Why We Do It That Way

Home Energy Audits – Part I

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As you may already know, we supply home energy auditing for our customers, usually as part of larger home-renovation projects. It’s with these larger projects that we attend to enough area of the home to really affect the home’s total energy performance. But even with smaller projects, energy efficiency is top of mind during design and construction.

As part of the home efficiency testing, auditors get a look at past utility bills and existing appliances, and they test the tightness of the home. They should also test for indoor home air safety, including C02 and other toxins. We find that drafty windows and doors, uninsulated spaces in walls, and breaks in the vapor barrier or thermal envelope of the home are the usual sources of air leaks. And air leaks are very costly because they cause you to use more energy keeping your home comfortable in hot or cold weather.

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How Do You Know When It’s Time? Part II

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All of us have annoying things in our homes or offices that we live with but don’t have to. It’s good to watch for the adaptive behavior these things make us do. It tells you there is probably something in your home or office you are making do with, that could be changed to make life easier for you. Sometimes it’s a door or lock that sticks. In this case, we’ll take a look at electricity issues.

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No Maintenance Exteriors?

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I’ve received some flak recently from purveyors of vinyl siding. Those of you who follow my blog know I hate vinyl siding. It poisons people when it’s made, and when you’re done with it, you have to send it to the dump because it’s not recycled. Furthermore, while it’s on your house, you are deluded into thinking you have a “no-maintenance exterior.” I hate to shatter the illusion, but that simply doesn’t exist.

My house is a 1957 split level. Originally, it had wood siding on it. Some areas were in a board and baton style, and other areas were long lengths of pretty cedar siding with an eight-inch reveal. What’s more, the patterns of the original siding highlighted the low-slung style of this house.

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Easy DIY Projects With Big Results

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When we bought our house, it was a “granny house.” No offense to the grannies out there, but everything in the house was either pink, or ruffles, or completely vintage and spotlessly clean circa 1957. The house even smelled of lady’s powder.

“Granny” is an adjective that no homeowner wants to hear when someone is talking about their house, but it’s a great descriptor to hear when you are buying a home. It generally means you will get a house with good bones, but perhaps some stylistic or cosmetic issues. So you can buy the house a bit cheaper than if it had been updated, and then update the house the way YOU would like. This was the case with our house.

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Production Meetings Keep Our Crews on Track

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Myers Constructs, Inc., does things differently than other folks in remodeling and renovations: We run an organized business. One way we keep things organized is with meetings.

Each Monday at 7:30 a.m., everyone involved in production at our company meets at our office. At this meeting, we look at the next several weeks of projects. We discuss what company resources are needed where and when. Notes for several projects running at the same time are made on our office white board, office calendars and the field crew’s work calendars. Our field crews then work from these. This is the same meeting where the field crews hand in their time sheets and other paperwork they are responsible for.

At these weekly meetings, we also discuss any issues or problems we have encountered. A big part of what we all do is problem solving. We have a lot of experience doing it, and we enjoy the process. Knowing this allows our customers — homeowners like you — to relax.

Our Design to Build™ system works to take the chaos out of your renovation projects. We’d rather not get up at “0′dark-hundred” to get to an early meeting on a Monday. But that’s what it takes to make a project run smoothly.

Design to Build = The Better Way to Go

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At Myers Constructs, Inc., we use the phrase “Design to Build”™. It is our trademarked remodeling system.

You’ve all heard about terrible remodeling projects where the project goes over budget and takes forever to complete, while no one knows what’s happening, and the homeowners are suffering while waiting for the next shoe to drop.

That’s not us! Our system takes the chaos and stress out of your home renovations. This system is great for commercial projects, too.

Design to Build™ means we only design what you want and can afford. We don’t design with the aim of piling up billable hours like some people. That’s because our business model is based on what we build, not on design time we bill for.

We won’t design highfalutin flying buttresses (or other misfit architectural details) on your addition just because they’re really cool. We understand your home’s style and we Design to Build™ using that style as a taking-off point. The result is a long-lasting project, built on time and on budget, with few or no surprises.

This means that you can relax knowing that you’ll be pleased with the results of this system. Why not go ahead and schedule that vacation while we complete your project for you? Many of our customers do.

How We Work and Feedback From our Sales Department

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When Tamara and I tell folks what we do for a living, they generally picture us walking around in tool belts all day. For us, as the owners of Myers Constructs, Inc., this has not been the case for more than a decade. In reality, it’s our crews who wear the tool belts now.

Tamara and I are busy every day managing the company. We work in the office selling projects, planning projects, and, like most other small business owners, working to keep cash flowing through the company. We spend a lot of time in front of computers with spreadsheets and CAD programs. We also spend a lot of time talking to customers about their projects.

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All Eyes on New Lead Safety Laws

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Most people are aware that exposure to lead is a bad thing. What you may not know is it’s a neurotoxin, and even a small amount present in your home can affect your family – especially small children – and contractors (like us!) who do renovations and repairs. Even family pets are at risk.

The risk of lead poisoning is especially high for those living and working in older homes and buildings. That’s why new regulations from the EPA that go into effect in April 2010 will require all contractors of any trade that disturb more than six square feet of painted surface in any building built before 1978 to be certified in lead-safety procedures. That means they must attend EPA’s Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) class – which our team just completed. In a nutshell, RRP standards have to do with containment of construction dust that may contain lead, and post-construction clean up by the contractor. 

You can learn the specifics about the new laws and contractor requirements from the EPA pamphlet titled Renovate Right.

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When There Is No GC All Hell Can Break Loose

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Some folks don’t know what a residential general contractor (GC) does.

The great Tom Silva on “This Old House” says it best: “A GC is a lot like a baseball coach. He or she puts the right player in the right position at the right time.” A great GC will also make sure that you are getting the best quality for your money and the right solution for a particular problem your home is having.

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