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    More content from March 2016

    Ideas for remodeling a 1990s kitchen.

    Kitchen Conundrum: Several Options for Updating a Late 1990s Kitchen

    Most homes we work on were built between 1920 and 1960. These houses often lack the amenities our clients are looking for, such as open floor plans, spacious master baths, and...
    March 21, 2016
    How to create a safer stair for an aging couple how to make stairs safe

    A Lesson in Universal Design: How to Make Stairs Safer for All

    Photos & sketches: Doug WalterOne of the most dangerous stairs people encounter each day are the ones leading into the house from the garage. Often these are cheap, prebuilt...
    March 21, 2016
    Remodelers will see increased scrutiny of residential jobsites by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency.

    Compliance: The Eyes Have It

    With another remodeling season just around the corner, we can once again expect to see increased scrutiny of residential jobsites by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration...
    March 18, 2016
    Lighting is an often underserved and underappreciated part of a remodel and is frequently just an afterthought. It’s an intangible, yet it greatly affects the environment of a home.

    Recessed Lighting Best Practices

    Photo: Philip Wegner PhotographyAfter tearing down three interior walls in our old farmhouse, which has been cut and pasted together multiple times over the last century, we discovered...
    March 17, 2016
    Impact Duty Titanium Red Helix Twist Drill Bits are suitable for drilling wood, iron, steel, aluminum, magnesium, and similar materials.

    Tools: Milwaukee Red Helix Drill Bits

    Photo: courtesy ProToolReviews.com Milwaukee Cobalt Red Helix Drill Bits Milwaukee Titanium Red Helix Drill Bits In September 2015, Milwaukee added to its Shockwave line by fielding...
    March 16, 2016
    The Makita RJ03R1 Cordless Recipro Saw is compact and has several useful features

    Tools: Makita Cordless Recipro Saw

    Photos: courtesy ProToolReviews.comFor a 12-volt tool, the Makita RJ03R1 Cordless Recipro Saw offers a good combination of compact size and useful features. It comes in at just...
    March 16, 2016
    Looking for labor shortage solutions

    One Labor Shortage Solution: Pay to Play

    In the fall of 2015, Brian Elias saw a labor problem looming. Sales were strong, but Elias, founder of 1-800-Hansons, an exterior replacement company with seven locations in southern...
    March 15, 2016
    Three common contract provisions you should know.

    Liability Legalese: Three Common Contract Provisions You Should Understand

    Three common contract provisions—hold harmless, indemnification, and duty to defend—are often found together and so are lumped into one category in the minds’ of contractors. ...
    March 14, 2016
    The IC-BK03 from iClever is a compact Bluetooth keyboard that folds.

    iClever's Bluetooth Keyboard to Go

    Construction-related apps are turning smartphones and tablets into essential jobsite tools. But unless you’re just marking off checkboxes, it’s difficult to do any real typing...
    March 12, 2016
    Euro Design Build Remodel is trying a new service-based system for recognizing staff achievement.

    A Twist on Employee Bonuses

    I’m always looking for ways to surprise my employees with a bonus. Recently I came up with a program that I think is a great idea for motivating staff. (They don’t know about ...
    March 10, 2016
    Mark Richardson on defining growth for your remodeling business

    Ways to Define Growth for Your Business

    In three to five years, would you like to be where you are now, still doing just what you’re doing now? What about the top players on your team ... how would they answer that ...
    March 9, 2016
    Marie Herrick, the chairperson of the Remodelers Council of Greater Des Moines, describes how she's building membership.

    Reaching Out to Encourage Remodeling Industry Involvement

    Currently, I am the chairperson of the Remodelers Council of Greater Des Moines, and during my involvement with the group over the past three years, I’ve seen a real need for ...
    March 7, 2016
    Remodelers should reconsider giving free estimates

    Fewer Leads, More Sales

    If you’ve been getting business by providing free estimates for each prospect who calls your company, you are wasting a lot of money-making time. Your expertise has value, and...
    March 4, 2016
    Why remodelers should strive for better design

    Design: Beyond the Triangle

    Before joining Professional Remodeler, I worked for a magazine that served the swimming pool industry. There are big differences between pool contractors and residential remodelers...
    March 2, 2016
    Why it matters that your company is on the first page of Google search results

    Who’s No.1? Why Your Place in Organic Search Results Matters

    I’m reading this book called Win the Game of Googleopoly. It’s a how-to guide to SEO (and more) for business owners and marketers. Author Sean Bradley explains how to create...
    Jan. 26, 2016