We’re happy to say that his family has moved into their home,  and we’re wrapping things up on site.

I just wanted to take a moment to thank everyone for the efforts and donations.  Notably: Andy Davis for his help framing and coordinating,  Dietrich and Angie Wieland for their efforts organizing volunteer subcontractors, their architectural expertise, and help accessing materials,  and all the volunteers from St. Clair’s for their donations and labor.  Everyone’s empathy, prayers, and assistance went a long way.  Thank you all.  We wish Tammy and the kids the best, and hope they enjoy their new home.

Many of the remodels have been traditional in taste on the inside and then a few of them very modern and contemporary.  Our work is strictly limited to the inside of the buildings – anything exterior work would fall to the property management company in all most all cases.

These are projects we thoroughly enjoy.  Just as in whole house remodel, from framing to finish we aim to please.  Thanks for considering us in your next project.

Kerry, his wife Tammy, and his three young children were in the middle of a large scale home remodel adding a second story with sufficient bedrooms and an additional bathroom for the family.

When a tragedy strikes a family member so dear to our community, we need to step up.

We know the best way to honor Kerry is to support his family.  Finishing Kerry’s remodel is the best way we know how to do that.

Petrina Construction is working with Kerry’s good friend, Dietrich Wieland, his wife Angie, Marcelle Hanks, and a host of others, who are driving the project forward.  We are volunteering our time and resources – coming together with sub contractors, suppliers, and other friends of the Cooper family. We’re putting in carpet soon, and are excited to finish what Kerry so passionately started.

We miss Kerry, he was a part of our lives every day (our office is in the same building as his), and it’s hard to imagine that he won’t be walking down the stairs to say hello.

If you knew Kerry, or would simply like to lend a hand, here is a specific way you can help:

• Money can be donated to “Friends of Kerry Cooper & Family” at any US Bank.  Account #153664240220.  Tradesmen are donating time and donating or deeply discounting materials, so know that your cash donations can go a long way to completing this project.

Whether you worked directly with Kerry or not, we’re hoping that you will join Petrina Construction in supporting a family that has suffered a great loss.

In memory of Kerry, our thoughts and efforts go out to Tammy and the rest of the family.

Well soon enough many of these questions will be moot, as the old way of illuminating your home will be illegal.  Or rather, incandescent bulbs will no longer be manufactured, left to go the way of the film camera and the telegraph.  The legislation states that between 2012-2014 all new manufacturing will have to produce lights that use 25-35% less electricity than traditional incandescents.  The good news is, the technology has already far surpassed that mark, and there are plenty of new lights on the market to fill the shoes of the old bulb.

The new options on the electric decision list is: LED or CFL?  Some people worry about the mercury in CFLs, but with proper handling, they’re no more harmful than your old thermometers.  The question of light is really a question of efficiency, lifespan, light output, and light quality.

To simplify things more, efficiency and lifespan are really one issue, it all depends on how much juice that puppy is sucking.  If the light uses less watts, it produces less excess heat, which puts less stress on the device, making it last longer (it’s actually the wasted energy that produces most of the heat in lights, the lighting device itself is usually just warmish).  Paired with fancy tech, these low watt bulbs can last decades and, in my mind, that solves the cost issue (as well as the back pain issues caused by frequent bulb changing).

You’d think using less watts that would effect how much light is actually produced, but that’s not the whole story: 70% of the electricity in a traditional incandescent light is wasted, some (more expensive) CFLs can produce as much light as a 35watt incandescent, while using only 4watts.  The amount of power used can be confusing on the box, because a LED or CFL labeled 60 watt usually means that it produces a “60 watt look” when compared to an incandescent.  There is a measure of light output called “Candles” which will usually have an associated number on the back of the box.

CFL - Incandescent comparison

Now we come to the hardest question when making any home remodel decision – style.  Most of our eyes and tastes are accustomed to the orangeish-yellow glow of the incandescent.  CFLs are closest to what we’re used to but slightly on the yellow side and much closer to a true white and cheaper CFLs can produce a flicker that can strain the eyes.   LEDs lights tend to produce a blue quality, which might be unpleasant to some, but a room that gets enough daylight can pair nicely with a well placed LED.

When it comes to making a lighting decision for your remodel there are no shortage of options, but don’t worry – you can always hire a contractor.



This video is a great comparison between different lights,  their lifespan, watt output, and light quality (though a little nerdy):

For a more detailed look at bulbs, I found this guide educational.

For years, Petrina Construction has been mindful of the presence of asbestos in some older homes.  We use professionally certified testing companies and abatement teams to identify and remediate any flooring, insulation, ceiling tiles, or other materials that are contaminated.

In response to new guidelines and regulations from the EPA, Petrina Construction now has a complete lead testing program.  As a Lead-Safe Certified Firm, we have employees trained in testing, safe removal, and clean-up of contaminated paint and painted materials and we work with Lead-Safe Certified painting subcontractors.  Using EPA guidelines and specialized testing, containment, and HEPA cleaning equipment, we can be sure that your remodel will not endanger your health, your family’s health, or your home’s resale potential in the future.

For more information about Lead Based paint, check out the EPA website at http://www.epa.gov/opptintr/lead/index.html or call our office for a copy of the Lead Safe brochure.

What is it? It’s a handicapped ramp we threw up for a family in Portland Oregon, we got connected to the family through ReFit, a program that provides accessibility for the handicapped.

What you’re seeing is our first attempt at a homemade time lapse of a house going up.  Expect future time lapses to go all the way from start to finish.

Here’s the finished product from the front.

I Love how the designer stuck different materials right up next to each other on the kitchen counter-tops.

The yellow cabinets are A+. The sink on the way to the dining room was also a great idea.

Where I don’t love strawberries quite as much as the owner, the colors are warm and bright, but not so much that the kitchen isn’t comfortable – it’s very homey.

The boxed ceiling adds a classy touch. Many kitchens try to bridge the gap between classic, modern, and down-home unsuccessfully – but this Mt. Tabor residence got it perfect. This job was a pleasure to shoot and I have so much respect for both the architect, and the designer.

OK – technically, I’m a professional Cost Accountant, but still, I have over 20 years experience in construction & remodeling. So when an unfortunate water situation spelled out “bathroom remodel” for my own home, I had a definite advantage over most homeowners. Even so, I learned some important things about home remodelling:

• Know your own limits. You know your budget, your tastes, and your tolerance for disruption. A designer who suggests carrara marble and stainless appliances for your farm style kitchen might not be listening to YOUR vision. If you have any doubts, talk it out with your contractor or project manager.
• Get a second quote. Joe gets competitive bids for every trade, so I did too. Wow – was that worth the effort! Not only did it verify the pricing, it was a great double check on the work being done. Did the sub take good measurements? Did one sub overlook part of the project? Most importantly, did I express clearly what we wanted?
• Go with a team you trust. When the plumber says “we really should move that intake to the left” or the electrician says “your light fixture is going to have to shift over to clear the waste stack” it’s not like I can draw on my vast personal plumbing and lighting experience. Fortunately, I can draw on the trust I’ve built with the Petrina team and, with full confidence, mumble “Um…ok. Sure.”
• A good project manager is invaluable. Timelines, product selection, scheduling, and troubleshooting – they all require experience and knowledge and even a small job can fall apart without that overview and know-how (note to self: bake Gary some cookies!)

From the first contact through the final punchlist, Joe meets with every client, listening to them, working with their tastes, their timeline, and their budget. He gets competitive quotes from trusted subcontractors and puts together the perfect team for each project. The Petrina crew has decades of experience specifically in home construction and remodel to guarantee a smooth, organized project. Our office staff ensures good  communication and support throughout the project and beyond.

I’m thrilled with my new bathroom and, going through the process myself, I’m so PROUD to be a part of the Petrina Construction team.

To kick off the New Year we thought some volunteer work was in order. As a construction  company, we have a healthy amount of skilled labor that does its part to ensure a healthy functioning community. Over the years PCI has donated a lot, but the time we donate is by far the most valuable to us. This month, through a program called ReFit, we’re building a handicap ramp for a gentleman who is physically impaired. The ReFit program was designed back in ’99 (if I’m remembering that right) by an Oregon Remodeling Association member to help with access for low income handicapped people. They undertake group projects like handicap ramps, changing doors, and bathroom accessibility.

It is a pleasure to help and being that all our guys are often on different jobs, filling different hats, it’s great to get everybody working together in the same place – there’s something satisfying about building as a group. ReFit is a great program and we’re proud to support them.