1, 2002... Far from ordinary, laminate countertops can mimic almost anything or have a look all their own. Traditional styles are highlighted by wood tones or realistic granite looks while textured metals and playful colors brighten rooms by not blending...

Fiber cement gives an edge; vinyl siding companies that have taken on fiber cement have a leg up in a competitive market. (Siding).
October 1, 2002... Armor Siding Co. is something of a rare bird among vinyl siding contractors in Traverse City, Mich. That's because the company also offers fiber cement. Owner Jeff Armor says that until three years ago, Armor Siding had never done a fiber...

Riding the rails: glass and metal afford views but add cost. (Decks).
October 1, 2002... The days of the perfunctory wood railing system for a wood deck are gone. A huge variety of materials are now available--vinyl, steel, aluminum, composites, wood/resin, plexiglass--to provide safety with a unique look. Of course, wood itself is...

A few good women. (Decks).
October 1, 2002... Q: Are females at a disadvantage selling remodeling? A: I once said I thought women would be represented in remodeling sales the way they're represented in real estate sales. Why hasn't this happened? A good remodeling salesperson...

Elevated service: residential elevators give aging homeowners an alternative to moving out. (Trends).
October 1, 2002... For aging baby boomers, moving out of their current homes isn't always the best, or favorite, option. In multi-level houses, installing a residential elevator or stair lift can allow many homeowners to stay put longer, while adding a touch of...

On the level. (Trends).
October 1, 2002... Laser levels can turn a two- or three-man job into a one-man operation. And as laser diodes become more affordable, accurate, and efficient, laser tools are becoming an important component for contractors of all sizes. It's no wonder that...

Red, white, and glue. (Trends).
October 1, 2002... From the house to the pickup to the jobsite, duct tape is a lot of things to a lot of people. But the product showed more form than function last June as it blanketed New York City's Union Square Park in a patriotic display of the red, white,...

White on. (Trends).
October 1, 2002... Open a roll of Johns Manville insulation and you may do a double take. Once yellow in color, the company now manufactures all its fiberglass insulation without formaldehyde, contributing to a bright white color. The company made the switch...

Free to vent. (Reader's Choice).
October 1, 2002... Gary Porter recommends Air Vent ridge vents to his clients because they help draw out hot air, keep homes cooler, reduce air conditioning costs, and prevent ice dams and icicles. "The thing that I've found is it vents really well," says Porter....

Light bright. (Reader's Choice).
October 1, 2002... Porter also believes tubular skylights like Solatube's are an affordable, easy way to bring light into a home, especially in smaller rooms like half bathrooms and walk-in closets. Solatube's tubular skylights, available in 10-, 14-, and 21-inch...

Saw all. (Reader's Choice).
October 1, 2002... Clay Baker's model 5007NH 7 1/4-inch circular saw is his fourth from Makita. Baker uses the tool for a range of tasks and finds that the Makita model is light, of average cost, and "it's pretty durable compared to other saws I've used." The...

Braced for savings. (On The Job).
October 1, 2002... The romance of "hand-cutting rafters for an addition's roof quickly evaporates when you're boosting 2x12s into place. It's up and over the double plate, then hand-over-hand up staging and ladder to the ridge, while someone else makes sure the...

Home theater: from DVDs to HDTV, home theater sales are growing at the speed of technology. (In Focus).
October 1, 2002... According to the Consumer Electronics Association, manufacturers will sell 3 million home theater system and component packages this year, with a total worth of about $1.1 billion. That's up from 979,000 system and component packages, worth...

Bass Industries. (Home Theater).
October 1, 2002... One of many home cinema seats available from the company, the Celebrity Lounger includes the industry's only front-mounted beverage holders that remain hidden when not in use. The units fully recline and feature three viewing positions and a...

DeCorp. (Home Theater).
October 1, 2002... A departure from traditional wiring systems, FlatWire Ready speaker wiring is only 8/1,000 inch thick, less than the thickness of a business card, and can be mounted directly onto walls, ceilings, and other surfaces to discreetly connect...

Booth Seating. (Home Theater).
October 1, 2002... New and refurbished genuine commercial movie theater chairs are available in any configuration for home theatre use. The Concorde Rocker, shown here, comes in three styles with lumbar support; two include head support. The chairs come in...

Bose. (Home Theather).
October 1, 2002... Built-Invisible Series II home theater systems are designed to be flexible, easy to install, and discreet and hidden from view while still offering superb, crisp sound. The system includes a powerful amplifier with Dolby 5.1 decoding and Bose...

RCA. (Home Theather).
October 1, 2002... The Scenium DVD/CD Home Theatre System offers powerful sound in a compact, slim design, the maker says. The RTD receiver combines the features of a DVD and CD player, stereo tuner, amplifier, and Dolby Digital decoder into one package. The unit...

Pioneer. (Home Theather).
October 1, 2002... The Pro800HD 43-inch plasma display is high-definition compatible and has four screen modes to accommodate various formats, including zoom and wide. The unit weigh less than 85 pounds and has a viewable angle of more than 160 degrees,...

Theo Kalomirakis Theaters. (Home Theather).
October 1, 2002... Inspired by the Art Deco movement of the 1930s, the Savoy home theater features bronzed pilasters, grilles, ornaments, and frieze medallions set on upholstered wall panels. Seating is available in blue, green, burgundy, and tan. (877) 858-4328....

Owens Corning. (Home Theather).
October 1, 2002... The Visionaire FX personal entertainment center package includes audio/video equipment, lighting, controls, acoustical materials, chairs, architectural elements, and installation. The theaters can be used in new and retrofit applications...

Luminaria lighting. (Lighting).
October 1, 2002... The Glover Collection of lighting fixtures features design influences from the Arts & Crafts and English revival movements. This four-arm chandelier measures 22 inches wide by 35 inches long and has a dark brown finish. Eleven additional...

Brasstech. (Lighting).
October 1, 2002... The Amenities collection of fixtures is designed to complement the company's Newport Brass lines of plumbing faucets and fittings. It also can be used in entryways, bedrooms, and other living areas. The solid-brass fixtures are offered in eight...

Seagull lighting. (Lighting).
October 1, 2002... Designed for a range of residential and commercial applications, the Ambiance Linear System includes a low-profile track system with clean lines and a range of pendant and track fixtures and decorative glass and metal shades. The company is...

LAM lighting systems. (Lighting).
October 1, 2002... Offering softly diffused, glare-free ambient light, the Orbit pendant features a broad, curvilinear globe in an inverted, soft-edge pyramid-shaped design; a perforated ring encircles the base. The fixture suspends from a rigid 24-inch-long stem...

d'ac lighting. (Lighting).
October 1, 2002... The Father contemporary lighting pendant features a teardrop-shaped, hand-blown Italian glass shade in clear blue or white opal. The unit's outer shade measures 16 inches high by 10 inches wide. A large dome canopy at the ceiling provides...

Cooper lighting. (Lighting).
October 1, 2002... Shaper Lighting's See-Thru 429 pendant features a solid metal bowl with a see-through white acrylic baffled open center to provide strong uplight and balanced downlight. The fixture comes in two sizes and hangs 24 inches from the ceiling. Five...

Rejuvenation. (Lighting).
October 1, 2002... The Cascade Mission-style four-arm chandelier is modeled after Craftsman-era gas-and-electric fixtures. The light features eight shades and measures 25 inches in diameter. A mottled brass finish is shown here. (888) 401-1900....

Holophane. (Lighting).
October 1, 2002... Reminiscent of the early 1900s, the Madeira outdoor lantern combines prismatic glass with an acorn shape and replica chimneys, ornamental crown, and decorative ribs. The unit comes in black, bronze, green, or custom finishes. (740) 345-9631....

W.A.C. lighting. (Lighting).
October 1, 2002... The Amber Glass Snifter is the latest addition to the company's Snifter pendant line. Ideal for installation above islands, dining areas, and counters, the fixture offers an amber glass shade surrounding an inner globe, which directs white...

Williamsburg products. (Lighting).
October 1, 2002... Manufactured by Period Lighting and officially licensed by the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, the Shields Tavern Lantern is part of a collection based on actual lanterns from historic Williamsburg, Va., during the Colonial Revival period....

Progress lighting. (Lighting).
October 1, 2002... Designed to complement both contemporary and classically styled homes, the Georgian outdoor lighting collection features cast lanterns with opaque white art glass. This new four-light post lantern features water-seeded glass and a burnished...

PlugGrip. (High Tech Job Tools).
October 1, 2002... A safer way to work with electrical outlets, the PlugGrip plugs into any dual 110-125 volt grounded outlet, providing a solid grip for installation or removal. When the power is shut off, the device grabs the outlet and holds it so that the...

Pacific laser systems. (High Tech Job Tools).
October 1, 2002... The PLS2 palm laser is compact and portable without sacrificing accuracy. Ideal for plumb, square, and level jobs, the handheld unit is self-leveling up to 6 degrees and is accurate to 1/8 inch at 30 feet. (800) 601-4500. www.plslaser.com....

CST/berger. (High Tech Job Tools).
October 1, 2002... The LaserMark MP5 offers plumb, level, and square calculations instantly up to 100 feet. The unit features five self-leveled, highly focused 650-nm beams that provide an accuracy of 1/4 inch at 100 feet. The unit's gravity-design pendulum self...

DeWalt. (High Tech Job Tools).
October 1, 2002... The DW077 fully automatic self-leveling cordless rotary laser is accurate to within [+ or -] 1/8 inch per 100 feet and features an out-of-level shut-off feature, an easy-to-use control panel, one-button leveling, and a wireless remote control....

Zircon. (High Tech Job Tools).
October 1, 2002... The CF12 circuit breaker locator helps a single user determine which breaker circuit, allowing them to work on just that circuit without turning off power to the other circuits. It includes a transmitter that plugs into the circuit via a...

Stanley. (High Tech Job Tools).
October 1, 2002... The FatMax laser level combines the durability and look of the company's FatMax level with laser technology. The tool features aluminum construction, impact-resistant solid block vials, shock-absorbing end caps, and an extra large comfort grip...

LeveLite. (High Tech Job Tools).
October 1, 2002... The AccuSquare Pro offers the convenience of a precise laser tool with an affordable price, says the maker. The tool generates two lines with two class 3a laser diodes that extend 50 to 100 feet. The unit's metal housing includes a protractor...

Rovenet. (High Tech Job Tools).
October 1, 2002... Portable Forms server-based tools allow ordinary users to quickly and easily create repetitive correspondence and personalized form completion applications like orders and quotes using Microsoft Word. The forms are designed at a desktop...

American tool. (High Tech Job Tools).
October 1, 2002... The Strait-Line laser line generator includes levels for horizontal and plumb applications, a soft-grip handle, and a flip-top lens cover. Metal pins allow the unit to be anchored to a wall. The line generator comes with a carrying case that...

RoboToolz. (High Tech Job Tools).
October 1, 2002... The RT-7690-2 self-leveling remote-controlled laser level offers simultaneous level and plumb rotating lasers with a leveling accuracy of [+ or -]1/8 inch at 100 feet and a plumb accuracy of [+ or -]1/4 inch at 100 feet. It has a self-leveling...

U.S. tile. (First look: the newest products for the remodeling market.).
October 1, 2002... Montoro genuine clay grade one roof tiles are manufactured in Australia using individual molds. The tiles, which interlock at the head and side lap, come in two profiles in a range of colors and finishes. (909) 737-0200. www.ustile.com. Circle...

DuPont corian. (First look: the newest products for the remodeling market.).
October 1, 2002... The Private Collection of surfacing was inspired by wabisabi, the traditional Japanese concept of beauty. The Palladio Series includes soft aesthetics with tone-on-tone veining in camel, ecru, gray, and white. Available in aubergine, chamois,...