Search

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 are right in the middle of 2 whole home remodels and are eager to get some pics up soon of them both. Keep checking our FaceBook site for updates: http://www.facebook.com/RebuildLLC

Time to tour some really nice remodels at the 2012 Tour of Remodeled Homes, presented by HBA PRO (the Home Builders Assoc.- Professional Remodelers Organization). http://remodeltourportland.com/ Show runs March 10th and 11th only.
This year there will be 13 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. So come see what can be done when you hire Rebuild LLC to transform your home. See pics here: http://rebuildllc.com/whole-home-remodels/

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.
First: We would like to introduce Lovett Deconstruction, who specialize in dismantling and reuse of all things building materials. We really like that they add a one stop option to what we used to bring in two different subs to perform, demo and recycling. Thank you to Der and his clean and detailed crew.

Next: Lake Oswego Environmental, who perform our asbestos removal and abatement in older homes. They are quick, thorough, and clean. They file necessary papers with DEQ and we hardly even skip a beat when we come across this nasty stuff. Thank you Ken!

Finally, Please check out what we have found in our latest web hunt!

1- http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/users/thertner The new favorite inspiration site, and I have a permanent link on my home page. Only go here if you have time to kill. I’m serious!
2- http://bigchill.com/site/  The retro appliance alternative! We are doing a kitchen replacement currently and can’t wait to show you these appliances.
3- http://www.quickdrainusa.com/  The new standard for custom shower floor drains. They are slightly higher cost but 10x cooler!

As always thank you for dropping in to read what’s happening with Rebuild LLC. We appreciate your time and interest and look forward to speaking with you.

Summer! Today is supposed to be 85! So as I try to get all my work done, I look to take one day this week and pressure wash my entire existence. Moss, dirt, gutter residue, painting prep, and whatever else I can blast.

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.

This year was all about breaking records at Rebuild LLC. We worked for Lawyers, Doctors, Designers and hired top level trades. We joined clubs, met a bunch of new people, found some new suppliers, and bought a lot of lunches. We worked in the nicest neighborhoods, saw some amazing views, and thought… this is finally making sense.

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.

What do you think is happening with remodeling currently and in the next quarter? We read things have finally broke even and turned upward 5% and projected to hit 12% by first quarter of 2011. All stats aside I am living it and see current trend as medium and steady, while future work looks promising, increasing steadily for months now.

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.

Where to begin…

We are right smack in the middle of a 4 story full gut-job remodel on Alameda ridge, and while that is going on I have jumped over to the newest location for the restaurant/bar Wine Down East on Alberta to remove some unwanted walls and build the new. We are also bidding an addition in West Linn, a full home remodel next to Glendoveer Golf Course, and a heavily fire damaged home in North Portland off Lombard gets some numbers as well.

So, the Alameda job is full remodel which entailed an attic addition of full city view facing dormer for two new bedrooms, and a North facing 8′ dormer to house the bathroom on that floor. The third floor is the master BR, and both kids rooms, with full span rear deck. The main floor greets with a prominent staircase with matching Brazilian Cherry treads matching the new hardwoods, an open great room measuring 22′ x 32′, a den, half bath, and kitchen. The first floor (basement) holds the theater, wine cellar, laundry room, full bath and mechanical room. All the exterior eaves and deck lids will be fitted a T&G cedar finish, painted. There will be much more to talk about next month!

As always, thank you for placing your interest, trust, and time, with Rebuild LLC.