Remodeling articles from October 2004

Remodeling archives from October 2004

Don't go with your gut.(First Word)
October 1, 2004... Most of the time, remodelers can stay out of trouble by just doing what comes naturally. We work with clients we like and avoid those we don't; we prefer to teach new skills to someone with a good attitude instead of the other way around; and...

Pay-per-view on the Web site.(.comment)
October 1, 2004... Long-time readers of REMODELING Online know that our Web site's archives hold virtually every article from REMODELING since January 2002. Recently, we added articles from our sister publication, REPLACEMENT CONTRACTOR. The time and expense to...

Growth comes in different forms.(Call Back)(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2004... The Errors of Your Ways," (July 2004, page 9) is a very good article, but I do have a problem with Sal Alfano's statement that "growth is essential." I am not totally convinced. I think profitability is essential, regardless of size. If...

Supplier shift in remodeling.(News + Notes)
October 1, 2004... Recently released data confirm what many remodelers have no doubt already discovered in conducting their day-to-day business: Big box retailers are well on their way to overtaking local lumberyards as the main suppliers to remodelers. ...

Study groups.(News + Notes)
October 1, 2004... In a move that should increase participation in their Certified Remodeler (CR) program, NARI has launched its first "virtual" study group. The CR program--for which NARI members with at least five years of industry experience are...

Storm watch.(News + Notes)
October 1, 2004... With materials prices already at all-time record levels, the late summer spate of disastrous weather that hit Florida raised concerns throughout the building industry that the situation would get even worse. However, historical data and...

Continued recovery.(Market Watch)
October 1, 2004... REMODELING MARKET INDEX Remodeling activity remained high in the second quarter of 2004, according to the latest RMI released by the NAHB. The current market index stood at 53.5, virtually the same as this time last year, and the future...

Must-have reports: what do you absolutely need to check to monitor your business health?(Commentary)
October 1, 2004... As a company grows to where the owner can't personally monitor it day-to-day, week-to-week, or even month-to-month, processes must enable the owner to keep abreast of the business. This requires that the company set up at least two systems....

The missing link: it's easy to decide to do something. Following through and executing your business plan is the real achievement.(Commentary)
October 1, 2004... So where are those copious notes you made at last year's Remodeling Show? Or the neat sales-to-production-hand-off form you got from your remodeler buddy that you wanted to adapt and begin using? And then you bought a book on how to put the...

Higher help: in this day and age, there's no excuse for going rough business waters alone.(Commentary)
October 1, 2004... These days, it seems everything about running a remodeling business is more difficult than it used to be. There are more regulatory hoops to jump through, more products to learn about, and more office technology to master. Financial risks are...

Service masters: to improve business, remodelers should take a cue from across the Pacific.(Commentary)
October 1, 2004... This past spring I was lucky enough to travel with a group from Softwoods Export Council to Japan to present classroom seminars to Japanese new home builders who are rising to meet the growing need of the country's nascent remodeling industry....

Cleaning up.(Ways + Means)
October 1, 2004... How to burst through a condominium's penthouse floor, connect it via steel staircase to the apartment below, install a stone floor and a few other high-end amenities without damaging common areas, leaving dust in or around the building, or bad...

Service tension.(Ways + Means)
October 1, 2004... When a job is finished, everyone is ready to move on. That's why it's so hard to field service calls. But, says Craig Weber, "if you deal with 10 headaches fight away, it becomes a routine process." The owner of general contracting firm...

Better business through barbeque.(Ways + Means)
October 1, 2004... To kick off National Remodeling Month in May, Waller Construction of Lakeland, Fla., held a Vendor Appreciation Day barbeque for its subcontractors, suppliers, and a few close clients. "It's all about relationships" says Jimmy Waller, vice...

Know thy team.(Work + Life)
October 1, 2004... Q: A key employee recently quit, and I was caught off guard. What can I do to avoid this happening again? A: Be in tune with your team. Any differences in work quality, commitment, and demeanor are signs that something has changed. In order...

Look without.(Bottom Line)
October 1, 2004... When Scott Barr of Southwest Exteriors wanted to make some changes and accomplish certain goals at his San Antonio remodeling company, he turned to a management consultant. He knew what he was getting into: He had first worked with George Black...

Choosing a consultant.(Bottom Line)
October 1, 2004... Scott Barr advises remodelers to first see if hiring a management consultant would be a good return on investment. "Quantify how many new jobs you have to sell to pay for it and if it's reasonable for your company, " he says. Then find a...

Mistake insurance.(Bottom Line)
October 1, 2004... Two common lawsuits in remodeling are for breach of contract and negligence in the performance of services. Negligence suits arise from damages sustained due to the contractor's failure to perform according to known standards in their field....

Sizing up your job sign.(Sales + Marketing)
October 1, 2004... Lori and Bruce Bentley of Bentley Design & Remodeling, Hanford, Calif., recently redesigned their job sign. Ruth Lozner, associate professor of design and marketing at the University of Maryland in College Park, Md., took a peek. "The job...

Sense-ational sales.(Sales + Marketing)
October 1, 2004... Big50 remodeler-turned consultant Mike Gorman says people think in pictures, not words. Create a "movie" in their brain, transferring key moods, feelings, and associations, and you'll make a sale. Most people are right handed, so when they...

Own your neighborhood.(Sales + Marketing)
October 1, 2004... Jim Pitcher, president of Castle Rock Construction in Suisun, Calif., doesn't have a lock on his northern California market, but his strategy is to act like he does. Pitcher has five rules. Know your market intimately. "I focus my marketing...

Key qualifying questions.(Sales + Marketing)
October 1, 2004... On your first phone call, how do you query potential clients? Here's a list of questions to ask. Do you deserve me? You want to work with customers who fit your processes, team, personality, specialty. Ask yourself, Who is my ideal client...

Do you see what they see?(Field Notes)
October 1, 2004... Fear seems to be driving some homeowners to hire home inspectors to review the work of remodelers. "They want checks and balances. We're brought in as a consultant--as an objective third party," says Stephen Glad stone, president of the...

Eye and face protection.(Field Notes)
October 1, 2004... Every year, thousands of workers injure their eyes or lose their sight--not because proper protection was unavailable but because they chose not to use it. You must protect your eyes from harmful rays or radiation, the splatter of hazardous...

Best hiring practice.(Field Notes)
October 1, 2004... Hiring field staff is one of the most important parts of a manager's job--especially in today's tough labor market. Getting the right people in the right jobs is so critical, it cannot be left to chance. Here's a method that one prominent...

Color primer: guide your clients to the right color choices.(By Design)
October 1, 2004... We humans have a complex relationship with color. Our color preferences aren't based only on taste but also on innate psychological responses including shifts in mood, spatial perception, and even physical comfort. Our responses to color...

Do call us.(Tech @ Work)
October 1, 2004... With 45 employees, it had become a nightmare for ARS Services to keep track of written time sheets. "Imagine facing 40 sheets of paper and keeping them organized, especially when people forget to write things down," says Rich Piltch, president...

Connecting remotely.(Tech @ Work)
October 1, 2004... It's 8 p.m., you re on a sales call, and your customer's ready to sign on the dotted line, but oops--you 'forgot to copy the contract, specs, and financing information over to your laptop before yOU left the office. Now what? There are a...

Start it up!(Good Form)
October 1, 2004... So much of our work is repeat and referral business," says Michael Spreckelmeier, president of Progressive Builders, in Fort Myers, Fla. The importance of a first impression, then, cannot be understated. That's why the company sends out a start...

Profile: Gilday renovations.(Close Up)
October 1, 2004... Five years after winning Big50 in 1988, Tom Gilday and his partner/cousin, Kevin, were forced to cut by half their 30-employee staff at Gilday Design and Remodeling. The depressed Washington, D.C., economy was to blame. Since 1999, the...

Second look: Michael Strong.(Close Up)
October 1, 2004... Michael Strong has ridden the Trans-Siberian Express through China, hopped a freighter to Gambia, and stood atop the Berlin Wall helping Berliners tear it apart. "I very much enjoy being out of my element," says the owner of Brothers...

Should I use the lead carpenter system?(Face Off)
October 1, 2004... "The lead carpenter is essential to our operation--to any remodeling company that wants to split crews and run more than one job at a time." --Tim Britton AN ESSENTIAL SYSTEM The lead carpenter (LC) is not a man; it's a system....

That's my job: what part of your business is too important to delegate?(Q+A)
October 1, 2004... WALTER MAXSON Maxson Remodeling & Construction Zionsville, Ind. Big50 1998 Nothing. My goal is to create a company that operates within clearly defined systems and procedures, with each department (sales, production, and...

Reading list: two Big50 remodelers recommend some page turners.(Live + Learn)
October 1, 2004... Ray Wiese The Wiese Co. Natick, Mass. Big50 2004 At every initial meeting with a potential client, I bring The Not So Big House. Customers who read it get a chance to start thinking about what they really need and how to make...

Hard knocks: pump it up: be confident and speak up when you see an error coming down the pike.(Live + Learn)
October 1, 2004... Back when Randy Schorr and his learn at Schorr Construction in Wisconsin were starting out 25 years ago, he says, they were hired to do "an architecturally designed job on a lake--a sunroom with a fancy rec room beneath it. I was young then and...

Asian flare: a Japanese stroll garden inspires an addition that's intimately tied to the outside.(Before + After)
October 1, 2004... The late Minoru Yamasaki, a second-generation Japanese born in America, is known for designing New York's World Trade Center, which he saw as a symbol of man's limitless potential. Yamasaki lived in Michigan and designed his first high-rise...

Business happens: milestones don't just appear; remodelers need to be proactive when it comes to recognizing and planning for growth and change.
October 1, 2004... The enterprise might begin as a hobby, building projects for friends and family, getting paid a little to do something that gives enjoyment and satisfaction. Then, more jobs appear and more money rolls in. A business is bum, and soon...

Supplied-side economics: don't lose your profit on jobs where homeowners buy their own materials.
October 1, 2004... Projects for which the homeowner supplies some or all of the materials--buy-it-yourself, or BIY for short--have traditionally caused headaches for remodelers. They pose all sorts of scheduling and quality control problems, and there are...

Remodeling's consumer panel: homeowners have a lot to say about the remodeling process. Do you want to hear it?
October 1, 2004... If it wasn't one before, remodeling is definitely now a service industry. A recent NARI survey shows that a remodeler's trustworthiness and service ranked most important in a homeowner's decision to hire. Quality ranked as only the sixth most...

New points of view: the Andersen inHOME at Sundance Film Festival puts windows front and center (and almost everywhere else) to inspire new thinking about their place and function in home design.(Advertisement)
October 1, 2004... The wood-trimmed windows that make up an entire corner of the Great Room in the Andersen inHOME capture dramatic views of the Wasatch Mountains that overlook Park City, Utah, but they are just one of several inspiring points of view in this...

Clever storage for kitchen and bath: for the best storage solutions, you need to think outside the box.
October 1, 2004... My husband, Bob, and I run a design/build remodeling company in California's Silicon Valley. Many of our customers are engineers, so they expect cabinets to be highly functional and designed to fit their specific needs, in addition to being...

Building the business: keys to success--the GE retail sales finance difference.(Special Advertising Section)(Advertisement)
October 1, 2004... GE Retail Sales Finance's Home Improvement Lending Gives Melani Bros. a Substantial Edge When you sell sunrooms for a living, you learn a thing or two about making customers' dreams a reality. And if you sell a lot of sunrooms, you're able...

Scheduling software 101: we compare software packages and describe the features to look for in a computerized scheduler.
October 1, 2004... If you're running a successful remodeling company, chances are you've developed a scheduling system that helps you keep your jobs on track. It may be as simple as a Xeroxed calendar or a dry-erase board. So if it's working, why should you...

The ripple effect.(Foundation Award 2004)
October 1, 2004... For almost 40 years, James Krengel has dedicated his life to defining and teaching professionalism in the kitchen and bath industry. He built a successful example with his own company, then set out to help new designers and remodelers reach...

Why BIY?(Reader Panel)
October 1, 2004... Not all of our ReaderPanel respondents do jobs where the homeowners supply at least some of the materials (known as buy-it-yourself, or BIY). But most--84%--do. In fact, fewer than 10% say they have never done any BIY work at all. In...

That warm feeling: warming drawers can be the ideal appliance for the right client.(Design Clinic)
October 1, 2004... Warming drawers arc a practical kitchen item but only for the right client. Remodelers and designers need to find out if the appliance will fit their client's lifestyle. Mick De Giulio, owner of De Giulio Kitchen Design in Chicago, says that...

The selling cycle.(Management)
October 1, 2004... Last month we covered the first three steps in the Selling Cycle: prospecting, the initial contact, and qualifying. Here are the next two steps. Presentation. With steps one through three, you have determined whether you have a good match...

Bath trends.(Management)
October 1, 2004... Consultant Peter Schor has spent 40 years in the bath industry--the past 17 years as an educator. The owner of Dynamic Results and the Institute of Bathroom Product Knowledge in Wilsonville, Ore., attends conventions in America, Europe, and...

Showers & tubs.(Spec Book)
October 1, 2004... Every trend spotter in the industry agrees that the hottest trend bathrooms right now is "the home spa experience." Consumers are looking at the bathroom as a retreat in which they can de-stress and escape from the world. Even if your average...

Celesta.(Showers & Tubs)
October 1, 2004... The LX950 glass shower enclosure boasts a deceptively simple design. The unit shown features a traditional door pull, prima hinges and header, and u-channel in a brushed nickel finish. Homeowners can choose from several other hardware options...

Americh.(Showers & Tubs)
October 1, 2004... The Madison oval tub can be outfitted with any of the company's four tub systems. The Airbath fills the tub with warm air bubbles by way of individual airjets set throughout the entire tub floor. The whirlpool system provides hydro massage that...

MTI Whirlpools.(Showers & Tubs)
October 1, 2004... Designed by artist Dennis Primm, the Primm bathtub is gracefully supported by a handcrafted frame of cast iron cattails. The soaker bath is available in more than 30 colors, and it measures 66 by 41 3/4 inches and is 26 inches deep. The glossy...

Kohler.(Showers & Tubs)
October 1, 2004... A customizable bath experience comes courtesy of the 120 airjets in the Memoir Experience BubbleMassage tub. Other features include a variable-speed motor/ blower and three Zones of Control, which can be set separately or in combination. An...

Coastal Industries.(Showers & Tubs)
October 1, 2004... Seen recently on "The Apprentice," the Paragon Bypass shower enclosure makes a striking style statement in today's contemporary bath. The 3/8-inch tempered glass panels are the thickest on the market, says the maker, and the enclosure boasts a...

Swanstone.(Showers & Tubs)
October 1, 2004... Four creative options are offered in this series of decorative panels for shower and tub walls, including a Prairie-inspired design of textured squares surrounded by rectangles. The 36-by-96-inch panels, available in 29 colors, are easy to...

Danze.(Showers & Tubs)
October 1, 2004... Continuing the trend toward larger showerheads, the Antique Bell is offered in 8- and 10-inch diameters. The showerheads feature an elegant design that's at home in both traditional and contemporary decor. Choose from polished chrome or brushed...

Aqua Glass.(Showers & Tubs)
October 1, 2004... Touted as an easy-to-install upgrade, the domeless acrylic shower also boasts decorator appeal and a choice of colors. Each unit is vacuum formed for structural strength, and the shells are reinforced by two layers of fiberglass. The company...

Grohe.(Showers & Tubs)
October 1, 2004... The Freehander Dual-Head Shower System offers 18 choices of shower spray combinations. Both showerheads can be rotated 360 degrees, and the tubular arm that holds them can be easily set to any height. The system can be retrofitted without...

Handling product warranty claims.(Roofing)
October 1, 2004... Remodelers live in dread of that client who calls six months after completion of a job, complaining about something that has gone wrong. "We jump right on it, no matter how small the problem," says Pat Hurst, owner of Hurst Construction,...

Skylight retrofit red flags.(Windows)
October 1, 2004... When it comes to retrofitting skylights, two aspects of the job--framing the light well and flashing the unit--have the greatest potential for problems. Framing is typically only a problem in trussed roofs, but, says veteran remodeler Les Deal...

One's the number.(Windows)
October 1, 2004... Q: Should my salespeople sell multiple lines? A: If your company is like many, you're probably carrying multiple product lines. Should your salespeople sell one, some, or all of them? The answer's not simple. But at a perfect company--with...

Raise (and protect) the roof: self-adhered underlayments are being used with felt to protect all types of roofs.(Trends)
October 1, 2004... Originally developed to protect against ice damming (a phenomenon caused mainly by poor roof insulation in northern climates), self-adhesive underlayments and substrates are becoming popular as industry experts and contractors embrace...

Spray what?(Trends)
October 1, 2004... Historic houses offer unique beauty and charm. They bring a sense of pride to their owners, but they also bring a distinctive set of problems to those who own and love them. At the top of the list is exterior maintenance. Painting every few...

Softer hardware.(Trends)
October 1, 2004... Reproduction hardware is turning up all over the market these clays. Everywhere from The Home Depot to women's clothing stores like Anthropologie, consumers can find treasures cast from another era. Whether they're looking for the glass...

Spare with the rod.(Reader's Choice)
October 1, 2004... In historic architecture rich Seattle, Jackson Remodeling has won awards for its design/build work, which focuses on those classic and older homes. The company is also green--taking every opportunity to recommend environmentally friendly...

Drawing rooms.(Reader's Choice)
October 1, 2004... Jonathan Ward describes himself as a "boutique contractor." "I do small-scale remodeling, and everything from repairs to custom architectural detailing." As such, he didn't have much use for a lot of the CAD software he saw on the market. ...

Shingle offset.(On The Job)
October 1, 2004... How well three-tab shingles hold up over time depends to some degree on the patterns used to lay them. Although many customers prefer to see the cutouts aligned on the roof, this directs runoff into channels that erode the shingle surface. ...

Moisture barriers and mold prevention: the first step toward eliminating mold is reducing moisture.(In Focus)
October 1, 2004... Mold has sometimes been blamed for a wide array of health problems--everything from fatigue to neuropsychiatric disorders--and while experts can't definitively say that mold doesn't contribute at all to these and other more serious illnesses, a...

Nylon Board Manufacturing.(In Focus)
October 1, 2004... Made of 100% recycled plastic and nylon materials, Omega Board is one-quarter the weight of traditional backer boards and doesn't produce dust when cut. it contains no asbestos, gypsum, fiberglass, formaldehyde, or silica. When used as a the or...

Pactiv.(In Focus)
October 1, 2004... GreenGuard RainDrop woven housewrap has unique water drainage channels that move extra water down to the base of the exterior wall. These channels won't crush when siding is fastened over the housewrap, says the maker. When moisture penetrates...

American Standard.(In Focus)
October 1, 2004... Available as an option on all the company's whirlpools, the StayClean system inhibits the development of mold and mildew. AlphaSan, a patented anti-microbial agent, is manufactured into the whirlpool plumbing components. Flushing with bleach...

Longlac Wood Industries.(In Focus)
October 1, 2004... The DRIcore engineered wood subfloor system is designed for use in finished basements. The system is made up of 2-inch-square engineered wood panels bonded to a rigid, moisture-resistant polyethylene sheet with raised "cleats" on the underside....

Foster.(In Focus)
October 1, 2004... 42-42 Mold-Resistant Sealer is water-resistant, dries fast, and inhibits mold and mildew growth on its surface. Made to protect various building products, the sealer is formulated with fungistatic agents and penetrates the material it's applied...

Sto Corp.(In Focus)
October 1, 2004... Sto Guard's three parts work together to form a seamless, vapor-permeable air and moisture barrier for use on sheathing and beneath exterior wall claddings such as brick, wood, cement, masonry, or vinyl siding. The liquid-applied wrap consists...

CertainTeed.(In Focus)
October 1, 2004... The thin MemBrain vapor retarder is made of a polyamide film that changes permeability depending on humidity. As the seasons change, it can go from less than one perm at low humidity to greater than 20 perms at higher humidity. The film allows...

Grace Construction Products.(In Focus)
October 1, 2004... Designed to protect structures from water infiltration, the Vycor Plus self-adhered flashing membrane now has Ripcord. The cord is embedded in the adhesive layer, and it allows the split of the release paper in half. The flashing is made of a...

Napoleon.(Fireplaces)
October 1, 2004... 35,000 BTUs power the direct-vent Starfire GD70NT-S. Available in both propane and natural gas, the unit is approved for bathrooms, bedrooms, and bed sitting rooms. Accessories include a night light, heat circulating blower, and a dual...

Dimplex.(Fireplaces)
October 1, 2004... Pretty and functional, the Traditional Alabaster fireplace adds timeless beauty to the home. Designed for use with the electraflame 30-inch firebox, the unit can be finished with a choice of trim kits including antique brass, black polished...

European Home.(Fireplaces)
October 1, 2004... The Vision gas fireplace combines warmth with sleek minimalism. The hole-in-the-wall, B Vent, open-front fireplace can be installed with or without a surround (provided the wall is made of non-combustible material) and could be combined with a...

Boral Bricks.(Fireplaces)
October 1, 2004... A custom look is easily achieved with the 17th Century Fireplace Kit. The kit comes with installation blueprints, brick, brick shapes, and sculptures, and is offered in three models--Full Wall, Mantel With Surround, and Surround--and several...

Moberg Fireplaces.(Fireplaces)
October 1, 2004... In a move meant to bring the masonry fireplace into the 21st century, the Modern Rumford combines vintage charm and modern convenience. Available in low-emission wood burning or gas, the fireplace promises greater efficiency and easier...

Exhausto.(Fireplaces)
October 1, 2004... The EBC5 control for gas fireplaces sets the speed of the chimney fan that creates the mechanical draft in the chimney system. It provides a propel and accurate draft at the outlet of the heating appliance and features an integrated safety...

Lennox Hearth Products.(Fireplaces)
October 1, 2004... The Merit Plus Series Electric Fireplace can stand alone or be built-in and has several optional mantel and finish styles, providing a wealth of decorating options for the homeowner. A remote control commands flame height, ember intensity, and...

Regency.(Fireplaces)
October 1, 2004... The Hampton gas fireplace can be installed without a chimney system, because it vents directly to the outside of the home, either through the wall or up through the roof. Offered in three designs and a choice of finishes, the unit has...