Quad Cities Business News

Prescott, Prescott Valley, Chino Valley, & Dewey/Humboldt

You are here: Home / Archives for At Home with Tom and Sandy

At Home with Tom and Sandy

Making Resolutions, Spreading Kindness

By Leave a Comment

Welcome to “At Home with Tom and Sandy.” Happy New Year! It is never too late. Every day, people pass up opportunities to make a difference in our community. We can all do something and it doesn’t have to cost anything. So, start a daily habit of doing something. If you have the power to make someone happy – DO IT. Our world needs more happy!

Tom and I thought our first column of 2020 should be about more happy, human kindness and resolutions. Settle in, and thanks for reading “At Home with Tom & Sandy.” We appreciate your readership, comments and to the many new friends that we have met through our column, thanks for your support.

SANDY: Tom, it is that time of year again – the New Year, time for those resolutions. Some resolutions are hard to stay the course like those diets and the exercise.

TOM: I am so bad about doing those personal varieties of resolutions, but for business, you bet I have made resolutions.

SANDY: Well…continue, Tom.

TOM: OK, there are two major issues that I resolve to continue to address along with other community partners and that is continuing to make a real push locally to broaden the opportunities for our young generation of men and women to join the trades as a career.

SANDY: Tom, I like that one and as you know, YCCA developed our first YCCA Bootcamp for young adults one year ago, January 2019, and our second YCCA Boot Camp is taking place this January 2020. The Bootcamp is FULL! This is a fabulous way to teach the trades to our younger generation.

TOM: I am really looking forward to helping those efforts. The struggle for qualified tradesman is not going away. I firmly believe this is a worthwhile resolution. I am honored to be able to share my knowledge on blueprint reading and construction math to the young adults. I am excited about my three hours of classroom time.

SANDY: What is the second resolution you are so passionate about?

TOM: It’s a resolution to our homeowners that by using venues such as our column, radio shows, our company newsletter and printed information we will help keep them apprised of new information, maintenance schedules, and continue to be an effective resource for them. We need to expand our ability to share all the new products on the market, new design trends and generally cool stuff that is out there and coming out there.

TOM: What about you? What about YCCA? Has the board jumped on the resolution bandwagon?

Your turn, Ms. Sandy!

SANDY: As an organization and partner in the community, we have resolved to continue to promote our organization and share with the community the importance of using local licensed contractors. YCCA and our board have also resolved that we will continue to give back to the community through our membership. There are many good causes that matter and YCCA will continue to give, mentor and volunteer in our community to try to make our community a better place. The most recent community partnership was the Shop With a Cop in December 2019. YCCA partnered with SignalzAZ and through our members, who graciously contributed. We collectively raised more than $15,000 for the underprivileged kids in our communities.

TOM: How about those resolutions that homeowners can follow all year long, like resolve to hire licensed contractors, resolve to hire local contractors.

SANDY: Right on, Tom, and I can add to that list: resolve to verify insurance; resolve to get estimates in writing, nothing verbal; resolve to turn the estimate into a signed executed contract; and, always resolve to put changes in writing.

SANDY: These resolutions are non-fattening, easy to stick to, healthy for your remodeling projects and headache-free.

SANDY: Tom, in the introduction of our column, we talked about “Happy.” I love to SMILE at everyone – it may be the only smile they get all day and gosh, it makes me feel good, and the smiles I receive in return are amazing. What about your input on Happy for our readers?

TOM: I always like to hold a door open for the person coming in or going out, young or old, male or female, it is the polite thing to do. Yep, kindness. Now, more than ever, people need to honestly think about what it means to be kind, not because the world is in any more of a state of chaos than it ever has been, but because our world lends itself less and less to kindness. The automatic sliding door has eliminated a common act of kindness people do every day, which is holding the door for someone. There are many instances that still require people to act on their sense of kindness and hold doors open, but the automatic door has diminished those acts.

SANDY: I think it is very important now-a-days to give affirmation, to praise people about a quality that they have that you really appreciate. Their faces just light up. That is Happy!

SANDY: I also love helping someone. When I see an elderly person struggling with belongings or groceries, I offer to help carry them and have even put bags into his or her car. I love the sweet golden-year citizens.

TOM: Another Happy for me is when I stop for cars backing out of parking spaces. With our narrow streets in Prescott, I am always watching for the back-up lights and stop to let the car pull out. The waves I get from the drivers are great.

TOM: I will continue to resolve to let another driver into my lane when I see a turn signal on. It takes a nanosecond to slow down and let the driver into your lane.

SANDY: I say the ripple effect starts with one. One person to be a spark of kindness, we can all be that ONE person.

TOM: Everybody has the potential to change the world and I believe everyone wants to seize that potential. These people are called a RAKtivist. RAKtivists are the heroes of our world. They live and breathe kindness, sharing knowledge and leading by example. RAKtivists leaves a trail of warm-and-fuzzy feelings in their wake.

So you say, “WHAT IS A RAKTIVIST?” RAKtivist is short for ‘Random Acts of Kindness activist.’ RAKtivists are everywhere. RAKtivist: Anyone who believes kindness can change the world, who reminds everyone how much love there is. Let’s all be a RAKtivist.

SANDY: What I see happening is that when people are not kind, they are labeled as rude. Rudeness is becoming easier to recognize than kindness, such as not stopping to let the car pull out of the parking space, not letting the driver into your lane, not holding a door open, not saying, “please” or “thank you.” How about the people who not only just talk on the phone in a public place, but shout into a conversation?

Without kindness, there is rudeness. Kindness is simply when a person isn’t rude. To avoid rudeness, simply be kind. Kindness is stepping away from the self-centered oblivion so often promoted in modern culture and appreciate the people around you, even if it is someone just a few steps short of catching the door. So, the only New Year’s resolution we should all care about for 2019 is keeping kindness in mind and following our resolutions to be better people, better company owners and better community partners.

TOM: I got it, Sandy, and I agree with you. Everyone, go make a change.

SANDY: Nearly 100 years ago, aviator Amelia Earhart observed, “A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees.”

 

From Tom and Sandy – Happy New Year! These resolutions, happiness expressions and widespread kindness makes our community feel happier. We crave the sweetness that kindness brings to life. In 2020, clear your schedule for kindness. Small, intentional acts of kindness can change the world.

Thanks for stopping in “At Home with Tom and Sandy.” You’re in good company and we love sharing educational, fun and important information with you. See you next month. QCBN

 

Tom Reilly, Architect, Contractor, Renovations 928-445-8506 renovationsaz.com

 

Sandy Griffis, Executive Director, Yavapai County Contractors Association.  928-778-0040.

Rethinking the Laundry Room

By Leave a Comment

Welcome to “At Home with Tom and Sandy.”  Sit back, relax and enjoy.  Here we are, readers, continuing to move at warp speed – whooshing, zooming and rocketing, as I like to say – with the New Year just a blink away.

Sandy: Well, another month has passed, it is definitely colder and our holiday season is full steam ahead.

So, this time I am going to pick a room in the home, any room, and you can lay your expertise out for all to see and read! You up for the challenge?

Tom: You bet I am! You know I love talking about the home.

Sandy: Okay then, my choice is the laundry room! Bet you weren’t ready for that!  So let’s love our laundry room!

Tom: Well, that is a surprise. We don’t talk about this space very much and we really should spend some time chatting about it.

Sandy: Well, it isn’t the first room people talk about when designing a new home, I bet, but do people remodel laundry rooms with any frequency?

Tom: Good observation and yes, people do remodel the laundry room. Usually, it is part of a larger project such as the kitchen or garage conversion, but the laundry room does get remodeled often.

Sandy: So, I imagine many of us have laundry rooms that need some love. The laundry room is a pretty important room in the home and needs to be laid out well, be functional and probably should be a space that we enjoy.

We know the clothes washer and a dryer are pretty standard fare and I am sure there are other uses. Tom, what is your experience? What do you see in laundry rooms to conquer clutter and make laundry feel like less of a chore and more exciting?

Tom: With the remodeling we have been doing, the washer and dryer are making their way into being featured more prominently in laundry rooms. Laundry rooms are no longer dark rooms in the corner of a home. Some homeowners are devoting a large portion of the laundry room to show off the washer and dryer.

Sandy: I bet the color of the laundry room has changed – no longer cloud white. My laundry is a beautiful sunshine yellow.

Tom: Yes Sandy, we are painting laundry rooms light bright colors with even exciting flooring that does not match anything else in the home. At Renovations, we have the philosophy that laundry rooms can help you think, plan, dream and relax.

Sandy: Tom, are you saying laundry rooms have become Zen?

Tom: Today’s modern laundry room can certainly be more calm and serene than a yoga studio.

In reality, next to the kitchen, the laundry room might be the most used room in the home and the least celebrated. I have found the room’s location in the home dictates what the other uses are.

Sandy: That makes sense. In some homes, such as mine, the laundry room is my entry point from the garage and then into the kitchen.

Tom: You are right, Sandy, and where it exits into the house even further dictates how the space is utilized. By way of example, if the pass-through leads to a hall by the bedrooms, then it would most likely serve as storage space for household items not used everyday such as a vacuum or broom.

Another favorite location for the laundry room is adjacent to the kitchen. This makes it handy.

Sandy: Tom, you are so right. Being the multitasker I am, I’m cooking and washing clothes at the same time, just a short step away and the fluff cycle is on.

Tom: I get it. And also, if space allows, it becomes a place for food storage, such as a pantry or a larger freezer or wine storage.

Sandy: Now, that would be even better.              Tom: LOL. The wine cellar will be another topic for another room. It certainly surprises me with all that this room can do. I guess we never really think about this space.

Sandy: As you mentioned earlier, Tom, some laundry rooms have pantries. My laundry room has my large pantry, which is cool. Bring the food items into the home and into the pantry they go without having to walk through the kitchen. I can even see a laundry room being the “mud” room as well. Boots, shoes, jackets and hats all at the ready on wall hooks or hanging up.

Tom: We see that a lot. If space allows, there is usually a cabinet above the washer and dryer and an adjacent counter that acts as a folding counter and a catch all for Items as we pass through the space.

Sandy: I would love, love, love a folding counter in my laundry room; however, my catch-all is the top of the washer and dryer that acts as my folding table.

Tom: Many folks use the laundry room as a junk drawer of sorts and I have seen the laundry room acting as a holding place for lots of things. “Just put it in the laundry room for now,” is a phrase I have heard and used many times.

Sandy: That gives me an idea – what about laundry room basket storage? Shelving would be critical. Easy storage and easy accessibility.

What else goes on in this room that we haven’t talked about yet? A soaking sink or a fold-down ironing board would be fantastic in a laundry room.

Tom: Sinks are becoming the “in” thing in a laundry room and I would like to say to anyone remodeling, “Do not limit yourself with a small sink.” A farmhouse style sink can be used for countless purposes, a drop spot for wet towels, rain gear, snow gear and the occasional dog wash for a small doggie, of course. In larger remodels, we have relocated the laundry room adjacent to the kitchen. This makes it handy, where previously the laundry rooms have been in hallways adjacent to baths.

Sandy: Tom, you guys have your “man caves,” I think we need to change the name from laundry room to “she cave,” no longer just a laundry room, but a room for maybe some quiet time, where the sun comes in through windows, maybe adding a desk to create a retreat where she can get crafty, look through cookbooks, arrange flowers and work at her computer.

Tom: As a reminder, laundry room size doesn’t matter. A good design can make the very best use of a microscopic space. So remember, regardless of how much or how little space you have, there are always innovative ways to use the laundry room space to its utmost.

Sandy: Laundry room design can run from eclectic to avant-garde or to modern or simple and streamlined. If you have an entire room or just a corner to devote to laundry, there are a multitude of ideas and ways to make that happen. You can turn that utilitarian laundry space into something cool!

Thanks, readers, for stopping in and reading “At Home with Tom and Sandy.” You’re in good company and we love sharing educational, fun and important information with you. QCBN

 

Tom Reilly, Architect, Contractor, Renovations 928-445-8506 renovationsaz.com

 

Sandy Griffis, Executive Director, Yavapai County Contractors Association.  928-778-0040.

Becoming More Energy Efficient

By Leave a Comment

Welcome to “At Home with Tom and Sandy” and this month we are going to talk about energy. Yep, there is a certain amount of energy in our column.

Sandy: Well here we are again, Tom, fall is in the air, and I believe I can smell Christmas!

Tom: Definitely my favorite time of year.

Sandy: The weather transitions from cooling to heating over these next few weeks, allowing us to open our doors and windows, leave off the AC and enjoy the cool evenings and, of course, save some shekels on our energy bills.

Tom: I agree. We don’t have to manufacture comfortable temperatures; they are here pretty much year-round.

Sandy: Interesting, you said manufacture comfort. I don’t think I have heard that line before. Manufacturing temperature is a big part of our industry; home and building energy designed to improve our lives by driving energy innovation. We have to love our HVAC folks. They make our buildings and homes more energy efficient and our cities and town accelerate our investment by implementing best energy practices.

Tom: What’s not to like? There is an aspect to that industry that has changed through the years and that is primarily because of the goal of reducing energy consumption, resulting in us leaving a lighter footprint. The big change, of course, is the codes.

Sandy: Ah, yes, our Energy Code. That was adopted by all the municipalities and the county here just a little more than a decade ago.

Tom: Yes, but the energy codes have been around since the early 90s. Initially developed by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), these codes are designed to create buildings that are able to retain their ‘manufactured’ temperatures.

Sandy: So, let’s be clear about the whole government thing. The federal government created and has updated the energy code for decades and local governments adopt those codes. Local governments can make changes to them though, can’t they?

Tom: Correct. The codes put out by the DOE are actually reviewed by a nationwide code monitoring group made up of local building officials across the country. The code is not mandated by the feds, it was put out there for local governments to utilize, modify if necessary, and implement if they choose to.

Sandy: The code, as I read it, really addresses the varying climate zones across the country. That makes it easier to implement for local building departments. A few months ago, we discussed what building energy codes are, and more recently, we looked at how they are developed and what role the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) plays in that process. Today, we are going to take a look into the next step: how codes are adopted.

Tom: Building energy codes set minimum energy efficiency levels, but those savings are never realized unless states and localities actually adopt them. State adoption usually occurs through either legislative action or through regulatory agency actions. In some states, codes are adopted by local governments (“home rule”), generally through an action of the city or county. In all cases, once the code is adopted, it becomes law within the adopting jurisdiction.

Sandy: There are almost as many ways to adopt a code as there are states, but the most commonly used adoption practices are: Federal Guidance, which directs the DOE to review each new published edition of the model energy codes, and to issue a determination as to whether the updated codes would result in increased energy efficiency in residential and commercial buildings. When a code results in increased energy efficiency (based on DOE’s review), statute then requires states to review and/or update their building energy codes based on the new model codes. States are given two years to accomplish this process and certify their new code based on the updated model code.

Tom: Then there are state government legislative actions. A legislature can adopt a new energy code by title or, more commonly, by directing either a one-time administrative action or by putting in place an ongoing process. In Maryland, for example, there is a permanent law that requires the state to adopt each new version of the national model code within 18 months of when it is published. In Washington, however, a state law passed in 2009 requires that energy codes reduce building energy use by 70% by 2031. Like all legislation, there is a process of hearings, public commentary and revisions, followed by a formal vote and ending with an approved bill being signed into law by the governor.

Sandy: Regardless of how it is done, the actual process mirrors the just-described regulatory process with the city council or mayor’s office either convening a committee or directing the local building department to adopt a new code.

Tom: To share with our readers, the DOE tracks energy code adoption and implementation across the United States and reports the status by state for both residential and commercial codes. This provides transparency and better understanding of what is happening across the U.S. in building energy codes.

Tom: In Yavapai County alone, there are six climatic zones, which are based essentially on the elevation above sea level. For example, from Camp Verde to the top of Crown King is about 6,000 feet of change.

Sandy: The code has different requirements for each of the climatic zones, such as the insulation thickness at different parts of the building like walls, roof and floors. The code also addresses the window types, glazing and frames.

Tom: In addition, the foundation system, slab systems and related heat loss or gain is addressed through construction techniques.

Sandy: Each aspect of the building that touches heat loss or heat gain is looked at and addressed to reduce energy usage. This really lets us retain our manufactured temperature longer and saves us real dollars.

Tom: That is correct, Sandy. You are an Energy Star girl! I have not seen studies that quantify those savings with respect to additional construction costs. That would be good information to have.

Sandy: Indeed. There are voices that come from both sides of the issue regarding the benefits to the environment. The thought is there. I wonder if the science backs it up.

Tom: I am not sure. The idea of achieving a goal using a minimum of resources is appealing to me.

Sandy: So right on! What else should our readers know about the code?

Tom: Our heating and cooling systems have become way more efficient. Furnaces are typically operating at 90% or better. This is up 70 to 80% from the not-too-distant past.

Sandy: Tom, as we said earlier, efforts to reduce energy use have led to and will continue to look at the development of energy codes and standards to establish minimum efficiency requirements for new-building construction, building additions and renovations. Providing comfort cooling and energy efficiency in our homes and buildings will be an ongoing task.

Tom: Let’s close with a couple of our favorite tips on how to save energy. I say install a programmable or smart thermostat.

Sandy: And I say, “Yes.” I love my programmable thermostat. It eliminates wasteful energy use by reducing my heating and cooling during the times when I am asleep or away.

Tom: I say purchase energy efficient appliances.

Sandy: And, I agree again. On the average, appliances are responsible for roughly 13% of your total household energy use. When purchasing an energy efficient appliance, you should look for appliances with the ENERGY STAR label, which is a federal guarantee that the appliance will consume less energy during use and when on standby than standard non-energy efficient models. Energy savings differ based on the specific appliance. For example, ENERGY STAR certified clothes washers consume 25% less energy and 45% less water than conventional ones; whereas, ENERGY STAR refrigerators use only 9% less energy.

Tom: I say reduce your water heating expenses.

Sandy: For sure. Water heating is a major contributor to total energy consumption. I have a timer on my water heater and love, love, love it.

Tom: So, in closing, Sandy, why conserve energy in the first place?

Sandy: Because energy conservation is important and beneficial for many reasons. You can save money, increase your property value and protect the environment — all through simple energy-saving measures. These are great benefits you can gain from saving energy no matter your motivation for conservation in the first place. By simply taking a small step toward living a more energy-conscious lifestyle, you can begin to enjoy all of the perks of being energy efficient.

Let’s conserve! Thanks for stopping in and reading “At Home with Tom and Sandy.” You’re in good company and we love sharing educational, fun and important information with you. Until next month. QCBN

 

Tom Reilly, Architect, Contractor, Renovations 928-445-8506 renovationsaz.com

 

Sandy Griffis, Executive Director, Yavapai County Contractors Association.  928-778-0040.

Designing, Building, Protecting Decks

By Leave a Comment

Welcome to “At Home with Tom and Sandy” We are here to give you the inside scoop on real estate, the construction industry; what’s up, what’s down, what’s hot, and what’s not. We’ll share real estate stats, home prices, building permit numbers, construction pointers and give you hints on renovations that will give you a return on your investment and, as they say, “so much more.”

There is plenty going on in the housing and construction industry and we want to share some fantastic, cool, groovy and helpful information with you. We are going to use our insight and local expertise to help you save time, money and surmount obstacles of all kinds. So, settle in and enjoy.

Sandy: It has become a year around “thing” now to take care of your decks, build decks and enjoy decks. Tom, it is not an easy task taking care of decks, deciding on what material to use, since not all decks are created equal, what finish to use and more importantly how to care for a deck. It has been “all hands on deck” to answer the phone calls from our citizens with deck questions.

Tom: In our climate, outdoor living is almost a requirement and given our mountainous terrain, we often need to construct an area for outdoor enjoyment well above the ground, therefore, the “Deck!”

Sandy: If a homeowner does not have a deck, where do they start with material selection, site and layout design? Is there a basic rule of thumb, Tom?

Tom: For sure, start with a few basics as you contemplate your deck design. Typically, when a deck is constructed, the surface is about 30” from the surrounding ground. This can vary to some extent and the distance is generated by building codes. The clearance from the bottom of the deck joists to the ground needs to be 18” if constructed with Douglas fir standard dimensional lumber. Treated lumber will allow you to get closer to the ground. It is standard to either paint or seal the deck frame prior to applying the surface deck material.

Sandy: When does the requirement and building code for railing come into play? I would think that the design of the railing is an important function of your view shed when seated on the deck. I have seen very cool railings that are made from clear glass, plastic and even wrought iron to add to the design of the desk.

Tom: If you do build 30” or higher from the ground, you will need a railing. That is code. The real decisions, aside from orientation, dimensions and shape are what type of material to use for the decking itself. We should look at the three popular choices folks are making and talk about the merits of each.

Sandy: With the section of deck materials, the homeowner must also be aware of and consider maintenance. I would guess, Tom, that the most popular deck materials would probably be cedar and redwood because they are naturally resistant to insects and rot. Am I right?

Tom: Yes, Sandy, you are correct. Cedar and redwood are the number one wood choices for deck material. These products need to be sealed with a deck sealer that provides protection from our UV rays. Typically, this should be done every two years.

Sandy: The other choices for decking surface material are composites. For our readers, composites are generally products that are composed of predominately recycled material. Composite decking is typically manufactured from wood, reclaimed wood, sawdust and chips bound together in a plastic material.

Now we have evolved into a greener society and today, if cost is not a factor, the greenest decking is a plantation-grown wood product that is naturally resistant to rot and bugs, and does not need further preservative treatment. Eco-friendly decking includes black locust or tamarack or domestic and tropical woods (redwood and teak) and all are certified by the Forestry Stewardship Council. Nowadays, we all want our decking to last for many years without maintenance, and that alone is a big challenge.

Tom: If homeowners are weary of maintenance, and as you say, Sandy, we are becoming a “greener society,” I am all for composite deck materials. The great thing about composites is they look and act like wood. Popular manufacturers known for sustainable products are TREX, NEXWOOD and TIMBERTECH. These products have been known to last for up to 20 years with little maintenance, however, you must keep in mind that all of these products will weather and some warping may occur. Composite decking is as strong as wood, it looks and feels like wood. When selecting this type of decking it is important to verify how well this product holds fasteners, so it is very important to discuss this with your contractor.

Sandy: Besides composite deck materials, there are plastic deck products, vinyl or PVC decking and all of these products are considered green. Again, eco-friendly composite decks made from a blend of recycled wood and plastic and processed with earth-friendly manufacturing processes, reclaiming factory waste and eliminating the use of harmful chemicals are the wave of the future. The fact is, being green should be in our DNA.

Tom: It is not easy being green and the good thing is that locally sourced reclaimed wood that would otherwise end up in a landfill finds its way into many high-performance composite decks.

Sandy: The recycled wood in TREX decks is combined with recycled plastic film from a variety of sources ranging from the overwrap on paper towels to dry cleaner bags, sandwich bags, newspaper sleeves and grocery and shopping bags. Here’s an interesting fact: the average 500-square-foot composite TREX deck contains 140,000 recycled plastic bags! That makes TREX one of the largest plastic bag recyclers in the U.S. As one of the largest plastic film recyclers in the U.S., TREX saves 400 million pounds of plastic film and wood from landfills each year.

Tom: It is important to share with our readers that a deck, like the space inside your residence, needs regular cleaning and maintenance to remain habitable and safe. Decks made of composites require less maintenance than wooden decks, but there’s no such thing as a self-cleaning deck or a deck that lasts forever. By doing what’s good for the wood and avoiding what’s not, you’ll get more life from your outdoor living space.

Sandy: Let’s share some DOs and DON’Ts for deck cleaning. I will be the DO and Tom, you be the DON’T.

Sandy: DO CLEAN. Decks need exfoliation, so protective sealers can seep deeper into the wood. When it’s dry and moderately warm, 60 to 70 degrees, apply an appropriate deck-cleaning solution with a roller or sprayer to kill mold and bacteria. Use a utility brush to scrub the deck where it’s especially dirty and where mold or mildew might lurk. Power washers and pressure washers are the quickest way to clear residue, but you risk gouging the wood. A garden hose outfitted with any nozzle that has a hard-stream setting will work.

Tom: DON’T CLEAN THE DECK WITH CHLORINE BLEACH. Unless, of course, you don’t mind stripping the wood of its natural color and damaging its cellular structure. Oxygen bleach is an all-purpose alternative that won’t wash out colors or harm plants, but it’s still not appropriate for redwood.

Sandy: DO SAND your deck before sealing. It can take up to 48 hours for the deck to fully dry. At that point, lightly sand the surface to remove splintery or fuzzy patches caused by pressure-washing the deck. A pole sander with 80-grit sandpaper will suffice; a power sander is overkill. Then, seal the deck to protect from cracking, cupping and warping. A clear sealer lasts longer; a tinted stain or sealant fades quickly with lots of foot traffic. Paint looks nice when it’s first applied, but it looks downright distressed before long. If you then decide to refinish the deck with an alternative sealant, you’ll need to first remove all the paint with a stripper or sander.

Tom: DON’T ASSUME that pressure-treated wood is maintenance-free. It might resist rot and insect infestation, but pressure-treated wood still needs to be cleaned and sealed to withstand water and solar damage. Use products made for pressure-treated wood.

Sandy: DO BE VIGILANT ABOUT DAMAGE. This is an important issue. Inspect periodically for soft or splintered spots, loose nails and deck attachments, and split or rotten planks.

Tom: DON’T USE NATURAL MATERIALS UNDER DECK FURNITURE. Protect the wood deck from scrapes inflicted by chair and table legs, but don’t use natural fiber rugs such as jute and bamboo. These absorb moisture and promote mildew. Rugs made of recycled plastics won’t cause these problems and they’ll last longer.

Thanks for stopping in “At Home with Tom and Sandy.” You’re in good company and we love sharing educational, fun and important information with you. See you next month. QCBN

 

Tom Reilly, Architect, Contractor, Renovations 928-445-8506 renovationsaz.com

 

Sandy Griffis, Executive Director, Yavapai County Contractors Association. 928-778-0040.

Modifying the Home for Seniors

By Leave a Comment

Welcome to “At Home with Tom and Sandy!” Sit back, relax and enjoy.

Sandy:Here we are, Tom, moving at warp speed through the year. Whooshing, zooming and rocketing as I like to say.
Hey Tom, the bust of the monsoon season played heck with your kayaking didn’t it?
Our monsoon season this year sure did seem to be a week-by-week, day-by-day game of guessing as to when it would rain.

Tom:I always say any amount of rain is great. So, what great topic do you have swimming around under all that red hair that we are going to share with our readers this month?

Sandy:LOL. I wanted to spend some time talking about our senior citizens who are trying to decide if they should stay in their home as they age. It is a dilemma and can be pretty daunting if they don’t have good information.

Tom: So very true. As an architect, I have spent quite a bit of time using the American with Disabilities Act information as part of what we can apply to what the industry calls, “Aging in Place.” There are two questions folks need to ask themselves regarding staying in their home or moving to other locations.

Sandy: I bet the first question should be, “Are they comfortable where they are currently living?” Do they know the neighborhood, the neighbors, are they close to services, things like that?

Tom: Spot on, Sandy. That is the key first question. If the answer is no here, then moving to an incorporated all-encompassing living facility that can better support their needs makes sense.
If the answer is yes, well then, we suggest looking around to see what changes or improvements might be needed in order to make aging at home a bit simpler and easier and less stressful.

Sandy: I would venture to say that changes in the bathroom would be first and foremost for ease and convenience and, of course, safety.

Tom: Yup. Great place to start as that room ranks as the most accident-prone space in the home and the most dangerous part of this room is the tub/shower.

 

Sandy: YCCA receives many calls from our seniors to remove bathtubs and install walk-in showers, and those even without curbs to support wheelchairs. Getting in and out of a tub can certainly be a challenge for folks with mobility issues. What is some of your sage advice here?

Tom: In an ideal situation, we would remove the tub and replace it with a zero-entry shower. That is a shower that has no curbs.

Sandy: No tub, no curbs. That certainly eliminates a major tripping hazard. With a seat in the shower and a handheld faucet, many issues could be solved.

Tom: We also recommend having a floor surface that is non-slip. While mats can help that, they can also move.

Sandy: What if seniors want to keep their tubs? Can you install grab bars to help?

Tom: Yes. We would install at least three. One vertical bar at the entry point to help stabilize the movement over the tubs edge, a second typically on a 45-degree angle along the long wall of the tub. This facilitates sitting down and if you are standing the angle helps catch you if you fall. The third one is horizontal just above the faucet or tub filler. This helps sitting up and preparing to stand.

Sandy: What other modifications do you see most often when converting a bath for the elderly or for that matter someone who is in a wheelchair or has health challenges?

Tom: The vanity sink faucets could be replaced from the turning type to a paddle design.

Sandy: The ease of the on and off is pretty apparent. I would think this would apply to the kitchen sink as well.

Tom: Yes, and door handles, but one more item in the bathroom before we move on, the toilet. Individuals might trade out for what is known as a “Comfort Height” water closet if not an outright handicapped height. The increased height is what helps. Grab bars in this area help as well.

Sandy: So, that could be four or five grab bars in a single bathroom and I know they are worth their weight in gold the one time you need them and those that get used every day for safety assist.

Tom: Yes, they are.

Sandy: So, move us on to the rest of the house. What room is next?

Tom: Let’s talk kitchen. You mentioned the paddle handles for the sink, that is important. The other aspect of the kitchen’s usability are the cabinets.

Sandy: Upper shelves can be hard to reach and keeping the most used items on the lower shelves is the smart thing to do here. Heck, I already do that and pull-out shelving is awesome!!!!

Tom: Great! We like to recommend installing pull out drawer shelves for the lower cabinets. Sandy, we are on the same page. Often a good cabinet shop can retrofit your existing cabinets with these back-saving devices.

Sandy: How about counter space? Moving pots and pans around can be difficult if the counters are too far from the cooking surfaces, or the refrigerator.

Tom: Yes. A couple of things here: One, there should be a minimum 18” to 24” of counter on each side of a cooking surface. At least one counter near the refrigerator and pantry. The other back-saving modification would be to have the oven with its racks about counter height, and the same with the microwave.

Sandy: Lifting in and out of those necessary appliances can be an issue. There are other household simple modifications that can be made to help staying in your home. Simple things like area or throw rugs are tripping hazards. Lighting needs to be brighter and that could be as simple as changing a bulb.

Tom: You are correct, my dear, a lot of these are things that can be done to make your home safe and comfy for years to come.

Sandy: And a lot of those things can be DIY! How cool is that, Mr. Renovations! The vast majority of Americans age 65 and older, about 90 percent say they want to continue to live in their own homes as they gain in years. Many seniors are worried about their financial futures. Approximately 15 percent of seniors surveyed by the AARP say they are not confident their finances will last through their retirement years, and eight percent have no financial plan for retirement. The good news that we shared with you in our column this month is that these changes for making your home safe will not break the bank.

Tom:For our readers, Sandy, while it seems simple to remain in their home, it is possible that homeowners will need to make some adjustments to their daily routine or some modifications to their home as they age. With some research and helpful resources, anyone can find ways to make aging in place safer and more convenient.

Thanks, readers, for stopping in and reading “At Home with Tom and Sandy.” You’re in good company and we love sharing educational, fun and important information with you. Until next month. QCBN

By:

Tom Reilly, Architect, Contractor, Renovations (928) 445-8506 www.renovationsaz.com

Sandy Griffis, Executive Director, Yavapai County Contractors Association. (928) 778-0040.

Finding Reputable Contractors

By Leave a Comment

Welcome to “At Home with Tom and Sandy.” Sit back, relax and enjoy.

Tom: Hello, Sandy, our community YCCA gal! As always, it is a joy to be with you again this month and to share our column with the community. As usual, I am holding on to see what we are going to chitchat about.

Sandy: Hello back at ya, Tom. All is well in the wonderful world of YCCA. We have had some terrific contractor outreach meetings, the weather has been glorious, new virtual inspection processes with the City of Prescott are taking place, lots of remodeling, new homes and all is grand!
Wow, July was a busy month. Hope your 4th was full of fireworks and fun, rodeo time, parade vendors on the Square, Fire Hose races, kiddie parade and rodeo dancing. And, with all of that, more importantly, did you find time to get the work done?

Tom: Oh my, Sandy, so much going on, so little time. I think the idea of time off, particularly to honor our nation’s birthday, is a time not to work. Taking some time to reflect on how lucky we are in this country and be with friends and family to celebrate is so important.

Sandy: We are lucky to be in this country and this state and county. I just love it here. And I love what I do. All the members of the YCCA give me such great energy.

Tom: That is awesome. There is such a diversity of membership also. I bet you get calls all the time from members and constituents alike wanting help with one thing or another.

Sandy: I do! And you know how much I love to help people. That is one of the real rewards of this job! There are calls from installing doggie doors, to replacing ceiling fans, to building a yurt, new homes, garages, carports, bath and kitchen remodels and resolving unpermitted work, helping in creating road improvement districts, working with jurisdictions and challenges, and the list goes on.

Tom, I do believe that our life in the construction world is like Buddy Holly’s song: Every day, it’s a-getting closer, going faster than a roller coaster. Love comes our way because we love what we do.

Tom: You have given out our name, along with others, from time to time, to help folks out because they don’t know where to turn for a contractor or tradeperson to help them. That is great, but I think we could give our readers some more ways to vet a trade contractor or a general contractor.

Sandy: Great idea! There are so many third party companies out there with a wide array of names on their lists it can be pretty confusing on where to turn.

Tom: That I agree with. There are some companies that all one does is pay a fee and you’re in. Your name is on their list. Good, bad or different. Licensed and unlicensed.

Sandy: Properly vetting a company can take some time but is so worth it. When folks call me to inquire about a contractor, if I do not know of them, I always start by looking at their license with the Arizona Registrar of Contractors. I want to make sure the company is properly licensed for the service they provide. For example, last week a homeowner called and inquired about XYZ Company. I pulled up the license and saw that the contractor was licensed for C-61 Limited Remodeling and Repair Work, up to $50,000. Tom, this contractor had given the homeowner a bid for $120,000 for a new addition on their home. Red flag for sure.

Tom: Checking on the license is the first step for certain. If the company can’t pass that review then no need to look at them further. In the case you just cited, Sandy, they were working out of their licensed scope and operating unethically.

Sandy:  Getting back to the third party companies, people can simply ask those companies how they vet the names on their lists. Some do very little and others really get to know the company.

Tom:  From our perspective, we have some third party referral companies that have asked us to join and just want a fee paid. Those we politely decline. Others have taken the time to interview past clients, vendors and do background checks on me.

Sandy: Oh, I think I would love to see your background check report!!!LOL

Tom: Quite boring, I assure you.

Sandy: All kidding aside, you are correct, some referral companies are great. And people do need to ask them how they screen the names they give out. If the company doesn’t answer you, then the names on their list aren’t worth much.

Sandy: And just collecting complaints, while good to know, rarely tells the whole story.

Tom: You nailed it. And you used a key word, referral. We often want our client leads to come from referrals. For our company that is the best source of inquiries there can be.

Sandy: Curious, what percentage of your calls are from referrals?

Tom: About 60% in one form or another. Past clients, references, people who know me, things like that.

Sandy: I know so many of our area contractors. So many of our local companies have mastered construction management, they maintain a record of exceeding customer expectations while at the same time delivering the highest quality craftsmanship and value in every project. My knowledge of the members and the industry locally as a whole stems from knowing their reputations in the community and their hands-on work with so many of you and the citizens in our community.

Tom: At my firm, we pride ourselves on a team approach that is delivered with honesty and integrity. We’re proud to say that we’ve completed more than 1,600 projects in the Prescott area, which includes municipal and commercial buildings, historic restorations, sustainable green buildings and award-winning custom residential homes, remodels and everything in between.

Sandy: Referrals are fantastic and I am honored that we can give out many on our local industry.

Tom: A company’s reputation is only as good as its finished product. Most carpenters, form setters, roofers, tapers and other construction workers learn their trades through on-the-job training. It’s not always desirable or even possible to lure top craftsmen away from their current employers, so instituting a quality training program is an investment in long-term success. Keeping industrious workers means offering competitive pay, benefits and incentives, in addition to promptly addressing concerns and providing a safe work environment. Important management duties include hiring, firing, training, discipline and conflict resolution.

Sandy: The old saying, “You get what you pay for,” could not be more accurate. Soliciting three prices and choosing the lowest bid ensures one thing: Owners are getting the contractor who is willing to work the cheapest for the plans and specifications they paid their design professional to draft.

Tom: Sandy, yes I agree: “You get what you pay for,” and the assurance stops there. There is no guarantee that the owner will receive the best quality project, with the best materials and the best subcontractors. It also does not ensure that the project will be completed on time and within budget. So many times I see homeowners taking the lowest bid they receive and this just creates a relationship that revolves around cost, not quality. You get what you pay for.

Sandy: The contractor-homeowner relationship is just that, a relationship. Homeowners should choose contractors based upon capabilities, merit and demonstrated successes. After all, they will be working together—in some cases, for many months—to reach a goal or realize a dream.

Tom: Sandy, you are right on. Respect and open communication are paramount to the success of the project. Choosing the lowest bidder can often result in disputes, which can end up in litigation, increased costs and shoddy workmanship. Relationships are built on trust, communication and ideals.

Thanks, readers, for stopping in and reading “At Home with Tom and Sandy.” You’re in good company and we love sharing educational, fun and important information with you. QCBN

By:

Tom Reilly, Architect, Contractor, Renovations 928-445-8506 renovationsaz.com

And

Sandy Griffis, Executive Director, Yavapai County Contractors Association.  928-778-0040.

Deciding Whether to Buy a New Home or Remodel 

By Leave a Comment

Welcome to “At Home With Tom and Sandy.”  Sit back, relax and enjoy.   

Tom: Hi Sandy, what are we going to talk about this month? 

Sandy: Well, I have had some calls recently from folks who want to know who they can turn to for help in deciding whether they should stay in their home and remodel, build new or move to another existing home. So, this is what I want to talk about, Tom; are you game? 

Tom: GREAT subject. We spend quite a bit of time helping folks find some of the answers they need to make that exact and careful decision. It is quite a process! 

Sandy: I suppose the first question to share with our readers would be what and why are they considering this decision.    

Tom: Exactly. We suggest families sit down and list five things they like and enjoy about their home and five things they are not keen on about their home. This helps people gain some focus on a discussion that can get lost down all the rabbit holes. Families will also need to look at their finances and determine a general budget for buying new or resale or taking on remodeling. This is important to have the range of budget figures as they move through the process. 

Sandy: Good start. Once they do that and have the budget numbers and the list of “not keen on items” would they then bring in professional assistance to see if those aspects of the home can be modified and changed and/or is the home in a hard-and-fast non-flexible, cost-prohibitive state? 

Tom: Right again. Sometimes it’s the kitchen or the bath or the lack of outdoor space that need remodeling and a fresh look and or need to be changed due to family circumstances. And sometimes it is just simply the quality of finishes that are causing gloom and the homeowners want more brightness. 

Sandy:Okay, easy enough, but what if the house is just to big for some empty nesters?  

Tom: Then the decision is pretty clear. 

Tom: Once those “Home Improvement” projects are identified, owners can do one or two things, or both, to move forward. There is an article published in Remodeling Magazine every year called “Cost vs Value” and the link is remodeling.hw.  

Tom: This link identifies several common renovation projects and relays the typical cost of those projects for average homes and some for upscale homes in different parts of the country.  

Sandy: WOW, very interesting and I hope our readers take a peek at the link.  Noteworthy to see the different areas and costs.  

Tom: Clearly. This information allows people to get some idea of how much a project will cost them. The desired change menu of projects can then be added up to get a preliminary budget for staying in the current home and remodeling vs. going and purchasing new. 

Sandy: It is still a good idea for our readers to contact a professional for help, though. Most design/build companies specializing in remodeling will have an initial conversation at no cost. 

Tom: Yes, that is of course true. If a company wants to charge you for very basic and common information, tell them “I don’t have the right company” to work with.    

Sandy: When the homeowner has all of this valuable information, there is still more work to do though. What do you suggest about figuring out if they would be better off moving? 

Tom: We suggest if a homeowner wants to relocate, and let’s use our local area, he or she lists about five different desirable areas to live in. Then research those areas for available homes and their respective price ranges. 

Sandy: And, of course, a realtor would be a starting point for that process. 

Tom: Absolutely. No question there. Realtors have access to information and the skill to drill into that info on the client’s behalf. 

Sandy: That will be work for sure and it is important that these families share with the realtor they are gathering information for “the decision to stay and remodel or buy.”  

Tom: That would be fair. For some, the information can be obtained in the realtor’s office. By way of example, simply finding out the cost of existing homes in an area might force the decision right there. 

Sandy: Gathering the information is what this whole process is about. In fact, I shout from the rooftops that gathering information on any form of construction from purchase of items, to remodeling, to building new, to all everything from A to Z in construction is important. 

Sandy: With new construction, folks can reach out to custom home builders for an initial consultation to obtain information about the costs of a new custom home.
 

Tom: Right. And those first meetings with homebuilders are typically at no cost, just like the design/build remodeling company. I recommend that folks look at model homes also. Not all new construction is custom. By looking at floor plans that are part of a developer’s package, you can get a lot of info. 

 

Sandy: With a lot of the developers in our area, homebuyers can add or customize features with all their homes giving them their own unique solutions. That is important to know.  

 

Tom: Yes, it is. When all this information is gathered, the homeowner can now sit down and mull over the options. The information is critical to a sound decision-making process. 

 

Sandy: I understand that as a general rule of thumb in today’s market, given the same square footage, building new is more costly than buying existing. 

 

Tom: That is a typical generalization, you are right. I would not recommend making a final decision to stay or go based on that, though.  

 

Sandy:The decision to stay or go really is a tough one, the greatest quandary of homeowner ownership. Our topic this month is certainly an age-old decision “whether to remodel or build new.”  There are so many things to consider. How about in closing, Tom, let’s give our readers some quick pointers:  

 

Tom:Right on, Sandy. Let’s step it off. 

 

As far as financial decision, an important decision to consider is whether the cost of remodeling the home will outpace its resale value if you are looking to flip it in a couple of years. If you plan to stay there, then build what you want. The last thing you want to do is spend a bunch of money and sit back when it is done and say, “I wish I would have….!” 

Again, prepare a list of features you cannot live without. Include wants, needs, wishes and the amount of money and time you are willing to commit. 

Carefully calculate and consider the amount of money being invested for the remodel and/or the purchase of new: the budget.   

Thanks, readers, for stopping in and reading “At Home with Tom and Sandy.” You’re in good company and we love sharing educational, fun and important information with you. Until next month! QCBN 

 

YCCA Boot Camp for Construction Trades

By Leave a Comment

Welcome to “At Home with Tom & Sandy!”  Here we are warp-speeding into 2019. Speaking of warp speed, yes, Tom, I am exhausted, done-in, spent and dog-tired – and on the other end of the spectrum, exhilarated, ecstatic, delighted, joyful, overjoyed and euphoric.

Tom:  The month of January kept you going almost 24/7 with the fantastic Boot Camp you orchestrated. You and the YCCA are certainly going above and beyond to help with the labor shortage the construction industry is facing. Have you come up for air yet?

Sandy:  Indeed I have. For three weeks, I felt I was airborne, in-fight, mid-flight and sky-high with the YCCA Boot Camp. What a huge success. We had 27 young adults from our area participating, along with a grand group of local contractors, suppliers, engineers and even an architect adding to the education of the industry and life in general. 

Tom:  I have seen the brochure YCCA and you put out there, but I understand you utilized some very unconventional recruiting techniques. And not just for the students!

Sandy: So, it worked when I said to you, “Tom, you will be there, or else!” Our Boot Camp idea was overwhelming embraced by school officials. With their support, we reached our local graduating students and the majority of the young adults were from our local high schools.

Tom:  The young adults that I was privileged to work with all were attentive and genuine in their desire to learn. They wanted to learn, make a better life for themselves and their families, and obtain a position in a rewarding career.   

Sandy:  Tom, the project would never have been accomplished without a lot of help and dedication from our community. And with that, here are my big thanks to so many humans who had the desire to make a positive difference in 27 young, wonderful lives.

Tom: United Way’s Annette Olson stated the ball rolling when United Way awarded YCCA a $15,000 grant to make a metamorphosis in our community. The boot camp concept and an out-of-the-box idea was born.   

Sandy: The power of giving from United Way – along with the wonderful humans in our community who gave their patience, heart, soul and humor – made a positive difference in the lives of these young adults. To Greg, our bus driver for three weeks from Prescott Unified School District: Wow, PUSD is lucky to have Greg behind the wheel of the big yellow bus! How great it is that PUSD offers a bus for rent, at a very reasonable rate, with a driver. This was better than an Uber!

Tom: I was at the boot camp when life coach Deb Peterson of Coaching Clarity By Definition talked with the young adults. That was a great way to start the boot camp off. Deb’s words and communication were extraordinary and displayed love and warmth, which will affect their attitudes and life.    

Sandy: We also had a magnificent group of Prescott Area Young Professionals. They were fabulous and I really liked how their by-laws changed to allow this Baby Boomer to be a part of the PAYP organization. Tom, the way the PAYP spoke to these young adults about failures in life helped them understand that one failure does not make one a failure in life. 

Tom: I really liked the session on our local Women in Construction and the Job Expectations. Those two classes were monumental. Kathy from Haley Construction, Cindy from 2-A-T Construction, Rachel from Chino Heating & Cooling, Kim from The Plumbing Store and Brenda from Yavapai Mechanical are wonderful women in the industry shared what it is like to work in a man’s world. Allan and Jeff from Haley, Garth from Fann and Patrice from the City of Prescott made a difference in sharing what the workforce is like and what is expected of young adults when they go to work in any field or any service industry. Such nobility of purpose these professionals have and I know that their time spent with these young adults made a difference in their lives.

Sandy: We had five father and son teams talk to the young adults: Jim and Jimmy Johnson, Wyatt and Will Orr, Bill and William Gagnon, Mike and Brady Little and Chuck and Kurt Merritt. The father/son sharing of untiring devotion was so full of inspiration, passion and love of family and business.

Tom:  I heard nothing but glowing reports about the field trips and in classroom talks. 

Sandy: Yes, the field trips were exciting, all over Yavapai County. Chuck Merritt and his entire crew brought in more tools than I ever knew existed. Brent from Arizona Public Service gave a fantastic talk. Jim Reed from HR Quality Homes was so great! And, after listening to Josh Lewis from Foxworth, I wanted to fill out an employment application. Jon from Certa Pro and his team made painting sound outrageously exciting! Mike McCormick from Asphalt Paving & Supply arranged a field trip that was beyond exciting. The hands-on tours were so appreciated by the young adults. Keven Kullberg and Glen Copeland shared their loved of foundations and soils issues. And, of course, to you, Tom Reilly, hats off! A teacher of accomplishment you were with your blueprint reading and math skills. Thank you for giving your time and expertise many times throughout the course of three weeks.

Tom: I loved the roofing classroom time that was a hit thanks to Roger Barton of Badger Roofing and Greg Barstad of Granite Basin Roofing. The young adults loved the hands-on project that was created for them. And then there was Matt Greenlee, Greenlee Designer Surfaces. What a great teacher and Matt is an artist from the word “go.” Several of the young adults were interested in his field of work.

Sandy: Regarding Wyatt, BJ and Dan from Earth Resources, well, there are no words. Their untiring devotion and love of earth work and yellow metal and talk of family and respect for one another was held in high regard by these young adults. Tom, I cannot even begin to describe the sterling qualities that these men possess.

Tom: And then there was Chris Welborn from Vincente Landscaping. He sure did wow the young adults when he brought in his entire team and lots of equipment and talked about the thrill of landscaping.    

Sandy: And then the marvelous crew from JT’s Septic. We love those guys. Their true and faithful outstanding service to this community just gleams. It was wonderful to have Jim Crawford of Steel Erection and Maintenance and Pat Dugan from A Action Welding share the love of an industry that will never be obsolete. The inspiration and admiration that they have from their employees and that they display to others is an indication of devotion to education of our youth. I mentioned to Jim that it would be thrilling to be female steel erector. He took one look at my shoes and said “Sandy, you need more boot and less heel.” Guess I will not be walking the steel anytime soon.  Field Trip Uber Ride: Elan Electric, (Jim & Jimmy Johnson), The Plumbing Store, (Bill, William and Kim Gagnon) Dorn Homes, (Rusty Weathersby, Chris Harrison), MI Windows, (Dan Bidwell), Premier Builders, (Ron Owsley),  Gale Insulation, (Shane Burginger), Sun States Builders, (Colin Lovdahl), Chino Heating & Cooling, (Mike & Brady Little). 

Tom:  Sandy, one of the greatest aspects of the boot camp was that all of the young adults were CPR and First Aid certified. Lesa and Dan of New Life CPR did for these young adults made a huge difference in many lives.

Sandy: Tom, all of our boot camp participants represent what is good, fine and admirable. Every person and company is a vital and effective force in our area. The team spirit, hard work and loyalty to the industry that built America and will continue to build American and the spirit was displayed by each and every one of these companies and their employees. 

Tom:  Sandy, it is remarkable what you put together. This was a total volunteer boot camp and I am indeed humbled and proud of everyone who worked so hard to make this boot camp for 27 young adults a success. It is great to know you, Sandy, be a part of YCCA and work with so many wonderful companies in the most fabulous industry and community ever! The community came together to support a cause that is not only worthwhile but filling a huge need in the construction industry. Presenters explained just about every facet of the construction industry we involve locally.

Sandy: The goal was to expose the participants to as much of what is out there so they might find their interest and pursue their possibilities. We want them to get really good jobs and help fill the labor gap that plagues all of our members.

Tom: Again, Sandy, that is absolutely outstanding. The presenters also got some good exposure to potential workers. That is a real plus. I met some eager people during my presentation. A great many were like sponges, soaking up info.   

Sandy: As of today, we have placed 15 young adults in the construction industry and made connections for others in fields of their passion and interest. I would call that successful. The other wonderful outcome was every attendee left boot camp with a professionally prepared résumé. That was a huge step that will help them land interviews.

Tom:  It is a great way for the companies to see the interest in people wanting to get to work. I know I am impressed with the enthusiasm I saw at the presentations. So, where does this go from here? Surely this may become an annual event? One of the participants said they wish they had this in high school. Do you have plans to work with the local school districts?

Sandy:  Tom, ideas are springing and bouncing. The phone calls are coming in about another boot camp so we are looking at June or July. 

Tom: Sign me up! I am on board!

Thanks for stopping in and reading “At Home with Tom and Sandy.” You’re in good company and we love sharing educational, fun and important information with you. QCBN

By Sandy Griffis and Tom Reilly

Tom Reilly, architect, contractor, Renovations 928-445-8506  renovationsaz.com

Sandy Griffis, executive director, Yavapai County Contractors Association. 928-778-0040. ycca@cableone.net

Exploring Kitchen Trends

By Leave a Comment

Welcome to “At Home With Tom & Sandy.” Here we are, Tom, in a new year. As they say, “How time flies.” Speaking of time flying, fleeting and anything but coasting – we have been sharing our column on a monthly basis with the community and what fun it is. I would say pretty cool. It is indeed an honor to be your partner, Tom, and share boundless significant information with our readers such as our column this month, featuring kitchen trends.

Sandy: Tom, since it is the start of a New Year, new thoughts, new goals, like rebooting your laptop!

Tom: Yes, it is, Sandy. Good analogy there with the reboot; the main stuff is still there, just clearing out the stuff you don’t need.

Sandy: We have some new goals at YCCA. We are really into strengthening the workforce in Yavapai County. We have high hopes for our boot camp young adults. We just completed the first bootcamp and the new name designated and voted on by the first group of attendees is the YCCA Young Builders Bootcamp. What a treat and joy to have been able to create our first of many YCCA Young Builders Bootcamps for our local young adults. Tom, you are a part of that team to help these young adults find a career in the trades and you skill with math and blueprint reading was greatly appreciated.

Tom: I loved it and thanks for asking me to take part. Plan reading is my thing and I also love teaching construction math. Some math teachers I have had are wondering what the world is coming to, though.

Sandy: LOL. Tom, I could gush for hours on the bootcamp, but let’s talk construction. That is what we do best! What is new in the world of remodeling? Any new products? New trends?

Tom: Gosh, there are always new products, and as for trends, well, heck yeah. The trend pundits love setting the bar this time of year. Let’s look at the 2019 kitchen trends.

Sandy: It can be so hard to figure out where to start. There must be hundreds if not thousands of websites, magazines and books each saying, “Look at me – I am a new trend and you need to incorporate me into your home!”

Tom: Well, you are right about that. Some of the trends we are seeing locally as well as nationally are starting with color. Color of the walls, cabinets and countertops.

Sandy: Color always plays a big part of any project. What’s different?

Tom: You are correct, Sandy. The color trend we are seeing and reading about refers to cabinetry. For the most part, stained wood has dominated the industry locally and nationally as well. We are seeing that change to painted wood cabinets.

Sandy: Are you talking about new cabinets or existing?

Tom: Both, really.

Sandy: Is there a particular color that is more popular than others? I would think, Tom, that selecting a paint color for kitchen cabinetry can be one of the toughest color decisions to make. Color trends have never been as varied as they are today. One sees that in all of the magazine and websites. There are so many color possibilities and I am sure it would be pretty agonizing to settle on a final color choice. After all, your choice of cabinet color has to stand the test of time and be a shade that you’ll love for years to come.

Tom: Totally agree, Sandy.  Traditionally, kitchen cabinet color has been some variation of white. Usually, white mixed with a slightly warm color tint. This year, gray is becoming the new neutral color and blue is even slipping in in some places.

Sandy: What else is trending? There are more than cabinets in a kitchen.

Tom: Countertops would be high on the new trend list. There are two trends here that are kind of interesting. Granite has dominated the market for a while, and will probably do so for the foreseeable future; however, solid surfaces such as quartz and concrete, where color can be more consistent, are becoming more popular. I predict we will do as much of those two as we do granite this year.

Sandy: That is interesting. People who are redoing their kitchens have a lot of solid (pun intended) choices to make. Concrete counters sound most interesting. Concrete can have a lot of diversity to it with color. I have seen integral colors, stained colors, acid washes and all manner of embedded items to give the product a lot of pizazz. Is that possible with counters as well?

Tom: By and large, yes. Acid washes get a little tricky on cabinetry, though. What I find interesting and kind of exciting really is using different materials for tops in the same kitchen. The main counters are a solid quartz and usually a fairly uniform color that can be paired well with painted cabinets. The island top however is a natural granite with lots of movement and color variations. The island bases are painted a different color as well.

Sandy: I imagine the style of cabinet is also given to variations. With the color being added, what’s happening to the doors and drawer fronts?

Tom: Two things, really. The Shaker-style doors are a common solution and full overlay doors and drawers are the two popular choices. Both are indicating a trend toward simplicity.

Sandy: I like simple. Easy to clean, easy to look at. Where does this information come from? I mean does somebody sit around and make this stuff up?

Tom: I don’t know. I get it from sources like Houzz, Pinterest and some of my remodeling industry periodicals. That doesn’t mean that somebody is sitting behind a keyboard somewhere initiating the whole deal.

Sandy: Does the remodeling industry as a whole buy into this or is there some diversity of opinion?

Tom: Glad you asked. The answer is, no, not everyone feels the same way. By way of example, Sherwin Williams Color of the Year is Cavern Clay, sort of an adobe color. Not the gray or blues spoken about by others.

Sandy: Tom, kitchen trends for 2019 – let’s dream – you’re dreaming about the wall color (gray), the countertops, probably quartz, a really super cool backsplash that will add pizazz and, of course, we cannot forget about appliance trends. Black and stainless steel appliances are the 2019 trend. 

Tom: And then there are the sink accessories and dishwashers. I heard there is a range with a new trend that vacuum seals your food via a vacuuming drawer.  The future of the kitchen is always exciting.

Sandy: I think I am just going to call Alexa and Google and ask what new design trend I should consider that will take the stress out of having to decide.

Tom: Whether you’re planning to remodel your kitchen or get inspired for a simple refresh, there’s a whole new crop of design trends to consider. In 2019, kitchens will be a mix of classic and modern. To our readers, remember that the kitchen is the heart of the home and homeowners will want their kitchens to feel warm, welcoming and attractive.

Thanks for stopping in and reading “At Home with Tom and Sandy.” You’re in good company and we love sharing educational, fun and important information with you. So, remember: New Year, new trends. QCBN

Tom Reilly, architect, contractor, Renovations 928-445-8506  renovationsaz.com

Sandy Griffis, executive director, Yavapai County Contractors Association. 928-778-0040. ycca@cableone.net

Resolving to Be Better People, Business Owners, Community Partners 

By Leave a Comment

Welcome to “At Home With Tom & Sandy.” Happy New Year! It is never too late. Every day, people pass up opportunities to make a difference in our community. We can all do “something” and it doesn’t have to cost anything. So, start a daily habit of doing “something.” If you have the power to make someone happy – DO IT. Our world needs more happy! Tom and I thought our first column of 2019 would be about more happy, human kindness and resolutions. Settle in, and thanks for reading “At Home with Tom & Sandy.” We appreciate your readership, comments and to the many new friends that we have met through our column, thanks for your support.  

 

SANDY:Tom, it is that time of year again – the New Year, time for those resolutions. Some resolutions are hard to stay the course like those diets and the exercise. 

 

TOM:I am so bad about doing those personal varieties of resolutions, but for business, you bet I have made resolutions. 

 

SANDY:Well…. Continue, Tom. 

 

TOM:Okay, there are two major issues that I resolve to continue to address along with other community partners and that is continuing to make a real push locally to broaden the opportunities for our young generation of men and women to join the trades as a career. 

 

SANDY:Tom, I like that one and as you know, YCCA developed our first YCCA Bootcamp for young adults. Our three-week FREE course/education in construction is FULL! This is a fabulous way to teach the trades to our younger generation.  

 

TOM:I am really looking forward to helping those efforts. The struggle for qualified tradesman is not going away. I firmly believe this is a worthwhile resolution. I am honored to be able to share my knowledge on blueprint reading and construction math to the young adults. I am excited about my three hours of classroom time. 

 

SANDY:What is the second resolution you are so passionate about? 

 

TOM:A resolution to our homeowners by using venues such as our column, radio shows, our company newsletter and printed information to help keep them apprised on new information, maintenance schedules and continue to be an effective resource for them. We need to expand our ability to share all the new products on the market, new design trends and generally cool stuff that is out there and coming out there. 

 

What about you? What about YCCA? Has the board jumped on the resolution bandwagon? Your turn, Sandy! 

 

SANDY:As an organization and partner in the community, we have resolved to continue to promote our organization and share with the community the importance of using local, licensed contractors. YCCA and our board have also resolved that we will continue to give back to the community through our membership. There are many good causes that matter and YCCA will continue to mentor and volunteer in our community to make our community a better place. The most recent community partnership was the Shop With A Cop in December. Tom, collectively, our members contributed almost $10,000. 

 

TOM:How about those resolutions that homeowners can follow all year long? Like resolve to hire licensed contractors, resolve to hire local contractors. 

 

SANDY:Right on, Tom, and I can add to that list: Resolve to verify insurance, resolve to get estimates in writing nothing verbal, resolve to turn the estimate into a signed executed contract and always resolve to put changes in writing.  

 

SANDY:These resolutions are non-fattening, easy to stick to, healthy for your remodeling projects and headache-free.  

 

SANDY:Tom, the introduction of our column we talked about Happy. I love to SMILE at everyone – it may be the only smile they get all day and, gosh, it makes me feel good and the smiles I receive in return are amazing. What about your input on Happy for our readers? 

 

TOM:I always like to hold a door open for the person coming in or going out, young or old, male or female, it is the polite thing to do. Yep, kindness. Now, more than ever, people need to honestly think about what it means to be kind. Not because the world is in any more of a state of chaos then it ever has been, but because our world lends itself less and less to kindness. The automatic sliding door has eliminated a common act of kindness people do every day, which is holding the door for someone. There are many instances that still require people to act on their sense of kindness and hold doors open, but the automatic door has diminished those acts.  

 

SANDY:I think it is very important to give affirmation. Praise someone about a quality that they have that you really appreciate. Their face just lights up. That is Happy! I also love helping someone. When I see an elderly person struggling with belongings or even groceries, I offer to help carry them and have even put bags into the car. I love the sweet golden year citizens. 

 

TOM:Another Happy for me is when I stop for cars backing out of parking spaces. With our narrow streets in Prescott, I am always watching for the back-up lights and stop to let the car pull out. The waves I get from the drivers are great. 

I am back into driving again. I will continue to resolve to let another driver into my lane when I see a turn signal on. It takes a nanosecond to slow down and let the driver into your lane. 

 

SANDY:I say the ripple effect starts with one. One person to be a spark of kindness, we can all be that ONE person.  

 

TOM:Everybody has the potential to change the world and I believe everyone wants to seize that potential. These people are called a RAKtivist. RAKtivists are the heroes of our world. They live and breathe kindness, sharing knowledge and leading by example. A RAKtivist leaves a trail of warm-and-fuzzy feelings in their wake. 

 

So, you say, WHAT IS A RAKTIVIST? RAKtivist is short for “Random Acts of Kindness activist.” RAKtivists are everywhere. RAKtivist: Anyone who believes kindness can change the world, who reminds everyone around that person how much love there is. Let’s all be a RAKtivist.  

 

SANDY:What I see happening is that when people are not kind, they are labeled as rude. Rudeness is becoming easier to recognize than kindness, such as not stopping to let the car pull out of the parking space, not letting the driver into your lane, not holding door open, not saying please or thank you. And there are those people who not only just talk on the phone in a public place, but shout into a conversation. 

 

Without kindness there is rudeness. Kindness is simply when a person isn’t rude, and to avoid rudeness is to simply be kind. Kindness is stepping away from the self-centered oblivion so often promoted in modern culture and appreciate the people around you, even if it is someone just a few steps short of catching the door. So the only New Year’s resolution we should all care about for 2019 is keeping kindness on the mind and following our resolutions to be better people, better company owners and better community partners. 

 

TOM:I got it, Sandy, and I agree with you – everyone, go make a change.  

 

SANDY:Nearly 100 years ago, aviator Amelia Earhart observed, “A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees.”  

 

From Tom and Sandy – Happy New Year! These resolutions, happiness expressions and widespread kindness makes our community feel happier. We crave the sweetness that kindness brings to life. In 2019 clear your schedule for kindness. Small intentional acts of kindness can change the world.  

  

Thanks for stopping in “At Home with Tom and Sandy.” You’re in good company and we love sharing educational, fun and important information with you. See you next month. QCBN