How We Got Color to Here  We thought it would be interesting to talk about paint. This month, we thought we could start with a brief history. The subject covers a lot of area, (and yes, the pun is intended!). We are going to start off with a brief history of paint to give you some idea of how paint came about and actually how little the composition changed over time. LET’S DIVE IN The Origin Humans have been using pigments, the color in paint, for quite some time. In fact, according to ‘Earth Date’, the oldest discovery to date of ground ochre and charcoal is over 100,000 years. The mix ..read more

Separating Fact From Hyperbole The internet, news agencies, politicians, and builders have all been talking about ‘Banning Gas Stoves’. We wanted to dive into this timely topic so our followers can cut through what is fact, and what is hyperbole. Where It All Started What brought this all to a national conversation recently was a statement by Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), commissioner Richard Trumka, Jr’s statement that the CPSC was looking into banning gas stoves in an interview with Bloomberg News. But that’s not where it started. A couple of years ago the California Energy ..read more

Stone Products: What You Should Know The topic this month comes from Taylor, a Client Representative and Designer with Renovations. Taylor has been getting questions over the past several months about the different stone countertop products and how to care for them. We haven’t touched on this for some time so Bill wanted to run with it. Here we go! For starters, there are basically four different stone products that are used for counters, granite, quartzite, quartz, and marble. LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT EACH ONE Granite A natural stone found all over the planet. However, the majority of granite is ..read more

I think all of you who are or have been, in business will agree that staying relevant is a key component of thriving. Our industry is no exception. Ongoing education opportunities not only help us move forward, but they are also the oxygen for our company. Topics Vary Technical, where we are learning about a new technique, a new tool, as well as new materials when they come on the market. Best Business practices are a popular topic. Everything from how to improve marketing, including what to measure, to bookkeeping practices, organizational improvements, employer/employee relationships and mor ..read more

Inflation is affecting all of us. Across the gamut, from food to fuel, from the roof to the foundation, everything is costing more than it did just a short year ago. We have all heard the theories about how and why. None of which help. Remodeling Is No Exception. Yes, materials are rising, labor less so but still affected. One would look at the market now and in despair opt not to remodel until prices stabilize, and that is what they are most likely to do, stabilize. Not go up, nor down. ‘Waiting it out’? Prices are not likely to drop significantly. May not be a good strategy. There is a silve ..read more

Technology will continue to lead the way to the future of the construction industry. Tech already affects every aspect of the design and construction process. Starting with design, 3D programs are the norm right now. We are beginning to incorporate virtual tours of a building or even your kitchen. You can literally put on a set of eye goggles and walk through the design. 3D imagining technology is improving exponentially. The ‘Holodeck’ from Star Trek is closer than you think. Soon you will be taking all the guess work out of the design process and know exactly what your new kitchen will look ..read more

Client and Contractor Communication In our previous article, How Our Home Needs Affect the Home Building Industry, we touched base on the way our ever-shifting needs have impacted the home building industry. Next, we’ll focus on how this impacts clients and contractors’ interactions. Shifts in Agreements Not long ago a typical contract had lower down payments, no clause for price increases, and inflexible timelines. Due primarily to the delays in the supply chain, clients and contractors are agreeing to purchase more items early in the process. Appliances, lighting fixtures, certain finishes m ..read more

In our previous article, Building Is Changing Right Before Our Eyes, we discussed how we have transformed our homes over the last 20 years or less. The pandemic may have accelerated the demand for spaces that we discussed in our last article such as home offices, or entertainment space, but that is only an accelerant and not the original fire. We set the original fire with our changing lifestyles. That is what has changed in what we ask for. Now let us look at the changes taking place in the construction industry. An industry changes to meet demand or creates demand that it is prepared to adap ..read more

The construction industry is undergoing a massive transformation and we are witnessing that now. Yes, as you read this, the industry is making both micro and macro changes in every aspect. The transformations include how we: establish what we are going to create formulate viable solutions establish the process we will utilize to implement those solutions Let us look at each of these three pillars to see what is transpiring and how that affects you, and we will even peek at what is coming! What Are Some Of Our Reasons For Building? The basics have not changed for millennia, shelter and defens ..read more

Last month I wrote about the need for careful planning, rising material costs, and how interest rates are low. As promised, this month I would like to follow up with the challenges of scheduling and the unintended outcomes with Change Orders. Supply chains are, at best, backed up. Everything is taking longer to obtain. Delivery dates are fluid for a lot of items. Many sources are changing their anticipated delivery dates and delays can last weeks. Getting a delivery date is like buying a lottery ticket. The cause has many facets. Factory starts and stops, shipping and transportation cannot kee ..read more