April 22 is the 40th anniversary of Earth Day and every year the celebration reaches more homeowners and builders.
For this year's Earth Day celebration, Leviton is presenting free webinars for professional contractors in the construction industry and for homeowners who want to make use of smart energy and lighting techniques.
Save money, conserve energy and learn more about making responsible choices this Earth Day.
Choose from the following times and dates.
Make your residence energy-smart.
Lighting Management Systems
Even if you don't sign up for a webinar, take the time this Earth Day to figure out ways you can make your construction efforts a little less wasteful and your projects a little greener.
Weekend Warriors: Safety Counts When Using Power Tools
With warmer weather and a healthy dose of cabin fever, we're all heading outdoors to tackle those remodeling projects or landscaping tasks.
Remember to service your power tools, especially if you haven't used them since last fall.
Wear protective eyewear, long sleeves and long pants.
Don't remove the safety features from your tools.
Happy Building!
Remember to service your power tools, especially if you haven't used them since last fall.
Wear protective eyewear, long sleeves and long pants.
Don't remove the safety features from your tools.
Happy Building!
What's Wrong in This Remodel Picture?
This image comes to us from HGTV's "Holmes on Homes," website. The idea is to pinpoint all the things that are wrong in the picture. The host of this popular remodeling and building program, Mike Holmes, gives viewers tips and techniques for remodeling on each show.
This is just a little bit of light-hearted fun and I don't want to steal the thunder from HGTV so you'll have to go there to find out if you got all correct answers. Be aware - there are 30 mistakes!
Thanks to HGTV for a bit of fun to start our day.
This is just a little bit of light-hearted fun and I don't want to steal the thunder from HGTV so you'll have to go there to find out if you got all correct answers. Be aware - there are 30 mistakes!
Thanks to HGTV for a bit of fun to start our day.
Starting Right: Top 5 Power Tools
If you're a weekend warrior or you're just getting the construction bug, power tools will make your life (and your projects) much easier. I've compiled a list of my favorite "must have" power tools.
While your list may vary, due to your building needs, the follow 5 power tools have a place in any workshop and on any jobsite:
There it is. The Top 5 Power Tools for any workshop. Do you have different favorites? What's your favorite tool manufacturer?
While your list may vary, due to your building needs, the follow 5 power tools have a place in any workshop and on any jobsite:
- Circular Saw: For cutting on the fly, a circular saw is vital. This saw goes everywhere and makes the final cuts on dimensional lumber. Not the best, however, for cutting sheet wood panels. My personal favorite is the Dewalt Circular Saw.
- Cordless Drill: The corded variety also works well but a cordless drill goes with you, even where there is no electricity. Use it to insert and remove screws and drill small pilot holes or very large holes. My favorite cordless drill is made by Makita, but there are other good brands out there, too.
- Table Saw: You can start with a small table saw if you're only doing wood craft or small projects, but you'll eventually need a kick-ass table saw if you're planning a large remodel or an addition. Look for safety features and read online reviews before buying. For big projects, get a 12-inch saw for more cutting power.
- Orbital Sander: This small power tool will save your elbow if you have a lot of sanding to do. The best feature is its ability to sand in random patterns, which will help you avoid sanding marks. Right now I'm using a Dewalt Orbit Sander but in the past, I used a Milwaukee sander and it was pretty good.
- Compound Miter Saw: I almost chose the jigsaw for 5th place but I really think the compound miter saw has a spot in the Top 5. While your table saw will cut large sheets of wood with ease, it cuts straight lines. A compound miter saw cuts angles. You'll use it for triming around windows, installing baseboard and fitting cove. I'm using a Hitachi that has given me five years of service and show no sign of slowing down. Love this saw!
There it is. The Top 5 Power Tools for any workshop. Do you have different favorites? What's your favorite tool manufacturer?
Note the New Tag Line
If you're new to the blog, you might not know that I just changed the tag line to better represent what Builder Chicks is all about. I want to accentuate the construction world as it relates to women builders, contractors and skilled workers while focusing some of the attention on the news that is relevant to our industry.
Last Month for the First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit
Unless congress extends the deadline, April is the last month in which you can take advantage of the first time home buyer tax credit.
This should send buyers scurrying to find the perfect home and sign a contract before April 30.
No one really knows if the credit will be around in May and it's highly likely that congress will keep us hanging until the last minute, just to encourage buyers to purchase now.
But, we can't depend upon "maybe's." If you're thinking of buying, this might be it.
This should send buyers scurrying to find the perfect home and sign a contract before April 30.
No one really knows if the credit will be around in May and it's highly likely that congress will keep us hanging until the last minute, just to encourage buyers to purchase now.
But, we can't depend upon "maybe's." If you're thinking of buying, this might be it.
How Will Climate Change Affect Your Construction Practices?
We hear about it almost daily. Our industrial practices are creating emissions that destroy portions of our atmosphere's protective abilities, allowing our climate temperatures to fluctuate wildly, melting ice flows and raising ocean tables.
Congress is taking note and so are organizations that are studying the best ways to reduce additional impact on our environment.
So, how will climate change affect your construction practices? The US Green Building Council has developed a rating system, the LEED system, that offers green building suggestions for new residential and commercial construction projects.
These suggestions are just that...suggestions. But construction experts think they will be implemented into building code before long.
In the short run, the cost of construction materials will likely go up. Even when it's voluntary, homeowners and commercial clients want the new eco-friendly technology. If you start learning about it now, you'll be ahead of the game. Instead of gravitating to the well-known and the reliable construction materials, ask your lumberyard representative about new green building materials they are selling. Find out the pros and cons. If you can afford it - try it.
Start a construction waste recycling program on your jobsite. The way you dispose of construction materials is preparing to change. By recycling some construction waste, you will reduce the impact from the need to manufacture new construction materials. Talk to your employees and start a construction waste recycling program that becomes second nature before you're required to do so.
Relax. I've spoken with numerous contractors who are none too happy about the coming adjustments created by climate change. You can fret about it all day but it won't stop the changes. However, you can become proactive in the movement, follow the new green building trends and the changes will have less impact and make more sense. And you'll be ready to implement them cost effectively.
Congress is taking note and so are organizations that are studying the best ways to reduce additional impact on our environment.
So, how will climate change affect your construction practices? The US Green Building Council has developed a rating system, the LEED system, that offers green building suggestions for new residential and commercial construction projects.
These suggestions are just that...suggestions. But construction experts think they will be implemented into building code before long.
In the short run, the cost of construction materials will likely go up. Even when it's voluntary, homeowners and commercial clients want the new eco-friendly technology. If you start learning about it now, you'll be ahead of the game. Instead of gravitating to the well-known and the reliable construction materials, ask your lumberyard representative about new green building materials they are selling. Find out the pros and cons. If you can afford it - try it.
Start a construction waste recycling program on your jobsite. The way you dispose of construction materials is preparing to change. By recycling some construction waste, you will reduce the impact from the need to manufacture new construction materials. Talk to your employees and start a construction waste recycling program that becomes second nature before you're required to do so.
Relax. I've spoken with numerous contractors who are none too happy about the coming adjustments created by climate change. You can fret about it all day but it won't stop the changes. However, you can become proactive in the movement, follow the new green building trends and the changes will have less impact and make more sense. And you'll be ready to implement them cost effectively.
Working With Do-It-Yourself Homeowners
Do you offer to work with homeowners who want to do a portion of the project themselves? Or do you take a hard-line approach to construction project management?
I've encountered this a number of times on jobs, most recently it came in the form of one client thinking he could cut about half off the bid if he measured, figured, ordered and took delivery of all the materials. plus cleaned up the jobsite.
Cleaning up the site is something I always graciously accept help for but if I'm going to work with the materials, I want to be the one in charge of them. Otherwise, the job slows to a crawl.
This guy's misconception was that he decided he was going to spend as many hours with his self-appointed jobs as I would spend on the job. To him, this was equal to half of the amount he would pay me for my presence on the jobsite.
I almost chuckled but thank goodness I didn't. He was serious. If he spent 8 hours a day ordering, measuring and picking up trash, he wanted me to reduce my fee by half. I kid you not.
So we had a chat. I'm pretty easy going and I'll cut the paint or wallpaper fee out if you want to do that part of the job. I'll reduce labor hours if you want to clean up the site. But, you're paying for my expertise and I'm not going to cut my fee by half if you perform jobs that are very likely to increase my actual hours on the project.
We compromised. I would cut my charge for my lowest paid laborer, the guy who would pick up trash, on an hourly basis, as long as the homeowner could keep up (work-wise) with that laborer. In addition, the homeowner could order the materials, but if the wrong ones arrived, my crew pulls off and heads to another job. He agreed.
Yesterday, he approached me and asked me to reinstated the original deal with no reduced fees. It seems he pulled a muscle in his thigh and could barely walk. But that's not all. He also got his butt chewed by the manager of the local lumberyard for ordering and sending back materials three times. In the end, the manager (who is the sweetest guy on earth) charged him a sizable delivery and restocking fee despite the fact the guy ordered the wrong stuff and it had to be returned.
I enjoy my clients and I enjoy this guy. But I have to wonder how many homeowners think they could easily do our jobs?
Build it.
I've encountered this a number of times on jobs, most recently it came in the form of one client thinking he could cut about half off the bid if he measured, figured, ordered and took delivery of all the materials. plus cleaned up the jobsite.
Cleaning up the site is something I always graciously accept help for but if I'm going to work with the materials, I want to be the one in charge of them. Otherwise, the job slows to a crawl.
This guy's misconception was that he decided he was going to spend as many hours with his self-appointed jobs as I would spend on the job. To him, this was equal to half of the amount he would pay me for my presence on the jobsite.
I almost chuckled but thank goodness I didn't. He was serious. If he spent 8 hours a day ordering, measuring and picking up trash, he wanted me to reduce my fee by half. I kid you not.
So we had a chat. I'm pretty easy going and I'll cut the paint or wallpaper fee out if you want to do that part of the job. I'll reduce labor hours if you want to clean up the site. But, you're paying for my expertise and I'm not going to cut my fee by half if you perform jobs that are very likely to increase my actual hours on the project.
We compromised. I would cut my charge for my lowest paid laborer, the guy who would pick up trash, on an hourly basis, as long as the homeowner could keep up (work-wise) with that laborer. In addition, the homeowner could order the materials, but if the wrong ones arrived, my crew pulls off and heads to another job. He agreed.
Yesterday, he approached me and asked me to reinstated the original deal with no reduced fees. It seems he pulled a muscle in his thigh and could barely walk. But that's not all. He also got his butt chewed by the manager of the local lumberyard for ordering and sending back materials three times. In the end, the manager (who is the sweetest guy on earth) charged him a sizable delivery and restocking fee despite the fact the guy ordered the wrong stuff and it had to be returned.
I enjoy my clients and I enjoy this guy. But I have to wonder how many homeowners think they could easily do our jobs?
Build it.
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