Message from Doug

I am an avid reader of non-fiction books, books about management, marketing and self-improvement.  I also enjoy biographies and autobiographies of great leaders and business people.  Biographies and autobiographies will often reveal the specific steps that a particular person took to achieve success.  These stories can be very informative and inspirational.

“Is this Great Recession that we find ourselves in our own ‘catastrophic setback’ that is so common in most stories of success?”

I am wrapping up Conrad Hilton’s autobiography “Be My Guest” (available for free at any Hilton hotel).  He made the biggest investment of his early career by breaking ground on a huge hotel on the eve of the Great Depression.  On multiple occasions during the following years of the Depression, he was on his last dime.  There were many instances where defeat was almost a certainty.  But through it all, he kept fighting – kept working hard and searching for ways that he, and his hotels, could succeed. 

The common theme in all of the great biographies and autobiographies is:

1. Early success,
2. Catastrophic setback,
3. Dogged determination to persevere, then
4. Greater success. 

The “Greater success” is usually much larger than the “Early success.”
You can see this theme in many successful men and women throughout history.  Abraham Lincoln, Winston Churchill and Walt Disney faced adversity and persevered.  Lance Armstrong and Donald Trump are popular contemporary examples.  You can find other stories of success – not so famous but just as inspirational – right in your own neighborhood.

Is this Great Recession that we find ourselves in our own “catastrophic setback” that is so common in most stories of success?  If it is, are you putting forth a “dogged determination to persevere?”

If you find yourself – like Conrad Hilton did – on the brink of defeat, don’t give up.  There are always other ways to make it work; something else that can be done.  The successes in life, whether famous or the person next door, are the ones that didn’t give up when things were bleak.  They got up, worked hard, and had patience to see it through.

On a happier subject: It’s Christmas time!  Be sure to take this opportunity to celebrate and cherish your time with your family and friends.  Spend time laughing and enjoying the positive things in our lives.

Let the Holidays be your brief recess from your “catastrophic setback”.  Then, after the New Year, get back to work with your “dogged determination to persevere.”  After all, your “greater success” is waiting for you.

Merry Christmas,

“With soils and foundations being the most difficult part of my job, I need a professional company that knows what they are doing.  Herbert Construction Company is the most professional foundation contractor I have worked with.”  Charlie Borg, Project Manager, Traton Homes

Recent Referrals

The sales guru Jeffrey Gitomer states that the definition of “Referral” is Risk.  When someone refers a company to another individual, they are risking their personal reputation on the performance of that referred company. 

We agree with that explanation.  And, we keep that in mind every time we get referred.  We appreciate the confidence placed in us each time our clients and friends refer our company to others.

Thank you to the following outstanding people that have referred our company:
Dale Peek of Peek Design Group – Architect, www.PeekDesign.com
Tony Bondhus of Bauhaus Design Build – Builder, www.BauhausDesignBuild.com
Roman Fortin of Fortin Properties, Atlanta

 

“Herbert Construction Company’s turn-key approach saves me time because I don’t have to pull all of the pieces together.  That is very important for me when I am handling every aspect of the home construction.” Kyle Henry, Kyle V. Henry, Inc.

Better Building Practices

Throughout the past 32 years we’ve constructed more than 6,290 foundations.  When it comes to foundation design and construction, we’ve seen the good, the bad, and the ugly. 

We also see many areas in new house construction that can be improved with a slight change in the construction method.  These changes can have a huge impact on the constructability and performance of the building structure.

“In this issue, we’ll talk about the best method for front porch design and construction.  Builders and architects can improve their homes with this simple, but highly effective, modification.”

The Problem
The house foundation wall that also supports the front porch is often designed and constructed in a way that is susceptible to water problems.  The top of the foundation wall is

Water leaks caused by typical front porch construction.

flat.  The 2”x6” sill plate and the porch slab both sit on the same top of wall area.
The porch slab is often poured at the same time as the basement and garage slabs.  Next, the framing is completed.  Then the brick or stone façade is placed on top of the porch slab. 

The problem occurs when the moisture barrier (house wrap) is not brought down from the framing and bent to lay flat on top of the porch slab.  Any rain water that is behind the brick/stone goes directly to the top of the porch slab.  Rain that gets onto the porch slab can find its way between the slab and brick/stone.  Once that water is behind the brick/stone and on top of the porch slab, it will flow down to the sill plate, then onto the top of the concrete wall and into the basement.

Even if the original intent was for the moisture barrier to come down from the framing and then bend to lay flat on the porch slab, it doesn’t get done that way in the field.  It isn’t constructed correctly.  The moisture barrier starts just above the porch slab, which allows the water to get back behind the porch slab.

This is one of those areas that is very, very difficult to remedy once there is a problem.  Builders have a hard time actually pinpointing where the water is coming from – and an even harder time fixing the problem.

Homeowners will usually call on particular rain days where the storms drive the rain onto the porch from the side (gable end) of the porch.  The rain falls onto the porch and wind blows it back against - and under - the brick/stone façade.

It can take a lot of time, effort and headaches to fix this problem.  And, your homeowner can get increasingly aggravated every time it rains and the problem isn’t solved.

The Solution   

The solution is to stop hoping that the moisture barrier will get installed correctly and to create the jobsite conditions that allow it to work effectively.

Modified porch design eliminates water issues.

The goal is to keep the water away from the top of the concrete wall, where it could then get into the basement.

At the top of the basement wall, create a 4” wide x 4” tall brickledge that the porch slab will rest on.  The moisture barrier then extends down against the brickledge, past the top of concrete wall and sill plate.  The porch slab is placed against the moisture barrier after the framing and moisture barrier have been completed.

The rain water can still get behind the brick/stone and travel down to the porch slab.  And, it can still travel between the porch slab and the brick/stone.  However, it will now travel past the top of the concrete wall and continue down to the inside of the porch.

 

We have been promoting this method of design and construction for many years and it has eliminated water problems in this area of the home.

Sometimes it's not a matter of how many problems like this you have with your houses, it's a matter of how difficult it can be to fix it when there is a problem.  This simple design and construction change is an easy insurance policy against a water problem in this area of the house.

 

 

One Critical Item
There is one more important thing that must be done to make this system work.  Be sure to continue the 4” x 4” brick/slab ledge through the areas where the porch foundation walls meet the basement foundation walls.  Be sure this intersection is “notched out” to provide a break in the porch wall. 

This will allow the moisture barrier to continue through this area – instead of jumping up over the porch foundation wall.  If you run the porch foundation wall directly into the house foundation wall, then the moisture barrier will deposit the water on top of the house foundation wall in that area. 

Raised porch foundation walls allow for efficient porch construction.

Additional Tip
To reduce the height of the slab turndown at the front of the porch, raise the height of the porch wall 8”.  If the basement walls are 9’-0”, then construct the porch walls at 9’-8”.  This will make it easier to form the front face of the porch slab.  It will also keep the formed edge straight and free from bowing.

Questions?
If you have questions or would like further explanation about this method, give us a call.  Or, if you believe your construction sequence won’t allow you to construct your porch foundation this way, call us.  We’ve got the answers on how to make this system work in any situation.

"Since Herbert Construction Company has been constructing our porches with this method, we haven't had any water problems in this area." Rick Foster, Vice President of Construction, Traton Homes

Turkey Giveaway Winners

In our November Newsletter we offered four free turkeys as a way of expressing our Thankfulness to our clients and Newsletter readers.  We offered a free frozen turkey to the first four people to call Doug.  The response to the turkey giveaway was amazing.  It created quite a lot of interest and we received many comments from our readers.

Pictured here are two of the fast-acting free frozen turkey recipients.  We are happy that they received the turkeys and had a lot of fun delivering them.

 

Mike Miller at the friendly offices of Consulting Enterprises Corp. receives a big ‘ol turkey from Doug Herbert.

 

 

 

 

Doug delivers a turkey to Bill Eason of Eason Construction Services, Inc.  Bill’s adorable children Ellie and Thomas are there for the hand-off.  (Thanks to the Eason family for the delicious scuppernong jelly.)

Survival Strategies for Atlanta Home Building Professionals

Special Report Reveals More than 57 Tips for Reducing Costs and Making It Through This Recession

Would you like to know the many steps that Atlanta area Builders, Architects and Trade Contractors have taken to reduce their costs and position themselves in this Recession?

How are they coping during this recession? 
What are the changes (both small and large) that they have made to reduce their costs? 
What have others in the building industry done to try to SURVIVE? 

We have been posing those and other questions to our clients and friends.  We have learned of many valuable tactics that have been used to cope with the recession. 

I am putting the finishing touches on a Special Report that shares this information.  If you would like a FREE copy once the Report is finished, send me an email and let me know.  My email address is: Doug@HerbertConstruction.com

Be sure to include your current contact information and I’ll add you to the list to receive the Special Report.

Luxury Item – Just in time for Christmas

The “Wish List” item for the guy with multiple cars and not enough garage space.

Have you seen the vehicle lifts for residential applications?  The four post hydraulic lift is a less expensive alternative to the traditional scissor lift.  The big advantage with this system  is that it lowers one car into a lower level, allowing another car to be parked on top of the lift’s canopy (which now serves as the floor of the garage). Prices start at around $25,000.

While this would never be practical in suburban subdivisions, there are specific applications for it here in Atlanta, such as:

• At intown locations where square footage and garage space is at a premium.
• At teardowns inside the perimeter with narrow lots that make multi-car garages impossible.
• Where the grade at the garage slopes away quickly requiring tall garage foundation walls.  Instead of backfilling that garage foundation, a lower level can be created for additional vehicle storage.
• To create a “Man Cave” in a lower level where collector cars, motorcycles, jet skis, etc. can be stored, worked on and displayed.

We can work with you to design and construct a vehicle lift for your client.  We also will assemble and install the lift in place. 

The photos are from www.Vasari-Lifts.com.

Message from Doug

If someone told you at the end of 2006 that the next four years would push you to your limits while slashing your net worth, would you have believed them?  If they said that from 2006 to 2009 the single-family home building permits would decrease by 92%, would you believe that?  I wouldn’t either, but here we are.  The Atlanta homebuilding industry is about to wrap up its fourth year of the Great Recession.

Much like you, the recession has had a big impact on the financial situation of both our company and personal finances.  As an entrepreneur there is often very little separation between the two.

Throughout this time the Herbert household has had to make a lot of adjustments in order to get through these tough times.  We’ve scaled back on everything.  We now choose between this OR that – instead of getting both as in years past.  Doing more with less has gone from a catchy slogan to an operational mandate.

We haven’t had to resort to adding water to the ketchup to make it go farther…at least not yet.  Ask me about that next year.

Like everyone I know, the recession has made us look for work in many places and in many forms.  The positive thing about this has been our company’s expansion throughout the South and Southeast.

• In 2009 my brother, Mike, started our division in San Antonio, TX.  From this location we do work in Austin as well.  You can learn more about this on our website.
• In mid-summer we completed a five month project just North of New Orleans, LA.  This was a huge 12,000 sq. ft. above-grade concrete home that we constructed.  See our feature article for more on this.
• Most recently, we finished the foundation for, what we are told, is the largest single-family home in South Carolina for our client, Rick Fierer of Bildon Construction.  Look for an article on that project in a future Newsletter.

These events, coupled with a few active clients in Atlanta, have been the bright spots for us over the last two years.  We are Thankful for that activity.

This brings me to my next item: Thanksgiving is upon us.  In spite of the chaos of the last four years, we have so much to be Thankful for.  One of those things to be thankful for are our clients throughout this past year.  Thank you.  All five of you know who you are (just kidding).

Be sure to recognize and acknowledge all of the things you have to be thankful for, regardless of the difficult environment we find ourselves in.  There are always bright spots in our lives – if we look for them.

And, there are always things we can do to improve our situation.  I have talked with friends in the home building industry that have been able to find new niches, new ways to turn their knowledge and experience into profitable conditions.  That’s what we do as entrepreneurs – we create value in the marketplace for a profit.

So here’s your November shot-in-the-arm:  Figure out how to use what you know and then apply it towards improving something – for a profit.  There is always something more we can do.  I hope you find yours.

As for Thanksgiving Day, I’ll be running in the Atlanta Half Marathon that morning.  I’ll look forward to that big Thanksgiving Dinner latter that day. O.K., so maybe we’ll have to choose between ham OR turkey – instead of having both as we’ve had in years past.  I’m fine with that.

Happy Thanksgiving,

Featured Project – Private Residence, Louisiana

In August we completed a five month project in Bush, Louisiana.  This was a 12,000 sq. ft. Italian influenced above-grade concrete home.  Instead of 2x6 stud exterior walls, the owner and architect chose a concrete wall system called Thermomass.  LNK E nterprises, LLC was selected a s the general contractor for the project.  Richard Machen was the on-site superintendent for LNK. 

We performed the work as a joint venture with a good friend of ours, Mike Hancock, Owner of Basement Contractors in Oklahoma City, OK.  Mike handled the excavation and concrete slabs.  We constructed the footings, basement walls and above-grade walls.  Barry Herbert managed the entire project for Herbert Construction Company. 

The home consists of two stories with a full Terrace Level (walkout basement).  There are two 2-car garages.  One of the 2-car garages was over a structural concrete slab to allow more space in the Terrace Level.  The rear porch was an elevated structural concrete slab.  The rest of the home had conventional wood flooring. 

There were 85 window and door openings in the exterior concrete walls.  Many of them were arched at the top.  We installed 195 electrical boxes for switches and outlets into the wall forms that were then poured into place in the concrete.  The typical First Floor wall height was 12’-0” tall.  The second story walls up were up to 24’-3 ¼” tall.  There were also many gable ends in the exterior walls that were formed and poured in concrete.

Benefits of a Concrete Home

The owners and architect chose a concrete home for its energy efficiency, indoor air quality, immunity to termites, resistance to hurricane-related winds, and overall security.  The thermal-mass (or storage capacity) of the concrete plays a big factor in the energy efficiency of the building. 

To describe the thermal-mass effect, we use the analogy of a rock in the desert.  It absorbs the warmth of the day and then continues to give off that heat after the temperature drops at night.  The same thing happens with concrete.  Once it is heated up in the winter – or cooled down in the summer – it continues to radiate that constant temperature, reducing the demands on the HVAC system to continually heat (or cool) the air inside the building.

Thermomass® Wall System
Thermomass is an Insulated concrete sandwich wall.  The wall consisted of 2” of rigid insulation between two 4” thick sections of concrete, totaling a 10” wide wall.  Stucco will be applied directly to the exterior face of the concrete wall.  Plaster will be applied to the interior face of the concrete wall.

 

 

Happy Clients 
For the general contractor on this project, the choice of who to use for the concrete work was an easy decision.  On one extreme there were commercial concrete contractors that would have taken too long to complete the project and charge an arm and a leg. 

On the other end of the spectrum there were residential concrete contractors that didn’t have any experience with above-grade concrete construction.  This would have been their on-the-job training.  It was an obvious choice to use a contractor team that had experience with Thermomass and above-grade concrete homes, that could complete the project quickly and within the owner’s budget.  After the concrete portion was completed LNK Enterprises, LLC expressed the fact that they were very happy they chose the team of Basement Contractors and Herbert Construction.  The architect was also impressed with the entire concrete portion of the project.

One of Many Concrete Home Projects
Within the past few years we have completed other above-grade concrete homes right here in Atlanta.  We constructed a two-story home with a basement and two 2-car garages for a former NFL offensive lineman for the Falcons.  We also constructed an executive home that has a structural concrete slab for the Main Level (instead of a wood flooring system).  It has an 85’-0” long concrete indoor shooting range.  In the walkout basement area there is a large 12’-6” tall RV/Boat garage that is under the 3-car garage above.

Would You Like a FREE Turkey for the Holidays?

As a way of expressing our Thankfulness to our clients and associates, we are giving away four frozen turkeys. Be one of the first four people to call Doug at 678-859-2304 and he’ll deliver your 16–18 lb. frozen turkey to you before Thanksgiving Day.

Only four free turkeys will be given away, so call right away. Limit one turkey per company.

Recent Referrals—Thank You

Most of our new clients come from referrals by existing clients and friends.  Almost all of our clients have referred at least one person to our company.  We greatly appreciate the confidence placed in us through these referrals.  Here are a few outstanding people that have recently referred our company:

Todd Strickland at Historical Concepts – Architect/Planner/Place Maker www.HistoricalConcepts.com
Matt Clark at Landmark Builders – Homebuilder www.LandmarkBuildersGroup.com
Bill Hale at Whale Ventures – Developer (770) 452-1129
Chris DeVotie at Traton Homes – Homebuilder www.TratonHomes.com
Ryan Duffy at Summerour & Associates – Architect www.Summerour.net  

All of us at Herbert Construction Company thank you for referring our company.

Barry Herbert Presents Award to Fellow Concrete Contractor

Earlier this year, Barry Herbert presented the coveted Robert D. Sawyer Distinguished Service Award to Scott Smith at the Concrete Foundation Association's (CFA) Annual Summer Convention. Scott is the President of MPW Construction Services, located in Wellington, Ohio.

The award is presented to a CFA contractor member whose contributions to the concrete industry merit recognition. The award recognizes individuals who commit countless time and resources to serve the industry. It is the residential concrete equivalent of the Grammys, Emmys, or Oscars. The award is not presented on a regular basis, it is only given to select individuals.

Barry Herbert is a prior recipient of the award. To read more about Barry receiving this award, visit our News & Information page of our website. www.HerbertConstruction.com

Survival Strategies for Atlanta Home Building Professionals

How are Atlanta area home builders coping during this recession? 

What are the changes (both small and large) that home builders have made to reduce their costs? 

What have others in the building industry done to try to SURVIVE? 

These are some questions I have been asking myself over the past several months.  I have also been posing those questions to our home builder clients and fellow trade contractors. 

Along the way I learned of many valuable tactics that have been used to cope with the recession.  The more I learned, the more I wanted to share this information with others in the home building industry. 

I have compiled these survival strategies and am putting the finishing touches on a Special Report that shares this information.  If you would like a FREE copy once the Report is finished, send me an email and let me know. 

Be sure to include your current contact information and I’ll add you to the list to receive the Special Report.

My email address is Doug@HerbertConstruction.com

New Auger Motor Increases Speed, Reduces Cost to Builder

Earlier this year we purchased a new hydraulic motor for our auger.  This motor is faster than our previous motor, which means that our open-hole pier augering can be completed faster. 

Since the augering is billed by the hour, this will decrease the time it takes to auger piers and reduce the costs to our builder clients.

A faster motor will also allow us to complete even larger augered pier projects and pour the concrete into them on that same day.  This reduces the chances of dirt cave-ins or water migrating to the open hole – resulting in a better pier and foundation for the building.

In addition to our open-hole auger piering, we still provide helical piering.  When you need to go down farther than is practical for an augered pier, or the soil will not hold up for an augered pier, we can install helical piers.  There is no depth restriction for helical piers.  The depth is only limited to your budget for the project.

Call us at 770-795-0103 if you need augered piers or helical piers on your next project.  We can recommend a geotechnical engineer and also help you decide which piering is right for your site.

“This new motor is a LOT faster than the one we had before.  Our other one was a good, fast motor.  But, with this one we are able to auger piers much faster than I’ve ever seen.”
— Terry Spencer, auger operator at Herbert Construction Company

“That thing chews up the dirt like a rabid badger on steroids.”
— Rob Newsome, auger operator at Herbert Construction Company. (See picture at right for a badger, not one of our auger operators.)