• I recently stumbled across a list of quotes from America’s favorite folksy philosopher, Yogi Berra. Yogi was a pretty good ball player, to be sure, but is equally famous for his twisted tidbits of wisdom. In reading through these, I found them simply profound and profoundly simple, pertinent to all walks of life, including construction. In the article that follows, I’ll sprinkle in a number of his sayings as they apply to the subject at hand. They’ll be identified by the preceding notation (RY), denoting Relevant Yogi-ism.

DIY projects may not end up saving you time and money in the end.

• I have a friend. He’s a very capable fellow, with a curious mind, advanced degrees, and a can-do attitude. When he set out to build a new home for his family, he decided to be his own contractor. He relished the challenge, and wanted to save money on the home by eliminating the contractor’s fee. He finished the home, it’s beautiful, and he’s justifiably proud. He confided, however, that he had no idea how hard it would be, and has a new appreciation for general contractors. In fact, he said he’ll hire a contractor next time, convinced they’re worth every penny. (RY) “If you don’t know where you’re going, you’ll wind up somewhere else.”

• My friend freely admits he didn’t really understand what a contractor’s job entailed. He had watched some construction before, it didn’t look too hard, and good contractors seemed expensive. Perhaps you’re planning a building project of your own, have had the same thoughts, and are trying to decide whether to do the work yourself, or hire a professional. To assist you, I’ll attempt to describe the various responsibilities of a general contractor. I hope this helps you decide which way to go. (RY) “When you come to a fork in the road, take it.” 

• Contractor responsibilities include the following:

• Code compliance—there are many complicated regulations governing construction, administered by federal, state, city, county, and even neighborhood authorities. They govern such things as lot setbacks, solar access, bulk-plane requirements, egress, structural design, drainage, work hours, aesthetic design, lighting, building height, parking spaces, and many, many more. Mistakes can be extremely expensive. (RY) “I don’t want to make the wrong mistake.”

• Scheduling—running even a relatively simple construction project is like being an air traffic controller at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport on Christmas Eve. In other words, there’s a lot of activity from a lot of people that must happen at precisely the right time, or it’s going to get very ugly. The task involves managing material selections, coordinating material delivery, and proper sequencing of all the building trades to keep them out of each other’s way. (RY) “I knew I was going to take the wrong train, so I left early.”

• Selecting the Team—subcontractors are the specialty trade companies who perform a large percentage of the work on construction projects. While many general contractors have their own crews to perform general construction work such as demolition, framing, and finish carpentry, there are often dozens of crafts that are so specialized as to require experts in the field. This would include excavators, electricians, plumbers, painters, and carpet layers. These trades and related material suppliers are divided into 16 major categories by the Construction Specification Institute (CSI), and all of these 16 categories have many subspecialties under them. In fact, there are thousands of categories. Each of these subcontractors and suppliers will provide an important product or service on your project. Selecting the right one to be on your project team is critical. In theory, they should all play well together. (RY) “In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice, there is.”

• Budget Control—the general contractor has the ultimate responsibility for controlling project costs, and bringing the job in on budget. With hundreds or thousands of cost items involving dozens of suppliers, this is harder than it sounds,   One definition of a construction budget—a wild guess carried out to two decimal places. More than any other issue, this is the one that separates the best contractors from the rest. Even a great contract may not protect you if the contractor accidentally slipped a decimal point or overlooked something important. An accurate budget is hard to establish even for a seasoned veteran with an intimate knowledge of construction. (RY) “A nickel ain’t worth a dime anymore.”

• Quality Control—this, also, is the general contractor’s job. Since there is no standard quality specification for various aspects of the work, the contractor must set and enforce the standards. For example: the strength of the concrete, the smoothness of the drywall, the tightness of a joint, the durability of the paint, etc. Some of these standards are visible to the homeowner. Most of the important ones are not. (RY) “You can observe a lot just by watching.”

• Risk Management—construction is a dangerous business—physically, legally, and financially. It is the contractor’s job to protect the homeowners from all of these risks, and more. This includes securing or requiring many types of insurance from all involved parties—general liability, automobile, performance bonding, workers’ compensation, builder’s risk, materials in transit, and others. If the proper controls are not in place, unsuspecting homeowners could find themselves liable for worker injury on the jobsite, having mechanic’s liens filed on their property, or having their foundation fail. (RY) “It’s tough to make predictions, especially about the future.”

• Interpret Design Intent—while most architects do an excellent job of detailing design intent on paper, both on blueprint drawings as well as written specifications, many construction activities require some interpretation by the contractor. Not everything that can be drawn can, or should, be built. (Have you ever seen an Escher painting?) One famous architect told me he was only responsible for the aesthetic concepts—it was the contractor’s job to figure out how to build it! Falling Water, a house designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, America’s most famous architect, should rather be called Falling Down, because it is. In spite of the fact the contractor, against Mr. Wright’s wishes, secretly installed much more steel in the concrete than Mr. Wright specified. (RY) “You give 100 percent in the first half of the game, and if that isn’t enough, in the second half you give what’s left.”

• Warranty—while most products and subcontractors will warrant their material and workmanship, it’s not always easy to sort out responsibility. Did the tile crack because it was defective, installed incorrectly, was the underlying structure at fault? There is no winner in The Blame Game. If you have a general contractor on-board, it doesn’t matter to you who is at fault, because ultimately it’s his responsibility. (RY) “The future ain’t what it used to be.”

• After hearing all this, if you determine to build or remodel your own home, great. I know it will come out just fine and we can still be friends. (RY) “This is like déjà vu all over again.”

• Special thanks to Mr. Berra for his inspiration. You can view his official website at   www.yogi-berra.com

• We always welcome your comments, questions and suggestions. Please feel free to ”Post a Comment” in the box below.

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• Did you visit friends this summer and come home with a bad case of house envy? Did it whet your appetite for cooking up a tasty little remodel project of your own? If you’re hungry for a little house candy, but intimidated at the process, do what the best chefs do—follow a recipe. Take out the Contractor’s Cookbook, open to the tab marked “Remodel Recipes”, and follow the directions to the letter. In no time at all, you’re sure to have your friends drooling over your home. I’ve included my favorite recipe below. And don’t worry, I haven’t left out any key ingredients!

• Meal planning—First, you have to decide what kind of project you’re going to cook up. Look through idea books, and cut out pictures of everything that looks good. All the best cookbooks have pictures of the finished project, so you can tell what the meal will look like. Start early, and give yourself plenty of time. It doesn’t pay to rush—good meals take time.

• Meal Budgeting—Decide how much money you have to spend. Will this be a banquet fit for a king, a hearty repast of meat and potatoes, an eclectic smörgåsbord, or a delectable little dessert? Each meal has its place, and its own price tag. Just remember, you can’t buy filet mignon on a Spam budget. It pays to be honest about the budget from the beginning, and save back a little money just in case that special confection comes along. Read our FAQ about the costs of construction.

• Guest List—Next you need to decide who to invite to your table—architect and builder, or design-build contractor. Will you utilize an interior designer? The best dinner parties have compatible guests. Architects are creative by nature, and can easily get carried away in the excitement of an artistic frenzy. They tend to be optimistic about mundane things such as the cost of construction. Contractors, on the other hand, are as boring as sawdust, always talking about costs and schedules, and the difficulty of construction details. Every good project needs both perspectives. You’ll want your team to respect each other, and communicate well. Be sure the Contractor gives his cost feedback before the Architect finishes the plans. Whatever you do, don’t let amateurs offer you unsolicited advice. Remember—“too many cooks spoil the broth”. Read more about roles here.

• Read the recipe—In this case the recipe in question is the construction contract. Read and understand each and every provision. Take all the time you need, and don’t sign it until you’re comfortable. The language should be clear, and virtually every contingency should be addressed. Don’t be intimidated by a long document. There are many things that can go wrong in construction, and you’ll want to have a clear provision addressing every issue. A good contract will minimize misunderstandings, but it will not protect you from a bad contractor. Don’t sign a contract with anyone you wouldn’t trust on a handshake.

• Shop for ingredients—When scouting the markets for the produce of construction—such as appliances, floor coverings, and doors—make three separate lists. On one, price everything you want with only the finest ingredients. On the second list, leave out a few of the extras and choose some specials and in-season items. On the third list, choose only the ingredients you need. That way, if you have sticker-shock at the check-out counter, you’ll already know which items to substitute or take out of the cart. Many of the best chefs recommend that you buy the best ingredients you can afford. A simpler meal with premium ingredients is better than a huge banquet with unsavory substitutes.

• Season to Taste—This is your project, and it should serve your needs. Many people worry about whether their plan will be good for resale, or whether a potential buyer will like what they’ve done. In my opinion, unless you’re planning something completely bizarre, do what you like. I’ve watched clients compromise their wishes for the sake of resale, only to have new owners tear it all out and do what the first owners wanted to do. There are a lot of people in this world, and some of them will be just like you, and will like your ideas. If you like spicy, spice it up. If you like sweet, pile it on. Let the next guy cook his own meal. And since this is Boulder, don’t forget the high-altitude adjustment!

• Don’t open the oven until it’s done—If you followed the recipe precisely, trust the process, and let the thing bake until it’s done. If you keep peeking in the oven every few minutes, you’ll only drive yourself, and all your dinner guests, crazy. And you know what they say about the “watched pot.” Go relax, have a glass of wine, and wait for the timer to go off before opening the oven door. Then celebrate the meal, and take a bow. You deserve it. Bon Appétit!

• Larry Parrish is the “Head Chef” at Parrish Construction Co., design-build contractors and custom cabinetmakers in Boulder since 1969. Phone 303-444-0033.

• For more information about the Design-Build process, see our “Getting Started” page.

• We always welcome your comments, questions and suggestions. Please feel free to ”Post a Comment” in the box below.

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This kitchen remodel features a raised dishwasher for ease of use.

• By Annette Parrish, Vice President

• When it comes to heights for bath and kitchen countertops, the standard should be based on the needs of the residents.  The main purpose for remodeling is not just to make it prettier, but to also make it more enjoyable and comfortable, even if you are planning to live there  for only a few years.  We all accept that someone in a wheelchair would want to make countertops at a functional height for their use, and the same should be true for anyone who is either taller or shorter that the norm.

• You won’t be comfortable if you make your bath vanity 30 inches tall and you are over six feet tall, and you’ll have a back ache to prove it.  On the other hand, if you are barely five feet tall you may not be comfortable working at a ’standard’ 36 inch high kitchen counter and would be more comfortable with 33 inches, but your six foot, six inch wife would be more comfortable at 38 inch counters.  It’s not at all unusual to have counters of different heights in both the bath and kitchen to accommodate residents of different heights.

• If you’re worried about resale, don’t be.  We’ve remodeled several houses multiple times for different owners and they always want to rip out existing cabinets, standard height or not, and install what they like.

• We always welcome your comments, questions and suggestions. Please feel free to ”Post a Comment” in the box below.

• Don’t be moved by age. According to the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), older homeowners overwhelmingly prefer to age-in-place, meaning to live at home safely, independently and comfortably.

• With Universal Design principals, this has become increasingly easy. You can make your house your home-for-life. The changes needed, often simple and small, are cheaper than moving into assisted living facilities.

• As one of my clients says: “Ain’t movin’ ‘til they take me out in a pine box”.  As a Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS), here is my advice on what you need to consider if you feel the same way:

Installing grab bars in bathroom showers can ensure safety and prevent falls.

• Safety:

1. Lighting, more of it and higher quality; color corrected bulbs help.
2. Contrast in surface textures and colors to enable you to distinguish between them.
3. Compact fluorescent bulbs, cooler to the touch and energy efficient
4. Scald prevention plumbing fixtures.
5. Non-slip surface treatments in baths and bath rooms
6. Electronic ignition to replace pilot lights, so you are not kneeling with a match and your reading glasses!

• Ease of Use:

1. Look ahead. Update now to prevent having to deal with it when you are less able: new major appliances; re-roof; re-side to prevent regular paint jobs. Low maintenance is your goal.
2. Shop with a critical eye. When you replace an appliance, look for convenience in cleaning and servicing.
3. Heights: cabinets can be designed now to be removed later to create an under the counter knee space to accommodate wheel chairs. Raise some appliances, such as dishwashers, to load and unload without stooping.
4. Put the master bed and bath on the first floor.
5. A high maintenance yard is like a high-maintenance person. ‘Nuff said (See ”Upgrading and Modernizing” below).

• Independence:

1. Widen doorways and traffic areas to accommodate walkers and wheelchairs.
2. Remove levels and steps.
3. A lever handle puts less demand on your grip than a knob.
4. Convert space for anticipated live-in help.
5. Build a network of support: gather around you now (through trusted referrals) the help you need for gardening, heavy house cleaning, shoveling snow, cleaning out gutters, find a good handy man service.
6. Keyless entries mitigate forgetfulness and afford the ability to change locks easily. They also allow someone to drop in easily and check on you.

• Upgrading and Modernizing

• While you are at it…Green Up! Many of these changes also provide an opportunity to increase insulation, improve window quality, and use higher efficiency appliances. Sensitivity to cold increases as we age. (We are all familiar with Grandma’s house being very warm.) Furthermore, utility prices will only continue to rise. Commonly, adding insulation and other energy saving ideas costs only an additional 5%. However, the ROI (return on investment) is usually better than 8% immediately, and in the current energy market, even above that.

• Use any remodeling opportunity as a Greening Up opportunity as well. You won’t regret it. It will only help in selling your home eventually, too. Xeriscaping is a major boon in at least three ways: your aching back, high water bills and our alpine desert environment. Boulder abounds with xeriscaping experts and many beautiful examples of how gorgeous such landscaping can be.

• Remember, with a little planning, you can live at home and live well…for many years to come.

• We always welcome your comments, questions and suggestions. Please feel free to post in the “Comments Box” below.

Xeriscaped, sloped yards require little maintenance and allow ease of access.

• By Annette Parrish- Vice President

• Who wouldn’t want a beautiful closet like the ”After”  pictured here—large, bright, and ultra organized?  Even the most beautiful closet should be extremely efficient and functional or it will soon become a large, bright, disorganized mess. 

•  As we’re heading into summer, now is the perfect time to take a critical look at what works, what doesn’t work, and to figure out where to store all those fall and winter clothes you won’t be needing for awhile!  You can transform your crowded, disorganized closet into a dream closet by following these simple guidelines for organization, and implementing a few key changes. First, let’s identify the problem before we discuss a solution.

•  The common problems with most closets are:

• Wasted space—usually found up near the ceiling, along the floor under hanging clothes, and in corners or at ends that are partially covered by a standard five foot door frame.

• High shelves—not easy to reach and difficult for stacking clothes without standing on a stool.

• Lack of organization—shelves are linear so items are not grouped together effectively.

• Rod Height- Single height rod is usually too short for formal-length dresses and has wasted space under shorter clothing.

• Solutions Include:

• Removing standard five foot doors and the framing around it to enlarge the opening and replacing with custom, built-in units. Custom isn’t as pricey as most people think.
• If you have room, install pull-down rods to utilize the space close to the ceiling.
• Placing the items you use most frequently at eye level and those seldom-used items either up high or nearer the floor
• Built-in shelving to accommodate more folded clothes and enclosed compartments to keep items from getting dusty
• Labeled shelves or drawers for pajamas, t-shirts, undergarments, etc.
• Placing rods at different levels for shorter items like jackets, shirts, & skirts; and for longer items such as dresses, formal-wear, and other long-hanging items.
• Providing a tip-out bin for laundry and dry cleaning items.
• Enclosed cubbies or shelves to keep luggage, purses, shoes & boots dust free.
• Installing a slide-out rack for scarves and belts
• Adjustable shelves for flexibility
• Built-in ironing board for larger closets

• As you can see, if you make a few simple changes you can easily see everything you own, allowing you to put outfits together quickly and avoid the frustration of ‘losing’ things in your closet.  You could almost get ready in the dark!  Having an organized, custom closet lets you take good care of your clothing while preventing additional stress in your life.  Getting dressed in the morning shouldn’t be stressful!

• We always welcome your comments, questions and suggestions. Please feel free to post in the “Comments Box” below.

Before, this closet was too cramped and not efficient. After the Parrish remodel, it is bright and efficient with pull out drawers and custom shelving, ensuring it stays that way!

• We recently proved the old adage “a stitch in time saves nine”. For weeks our hot water has been coming out of the faucets looking like weak tea and there was a dried rust stain under one of the water heaters. Both of the heaters were also over ten years old. We’re smart people so we knew this meant that our water heaters were failing, and we had our plumber order two new heaters. We’re also frugal and busy so we thought we would wait a little longer and squeeze a little more service out of them. After all, money in the bank earns interest and we didn’t think they would fail before we got them replaced.

• When I ran out of hot water while taking a shower last Sunday, I knew something was wrong. Larry quickly ran down stairs and discovered one of the water heaters had failed. If you’ve never had a water heater fail, you may not know that ‘failing’ means they rust out at the bottom and then all the water inside them leaks onto the floor of your house, in our case 50 gallons of water! If the water heater is in a basement near a drain, and the floor slopes properly, hopefully most of the water will disappear and you will just have a little mopping up to do. If your water heater is on a second floor with finished rooms beneath it, you have major problems.

• Our floor in the basement doesn’t slope enough so the carpet in the basement was soaked for about four feet in and the water was about ½ inch deep in places. We also believe in being prepared, if not pro-active, so fortunately we have a water vacuum just for these emergencies. Needless to say, most of our morning was spent moving furniture, vacuuming and mopping up water, and tearing up carpet (which now needs to be replaced). The basement is trashed, we had to cancel our morning plans, and we have to spend hundreds of dollars we hadn’t planned on for new flooring.

• The real point here is that putting off replacing an old water heater never saves you time or money. If your heater is ten years old or older, just replace it now. You’ll have another ten years of peace of mind and not wonder every time you go on vacation whether or not you’ll come home to a wet basement. Trust me, it’s worth the peace of mind!

• We always welcome your comments, questions and suggestions. Please feel free to post in the “Comments Box” below.

An example of a water heater before & after replacing to a more energy-saving, headache preventing one.

The Before & After of our very own kitchen remodeled...by us.

• By Larry Parrish, CR, CGR, CAPS, GACP

•  This article was originally published in 2003. The kitchen was recently featured in the Kitchens are Cooking Home Tour May 1-2 to benefit the I Have a Dream Foundation of Boulder. See the News page for more.

• You’ve heard it said that a Physician who treats himself has a fool for a patient. I’d adapt this as follows: “A contractor who remodels his own home has a fool for a client.” Having just completed a significant remodel of my own home, and having used my own company to accomplish the work, I believe I can attest to the sad truth of this statement.

• I knew better, of course, but was the victim of another saying, often related by my wife, that “a shoe cobbler’s children have no shoes”. In her case, she was referring to the fact that I’d been promising for over ten years (ok, 25) to remodel our kitchen. Finally out of cunning desperation, she threatened to call a competitor to do the work. I’d have been smart to call her bluff, but I couldn’t bear the embarrassing thought. So I listed our kitchen remodel on the company’s schedule board just like a “real job”, the kind she’d been waiting in line behind all those years.

• I know that some of you are thinking of another saying—something about it being good for a doctor to get sick and have to taste his own medicine. Well—ok, I can understand that sentiment, and I must admit, I’m a better contractor for having lived through my own remodel experience.

• As a “building professional” with many years of practice advising clients on the construction process, I was confident I could avoid the potential pitfalls of construction, and enjoy the experience. Thanks to my wife, who encourages me to follow my own advice most of the time, I survived. I’d like to tell you about what worked, and what I should have done differently. I only hope that by sharing the experience with you, I can save you from some trouble of your own. At this point, I’d like to inject a saying of my own: “Do what I say, not what I do.”

1. On moving out: We remodeled for a friend recently (yes, we’re still friends), who decided to live in the house through the process. Afterwards, he said “if you ever have a client who chooses to live through a major remodel, have them call me.” It’s not for the faint of heart. You need a pioneer spirit and a strong sense of humor. It’s the little things that will get to you – the dust, lack of privacy, cramped quarters, parking in the street instead of the garage, noise, and disruption. I lived through it and survived. My advice? Move out!
2. More about dust: Don’t believe the contractor who claims he can control the dust. Not even with zipper doors, plastic walls, sticky mats, HEPA vacuum cleaners, and negative-pressure exhaust systems. These measures will keep the dust layer under a quarter-inch thick. If it can’t get dusty, seal it in a plastic bag or move it out. I’ve also learned that this level of dust can never be removed. It can only be rearranged.
3. On maintaining sanity: At best, remodeling is stressful. To increase your odds of survival, schedule some treats for yourself. Leave the country for as long as you can afford. Eat out often. Follow my wife’s example—tell everyone you know that you will accept all dinner invitations. Buy a voodoo doll of the contractor, and use it.
4. The Remodeling Creep: No matter how carefully you plan your project, it will grow. It’s one of the inviolate laws of physics. You will discover opportunities as the walls open up. In my case, it was an unplanned skylight. The opportunity was just too great to pass up. And it was worth it. In fact, it’s the best feature of the job. But it cost more and lengthened the project. Prepare for the contingency. Allow for extra cost and time in your plan. Don’t blame the contractor, you’ll do it to yourself.
5. Sticker Shock: It will cost more than a moon landing. Get over it. Just keep telling yourself it will be worth it. It will. If it wasn’t possible to forget the pain of childbirth, we’d all be “only children.” The color is just now coming back into my cheeks.
6. Product choices: Choose EVERYTHING before the project starts. You won’t have time or energy after the work begins. I didn’t do this. Near the end of the project, I didn’t care what product we used. I just didn’t want to have to decide any more. Hint for husbands—don’t pick a light fixture (or anything) without your wife in order to “expedite” things. Trust me on this one!
7. Schedule: Finally, I made a good decision. I didn’t run the project myself, but assigned it to a competent staff person. Thanks to him, the job ran exactly on schedule. One reason is because he was smart enough to include “float days” in the schedule to provide a cushion for the inevitable hiccups. This allowed for some minor perturbations without derailing the whole train. It also meant there were a few days when nothing significant happened. It was “way” worth it.
8. Celebrate milestones: To make the process more enjoyable, celebrate the significant achievements as you go along. Events such as commencement of framing, completion of rough-in, end of drywall, another week without divorce. It doesn’t have to be fancy. Perhaps a pizza party. Or milk and cookies. Or a quart of Vodka.
9.  Communications: Tell you contractor what’s bothering you as the issues come up, even if you think it’s too small to mention. Otherwise, you’ll save the list until it’s about a hundred items long, and you want to kill him. Then you’ll tell him about it anyway. You may as well get the issue out of the way right now. Then you can sleep better, and your contractor can stop wearing his Kevlar vest.
10. House Rules: Remember—it’s your home, and you have a right to enforce your rules. This includes rules on parking, radios, work hours/days, storage areas, access to the house, etc. Decide on what’s important to you, and stick to your guns (not literally, of course!) Just realize that some rules have a price, and be willing to pay it.
11. Designate one contact: Another good decision on my part. I deferred to my wife as the contact person for our job. Just as “too many cooks spoil the broth”, too many people communicating with the crew will spoil the project. Keep the communication chain simple and decide together who will be the main contact.

• I was about to say I wish I’d had this list before we began our project. But then again, it wouldn’t have mattered. To one degree or another, I broke every rule above, and still survived. I love the new kitchen, and am beginning to forget about the cost. Lest you be discouraged, remember—there is life after remodeling.

• A lady recently overheard my wife telling a friend that she had just finished a remodeling job. Not knowing the situation, but looking for a referral, the lady asked my wife if she was happy with her contractor. “Not really”, my wife answered, “But I’m still sleeping with him.”

• We always welcome your comments, questions and suggestions. Please feel free to post in the “Comments Box” below.

This ceiling fan helps cool a child's bedroom with vaulted ceilings, where the top bunk usually feels warm

• Colorado’s climate is just about perfect isn’t it? And it doesn’t get any better than Springtime in the Rockies. The Robins are back, flowers are poking their heads out, and the Colorado Rockies are playing ball again. Life is sweet. The sun feels so good, it’s easy to forget we will soon be complaining about the heat!

• Summers are so pleasant here, in fact, that most homes don’t have air conditioning—at least the older ones. But then most cars didn’t have air conditioning in the 1950’s either. Would you order a new car today without it?

• If you find yourself “Sweatin’ To The Oldies” this summer while just sitting and listening to the radio, here are some ideas for chilling out at home:

• Extra insulation can yield dramatic improvement. Attics are usually easy to add insulation to, while walls can be trickier, but not impossible. If you don’t want to disturb your vaulted ceiling, consider adding rigid insulation on top of the roof, just under the shingles when you re-roof.

• Deciduous trees planted in strategic locations can provide enough shade to make a real difference. They’ll lose their leaves just in time to give you the southern sun when you can appreciate it.

• Cross-ventilation works well on days with a breeze. Adding an operable window or two, or perhaps a venting skylight, can exhaust the heat without raising your electric bill.

• Windows aren’t what they used to be—they’re much better. High-tech window glazing can keep the heat out while letting the view in. If you can’t change the glass, heat-reflective films can be applied to your existing glass. Various window shades can also keep your home cooler. The idea is to reflect the sun back where it came from. Shutters, awnings, and blinds are all efficient. Attic fans with the proper number of vents will exhaust the intense heat that is trying to radiate into the house through the ceilings. Usually installed with automatic thermostats, they are efficient, inexpensive, and effective.

• Whole-house fans, usually mounted in the ceiling of the uppermost floor, will bring in outside air, distribute it throughout the house, and exhaust it out through the attic. Since our evenings are usually cool, these fans work well at cooling the house after the sun goes down, but they are noisy. The path of cool air through the house is determined by which windows you open. These fans are usually multi-speed and controlled by a timer. Be sure to open plenty of windows and doors, or you risk down-drafting gas appliances and their dangerous exhaust!

• Ceiling fans can be helpful by providing enough of a breeze to let your body’s own evaporative cooler work. Similar to rolling down your car windows to keep cool, relief is seldom adequate in July.

• Evaporative or “swamp” coolers work very well (on most days) in our dry climate. Usually mounted on the roof, they can sometimes be located on the ground or even in an attic with special venting and water containment provisions. If you have an attic, the cool air can usually be ducted to the ceiling of several rooms to distribute the “’breeze” throughout the house. Similar to a whole-house fan, you can control the path of the breeze by the windows you open.

• If you have forced-air heat, the ductwork is already in place for refrigerated air conditioning with the addition of an “A-coil” and a condenser unit. Since air conditioning requires air of a higher velocity than heating, you may need to add a new multi-speed blower. It is also a good idea to add return-air registers near the ceiling for best efficiency. A condenser unit with fan will be located outside, as far as fifty or more feet from your furnace. Since condensers can be noisy, you’ll want to locate it where the noise will be the least problem.

• If you don’t have the ductwork, or only need to cool one room, there are some very good through-wall air conditioning units now on the market. They have a small condenser outdoors, and a refrigerated blower unit which mounts to the outside wall. Inside the room, a louvered grille mounted high on an outside wall distributes the cool air. Installation only requires a single small hole through the wall, and the unit is controlled by a small wireless remote, complete with thermostat. While somewhat expensive, this air conditioner can be the perfect solution for cooling a single room or area.

• If you’re undecided about which techniques to implement, remember that they can be used in combination. Try the most energy efficient and passive ideas first. If you still need more relief, you can add others as the budget allows. Remember, also, to start on your project now. If you wait until July to call an air conditioning contractor, it will be too late for this season.

• We always welcome your comments, questions and suggestions. Please feel free to post in the “Comments Box” below.

Bathroom remodel by Parrish (Accessories by HW Home).

• If you’re thinking of remodeling your home, you’re in good company. According to the National Association of Home Builders, American homeowners will spend in excess of $100 Billion on professional remodeling this year. Empty nesters are converting unused bedrooms into master bathrooms, new owners of older homes are improving their new home before moving in, and many people are adding new apartments for an elderly parent.

• Homeowners who are remodeling for the first time are faced with the challenge of finding a reputable contractor who can get the job done with minimal disruption and at a reasonable cost. The following recommendations will help simplify the search and minimize any anxiety and confusion.

• All building permits in Boulder or Boulder County require detailed construction drawings and structural design by a licensed engineer. Consider hiring an architect or contractor who offers design/build, which means that the same company both designs and builds the project.

• Design/build is a growing trend in the industry because it can save money, offers one-stop shopping, and single-point responsibility. Look for contractors that have licensed architects on staff, or partner with licensed architects.

• You’ll also need to decide whether to solicit fixed bids, or work on a cost-plus basis. The old rule was to get three bids and select the low bidder. Unfortunately, an accurate comparison between bids is almost impossible, and a bid situation puts the homeowner and contractor at odds from the beginning. Ask for a cost-plus contract. The contractor charges the cost of materials and subcontracts plus a markup for overhead and profit.

• Begin your search by asking friends and neighbors for recommendations. The best (and worst) ones will be known in the community, and referrals from happy customers are your best source. Also check the contractor’s reputation among the building trades. Ask lumber yards, electricians, realtors, and bankers. Make sure the contractor pays his bills on time.

• Ask the contractor for client references from similar projects—about twenty recent ones, and call half a dozen or so in random order. (The contractor’s happiest clients will probably be listed first.) Look especially for repeat customers.

• A commitment to professionalism and ethics is usually indicated by membership in professional trade organizations. Look for organizations such as the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) or the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and their certifications– Certified Remodeler (CR) or Certified Graduate Remodeler (CGR), respectively. Also look for professional awards and a local contractor’s license.

• Longevity counts. A long track record is a sign that your contractor will still be in business to address warranty problems. Look for someone invested in the community and his or her reputation. Good contractors should be involved in the community, service clubs, schools or church.

• Ask for samples of the contractor’s office paperwork as an indication of professionalism. Use of computers and computerized scheduling are good indicators. Bids, bills, and contracts should be clear and detailed. Changes in the work must be carefully documented.
• You’ll also want to know how efficiently a contractor’s office handles communication. Calls should be returned promptly. You’re looking for a contractor who will be available quickly, when needed. Good signs of accessibility are radios, pagers, cell phones, and a listed home phone.

• Your contractor should maintain at least $1,000,000.00 in Contractor’s General Liability Insurance and have all employees covered under Workers’ Compensation Insurance. This is necessary to protect homeowners from liability in case of injuries or accident. Ask for certificates of insurance coverage.

• Also ask if the prospective contractor has the capacity to handle the work committed. You don’t want them to be overbooked. Be patient if the contractor you want is busy–it’s a good sign. A contractor who will tear out a wall just to satisfy a start date, and then disappear until the other jobs are complete is no bargain.

• The quality of the contractor’s crew and subcontractors is important. Do they keep the joist clean? Would you be afraid to leave them alone in your home? Will they be bringing their dogs, friends, and boom boxes to your home?

• Trust your instincts. You will be entrusting a great deal of money to your contractor and working very closely with him or her. If you get “bad vibes” from the initial meetings, it will only get worse during the stress of construction.

• Once you finally choose your contractor, be clear about what you expect, and honest about your budget. Good communication is critical. Establish a schedule for frequent meetings during the job. A contractor needs your decisions in a timely manner to keep the project moving.

• There are many contractors with the experience and integrity you want. With a little care, you may soon be one of the happy clients on their reference list. Wer’e hoping you’ll be ours!

• We always welcome your comments, questions and suggestions. Please feel free to post in the “Comments Box” below.