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A Peek Inside |
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| Norway, the Texas way |
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The Norwegian consul general's official residence in Tanglewood has been home to many foreign dignitaries over the years, but the essence of its original Texas ranch look endures despite a recent remodeling.
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GHBA's Remodelors Council members aid local charities |
| Article appearing in the Houston Chronicle (by K. Pica Kahn) |
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Local Houston remodeling professionals recently took a day out of their lived to give something back to the community.
With tool belts fasted tightly around their waists, a group of more than 50 remodelers - members of the Greater Houston Builders Association's Remodelors Council - volunteered their time and services to several Catholic Charities projects.
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Group dynamic |
| Remodelor 20 benefits add up to more than 20 members |
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Nobody else really understands. Their lawyers have no idea. Their accountants try but can't relate. So twice a year these remodelers put their tray tables in the upright position and jet out in search of the only other people who really know what their lives are like: other remodelers. They go to Remodelor 20 club meetings.
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Remodelers come to aid of shelter for homeless boys |
| Article appearing in the Houston Chronicle (by Adrien Strasbourg) |
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 Because there just wasn't enough space last year for a boy in need of a home, he was turned away. Later, alone on the street, the boy died of exposure.
The possibilities of that sad story repeating will be reduced thanks to a group of volunteers from the Remodelors Council of the Greater Houston Builder's Association.
The volunteers have partially completed the renovation of an old house used by Hope Shelter on Telge Road in Cypress. The Residential Treatment Center assists boys ages 12 to 17 to overcome adversities and teaches them how to function independently.
When finished, the Hope Shelter will be completely remodeled and expanded with a new wing.
"There was an old house on the property when they started the shelter and they outgrew it," said Tom Lammers of the GHBA Remodelors Council. "We (are) remodeling that house and adding a new 30-by-15-foot dorm wing that will house another 20 boys."
Much of the work was done in a single day as 40 to 50 volunteers gathered at the site May 18.
The group focused initial efforts on the floor, walls, roof, windows, siding and electrical features.
"It will take another couple of months to finish the project. A plumbing crew and others from the council were there," Lammers said.
It is estimated that the project would have cost well over $100,000 without the donation of time and materials.
"We expected it to cost over $100,000, and we could never have done this without this kind of help," said Sarah Walker, assistant executive director at the shelter. "This is a miracle for us. We will use it for an independent living place for those 16 and over (so they can) learn to live on their own. They will still have supervision but will live less restrictively.
"After they finish the program at the shelter, they can transition to the independent housing in the back. They can stay until they are 18 or, if they are in college, until they are 24. Now we have 24 boys at the shelter and with the (renovations), we can take another 20."
The shelter was started by Walker and her partner, executive director Seth Ahenkora, because of the needs she discovered in her 25 years with the Texas Department of Human Services.
"I worked with Child Protective Services and found a great need for treatment with adolescent boys ... We have a counselor on staff and we have a drug abuse program."
Walker said the facility renovations could not have been accomplished without the help from the GHBA volunteers and donations from companies.
Materials as well as manpower have been donated. McCauley Lumber donated the lumber; Hardi Corp. donated the siding; Gulf Coast Windows donated all the windows; and Cameron Ashley donated the roofing materials.
Lone Star Plywood and Door and Venetian Blind Co. also donated materials, Lammers said.
"We had several contractors who gave us estimates and they all came out far above $100,000 and that is just for the renovations," she said.
The facility also needs furniture, washers and dryers, beds and bedding, bath linens, desks, computers, kitchen utensils, and tables and chairs, she said.
"We need things that will help these boys transition out on their own, like they would live in an apartment," Walker said.
The project began when Cypress United Methodist Church contacted Lammers about the problems at the Shelter.
Lammers took the project from there, and credits GHBA Remodelors Council president Chris Vamvakias with bringing the project to fruition.
"I am doing this because we are supposed to give something back," he said. "The council does at least one project a year. This is about the biggest one we have ever done.
"I have met the boys. They seem like good lads, all are going to school. These are boys who have been abused, thrown out and are just trying to get someplace.
"If we can help these boys, then I will be a happy man." |
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Change orders usually bring additional costs |
| Article appearing in the Houston Chronicle (by Breck Powers) |
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 In residential remodeling, the term "change order" can make a big difference in a projects success.
A change order is additional work that was not included in the original scope of the project and can either be customer driven or contractor driven.
A customer-driven change order is a request by the customer to perform additional work. For example, the original scope of work may have included painting one room. During the project, the customer then decides to have the entire house painted.
A professional Houston remodeler will then work up a quotation for the cost of the additional work and present it to the customer for their approval. If the customer approves of the additional cost, the contractor will proceed.
The additional cost associated with a customer-driven change order is totally controlled by the customer. If they choose not to incur the additional expense, it is totally their discretion.
A contractor-driven change order is additional work that must be performed by the contractor, but was not included in the work. This would be an additional coast to the customer and was not included in the original scope of project.
For example, the contractor removes Sheetrock from a wall and uncovers electrical wiring that was installed improperly or not to code. This would have been impossible for anyone to foresee while the quotation was being prepared due to hidden electrical wires, and unfortunately is inherent to remodeling.
The contractor would then prepare a quotation for the additional work and present it to the customer for their approval. In this situation, the customer would be required to correct the electrical problem and bring the wiring up to city codes.
When choosing a professional Houston remodeler, it helps the consumer to be conscious of the potential abuse of change orders. Experienced remodelers are aware of many common conditions to look for when preparing an estimate.
Less experienced remodelers may not have the experience to foresee possible problem areas that may increase the cost of the project. This can be a costly problem that occurs in the remodeling industry on a daily basis.
One contractor's price may be substantially higher than another contractor's price because they had the experience and knowledge to foresee some of the additional work up front. This can cause huge swings in price that may be difficult for the customer to fully understand when comparing estimates.
The best way to avoid this problem is to hire a professional Houston remodeler that has the experience and knowledge to prepare a quotation that most accurately includes the total cost of the project.
The quotation should include a detailed description of the scope of work along with adequate allowances for the certain products.
The remodeling process is much more enjoyable when the time is taken up front to minimize the likelihood of change orders. When this is done, both the remodeler and customer feel better about the project, and the final cost is no surprise. |
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