Departments Archives - Residential Contractor

Women in Construction

By Na Zhao Women remain underrepresented in the construction industry, although they currently make up almost half (47 percent) of the total working population. The share of women employed in construction has stayed relatively constant, around 9 percent since 2002. Women play a number of roles in the construction industry, such as administrative, professional, managerial, construction, and production occupations. We explore the state of women in the construction industry using the labor force statistics from the Current Population Survey (CPS).The number of women employed in the construction industry…

R.D. Olson Construction, TCA Architects renovate Olive Crest residential home

R.D. Olson Construction, an award-winning general contracting firm in Irvine, Calif., partnered up with TCA Architects and local subcontractors to renovate nonprofit Olive Crest’s short-term residential therapeutic home in Santa Ana. “Demo day” occurred Saturday, Sept. 1 at 8 a.m.and kicked off the renovation of the 1954 home’s kitchen and living areas. Improvements will include new flooring, appliances, water heater, AC and other amenities to provide a more comfortable environment for the six young women living in the house. Founded in 1973, Olive Crest provides safe, residential facilities to house Orange County youth. R.D….

Join Mosaic

Mosaic is a rapidly growing provider of consumer financing for the modern home. We empower contractors with the option to offer their customers financing for home improvement projects. The net gain is a win-win for both the contractor and the customer. Mosaic makes financing home improvement easy and affordable for homeowners with the simplest borrower experience available. As the market leader in solar lending, Mosaic has originated more than $2 billion in loans to date and works directly with leading home energy companies and contractors to make solar, high-efficient windows,…

Discreet Smoke Detectors Gain Favor in Homes

Small, unobtrusive smoke detection sampling points replace traditional smoke detectors for improved look, superior fire protection Although smoke detectors are essential for safety and mandated by the NFPA (National Fire Protection Association), traditional, bulky models mounted on ceilings or walls in high end residential homes can interrupt – even ruin – the overall design and feel of a space. As a result, many affluent homeowners are seeking out alternative solutions that allow for the discreet placement and even concealment of smoke detectors. For some, this has meant adopting more advanced…

Development Strategies to Manage Vapor Intrusion Risks

Due to potential health and safety risks that vapor intrusion may cause residential occupants, considerable measures must be taken to abate and clean up these vapors By Andy Bajorat Vapor intrusion continues to be a hot issue with state Environmental Protection Agencies. Due to potential health and safety risks that vapor intrusion may cause residential occupants, considerable measures must be taken to abate and clean up these vapors. To help manage these risks, focus on identifying the problem in the due diligence process, addressing the problem through abatement and re-allocating…

The Benefits of Using Steel in Residential Construction

Using steel in residential construction has more and better benefits with fewer negative consequences than anything else on the market By STEVEN WRIGHT It takes about 22 mature pine trees, weighing more than a ton each, to frame a 2,600 square foot house. It can take 15 to 20 years to grow a mature pine tree that averages 80 feet tall and two feet in diameter. It takes about 12 tons of steel to build the same size house. More than half of the steel used is recycled from old…

Hiring Unlicensed Contractors – Risky Business

Unlicensed contractors make it difficult on licensed contractors by pushing fair wages lower while real licensed contractors compete against guys who do not play by the rules or have the same overhead cost By Gregory Norman As the founder of a family-owned building, electrical, and plumbing contracting company and as someone who grew up amongst master tradesman that were fully licensed and skilled, I have my fair share of experience with unlicensed contractors—mostly from rebuilding their mistakes. Let’s start with some examples involving the opening of new locally-owned delis and…

Toilet Problems? 4 Top Tips From Plumbing Experts

Best Service, a leading plumbing company in Orange County, California, offers some possible fixes to common toilet problems, so when you encounter a leaking toilet on the job, or yours at home starts acting funny, you don’t necessarily have to call a plumber. “Toilet plumbing operates on pretty simple principles,” says Brian Vardiman, owner of Best Service. “Sometimes the problems that occur most often are easy to diagnose, and if you’re the slightest bit handy, you can take care of the issue yourself.” Vardiman presents four of the most common toilet…

Sherry Williamson Design & Andrew Mann Architecture Showcase Minimalist Luxury

House for an Artist in Alameda County, Calif. is a highly-detailed, aesthetically and technically rigorous home that showcases an efficient design and the best of green building By Sergio Flores Photography by David Wakely Photography ©2015 Mill Valley based Sherry Williamson Design Inc. creates understated, elegant designs perfectly paired with energy efficiency and sustainability in mind. The firm delivers inviting, comfortable and very ‘green’ living quarters, with extensively researched materials. San Francisco based Andrew Mann Architecture is renowned for their meticulous attention to detail and finesse in how residential projects are…

Reconstructing Homes for Efficiency

Everett Custom Homes deconstructs to build homes that are just as high performing as they are beautiful By Sergio Flores Photography provided by Everett Custom Homes Residential infill homebuilder Everett Custom Homes builds single-family homes, townhomes, condos and apartments in the environmentally conscious city of Portland, Ore., one of our nation’s leaders in energy-efficient building and eco-friendly living. The City of Portland serves as an exciting place to be a residential infill homebuilder, largely because of the city’s requirement for builders to only develop within the city’s already existing infrastructure. Thus,…