Ask Mason tagged 'select contractor'

On Cabinet Refacing, Square Pegs and Round Holes

Mason — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 01:00:00 -1800

Mason, enjoy your articles. After 12 years in the refacing business, I finally started my own co. What do you think of the laminate and veneer process? Since I am now also doing sales, I could use any sales pitches you might have. Thanks!

Kirk B Reno, NV

Kirk,

Congratulations on taking the jump to ownership. Remember, you're not your own boss... now you have so many more bosses - your customers!

I confess that when I first read your inquiry [...]

Why Invest in Remodeling, In Today's Market?

Mason — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 01:00:00 -1800

Some of the earliest signs of the present economic troubles appeared in the nation's housing industry. Presently, new home starts (as indicated by permit activity) have dredged 25-year lows, and existing home sales have fallen even as they become seemingly more affordable amidst heretofore unseen devaluation. As lenders tighten their practices, real estate finance has become markedly more conservative, decreasing the ability for many to obtain credit for purchases and improvem [...]

Safe Fireplaces

Mason — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 01:00:00 -1800

Mason,

My family is purchasing a 1950's home, and our home inspector noted a concern about the poor condition of the "caps" on the chimneys, as well as some of the bricks and mortar directly below. He could not inspect the entire inside of the chimney (although he did note alot of creosote inside, when he opened the damper at the fireplaces). The seller is having a masonry contractor come out for another look. How concerned should we be?

Assuming th [...]

Earth-Friendly Systems Sources

Mason — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 01:00:00 -1800

Hello,

We are remodeling a home in Midlothian and we are trying to come up with very efficient and eco-friendly technology to integrate into the home including, solar panels, radiant heating, water recycling, geo thermal heating, heat recovery systems and smart technology.

Is there anyone out there selling these services in Central Virginia for one stop shopping that could provide a plan to achieve the highest efficiencies based on what is available. We moved from Engl [...]

Poker & Unlicensed Contractors

Mason — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -1800

Who thought the interest in gambling would be so great that the World Series of Poker would be televised on ESPN? Obviously, somebody's watching.

An interesting point in that regard, quoting Pug Pearson, 1973 World Series of Poker champion, made this observation about human nature:

"The real thing to know is that folks will stand to lose more than they will to win. That's the most important percentage there is. I mean, if they lose, they'r [...]

(Sing Along:) Who's Afraid of a Load-Bearing Wall?

Mason — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -1800

Mason,

I have a small (1400 sf) old Cape. There is a wall with a double-door opening that separates the living room from a small sunroom. Around the corner from that, there is a tiny bathroom and corridor that separates that sunroom from the kitchen. I'd really like to remove the wall and the bathroom and open the whole space up. My question is, what are the factors that need to be considered to do this and keep my house from falling down? I hear the term "load bearing wall&qu [...]

Getting Engaged - with a Design/Builder

Mason — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -1800

Mason:

What are the three best questions that a homeowner can ask when trying to choose a design/build firm and why?

Evan

Evan,

I appreciate your question... naturally, finding a good "fit" between yourself and a building / remodeling partner is the first and most important key to a successful project experience.

Take a look back at my archived post "On Selecting a Contractor" (August 2007). There, we talk about achieving a [...]

On Selecting a Contractor

Mason — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -1800

I am quite certain that all of our readers have seen an article on this at some time or another. Every source will have some different “take” on it. So here it is from this contractor’s perspective.

First, let me say that my firm does NOT try to be everything to everybody. Just because it’s a repair or remodeling job, we don’t necessarily thi [...]