As a kid, my older brother Mike was known for putting things apart and putting them back together. He went on to become an accomplished locksmith and then a hardware specialist for large commercial projects. He pioneered a lock that retrieves stolen keys for the local...
A long time ago I realized that "To code" was said to express that there was a minimum level of construction technique and materials that was required to pass an inspection. This "To Code" language was used to instill confidence in the client to know that even if a...
I have been a student of how houses work for a long time. I have seen them be awesome and I have seen them be poorly put together. I think as a remodeler it is part of my responsibility like any good practitioner to evaluate homes just like a physician or any other...
Boise is the perfect place for Whole House Fans. It has all the climactic conditions to use them for about 3 months of the year. Like the swallows returning to Capistrano, I get calls annually that sound something like this. My second story it so hot in the evening...
I was approached by a frantic client who had experienced a flood. They were getting bids from "every roofer in the book," so to speak. Fall was quickly approaching, and they knew that they had an urgent problem that needed to be solved in a hurry. Little did they know...
The 2008 NEC (National Electrical Code) required electricians to install TR or Tamper Resistant outlets in areas that could be abused by children. As the code was adopted gradually from township to township, the little devices were put on the market and the rules...
Master Suite AdditionThe Challenge They came up with a plan drawn by others with several significant errors. One was the size of the addition, and the other was the angle of the trusses. The clients who work remotely turned out to be excellent communicators and...
Dining Room Addition and Kitchen RemodelThe Challenge The home had an odd entry room with a coat closet and partition wall in the way. This room was pretty useless and annoying to the client. Then, the kitchen was blocked from the activity in the living room, and the...
Primary Suite Remodel & DeckThe Challenge Inaccurate plans were provided that had to get updated over the course of the project. The project is on a creek so lots of precautions were needed to keep erosion out of it. The Idea Create a primary suite that is...
Whole House RemodelThe Challenge The home was in the hillside district and in the WUI which means that the home has some extra requirements as far as firesafe and extra structural requirements. There had been an addition done to the house years prior that was not...
