An Easy DIY Christmas Decoration
By Arcadia | October 15, 2011
Yes I know Halloween is two weeks away, so why am I focusing on Christmas right now? Well I recently came across this fun project from one of my fave mags Ready Made and it spoke to the contractor in me.
How many of us have a bunch of paint chips lying around in drawers, in files, on the floors of our trucks? I have the world’s most awesome color deck set given to me by Benjamin Moore Paints, yet I still pull those individual paint chips whenever I need a sample to show a customer. What should one do with all those chips? Well these paint chip orbs seemed like a nice project. The creator of this project shows them sitting on desk, as I suppose some sort of decoration. That doesn’t work for me. I hate crap lying around without a purpose, function over form I say. And don’t fool yourself, those things are too light to be paperweights.
So as I examined this project I thought, why not add a piece of string, rope, or pipe cleaner and hang them from your Christmas tree? Perfect, now they have a purpose, and they fit the theme of a Contractor’s Christmas!
Happy Holidays!
Topics: DIY | No Comments »
A green renovation in Oakland – our latest project
By Arcadia | October 15, 2011
So we’ve been working on a new renovation in Oakland. It’s a single family home in need of a lot of TLC. My heart goes out to this home, as crazy as this might sound. I truly feel empathy for homes that are treated badly by inept homeowners. I consider myself something of a house whisperer; as if I can feel how badly the house feels when I walk through it.
I am convinced some people SHOULD NEVER BE ALLOWED to be homeowners! The American dream be damned, your dumba#%^&, need to rent only. When I look at the damage that’s been caused to our latest project; I am more and more convinced homeownership should be a privilege like driving. You should first prove that you are capable of keeping up a home. You would never purposely damage your car, would you? So why do people do it to their homes? Some of the damage I see is just downright stupid.
Please take this advice:
- If you are going to do an addition to your home (especially an illegal one), don’t bury all the construction debris under the house, in place of a foundation!! – c’mon people use some common sense!
- Don’t install a cabinet so it blocks the opening of a doorway – duh!
- Tile is decorative, not structural, so don’t build with it! – unbelievable
- Toilet rooms right next to the kitchen is not a good look! – it’s also against code
- I am not one for being all matchy-matchy, but a neutral color scheme is always best and safe when you have bad taste.
Thank you SFHDC for choosing us to come to the rescue of this house that was treated so poorly by it’s previous owners.
Topics: Remodeling | No Comments »
Right now I’m trying to remember this
By Arcadia | September 8, 2011
Topics: Uncategorized | No Comments »
Wool Insulation
By Arcadia | September 8, 2011
If I wasn’t a carpenter I’d probably be an insulation installer. I love a well insulated house, I feel like we could cut half of all our energy bills if everyone had a (properly applied) insulated home!
Well America has finally joined the ranks of what the rest of the world had already figured out: wool makes a great insulation! It’s not cheap, but you won’t get sticker shock either.
- It’s a renewable and sustainable resource
- Recyclable
- Can absorb moisture and help prevent condensation (oh hell yes!!)
- Has some acoustic insulating properties
Once again nature shows us how its done 
!
(all images via Oregon Shepherd)
Topics: Energy Efficiency, Green Building | No Comments »
Jay-Z slammed for using non-union carpenters
By Arcadia | September 8, 2011
I read this story on Labor Day of all days and it really bothered me: Carpenters slam Jay-Z for using nonunion labor at 40/40 club, shout racial slurs: management
I’m a signatory union contractor, but damn – people have the right to use whoever they want on their projects! I wouldn’t blame him if he continued to use non-union labor. And don’t read the comments on the above article, they’ll just piss you off even more.
Keep the peace Jay!
(image via: the urban daily)
Topics: Construction News | No Comments »
Architect Barbie’s Dream House
By Arcadia | September 8, 2011
Well it took Barbie long enough to finally ditch that pink plastic palace! I’m so digging her new digs and it’s a green, pink palace:
The house is the winning design of Ting Li and Maja Paklar in the AIA competition. It’s outfitted with all the green building features, making it the eco-friendliest on Malibu beach. The house (in theory) has solar panels, drought resistant landscaping, zero VOC paint, a landscaped roof, and energy efficient appliances. It’s my dream green home!
I like Architect Barbie, but when oh when are they going to come out with Construction Barbie?!? And please don’t tell me they already did (it’s Ken!).
(all images via AIA)
Topics: Green Building | No Comments »
Four months and no vacation yet!
By Arcadia | August 4, 2011
It’s been a very busy four months!!
Citybuild Academy 12 graduated and I immediately had to begin planning CBA 13. The Carpenter’s Union pulled out of the CityBuild program – I’m hopeful they will renew their support with us. It sounds “very political” on the reasons why they left, and as a carpenter myself it makes me sad! I don’t want my people to go! On the flip side, Maximo Construction is now signatory to the Laborer’s Union! Crazy – huh! I am a carpenter by trade but the work that interests me the most – energy efficiency - is currently being promoted by the Laborer’s! So I joined them instead. I may become signatory to the Carpenter’s………one day!
I’m enrolled in a Master’s Degree honors program in green building. So when I’m not staring at this computer I’m staring at a textbook. I just finished reading The Green Building Revolution by Jerry Yudelson and Green Building Through Integrated Design (same author). I’m now reading Design for Sustainability: A Sourcebook of Integrated Eco-logical Solutions by Janis Birkeland, whew!
The cherry on top of all this is starting this fall I will be co-teaching a fashion modeling class at CCSF – how random and how fun! Proving yet again that fashion and construction do make a perfect pair at least for me!
I gotta get back to doing some real work…..Ciao!
(image via: worldtravels)
Topics: Green Building | No Comments »
March for Education in Sacramento
By Arcadia | April 23, 2011
I’ve been lucky to have accomplished a lot in life! I credit most of my success to the wonderful education my parents provided for me. I had the good fortune to attend private schools from kindergarten through college. I was even blessed enough to attend college without the need of financial aid! I can’t express my gratitude enough to my parents for providing me with such a wonderful advantage in life.
Alas, not everyone is so lucky! Teaching at City College of San Francisco has opened my eyes to the struggle so many others face in trying to acquire a decent education. CCSF along with other colleges, universities, and other schools, march on the Capitol in Sacramento every March, to protest the cuts the state government wants to make in education. Schools are really struggling now as it is, and students are having an even harder time paying for tuition in these bleak times. In order to improve the economy and get this country back on track investing (NOT cutting) in education is the best and surest way.
Education should be a right not a privilege!
Here are some photos of my students and me at the protest in the rain!
At the Capitol listening to speakers
Here comes the rain!
Nelson is excited to be here!
Deshawn getting into the spirit of the event!
Charles, Nain, and Ivan hanging tough!
Lakesha, Darlena, and Janell with “Professor” Rafael!
Topics: CityBuild Academy | No Comments »
CityBuild Meets the Mayor Ed Lee
By Arcadia | April 23, 2011
CityBuild Academy had the pleasure of being involved in Mayor’s Lee press conference on San Francisco’s ground-breaking Local Hire Ordinance! The Mayor gave a great speech on how important this new law is, how it will be implemented, and most importantly on how it will help put San Francisco residents to work on construction jobs!
I like many am beyond ecstatic, as a 15 year construction worker, I’ve worked for too long next to guys who didn’t even live in the Bay Area, forgot about San Francisco; most of these guys were from out of state! They come to SF making Bay Area wages (which is some of the highest in the country) and go back to their out of state cities and towns – not putting the money back into our local economy or hiring the local workers for the jobs. I know this ordinance has been met with much controversy, but from a worker’s point of view I just want to say THANK YOU to all who pushed this through!
Here are some pictures from the event:
What in the heck am I pointing at in this picture? (hahaha)
Mayor Ed Lee
Mike very seriously explaining how important this new ordinance is to future construction workers!
Mayor Lee sharing a laugh with Deshawn M!
The Gang’s all here!
Topics: CityBuild Academy | No Comments »
GE’s new fun tool for Contractors
By Arcadia | March 11, 2011
I’ve been having so much fun playing with GE’s new tool for contractor’s. As a contractor and writer I get a lot of junk in the email and snail mail, so it takes something really interesting to get me to stop and really pay attention to what you are trying to sell.
GE sent a press release on their new web tool. It’s a public website for Builder’s, Contractor’s, Remodeler’s, and all the other trade professionals. Basically it lets you easily build vignettes for the home, for example a kitchen – and play around using different finishes , but of course the appliance choice is GE!
[Disclaimer: I am in no way affiliated with GE, I just like the innovative things they come up with for the public.]
From GE: Managing a building or remodeling project means keeping up with a myriad of details, as any trade professional knows. Now, GE offers help in the form of BuildWithGE.com, a website that offers convenient access to a wide variety of practical information — without the need to register, remember a password or sign in.
“With this launch, we have created a public website that caters exclusively to our builders and trade partners, and further reinforces our commitment to maintaining our position as the number one supplier of major appliances to U.S. homebuilders,” said Maggie Kassebaum, manager, customer contacts.
The site is organized by trade group with special areas designed for single- and multi-family builders, property managers, architects and designers, remodelers, and the hospitality industry.
Customized brochures
BuildWithGE.com includes a number of easy-to-use tools, including a “brochure wizard” that can be used to create a customized project brochure for customers. No log-in is necessary to design and print a brochure, and users select the precise models and other information to include.
Product specs, photos and installation instructions
Site visitors can also search GE’s extensive product library, by model number or category (such as cooking products, laundry, dishwashers or water heaters). Search results include access to full model specifications, including photos and dimensions, as well as “quick specs” and installation instructions.
Energy-efficient solutions
In keeping with the building industry’s growing focus on energy efficiency, BuildWithGE.com also includes a “Think Globally, Build Smart” section, designed to help customers choose solutions that save money and use less natural resources. Resources include a link to ENERGY STAR®-qualified models, plus information about GE’s groundbreaking ecomaginationsm Homebuilder Program, Nucleus™ energy manager with Brillion™ technology, and GeoSpring™ hybrid water heater.
Design resources
Visitors to the site can explore information about GE’s distinct brands, get kitchen design ideas, and use the interactive virtual kitchen designer to envision how appliances will look with different types of flooring, cabinets, countertops and wall colors. A Universal Kitchen Design (ADA)* section lists an array of appliances from GE that are compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Contacts for placing orders, scheduling service calls and more
As any builder knows, simply keeping track of needed contact information can be a challenge, so the site offers specifics on how to place appliance or part orders, schedule a service call, locate a distributor, or contact a Builder Hotline.
If you are a builder or one of my ambitious students, I strongly encourage to take a look at the site and play around with it!
Topics: Energy Efficiency, Green Building, Remodeling | No Comments »