These 8 Exterior Renovation Projects Add the Most Value

When it comes to selling a home, the first impression is everything. The way the exterior looks and functions can play a big role in its overall value. But not all exterior renovations are created equal. The 2019 Remodeling Impact Report from the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) and the National Association of Realtors analyzed the eight most common exterior renovation projects and found these are the ones likely to add the most value to a home at resale.

Here are seven of the best marketing resources small construction companies can utilize.

Google My Business

Google My Business (GMB) is a free business listing that appears in your local Google search map area when a potential customer searches for your business or your specific business services. Setting it up is easy. All you need is an address to verify your business listing.

Certain strategies can increase your ranking in the listings. You can incentivize old clients to leave Google reviews; maintain consistent information about your company across the web; add photos; and write an accurate description of your services.

According to Google, 60 percent of smartphone owners used the GMB call function to contact a company directly. GMB especially helps construction companies with a top-three ranking, because only those appear under the map until you click View All.

HARO

Help a Reporter Out (HARO) sends emails three times a day with requests from journalists seeking experts to provide feedback and quotes for their stories. By responding to these requests, construction companies may get media coverage in prominent publications and web sites that would not otherwise know the company existed.

Ultimately, backlinks to a company’s website can increase its authority in Google’s algorithm, leading to more local traffic. That’s one way to beat out local competitors in search rankings.

A basic monthly subscription to HARO is free. Three paid levels range from $19 to $149 per month.

Canva

Canva is an online design platform that lets you create marketing materials like social media images, flyers, invitations, presentations, videos and more. You can use Canva effectively for free, while the yearly membership for Pro features runs $120 per year. If you don’t have a professional graphic designer, Canva is an excellent alternative because it’s user-friendly with simple navigation and hundreds of templates.

Alexa Upper, director of marketing for JayMarc Homes, says if your company lacks imagery and video, Canva has thousands of stock photos and videos to incorporate into your marketing efforts. Her company used Canva to create their logo, social media campaigns, webinar thumbnails, banners and presentations.

Podium Webchat

Webchat is a great way to instantly collect information about potential customers and connect with them from your website. Podium webchat allows visitors to get text answers to common questions, schedule appointments and talk to a bot. You can set up an autoresponder bot for times when an employee isn’t available.

“We’ve had the chat function on the website for a few months — and already had a good 10 percent jump in leads because of the ability to text with clients from it,” says Josh Swisher, president of Northface Construction. “Podium provides us a seamless way to communicate with our clients in a way they’re already comfortable with — text.”

Podium offers customized pricing. Contact them for a quote.

Active Campaign

Active Campaign is an email marketing tool that helps companies customize their services. You can create a different email funnel (an automated chain of emails sent to your leads) for each individual service you offer. This is an automated way to contact any customers who enter their email information through your website.

Katie Kochelek, owner of Ten Key Home & Kitchen Remodels, explains how her company uses Active Campaign. If someone opens their remodeling newsletter but doesn’t click or show any engagement, a different funnel tries to re-engage that customer with a different offer. Standard email campaigns can’t offer that level of customization. Subscriptions to Active Campaign start at $9 per month.

Twilio

Twilio is a communication tool that helps companies connect with customers via automated phone calls and texts. It forwards construction leads from the website directly to its sales reps. Twilio helps keep things organized, so it’s less likely you’ll miss out on an opportunity to convert a lead. Pricing is use-based and highly customizable.

Kochelek says as soon as a website visitor fills out their contact form, Twilio calls a sales rep. If that person can’t take the call, it’s rerouted to another sales rep. She said they increased sales 24 percent just by instantly engaging with every potential customer.

Facebook Messenger

Facebook Messenger makes it simple for potential customers to reach out to you from your Facebook page. Your company can also set up an autoresponder for inquiries and to answer common questions. Instead of your potential customer waiting for you to respond and possibly going somewhere else, the autoresponder gathers their data and keeps them with you until you respond. And you can use Messenger for free.

Swisher says, “We’re using Facebook as a way to promote our brand more as a direct-to-lead platform. But when we do have customers reaching out, the autoresponder helps keep them feeling taken care of until we can get to them.”

It’s been a lifelong dream: building your own house from the ground up. But don’t let your dream become a nightmare! As exciting as it is to start such a massive project, building a house is no easy feat. Thorough preparation and having realistic goals are keys to a successful experience. From planning to building, read our guide which will help inform you of what lies ahead as you’re breaking ground.

Planning

The most crucial step to building the home of your dreams is the planning phase. The first and most important factor that determines the scope of your project is naturally, your budget. Once you’ve crunched the numbers, you’re ready to tackle estimated costs for every phase of your build — from skilled labor to interior design — and finding clever ways to saving money where you can. Not only that, but you’ll also need to consider whether you’re required to obtain proper building permits.

Financials

Some of the first questions you’ll most likely have when considering building your dream home is how much it’ll cost and how you’ll be able to finance it. Whether you’re looking to apply for a specific type of home construction loan or if you have cash on hand, it’s important for you to have the budgeting know-how in order to stay on budget and save money.

• How to Buy Land: Consider what real estate and financial resources you’d like to use when buying land as well as how easy it’ll be to access utilities and local roads before you submit an offer.

Contractors and Permits

Once you have your finances and a solid plan in place, it’s time to hire a contractor and learn how to work with one smoothly during a home build. There’s also the business of applying for building permits and the consequences of not getting one.

Utilities

When you’re shopping around for the right piece of land to build your new home on, it’s vital that you factor in utility access, which includes the closest electrical grid, sewage and water supply in the area. Once you determine this, then you need to educate yourself on the legalities of land ownership, which involves knowing about utility easements.

Design

And now we get to the most personalized part! What do you want your home to look like? Are you more traditional, eclectic or modern in style? Whatever your design plans are, there are a variety of things to consider, such as whether or not you want to hire an architect and what kind of building material you’d like to use for your home’s exterior. 

• Repurposing Natural Materials for Style: If you’re looking to design your home in a sustainable and creative way, we have décor ideas on how you can repurpose old wood, stone and even tree branches.

Building Materials

It’s important to have your project manager, contractor and team of builders on board when it comes to the building phase of your home. Do your research so you’ll be up to date on the latest home building products and materials and consider repurposing natural materials. There are many logistics to account for, one being if your future home will be located in a remote area, which will affect how you transport your materials there.

That’s why it’s essential to make sure whomever you hire is dependable and credible. Luckily, there are few ways to do so.

Before you hire, be sure to ask contractors if you can get in touch with any of their former clients. They should be more than happy to provide you with contact details. If they don’t, that’s a red flag right off the bat. You can also look online for reviews, although in many cases anonymous reviews should be viewed with skepticism.

Depending on where you live, it can also be simple to check a contractor’s credentials on the internet. Many states have online databases anyone can access with up-to-date information on whether a contractor is properly licensed in that state. Some states even provide state court data to check up on a contractor’s litigation history.

Make sure you use every tool at your disposal to look into a contractor before you make the decision to hire them. Remember: If you can’t find anything about a business online, that’s definitely not a great sign.

Get Multiple Quotes

Any home project more complicated than a basic repair will likely require a “quote.” That’s a document signed by the contractor and the client detailing the work to be done, an estimated completion time, prices and payment schedules, along with any other relevant information.

But don’t just settle for the first contractor who gives you a quote. “You should get at least three quotes both to check the price but also to find the right person,” said real estate developer Bill Samuel. “Each estimate is an opportunity to learn something new about the project as well.”

Getting quotes from multiple sources will give you a couple of advantages. First, you’ll get a clearer picture of whether you’re getting ripped off. Second, putting more eyes on your project will allow you to learn from new perspectives and consider approaches you otherwise might not have considered.

Establish Open Lines of Communication

One of the many wonders of the modern world is how easy it is to get in touch with people. Taking advantage of modern communication tools is a great way to ensure you have a strong relationship with your contractor.

Set up weekly video conferences where both parties can check in, discuss progress made or setbacks encountered. Give your contractor an easy way to get in touch with you and make sure they know when you are available in case they need to reach you for quick comments.

Encourage open and honest communication and don’t be afraid to ask a ton of questions. Asking about things will help you better understand what’s going on while also giving the contractor a chance to explain their thoughts.

Take Photos

Plan on using photography to record every aspect of your project from planning all the way to the end of the build. Photographic records are a great way to keep things moving forward over the course of a project. Photos provide context, prevent confusion and can be used as a reference. They can also serve as conclusive evidence if a disagreement occurs.

Give Contractors Space to Work

If a contractor is working on your home at the same time as you’re living in it, it’s incredibly important to set boundaries. Nothing should interfere with workers doing their jobs. Make sure the contractor and workers have a clear path to their work area, and try to keep anyone else out of that area during the workday.

“It helps if the homeowner ensures that access to where we need to work is clear and free from any obstructions or clutter which could delay the work,” said heating contractor Graham Cole.

Remember that when a contractor or their workers are in your home, they are also at their place of work. Try your best to give them a productive work environment. Don’t watch over their shoulder as they work or distract them with conversation. If you do see something that raises a question, instead of interrupting them, jot the question down and save it for a time you’ve set aside for proper communication.

What You Need to Know About Attic Insulation Types

Looking for the best attic insulation? That answer depends on your definition of “best.” The best performing way to insulate an attic doesn’t always align with the most cost-effective way.

First, let’s discuss the most common types of insulation available for attics: fiberglass batts, cellulose, loose-fill fiberglass and spray foam. More options exist, but these four materials make up the vast majority of installations. The term “R-value,” when used below, refers to the material’s ability to resist the transfer of heat and measurement looks at “per-inch” units. The higher the number, the better.

Interested in increasing the R-value in your attic? You can save energy with blown in insulation.

Fiberglass Batt Attic Insulation Pros and Cons

Fiberglass batts offer the easiest way to add attic insulation or  just about any area of your home. However, typically batts offer the worst insulation performance for any job. But grabbing a bundle at the store and rolling it out takes little effort, so people use them frequently.

The image below shows an atrocious installation found at a two-year-old home. The residence stood in an upscale neighborhood and yep, this passed the city inspection.

I won’t even discuss R-value, because fiberglass batts don’t belong in an attic.

Pros and Cons of Cellulose Attic Insulation

Cellulose — recycled, ground-up paper with boric acid added for insect control and fire resistance — offers a better attic insulation option than batts.  If you choose to install cellulose yourself, you can buy the insulation in bags from your local home-improvement store. If you buy enough, they’ll probably let you use an insulation blower for free. Don’t try to buy a single bag and spread it out by hand for spot-insulation: It’s way too densely packed.

The cellulose insulation method creates lots of dust, but it gets the job done. If you hire a pro, they use wet-spray cellulose, which adds a small amount of water to help control the dust and to slightly increase the insulation value per inch.

Cellulose provides an R-value of approximately 3.5 per inch. While it doesn’t actually create an air barrier, the dense material stops most air movement. That helps control frost in attics. Not completely, of course, but it does a pretty good job. The same cannot be said for fiberglass.

If you check with the Cellulose Insulation Manufacturers Association, they’ll assure you that cellulose is definitely your best choice for insulation.

Pros and Cons of Loose-Fill Fiberglass Attic Insulation

Loose-fill fiberglass seems to dominate attic insulation in new-construction homes and has an R-value of approximately 2.5 per inch. Like cellulose, you need a big machine to blow it in. You can’t simply buy it in bags and spread it around yourself.

Older fiberglass is itchy and bothers your skin and lungs way more than the newer stuff.

Pro tip: Don’t even think of doing any type of insulation work without wearing a respirator.

A widely publicized study conducted by Oak Ridge Laboratories in 1991 said that loose-fill fiberglass attic insulation lost a lot of its insulation value once temperatures dropped below 20 degrees, making loose-fill fiberglass an inferior product when compared to cellulose. I contacted Andre Omer Desjarlais at Oak Ridge Laboratories about this issue, and he said: “This was true 20 years ago but all fiberglass manufacturers have changed their products appreciably since then and this is simply no longer an issue.”

I also contacted several insulation manufacturers about this. They said the same thing and sent me some great information to back it up. Loose-fill fiberglass attic insulation still experiences convection, but not nearly as much as old fiberglass used to.

If you check with the North American Insulation Manufacturers Association, they’ll assure you that fiberglass or mineral wool is definitely your best choice for attic insulation.

Spray Foam Attic Insulation

Spray foam offers the best attic insulation performance available. Choose from two types: closed-cell and open-cell, aka 2-pound and ½-pound, respectively. They sport insulation values of approximately R-6.5 and R-3.6 per inch, respectively. When installed properly, both types of insulation fill all of the nooks and crannies in a space and make for a perfect air barrier. When air can’t move through it, you have zero heat transfer through convection.

With closed-cell foam, 2 inches of thickness also serves as a moisture barrier. Because of this and the higher R-value per inch, most foam insulation used in Minnesota is closed-cell. To tell the difference between the two, try poking it with your finger. You can easily poke a hole in open-cell foam, but not closed-cell foam. That stuff is way too hard. Here’s why spray foam can regulate your house temperature.

The big downside to either type of spray-foam insulation lies in cost. It’s expensive stuff, and it shouldn’t be installed by a DIYer. Of course, that’s not to say it can’t be done, it just shouldn’t be done. It requires expert use of a spray foam gun. Professionals already have a hard enough time getting it right.

The image below shows a botched spray-foam installation at the rim joist of a new-construction home that I inspected.

One drawback: Spray foam insulation requires the off-gassing of toxic poisons. I’m no expert on that matter, so I won’t discuss. Some people express concerns about it, so do your own research. After conducting my own research, I concluded that I was comfortable putting it in my own home.

About the Author:

Rueben Saltzman is the president and owner of Structure Tech Home Inspections

Most internet service providers provide the option of renting a modem and a router (or a combination of the two) to their customers for a low monthly fee. Renting equipment from your internet company is convenient and simple, but is it a good idea? Here’s a breakdown of the pros and cons, as well as some insight from tech industry experts on whether it’s worth doing.

Confused about the difference between a router and a modem? Here’s a quick rundown.

Why You Should Rent

For a lot of people, home internet is a matter of convenience. For anyone in that camp, renting equipment from their ISP is likely a good decision because it removes potential headaches.

“Renting a modem allows you to avoid troubleshooting issues yourself, since your ISP can help you more with tech support,” said Carla Diaz, cofounder of Broadband Search. “It also makes your life a little easier, as you won’t need to research which modem you actually need to get.”

If all you want is painless WiFi and you’re OK with equipment a few years behind the most current tech, renting your router and modem is not a bad decision. It’s also worth noting that if a rented router/modem breaks down, ISP’s usually replace them for free. That’s not the way it works with tech gear you buy yourself, unless you spring for an expensive protection plan.

Why You Should Buy

While renting a router is a good idea for some, for others it just doesn’t make sense. Here are a few reasons why you shouldn’t rent equipment from your ISP.

Save Money in the Long Run

Even if your rental costs around $12 to $15 a month, that quickly adds up. It’s hard to justify spending up to $180 a year on a rental when you can buy quality equipment outright for the same price or cheaper.

Here’s what Shayne Sherman of TechLoris.com had to say about why renting equipment from your ISP doesn’t add up:

“Using a modem and/or router provided by your ISP is like ordering a couch from Rent-A-Center. Sure, you get a couch for $40/week, which is a lot more affordable than buying a new sofa. But you pay $40/week for so long that you end up paying three times what the couch is worth by the time it’s paid off. 

“The only difference between lease-to-own businesses and leasing your modem/router is that the couch you lease-to-own will eventually be yours. You’ll never stop paying for the modem you lease from your ISP.”

The Ability to Upgrade

Buying your internet equipment also increases the options available to you. Though it takes a willingness to learn how home WiFi networks work, researching and purchasing the best gear for your home could mean the difference between sluggish streaming speeds and a blazing fast connection. And renting often gives you less for your money.

“The routers you typically get from your ISP are also used and most likely use outdated technology,” said Sherman. “The ISPs know that the vast majority of people do not need the incredibly high speeds that they talk you into getting. So if your modem or router won’t actually deliver a strong network, most people won’t notice.”

Things to Consider Before Buying

If you’ve decided you’re better off buying than renting, here are a few more things to consider before making a purchase.

Check for Compatibility

Be sure anything you buy actually works with your ISP. Many major internet companies compile a comprehensive online list of compatible equipment, so check your ISP’s website or call them before spending a chunk of change on a router or a modem.

Keep Your Needs in Mind

It might be tempting to go all-in on the latest and greatest technology. But the truth is, your home WiFI network might not need all that firepower. High-end equipment can support internet speeds of more than 1GBs (that’s a lot). But speeds that fast aren’t available in many areas and aren’t necessary for the average internet user. Try to find gear that maximizes your network without breaking the bank. Switching from renting to buying should save you money, after all. There’s no need to buy expensive tech to support networks far beyond your capacity.

Enhance Decks with Lighting

Landscape lighting may seem like a complicated DIY project, but low-voltage lighting systems are actually a job any beginner can tackle. And if you make your deck the focus, the extra visibility will even add a certain level of safety. Low-voltage systems are much less dangerous than standard household wiring because the system relies on a transformer plugged into a standard GFCI receptacle. That converts power from 120 volts to 12 volts, then the current travels through outdoor cables to supply power to the fixtures.

Fences

Many people assume they can add something as straightforward as a new fence without a permit. In some cities, that’s true. However, municipalities require permitting and pre-build evaluations before starting work.

Some specify requirements about height, material or aesthetics of the fence. Others simply want to make sure that the fence posts are seated properly.

The Experience of People Around You

The right home improvement can give the value of your home a big boost, but not all home improvement projects are created equal. If you’re looking to sell your home in the coming years, there are some projects that won’t give you much of a return on your money.

These are the best (and worst) projects to improve your home resale value.

A Luxury Bathroom Addition

If you’re looking to up your home value with a luxury bathroom addition, don’t go overboard. The 2019 Cost vs. Value report from Remodeling shows a luxury bathroom addition on average will cost $87,704, but you’ll only recoup $51,000 of that cost when you sell your home. That’s comes out to just 58.1 percent of the cost.

If you’re looking at a bathroom remodel or addition, consider if you really want that whirlpool tub. Not only do they take up a lot of space, but they can be difficult to clean and quite pricey. HomeAdvisor notes that many homeowners would rather have a walk-in shower or a luxurious soaking tub rather than a whirlpool tub.

Save money on your bathroom renovation with these 10 tips.

We busted 19 home improvement myths!

Adding a Swimming Pool

While you may see a backyard swimming pool as a plus, potential home buyers may not see it that way. You may end up spending as much as $65,067 to install an in-ground pool, according to realtor.com. That cost doesn’t include maintenance or increased insurance costs.

Vincent J. Averaimo, a Connecticut–based civil litigation attorney who handles property litigation, told realtor.com that if you’re considering adding a pool, hire an appraiser to see if it will add value to your property.

“More likely than not, the appraiser will look at comparable homes that have a swimming pool and issue a fair market value based on those findings,” Averaimo said. “If the home is valued at $300,000 without a pool and $335,000 with a pool—but the cost to install the pool is $65,000—then you know the installation of that pool will not add value to the home.”

Consider a swimming pool? You’ll need to know these maintenance basics.

Here are 14 ways to add space to your home without breaking the bank.

These 15 remodeling ideas will pay off.

Stronger Joints Are Better

Traditional hand-cut joinery requires skill and a great deal of practice to master. But are those fancy joints necessary? Not really. It’s totally fine to use mortise-and-tenon or a dovetail joint when a project calls for it. But for most projects, you just need joinery that’s strong and simple. The four best methods for joining wood together are pocket screws, dowels, biscuit joints and the Beadlock system. Just because there are four methods doesn’t mean you have to master all of them to be a good woodworker. Give each of them a try, pick one or two methods you like the most, and then practice those methods until you’ve got them nailed down.

PVC

Polyvinyl chloride is the actual name of one of the most versatile items in any shop, PVC piping. PVC was first synthesized in 1872 by a German chemist. Later Waldo Semon and B.F. Goodrich later made it more flexible and its use expanded. Just don’t get it confused with ABS pipe among your DIY acronyms.

Inside Your Home

Outdoor Spaces

Innovative Products

The Old House is Too Small

Builders grumbling about construction costs is nothing new because they can pass those costs along to home buyers. But the latest complaint is starting to gain more notice. Why are houses so expensive to build? Well, according to many builders, houses have become more expensive to build because of permitting fees.

What to Know About Permitting Fees

In Minnesota, John Rask of M/I Home Builders told Minnesota Public Radio that a three-bedroom home in Minnesota costs $60,000 more to build than in neighboring Wisconsin because of permitting costs. That adds 15 percent to the sale price, according to Rask, and is a contributing factor toward a lack of affordable housing.

New building codes, energy requirements and life safety mandates have driven up the cost of a home as well, according to Investopedia.

Other Pricing Factors

Builders are saying it’s not possible to make homes for less than $250,000, because lot size requirements and the price of land also contribute to increased costs of home building. The high price of land nationally has tempted builders to erect larger homes to recoup costs as well, making housing less affordable. Then throw in a small housing supply and you’ve got buyers bidding each other up, creating more expensive housing.

The National Association of Home Builders found that the median price to build a single family home in 2020 was a little over $296,000, however that number rose significantly through the height of the pandemic. Rising material costs and labor costs have also fueled the increase in housing prices, according a report from BuildZoom.

What Could Make Housing More Affordable?

If cities worked to clean up permitting fees and changed zoning laws, builders could construct more houses — albeit at greater density — to decrease the cost of a house. A recession in the economy could trigger a decrease in housing prices as well. And if you’ve heard anything about an inverted yield curve, the country could be headed toward a recession.

Reinvigorate Dry Putty

Jobsite Safety Tips

Construction sites are inherently dangerous. Anytime you gather large power equipment, sharp tools, and lots of workers in close quarters, accidents are bound to happen. That doesn’t mean that they can’t be prevented, though.  Here are a few safety tips to make sure that you make it home safe every night with all your digits intact.

How to Cut Perfect Miter Joints: Use a Sharp Saw Blade

Flooring Is a Dirty Job

Flooring tools demand precision but take a lot of abuse. Abrasive surfaces, adhesive build-up and hardening residue all present flooring installers with concerns to monitor throughout the work day. The role of tool cleaning and maintenance in flooring installation surpasses mere lip service, directly affecting quality and lifespan of the floor you’re installing. We asked veteran installer and trainer Tony Buckhardt of Carpet Cushions & Supplies in Fort Wayne, Ind., to share some tips for managing the maintenance and cleaning of tools during flooring installation.

Slice Through Metal With an Arc Blade

Lenox has a curved recip blade in its diverse lineup of tool blades. The curve helps change the angle of attack on every stroke, which speeds up cutting. It’s similar to the orbital action on many reciprocating saws. These blades are not intended for precise scrollwork—they’re most useful when you have a whole bunch of aggressive cuts to make. Lenox Gold Power Arc Curved Blades are available online.

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One video, five great tips. The tips in this video include:

• How to get more leverage with two wrenches instead of one
• How to create a drill driver in a pinch
• How to hammer a nail into the end of a piece of wood without splitting the wood
• The best way to clean dirty drywall knives
• The chemical that eats through unset spray foam with ease

Remember the contractors golden rule: “Happy customers are repeat customers.” Here are some great tips to keep your customers happy and avoid callbacks.

Educate Customers Through Communication

Communication leads to trust, so open the dialog as soon as possible and continue it as the project progresses, the more information the better. Here are just a few of the things you and your client should be discussing:

• Describe in detail how the entire process will take place
• Discuss the possibilities of delays due to weather, other subs, or potentially damaged surfaces
• Talk about start and finish times and point out any inconveniences the client may experience during the process
• Distinguish yourself from the competition and build confidence by pointing out that you only use the highest quality products
• Talk about color variation due to changes in lighting
• Provide realistic expectations about surface performances and longevity
• Convey any information that will eliminate surprises—surprises are rarely a good thing
• Respond in a timely manner
• There’s no such thing as too much information.

Stick to Painting

Often times a pro painter encounters a job that falls out of their area of expertise like carpentry and electrical work. This is especially common on exterior paint projects where rotted wood and light fixtures that need replacing are frequent occurrences.

Instead of agreeing to take on major wood repairs or even replacing a simple floodlight, recommend they call a carpenter or electrician. Better yet do a little networking and build relationships with other trade professionals that you can recommend and who would be willing to recommend you.

Use Pro-Caliber Products and Tools

• It’s impossible to achieve a pro-quality results with inferior tools
• Poor results will negatively affect your reputation
• Cheaper products will cost you more by lowering productivity

Leave it Better Than You Found it

Whether a general contractor or homeowner, your clients are guaranteed to sing your praises if you take just a small amount of time to give them a little “extra something.” They’ll also be much more understanding if a problem does arise. Here are few examples:

• Lube a squeaky door on the way out
• Offer to change a burnt-out light bulb when you have a ladder nearby
• Dust off a vent register, ceiling fan or clean a window that’s high off the ground
• Sweep a floor that may be just a bit out of your work area
• Point out potential problem areas that they may not know about like roof damage you may have observed
• Touch up the mailbox or bird feeder post when your finished with the fence

Remember: Happy customers are repeat customers!

Install a nailer

I hate redoing any miter, but I will if that’s what it takes. Also, I always install a nailer for the crown molding even if the trusses are running perpendicular. A nailer takes the guesswork out of finding the trusses/floor joists and guarantees the crown will stay in place.

Submitted by New Hope Remodeling @newhoperemodeling

Maximize Your Truck’s Storage Potential

A pro’s truck is their castle. And as king of the castle, everyone rigs up their truck to fit their unique needs. I’ll show you how I keep my everyday tools handy and secure while still being able to haul around lumber and sheet goods. It’s good to be king!

About the author:

David Radtke is a trim carpenter, custom cabinetmaker, woodworker, freelance editor, and design consultant living in Minneapolis, MN. In the off hours you can find him enjoying archery, bow making, guitar playing and canoeing.

Chalk lines… does one size fit all?

The kind of chalk line you want to use depends on the job you need to use if for. The larger model has a string as thick as a bootlace and holds 1 pound of chalk, perfect for marking up a lot of long lines. The smaller model has a 3-to-1 rewind ratio and is just the thing for pros who only snap an occasional line and don’t want to sacrifice a lot of space in their pouch. The compact chalk reel comes with a 30-foot line and a bottle of blue chalk, while the large capacity chalk reel has a 100-foot line.

NAWIC Career Center

Sixteen women working in the construction industry in Fort Worth, Tex. founded The National Association of Women in Construction in 1953. Today, the organization has more than 115 chapters across the U.S. It provides its members with career development opportunities and a network of support in a male-dominated industry.

One of the best resources the NAWIC offers is its Career Center, a thorough, easily searchable database of construction job openings across the U.S.

Subcontractor Code of Conduct

When customers pay a lot of money, they expect special treatment. For many years, I was a lead carpenter for high-end remodel companies, and it was my job to communicate that message to the subcontractors. One way I did that was to post a “Subcontractor Code of Conduct” on the door of every house we worked on.

Along with a list of rules, I added important information like the location of the electric panel and the water and gas shut offs. I also included the names of the homeowners, their children and pets. This simple piece of paper told our customers that we intended to respect their homes. If subcontractors ignored the rules, they would be warned and in some cases fined. Repeat offenders would be replaced, sometimes in the middle of a job.

Create a Pre-Trip Checklist

You owe it to the other drivers you will be sharing the road with to make sure your trailer is road-worthy every time you take it out. Check the following items before taking to the streets:

• The ball and the coupler are compatible sizes.
• Chains, wiring harness and breakaway cable are all connected.
• Ball mount pin is in place.
• Locking lever is down and pin installed.
• Ball is fastened securely to the ball mount.
• Tongue jack is raised.
• Tires are properly inflated and lug nuts are tight.
• Lights are all working.
• Ramps and/or gates are in place and secure.
• Load is fastened and secure.
• Brakes are working.

Regular Maintenance Minimizes Downtime

The benefits of spray foam insulation in residential housing are numerous, however application requires much more skill and training than traditional fiberglass batts or blown cellulite.

In the past, specialized contractors have dominated the market, but as demand grows, more and more general contractors are investing in equipment.

Each product sprayed requires its own particular setup, but there are some best practices in maintenance that this class of products share. According to Ken Wells of Elite Insulation & PolyPro LLC in Broadway, Virginia, neglecting rig maintenance leads quickly to inoperable equipment, expensive repairs and down time for the crew.

Electrical Panel Clearance Requirements

Question: What are the working clearance requirements around the location of an electrical panel?

Answer: Visualize your favorite refrigerator; the volume of space that would be needed by a refrigerator is about how much working clearance you need in front of an electrical panel. Here are the basics for a dwelling; both access to the working space, and the actually working space are required. The depth of the working space is 36 inches. The width of the working space must be at least 30 inches, or the width of the panel, whichever is greater. However, the panel is not required to be centered on the working space, it could be offset to one side or the other. But, the width of the working space must allow for the panel door to open at least 90 degrees. The height of the working space must be at 6-1/2 feet.

Other electrical equipment located above or below the panel cannot protrude more than 6-inches beyond the front of the panel. The space equal to the width and depth of the panel extending from the floor to the structural ceiling is dedicated for electrical equipment; that means no plumbing or gas pipes, no ductwork, or any other foreign equipment. These clearances are designed to protect the person working on the panel. It’s difficult to work safely when your arms are pinned to your sides.

Also, panels need to be readily accessible, meaning the area should not be used as storage space, be located over the steps of a stairway, or require a ladder for access. They also cannot be installed in the vicinity of easily ignitable material, such as in clothes closets, and they are not allowed to be installed in bathrooms (where the moisture would create serious corrosion issues).