Historic Preservation Project – Installment Two

by Paul Mills on January 8, 2010

Mills Craftsman David Reed

Mills Craftsman David Reed

Recently, I posted the first installment in a series of three posts that chronicle the efforts of Mills Builders to complete a significant historic preservation project on a lovely midtown home dating to the Victorian era.

Located on Capitol Avenue, the project, funded by the City of Sacramento and the homeowner, involves a very challenging front porch restoration.

The plans call for precise execution against plans, and attention to detail.

Installment One describes the nature and scope of the project. My goal today, is to bring you up-to-date on our progress. [click to continue…]

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Rob Bachanas - Superintendent I

Rob Bachanas - Superintendent

It is today my pleasure, to introduce our readers to Mr. Rob Bachanas, a dedicated, long-time member of the Mills Builders Team.

Officially serving the company as a Lead Carpenter, Rob is one of those folks who is – far more often than not – the first to arrive for work in the morning and the last to leave at night. [click to continue…]

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When One Bid Is Better Than Three – The Decline of Competitive Bidding

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If you are like me, you have often heard it said that one is wise to solicit “at least three estimates” when contemplating a major expenditure.  Many homeowners believe they will pay too much if they fail to introduce  competition into the process of choosing a contractor. Does this make sense?  Certainly. A well-organized bid [...]

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Meet The Mills Builders Team: Jonathan Mills, President & Production Manager

December 23, 2009

Today, we profile Jonathan Mills, our President.
Jon attended the University of Texas at Austin where he studied architecture and German literature, earning the B.A. degree.
He commenced his apprenticeship in the building trades while he was in high school.  After completing his education in Austin, he relocated to Berkeley, California where, he worked and learned from [...]

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New Crossing Over Sacramento River Explored By Cities of Sacramento & West Sacramento – Proposals Solicited!

December 18, 2009

It’s been the subject of conversation for years.  It’s controversial. Yet, it seems to most people to make sense – at least on some level. But how might our neighborhoods be affected by a new crossing of the Sacramento River?
Many proposals for a new river crossing have been advanced over the years. Nowadays, most proposals [...]

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Mills Builders Begins Historic Preservation Project (Installment 1)

December 3, 2009

Jonathan Mills, President and Production Manager for Mills Builders, Inc. has long enjoyed the challenges and rewards associated with the renovation of  historic structures. So, it surprised no one on the Mills team that he quickly and enthusiastically said “yes” when he was asked to undertake a difficult front porch restoration on a historic Victorian-era [...]

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News From The Field: Palisade Synthetic Underlayment – A Terrific Product!

November 24, 2009

The building products industry is amazingly innovative. Billions are expended on research and development. Terrific new products are launched all the time. We are constantly on the lookout for products that are easier to use or install, materials that offer greater durability, and especially those that provide a better value for our clients.

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Our Projects: Decking Comes Of Age With Bison Ipe Wood Tiles.

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Twenty-Five years ago, suburbanites from Long Island to Sacramento discovered the utility of decks. Initially, DIY types sketched-out simple plans, made a quick run to Home Depot, and after a few beers and a couple of false starts, voila, a deck was born! Most of the decks built in those early days left much to [...]

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Meet The Mills Builders Team – Luke McDonough, Project Manager.

November 9, 2009
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In the ongoing introduction of the Mills Builders team, I would like to introduce to our readers, Luke McDonough – Project Manager.  If you do business with Mills Builders, there is a good chance that you will become personally acquainted with Luke.
Project Managers have an especially difficult job. The best are resolute, focused, analytical and [...]

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Curtis Park Residents Troubled by Elements of Proposed Petrovitch Infill Project

November 5, 2009

It is difficult to find anyone who disagrees – the time has come to erase the toxic eyesore that is the old Curtis Park Rail-Yard. Residents of Curtis Park and neighboring Land Park almost universally desire smart, mixed-use development of this large property. Notwithstanding this, the developer, residents, and city officials have put forward diverse [...]

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California Seeks to Eradicate Toxic Lead In Water Supply Through Retrofit of Old Residential Plumbing Fixtures.

November 2, 2009

Effective January 1st 2010, new state regulations will become active that describe a comprehensive program for dramatically reducing levels of lead now found in older plumbing systems in homes statewide. This holds implications for homeowners interested in retrofitting of plumbing fixtures in connection with remodeling projects after January 1st 2010.
The California Department of Toxic Substances [...]

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Retrofit With New Appliances & Save! State Announces Appliance Rebate Program (Energy-Efficiency Installment No.3)

October 29, 2009

We don’t often credit politicians with making practical, financially sound, decisions. Yet, as we have seen, the present administration seems to recognize the utility of spending precious stimulus dollars on programs to enhance energy- efficiency.The State of California has been awarded slightly more than $35 million dollars to be used to assist homeowners in the [...]

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Meet The Mills Builders Team – Danny DePiazza, Project Manager

October 27, 2009

Today, I would like to take a moment and introduce you to one of our two Project Managers, Mr. Danny DePiazza.
Project Managers play a vital role in the construction process. They are also among the most visible employees in the company. When you work with Mills Builders, you will see and interact with your Project [...]

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Reduce Noise & Pollution With Environmentally Smart Lawn Tools

October 27, 2009
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Working from a home office is a new experience for me. I don’t work exclusively at home, but more often than not I take up my post in a nine by nine foot cubbyhole at eight or nine a.m., every morning, and there I remain until the day’s work is done. I occasionally miss the [...]

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Use Tax Credits to Retrofit With Energy Saving Products (Energy Efficiency Installment No. 2)

October 12, 2009

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 significantly extends a wide range of tax incentives first created by the Energy Policy Act of 2005. These tax credits – as amended – are found in the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-343). This is the very same legislation that provides for many programs [...]

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Meet The Mills Builders Team: Carol Schluntz, V.P. Sales

October 8, 2009

When prospective clients telephone or email Mills Builders, Carol Schluntz – more often than not- is their first point of contact.  Mrs. Schluntz serves the business in the highly visible role of   V.P. of Sales.  In this capacity, she works with both prospective, and established clients of the company. She is also active in [...]

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Read This Before You Buy a Tankless Water Heater! (Energy Efficiency, Installment No.1)

October 6, 2009

Tankless or on-demand water heaters are quite popular. Most homeowners nowadays choose tankless models when they remodel as a result of efficiency claims made by manufacturers and salespeople.
Conventional gas-fired water heaters lose heat through the walls of their storage tanks – especially during “standby mode”. Gasses and energy produced by the combustion process are vented [...]

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Land Park Neighbors Join To Promote Public Safety & Fight Crime

October 5, 2009

Sacramento is a unique and wonderful city in many ways. Not the least of these is the strong sense of community that prevails in the neighborhoods where we live and work. I have already reported on the terrific outpouring of community concern in East Sac when amenities at McKinley Park were threatened by drastic budget [...]

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Aging In Place? Begin Your Current Remodel With the Future In Mind

September 29, 2009

The editor(s) of a leading scholarly journal in the field of gerontology, the Journal of Housing for the Elderly, have said:  “Housing is more than houses, it is the foundation upon which the essentials of life are anchored. The quality of housing can enhance or diminish the well-being of individuals and families as well as [...]

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How to Choose a Remodeling Contractor (Installment No. 1)

September 24, 2009
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In the greater Sacramento area, there are several excellent remodeling contractors. Still, homeowners faced with a significant remodeling project will find that making a choice between competing alternatives is difficult. A few contractors usually emerge as people you do not want to do business with – one simply gets a “gut feeling” that a given [...]

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Get a Better Mortgage Today!

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Once again, homeowners are beginning to ask, “Does it makes sense to refinance my mortgage?” The short answer is “Yes, maybe!”
In case you haven’t heard, mortgage rates are at historically low levels. Government-backed mortgage money is available in abundance. I cannot recall any time in the past that presented greater opportunity for persons interested in refinancing [...]

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East Sac Residents Join Forces to Protect McKinley Park As Cuts Take Toll

September 21, 2009
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I am a relative newcomer to Sacramento. Other members of my family have called California home for decades. I remain, however, the new arrival – a native of west Texas, New Mexico and Georgia.
Although I moved to Land Park on a cold December day, I immediately fell in love with Wm. Land Park. It is [...]

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Make Your New Garden Old!

September 17, 2009
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Many things become better over time – Levi’s, classical guitars, even people. Gardens too, improve with age.  As inviting as they may be at the outset, gardens evolve toward perfection. The transformation takes time, but we human beings are impatient. So you will not be surprised to learn that enterprising gardeners have devised techniques to help [...]

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Mills Builders, Inc. Announces the Launch of “Remodeling Sacramento”

September 4, 2009

Thank you for visiting our new weblog, Remodeling Sacramento.
“What’s Remodeling Sacramento about? What’s in it for you?
From the experience of teaching our popular seminar Strategies for Remodeling & Fine Homebuilding, we learned that homeowners are hungry for straight answers about remodeling their homes. We intend to provide the information they need, along with tips, product and book reviews, [...]

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A “Simply Delicious” Review

August 19, 2009
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Folks who love to cook and eat – the world over – swoon when they contemplate the magnificent fare that emerges from the kitchen of recipe guru and cook Elise Bauer.  She comes by her remarkable culinary talents naturally, having learned to cook under the tutelage of her mother and father – also cooks of [...]

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