Wayne Baruch Artisans Group, LLCWayne Baruch Artisans Group, LLC

  The Wright 

    Our e-newsletter for our friends, building partners, and colleagues

    April, 2010

(908) 256-5953

www.ArtisansGroup.biz

wbaruch@ArtisansGroup.biz

N.J. Reg.: 13VH03065300

HUD/EPA/NJ DCA Certified Renovator Lead-Safe Certified Firm NAT-20233-1

In this issue:

  • U.S. EPA RRP Act

  • The Artisans Group, Construction Expert Witness

  • Overhaul Your Garage

  • Famous Quote

  • Green Tip of the Month

  • Ask The Wright

Famous Quote

Beauty: the adjustment of all parts proportionately so that one cannot add or subtract or change without impairing the harmony of the whole.

-- Leon Battista Alberti (15th Century Architect)

Ask The Wright

Q - How do I know whether it is time to clean, re-stain, repair, or replace my deck? - Mrs. J.

A - Thanks for the question and for sending the photo. First, it's always time to keep your deck clean and well- maintained.  

Your decking is made of what is commonly known as "5/4 x 6" pressure treated boards.  A quick glance shows that the the edges of the wood have splits.  A regular application of stain would have kept the wood well-nourished and minimized this outcome in the future.  With that said, it's a bit hard to tell from the picture just how many boards should be replaced.  In addition, I don't know whether the framing is solid.  Since I don't see rust spots, the deck's builder probably used stainless steel or galvanized nails, which is great.  

If you are on a tight budget, we would remove the boards and railing components that are broken, split, have splinters, or aren't holding fasteners well.  While it is exposed, we would also check the condition of the framing and repair any substandard construction.  Depending on its age and condition, we might have to add footings, for example, which may require a permit.  Then, we would stain the bottom and four sides of new lumber, and install them with deck screws,   Finally, we would apply a coat of stain to the whole deck.

If replacing a significant part of the deck, you have more options.  We could replace all or part of the deck with pavers, or just use new pressure treated wood, PVC, or composite material.  Each decking, hardscape (paver, stone, etc.), and railing option has maintenance, aesthetic, installation, durability, and cost advantages and disadvantages.  You may also want a gazebo or other feature in the remodeled space.  This could be an awesome opportunity for you to enhance your outdoor living area. 

You can e-mail The Wright by sending your questions to wbaruch@ArtisansGroup.biz. Please be sure to include your name and phone number in case additional information is required to answer your question.

GREEN TIP OF THE MONTH

2Use compact fluorescent lights (CFL's) - While CFL's cost more than incandescent bulbs, you quickly recouped the price difference with the reduction in your energy bill.  Plus, each CFL can prevent 450 pounds of power-plant emissions over its lifetime.  They now come in a variety of styles, brightness, and  coatings that create warmer, whiter light.

Visit Your Library - Instead of spending a small fortune on books, CD's, DVD's, and magazines that you barely use, borrow them from your neighborhood library.  Over time, you will save a nice sum of money and also reduce the creation of waste materials.

Do an Energy Audit - For many, the first step to saving energy around the house is assessing how much you actually use every day.  As you know from prior versions of The Wright and numerous other resources, there are many ways to save energy and make your home or business more comfortable, economical, and productive.  Some measures are inexpensive and can have an immediate impact.

Use Rechargeable Batteries - Investing in rechargeable batteries will save you money over time.  Wouldn't it be great to rarely be without batteries?  When they run down, just recharge!

Turn Energy Efficiency into Cash - The stock market and real estate declines have investors looking to other markets. Here's one: energy efficiency.  Investing in saving energy can provide a better return on investment than many stock bets, even when the market is bullish.  In case it's a turn-on for you, this reduces your environmental footprint too!  

U.S. EPA Renovation, Repair, & Painting Act

The stereotype that so many builders and remodelers are unethical or incompetent is frustrating, and "entry" into the field can be as simple as printing business cards, putting magnetic signs on a pickup truck, and buying some tools.  True professionals with the legal right to work in New Jersey comply with many legal requirements.

 

The most recent is the EPA's Lead-Safe Practices Renovation, Repair, & Painting (RRP) law that goes into effect on April 22, 2010.  With two exceptions, only those like The Artisans Group, who have earned the right to post the Lead-Safe Certified Firm logo will be allowed to work on pre-1978 buildings.  The penalty for violations may be a fine up to $32,000 per day per violation.  

 

If you are not certified, we can help keep you moving forward.  Whether you are the contractor, homeowner, architect, etc., we can serve as your "Lead-Safe Consultant" to provide the necessary training to your staff and document your use of good practice.   

Oyez Oyez Oyez...New Artisans Group Service

We all hear tragic anecdotes about unscrupulous tradespeople who prey on the public.  They are scofflaws who perform a terrible disservice and contribute to some reasonable cynicism about our profession.  Regretfully, there are also some clients who take unfair advantage of honest craftsmen.  For this reason, we have begun speaking with construction attorneys throughout Central NJ and others about serving as an expert witness and consultant.  

 

We are not attorneys, but in cases that do not require an architect or engineer, we can document standards of good practice that will independently show, for example, that the remodeler did, in fact, perform professionally, or perhaps that he failed to comply with the architect's specifications.  CALL OR WRITE TODAY!  Perhaps, we can help.

Let us help you to upgrade your working and living spaces to be their best

We are a full-service remodeler, specializing in historic restoration, structural work, and repairing insect and water damage. In addition, we love constructive reuse, "green" projects, custom carpentry, and other special, unique solutions. We serve home and business owners throughout Central New Jersey.  Call now so that we can help get your project on the right track and make most unforeseen delays foreseen.

REFER YOUR FRIENDS, FAMILY, & BUSINESS COLLEAGUES...AND GET A $25 GIFT CARD

Many of our customers “find” us as a result of word of mouth. This simple, yet gracious, act by our customers has allowed us to be successful, and we offer our gratitude and a token of our appreciation for this generosity through our Referral Reward Program!

Here's how:

1. Simply refer someone to our services by phone, website, email or by forwarding this newsletter to them.

2. When your referral signs a contract for their project, we'll automatically mail you a $25 Artisans Group gift card for a purchase from a number of local merchants.

Offering you this reward is part of our way of saying, "We appreciate the faith that you have in us and our building partners."  Please remember to tell your friends and colleagues to mention your name when they call or write to us!

Is it Time to Overhaul Your Garage?

Now that it’s spring time and you probably have more outdoor activities - or at least chores - have you noticed that your garage has some how turned in to a room sized junk drawer?  If so, don’t fret – it happens. After years of accumulation and “convenience” storage, a garage area can be overwhelmingly cluttered. There’s no better time than now to look into overhauling the garage and giving it a sense of purpose again!

Clean Out the Clutter - You need to take care of the clutter first. Decide what truly needs to be kept then have a yard sale, or donate items that can still be used.   We particularly like Habitat for Humanity!  

Create Space - Now, you can get a better idea of ways to maximize what space you have and even develop a plan to expand. You might want to start by hiring The Artisans Group to build some shelving and a usable work space. The shelves will help keep things off the floor and a work space will keep your tools, crafts, etc. organized in a specific area.  If you have an idea of what you’d 2 like, we can make that happen, and possibly even suggest some cool solutions that you didn't even know exist.

Entryway - Don’t forget about the entrance to the house from the garage. Sometimes these entry ways are neglected and look a little worse for the wear. Think about having a new door installed with a fresh coat of paint. If there’s room, add a little bench area where people can sit to take off muddy shoes or set groceries. It will do wonders for the appearance.  Just a few words of caution about doorways between a garage and living space...building and fire code issues.

With a little work on your part and our help, you can have that garage back in shape, and who knows – you may even be able to get a car in there!