ON THE HOUSE
It takes a village The popular phrase “it takes a
village” really rings true when it comes to professional building and remodeling. If you’re a pro builder or remodeler you’ll know exactly of what we speak. We suppose that sports would make for the best analogy. The prime contractor or “coach” pulls together all of the subs and product suppliers–“the players.” Needless to say, this can be a major undertaking depending upon the size and complexity of a project. A custom home can have 75 to 100 different trades and suppliers when considering architecture, engineering, utilities, site work, construction and finishes. And a kitchen, bath remodel, or addition aren’t far behind. In fact, in a remodel where major demo and reconstruction is involved, the level of detail can rival a custom home. But wait, the plot thickens. There can be literally dozens of details within each of these construction and product categories. And, as you might guess, each demands a contractor’s thoughtful attention. For example, when it comes to specifying a cabinet, details typically include: construction materials–both interior and exterior, panel and shelf material thickness and finish, cabinet finish –stain or paint and color, height, depth, width, door and drawer layout, door and draw style, door hinge style, drawer glide style, door and
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Deck Specialist
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Summer 2020
drawer construction, scribe detail, toe kick detail, crown detail, glass panel design, pull design and finish, and installation techniques. Whew! Get our drift? Now, multiply that by all of the construction categories on a project and you have lots to keep your eye on. That’s why it’s important to have a strong team of subcontractors and suppliers that you can rely upon to make sure that all of the details come together as smoothly, efficiently and professionally as possible. And, it’s equally important to have a top manager overseeing all of these moving parts to ensure that nothing slips between the cracks and to keep crews busy and customers happy. A good crewmember, sub or material supplier is worth his or her weight in gold. Nurture the relationship, pay fairly and promptly, and your loyalty will be returned in spades. Your project schedules will flow more smoothly, your installed product will be the best that it can be, and your customers will be your most enthusiastic salespeople. Go Team! The Carey Bros.—James and Morris—are nationally known experts on home renovation and hosts of a weekly radio program and syndicated newspaper column, both titled On the House (onthehouse.com).