Sticking with what works when making one of the biggest purchases of your life. Hints to evaluating a remodel company during times like this.
It’s no secret that many companies across every industry have been challenged by economic times over the past few years. As you search for a company to help design and remodel your home it’s more important than ever to have a real understanding of whom you are about to begin a relatively long relationship with. Being conservative in your selection and not being blind to those overly aggressive companies with suspiciously low-cost estimates will get you off to a good start. As a long-standing business owner here in Silicon Valley (since 1992) I’ve seen and been challenged by the ups and downs of the valley. I recently spoke with a mentor of mine from the…Leather flooring invites you into the new RemodelWest studio.
As of May 2009 our new studio is open. It’s been a great experience and rewarding as we have applied sustainable choices within our own environment. Of course we are not 100% complete with a few things to finish up but it has really come together nice. Leather Flooring by Torlys is a feature material in the front of our new space. More prominent in Europe leather flooring is making a name in the US. As I understand it during WWII the Germans developed a process to use post industrial waste from leather factories. This process spurred from a leather shortage for boots and has been used ever since. This 100% recyled flooring material has a great feel as you stand on it and is applied exactly like…Reclaimed Redwood, Antenna Tower, and Natural Tung Oil pull it off in Remodel West new studio.
Today we are about three weeks from completion. The studio project has been an interesting project as I balance costs, time, and adhering to green building practices as much as possible. Our subcontractors and suppliers have been overwhelmingly cooperative and it has been refreshing dealing with them on this very creative project. Reclaimed Clear Heart Redwood Put to use in new studio! Cost ZERO (with some sweat equity). Somewhat of a pet project for me, reclaiming and using approximately 500 lineal feet of clear heart redwood from one of our projects has been very rewarding. I haven’t researched what this material might cost if you could even find it but I would estimate $10-12 a foot. …Studio Project: FSC Lumber Material for the framing.
Framing has begun in the new studio this week and it is quickly taking shape. In keeping with as green a project as possible I decided to use lumber that was harvested from sustainable forests. FSC certification for lumber is how one can insure that the material being used is genuine. For those who may not be familiar with FSC it stands for Forestry Stewardship Council. This is a worldwide organization that provides a vehicle to certify forests and suppliers. FSC is recognized as the authority in this area and insures that forests are managed in ways that protects our environment while insuring a supply of materials for the future. As we progress down this road using sustainable materials is just one of many steps to…
Anatomy of Green Project
By Bill Reid, Owner Remodel West
Much discussion goes on about green building but how does one go about applying the principles? Green Building is not just about solar panels and trendy materials but about applying logical responsible building practices that help our health and environment. Remodeling a home provides a multitude of opportunities and it starts with the removal of old materials known as deconstruction. Here is a real life example of how a homeowner and contractor can put their green building philosophy to work.
This property is located at our home in Lake Almanor California. We will call is out Osprey Project named after a native bird in the area (see our mascot picture that I took on the property).
…New Home Kitchen in San Jose CA
New Home Kitchen in San Jose CA
Originally uploaded by RemodelWest
This is our kitchen in San Jose CA that I designed and built in 2002. It features Cottonwood Cabinetry, Walnut Flooring, Two types of granite countertops, Pella Windows.…
RemodelWest decides to re-locate business to Saratoga California.
After much consideration I have decided to move the studio to our building in Saratoga. The building is a total of 13,000 square feet in an ideal location right in our customers backyard. There are combination of goals and motivations that have influenced my decision.- We would like to create a studio environment that is more conducive to our progress towards sustainable design and construction.
- We would like the flexibility to grow into adjacent spaces.
- I would like to position our company to be as competitive as possible while not compromising the quality of our service.
- We would like to participate in a tight knit community.
Remodel West contemplates new location to build eco friendly studio
An interview
Bill Reid, owner of RemodelWest aka Cupertino Kitchen Design, is considering relocating his seventeen year old design and construction business to Saratoga California. Over the years the company has become wise by growing, evolving and adapting to homeowners desires and economic booms and declines. In fact a large reason why Mr. Reid has been undergoing a name change to Remodel West is that they have out grown the Cupertino Kitchen Design name. Offering comprehensive design and construction services for any residential remodel project it only made sense to let the public in on the secret. Furthermore a most recent change in response to client demand the company has been morphed into two separate…
