As we step lightly into the future of remodeling pre-1978 homes in a post-3M lead test swab era, we find ourselves hoarding swabs and stretching the most out of them. If we could make them last, then we can avoid the inevitable disappointment of the Old Mother...
This is the $64,000 question. It is asked in so many ways and so unlikely to get an accurate answer that I had to find out for myself. Everyone thinks I know this stuff anyway, so I might as well. If the answer were easy, we would all know it. The problem is that the...
I was recently drawn into a political debate over the Idaho building codes. Turns out that we are a libertarian state. That means the conservative side, which is very strong, has decided that we should be known as the "leave me alone state." One senator up north even...
I discovered a situation that brings the safety of digging, even after Digline is notified 2 days in advance into question. The assumption I was under is that once the utilities are located it is safe to dig. By Idaho Law, you are obligated to notify Digline if you...
A client of mine had a fire in a carport. It was sad, her Ford Explorer caught fire spontaneously and set her carport ablaze. It was a freak situation, one of those cars that was eventually recalled because of a faulty cruise control. The fire department was able to...
Why of course I am the responsible person, I am responsible for everything. whether it goes right or wrong, my name is on the bottom line. Turns out it also is the term given to the licensed person who is "responsible" for keeping sediment from entering our street...
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...