Blog
Welcome to the TreHus blog! Our goal for this page is to provide useful, relevant information pertaining to the remodeling industry. This could range from information about proper care and maintenance of oak floors, to new regulations and their effects on the remodeling industry and our clients, to stories of recently completed projects and how they enhance the lives of those for whom they are built. We are open to suggestions as well - if there is a particular issue about which you would like our input or thoughts, please contact us, and we will respond to you either via email or a blog post.
Craftsman Style Basement Remodel
July 12, 2010
One of the things that makes the Twin Cities unique and beautiful is our historic houses. With everything from charming bungalows to grand victorians, we are blessed to have many styles from which to choose. But what if you fall in love with a style of home you don't happen to own? Our solution during a recent basement remodel was to add craftsman details to a 1959 rambler. The basement now features everything you would expect from a craftsman: symmetry, simplicity, and an emphasis on the beauty of the wood. It includes a full bathroom, built-in bookshelves, and a fireplace with a large quartersawn oak mantel. Functionally however, the basement is entirely modern, with a built-in sound system, a custom suspended ceiling made in the TreHus shop, and geothermal heating and cooling. Below are a few final pictures:
Meaningful Work
June 4, 2010
"Three things—autonomy, complexity, and a connection between effort and reward—are, most people agree, the three qualities that work has to have if it is to be satisfying." This passage from Malcolm Gladwell's Outliers is the most highlighted passage of all time by Amazon Kindle readers. It is interesting to note that a passage that resonates with so many people is not some curious tidbit about a celebrity or a hint on how to work less and earn more, but has more to do with the continuing search for meaning. How often that is overlooked in our culture! Our tendency as a culture is to think about results and money first, and the human aspect as an afterthought, if at all. The truth is that this is one area where we can have our cake and eat it too - there is a symbiotic relationship between productivity and finding meaning in work.
This kind of thinking is what drove David Amundson to create the master carpenter system. It is based on the idea that the best and most experienced craftsmen should have the opportunity to spend the majority of their time every day practicing their trade. Project managers then are the ones who deal with administrative things like staying on budget and scheduling inspections. This is as opposed to the more popular lead carpenter system in which the best craftsmen double as project managers and often spend only a minority of their time actually building. We believe that the master carpenter system not only gives our craftsmen an opportunity to do what they love, but also leads to more efficient, well-built projects for our customers.
All of this in turn fits with one of our mission statements: "Whatever work there is should have as much meaning as possible. Wherever possible, workmen should be artists."
His & Hers
May 10, 2010
Little boys tend to love things like sports and dinosaurs, whereas little girls often prefer princesses and baby dolls. So when we were asked to finish a 3rd floor space that would be shared by our clients' little girl and boy, it was decided to give them each their own space. Now they each have their own bedroom, play area, and side of the bathroom. One of the most unique and fun things about the project is the space just behind each of the children's beds: the sloping roof meant that on both sides of the attic there would be some space where the ceiling height would be too low to be used as living space. One side now contains a clothes closet for each child. It was discussed for some time what to do with the other side - should it be left as a crawlspace? Should we just drywall over it? Finally it hit us that though it was much too small for adults to use, the space was the perfect scale for each child to have his/her own little hideout. She has now filled her space with baby dolls, stuffed animals and princesses while his is the home of trucks and sports memorabilia, and his little hideout is guarded by a rather ferocious-looking triceratops.
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Jon Colliander, AIA, on design philosophy
May 5, 2010
When beginning to design a new project for an existing home, there are two main questions that I like to try to answer right away: First, what is appropriate for the home in terms of scale, style, cost and flow? The object should be to make a new space blend seamlessly with the old or to intentionally mark the difference. Second, what is appropriate for the users? Though I have stong design opinions, it is important to keep in mind that the design is not for me but for those who are paying for it and will live in it. When someone has lived in a home, they often notice things about it that no one else does. So I always try to listen to and understand the thoughts, ideas and opinions of our clients and try to tailor the design to create the best solution to their individual wants and needs.
Once these questions have been answered and I have a good idea of what is appropriate for the home and those who live in it, the challenge becomes to design a solution that is beautiful, functional, and cost effective. No one wants a gorgeous kitchen that they can't use or one that provides them the tools they need but is ugly. Likewise, if the project is too expensive, it does not matter how perfect it is functionally or aesthetically. So every project is a delicate balancing act with many factors that need to be considered along the way, but one thing always remains constant: the goal of an architect needs to be to fulfill the wishes and needs of the client.
An expanded bathroom makes mornings more pleasant for a family of six
April 27, 2010
TreHus recently finished a bathroom project for a family of six. Their home in the Nokomis neighborhood has one full bathroom that all six of them use every morning to get ready for the day. Prior to the renovation, the bathroom was a long room characterized by wall-to-wall pea green tile. The vanity, shower and toilet were all a part of the same room, which did not give much privacy to the person taking a shower. There was also very little storage in the existing bathroom. The solution was to gut the bathroom and pop up a dormer, giving them the extra square footage and natural light they needed. The bathroom is now visually divided into three parts: there is an entry room, which includes built-in storage, a room for the shower and toilet, giving the occupant privacy, and a room for the dueling vanities. White wainscoting gives the bathroom a classic flair, and a tile inlay on the floor between the vanities adds visual interest. Here are a few pictures of the final result:
New EPA Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule
March 12, 2010
On April 22, 2010 (Earth Day), a new EPA law regarding remodelers' procedures for dealing with lead goes into effect nationwide. The purpose of the law is to minimize the risk of lead poisoning due to the inhalation or ingestion of lead-contaminated dust and materials (such as paint chips) disturbed during the remodeling process. The law affects any remodeling project in homes built before 1978 (the year lead paint was outlawed), and gives detailed instructions for isolating and cleaning any work area that may contain lead paint. The fine for a violation of the law is $37,500 per instance per day.
So what does this mean for those considering having work done on their home? While we do not yet know what the full effect of law will be, there can be no doubt that it will lead to an increased cost of doing business for remodelers across the nation. Remodelers will need new insurance policies, stricter documentation of lead-safe practices, training for carpenters and subcontractors, and the implementation of new systems to ensure the new law is being followed. For TreHus specifically, we hope that the change will not be too dramatic. We have always been conscientious and careful when dealing with any hazardous material, whether asbestos, lead or other. In our 28 years of doing business we have never had an instance of anyone - carpenter, subcontractor, homeowner or homeowner's children - reporting elevated blood levels of lead as a result of our work. TreHus is a certified lead-safe firm, and multiple members of our staff and crew are certified lead-safe renovators.
Here are a few links to webpages and articles that further explain the new law:
The EPA Renovation, Repair and Painting page
