Remodeling articles from October 2003

Remodeling archives from October 2003

Come together.(First Word)
October 1, 2003... This month, the leadership of the two major industry associations announced their joint endorsement of each other's primary certification program, NARI's CR and the NAHB Remodelors Council's CGR (for details, see "NARI and NAHB Will Promote...

Say what?(callback)
October 1, 2003... In the August 28, 2003, edition of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, there was an article about recouping the costs of various remodeling projects, accompanied by a chart with data from REMODELING magazine (reprinted from Cost vs. Value Report,...

Bug off: West Nile virus has created some buzz in the sunroom industry.(News+Notes)
October 1, 2003... Not that the popular opinion of mosquitoes was ever particularly positive, but ever since the first human cases of the West Nile virus in the United States popped up in 1999, even the staunchest animal-rights activists have at least thought...

NARI and NAHB Remodelors Council will promote respective certifications.(News+Notes)
October 1, 2003... Industry history will be made at this month's Remodelers' Show, as the leaders of the two major trade associations will announce an initiative to jointly promote their respective certifications. The agreement between the National...

The next frontier?(News+Notes)
October 1, 2003... Anyone else noticed that it's gotten a little crowded around here? According to a piece of e-mail spam making the rounds, a company called the Lunar Embassy (www. lunarlandrush.com) is actually selling acres of land on the moon for just $29.95....

Nothing but net.(News+Notes)
October 1, 2003... Newsflash, remodelers: Just in case you hadn't noticed, the Internet isn't a fad. It's here to stay, and its role in your industry is growing larger, seemingly by the day. A recent report from the Home Improvement Research Institute (HIRI)...

Energy Star maps new standards.(News+Notes)
October 1, 2003... Remodelers who are particularly environmentally conscious may have already noticed that, starting at the end of August, the criteria for Energy Star-certified windows, doors, and skylights changed. The biggest difference is in the Energy...

High expectations for remodelers and consumers.(market watch)
October 1, 2003... [up arrow] REMODELING MARKET INDEX The NAHB's quarterly Remodeling Market Index showed positive results. The current market conditions portion of the index gained nearly a point from the second quarter of 2002, while expectations for the...

Your installation options: more manufacturers and retailers see installed sales as a potential profit center. What role will contractors play?(Commentary)
October 1, 2003... If past trends in American industry are any indication, more and more building products manufacturers and retailers will be forced to install what they make or sell. Naturally, they'll want to make money doing it. Installed sales gain...

Good habits to have: here's what you need to do to have a great remodeling company.(Commentary)
October 1, 2003... What makes a remodeling company successful? My partner Victoria Downing and I have distilled the key elements into what we call a success system. The system is made up of six habits--that is, practices regularly undertaken. It's still a work in...

Growing up: keep your company successful by growing for the right reasons and at the right rate.(Commentary)
October 1, 2003... One of the more common questions that I get from remodelers around the country is, "How do I grow my business?" I always answer the question with a question: "What do you mean by growth?" or "Why do you want to grow?" Most remodelers pay...

Early warning radar: if intuition tells you a client will be difficult, by all means listen.(Commentary)
October 1, 2003... I had prequalified the job by talking to the husband, a 65-year-old old company executive. He seemed OK. He and his wife had just bought a small, 1940s brick house and had expensive, somewhat far-fetched ideas about a second-story addition and...

Stop! Thief!(Ways+Means)
October 1, 2003... Any time someone breaks in to your jobsite and steals something, you feel violated," says Shanta Bulkin, owner of Shanta Design/Build in San Francisco. Bulkin says that the few times it's happened to his company, the guys working on the job...

Going for the goals.(Ways+Means)
October 1, 2003... At S.J. Janis Company in Wauwatosa, Wis., it's not all business. Owners and sale manager Gary Sannes believes that what's important to his employees personally affects them professionally. Sannes asks each member of his sales team annually...

The more the merrier.(Ways+Means)
October 1, 2003... When you get right down to it, the hiring process is really a Catch-22. You need to fill that vacant spot quickly before work piles up, but a thorough search takes time, the main thing your newly expanded workload doesn't allow you. As...

The pitfalls of pricing labor-only jobs.(Bottom Line)
October 1, 2003... When pricing labor-only jobs, be sure to allow for labor-specific contingencies. For example, a change in the number of employees affects the apportionment of overhead dollars per hour worked. If a sick, low-paid worker has to be replaced with...

Home office tax deductions.(Tax Tips)
October 1, 2003... The Tax Reconciliation Act of 2001 includes two changes to home office deductions. The first is acknowledgement of a home office as a legitimate part of small business practice. Any individual--whether a business owner or an employee--who uses...

Marketing workshop/before + after.(Sales + Marketing)
October 1, 2003... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] Redesign Rating: 6.5, on a scale of 10. I like the new card's color scheme and the logo. But it doesn't accurately communicate what Harty does. It's hard to communicate a service, because it's intangible. DO...

Exuding integrity in a sales call.(Sales + Marketing)
October 1, 2003... How can you get prospects to see you have integrity? Clients judge you based on what has happened in their past and what they see, hear, and read into your first crucial meeting. Here's how to convey integrity: 1. Communicate clearly, with...

Playhouse unites team, gets exposure.(Sales + Marketing)
October 1, 2003... By working 10-hour days Monday through Thursday so they could donate Fridays, the crew of Morris Builders in Rockford, Mich., built an 8-by-10-foot playhouse, auctioned off with eight others that were also donated to Habitat for Humanity....

Sidestepping sign laws.(Sales + Marketing)
October 1, 2003... David Crane of Crane Builders in Nashville, Tenn., found himself faced with laws that prohibit job signs in the area's two ritziest neighborhoods, Belle Mead and Forest Hills. So he had magnetic signs made for seven people in his company whose...

Kick-starting leads: 6 steps to make the phone ring.(Sales + Marketing)
October 1, 2003... So your phone isn't ringing, and you want a quick fix. These steps will make people call, perhaps not with cherry jobs, but with jobs that keep cash flowing. Then, when the cherries come, you'll be in business to capitalize on them. *...

Special deliveries.(Field Notes)
October 1, 2003... Remodeler Paul Morse was losing money and time on jobs when his carpenters drove to the local lumberyard for last-minute items. In Morse's case, it became a daily ritual. So a year ago, the president of Morse Constructions in Somerville, Mass.,...

Good things come in threes.(Field Notes)
October 1, 2003... Two months into a project, the cabinet installation begins and the client says, "I'm not sure that cabinet color is the one I picked." All work stops. You lose valuable time and money getting the sample from the showroom to the field, verifying...

Cut the punch lists.(Field Notes)
October 1, 2003... Finishing jobs in a timely manner is a universal remodeling problem. Here are some ideas to shorten your punch lists. Use clear contract language. The contract needs to state when the punch list work is completed and when warranty work...

Pull up a stool.(By Design)
October 1, 2003... It's common to see windows trimmed like picture frames--with thin casing and no stool. Unfortunately, that treatment ignores the window stool's architectural function. Built with an apron and proportional casing, a correctly sized stool grounds...

Going, going, gone.(Tech@Work)
October 1, 2003... E Bay, the San Francisco-based online auction house, isn't just for stereos and rare collectibles anymore. A recently launched business-to-business marketplace is also moving roughly 550 items a day in the construction category. Laser...

Presale or postsale?(Tech@Work)
October 1, 2003... I wish I had a nickel for every time a remodeler told me that if they only had better estimating software, they could handle more leads, produce more quotes, and make more money. They may be right, but in my world there are two kinds of...

Orderly purchases.(Good Form)
October 1, 2003... Purchase orders aren't exactly commonplace for smaller remodeling companies, but according to Paul Morse of Morse Constructions in Somerville, Mass., they should be. "If you want to be as successful as a $10 million company, then run your...

Profile: Joe Keating and Tim Moore.(Close Up)
October 1, 2003... Keating-Moore Construction (Big50 1995) has grown from a $1.8 million to a $15 million remodeling company/custom builder in less than 10 years. Average jobs for the Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., company used to reach $150,000. Now jobs run $500,000...

Second look.(Close Up)
October 1, 2003... You don't become a Certified Master Kitchen and Bath Designer overnight, In 1988, when Jim Krengel won Big50, he ran a $2.2 million business.While running Kitchens by Krengel in St. Paul, Minn, the second-generation contractor began conducting...

Should I offer a discretionary bonus or a bonus based on performance incentives?(Face Off)
October 1, 2003... "We found that tying our bonuses to company culture creates a consistent set of standards and rewards."--Craig Deimler "Financial rewards will come if we work together as a team throughout the year."--Tom Riggs TIE IT TO PERFORMANCE...

Respect your elders: how old is too old to be working in the field?(Q+A)
October 1, 2003... JOE SCHWAB HCS Construction Services Bellevue, Wash. Big50 2002 We typically have somebody around here in their 60s working in the field. And we've found that the experience that brings is invaluable. When a guy has survived that long, he...

Hard knocks: building a foundation 15 inches out of square was a costly lesson for this remodeler. But it gave him a firmer footing on when, and how much, to let go.(Live+Learn)
October 1, 2003... The price of growth is great if one doesn't do it carefully," reflects Chuck Green of Four Corners Construction (Big50 2003). The Westborough, Mass., contractor learned that $55,000 lesson in what would have been his best year in 18 years,...

Expand the ranks.(Remodeling Big50)
October 1, 2003... Visit remodeling magazine.com and go to the Big50 tab for a form you can fill out to nominate a remodeling company worthy of joining the Big50 ranks. Please share reasons why we should interview and consider this company for national...

A non-remodeler's view of the remodeling industry.(Looking In)
October 1, 2003... Excavation contractor Tom Gebhardt says remodelers just need to remember a few key steps to make his work more efficient. The owner of Gebcon, in Germantown, Md., says, first, they should provide accurate foundation plans. "If dimensions are...

Deja Loo: a Raleigh N.C., contractor wins over clients on a traditional kitchen remodel, then returns for a contemporary his-and-hers bath awash in Japanese understones.(Before+After)
October 1, 2003... The sky is a different hue in Will Alphin's world. So says a colleague in Alphin's busy Raleigh, N.C., market. Indeed, when Alphin, of Alphin Design Build, unleashes his visceral design sense and his furniture-making craftsmanship to reach...

Train to gain: training yourself, your managers, and your field crews will turn your chaotic circus into a well-orchestrated troop.
October 1, 2003... Avoiding The Bear When it comes to managing, what do you need to know and when do you need to know it? If you're like most people who became managers, you probably assumed it was about being slightly smarter, and maybe a little more...

Three under 30.
October 1, 2003... Hold on tight. The next generation of remodelers is smart, business savvy, and fiercely determined to make a blue-collar industry white-collar respectable. 1 Busting Bias Shawn Nelson, president New Spaces, Minneapolis Age: 27 Birthday:...

Deep roots.(Foundation Awards 2003)
October 1, 2003... For almost 30 years, Tom Kelly has nurtured his employees and his community. Using a combination of teamwork and business analysis, the forward-thinking remodeler has set a new standard for quality, growth, and success. For elevating the...

Joining up: most remodelers nix ties to remodeling organizations in favor of devoting time to groups more in tune with their needs and that directly help their business.(Reader Panel)
October 1, 2003... Conventional wisdom has it that remodelers are not joiners. And when it comes to industry activities, remodelers earn their reputation. Membership in the two national remodeling associations, at about 9,200 contractors, is a fraction of the...

Tall order.(Design Clinic)
October 1, 2003... When two homeowners approached Kary Ewalt of Anthony Wilder Design/Build to do a kitchen remodel, they had several goals in mind. The most important was to include features to accommodate the 5-foot, 9-inch wife and 6-foot-tall husband. ...

The kitchen that dreams are made of.(Design Clinic)
October 1, 2003... The Dream Kitchen 2003 will showcase high-end style and the latest design practices at this year's Remodelers' Show in Baltimore, October 23-25. The display will use innovative products from leading manufacturers, such as Whirlpool, Delta...

The uglier the better.(Design Clinic)
October 1, 2003... Mirror, mirror, on the wall, who has the ugliest bathroom of all? Well, 90 homeowners thought they did, but there was only one winner in the contest run by J+J Custom Kitchens and Baths. The Greensboro, N.C., remodeling company ran...

Level headed.(Management)
October 1, 2003... Designer Daniel Trempe offers three levels of service so his clients can tailor his offerings. The owner of Daniel's Kitchen Design (www.danielskitchendesign.com) in Anaheim, Calif., says his design services are more affordable than those...

Photo finishes.(Management)
October 1, 2003... Six months ago, designer Susan Serra began sending invitations to her clients to view her work at an online photo site. "I use it as a 'hook' that I know very few other people, if any, are using," she says. It also helps her clients determine...

Best estimates: what is the hardest kitchen or bath material to accurately estimate and why? Do you have a policy to compensate for this difficulty?(Management)
October 1, 2003... PATTI ALETO Aleto Construction St. Louis There are so many types of ceramic tile and trim, it is impossible to know what the customer will select. If you use the cost of standard wall tile for the estimate, it will not include the costs of...

Bain Ultra.(Showers and Tubs)
October 1, 2003... BainUltra. The Temazkal shower combines luminotherapy, aromatherapy, and thermotherapy. The UV-filtered light system combats the effects of seasonal natural-light deprivation, and uniform dry heat can be adjusted between 68 and 149 degrees in...

Neo-Metro Collection.(Showers and Tubs)
October 1, 2003... Neo-Metro Collection. The 90-gallon-capacity Cerine Tub combines solid wood trims with 16-gauge stainless steel and features double wall construction and a sloped seat. (800) 591-9050. www.neo-metro.com. Circle 101. [ILLUSTRATION...

American Bath Factory.(Showers and Tubs)
October 1, 2003... American Bath Factory. The Champagne Massage Monroe tub features 110 bubble jets and a quiet, concealed 1.3 CFM blower motor to deliver massaging air bubbles An automatic purge system cleans and dries air channels after each use. The tub's feet...

Zuma Collection.(Showers and Tubs)
October 1, 2003... Zuma Collection. "A" Series tubs are available in one whirlpool and two airbath systems, as well as in a combination whirlpool/ airbath system. An inline water heater, a selection of jets, and mood lighting options are also available. Model...

Americh.(Showers and Tubs)
October 1, 2003... Americh. The Bermuda whirlpool tub is available in three models and is constructed of Lucite XL Acrylic. Available in more than 23 colors, the tub features a unique shape and an optional offset seat. The Bermuda I (shown) has six adjustable...

AquaGlass.(Showers and Tubs)
October 1, 2003... AquaGlass. The Sydney oval drop-in whirlpool spa, part of the Indulgence Series, features the maker's Hydrologic Water Therapy Jet System. The tub features six jets, two air controls, and a 1.5 HP pump. Microban Antimicrobial protection...

Sterling.(Showers and Tubs)
October 1, 2003... Sterling. Ensemble shower system wall surrounds and receptors are constructed of the maker's solid Vikrell material and feature interlocking tongue and groove joints for easy and caulk-free installation. Wall surrounds come in 36-, 42-, 48-,...

American Shower Door.(Showers and Tubs)
October 1, 2003... American Shower Door. The 1/4-inch Frameless Triple Sliding shower enclosure provides 15% more clear opening than a traditional sliding enclosure, says the maker. The three panels slide on a triple-track header through synchronized push-pull...

Basco.(Showers and Tubs)
October 1, 2003... Basco. Celesta glass shower enclosures are individually customized for each application and are available in 3/8-inch or l/2-inch tempered safety glass in three styles: clear, Symmetry, and Rain. An array of door pull and towel bar options are...

Luxury Bath Systems.(Showers and Tubs)
October 1, 2003... Luxury Bath Systems. The Replacement Tub is made of stain-, chip-, and dent-resistant acrylic and is available in colors to match all of the maker's signature wall systems. A high density structural foam backs the tub to lend strength and...

Coastal Industries.(Showers and Tubs)
October 1, 2003... Coastal Industries. Paragon Frameless Bypass shower doors are now available in 1/4-inch and 3/16-inch tempered glass panels. The 1/4-inch door features an aluminum towel bar mounted through the glass, while the 3/16-inch door features a new...

Au Naturel: though wood is waning as a siding material, it has its passionate proponents.(Siding)
October 1, 2003... Last month, Minneapolis contractor Marty Schirber, CR, was working on the exterior of a home. The first floor was stucco; the second was sided with cedar shakes. The paint on the shakes was peeling and his painters, Schirber says, couldn't...

Steel deck in a box: Minnesota contractor Chris Renslow set out to build "the perfect deck." Has he?(Decks)
October 1, 2003... Chris Renslow, owner of Renslow's Outdoor Systems, in South St. Paul, Minn., divides "the deck world" into three parts: There are wood decks; there are low-maintenance vinyl or composite decks; and then there are his decks--specifically, a...

Pay up.(Decks)
October 1, 2003... Q: When should I pay my sales-people their commissions? A: Notice that most of the activity from your sales staff comes around paydays. If I sell a job this week and have a chance to get some money from that job, there is more incentive for...

Behind closed doors: homeowners want personalized closets that work well and look good.(Products Trends)
October 1, 2003... A well-designed closet is more than just the place where clothing and shoes are stored. It is also a means of organizing the morning rituals and everyday tasks of homeowners. A jumbled closet, where items are hard to locate and clean clothes...

Soak up the sun: the outdoor living season extends with year-round sunrooms.
October 1, 2003... The sunroom market is growing as homeowners become more interested in comfortably spending time outdoors in all seasons. In a recent NAHB Remodelors Council survey, sunroom additions ranked in the top seven home improvement projects. ...

Milwaukee tools sets up volunteer program.
October 1, 2003... A recently implemented charitable program from Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation is helping drum up experienced volunteers for the Habitat for Humanity International program. "Heavy Duty Helping" is designed to give tradespeople--both...

Chilled Out.(Reader's Choice)
October 1, 2003... Remodeler Jenny Pippin frequently works with clients who need extra refrigeration in their kitchens and throughout their homes. Rather than purchasing an entire additional refrigerator and gobbling up space, Pippin recommends incorporating...

Comfort from the cold.(Reader's Choice)
October 1, 2003... A high water table in Oregon creates frequent flooding problems in the basements of homes that remodeler Robert Kraft works on. So to protect his clients' interior flooring, Kraft's found a favorite in the System Platon Sub Floor, a dimpled,...

Safety first.(Reader's Choice)
October 1, 2003... When Roger Gallagher learned about H.E.P.A.-filtered lead vacuums through NARI's Lead-Safe Remodeler training program, he decided to invest in one. He works on older homes that often still contain leadbased paints. He chose the Lead Vac from...

Wood siding corner details: a primer on finishing off the four (or more) sides of a house.(On The Job)
October 1, 2003... Not counting things like geodesic domes and igloos, all houses have at least four outside corners. These are important design elements, and the treatment they receive can have a big effect on a structure's appearance. Let's take a look at three...

Home theater: entertainment sounds so much better in a room designed for high performance.(In Focus)
October 1, 2003... When homeowners make their wish fists for dedicated home theaters, they generally think about the electronics systems: screens, video equipment, and speakers. But rarely do they consider how well those systems will perform in the dedicated...

Bass Industries.(In Focus)
October 1, 2003... Bass Industries. The Alternative Home Cinema Seating line features a futuristic, high tech, yet elegant appearance, says the maker. Apollo, Orion, Futura, Helix, Matrix, Odessey, and Cinema Chaise offer alternatives to traditional loungers or...

Parasound.(In Focus)
October 1, 2003... Parasound. The THX Ultra2-certified Halo C 1 multichannel A/V controller features a 5 inch front panel video monitor, automatic room calibration, balanced XLR audio and BNC video connections, a DSP engine, multi-zone capability, and two remote...

SpeakerCrafts.(In Focus)
October 1, 2003... SpeakerCraft. Consisting of three models, the Starlet series of in-line wall speakers features 6 1/2-inch fiberglass woven woofers that deliver clear bass and ribbon tweeters that produce a wide range of frequency. An extruded aluminum...

Sharp.(In Focus)
October 1, 2003... Sharp. The SharpVision XV-Z10000U high definition Digital Light Processing front projector uses Texas Instruments' Mustang/HD2 DLP chip set to provide widescreen images in cinema quality with high contrast and brightness. A DVI terminal ensures...

Bose.(In Focus)
October 1, 2003... Bose. The Virtually Invisible 191 speakers can be flush mounted in either walls or ceilings and feature both rectangular and circular grilles that can be changed during installation. The grilles can he painted to match wall or ceiling colors....

Sony.(In Focus)
October 1, 2003... Sony. The new Grand WEGA LCD-based rear projection screens are available in 60- and 70-inch screen sizes, and both widescreen models feature built in ATSC tuners, i.LINK and DVI-HDTV digital interfaces, Uniform Brightness Screen technology, and...

Bang & Olufsen.(In Focus)
October 1, 2003... Bang & Olufsen. The BeoVision 5 42-inch plasma screen features integrated loudspeakers and can be mounted on a wall. A customized bracket and stand is available for freestanding installations. The screen can be integrated with a variety of the...

Sonance.(In Focus)
October 1, 2003... Sonance. The Ellipse 2.0 LCR and Ellipse Surround in-ceiling speakers are elliptically shaped to improve performance in a surround sound home theater. Sonic Eye Technology allows the tweeter/midrange array on each speaker to pivot up to 20...

Vutec.(In Focus)
October 1, 2003... Vutec. Designed as a masking system for wall-mounted plasma televisions and projection screens, the ArtScreen features hardwood framing and a retractable art piece. The homeowner's choice or image is displayed in the frame when the television...

Auton.(In Focus)
October 1, 2003... Auton. The Flip-Down Plasma Unit is designed to conceal a plasma television in the ceiling. Measuring 42 inches wide by 11 1/2 inches high and 32 inches deep, the flip-down model features a manual override switch, remote control, adjustable...

Moberg Fireplaces.(Fireplaces)
October 1, 2003... Moberg Fireplaces. The Modern Rumford masonry fireplace kit is designed to be installed anywhere in the home. Constructed of heavy stainless steel, insulation, and factory-built masonry blocks, the fireplace is easy to install, claims the...

Rais & Wittus.(Firelpaces)
October 1, 2003... Rais & Wittus. The direct-vent gas Rais Gabo stove features flame control, variable heat output, and an optional remote control. The stove is available in black or gray, and the convection grate/louvers can be speced in stainless steel. The...

Travis Industries.(Fireplaces)
October 1, 2003... Travis Industries. Lopi Stoves' Looking Glass fireplace features a cast iron facing with early-American architectural detailing, a thermostatically controlled quiet blower, remote control, and the maker's Ember-Fyre burner. A secret compartment...

Tulikivi.(Fireplaces)
October 1, 2003... Tulikivi. The Lunaria Major Perla fireplace can be installed against a wall or in a corner and pairs soapstone with contrasting stone accents. Featuring a firebox with a straight fireplace door, the fireplace is decorated with insets of pearly...

Napoleon Quality Fireplaces.(Fireplaces)
October 1, 2003... Napoleon Quality Fireplaces. The Electro-Glow fireplace plugs into an electrical outlet for operation and requires no venting. The 1,500 watt heater can operate independently of the flame. (800) 461-5581. www .napoleonfireplaces.com. ...