Classic Homeworks' Spring 2005 Newsletter (text only)

A Word from Rick
“Be careful what you ask for.” We have all heard this before, and it’s true. You’ve also heard: “It never hurts to ask.” This also is true and the more specific the request the better.

It is my personal belief that we, as beings in this universe are entitled to our dreams. The more detail with which we can describe our wishes, the more likely it is that they will be manifested in our lives.
This is my personal spiritual belief and one of the reasons I love what we do so much. We take very seriously our personal responsibility in playing a specific role in the creation of one of your dreams. What drives us, is the desire to provide for you, as close as possible, your exact dream, as you describe it.

I realize this dream is not as important as the “real dreams” like good health and a safe world. Others more powerful than we tend to these dreams. But we take our role in your life seriously, and for us to serve you, it is important that you “Don’t be afraid to ask.”
Now, try this with something really important. You won’t be disappointed. It is the nature of life to provide and it is only our imagination that limits us.

At your Service,
Rick

Classic Homeworks Receives Ethics Award
Just a few months ago, Classic Homeworks was selected as a Finalist for the Denver/Boulder Better Business Bureau 2004 Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics, which honors businesses that demonstrate exceedingly high standards of behavior toward customers, employees, suppliers, shareholders and communities.

Rick Pratt, company owner & founder, said, “being selected as one of three finalists is an honor, but also a responsibility. It challenges us to not just maintain, but continue improving our high standards for remodeling." This year, the Award received 165 nominations.

Dining Porch Addition Brings the Outdoors In
After a spring snowstorm dumped several feet of record-breaking heavy snow in two days, many homeowners found their roof trusses cracked or snapped. A few older homes collapsed altogether from the weight of the snow. For the O’Connor’s, it was only the flimsy porch overhang in the back patio that suffered severe damage. Unfortunately, when the overhang came down, so did the layer of brick that attached it to the home.

After several days of deciding how to repair the damage, they discovered they had a window of opportunity. Having long wanted to remodel their kitchen, which included turquoise laminate cabinetry from the 80’s rather than the classic Craftsman-style evident throughout the rest of the bungalow, they pursued their dream. As frequent entertainers, they also wanted to comfortably host their friends and family in a year-round space. Additionally, valuable area in the basement had gone virtually unutilized.
Instead of rebuilding the porch overhang, the O’Connor’s splurged for a large, enclosed “Dining Porch” addition. Matching the look and feel of the rest of this historic home was paramount and was achieved with great success! Salvaged clay tile roofing was tracked down on the internet and special ordered from Texas. The transition is now visually seamless. Lowering the Dining Porch to ground level allows for an expansive, bright, and peaceful view of the (soon to be) Xeriscaped backyard.

The Dining Porch, only steps from the beautiful new kitchen, can accommodate formal gatherings, lazy mornings staying warm beside the dazzling new fireplace, or simply soaking up the sun. Slate tile flooring transitions easily to the new oak staircase that leads to the new kitchen, and down to the new home office, relocated laundry room and bathroom.

The Craftsman-style kitchen features stunning custom quarter-sawn oak cabinetry, granite countertops, an art deco backsplash, all new stainless steel appliances, new electrical, and updated plumbing. The homeowners, a freelance writer and banker, are thrilled with their new space, having achieved all their goals, and then some.

Employee Spotlight
Terry Dugan recently celebrated 10 years with Classic Homeworks. In that time, he has completed over 50 remodels and has made many long lasting friendships with both our Clients and our staff. To celebrate, Terry and his wife, Robin, were picked up by limousine and taken to Maggiano’s Downtown for a family-style feast with the entire company. We appreciate Terry’s work ethic, friendly demeanor, and knowledge of his craft. Congratulations, Terry!

Neighborhood Fun Facts
Rumor has it that during Prohibition, the wealthiest of Denver had secret tunnels dug from one house to another under the City of Denver to ensure that the moonshine, among other activities, kept flowing. We’ve had the pleasure of working for two Clients who have such tunnels under their home. The tunnels generally dead end where the street begins above and remain a mystery to this day. If anyone knows the factual history of these tunnels, we’d love to hear from you.

Classic Homeworks Retrofits Home For Disabled Police Veteran
On August 15, 2003, Gary Kasson, a 30-year law enforcement veteran, was riding his motorcycle home on I-25. Before reaching his Englewood home, he was rear-ended by a drunk driver. From that day, his life, and his families were forever changed.

He spent the next five months in hospitals, going through rehabilitation for his brain injury. Carol, his wife, had to adjust to a completely new lifestyle, which included 24-hour supervision of her once strong and independent husband. In addition to his brain injury, he also needed a wheelchair to complete the simple tasks of living each day.

The Kasson’s home proved to be ill-equipped for its newly disabled homeowner. Without wheelchair access, it was very difficult to get Gary into his own home let alone be able to use his own bathroom. Major modifications were needed, so Carol contacted the Home Builders Foundation (HBF), whose purpose is to help victims of tragedy that need to incorporate accessibility features in their homes.

Together with the HBF, we widened the homes hall & doorways and remodeled the bath to accommodate Gary’s needs. Our efforts & donations , as well as those of our vendors saved the HBF over 35 percent of the cost of this work. The Kasson’s did not have to pay for anything.

It was a very rewarding experience for all involved.

Three Reasons to Avoid Contractors that Do Not Pull Building Permits
Hiring a qualified Contractor is an essential step to getting a quality remodel done in your home. Below are three major reasons to resist the temptation to hire the Contractor that says he or she will save you money if you get the building permits yourself.

Reason 1: They are probably not licensed. This means that they may not be qualified to do the work you are wanting done. Nor may the people they hire be qualified. All (100%) of Electrical, Plumbing, HVAC, Drywall, Roofing, Framing, Insulation work and installers must be licensed and permitted.

It also means they can get away with taking shortcuts that will be problematic in the future such as not upgrading your electrical panel, not installing enough electrical outlets and smoke detectors, installing unapproved floor, wall, or roof framing, putting too many shingles on the roof, improperly flashing around windows, doors, roofs, and chimneys, and a host of other problems.

Reason 2: They are probably not insured. This means that you will be liable for any injury or damage that might occur on your job. Not only is it illegal but also unethical to allow workers to be in your home that are not properly insured. These people would not have access to quality medical treatment without you paying for it.

Reason 3: They are also likely to use the alley dumpsters for their trash & debris. Not only is this illegal but it will likely upset your neighbors. They are also likely to remove & dispose of dangerous material like asbestos improperly. This can leave you in a dangerous & unsafe home for all who come into contact with this material (the trash collectors, workers & you). This is a liability you do not want to be exposed to.

So remember—checking the references, license, and insurance information of any professional you hire to work on your home will save you untold amounts of time, money, and hassle down the road.

Classic Homeworks can ensure you get the best product and service!

Spring Home Maintenance Checklist
· Touch up painting to protect whole house
· Inspect tuck pointing and exterior caulking
· Clean & check gutters and downspouts
· Turn on outside faucets
· Look for damaged, loose or missing roofing
· Check and seal flashing around the chimney and roof
· Clean windows & replace storm windows with screens
· Have air-conditioning unit checked and recharged
· Try a new shelving system in your closet
· Check and test sprinkling systems
· Change the oil in your lawnmower, sharpen blade, clean air filter and replace the spark plug in needed
· Look for depressions or washed-out areas next to the foundation. Replace dirt in low areas and make a slope away from the house of ½ inch per foot.
· Change batteries and test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors

Project Spotlight
Jeff Shapiro, a 1st time homeowner, came to us with a desire to update the very outdated, small, and inefficient kitchen of his Wash Park Bungalow with a fresh & hip, yet classic, style. Like most old Bungalows, this kitchen was “cut-off” from the rest of the home and left no room for others to either help with the food preparation or to visit with the cook. We created for this homeowner a spacious, modern and luxurious kitchen, complete with natural maple cabinets that offer plenty of beautiful cabinet storage.

The kitchen now opens to both the Dining room and back sunroom via matching archways and widened pathways. During everyday mealtime or when Jeff entertains, guests have a comfortable place to sit and chat or assist in preparation. New electrical wiring and plumbing allow for all the modern-day gadgets and appliances.

This Wash Park Kitchen won the Regional 1st Place Award in the 2005 National Contractor of the Year (CotY’s) for Residential Kitchen $30,000 -$60,000

Free Remodeling Seminar Gives Homeowners Confidence
Classic Homeworks new free seminar, “Secrets to Remodeling Your Older Home,” has been a hit in the community this winter! Our office & showroom was packed with homeowners eager to learn how to approach the remodeling process for their older Denver home, which can be full of unique opportunities and challenges.

“We were really impressed with your thoroughness. It made us feel more secure and excited about this process!" - Jim & Leslie

Wondering what you could learn? Register for our next free seminar today!

Topics Covered Include:
Remodeling Planning and Strategy
Budget Considerations
Selecting the Right Professionals
Design Considerations
The Construction Process
Guarantee the Design, Quality, & Timeliness
Environmentally-Friendly Options
Universal Design

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