Double J Construction Newsletter

Join us at the Home Improvement Show September 24 - 27!

Double J Construction Inc will be once again be hosting a display at the 34th Annual Home Improvement Show at the Portland Convention Center. Come join us on Thursday night and participate in the Make-A-Wish foundation fundraising event or come during the weekend to take advantage of all of the other fun activities for adults and kids.

On Thursday evening, September 24, you can enjoy the exhibits and bid on tremendous packages that will be auctioned off, while enjoying food and wine from local restaurants and wineries. 100% of the proceeds from the live and silent auctions will benefit the Foundation .

Tree House to be auctioned off on Thursday Night

Wristbands for the auction event will be pre-sold for $55, which will allow entrance to the Improvement Show throughout the entire weekend. 70% from each wristband sold will also benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Oregon.

Visit the Oregon Remodelers website to learn more about the show and to download a coupon for $2.00 off the admission price. You can also be able to get a free coupon book at your local Home Depot store. If you are able to come to the show on Thursday, please send us an email as we have a limited number of free passes for that night only.

Is your home meeting your needs as you age?

When we purchase our first or even second home, we are often young and in good physical condition. We tend to purchase a home with multiple stories and lots of square footage, especially when we're raising children. However, as we begin to age, we realize that our home is not always ideal for the physical challenges our bodies endure. Aging-in-Place is a new buzz term for designing and remodeling homes to meet the needs of homeowners for the long term. Michael Chandler posted a great blog piece on GreenBuildingAdvisor.com discussing being green and aging-in-place as you build or remodel your home.

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Will the H1N1 virus affect you this winter?

With all of the media coverage on the H1N1 virus, it's hard to know just how what to believe about the dangers of the virus and exactly who will contract it. A recent article in the Wall Street Journal talked about the biggest struggle for a hospital in Venezuela, which was two of their own nursing staff dying from the virus. This greatly impacted the hospitals ability to service the needs of their patients in addition to the emotional impact & fear it left on the staff.

Although we may feel more confident in our ability to treat the virus in the United States, there is still the discussion on how it will impact the workforce. At a recent business meeting, we were told the Center for Disease Control estimates up to 40% of the workforce could likely contract this virus and be absent from work at various times throughout the season. That number could have serious consequences for small businesses as well as a big financial impact on families.

If you are concerned about the H1N1 virus, you can read more about the research and recommendations from the government and from the CDC at http://www.flu.gov or http://www.cdc.gov/H1N1FLU/.

We greatly appreciate your referrals!

Plans & Permits

Double J Construction Inc will often get a call from a homeowner that is ready to start a project, and they want a bid for the project right away. However, when we ask if they have obtained a set of plans and submitted them to the City or County for permits, the answer is frequently "no".

Our first challenge is giving an accurate bid on a project without a detailed drawing of the final product. When you are trying to obtain the actual costs for a project, the only way to truly compare apples to apples and get solid numbers is to give the contractor an approved set of plans and know your budget. It is frustrating to both the homeowner and the contractor when a great deal of time is spent bidding, only to find out the City or County won't approve the project or the homeowner can't afford it.

If you just need a rough estimate to get a feel for the price of the project, most professional contractors can give you a ballpark number to start developing a budget. However, if the project requires a permit, the City and County have the final say on what changes will be allowed and will pass inspection. This may require modifications to the plans, and you could incur additional costs.

To protect yourself and save time, be sure and contact your local City or County permit office to make sure your zoning, setbacks and other regulations will conform to your project. Second, develop a rough draft drawing or hire an engineer or architect if needed to develop a more detailed drawing. Often your contractor can help you with this or direct you to the appropriate contacts. Third, if it's a remodeling project, do some research online or at a local builders supply to get a feel for the cost of the materials needed as well as an idea of your taste and preferences. Many homeowners are astonished at the cost of materials and have to adjust their expectations to fit their budgets.

Again, a professional contractor can help you with this process as well as a designer or decorator. The more homework and planning you do ahead of time, the more likely it will be that you save money and are greatly satisfied with the end result!

To find out if your project needs a permit, visit Oregon's Building Codes Division website, the City of Vancouver's website or the Clark County website.

Call before you dig!

Before we begin any excavation project, we encourage the homeowner to call for locates or we call for them. Understanding where your utilities are located avoids major headaches and/or injuries that can be caused when a line is hit, damaged or severed.

If you have a project in the near future, you can visit Oregon's website to call for locates or Washington's website.

Excavation and Remodeling Professionals

The right experience, the right equipment and the right attitude!

www.doublejconstruction.com