Renovation

Using Social Media in Renovation, Construction Projects

November 28, 2022 By quadcities Leave a Comment

Merry Christmas hugs to all of you, from At Home with Tom and Sandy.

Welcome to another addition of At Home with Tom and Sandy. We are here to give you the inside scoop on real estate and the construction industry – what’s up, what’s down, what’s hot and what’s not. We will 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. We will talk about products, how to take care of your home and so much more.

Sandy: Hi Tom. So, this month we should talk about how social media affects our industry. It sure has changed the landscape!

Tom: Great topic, Sandy. I am more aware of the different types of social media than I am a participant in them.

Sandy: I believe the different types, as you call them, are referred to as “platforms.” Let’s get the lingo straight, mister.

Tom: OK, you are correct. With all the posts, tweets, peeps and chirps going on, I have a hard time keeping up. I did some looking into this subject a while ago and was astounded at the proliferation of social media platforms.

Sandy: I have heard there are well over a hundred different platforms that encapsulate and capture social media. I would like our conversation to be more focused on the more common ones used in and for our industry.

Tom: Good idea. Several of these social media outlets can be a help for folks trying to decide what to do. They can also be quite confusing.

Sandy: And some are misleading as well. The “fact checkers” are out there, but they cannot catch everything and some things they do not check. I always wondered who checked them, though?

Tom: I have a Facebook account and use it to keep in touch with family and friends. We also use it to promote our business. One is free, the other charges for different posts, I think.

Tom: I am quite concerned about what I see being shared on Facebook pertaining to help for construction projects.

Sandy: I see folks posting about needing a project done. Everything from a new build to yard work. There are a lot of good companies out there and, believe me, several of the recommendations are not as genuine as they appear.

Tom: I see links to websites for companies, which are legit. It’s the Direct Message posts that are troublesome.

Sandy: I agree with the website links. That at least lets you know if they are legitimate companies. I would be scared to hire someone through any social media platform that I could not verify licensing, reputation or have any way to validate a person’s claims.

Tom: The big red flag for me is when people post that they are looking to do your work, even something simple like cleaning up your yard, and they don’t post much about themselves.

Sandy: The ROC requires advertisers to include their ROC license number in the ad. And make no mistake, the posts we are talking about are ads.

Tom: Absolutely they are. Businesses pay for every post they make. Social media is universal and it’s a freebie to tap into, which I feel generates challenges and problems with construction.

Sandy: OK, that is the downside. Tell me about the good side of all this posting, tweeting and pinning.

Tom: I like the various platforms’ ability to help me stay connected to people I am friends with. There are some platforms where information and ideas can be shared, like Pinterest.

Sandy: I like the ideas that are “pinned” on Pinterest. There are some very clever design ideas there.

Tom: There really are. I used it from time to time to check out the way various materials work together, like metal tiles used as highlights on a stucco wall.

Sandy: YouTube is considered a social media platform as well. Now, that is a helpful forum. The videos that demonstrate the process of doing something is a valuable resource.

Tom: Agreed. The DIY folks out there can learn how to do just about everything. If someone wanted to know how to install ceramic tile, there are instructional videos for that.

Sandy: One doesn’t go to YouTube for advertising, though. I see that sometimes the instructional video producers may put their businesses forward, but only after they have taught us something.

Tom: That is legit in my mind. After watching a video about installing cabinets, folks might opt to call the producer if they are local or reach out to a professional.

Sandy: Our readers need to know that these social media platforms can be helpful; however, we need to be smart in determining how we use them.

Tom: The fact checkers are notorious for checking political facts, but they don’t vet the small guy who wants to clean your yard.

Sandy: That is a good point, Tom. We need to be our own fact checkers. If something sounds too good, it is. Our readers need to know that helping them is a big part of why the YCCA is here. Remember, don’t start without us!

Tom: since this is Christmas, and I know you are like me, you look at every day of the year as an opportunity to do better than yesterday. It is hard to believe that 2023 is right around the corner.

Tom: You are right, Sandy. Let’s all look to the future. Life brings changes and we must all develop and encourage a life of gratitude. We are all partners in our community and our circumstances will change at some time or another. We live in one of the most generous communities on the planet, so let us all continue to give the “Christmas Spirit” throughout every day of 2023 and beyond.

Sandy: Blessed is the season, which engages the entire world in a conspiracy of love. And now let us all sing one of our favorite Christmas carols, “Joy to the World.”

Tom: Helen Steiner Rice said, “Peace on Earth will come to stay when we live Christmas every day.”

Merry Christmas hugs to all of you, from At Home with Tom and Sandy. QCBN

Tom Reilly, LEED Accredited Professional, Architect.

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

Remember to tune in to YCCA’s Hammer Time every Saturday and Sunday morning 7:00 am on KQNA 1130 am/99.9 fm/95/5fm or the web kqna.com. Listen to Sandy and her wingman Mike talk about the construction industry and meet your local community partners. Hammer Time is a great way to start your weekend.

Understanding the Extraordinary Rising Costs of Construction Materials

May 29, 2021 By quadcities Leave a Comment

Welcome to “At Home With Tom & Sandy.”

We are here to give you the inside scoop and tips on everything A to Z for your home and we love talking about the construction industry. Settle in, enjoy and have fun reading our column. We sure do enjoy sharing our words with you. hanks for being such loyal and great readers.

Sandy: Well hello, Tom, and happy June to you.

YIKES, YIKES, and more YIKES!!! What is going on with the cost of construction materials? I have never seen industry prices like this before.

Tom: Oh, boy. You said it! In preparation for this conversation, I talked with several contractors and some suppliers. And they are all shaking their collective heads.

Sandy: I have heard everything from COVID to the Suez Canal blockage to tariffs causing material supply issues and rising prices.

Tom: Me, too. It is amazing at how intertwined our economic systems are.

Sandy: The labor supply is no real big news to me. That is why the YCCA started the “Boot Camp” process a few years back. It was created to get younger people interested in a career in the construction industry.

Tom: And wow, were you were successful at that. How many souls got jobs from that effort?

Sandy: Thirteen, and I am proud to say they are still working in the industry for the original companies that hired them – all local.

Tom: But the labor problem has many facets to it. From young folks being drilled for years that college is the only route to happiness and success and eschewing the blue-collar jobs.

Sandy: COVID contributes to the shortage as well. With the stimulus package paying higher unemployment, the motivation to work is lessened for some. Not necessary the skilled trades, but the manual labor force as well.

Tom: True. Our readers need to know that construction costs are skyrocketing though. The labor shortage is only part of it.

Sandy: I agree. The price of a piece of OSB plywood ½” thick has almost tripled since this time last year. Can you imagine – $64 for a 4’x8’ sheet!

Tom: That is only the tip of the iceberg. Dang near everything is up 50% to 250%.

Sandy: People are still building like crazy, though. There is a lot of pent-up demand. Talking with contractors, the funnel is not slowing down.

Tom: It is almost the perfect storm of craziness. I do not think the average consumer has a clear picture of the depth of negative impact COVID has had on our economy.

Sandy: The industry is grateful that construction was considered an essential service in Arizona; that was not the same elsewhere.

Tom: Exactly. Let us look at something as simple as granite countertops. Quarry workers in other countries could not work because of the quarantine. Therefore, the granite is not mined, and the supply dries up. The demand is still there, just not the product. If the quarantine is lessened and some mining is done, the next cog in the wheel is shipping. Cargo ships are sitting in Long Beach harbor waiting to be unloaded.

Add to that a trucking shortage. I think I heard it takes more than 800 trucks for a ship to be unloaded. And stacking container space has swallowed up the docks.

Sandy: That same scenario touches almost every aspect of the supply chain, including mining for aluminum windows and manufacturing – everything from a 2 x 4 to sinks, mechanical equipment – you name it.

Tom: In the last year, many facilities were either shut down completely, or partially opened then shut down multiple times, adding to the low supply.

Sandy: And the high demand all leads to the classic economic theory of supply and demand affecting the price of a service or commodity.

Tom: What our readers need to know is how the construction industry is handling this craziness. Estimating a project normally takes a few weeks – depending, of course, on the project’s complexity. Before the pracademic, a supplier or subcontractor would hold their numbers for 30 to 45 to 60 days. I am told that currently, seven days is the max.

Sandy: I have heard that also. How can anyone sign a contract at a fixed price when the project might take three, four, six or 12 months to complete?

Tom: Therein lies the dilemma. Some of the tools being used are pre-orders with price guarantees. This works for some products but usually not the most volatile.

Sandy: One could delay construction until things settle, but we are not really seeing a lot of that.

Tom: Some savvy contractors and smart owners are agreeing to a shared price clause in the contract. That allows a project to move forward with both parties agreeing to something akin to a floating cost. This allows the project to move forward without delays because of price increases.

Sandy: Contractors are also going to cost-plus contracts.

Tom: Prices are rising. Construction materials are surging amid higher demand and as we talked about earlier in our column, supply constraints are big.

Sandy: I have seen construction costs rising since last June and we know the increase is having a big effect on the residential construction industry. Everything from lumber to asphalt to cement to insulation has soared in price as the home-building industry has heated up.

Tom: When this thing called the pandemic happened, many suppliers cut their output, expecting that the subsequent economic disruption would cause severe reduction in demand.

Sandy: Tom, that drop in demand never occurred and because the industry was deemed essential, we avoided a shutdown. In fact, home building and renovation have been leaders in the post-pandemic economy.

In one year, from March 2020 to March 2021, lumber has increased 83%.

Tom: From everything I have read, prices show no signs of abating amid the surge in home building driven by the receipt of stimulus money and higher consumer saving because of stay-at-home restrictions. Remote work is also supporting the trend, with many people forced to live, work and play at home.

Sandy: Adding to the squeeze on supplies, wildfires struck the Pacific Northwest last fall, burning through forests slated for market. Many construction companies and suppliers have turned to central Europe to fulfill lumber orders. Forest Economic Advisors has stated that it expects lumber imports in the United States to rise 14% to 15% for 2021.

Tom: The takeaway of this is: For construction companies, higher material and shipping costs are adding to margin pressures. Through the past year, final demand pricing for construction services has grown only 2% year over year through March. This means that contractors are absorbing these cost increases without passing them on to their customers.

Sandy: Tom, our region is growing and there is no doubt about it – the housing market and the construction industry are two strong sectors keeping our economy going.

Thanks for stopping in to read At Home With Tom and Sandy. You are in good company and we love sharing educational, fun and important information with you. QCBN

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

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

Remember to tune in to YCCA’s Hammer Time every Saturday and Sunday morning 7 a.m. on KQNA 1130 AM/99.9 FM/95.5FM or the web kqna.com. Listen to Sandy and Mike talk about the construction industry and meet your local community partners. Hammer Time is a great way to start your weekend.

Cottonwood Landmark Undergoing Major Renovation

April 4, 2017 By quadcities Leave a Comment

The historic Cottonwood Civic Center may soon be full of life with weddings, school plays and community meetings when the city’s renovation effort is completed.

The project got a boost from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) when the city was awarded a $37,734 Brownfields Grant to revitalize the Old Town area by performing asbestos and lead-based paint abatement on the Cottonwood Civic Center.

Brownfields are abandoned or underused and potentially contaminated commercial or industrial properties. According to Caroline Oppleman, ADEQ public information officer, these properties are the result of historic operations that occurred before today’s protective environmental regulations.

The Cottonwood Civic Center was constructed in 1939 using concrete columns infilled with river rock from the Verde River a half-mile away, and Sedona red rock for the window surrounds. Asbestos was utilized in electrical wire coatings, floor tile adhesives and some of the plumbing coatings.

“I think this is fairly common for buildings of this era,” said Charlie Skully, City of Cottonwood long range planner. The asbestos and lead-based paint were identified in the environmental review process that was a precursor to the construction renovation located in the Cottonwood Commercial Historic District.

A trailer-load of asbestos was removed from the premises by a team of certified hazardous materials (HAZMAT) technicians in March. ADEQ provided funding and the contractors for the HAZMAT removal. “They went through and removed or sealed up the asbestos following federal guidelines,” said Skully, project coordinator for the Civic Center historic renovation. The lead-based paint that was found in a scattering of minor applications was removed or sealed.

In addition, the glass from the windows was taken away because the original window caulking contained asbestos. The historic metal frames that held the glass will be filled with laminated low-E glass for energy efficiency. The swamp coolers that had been retrofitted into the prefab window frames have also been removed. “They were noisy and disruptive of performances and meetings,” explained Skully, a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners. The swamp coolers will be replaced by air conditioning that is part of the new HVAC system.

The new architectural plans were designed by Stroh Architecture, Inc. and Otwell Associates Architects, both of Prescott. “They are some of the most experienced preservation architects in the state,” said Skully.

Plans include ADA-compliant bathrooms, a redesigned larger lobby with drinking fountains and a lift to the stage for ADA accessibility. The current kitchen will be freshened up as a “catering kitchen,” retaining the original porcelain-covered cast-iron sink and cabinetry. The planners wanted to preserve the original purpose of the kitchen space but to reuse it as a clean, maintenance-free area to setup food prepared elsewhere, and thereby eliminating the need for stove or dishwasher.

A new sprinkler system for fire suppression necessitated adding a six-inch water line from the street. The City of Cottonwood took advantage of the waterworks to add a fire hydrant, which delighted the neighboring businesses. The antiquated T-bar drop ceiling will be removed, and the old ceiling will be restored. New dimmable LED pendant lighting will be installed for energy efficiency.

Currently, the facility has no permanently-wired IT infrastructure, something that is necessary for modern meeting facilities. By adding wireless Wi-Fi, charging stations and an audio-visual package for performing arts and meetings, the facility will become an attractive venue for meetings situated in Old Town Cottonwood, which has a plethora of restaurants, wine tasting bars and other entertainment places. However, the IT upgrades are not totally funded yet.

Cottonwood was one of several Northern Arizona communities to be awarded an ADEQ Brownfield Grant in recent months. The Town of Camp Verde’s old library building and a fire station in Lake Havasu have undergone asbestos and lead-based paint abatement funded by Brownfield Grants.

The ADEQ grant was only one of four funding sources for the project. Cottonwood Mayor Tim Elinski, who advocated for preserving Cottonwood’s historic buildings while serving on the Cottonwood City Council for 10 years, helped find funding for part of the Civic Center project.

“I formed the Historic Preservation Commission in 2011 to create awareness of our community’s historic resources, and we have done a lot to promote and share our rich history,” explained Mayor Elinski, who in the spring of 2014 spent a week of his own time as a licensed general contractor to remodeling the front lobby of the Civic Center to showcase the building’s beauty and highlight its potential. “In fall of 2014, a fellow commissioner and I planned the Inaugural Cottonwood Historic Home and Building Tour, and we dedicated the proceeds from the event to the Civic Center restoration effort. The Historic Preservation Commission also worked together to apply our local Landmark status to the Civic Center, the first building in Cottonwood to receive this status. This growing momentum was enough to convince council to apply our share of the Community Development Block Grant money to the Civic Center, and in 2017, as mayor, I was able to secure an additional $220,000 from the County Board of Supervisors to supplement the overall cost of renovation.”

The city now has more than $700,000 in grants and city funding sources, which include two Community Block Grants, the ADEQ Brownfield Grant and City of Cottonwood funding for the HVAC system. Some of the Community Block Grants are based on federal funding for rural communities with populations in need. So many of the improvements have seniors’ and low-income residents’ needs in mind, says Skully. Cottonwood was one of the only towns to qualify for the funding aimed at community facility improvement in towns with a high percent of low-income population. QCBN

By Stacey Wittig, QCBN

Cottonwood Civic Center

805 N Main Street, Cottonwood

To schedule a future meeting or event at the facility, call Parks and Rec at 928-639-3200.

Photo caption:

Cottonwood City Planner Charlie Skully works with hazardous waste teams and preservation experts to renovate the historic Cottonwood Civic Center.

Photo by Stacey Wittig

Renovation

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