Author: Robert Hayes
Mystery Date: Meeting the Contractors
The most crucial decision I made in my remodeling project was selecting a general contractor. The contractor would manage the schedule and budget, maintain the quality of the work, and,
Read MoreIt’s Not All About the Benjamins: Choosing a Contractor
After meeting all four of the contractors who were interested in my remodel, I already had a hunch that I would work with Martin and his team. Nonetheless I wanted
Read MoreHey, Where Did My Kitchen Go?
My remodel got off to a roaring start. The two site supervisors, Brian and Joe, arrived with their team one Monday morning at 9:00, as scheduled, and before lunchtime they
Read MoreYou Mean You Do This for a Living?
When I manage a construction project in an architecture office I am terrifically, annoyingly organized. I respond to phone calls and emails immediately. I keep and file printed copies of
Read MoreThe “maid’s” room
Maid’s Room 2007, stairs down to kitchen on right. This was what our entire house looked like when we purchased it. No, it was not finished to our standards but
Read MoreThe Fog of Construction
I visited Kuwait, briefly, in 2006 and the entire place felt as if it were immersed in a dust storm. I couldn’t see clearly more than ten feet in any
Read MoreOn The Road
Whenever someone tells me they’re starting a home remodeling project I tell them the three things that I’ve learned in my fifteen years working as an architect. 1. It will
Read MoreThere Are Strange Men in my Bedroom Taking Off Their Clothes
The best thing about my apartment is that I can entertain large groups of friends. I enjoy opening my home to others. But it’s difficult to watch as my apartment
Read MoreA contractor with a website is a rare breed
Overwhelmingly, contractors answer “no” to the above question ( only 27% of contractors currently have a functional web site, from this book ). We know they have vans, vans and
Read MoreWhich Shade of White?
Architects tend to be perfectionists and also indecisive, which is a dangerous combination. In the architecture offices where I worked I spent hours locked in conference rooms with colleagues agonizing
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