All Painters are not Alike

A wise painter, Wayne Mayo once told me, ” My job, as a painter, is to make YOUR work look great!”  This “Mayo Credo” is so true that I can’t emphasize it enough. Any painter that thinks otherwise is in the wrong business. I refuse to let a homeowner give me anything but praise for the fantastic paint job.

A homeowner recently told me that if that was the quality of workmanship he received…he  would have rather painted it himself. That painter no longer works for me. I just had to rip out and replace perfectly good trim work because of a poor paint job. That painter no longer works for me. Seven scratched windows. That painter doesn’t work for me. What the hell else can go wrong?

There are so many variables that go into painting that I just don’t do it in house any longer. We use the top of the line paint from whichever vendor we use, always specify top of the line primer as well, then two coats of finish color.

Should we spray? Or roll? Or both? This is part of the painter’s domain. I expect them to know this stuff. I don’t want to get involved with how the sausage is made! I want great results for a fair price in a timely fashion. Safety and cleanliness are also part of the painter’s purview.  A messy painter is like a sloppy surgeon: useless to me, sadly they do exist.

In my opinion, there are two types of painters, those that love to paint, are continuously learning and practicing their art. Conversely, there are those that paint because they can’t do anything else.

The goofy thing is that until you get experience with both of them and see what they produce, you can’t tell the difference. This is because they all boast about how hard they work, how great they are, bla… bla… bla. Unfortunately, trial and error is the only method I know of that works.

The hand holding factor drives me crazy. Can I get an advance on my paint? I don’t have credit at the paint store, can I use your account? I’m done, can I come by and get my check? Can you write it now?  My wife needs… my truck needs a … I have to go to the dentist… ENOUGH.

The painting industry has flipped on its ear since the RRP rule went into effect. The lead paint rules have split the industry into three distinct groups.

1. Those that work on older homes ( pre – 1978)
2. Those that can’t legally. ( Not RRP certified or certified firm)
3. Those that aren’t allowed to but still do. ( They pretend the RRP rule isn’t for them).

I Love My Painter

Levco takes the RRP rule seriously. That being said, the painting parts make sense and we understand that there are parts that are onerous as well as painful to follow. It doesn’t matter,  we expect everyone to follow the rules. The sad part is that I have found that leaded work is done at a premium. The sky is the limit, as far as I can tell. The fear of being caught has caused some certified RRP firms to go crazy and balloon prices.

Frustration and aggravation were driving me to desperate measures until I got a great referral.

To my amazement, I just located the perfect fit. I say that because I now have the right guy for the job. He gets the “Mayo Credo” He understands that his job is to make my work look great! You win my admiration and everlasting praise. Mess with it, and you are going down.

WA-HOO! Finally a painter that does “Levco quality” work. You would think that I had ridiculously high expectations. well perhaps I do, why shouldn’t I? The value of a great paint job is hard to put a price tag on. It is a huge component of a lasting impression. Let the other contractors use the other guys, I love my painter.

Your comments are welcome. To ask questions or get more information about remodeling, email me directly or visit our contact page.

Disclaimer: Some of these images came from the WEB. If they are yours, and you object to them being used, please claim them and I will gladly remove and replace them at once.

Objects May be Closer Than They Look

Through my association with Boise Schools’ Adult Education program called Community Education, I have had the honor of speaking with a group I call the “Veterans of Remodeling Projects” The VRP, much like the VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars), gather regularly to reflect on what they have been through together. The VRP needed a support group. I listened and they vented.

Threads of complaints articulated a colorful montage of trials and tribulations that illustrated many of the most common pitfalls of the remodeling process. As if on cue, they all agreed that they eventually got their projects completed, though not necessarily with the original contractor. It was that the process was marred by unforeseen problems. Oh, if only for hindsight.

It reminds me of having a pair of state of the art night vision goggles to use when flying at night. Now and then I flip them up and wonder what the hell I was doing for all those years without them.

Oy

The good news is that you don’t have to be a VRP to get some accumulated wisdom from those who have gone before you. There is help, and it is all around you for the asking. I have written a wonderful booklet on selecting a remodeler that is free for anyone who requests a copy. The booklet covers many of the common positive traits a great contractor will have, and applies all over the country. (It has yet to be translated into foreign languages). You may request one on the Levco Contact Us page.

I have also created a vibrant social network dedicated to sharing my wisdom, which encourages folks to ask questions and share insights into the process of remodeling. It also provides some third party suggestions about resolving issues that arise during the heat of a project.

So, in hindsight, we all wish that we had the ability to anticipate problems that crop up. Here are some of the key points I have gleaned that will help you avoid most of the biggies.

Several Tips to Avoid Pitfalls

1. Have a clear and concise DOW along with a thorough remodeling agreement that spells out the responsibilities of each party.
2. Having a clear and unambiguous Change Order procedure is super important.
3. Nowadays, there are many ways to communicate regularly pick the one or two that works best.
4. Make sure that both you can and your contractor can be reached in the manner that each of you prefer for the appropriate urgency.
5. Have a payment plan that uses milestones rather than percentage of completion.
6. Make sure you have a good set of plans that covers all areas that are to be addressed.
7. Make sure you have a schedule to look at and discuss, ensure it stays updated regularly.
8. If you are doing a Cost Plus Contract ( which I do not recommend), keep on top of your costs or they will run amuck.

In closing, be a savvy shopper, and choose your contractor wisely. Realize that even the best remodeling contractor can wind up in a disagreement with you. It is how you resolve it together and move on that punctuates the project. My belief is that the highest level of client satisfaction can only be reached through having a conflict resolved satisfactorily.

Your comments are welcome. To ask questions or get more information about remodeling email me directly or visit our contact page.

Disclaimer: Some of these images came from the WEB. If they are yours, and you object to them being used, please claim them and I will gladly remove and replace them at once

Caution, Warning

Late one Saturday afternoon I received a call from a homeowner that had just fired his contractor. My first thought was :

Danger-Danger!!!   yellow flags     Warning- Warning!!!

He wanted to hire me to finish things up. It turns out he had fired his carpenter which is an entirely different thing.

This doesn’t happen very often and being a contractor myself I was worried that there was a difficult client rather than an incompetent general contractor at the root of the problem.

Turns out the client was right and the carpenter was having all sorts of problems that made it reasonable to take over the project.

1. Chief among the problems was that they were not showing up.
2. The carpenter was used to working for a contractor and had no idea about what being a general contractor is all about.
3. They were giving bad advice that didn’t make sense to the client’s “common sense”

The best part about things is that the client and his contractor parted on amicable terms.

When I arrived I found a bathroom update project that was on the verge of going sideways and was easily altered to create a great finished project.

The root of the issue was that the owner decided to be his own general contractor and had depended upon others to work out the plan to begin with.

He was a veteran of a major remodel and it seemed like a fairly straight forward project. No walls to move, no stairways to build, or anything too complicated. His trades people were doing their thing but there was no leader. In a leaderless environment, everyone does what they think they should do causing commotion, confusion and a bad result.

As I have said in past articles, I applaud homeowners who call individual subcontractors to fix problems associated with their specialties IE: a Plumber to fix a faucet, or an Electrician to fix a switch.

“When it comes to several trades working together to accomplish a goal it is time to call a general contractor.”

Tools of the General Contractor

Here is what I as a General Contractor bring to the table:

1. Experience. This comes from making lots of mistakes over the years and learning from them.
2. Talent. This comes from assembling a group of talented employees that, like fairies and elves, make a lot of work seem like a little.
3. Credentials. Licenses, registrations, certifications, and insurance.
4. Subcontractors. these are the trades people that work well with the general contractor, have a relationship and communicate well together. They also guarantee their work.
5. Relationships. With vendors and subcontractors that get results.
6. Trust. This is the key to the relationship. Trust will ensure a great project.
7. A secondary guarantee. This means that it is the general contractors guarantee also covers the subcontractors work.
8. Organization. This comes from creating a structure, systems, and documentation that handle these sorts of projects year in and year out.
9. Knowing the law and having a contract. It is the general contractors responsibility to make sure the codes are followed to ensure a safe project is being done in your home.
10. Piece of mind. When I as a general contractor say “I’ve got it”, by golly that is what I mean.

At Levco Builders LLC. we are general contractors that specialize in remodeling in and around the Boise Idaho area. It is what sets us apart in the region. We make adding on to your home or upgrading it an enjoyable, collaborative, journey. Get rid of your general contractor phobias, let us show you what a great remodeling experience can be like. 

Your comments are welcome. To ask questions or get more information about remodeling, email me directly or visit our contact page.

Our Logo

As I get more completed projects under my belt, there are still powerful lessons to be learned. Some are expensive, some are painful. As I say in my Selecting a Remodeler Booklet, it is wise to select a seasoned remodeler. The problem is,

“if you always do what you always did; then you’ll always get what you always got.”

This is why I love working on the business as much, or more than working in the business.

This post is about how I was able to make a systemic solution to what I discovered was a recurring nagging problem.

Working together

Remodeling is difficult enough without having to redo things. This is why there are so many “one horse show” remodelers out there. No one can do it better than the remodeler him or herself. That is all well and good but my idea of remodeling necessitates me getting results through others.

I have always been a cooperative sort of guy. Great partnerships exist in EMS (Emergency Medical Services) where on a hot call, we rarely need to talk because we know what needs to be done. We work together in harmony to save a life. Like my dad Ed Levitch used to say, in reference to working hard together… “when I come back, all I want to see is asses and elbows”.

In my mind, the entire concept of remodeling  rests on bringing a crew of very talented people working hard together to create a project. I now believe that subcontractors and specialty contractors in general get an undeserved bad reputation. I couldn’t understand why a highly recommended subcontractor could screw up a project so easily. This became painfully obvious when we did a root cause analysis of a series of situational problems. When placed side by side, to my horror, they turned out to be a pattern of identical recurring problems. There was obviously a systemic flaw, yet I had no idea where or how to fix it. I now believe that it is the contractor not the subcontractor that holds the key to making the project go smoothly.

Subcontractor Agreement

Levco has always used a simple form to describe what we expect from our subcontractors. I figured it was worth publishing because we all need to be on the same page. I hold everyone who works for us in a subcontractor role to these standards. In the event that there are issues we go right back to the agreement. When something comes up that hasn’t been addressed, this is where it will go. I broke it up into two parts

1, Things I love

2, Things I won’t tolerate

Many companies do not even have this type of form. It was born out of frustration with the process. For years I thought this was the magic bullet to ensure my process would work. All of my subcontractors had agreed to work within the parameters, but something was still missing.

As it turned out, having this form in place was not enough. There was still a nagging problem that haunted me. The more I looked at it, the more I got stuck. Knowing full well that some of my best ideas come from being frustrated, I was not too worried. This time however, I was hopelessly paralyzed and extremely frustrated for a few weeks when I finally found a way out.

My Mentor

I was reading a self help book on business in general, when a brief paragraph recommended I seek out a mentor. It suggested that there are lots of smart people that are willing to help if you just ask. As it turns out, that was the tiny spark I needed. It reminded me that I had already developed relationships with wise, successful remodelers throughout the country, so I reached out to them. Amazingly, it was the one in my own back yard that was able to pinpoint the problem and, in a loving way, gave me a nudge in the right direction.

The problem, it turns out was deeply rooted in a flawed Description of Work document.  A pattern of small problems had turned into big problems. We were having to redo work that had already been done. In some cases work that was required had not been included in the bid. Thankfully, it appears that we have solved our problems, as I like to say, “FFN” (forever for now). Our new improved Description of Work spells out the project in a surface by surface way that explains what the finished project will look like to everyone. Perhaps this is what one previous employee was trying to tell me when she said “communication” when asked her opinion of our companies number one problem. Although I couldn’t see it then, I believe I’ve got it fixed now.

As we ring in the new year I give thanks to my mentors, my employees, my clients, and all of my subcontractors. I look forward to a year filled with clear expectations and fantastic results.

Your comments are welcome. To ask questions or get more information about remodeling, email me directly or visit our contact page.

Disclaimer: Some of these images came from the WEB. If they are yours, and you object to them being used, please claim them and I will gladly remove and replace them at once.

Can you feel the Joy?

Where is the joy and excitement in remodeling the same thing over and over? Bathrooms and kitchens are fun, don’t get me wrong, but the super creative juices only get flowing when big problems need solving. Give me a second story addition, a basement excavation on a slope, a front facade addition in the historic district, or an opportunity to fix a problem that doesn’t have a clear answer until you discover a new building technique. That is where the pure joy is found for me.

Toasted Carport

Levco was recently involved in a project that had us scratching our heads on how to solve it. It was an unbelievably over spanned set of beams used to support a carport structure that had been moderately damaged in a fire. During the demolition of the top, we noticed a propensity to deflect, or bend under the pressure of standing on it. Our gut told us that it was over spanned, but the structure had been standing for years. We immediately brought the team of Tom Trutna, our architect, and Scott Souel, our Structural Engineer, in for a high level consultation.

The bottom line is that there definitely was an issue. The beams we had were 3/4″ x 9 1/2″ and 27′ long. The rough cut 2 x 10s had obviously been re-purposed from another project and were a bit of a spectacle. Boards of this size, what we call “dimensional lumber,”  just are not available any more. From our calculations, with our typical snow load, the beams were 500%  overloaded. There is no way that this had been a permitted job.

Typical flat roof truss

I thought initially that we could easily replace them with trusses made locally at Valley Truss. After all, what better invention than trusses to use to span long distances? I started to think of projects where we have used trusses and was confident that we could come up with something. Not so lucky… I learned that a 26′ truss would need to be nearly 2 feet deep. Stunned, but not beaten or giving up, Carl Madsen, one of our Boise City plan review specialists, issued the permit. However, it came with the caveat that whatever solution we dreamed up, it would need to be blessed by an engineer. I think he knew deep down that we would find a clever solution.

Tensioning concrete structures

Tom had rushed out the day before and had the LVL solution sizing answer for us already, so I met with Scott on site at 4 pm. He studied our situation and mentioned that the easiest way would be to change a few things and go with 14″ LVL’s, but that he had something up his sleeve that would serve both masters. It is called Post Tensioning, and it is used in commercial construction all the time. It involves stringing steel cables to tension the beams, thus allowing it to span the distance and prevent the deflection that would cause them to fail. He shared a case study from a gymnasium in Ohio, where the technique was successfully used to solve a serious problem with Glulam beams and prevent a catastrophic failure. Interestingly, the charring caused by the fire was of little concern to either of them.

Elated, Ron and I agreed that this was going to be the solution we would employ. We also discovered that beyond the over spanned beams, which we thought were our primary problem, the biggest concern from a failure perspective was the possibility of a lateral twist,  This would collapse the entire structure faster that you could say boo. Scott provided us with a simple solution to that issue as well, and as always at Levco, we used our resources to create a clever solution to a complex problem. Odds are this is a technique we will rarely be needed to use, but leave it to us to keep it in our ever expanding bag of cool tricks.

Fast forward a day and I am on the phone pulling into Boise Rigging supply to get the hardware needed to pull off the engineering feat. Simultaneously, I’m on the phone with Scott, who has bad news. As it turns out, to get enough tension on the boards to support the snow load, it would require so much upward deflection that the boards themselves might fail in the tensioning phase, and/or have to have a hump in the middle.

Microlam LVLs

Disappointed and resigned to using 14″ – 25′  Microlam LVL beams, I went about gathering my supplies to shear up the structure to prevent twisting. I then had a pleasant visit with Steve Black, an old acquaintance and the Owner of Boise Rigging Supply, who set me up with what I needed.

The bottom line is that even though it didn’t work out this time, it will in the future. We were able to create a sound structure from a flimsy one that probably should have failed years ago. This is how it goes with residential remodeling and it’d why I love what I do.

Your comments are welcome. To ask questions or get more information about remodeling, email me directly or visit our contact page.

Disclaimer: Some of these images came from the WEB. If they are yours, and you object to them being used, please claim them and I will gladly remove and replace them at once.

If you only knew what could go “Rong” (I think wrong should be spelled r o n g, don’t you?)  in a remodeling project. Anyone who says this sort of thing doesn’t happen on their projects is either lying, hasn’t been remodeling long enough, or has been fired by a client and never got the chance to fix their mistake.

Oh No!

This is a tale of  dismal results that spiraled sideways nearly impacting the ground before we finally pull it out at the last second.

I recently had the misfortune of dealing with the fallout of a very bad paint job.

We were this close to finishing our project and the painting was basic stuff, it was only going to take an afternoon to complete.

The next thing I get is a 5:50PM phone call from my client reporting that the painter had just left but “the paint job didn’t look very good”. I suggested we wait till morning and look at it together.

Next morning I showed up bright and early expecting to see a single fixable flaw.  It turns out that “not looking good” was the understatement of the year. There were runs, streaks and rough spots throughout the project.

The New Mantra

My gut reaction was to have the painter return and fix it immediately. My client was willing and I showed the painter the deficiencies. ” No problem he said” ” I’ll fix it up right now” That triggered  my second visit to check up on how the fix went, still shabby. The pattern continued. The painter was not happy with his results either but I’ll be darned if he could fix it.

This next time he assured me, it is under control, “Joe don’t worry I will come back and make it great, I’m not happy until you’re happy”.

The third time out, I brought my new Project Manager, Josh with me. “Rip it out, we need to start over” he whispered to me.

Being one to give the benefit of the doubt to the professional painter, I allowed him one last time to fix his problem. That is when the client called and said she had had it with the painter. She went as far as to prohibit him from returning.

This could have easily been the end of the project for me. Thankfully, our client gave me one last chance to take care of the problem.

Bottom line is, Levco decided to rip it out and replaced the finish work. We employed a different painter to do the job and it all looks great now. Turns out, there were some valuable pearls of wisdom to be learned.

Let's Start Over

1. Even professionals make mistakes they can’t fix.
2. I could have saved time, and money, had my tolerance been lower.
3. We eventually found a great painter.
4. I got to see what kind of finish carpenter Josh is. (great and fast!)
5. Josh has the personality trait I lack and is not bashful about telling it like it is and getting results.

I have always said, “the highest level of customer service can not be achieved unless there is a problem”.  I am especially proud that we eventually turned this catastrophic failure into a happy ending. In other words, “we always win”  We also got to “show that we care” to our client who is very happy with the results of our problem resolution.

Your comments are welcome. To ask questions or get more information about remodeling, email me directly or visit our contact page.

Disclaimer: Some of these images came from the WEB. If they are yours, and you object to them being used, please claim them and I will gladly remove and replace them at once.

Zen Garden

My brother, Maurice just told me a story of a park ranger that had retired but before he did he mentored his replacement. All in all the new ranger was doing the same thing the previous one did but there was something missing.

The park goers were not as happy, and missed the last ranger, they just couldn’t figure out why till someone noticed the lack of rake marks.

Sure the park was clean and neat, it just wasn’t the same, until the lack of rake marks was realized.

Rake marks left in the sand had a deeper meaning for my brother. We had a great discussion about how we can apply the story and principal into our daily lives, and add it to the culture of our companies.

Leaving rake marks is another way to express a mantra that I hold in high esteem “show that you care”. Perhaps this is easier to understand than  do, we will see.

Rake marks are simply a visible sign that you were there and that you care.

Another Zen Garden

At Levco we have employed this little tactic into our everyday conversations. It is one more way we differentiate ourselves from the pack.

Rake marks can mean a multitude of things;

• Keeping the job site safe and organized.
• Going out of your way to be helpful.
• Doing a favor without being asked.
• Anticipating needs of others.
• Being patient, respectful, and cooperative.
• Straightening out and organizing stuff.
• Making sure everyone working on the project cleans their area nightly, and the place is locked up securely.
• Fixing something that wasn’t on the list.
• Leaving notes.

Basically it boils down to leaving everything you touch better than when you found it. There I go letting my inner Eagle Scout come out again.

A client recently told me this pearl of wisdom. “When You Clean, You Find” He told me of several examples that include all sorts of things to look out for that made perfect sense. I suppose this could be used whenever cleaning is done.

So essentially cleaning is not necessarily a job to be relegated to the lowest man on the totem pole.

Things that are of special interest that have been caught since all we started paying more attention.

Gap In Floor

Framing:

• Level
• Plumb
• Gaps
• Square
• Nails not sunk all the way in
• Fire blocking & drywall backing
• Bracing and backing for grab bars and towel bars

Prior to Insulation & Covering walls:

• Disconnected duct work
• Plumbing pressure test caps still on.
• gaps in insulation.

Final Cleaning

Finish work:

• Gaps in grout, trim connections, under threshold
• Caulking
• Filled nail holes
• Toe kicks & Vents

Final Cleaning:

• Rough surfaces
• Spaces
• Appliances in place solidly
• Painting holiday (thin spot)
• Proper drawer operation
• Clogged aerators
• Light bulbs out
• Over spray
• Scratched windows

The list of examples are endless, the good news is that it even applies to cleaning up the kitchen when you are the last one to use it. Give it a try I am sure you will be impressed with how you feel about your work, never mind about how others view your work.

Your comments are welcome. To ask questions or get more information about remodeling email me directly or visit our contact page.

 Disclaimer: Some of these images came from the WEB. If they are yours, and you object to them being used, please claim them and I will gladly remove and replace them at once.

Moldy Stuff

Mold, also know as Fungus, has become a huge issue in homes as of late, with concerns coming from the medical as well as the insurance communities. Many misconceptions are floating around, which that have caused panic and hysteria. Usually a trained sense of smell is all that is required to locate a problem, and visible signs all that you need to confirm the diagnosis. The spores can cause a respiratory irritation, and if a preexisting sensitivity or respiratory illness exists, it can exacerbate that problem.

But all mold  is not bad, although I often refer to it as the “M” word. I prefer to use “bacterial growth” as it is more subtle. We must remember that mold is what makes the blue in blue cheese. It is what makes bread rise in the form of yeast. Mold is also the natural decomposer, it digests rotten organic matter (sometimes before the expiration date).  It is also the foundation of fermentation. God only knows where we would be as a civilization without that.

Mold Triangle

Mold, like fire, has a triangle of opportunity to proliferate: some sort of food (some sort of organic matter),  warmth (in most cases), and moisture. When combined the organism flourishes and reproduces at an incredible pace.

The EPA has set guidelines for dealing with mold and I believe they have a very sensible approach. they have provided many resources and reading materials to understand mold, to prevent it, and remove it as needed. The bottom line is that we want to prevent its growth and proliferation by being aware of where it comes from and making sure we treat it with respect.

From Levco’s perspective, mold in an area that is moist is an outward sign of a water problem that requires fixing. If dry, it is a sign that there was an issue that was not cleaned adequately. From a health perspective we focus upon proper respiratory protection, proper disposal of contaminated materials, and good personal hygiene.

We categorize water problems into two categories Acute and Chronic.

Acute:

The source of acute water problems are usually obvious. The stopping of the leak is of foremost importance. Cleaning up after an acute leak takes patience and attention to detail. we have seen many acute leaks that have not been dried adequately and have provided the third leg of the mold triangle. Seepage between floors and under materials tat do not breathe like vinyl flooring are prime locations for mold growth.

Chronic:

We find all sorts of telltale signs of mold that have existed for eons. In one case, a hillside leak came through a foundation crack and created mold growth in the insulation. It was stopped by the visqueen vapor barrier and never made it to the drywall. The wall eventually dried out, but when we went to remodel we needed to take special precautions not to breath in the spores.

Chronic Mold

We were recently referred by an insurance agent to a client who was having her laundry room flooring replaced with tile. When the contractor removed the vinyl, there were all sorts of black colored mold that had disintegrated the particleboard underlayment and left visible stains on the OSB subfloor. Within a few minutes, it became obvious that the leak was resolved long ago and the moisture was gone as well. The dust like material was easily vacuumed up with a HEPA vacuum and then the area was scrubbed with a soap and water solution. Finally, the entire area was soaked with a strong antibacterial solution and allowed to dry prior to having the new plastic underlayment applied and tile set.

How We Attack a Mold Issue:

Once we have decided to remediate a mold issue,

1. We survey the affected area from a safe distance.
2. We protect ourselves and provide containment.
3. We rapidly determine whether this is a project we can handle or if it requires referring to a specialty subcontractor.
4. We focus our attention upon ensuring that the leak or source of moisture has been resolved.
5. Once resolved, we make a plan for cleanup and repair.
6. Depending upon the severity, building components might require cleaning and disinfectant all the way to removal and disposal.

As a remodeler I was forced to add a mold clause that addresses the issue.

MOLD: Mold is a naturally occurring form of bacteria, it is everywhere including in healthy homes. In some occurrences, rare instances, sensitivity and reactions to particular types of mold can occur. We do not proclaim to be specialists in this field; however, we are aware of what it looks like, how to clean it up, and basic prevention techniques. When we suspect a mold hazard to health, we will at our discretion, contact a specialty contractor or mold resource for third party verifications and or recommendations. The Owner will be consulted and a Change Order will be initiated to provide this task at the Owners expense.

Having a third party response to a mold issue can be an expensive undertaking. At Levco, we try our best to handle these issues for our clients reasonably and responsibly. We have several backups in this area, most of which come with a hefty price tag.

Disclaimer: Some of these images came from the WEB. If they are yours, and you object to them being used, please claim them and I will gladly remove and replace them at once.

Al Davis

Although winning isn’t everything, it feels pretty good when you do.

I recall vividly as Al Davis, former owner of the Oakland Raiders said “Just Win Baby” It got me thinking about what Levco and the remodeling industry in general has in common with the game of football.

I also got caught up in the frenzy of college football this year and celebrate another fantastic BSU football season.

From my armchair, “Remodeling is much like a football game, except when it is done correctly, there are only winners, no losers”.

• Both teams develop a game plan based upon reviewing tapes and having faced similar challenges. Although we don’t use tapes we review previous projects to learn from them.
• We have owners that agree to play each other. In our case the opponent is in the form of a remodeling project.
• We both use lots of illustrations to plan out what we will do.
• Football uses a coach and we use a Project Manager who calls the plays.
• We both take a break at milestones to review the plan for the next phase.
• We both believe that we are the best despite there being other teams out there that do the same thing just a little differently.
• 

  Kellen Moore

  There is a set of rules that we are all supposed to play by, some teams do a better job of it.

• Occasionally we both drop the ball. We always pick it up and keep playing.
• When we take a break, we rehydrate for the next set of downs.
• Football has players that specialize in all areas of the game from running and passing, to kicking. We have employees with overall knowledge of the game and employ specialty subcontractors for those complicated tasks.
• We both plan ahead and use the best resources and are always on the lookout for the best talent available.
• A fumble isn’t always a bad thing.
• We make progress and have setbacks on a regular basis.
• We both keep track of statistics.
• Occasionally we punt.
• Extra points are scored on clever plays.
• We both celebrate small victories and have occasional setbacks.
• In the end we all celebrate the game and in our case the completion of the project.

After looking at the similarities between football and remodeling, I was left at the threshold of trying to describe what winning means to me.  I borrowed a phrase frequently that was created at Flying Pie Pizza,  “We Always Win”.  As I see it, the only way to have our interests aligned is to let everyone know how we measure our success. As I open the door here is what I see.

Winning for Levco is:

Our Team

1. Creating a team approach to each project and developing relationships that are solid.
2. Knowing that we did a great job and created what the client wanted.
3. Keeping in control of the schedule and the scope of work.
4. Having Change Orders signed before additional work is started.
5. Coming in on budget.
6. Tinkering with our systems to improve our process.
7. Showing that we care.
8. Finding a better idea no matter the source.
9. Listening very carefully to each other and allowing every voice be heard.
10. Adapting to existing conditions.
11. Finding clever solutions to complicated problems.
12. Anticipating problems and special needs before they arise and handling them in stride.
13. Keeping everyone and everything up to date.
14. Getting everyone paid on time.
15. Dealing with problems swiftly and decisively in an honest upfront way.
16. Celebrating our successes.
17. Learning from setbacks.
18. Creating a fabulous remodeling project that looks like it was always there.

In closing, winning for us does not come at anyone’s expense. The beauty of remodeling in Boise, Idaho is that I have created a working model for our continued success and prosperity. The fruits of our labor go way beyond a paycheck which is why we do what we do so darn well.

Rest in peace Al, you won a lot.

Love Joe

Disclaimer: Some of these images came from the WEB. If they are yours, and you object to them being used, please claim them and I will gladly remove and replace them at once.

Obvious Water Problem in Basement

Water enters basements in a variety of ways. I wrote an informative article on ways it enters our homes. This article focuses on how to take preventative actions.

In Boise, Idaho, we live on the edge of a desert; and we have fairly sandy soil, which is a good thing. Most older homes have never had any moisture proofing needs, and many have basements. The most we are used to seeing is some mineral effervescence from moisture passing through the concrete foundation walls. Other than making paint impossible to stick to, it causes little harm. Over the years it may break down the concrete and require patching or replacement in severe situations.

When acute water enters the home it can usually be tied to an event.  A hose left on next to the foundation. Torrential downpour for a day or so. Rapid snow thaw. A sprinkler head broken off. You get the idea.

There are two schools of thought when it comes to dealing with water in basements. Inside Job or Outside Job?  Prevention or Acceptance? It is not always black and white, and often we take multiple approaches to ensure success.

Hillsides are a special challenge and may require retaining walls. We used several redundant systems on a newly created basement where flooding was a common occurrence.

Prevention

Prevention includes anticipating that there will be a problem and then blocking moisture from entering in the first place. Therefore, it is an outside job. This is best done during construction, normally it is the last thing that needs to be done. Provided that the redundant systems that are installed work, there need only be routine maintenance. If a failure occurs, like a tree root growing into the foundation after settling cracks them, we must move on to acceptance. This does not mean giving up, it just takes a different approach.

Examples of prevention include

Swale

• French drain system hooked to downspouts
• Positive drain grade away from home.
• Directing sprinklers away from home.
• Gutters.
• Grading and drain swale.
• Proper sub-grade window wells and drainage plan
• Down spouts being piped away from the basement
• Tar parging
• Bituthane or other rubberized membrane
• Sheet drain
• Diatomaceous earth rope in key way of footing to stem wall connection
• Dry wells
• External pumping stations.

Acceptance

Acceptance, on the other hand, is primarily an inside job. Once you determine that attacking from the outside is a more expensive way to go, or there is no access, IE the water is coming in through the floor, you must attack the problem from the inside.

The principle is that water is going to get in via cracks or increased pressure or you name it. Then we take control of it and pump it out before it causes damage in our homes. One caveat is to pump uphill as little as possible. Gravity is your friend on a hillside, use it!

Examples of acceptance include

1. Perimeter trench with piping to the collection area.
2. Deep well collection area.
3. Sump Pump.
4. Dry-Loc paint
5. Xypex or other specialized interior coatings.
6. As a bonus a small fan can be added to eliminate Radon Gas (Radon is a know carcinogen that is emitted from the earth)

Removing water from a basement is challenging process. It is costly but worth every cent. Having a useable space within the footprint of your home is the cheapest square foot addition you can do. The days of the scarey basement should be a thing of the past.

Let us evaluate your basement for refinishing. These spaces can be warm and inviting if given the proper attention. With the addition of an egress window, there is safety, security, and natural lighting.

If you have a damp, wet, or scarey basement in the Boise area, and need to get it evaluated for repair, please contact us right away at 208-947-7261

Disclaimer: Some of these images came from the WEB. If they are yours, and you object to them being used, please claim them and I will gladly remove them at once.

Structure

We, ” Levco” just encountered another situation where the handy man would not be a good fit. Did you ever get the feeling that the (fill in the blank) just didn’t feel strong enough to hold a few folks in the same place. Weird feeling, trust your gut.

I recall seeing a video of a post accident reconstruction. A newly constructed balcony had fallen off the second story of a home and killed a few people.

I have seen several poorly supported structures in my day but nothing quite like this one. To be truthful a guy could argue that things are under supported all day long. It isn’t until a real failure happens that someone gets to say…”I told you so”

Here in Boise we use building codes like most of the country. I would say we are keeping up with the Jones so to speak. According to Carl Madsen, a residential plan checker of the Boise City building department, building codes went into effect in the 1930′s.  I suppose that there will always be those that ignore the rules. There are homes that have either been built poorly, or remodeled poorly, everywhere here in Boise’s North End. The truth is that building science and building materials have advanced incredibly since then too.

What we found was a concrete slab that was undermined to create a basement addition. (At least that is what we think happened.) With no obvious visible means of support, we were looking at the underside of a slab that was poured on dirt.  Never mind the fact that the structure has withstood years of being the way it was, my gut instinct was to not go under there. I immediately knew this one required the assistance of my team.

Others that have seen the project wanted to demolish the structure and start over, still others wanted to do midnight repairs. I on the other hand was looking for a cost effective cleaver solution to a complex problem. The other caveat is that it would have to meet the requirements of safe and above board…In other words it had to have the building departments seal of approval, by that I mean (A Permit).

The owner was concerned that the home might be condemned. The real life situation is that they had no idea anything was wrong until a snoopy home inspector found the problem and made a small mention of it in their report.

Calculations

Although my Architect, Tom Trutna has a degree in engineering, he is a practicing Architect not an Engineer, in other words he knows his stuff. To be technically correct the City wasn’t going to take the word of an Architect that the structure was fixable. This is when we brought in the big guns.

Scott Soule of Core Engineering. Scott met me at the site and we looked the entire project over. He reassured me that we were on the right track and gave his blessings to the plans. He also provided the six page report with calculations-o-plenty to back up what he and Tom had concluded earlier was the proper way to remedy the problem. (Ala- Alice’s Restaurant)

The good news is that it only took six pages of calculations, some glossy photos, and a few trips to the city to get approval but by golly that is what makes this job interesting. With the addition of several structural beams, lots of supporting columns, and some concrete anchors, we had the problem licked in a few days. Content clients, and a safe structure, who could ask for more. Is this the makings of legendary service? Perhaps. The point is we did the right thing for the right reasons.

If you, or someone you love is concerned about a structure or need reassurance that everything is going to be OK, please let us come evaluate your particular situation. There is nothing more satisfying to me than making recommendations based upon sound advice from my team of remodeling professionals.

Can we fix everything? No. Can we fix most things? Ya-sure, you-bet-ya. It all goes back to our mission statement