I'll end up catching everyone up on the projects that I worked on for 2009, but right now is an exciting time for my company.
I was invited to help a friend of mine do a "Featured Home" for the 2010 "Great Big Home and Garden Expo" in Cleveland, Ohio. CMJ Development
It's been a lot of work, but when the show starts this Saturday, February 6th, it will give me a chance to meet a lot of people face to face when they come to walk through the home. http://www.greatbighomeandgarden.com/ME2/Sites/Default.asp?SiteID=A775C55B18124691916DD3798B129DEF
The biggest portions that I worked on with this house was a covered fountain which then tied in architecturally with the driveway eave at the front of the house. I will post pictures soon.
If you are in the area, come out and visit me the next two weeks! You can find me at the "Pinnacle" house. Scroll down... http://www.greatbighomeandgarden.com/ME2/Sites/dirmod.asp?sid=&type=gen&mod=Core+Pages&gid=2BC0A354A46D4577897B0FA6373D875B
Friday, February 5, 2010
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Spring Remodeling
Spring will shortly arrive here in Northeast Ohio. After the snow and cold, it sure is a welcome sight. To many of us, Spring's arrival gives us an opportunity to clean the house and yard of all the leftovers of winter.
How of us begin to create a wish list of projects for the spring and summer? A new deck? Maybe and improvement on an existing deck? How about that screened in porch for those hot--mosquito infested--nights? Many of us will look at the opportunity to remodel the bathroom or kitchen, or prepare the basement for the upcoming cold.
Whatever it may be, the prospect of hiring the right contractor can be daunting. With so many so called "experts" out there, who to choose?
I would like to offer some tips for interviewing and assessing contractors--myself included.
1. WHAT DO "YOU' WANT?
This may be--arguably--the most important step. I have spoke to many friends and clients who complain that once they put forth the basics of an idea, the contractor takes over and proceeds to tell them what the contractor knows "they" want
How do I--as a contractor--know what "you" want? I don't. I always encourage a homeowner to brainstorm. Write everything down. Make a folder. Collect articles and photos from magizines and the web. Many times the best brainstorming comes from just walking around Home Depot, Lowes, etc. At the beginning think of everything you would like--shoot for the moon because as your project moves along many ideas will be cast aside and replaced with new or disregard altogether
Budget? On this topic I, most likely, disagree with many of my fellow contractors. As I said above, I tell homeowners to put all of their ideas on the table--whether you can afford it or not. I am a firm believer that a major part of my job is to attempt to make everything you want happen. Now, if you want mosaic tile from the middle east but your working on a smaller budget, that is when we sit down and attempt to get as close as we can to your dream. Why push an idea to the back and be sorry for it later.
We all know out budget. As the design and planning stages move forward, the budget will come in line with your dream project.
One last point on budgets. I recently read a brochure on hiring the right contractor. One of their first "tips" was to tell the them your maximum budget and let them work around it. I TOTALLY DISAGREE! If you tell them your max, I guarantee the project will come in at $1,000 more. You know your budget. If a contractor is in the business of improving your life, he or she will work on the project and you--as the client--will control the budget
2. SIFTING THROUGH THE HUNDREDS OF CONTRACTORS
* If a contractor does not reply to a call or e-mail within two days--move on. * Ask for insurance and worker's compensation forms
* Set a date for an estimate to be submitted.
* Protect yourself with paperwork. Ask for everything in writing.
* Professionalism, knowledge, and references should be judged before price.
* Ask questions and communicate frequently. Contractor doesn't have time--move on.
Finally, it is YOUR home, YOUR project, YOUR life. Contractors work for you, not the other way around.
How of us begin to create a wish list of projects for the spring and summer? A new deck? Maybe and improvement on an existing deck? How about that screened in porch for those hot--mosquito infested--nights? Many of us will look at the opportunity to remodel the bathroom or kitchen, or prepare the basement for the upcoming cold.
Whatever it may be, the prospect of hiring the right contractor can be daunting. With so many so called "experts" out there, who to choose?
I would like to offer some tips for interviewing and assessing contractors--myself included.
1. WHAT DO "YOU' WANT?
This may be--arguably--the most important step. I have spoke to many friends and clients who complain that once they put forth the basics of an idea, the contractor takes over and proceeds to tell them what the contractor knows "they" want
How do I--as a contractor--know what "you" want? I don't. I always encourage a homeowner to brainstorm. Write everything down. Make a folder. Collect articles and photos from magizines and the web. Many times the best brainstorming comes from just walking around Home Depot, Lowes, etc. At the beginning think of everything you would like--shoot for the moon because as your project moves along many ideas will be cast aside and replaced with new or disregard altogether
Budget? On this topic I, most likely, disagree with many of my fellow contractors. As I said above, I tell homeowners to put all of their ideas on the table--whether you can afford it or not. I am a firm believer that a major part of my job is to attempt to make everything you want happen. Now, if you want mosaic tile from the middle east but your working on a smaller budget, that is when we sit down and attempt to get as close as we can to your dream. Why push an idea to the back and be sorry for it later.
We all know out budget. As the design and planning stages move forward, the budget will come in line with your dream project.
One last point on budgets. I recently read a brochure on hiring the right contractor. One of their first "tips" was to tell the them your maximum budget and let them work around it. I TOTALLY DISAGREE! If you tell them your max, I guarantee the project will come in at $1,000 more. You know your budget. If a contractor is in the business of improving your life, he or she will work on the project and you--as the client--will control the budget
2. SIFTING THROUGH THE HUNDREDS OF CONTRACTORS
* If a contractor does not reply to a call or e-mail within two days--move on. * Ask for insurance and worker's compensation forms
* Set a date for an estimate to be submitted.
* Protect yourself with paperwork. Ask for everything in writing.
* Professionalism, knowledge, and references should be judged before price.
* Ask questions and communicate frequently. Contractor doesn't have time--move on.
Finally, it is YOUR home, YOUR project, YOUR life. Contractors work for you, not the other way around.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
First blog
After months of hard work, www.blackbrookbuilders.com is up and running. It is my hope that the future will bring many more interesting and unique woodworking projects to share.
The whole idea of a webpage to showcase a carpentry/home improvement company still gives me a smile. When I started my career as a carpenter a short ad in the newpaper or a chance meeting is what led to many of our jobs. Now we punch our desires into a search engine and, presto, everything you ever wanted.
It is also interesting how computers have become commonplace on the jobsite. Years ago an idea or concept of a home remodeling/improvement project was a drawn out by hand on a pad of paper. Now we delivery a 3-dimensional rendering, complete with walk through technology, to the homeowner before any contract is signed or blueprint is made.
Times change. However, under all this technology it still takes a tape measure, pencil, saw, and a pair of skilled hands to bring these ideas and concepts to life. Technology will always change, but I am still using the same hammer and wooden rule that I used some 20 or so years ago.
Thanks for visiting.
Bob
The whole idea of a webpage to showcase a carpentry/home improvement company still gives me a smile. When I started my career as a carpenter a short ad in the newpaper or a chance meeting is what led to many of our jobs. Now we punch our desires into a search engine and, presto, everything you ever wanted.
It is also interesting how computers have become commonplace on the jobsite. Years ago an idea or concept of a home remodeling/improvement project was a drawn out by hand on a pad of paper. Now we delivery a 3-dimensional rendering, complete with walk through technology, to the homeowner before any contract is signed or blueprint is made.
Times change. However, under all this technology it still takes a tape measure, pencil, saw, and a pair of skilled hands to bring these ideas and concepts to life. Technology will always change, but I am still using the same hammer and wooden rule that I used some 20 or so years ago.
Thanks for visiting.
Bob
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