Regarding problem-solving, I like to be considered among the best. It has been like a river running through the story of my existence. My dad was a holocaust survivor. I can think of nothing more vital than that. Along those lines, my EMS life was about figuring out how to use my wits, knowledge, and experience to help solve occasionally life-threatening problems with the added flight component. It was challenging and rewarding. I am confident that luck had a lot to do with my survival.

I am a student of solutions to complicated problems. I admire them, I participate in solving them, and I celebrate them when I know they happen. Brilliant solutions rarely show up. Yes, sleeping on a problem is terrific if you have the time, but I am talking about split-second decisions that make a difference. I am a problem-solving student and have encountered a series of solutions that make me proud to be in the same room.

I have raved about cool things like sending a camera down a vertically oriented pipe in video mode and spinning slowly to check the quality of the inside. I have also used a leak detection service to locate and verify the patency of various pipes in similar situations. I have used sensors to determine temperatures before making adjustments. The list goes on and on.

This Latest Stunt Deserves A Cheer

Drain lines were made of cast iron in the past, and the material is still used for special applications. We were working on a 1914 home in which we found an original plumbing inspection tag. Things were done differently back then, and we had to remove some fittings to get the plumbing to work. One way would have been to tear it all out and start over, but we figured out a better way.

The plumber used a few tricks: snapping the existing pipe, removing sections, jacking and holding it in place, and then lowering it to the desired altitude. This avoided tearing holes in the lathe and plaster, which a lesser plumber would have done. My hat is off to Luke of Quality Service Plumbing.

The Takeaway

Remodeling a 111-year-old home is hard. Being at the top of our game includes the ability to do some clever things to make it work. We see it all, from finding leftover debris from previous projects and all sorts of shortcuts being taken by others. We try our best to tear it apart to the studs and build it back with the same care and attention to detail as the home had when it was new. Weaving new materials in with the old is an art. This is what our practice is all about and where our pride comes from.

Your comments are welcome. To ask questions or get more information about remodeling, click here to email me directly, or call 208-947-7261

If you or someone you know is considering remodeling or just wants to speak to a trustworthy remodeling contractor, please contact me. You’ll be glad you did.