Your Neighborhood Remodeler

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1 ustom Contracting, Inc. your neighborhood remodeler Your Neighborhood Remodeler Established in 1990 Is a Major Interior Renovation Right for You? M any people associate an interior renovation with an expansion of the home s footprint. In fact, major remodeling projects frequently don t involve building an addition, but rather reconfiguring the existing space in a better way. meals; it s also where the kids do their homework and guests mingle during parties. Opening up space for a kitchen. Incorporating a little-used dining room into a kitchen or living room. Clearing out space to add a mudroom or pantry. Taking down a wall and adding a bathroom to create a master suite: These are all major renovation projects that can have just as much of an impact on your daily living as an addition. And only a general contractor like Custom is qualified to take on projects of this scope. So if you re feeling a little crowded in your home, a lack of square footage isn t necessarily the issue. It could be that you re simply not using your space in an efficient manner. For example, consider the typical kitchen in an older home. Back in the day, kitchens were built solely with cooking in mind. As a result, they were just large enough to fit the essentials Custom Contracting, Inc. Getting the Historic Details Right Serving you since 1990 Kitchen & Baths Additions Attics & Basements Garages & Sunrooms Dormers & Mudrooms Architectural Windows & Patio Doors Porches & Decks 1267A Massachusetts Avenue Arlington, MA (781) For some homeowners, an important consideration in an interior renovation is getting the historic details right. Since many of the communities we serve have older homes, we deal with this issue all the time. What is now a highly functional mudroom was previously a cluttered, unfinished storage space. For more on this project, see the Client Spotlight on page 3. oven, sink, some cabinets and countertops, maybe a small table. Over the years, homeowners have come to expect more from a kitchen. Today, the kitchen isn t just a place for preparing A general contractor should have carpenters who excel in blending in the new with the old. That may mean, for instance, carefully matching the new baseboards or crown molding with that of the original home. In other cases, adding these classic touches to a newer home can help achieve the more traditional look that you crave. Sometimes homeowners want a clear division between the old and the new. For instance, they might not touch the dining room but then renovate the kitchen to achieve an open, modern feel. Continued on page 2

2 2 Management Memo: Why We Believe in the Lead Carpenter System Since starting Custom in 1990, one of the mainstays of our firm has been the lead carpenter system. In this Management Memo, we d like to explain what this system is all about and how it benefits our clients. President Bill Farnsworth, general manager Scott Blain. At Custom, we don t manage projects from our office. Rather, once the project starts, it s overseen by one of our lead carpenters, who is responsible for bringing the project to completion. In our lead carpenter system, your lead carpenter is essentially your onsite project manager. Lead carpenters have a distinct mix of skills. They re carpenters by trade, so they re well-equipped to do everything you d expect in a carpenter. But they also have project management responsibilities, such as managing the job site each day, supervising employees and trade subcontractors, and communicating with clients. Bryan Lamoureux, a lead carpenter with Custom since 2006, says it s critical to understand the jobs of the various trade subcontractors whom he manages. Before I joined Custom, I did some remodeling as part of an apartment rental business I owned, he says. In my free time, I also did some framing, worked with an electrician and worked with an HVAC guy. Learning what those trades need on a job, what problems could arise, possible solutions that s all helped me anticipate their needs and make sure each project keeps moving along. Equally critical, Bryan adds, is the communication piece. We used to talk to homeowners over the phone or in person, he says. But now, it s all about and texting, and they expect you to give answers to their questions quickly. A Resolution Specialist Dave Surrette, who joined Custom in 2003, agrees with Bryan about the importance of client communication. There are some carpenters who just want to focus on the carpentry, he says. But I actually like it when a client has a problem and I can solve it. One customer called me a resolution specialist. That was cool. I get a kick out of trying to come up with a solution that the homeowner didn t think of. What s the key factor that sets apart a lead carpenter from a regular carpenter? Dave points to the ability to manage multiple tasks and people. These project management skills are something you develop on the job through trial and error, and through training. In order to become a Certified Lead Carpenter by the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI), Dave went to weekly classes over the course of about two months. Each year, he must earn credits to qualify for recertification. Custom pays for the recertification, which shows how committed Bill and Scott are to keeping our lead carpenters skills up to date, Dave says. Adhering to the lead carpenter system gives our lead carpenters a sense of ownership while also making their day-to-day work more interesting. It s no wonder so many of our lead carpenters stick around for so long. That s a good thing for our firm and for the quality of work we deliver to our clients. Interior Renovations, Continued from page 1 Be Open to the Possibilities Some interior renovation and space reconfiguration projects might present extreme challenges, such as removal of load-bearing walls, major structural beam installations or significant relocation of the mechanicals (e.g. heating, plumbing, electrical systems). But that aside, the possibilities for a major renovation are pretty much limitless. Having a homeowner who is truly open to all the possibilities goes a long way toward making an interior renovation a success. If you re willing to consider taking down a wall here or removing a set of stairs there, all of a sudden you may have a completely different layout in your home. Of course, once you head down that road, you re looking at a really big project. Heating, plumbing, electricity and more will be impacted. While this adds to the budget, you can take comfort in knowing that your entire house is being brought up to code (unlike the typical older home that hasn t been renovated). Design/Build Makes Sense Most people associate design/build contracting firms with additions and expansion projects. However, we believe the design/build process is also the most effective method for major interior renovation and space reconfiguration projects. Another thing to realize: You need to commit to being a partner in a major renovation. The general contractor can t do everything on their own. They need your input during the design phase, your product selections in a timely manner and certainly your patience while having workers in your house. As for the general contractor, make sure they exhibit a vision for your project along with the ability to explain the design and construction processes and the budgetary details. They should also have lead carpenters who can manage the project well and make adjustments on the fly as challenges come up. And they should have a team of trade subcontractors who are experienced in remodeling as opposed to new home construction. Only a handful of Greater Boston firms can meet all of the above criteria and Custom is one of them. Call us at if you d like to discuss an interior renovation in your home.

3 3 Client Spotlight: The O Sullivan Home Paula and Dan O Sullivan own something of a rarity in urban Somerville: a farmhouse-style home. They loved the house when they first saw it six years ago, largely because of the two generous porches and its location on a quiet lot at the end of a private way. They liked the interior, too, but knew it would need some work someday. There was no master suite, and the one full bathroom on the second floor wouldn t be enough to accommodate the couple and their three kids for long. They could also see that the downstairs would benefit from a more open floorplan and a mudroom to handle growing volumes of kids clothes, shoes and sporting gear. After living here for about five years, we got a good sense of what we needed and what type of improvements would make the biggest impact, Paula says. We were happy with some work Custom had done for us at our last place, so we decided to talk with them again. Custom transformed a playroom (left) into a master bedroom with cathedral ceilings (above). A stained glass window is visible from the bedroom as well as the bathroom (pictured below). Putting a Plan in Place Paula and Dan had a number of conversations with Custom president Bill Farnsworth. He helped the O Sullivans come up with a plan that would address their key objectives while also meeting their targeted budget. The project kicked off last fall. It was really valuable to get Bill s insights during the planning phase, Dan says. We bounced ideas back and forth, and he opened our eyes to some interesting possibilities we wouldn t have considered otherwise. And it was nice not to have to spend extra money hiring an architect. The most dramatic part of the renovation came upstairs, in what had been a playroom. Custom vaulted the ceiling and also took out a stairwell to make space for a bathroom and walkin closet. Trade subcontractor VIP Tile & Marble Design did a meticulous job tiling the bathroom floor, walls and shower. The crowning touch a stained glass window above the shower came courtesy of a savvy ebay purchase by Paula. Continued on page 4

4 4 Client Spotlight: The O Sullivan Home Continued from page 3 Opening Up the Downstairs Custom opened up the downstairs by taking down a wall between the living room and stairway and widening a doorway between the living room and kitchen. Bill recommended the O Sullivans speak with Carlisle Wide Plank Floors in New Hampshire about options for the living room and TV room. They chose solid hickory planks with 7 face widths, whose dramatic details have lent additional character to the rooms. Off of one corner of the kitchen, there was initially a bathroom, which has been replaced by a pantry with plenty of storage space. Off the other corner was an unfinished pantry along with the stairway that was removed to create the master suite. Custom transformed this space into a bathroom, closet and mudroom. Given that the work was completed in the heart of the winter, the O Sullivans have already gotten plenty of use out of the mudroom. It s been a big help for corralling winter coats, ski boots and kids stuff, Dan says. Widening the doorway between the kitchen and living room has really opened up the first floor. Now that the project is complete, Paula and Dan are getting a chance to enjoy their remodeled home and pick up on some of the finer points of Custom s work. I give [lead carpenter] Dave Surrette a lot of credit for his attention to detail. You can really see that in things like the carpentry work in the mudroom and how he blended in the wainscoting in the kitchen with what was originally there, Paula says. He s also a really calm guy, which makes all the difference in a large remodeling project, and clearly knows how to manage his team. Including historic details like this farmhouse sink is a nice touch in an interior renovation. We couldn t be happier with our experience with Custom, Dan adds. From the office staff to Dave and the other workers onsite to the trade subcontractors, everyone was responsive and a real pleasure to work with.

5 5 A Wealth of Cabinetry Options D id you realize that Custom is an official dealer of cabinets from Bertch, Touchstone and Wolf three of the best manufacturers out there? Few other remodeling contractors in the area can make a similar claim. In fact, we re one of the very few full-service design/build remodeling firms that designs, supplies and installs our own cabinet lines as a direct cabinet dealer while also offering in-house kitchen design. As a result, we keep most of the process under one umbrella an aspect of our business that many prospective and current clients find very attractive. Please note, though, that we only sell cabinets to homeowners who hire us for remodeling projects. Here s a look at our three cabinet lines: We ve been affiliated with Bertch Cabinet Manufacturing for nearly 20 years, and it s been a great relationship. This family owned and operated manufacturer, based in Waterloo, Iowa, offers a wide array of traditional and contemporary custom, semi-custom and stock The right cabinets can enhance the kitchen or any other room in the home. (Pictured: Bertch cabinets.) cabinet choices for your home. Bertch produces all of its components in the USA. Learn more at Visit Custom Online Check out custom-contracting.com to see our blog, a portfolio of our projects, an archive of past newsletters and client spotlights, plus more. You can also find us online at: options and solutions they can provide for our clients. Using only the best materials, the latest technologies and the artful craftsmanship responsible for furniturequality cabinets, they can build any type of kitchen for us. Learn more about Touchstone (located in North Carolina) by visiting Client Referral Program Refer a friend, get a reward: That s how our Client Referral Program works. You You qualify qualify for for this this program program when: when: someone calls calls inin and and says says you you referred referred them, them, someone a referral signs on with us for their project, or a referral signs on with us for their project, or you serve serve as as aa reference reference toto aa prospective prospective client. client. you There There are are other other ways ways to to qualify. qualify. For For more more details, details, please please call call us us at at We partnered with Touchstone Fine Cabinetry in 2014 for the wide-ranging Wolf Home Products is the most re- cent of our three partnerships. They ve earned a reputation for combining beauty and style along with quality construction and solid durability, all at competitive pricing. With six cabinet lines, they also provide homeowners with a lot of different options. More details are at We carry traditional framed and frameless as well as stock, semi-custom and custom cabinets. For more information about our cabinet lines or our in-house kitchen and bathroom design services please call us at

6 ustom Contracting, Inc. your neighborhood remodeler 1267A Massachusetts Ave Arlington, MA (781) MA Reg. # INSIDE THIS ISSUE First class mail Is a Major Interior Renovation Right for You? Management Memo: Why We Believe in the Lead Carpenter System Client Spotlight: The O Sullivan Home A Wealth of Cabinetry Options We re Pleased to Welcome New Clients to the Custom Family! We re Pleased to Welcome New Clients to the Custom Family! Irene Toland Reading Basement Repairs and Renovations Gene O Neill Arlington Kitchen Renovation Laura & Dennis O Neill Reading Kitchen Renovation Nathan & Justine Uhlenbrock Arlington Kitchen & Interior Renovation Derek & Emily Logan Arlington Basement Renovation Holly & Rob Rossi Arlington Addition and Renovations Dan & Danene Cronin Waltham Renovations David & Marcy West Cambridge Sill Repair Sharon & Michael Thomas Belmont Kitchen Renovation John & Barbara Plunkett Somerville Bathroom Renovation Monica & Chris Fuith Medford Bathroom Renovation Beth Kevles Somerville Renovations Looking for Inspiration? Please check out our website to learn about the design/build process, meet the members of our team and, most importantly, be inspired by projects we ve worked on. Visit today!