Coffee Cornucopia...soon to be!

This doctors office had everything a patient could need except one important "remedy"...Coffee!
We designed this "soon to be functional" Coffee Center which will be filled to abundance with great coffees and beverages. Almost makes one want to schedule a visit. Almost...

Notables: 42" high "no stooping" counter height. Full extension drawers for condiments and accessories. Trash container with convenient access from above. Corian countertops with tall backsplashes. Raised beverage cooler for easy access.

If you Mess-up, Fess-up!

Saw this truck today. Saying "not responsible for broken windshields" (note loose gravel all over tailgate) is like building a house without nails and saying "not responsible for collapsing walls" C'mon folks, if you mess-up, fess-up. Accept your responsibility and you might pleasantly be surprised the good that can come to you from it. Happy Easter!

When is a Jackleg a potential home-burner?

jack•leg
/ˈjakˌleg/
1. an incompetent, unskillful, or dishonest person.
"a jackleg carpenter"

When is a Jackleg a potential home-burner?
When they leave a fire hazard lurking in your wall.
While tearing out some walls today, we found multiple examples of unsafe and shoddy workmanship left by a previous Jackleg.
Picture 1 shows a bundle of "wire-nutted" wires that had been illegally hidden in a wall. Picture 2 shows an unsecured wire that had been trapped between the wallboard and framing...and then had a screw run through it. The black soot shows how close this came to being disaster.
The good news...our licensed electricians where able to correct all of these problems in short order!

Picture 1

Picture 2

Tile artisans - hard to come by these days.

Mike Jarboe and his helper Bill are doing a great job of installing this bathroom tile. Or is it only Bill doing the work? (OK, so maybe I set them up)

Anyone can stick tile on a wall, but it takes a real artisan to install it properly, in a manner that will not leak and look great for decades to come. More of this transformation to come soon!

If you know what this is...

It probably brings back bad memories.
You are looking at the backside of a plaster over lathe wall. Tearing them out is one of the most dreaded dirty jobs in remodeling.

Had or Heard of a Bad Remodeling Experience?

Had or Heard of a Bad Remodeling Experience?
Over many years of meeting with folks regarding their home-improvement needs, I hear way too many horror stories about past experiences within the construction industry. The cartoon depicts quite well how differently the "same thing" can be understood...er, misunderstood by all parties involved.
It does not have to be that way! Whether purchasing a service or commodity, the representative should be directing many questions to you about what your needs, goals, and visions are. If they don't care in the first meeting, chances are, they won't care later.
Just as important are clear specification/contract documents. You should always know exactly what it is you are purchasing , in writing, before you order/sign anything. If the salesperson balks or is defensive in anyway, politely reuse the contract and find someone willing to provide these basic things.
If hiring service work, always check that they are properly licensed and insured. In Maryland, a quick check at the MHIC website will tell you if a contractor's license is active and whether or not they have any complaints against them.
Lastly, ask for referrals and then (hard as it may be) pick up the phone and actually call them. My favorite question to ask: "What went wrong, and how did they handle it"
Do your due diligence and you might be pleasantly surprised how smoothly your homes remodeling can be.