Kruse Home Improvement LLC announces first Certified Remodeling Project Manager



Shawn Kruse,
CR, CKBR, CRPM, UDCP



Kruse Home Improvement LLC is proud to announce that Shawn Kruse, CR, CKBR, CRPM, UDCP, is one of the first nationally to pass the Certified Remodeler Project Manager (CRPM) exam, earning him the CRPM designation from the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI).

The exam is designed to measure an individual's application of knowledge and skills in the role of managing every aspect of a remodeling project. Those who earn the CRPM designation have not only passed a written exam but are also held to a stringent set of eligibility requirements, including compliance with NARI’s strict Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice, earn continuing education hours and have several years of continuous remodeling experience.

“I’ve been on my own for about 10 years now, and it is important for me to learn systems for handling more work and supervising others during the job to prepare for future growth,” Kruse says.

The program, which launched in September 2011, addresses a growing trend in the remodeling industry, which has more companies using project managers to supervise jobs as opposed to lead carpenters. The program follows a set of knowledge domains and sub-domains that include project cost management, communication, project planning, quality assurance, record-keeping and risk management.

Those who take the course are provided tools and ideas to improve business operations and efficiency in order to generate and sustain growth. Kruse has already begun to put the things he’s learned down on paper and develop new systems.

One particular area of study from the CRPM course that stood out for Kruse was the work breakdown schedule, which has been implemented into operations. “I learned how to use flow charts to chart the course of the project and map everything out before work begins,” he says. Doing this ahead of time means you’re less likely to miss things later.”

Kruse also believes the course has helped him refine the communication process between himself, the client and the field staff. “I’m able to be more on top of the job details and to communicate with the field staff when it needs to be communicated,” he says.

The increase in control and management of the job spills into the success of the project and into the clients that are being served.

NARI is a professional association whose members voluntarily subscribe to a strict code of ethics. NARI members represent a select group from the approximately 800,000 companies and individuals in the U.S. identifying themselves as professional remodelers.

About Kruse Home Improvement LLC:

Kruse Home Improvement LLC was started in 2001 as a handyman service and small project contracting company. Over the years they have evolved into an organization capable of planning and running large scale home renovations and light commercial work such as office space build-outs and retail establishments. Their expertise includes: complete kitchen, bathroom, and basement renovation, framing / finish carpentry, tile, stonework, cabinetmaking, countertops, insulation, doors, windows and much more.

In addition to construction services, they offer a minimally invasive diagnostic service with the capacity to locate mold and moisture issues behind your walls without actually having to remove sheetrock or sheathing.


About NARI: The National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) is the only trade association dedicated solely to the remodeling industry. The Association, which represents member companies nationwide—comprised of 63,000 remodeling contractors— is “The Voice of the Remodeling Industry.”™

KHI Quarterly V2 Q4

FEATURED PROJECT: THE MILLER’S MASTER BATH

When I met Ron and Dorothy Miller a year ago regarding the renovation of their master bathroom, I immediately took note of the large size of the bathroom and was excited by the possibilities it offered. The bathroom was an original to the home and had a typical 48” acrylic, one-piece shower, as well as a large Jacuzzi tub that had been turned into an expensive laundry basket.

In planning the details of this project, the Millers and I decided to allow as much natural light into the room as possible as there was only one, welded double hung window in the room facing to the east. We removed the partition wall that had separated the shower alcove from the rest of the bathroom and fabricated a large walk-in shower with a solid glass block wall. This not only created an attractive barrier for the shower but allowed the light to permeate throughout the entire room as well.

Another interesting feature of this job (which is becoming more and more popular) was the installation of electric radiant heat floors that were installed under the tile. The product is manufactured by a company called Nuheat and allows consistent even heat in an area with no cold spots. Each system is specifically designed to fit any room and disperse the appropriate amount of heat for that space in which it is to be installed. The heating is controlled thermostatically and will regulate the ambient heat in the room. A great advantage to the Nuheat heating is less dependence on additional heat sources, as well as reduced energy costs associated with heating.

For the cabinetry selection, the Millers wanted simple shaker style door panels which were made from Cherry and stained a dark espresso color. We kept with the size of the original double vanity and added a floor-to-ceiling hutch, as well as custom fabricated medicine cabinets and mirror frame, all matching the vanity style and color. The dark color of the cabinetry complemented the light natural tones of the tile and wall color, making everything in the room shine beautifully. The cabinets and custom woodwork were built by Marc Pompei of Pompei Carpentry Services in Plainville.

In addition to the work in the bathroom, we also renovated the master closet. One of the goals was to open up the entire space as one large room. This was done by removing the existing fluorescent lighting and the closet partition. We then installed new 5” LED recessed lights which provided maximum visibility throughout the space.

A custom built closet system was fabricated and mounted using the same materials and finish as the bathroom cabinetry. The three walls of the room were surrounded with a combination of drawers, adjustable shelves and hanging rods to accommodate all forms of attire. Once again we had Marc Pompei build all of the custom woodwork in the closet.

We are really proud of the way this job turned out and we had a great time working with Ron and Dorothy throughout the process. We have already done several other projects for the Millers and look forward to seeing them again soon. Thanks Ron and Dorothy for the opportunity!

NUHEAT ELECTRIC FLOOR HEATING SYSTEM

Nuheat Floor Heating Systems are clean soundless systems that provide radiant zone heating to various types of flooring surfaces including tile, stone, granite, laminate and engineered wood. Heat radiates from the entire floor surface as opposed to a single vent or baseboard heater. They are very energy efficient and allow you to heat room by room, use by use, where you want and when you want it. It is controlled by a thermostat which ensures that it is only in use when needed. As a result, energy consumption is greatly reduced. For example, a 30 square foot heated area of Nuheat will only use the same electricity as three 100-watt light bulbs. Nuheat does not generate any dust or airborne pollutants. The system itself has no particle or material decomposition and once installed is 100% maintenance free and will last the lifetime of your floors.

source: http://www.nuheat.com/

The actual cost of operating Nuheat Floor Heating Systems will depend on the size of the floor area, cost of electricity in your area and length of time the Nuheat system will be turned on. Traditionally, electric baseboard heaters are installed according to the rule of thumb that each room should be heated by 34 BTU (British Thermal Units) per square foot (given average insulation). Nuheat produces over 41 BTU per square foot. The table to the right shows a comparison of the BTU output at various square footages for Nuheat and electric baseboard heaters. BTU Sample Output BTU Sample Output BTU Sample Output.

To determine how much it will cost to operate Nuheat Floor Heating Systems in your home, use the Operating Cost Calculator found at http://www.nuheat.com/.

All Nuheat Floor Heating Systems are covered by a 25-year warranty.

WHY GLASS BLOCK?

One of the most attractive showers you can install in your home is a glass block shower. The shower is constructed of thick glass “bricks”. The glass allows light to penetrate from the rest of bathroom and through any outdoor windows reducing the need for artificial lighting. They are opaque and give a hint of only the slightest silhouette behind the glass. The end result is a light and open feeling shower but one that still gives you the privacy you desire.



Glass block wall designed and installed by KHI

 Although glass block is very popular in showers, many people are choosing glass block windows to reduce their home energy costs. A standard glass-block window has an insulating value about equal to a standard double-pane thermal window and because they are much thicker than most glass, they are the most durable type of window available. Since glass block is air tight, replacing your existing basement windows with glass block windows will result in the basement being warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. No more cold air drafts in the winter; warm air stays inside your home.

In addition to being energy efficient, another advantage of having glass block windows is to increase the

security of your home. One of the easiest ways for an intruder to enter your house is through a basement window, especially if it is damaged or doesn't lock properly. These windows are nearly impossible to break through and because it offers privacy, a would-be thief won't be able to see inside.

Glass Block is one of the more cutting edge building materials on the market today. It can enhance a bathroom, kitchen, laundry room, entryway or other living area. If you’re looking for ways to cut energy costs yet add design flair to your home, you may want to consider adding glass blocks to your next project.

source: http://www.servicemagic.com