So, one more game ... St. Louis Cardinals

So. We have one more game at least this year here in St. Louis.

One more time that beautiful ballpark will open its gates and allow entrance.

Hopefully, it won't be the last time this year.

But, in case it does happen to be...that is ok, Redbirds.

You guys had a wonderful season.

Thanks for the memories.

But hey, it wouldn't hurt my feelings if you kicked the Pirates ass on Wednesday.

Who Needs Sleep?! Let's Remodel Something!

Exactly.

Who has time for sleep?  Is it that necessary?  Actually, I don't sleep.  I take naps.

About a three hour nap from before or after nine pm to a little before or after midnight.

Then I am awake reading for an hour to an hour and a half.

I will doze off until two thirty or three and then wake up and read some more for another forty five minutes until I doze off for the last time until four or four thirty.

And then it's up, eye contacts in, coffee started and time to get to work.

The odd thing is the first nap is truly that.  A real good power nap.  The rest of the naps throughout the evening is more like watching something streaming over the TV.  I replay what I read into my mind's video screen throughout those naps.

Say I'm reading some exciting business management book.  My nap 'TV' will play different scenarios playing out on the business side of the remodeling company.

Maybe I'm reading a product manual developed by a supplier on waterproofing wet environments.  My nap 'TV' will be all about the installation side of the remodeling company.

That is a small example of how excited we are here at Benhardt Construction and Remodeling about the potential to Remodel the World.

3 Things to Consider When You Need Remodeling or Improvement to Your Home

"What may save a homeowner pennies today, may very well cost them dollars tomorrow." - RLB

     I completely understand that on any given day one may not have the ability to fund a project fully but still NEED to get the work done.

     There are a few things for you, the homeowner, to consider.

What exactly do you need - NOW?

     If your toilet is broken, chances are you need it repaired or replaced - NOW

     If the kitchen faucet sprays more water from it's handle than it's mouth - NOW
     If the back door to your home doesn't close tight and you are unable to lock - NOW

What is the cost of properly maintaining my home before the need to arises?

     Have you ever removed the caulk from your tub, bath sink, kitchen sink and re caulked?
     When was the last time you sealed your grout?
     What about gutter cleaning?  Are leaves still in your gutters from last year?
     Do you honestly know the R-Value of the insulation in your attic?

Where would this project come in price wise if I went with quality products that will function for years?  

     All too often we are contacted to take a look at a bathroom that has outlived it's useful life and requires to be fully replaced.  Now, this is something we do every day.  You as homeowner may be involved with a bathroom remodel once or twice in your lifetime.

     Homeowners should easily get twenty years of useful life from a quality, functioning bathroom remodel.

     If you are of the age between 20 - 40 years old most of the time what you need is a quality, functioning bathroom.

     You don't require multiple jets in the shower.  The towel bar doesn't have to be heated.  The toilet doesn't have to have a plug in for your I Phone.

     What you need is a bathroom that will work, do it's job and stand the test of time while the kids are growing and everybody is involved with a very active lifestyle.

     Once you get past the 40 year mark?  Sure look into the bells, whistles and fireworks.  It's all there for the those that want them.

     These are a few things to consider.  Benhardt Construction and Remodeling is here to help you - our customer.  No matter your age, zip code or budget - click the link above and contact us about your project.

     Thank You 

Systems Allow for Attention to Detail

At Benhardt Construction and Remodeling we believe in systems.

From the moment our day starts until the last click of the clock at the end, there is some system in place and being utilized.

Systems allow for efficiency at what we do.

Systems allow for an effective method to address all of our new leads.

Systems create material procurement management to assist the homeowner, our vendors and us to all be on the same page to ensure the correct products have been ordered for the project.

Systems creates an automatic checks and balances to minimize lost time on a project.

Systems allows for an open line of communication between us and the homeowners whose project we are involved with.

We are always developing our systems through all in order to make us as efficient a home remodeling contractor we can be.

Have a great day.  Thanks!

Everyone Is Good At Something...

That something doesn't always have to be remodeling...

Or home improvements...

Construction...

Or home maintenance tasks...

An old school friend mentioned today how difficult taping is and how it's an art.  At the point he mentioned this I am sure he was into the 'mudding' phase of the 'mudding and taping' but to be honest I am not exactly sure.

The reason I bring this up is not to point fingers and hee haw at him like some jackass.  Rather, to say yes I agree very much that it's an art form.  Everything involved with construction is indeed an art form.  Heck, let's be honest here - anything worth anything in this entire world is an art form.

Brewing Beer, Making Wine, Trading Stocks, Cooking, Printing, Car Repair, Cutting Hair...

Yes there are a lot more to list and yes there is also a lot of people involved with that are just treading water because -

Something else is going to come along.  Your partner has a good job.  Your 67 year old Grand Father caught a cold and you know dang well he's sitting on a mattress stuffed with greenbacks.

Then there are the people that truly think of what they do is important.  Not important like world changing or life ending but they take pride in what they do providing a service or a product for the few or many.

Some of you are good at One thing, others of you are good at several things.

I have a barber and he's a great barber.  This fella goes above and beyond what he needs to do for a hair cut.  Especially mine as it's pretty simple.  (No Fabio here ladies, sorry)  Yet when I do go it's the works by this guy.  He removes hair from areas above my shoulders I didn't know I had and I'm only 41!  He straight razors the sideburns and neck line.  He vacuums the head and neck down and always makes me sit still one moment longer to throw some tonic on my now smooth scalp.  (Which I jokingly say is hair growth accelerator)

Now can I cut my own hair?  Yes... especially since it's no guard razor cut.  Can my lady cut my hair yes.  Why do I NOT go to my barber every time I need a hair cut?  A couple reasons actually, the main one is time and the very distant second one is cost.

I cut my hair every 10 days give or take a day a two.  Anything more than that and I'm feeling like a hippy.  So that boils down to three times a month on average which would entire and hour and half of time (15 minutes to and from and an hour in the shop getting the works) plus I will not leave without tipping the man so call it $25 bucks a pop for a $16 hair cut and we're talking $75 a month plus 4.5 hours of my time (which is becoming pretty valuable thanks to the likes of you)

So you can see that's quite a lot in savings.  Once every couple months I may have a little down time or just get the itch to get into the barber's chair.  Do I go to Fast Cuts R Us or Hair Clippers for men?  Hell no.  I call up Jack and see if he's got an opening.  I gladly go in and gladly pay him $25 - $9 dollars more than he lists right there on the board.

Why?  Because he's good at what he does.  He goes the extra step and he takes his profession seriously.

So as I smirked when I read my friend's Facebook blurb or post and realized that everyone has something they are good at.  His being inside the financial industry.  Mine being inside the remodeling industry.  Not saying he doesn't know a little about my world or that I don't know about his to some extent...

And I completely understand the few reasons to tackle a small repair or project on your own.  I just mentioned two important one's time and money.  That is great here and there and once and awhile but I sure do believe deeply in these next two sentences.

1. When it comes time to refinance your home, it would be a better idea to call him.
2. When is comes time to remodel you home, it would be a better idea to call me - Benhardt Construction and Remodeling.  

Thanks for reading!

5 Things About Home Remodeling You Should Know

There are 5 things (maybe more by the time I'm all done) that I intend to write extensively about regarding Remodeling.

Who Should I Contact for My Next Home Improvement?
What's the Difference Between a 3 Season and 4 Season Room?
When Is the Best Time to Make Home Improvement?
Where Do We Start?
Why Benhardt Construction and Remodeling Explains Wants vs. Needs.

And a Bonus 6th Topic -
How Come I Should NOT Worry About The Next Owner of My Home?

I will break these six subjects down and go deep into explaining very important details and insights to all these listed above.

Stay Tuned!

www.benhardtconstruction.com

The Good, Bad and Ugly of Insurance Work

Insurance work is challenging to say the very least.  An event comes along that suddenly changes a person's home.

This event could be from:

• Hail
• Wind
• Trees
• Water
• Fire
• Vehicle Impact
• or several other less common means

Once this event happens it is always best to account for the safety and well being of every person and pet in your household.  Depending on the event it may be best to be sure that there is not a gas leak or the pilot lights on the water heater, furnace or stove/oven did not get snuffed out by the event.

Be sure there is no electrical lines down outside before you go.

Make sure neighbors are accounted for and safe.

All of this I mentioned above occurs within a few moments of the events conclusion.

Then, it's the process of rebuilding and or repairing the home to the exactly how it was at the moment immediately preceding the event.  The event occurred at 12:01 AM?  Then I am talking about how this home was at 12:00:59 Seconds.

I will be talking more about this in the days to come.  I will be publishing my non-insurance related articles as well.  Next on the list is my in depth  look at 3 and 4 season rooms.

If you have any questions, please contact me through Benhardt Construction and Remodeling's Website.

Thanks

Work Smarter, Do More

Hold true one’s moral fiber, work hard, learn and work harder with what you recently learned.

Wait what?  Did you write - 'learn something and then work harder with what you recently learned'?

Absolutely I did and why not?

Work smarter not harder is a gruff verbal quip from people that most of the time are lazy sons of guns and they are trying to say hey...lay back a little and take a break.

I am of the opinion that once your learn something new, it will most likely enable you to work harder, longer and in turn be more productive.

If you truly do work smarter that is great!  By that I mean once you learn or realize a way that produces fantastic professional results - quicker than you were able to before, it should enable to you to work smarter and harder for your customer.

I know through my years of experience the fastest way to remove (to sub-floor)  - ceramic tile installed over original sheet good products glued to an under layment that is in turn stapled (very many staples most of the time) to the sub-floor.  In turn that allows me to work smarter and therefore harder for my customer which in turn increases the productivity thereby shortening the overall length of time my customer doesn't have to be with out a floor.

That allows me to move onto other areas of the project sooner.  It allows me the time to gain a little ground that may have been lost to a product change order or an extra work order that came up during the project.  

Each phase of what I do, every day...I attempt to do it better than before.  Read, learn, read.  Watch videos, attend seminars, take coursework.  All in a day's (and night's) work around here for me.

I enjoy and take great pride in providing an ever evolving company and in turn final product for each one of my customers.  

#alwaysimproving #neversatisfiedwithsecondbest #continuingeducation

10 Things to Consider for Your New Kitchen l Benhardt Construction and Remodeling

Who is this for?  Will the real kitchen user, please stand up!

In some rare cases there are couples and families that cook together. Hey if this is you, fantastic, we need you all here for the design meetings!  What?  You all doing the cooking together right?  Yes.  Well then that is who this kitchen is for.  Well, we were thinking about putting it on the market in a few years...

Pardon me if I may interrupt...from now until this home happens to sell, who will be providing the meals for everyone to live another day?  Well, we will be...together like we said.

Exactly my point.  Let's not worry about the future home owner of this house.  Let's focus on today's home owner of this house!

Why spend money and most importantly energy on something that someone years from now may or may not want?  And by energy I mean your personal energy as kitchen remodels are large and in charge second to an addition to your home.  There is a lot of input you will have to provide.

You won't have to do the physical stuff, that's my part of this deal.  But before we start we have a lot of work to do.

There are many things to consider when moving forward with a kitchen remodel.  The most important thing I believe in is to get it in your head that this is going to be YOUR kitchen.  So let's plan accordingly shall we?

Where oh where did the Microwave go?

The style or thing to do used to be to either mount your microwave above the stove or set it on the counter.  Hey, we didn't know any better right?  Joe and Sally did it.  Frank and Martha did it, we allll did it.  But now we have options.  We have the ability to put the microwave UNDER the counter.  Out of view, freeing up valuable counter space and making it easier for everybody to get to.  With counters running at an average of $50 a square foot why pay $200 of counter space for a place to SET your microwave?

We can buy a microwave that resides in an under cabinet nook that has a drawer and you place your items down into.  Or you can have it in a nook and still have the door everyone is used to that swings open.  This frees up your counter and space above the stove!

Have you seen the line at Starbucks?

Not only do this new hip coffee house places charge a pretty darn penny for their delicious caffeine concoction but there are hidden charges they don't disclose.  That is right, how about all the time you spend each and every time you go there (sometimes daily!) and sit in the drive through line?  As I drive buy these places with my half gallon of HOME made coffee, these lines look pretty dang long and time consuming.  

Now I'm not saying that you should give up coffee altogether but think about having your own coffee bar?  A nice section of your new kitchen designed to provide you with every flavor and type of coffee that you enjoy.  All right there in the comfort of your own home.  It can be brewing while you are taking your morning shower.  On Saturday and Sunday mornings you can sit in the comfort of your new kitchen and not have to go anywhere while you read the paper or browse the Internet while enjoying your joe.

Hey, I can see the recipe book!

There are more choices in lighting today more than ever.  The leading edge of lighting technology grants you brighter lighting for minimal costs.  There are many factors to consider when designing your lighting plan.  Warmth of the lighting, style of the light fixture and to dim or not to dim.  We are very experienced when it comes to your lighting needs and are willing to help you along the way.

Marco...Polo!

Where is that pan?  Where is the flour?  Remember when most of your kitchen contents were stored in plain view?  When you were to have company over you would shove everything into the pantry and hope Aunt Edna didn't mistake that door for another and open it.  Allowing all the contents to tumble to the floor?!

Our main desire whilst planning your new kitchen area is to keep function clearly in focus.  While you are looking at the shiny lights and deciding which Kelvin color temperature you prefer we are putting together the most storage space possible.  We pride ourselves in getting the most bang for every customer's dollar.  We use all the space that is possible with as little fillers as possible!

These brownies look burnt!  Wait a second, why can't I smell them?

Ventilation is critical in the kitchen area.  We are able to provide recommendations for your venting needs dependent upon the appliances you chose.

Didn't we have a traffic signal in here before?

Remember me talking about us keeping the eye on the ball while you are busy looking at all the fun stuff for your kitchen?  We enjoy redesigning kitchens so they have the best flow.  Remember how frustrating it was to get to the sink when someone was at the stove?  How bout how cramped it was during the holidays when Uncle Dave stood next to the ice maker while you finished cooking?  Not anymore.  Open, open, open floor plans makes our customers happy, happy, happy.  (Thanks, Phil Robertson)

It's like a water park in here!

Everything used to have to go through the kitchen sink.  Clean the plates...sink.  Glass of water...sink.  Spaghetti pot...sink.  Clean vegetables...sink.  We can install water sources in all sorts of places you can imagine.  Island?  Check.  Above the stove?  Check.  

Two sinks?  Check!

Wow, now that baby has got Back!(splash)

Back splashes can bring an entire kitchen together.  Some people have even said that some of the back splashes we have designed and installed look like pieces of art.  That's because they are!  No, I am (slightly) kidding there.  Aside from tying a room together they do look wonderful.  We use grouts that do not have to be sealed, ever along with an installation process that will last you a lifetime.

Help us Tile Flooring...You're our only hope...

I know, I know, I know.  There is a lot of people that have wood floors in their kitchens.  Trust me in saying that if that is what our customer's want for their finish flooring, we will gladly install it.  There is an old school part of me that says Tile in the kitchen.  It's high traffic.  Most families come in and out of the house through the garage when they are leaving or returning home.  Most families enter the back yard from the kitchen.  People drop ice cubes in the kitchen.  Sometimes a plate.  A glass.  I saw a recent homeowner drop her entire knife organizer!  (Thankfully she was OK )  Why is a woodpecker called a woodpecker and not a tile-pecker   Because tile is hard and durable!  Woodpeckers are smart!

We prep our sub floors and use the best technology to provide the best foundation with the best products on the planet.  We also use grout that never has to be sealed!  It's win win!

We used to eat out all the time, now we can't leave the kitchen!

When your new kitchen by Benhardt Construction is complete, you will talk about eating out like it was years ago.  There may be a time in the future that you think back to how could you have eaten out so much?!  You are going to enjoy cooking in your new kitchen!

Now please do me one favor and realize that this is just a small part of the things we not only know but are involved with doing a fantastic kitchen.  Stuff the big box stores don't have time to train their help for.  Stuff that just isn't there due to having to meet quotas for the next fly by night contractor that is in this city today and another one tomorrow.

WE have no quotas.  Every customer we have is important to us.

Thanks!

You Can Contact Us Anytime Right Here!

The Process of Remodeling

The Process of Remodeling any portion of your home or small business is not an easy task.  The Process of Remodeling can be full of doubt, unknowns, angst and fear.

The Process of Remodeling can go smoothly, as smoothly as I type these keys as I write these words.  Smooth as the letters appear to the immediate left of the line as I type.  It can be smooth if you have Benhardt Construction and Remodeling in your employ.

We are able to work from beginning to completion with any project in the greater St. Louis area.

All you have to do is two things.  Very important things but just two things.

The first thing you have to do is have a dream.  A dream of what your project could be.

Even something as simple as a new coat of paint in the laundry room takes imagination.  You go through the samples and imagine what the colors may look like.  You imagine what it would be like to have the walls painted with your selection.

If you can dream it, we can build it...

Trust me in the fact that I am the furthest thing from fancy words and gimmicks to hook my customers into doing business with us. Completely the opposite in that I want you to want to hire us as your contractor without a shadow of a doubt.

If you can dream it, we can build it...

And that is what Benhardt Construction and Remodeling is about and what we stand for.  We can take any idea you have, no matter the size, and turn it into reality.

We can enjoy the path that takes us from the start of a project to the completion together.

I can Guide You.

I can Assist You.

I can Educate You.

Only if you contact Benhardt Construction and Remodeling.  That's the second thing you have to do.


Looking forward to meeting with you about your project.

Thanks!


(You can Contact us with our website request form that can be found here...)
You can fill out this Project Request form any time of the day or night.

Well I Think This IS It...

Hello everybody.  I think I may have finally found a home for my (cough) blog.  Couple places around the net I have tried thus far.  This one seems to have the features I am looking for plus I think it's integrated with Google + pretty good.

(Well that's what the fellas wearing the dark shades and baseball bats said)

So if this goes as I expect (I'm so anxious to post my first post) this will be were we all can plan on meeting.

Plan on meeting here and learning (if you dare) what it is inside my head that I would just love to share with you.

Ok now that we have those items off the list is there any further business?

*looks around the empty room*

Ok, then I hereby call this meeting to a close.

Thanks!