Joe’s Blog
This Blog is dedicated to the notion that remodeling is a fun, life long learning process.
Remodeling is my passion, If you are interested in remodeling your home, or just happen to stumble upon my site, please refer me to anyone in need of remodeling. You’ll be pleased that you did. The original content contained here is proof that when you are passionate about something it is easy to find stuff to talk about.
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Boise Weather
“If you don’t like the weather in Boise, Just wait 15 minutes”
Behind the scenes at Levco
We are remodeling like mad making homes work better for families.
There is an enormous appetite for remodeling in Boise at the moment. This fills me with joy.
We just invested in some amazing technology and are reinventing how we use our Design Process.
Books I am reading now:
Builder Mark Kerson
Thinking fast and slow Daniel Kahneman
Inspirational Quotes
“Architecture is inhabited sculpture”. -Constantin Brancusi, sculptor (19 Feb 1876-1957)
“Surround yourself with people you love and have fun. The rest is gravy”. Paul Tillotson (1965 -2016)
“I love the smell of sawdust in the morning”. Me, renaissance man (8-28-58) – Still going strong!
“Quality construction does not cost- it pays” as seen on a bumper sticker
“Lighthouses don’t go running all over an island looking for boats to save; they just stand there shining.” Anne Lamott
“Everything that can be counted does not necessarily count; everything that counts cannot necessarily be counted.” Albert Einstein

Investigating Others Failed Remodeling Projects
What do you mean? I mean that I get calls to come and inspect projects where the contractor and homeowner for a myriad of reasons have stopped a project in progress. There was a contract it was breached and here we are. Two upset parties and a pile of unfulfilled...

Commit First, Then Figure it Out
I read a morning inspirational post recently that hit on a thought that reminds me of myself and a few friends that I hang out with. We share a fearless gene that came from somewhere primitive that makes me tick. Where Did My Confidence Come From? I think I know, but...

How Does Levco Stand Out in a Crowded Field?
Levco is a high-performing remodeling firm, we are classified as "A Design Build Firm" because we design the remodeling projects that we do often. Not exclusively, we do work that others have designed especially architects that are willing to do residential work....

Safety Awareness Is King
We recently completed a 2-story remodeling project where in addition to the parents, two small children reside. We subcontracted the railing replacement for the project to a specialty company that does this sort of work and is very good at it. We met the owner of the...

More Than One Right Way?
I recently upset an architect that drew a shower pan we were supposed to build. The large format tiles would have many cuts. Rather than go back to the architect to figure out a better solution, I used the advice of the tile company that was installing and needed to...

Parallel Professions Joined
As I was telling a story about how much I used to enjoy being a paramedic and realizing that being a remodeler does allow me access to people's lives, just at a different level of intensity. 911 used to be my invitation to get involved, usually within 3 - 5 minutes...

Homeowner Insurance Claims Are Complex
I recently deemphasized the fact that Levco does insurance-related reconstruction work because railing against the Disaster Response industry is like beating your head against the brick wall. I apologize in advance, this article is cathartic. At Levco, we actually do...

Inconvenience Today For A Better Tomorrow
I read a piece recently that reminded me of the essence of remodeling. There is nothing more upsetting to the apple cart than dealing with an interruption in the daily routine. Not everyone is cut out for it. My job is to understand the personalities quickly to see...

Giving And Getting Thanks Happens Organically
I was recently involved in a couple of situations that ultimately had a happy ending, but it started from a place of confusion and distrust. It turns out that giving and getting thanks happens organically when the stakes are high and emotion runs wild. Where The...

Encore Remodeling Performance
Why on earth would you liken a concert performance to a remodeling project? Have you ever been to a concert where you clapped so darn hard on your feet at the end of the set that the performing group returned to do an encore, then did it again? Oh ya the standing "O"...