Time to tour some really nice remodels at the 2012 Tour of Remodeled Homes.
Presented by HBA PRO (Professional Remodelers Organization) a long name, I know.
If you don’t know what this is, think Street of Dreams, but for remodelers. That should paint a pretty clear picture.
This year there will be 12 unique home remodel projects displayed by the top remodelers Portland has to offer.
We are delighted to be amongst these accomplished companies and really look forward to seeing you at our project in the Hollywood district up on Alameda Ridge.
It’s the largest home we have completed to date and we think you will agree it is done very well. You will walk 20 different rooms, so bring me your questions because there is a lot to see.
Come see what can be done when you hire Rebuild LLC to transform your home, then go look at the others. We love the competition!

Tour of Remodeled Homes official website-
http://remodeltourportland.com/
Here you can buy tickets, see the homes on tour, see where they are located on a map, and read about all remodelers involved.

Here are the finished and before pics of our tour home.

We are signing great projects, we have the best people performing the nicest work, and we don’t boost the price of our bids. You will notice the difference.

Industry Partners and New Relationships!
We are constantly evolving at Rebuild. With that in mind, we NEVER stop looking to bring our clients more knowledgeable and professional resources and subcontractors, and as ALWAYS, the most cost effective approach to your project.
Gale Contractors- They are our all inclusive source for insulation weather it’s retrofit, or freshly placed after a major remodel. Suck out old and dusty insulation, blow new attics, or string it up under floors, they do it all. Thanks to my sales rep Jeff Lynn for all that you do for me.

We want our clients and friends to know how much me appreciate them! So we want to extend our gratitude by way of referral kick back checks. If you recommend Rebuild to someone who signs a contract with us, we will write you a nice check. So thank you for helping us to achieve our goals and create new relationships.

We hope to see you at the tour!

The months have clicked off seeming like weeks are months. We are busy and that translates to the time warp I believe. We have family plans stacked up like a turkey club and hope to be able to squeeze some friend time in there as well.

At Rebuild, we are first and foremost interested in a friendship. Because if we aren’t all happy and in agreement, I will need to spend additional time to educate and substantiate the proposed project.I feel the need to explain how and why often so those who have not landed here before now can get a clear picture as to how we operate. We don’t feel its necessary to offer a big flashy and overrun website with all sorts of boxes and “deals” to click on. We just opt for simplicity and a straight forward approach for you to see our work, read about how we operate, and decide without question that you want us on your team and in your home. Thank you for taking time out of your day to visit.

The jobs are coming in weekly, we have at least two running at all times, and we are not turning away anything that we feel suits our business model.

We promote our offerings and make our ethics clear during our meetings, on our website, and emphasized by our past clients so your decision to use Rebuild becomes one of ease and comfort. We have the professionalism and expertise to accommodate ANY size or type of project you or your family may be considering.

We are a member of the City of Portland Field Issuance Remodel program (see FIR Brochure ), which is a benefit to both Rebuild LLC and the Client. We email one of three inspectors to meet us on your job, they come out look over proposed plans and bring the stamp with them to get us going right then and there. Slickest thing since sliced bread!

We pass our inspections, keep everyone on schedule, jump over every hurdle with manners, accuracy, and do it with a smile on our face.

Jobs are not based on price alone. We hope our Clients see that we are always in the same range of cost so they will feel comfortable using us regardless of the project or number. Like when you go to the dentist, you know it will cost you, you know you can afford it, when it’s done you are safe and sound again, but you don’t question the workmanship or the outcome. The cost is just the cost. We want you to trust us the same. We are solidly placed right between the high bid and the low bid, and that’s how we get 80% of our jobs.

We offer an all-inclusive remodeling package, which covers inspiration, design, plans, products, services, outstanding finish work, and future communication to ensure you are still happy with our finished work. There is no grey area with Rebuild.

All jobs are different, some are simply stock replacements with reasonably priced items, some seek out the best of some things and not of others, and some demand the best of everything. We have a retail contact for every type of every item to get you what you need.

There are so many new products and materials out now I have to hit the town almost monthly to see it all. Tile, slab materials like Caesarstone which is my favorite for many reasons, custom kitchen cabinet parts and pieces, engineered flooring, windows, plumbing, and electrical technology, energy star and so many other things.

But one thing that I feel needs a swift kick in the pants is what I call “equalization”.

In my opinion, if you choose to live in a home which costs over $500k and drive large fuel consumption vehicles either for leisure or necessity, you are ethically and morally suited for advanced green home systems. I speak mainly of Geothermal Heating and Cooling, Greywater Recovery Systems, and Energy Star Appliances. These are the easiest ways to reduce carbon footprint and gain neighborhood recognition.

Follow me for a second here- You CHOOSE to pay extra for some things in life. If you want to be perceived as one who doesn’t give anything back, that’s your choice. But if you want to be seen as someone who cares about earth, and all the ways we strip our great planet, then you should consider spending for good just as you spend for luxury or bad.

Geothermal is best suited for folks who have the space to do some digging, it heats and cools your home year round with nearly no gas or power needs.

Greywater is for those who want to utilize every drop of water that falls on their property as a means of reuse and redistribution to other areas of need. Nearly 80% of our drinking water is wasted by daily usage of appliances or unnecessary running.

Energy Star is the rating awarded to makers or appliances that meet or exceed specific usage guidelines for lowest consumption possible.

We want to be your “GO-TO” company for anything “Home”. If we don’t have the answer we will get it for you. We learn every day because there is a lot to know, and every month something changes or is developed to help make our job and your home a better place to dwell. And if you refer us to a friend of family member we will pay you nicely.

We appreciate the trust you place in us, and look forward to speaking with you.

Granted- there will be smaller projects, tougher competition, higher scrutiny, and confused clients. Only the best contractors will include everything necessary to perform your requests with 100% turn key success. We offer all an inclusive level of- products, services, cleanliness, passed inspections, and the ability to jump over every hurdle with accuracy, manners, and do it with a smile on our face.

Here is what I get called into about once every 2 months: “Hmmm, that is a low number…” And that’s where the undercut, stinky mouth, unlicensed knuckleheads will lead you. You will get turned upside down by these type of people and quickly. Say you get into a $10,000 bathroom remodel and decide to take the low guy at $6000. You KNOW it should cost $10k because you aren’t living under a rock and you and your friends talk. He will have left out 30% of the necessities, specified a cheap close out pallet sale of tile, bought you a Home Depot fan that sounds like a 1965 VW Bug, and set his own tile because you didn’t know better to ask before hand. When problems pop up he will charge you more or just bail out. Then you look around and the level of detail and installation of items will leave you thinking you could have done a better job. But wait, then you are sitting on the new toilet that rocks and looking at the grout in your tile job with an ugly haze to it and he sealed the haze onto the tile. “What service or warranty?” Then you have to call us. Ultimately you have the means to make a solid decision, with so much helpful info and photos of work WE ACTUALLY PERFORMED, it becomes easy to make the right choice. So why do so many people make the wrong choice?

They gamble. Last I heard, gambling was an addictive condition which sometimes requires counseling.  We offer line item pricing with the actual sub pricing listed, viewable upon request, and depending on how common or complex the renovation is, we add our markup accordingly. And we explain why. Then we list alternate adds with cost for possible unknowns, which we see occasionally, for complete open book forecasting.

Here is a listing of benefits we find to be a total value using Rebuild LLC:

1. We are all inclusive because if you want to renovate your home, there are 15 possible trades that may need to be brought in. We have all trades covered and trust them.
2. We educate clients on the significance of maintaining the character of their home, and how to achieve it. Our goal here is no noticeable seam or break from old to new.
3. We offer direction with reputable designers, of which you may award job to, which will help significantly and actually save time and money.
4. We can and will render your addition or exterior transformations so you can get an exact interpretation of what is being proposed.
5. We offer the most transparent bid documents on the market, and that is a fact Jack!
6. We estimate costs of hidden things we hope “not” to encounter, so you can plan for possibility.
7. We also do maintenance, repair, replacement of any item you may require because there is more to remodeling than tearing everything out and starting over.
8. We would be happy to sit down and explain the repercussions of cheap, wanna-be contractors and the huge loss of livelihood and resources they can drain from you. Then you pay to fix it all.
9. We are an Energy Trust Ally and feel strongly about insulation. It traps the heat you pay for and keeps the cold out in the winter months. And traps the cool you pay for and keeps the heat out in the summer months. So it works for you every day in any weather. Go to http://energytrust.org/residential/evaluate-your-home/home-energy-review/ and set up a home energy audit. We will even pay for it if you decide to have us do the work outlined by their findings.

I really appreciate that you have taken the time to read 840 words worth of what I felt like talking about this month and hope you took at least a couple usable facts with you. I feel great about the future and look forward to hearing from you and your people. Take care of yourself and check back soon for new pictures and industry information.

Thank you- Todd Hertner

Starting 17 years of experience, licensed for total of 7 years, worked for others for total of 7, dipped into commercial for 2 years, and now 1 year licensed again. Being taken seriously… Priceless.

I feel complete and surrounded by the best moving forward. There is no project which I feel is too big nor too small. I want everyone to know that we treat you and your investment with all the respect and concern as our own. And with that, here is this months blog.

We would like to thank all of you who contracted, referred, and offered help to Rebuild in 2010. It was a great year for us and we worked on 20 different projects all over town. The main occurrence that has us so thankful is the referrals. 15 of the 20 jobs were due to referrals. So we recently implemented a kick back program which should help raise the bar for you to spread the word. We will pay out $100 bill to you on any paying job, and if the job exceeds $10,000 you will get 1% of total cost not to exceed $1,000. So lets work together to promote Rebuild! Thanks in advance.

As I look over the past year a few things stick out that really are worth people knowing about. In 16 years of remodeling, this year we had the largest and nicest jobs ever.

1- We finished our largest whole home remodel on Alameda Ridge in Hollywood District.

2- We performed our largest kitchen remodel in Happy Valley.

3- We subcontracted with the highest level contractors to date.

4- We paid the most taxes ever.

5- We gave out over $700 in “thank you” items to Clients.

6- We redesigned our website.

7- We had 3 yard signs in the ground, and at one point needed 2 more!

8- I was able to run at a very busy pace and still pick up my kids from school, on time!

I should stop now before I start to sound redundant. It is great people like you that made it happen, so I want you to know why I ran out, took the other call, or needed to meet you in the evening. And mainly show you how it all turned out.

Moving on. I would like to offer a couple links for you to click on so you can see the results of all the work. The whole home remodel in Hollywood was a entire gut job where 60% of the existing framing stayed and all the rest was new. New third floor dormers front and rear, first/second floor front addition with balconies, open first floor new plan and staircase, basement beefing up of footings, beams, and all mechanical/electrical/plumbing. Other items included Milgard windows, Gary’s Vacuflo central vac, AO Smith Vertex 96% efficient gas water heater, closed cell sprayed insulation to entire exterior structure, entire exterior siding and roof, detailed trim details throughout, cherry hardwoods and stair treads, tile everywhere, custom concrete acid staining, and the homeowners finishing touches. 100% new space!

The nicest Rebuild kitchen remodel ever. But hopefully not! This was a 8 home gated community in Happy Valley. The owners planned for a year, brought in a well known designer, and were ready to go, literally. All appliances purchased, cabinets designed, and could not wait any longer to start. Cool! So we removed the kitchen, laundry, butler pantry, living room, fireplace, built-ins, flooring, and went to work. New sub panel to accommodate all we were about to add like full NuHeat under travertine marble, added appliances and A/V equipment. Look at the the photos and you will see finish through before pics. Too long of a list to really get into typing here. But I would be more than happy to talk to you about it if you would like. I would like to give the subcontractors credit for a great job: West Side Electric, Modern Plumbing, Oswego Drywall, Fred’s Sound of Music, Crown Tile, Sundeleaf Painting, Lisac’s Fireplaces and Stoves, Bravura Finishes, Contract Furnishings Mart, and my personal carpenters and demo crew. All of which you can find on my links list. Thank you for taking the time and I appreciate your interest.

Todd Hertner and Family.

With all the tax credits and remodeling going on why wouldn’t you consider taking 30% off of a major energy efficient appliance(s) to save on energy costs and get a solid new unit? We are pushing this due to the credits and they may be gone after Dec 31st.

http://www.nahb.org/generic.aspx?genericContentID=113316

I am happy to include a couple new products that I am excited about. First in the latest issue of Kitchen & Bath Design News, the Robern Uplift. The best idea in bathroom wall mirrors in a minute. I will just say that “I want this”, and “I want you to want this” as well!

http://www.robern.com/product/detail.rbn?productNumber=UC3027FPL&overAllHeight=&overAllWidth=&productLine=Uplift&edge=&depth=&category=Cabinets&opening=&frameStyle=&installationType=&design=&paging.pageIndex=1&paging.pageSize=10&similarProductNumber=UC3032FP

And next is the coolest shower drain system I have seen. It’s made by Proline and is very PRO. Forget this expensive wall mounted accessories, this thing is worth every penny, and will give your shower and floor a kick needed to take your bath to the next level.

http://www.quickdrainusa.com/gallery.php

And finally for the serious men out there…I cannot neither confirm or deny the ability of the pictured help. LOL
Plywood Handle

So we just purchased the coming years bond and insurance last week and are on track for a very industrious year. We are digging into our most highly regarded club, the HBA PRO, and trying to make a difference in what happens for the good of the industry.
We will be joining a new group in the short term but will divulge that once complete.
I have met some very nice and talented designers in the past few months that I am excited to be working with them. I hope to start something with every one of them.

We typically are running at least two jobs at a time, with 5 running as of late, and I am more than confident that you will not know the difference between busy or slow once Rebuild LLC comes on board. We just finished two full bathrooms with other carpentry throughout. Just finished a year long project where we performed a 4 story, whole home remodel. Just finished a fireplace addition to a big beautiful home. And have 2 others going still, a full kitchen and living room remodel, and another fireplace but this one is a complete tear out.
All our top level subs we use are manned up, professional, and the owners get out to our jobs and put their noses right in the project. That is great for me, but better for you. You will get an accurate price, with reasonable change orders, for what you would pay other outfits who are less than trustworthy and timely. I can attest to this personally as I have used A, B, and C, level subs and will never go back to the B or C teams. Just ask me how I can substantiate this claim and I would be happy to discuss it with you, just not stated here.

Thank you for your time. I appreciate it.

We have been coordinating and performing work on the big 4-story job for months now and there is much to report on finishes, as the cabinets in entire house are installed, the hardwoods are installed but not finish sanded, the tile is 90% complete, the finish trim is 95% complete, the interior painting is almost ready for it’s final coat, the exterior painting is at punchlist status awaiting minor tweaks with siding detail, the basement floor is ready for it’s concrete staining (here is pic of desired look), the HVAC system is ready for it’s final cleaning, and the exterior grounds on this massive lot are in need of some initial landscaping. By the way, I think the clients are really getting excited to move in!

We just completed a design build exterior deck project up on Vista and it was a little monster to say the least. The lot was heavily sloped, the material was long and heavy, the clients did not really know what they wanted other than the decking before we started, and we were constantly changing gears to keep the job rolling. But what a transformation! TimberTech Twin material for the actual decking, and a custom built privacy fence built from 1×2 and 1×4 clear cedar, which the client painted as fast as we could bring it in for install. It was nice to have a client getting so involved in a project for once. They went out looking at cool fences etc to gain the inspiration and we mocked up these ideas for final approval. (see photos here) The detail was mitered corners wrapping around corners, but where the outside boards turned to meet the inside boards they were at different heights for the stepped privacy affect, so a small ledger was placed vertically to make the transition. We reused the existing stair system as it was very beefy and definitely reusable, retrofit some additional anchors and framing to existing deck to strengthen and made the inspectors actually smile! The look from either side of this finished product is just beautiful.

We are currently finishing up the Flying Pie Lake Oswego remodel, which we build a new 150sf storage room, demo’d and moved the front entry low wall, did misc carpentry, and will install the concrete counter tops in a week or so to both bathrooms. The carpet was completely replaced, the acoustical tiles at kitchen area were replaced, the walls were painted, and everything was cleaned. I can personally say, all the Flying Pie locations are good for a while. :)

Thank you for reading and as always, we appreciate the trust you place in Rebuild LLC. Talk to you soon.

Flying Pie Pizzaria has commissioned us once again to remodel the bathrooms and build some new walls at their Lake Oswego location. That’s cool to us because we have already done extensive work at their main Stark Street location. So this time around we will pour two concrete counter tops, one for each bathroom, and do some touch up and detail work with the partitions. As well as replace all the toilets with one piece Toto 1.6 gallon flush. Then we will build a new 15′ x 10′ dry storage room adjacent to the front counter to free up much needed space in the kitchen area. New acoustical ceiling tiles and fixes throughout. And finally knock down a wall at the pizza tossing area and build it lower so the shorter people that really enjoy watching that can finally see.

We will be remodeling a master bathroom in SW Portland which will involve gutting half the space, re-routing some electrical and replacing some plumbing, drywall install and texturing the entire space out so everything matches nicely once painted. We will install some travertine marble to the floor and base trim, tumbled marble to shower, add new door and window trim, and add an entire wall of maple shaker style cabinets that will maximize storage space. Finish it all off with a Kohler toilet, new towell bars, recessed vanity, and bright white paint. Now that Rebuild is on board, the client will be happy to walk in there every morning!

We are bidding a deck job up top of Vista which will be a retrofit to existing 18′ x 10′ with composite lumber. It rises 15′ off the ground on one end to 10′ on the other, a heavily sloped lot. TimberTech XLM is the material of choice here. We propose a 6′ addition the long direction and removing existing stairs and turning them from east to north. This should be a fun one with the City of Portland PDC.

The 4-story remodel on Alameda is really cranking now. We have Brazilian Cherry hardwoods going in, the first coat of Miller paint on the walls and ceilings are complete. The eaves and deck lids are finished now and they look awesome. I will post some pics on my “Exterior“ page. And the tile install is moving along nicely. Cabinets will be installed next month and the exterior painting should begin mid June.

Thank you for reading and as always, we appreciate the trust and support you place in Rebuild LLC.