A Tennessee remodeler has rebuilt his staff by recruiting college graduates who don't know his business but have the drive and aptitude to learn. More
Using 3-D images can help clients better understand and experience their remodeling project, making for clearer communication and a smoother process. More
Many full-service and design/build remodelers are inclined to try lead providers ó once. More
Realtors and remodelers across the nation are seeing new attention being paid to energy efficiency. More
I like telling my clients that when they go into one of my suggested sales centers, they will be given my price. However, I pass my dealer discounts on to them. I want them to see the prices I'm paying for their goods. More
The homeowner didn't like the visibility of the laundry machines upon entering the home; she wanted them accessible but unseen. Designer Shawn Sweeney created open “lockers” for each family member along with shelving for shoes and drawers for miscellaneous items. More
Proper clothing is absolutely crucial for us. We wear lots of layers and insulated “bunny boots” that are good to 50 below. We buy chemical foot-warmers and glove-warmers by the case and provide these on jobsites. We also give everyone a set of ice cleats for working on slippery areas. More
Say you own a home worth $400,000. Your home needs a new roof. You find a contractor and he does the job. Cost? $12,000. A year later, you, the homeowner, decide to move. How much did spending that $12,000 on your roof add to the price you can ask for your home? More
Remodeling is by its very nature a contentious process. But there is no magic bullet to protect against run-ins with customers or, worse, with their lawyers. The best protection, many remodelers agree, is as simple as establishing the rules and then making sure everyone follows them. More
My folks lived in a 100-year-old house, complete with cast iron radiators. Charlie Bethel, a Burlington, Vt., plumber passes along these tips for adding panel radiation to an existing hot water heating system: Size the radiator to the calculated heat loss for the space; check the BTU output of the boiler to be certain that the new heated space won't exceed the boiler's capacity; and install a monoflow valve on the return side of the heat loop, which will direct return-side hot water back to the boiler.But the secret to panel radiators is PEX-AL-PEX, a tubing sandwich with inner and outer plastic casings surrounding a thin-wall aluminum hose. The compression fittings are tightened with adjustable wrenches; the crimp-on fittings require specialty tools.With PEX-AL-PEX tubing, an installer can snake through obstacle-ridden areas where rigid tubing might require additional demolition or contortions. More
