May 2013 Table of Contents

Features
Read about the Big50 Class of 2013

Looking for inspiration to help you build on the housing recovery? Look no further than these 50 company profiles for fresh ideas and best practices. Read more

How-To: Evaluate Health Care Options

Navigating the sea of health insurance options can be daunting for a small business. We help you start plotting your course. Read more

Outdoor Remodel Takes in the View

An outdoor kitchen, cozy fireplace, and sandstone patio with hot tub make the most of the outdoors for entertaining in Idaho. Read more

Dashboard
Small Construction Companies, Large Number of Fall Fatalities

A study shows that 67% of construction deaths from falls happen in construction companies with 1 to 10 employees. Read more

Lumber Prices Are Up Sharply and Will Keep Rising

The composite price for lumber as reported by Random Lengths has risen 44% between April 2012 and April 2013. Read more

Your Business
Profit in the Modern World

Times are changing. Is your profit model keeping up with the times? Read more

Inside Job: Curbing Theft From Your Company

Your building material supplier can play a role in identifying if your employees are stealing. Read more

Responding to Online Reviews

Follow these eight steps to respond to reviews and manage your online reputation. Read more

Safety Update to NARI's Code of Ethics

The National Association of the Remodeling Industry stresses the importance of preserving the health and safety of employees, trades, and clients in an update to its code of ethics. Read more

Gotcha Covered: Tips To Protect Your Business Against Fraud

Construction industry attorney D.S. Berenson discusses how to create a company security policy to limit the risk of employee fraud. Read more

Your Clients
Fresh Appeal: Client Gifts That Reflect Company Culture

These small tokens are whimsical and eco-friendly, catching homeowners' attention. Read more

Your Team
Teams Thrive on Trust

Two years ago I checked in with the local community foundation to see if it needed volunteers. Before I knew it, I was part of one of the very best teams I have ever worked with - a committee tasked with developing three new awards, giving them to worthy recipients, and celebrating those recipients at a gala dinner. The entire committee has just agreed to stay together for a third year and take on a new task. Read more

Growing in Place: Make the Most of Limited Production Hours

Rather than expand through hiring, remodeler Stan Acton uses a spreadsheet to help him get the most out of the carpenters he already has. Read more

Your Projects
7 Benefits of Pre-Staging Projects

Ordering and checking materials before setting a start date is well worth the effort. Here's why. Read more

Expanding a Ranch House With an Infill Addition

Achitect Duo Dickinson's book "Staying Put" features this ranch house infill that offers a simple solution for a family that wants to make its "starter" home a residence for the long term. Read more

Rethinking the Kitchen Work Triangle

Kitchen designer Jeff Kida talks about the kitchen zone concept. Read more

Home Performance
Who Will Rate the Raters?

It's all fine and dandy if home energy ratings are accurate. But what if the ratings are bogus? Read more

Breathe Easy: RZ Mask

An N99 Active Carbon filter is designed to purify the air you breathe, making it ideal for RRP work. Read more

Products
Something to Lean On: Railings

Decking manufacturers turn their attention to railings, offering numerous new options for curb appeal and design flexibility. Read more

A Light from Above

Why overhead daylighting is better than windows alone Read more

Super Sunlight: Velux Solar Powered Fresh Air Skylight

By taking advantage of tax credits, in some cases homeowners can pay less for this solar-powered operable skylight than for a fixed model. Read more

X-Ray Vision: DeWalt 12-Volt Lithium Ion Max Hand-Held Radar Scanner

Wish you had X-ray glasses to find pipes, studs, and other objects behind the wall? This hand-held radar scanner let's you see more. Read more

Go the Distance: Leica Disto E7500i

Combine features such as distance measuring and tilt sensors to get unique indirect measurements that aren't possible with regular distance meters. Read more

Trick Your Tripod: Bosch Compact Tripod and GLL3-80 Laser

Together, the BS 150 Compact Tripod and the GLL3-80 Leveling and Alignment Laser offer a complete leveling solution. Read more

Shed Some Light: General Tools Lighted Pickups and Screwdrivers

Illuminate tight fastening situations with two new lighted screwdrivers. Read more

Good Form
Use a Blueprint to Define Who You Are and What You Do

Atlanta Design & Build shares this blueprint for how the company re-branded itself. Read more

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