In this tough economy, high-end clients are asking for bids and high-end remodelers are having to adjust. More
Two curved staircase projects that highlight artful design and great craftsmanship. More
Recreating the craftsmanship of the past is always a challenge for remodelers with clients who want to preserve the traditional feel of an older home. Windows are an especially tricky area. The look of historic windows can be critical to the character of an older home, but preserving or replicating that look isn't easy. More
Whether you call it a career track or a framework, whether you spell it out in a handbook or tell people during job interviews, you must have a path for field personnel to follow if you want them to grow and take on more responsibility. Remodelers who have carved out this path have shaped it to their companies' needs, bringing newbies along and nurturing homegrown lead carpenters, project managers, and even vice presidents. More
Good parents encourage their children to welcome responsibility, think for themselves, and take risks. Good employers do the same with employees. Having nurtured some of his 36 employees through 20-plus years of progressive growth and responsibility, remodeler Keith Alward (Big50 2002) believes in the value of autonomy and self-reliance. More
When it comes to sales, Bill Simone of Custom Design + Construction leaves nothing to chance. From the initial call forward, the Los Angeles remodeler sets a sales system in motion to guide his ideal customer to a signed contract. More
Category: Old-house renovation, over $300,000 Contractor: Keith Alward, Alward Construction, Berkeley, Calif.Designer: Dirk Stennick, Dirk Stennick Design, San Francisco More
However, if you release an employee with a $40,000 yearly salary plus benefits, you can reduce your overhead by as much as $65,000.The first was typical but with a few minor cuts; the second left just the basics; the third put us in survival mode -- cutting back on everything but absolute More
Although the construction and layout of these houses, known as Mediterranean or Spanish style, are most suited to the climates of southern California, Florida, Texas, and Arizona, the style has since gained popularity across the country.The design includes stucco siding, clay roof tile, wrought iron accents, arched doorways, colorful tiles, and carved doors and columns. At 60 to 100 years old now, the houses often need quite a bit of work to bring them back to their original luster. More
