I have such respect and compassion for contractors and subcontractors. Most of them “came up through the trades,” as they put it, often learning construction skills like carpentry or electrical from their fathers, uncles or family friends. As young guys, they are strong and praised for going at it, getting it done, muscling through. Later…
When you work with a contractor: things generally start out great and then go downhill. As the job progresses you’ll likely get weary, overwhelmed, and angry. To help you survive this experience — which will drain you every which way imaginable — you need a contractor who is ethical, organized, financially fit, and tuned in…
Wouldn’t life be much easier if we could outsource home remodeling? I have a recurring dream . . . I do a Control-C on my house, like on a computer file, and make a digital copy of my house. I keep living in the original house, and send the copy around the world to get…
Last week, more than 5,000 high school and community college students descended upon Kansas City to compete in the national conference of SkillsUSA, formerly known as VICA (Vocational Industrial Clubs of America). Skill competitions include carpentry, plumbing, welding, computer graphics, cosmetology, dental assisting, auto repair, and firefighting, plus many, many more. See the full amazing…
A home improvement saga is playing out in San Francisco where a house being worked on by a young couple collapsed and crashed into the house next door. According to this story in the San Francisco Chronicle, the couple had bought a distressed 1909 bungalow for $524,000, said to be the cheapest house for sale…
Why is it not news that licenses were revoked from 35 California contractors in one month? That’s because a similar number of revocations by the California Contractors State License Board happens month after month, year after year. The real news might be the 295,000 contractors in the state who didn’t lose their licenses. Who needs…
Pacific Palisades building contractor Gordon Gibson offers clients a tip sheet of common remodeling mistakes, as was reported in the Palisadian-Post. The sins are: 1. PRIDE: “I can do everything myself; I don’t need any help!” 2. LUST: “I must work with this architect on my home, under any circumstance. If I don’t, I can’t…
An electrical contractor operating in Burbank at 211 N. Victory Blvd. under the name of City Wide Electric, Lic. No. 873106 (look up the license number here), is being investigated by the California Contractors State License Board for allegedly ripping off customers. According to the board, the company, which operates under several names across the…
When Bernie and Val Van De Yacht wanted to gut and remodel their small North Hollywood kitchen for $15,000, they decided to forego the expense of a general contractor and hire subcontractors directly to do the various jobs: demolition, carpentry, plumbing, electrical, drywall, masonry, countertops and flooring. With his persistent personality, Bernie (pictured) excelled at…
But it could happen. And if it does, we can delay moving to an old folks home by making some changes in our own homes. For instance, it will help of we can open the doors (even with arthritic fingers), if we can see clearly, and if tripping hazards are eliminated. To help with needed…