Related Stories
Third-Party Customer Survey Service
While survey firms do big business among big builders, most remodelers keep their customer satisfaction research in-house.
Used and improved?
What do you do with items pulled from your remodeling projects? You can avoid transportation and landfill costs by donating surplus materials to a materials exchange — and receive a tax deduction in return. In fact, you also can increase your profitability and reduce waste.
Lighting Strategy Brightens Home
Here's an example where vaulted ceilings and 'light shelves' help illuminate an interior where a client was seeking more light.
Whole house: Going down to the studs allows rewiring for lighting, sound and security systems
Sometimes older houses need more than just remodeling. They need a new vision for dark interiors, awkward spaces and outdated features. This home, owned by broadcaster Edward R. Murrow from 1946 to 1964, had become the "ugly dog of the neighborhood," homeowner Skip Sroka says. While association with Murrow gave the house importance, the structure lacked architectural significance.
Paragon General Contractors
Microsoft Project scheduling software helps Paragon General Contractors hold homeowners, designers, and subcontractors to deadlines.
Deck: Outdoor living space requires a durable, weather-resistant space
"A deck is the transition between the inside world of the home and the outside environment," says remodel carpenter Erich von Tagen. "A deck should accentuate the details of the home." In this case, while the view of a large valley and three major Cascade Range peaks from the deck couldn't be beat, the deck was an eyesore.
Kitchen Design that Challenges the Work Triangle
If your clients want a kitchen that's functional as well as flashy, refer them to the revised edition of Donald E. Silvers' Kitchen Design With Cooking in Mind (NMI Publishers, softcover, 87 pages).
Lighting: Vaulted ceilings, 'light shelves' help illuminate an interior
Nothing transforms more than the power of light. The interior of this late 1960s-style split-level was dark and dated with 8-foot ceilings and a cramped kitchen. It presented both a challenge and an opportunity. Here's how this remodeling firm handled the challenge.
On Site
Pictures from the Community Builders Assocation of New Jersey, NARI's Evening of Excellence event and the NAHB Remodelors Council Chairman's Dinner at the 2004 International Builders' Show.