August 2008 by brad palmer

North Central Florida Edition

Buildingâ&#x201E;˘

EDGE

MAGAZINE

The Local Voice in Building

August 2008

In This Issue Individual Spotlight: Leonard Sherouse, Jr.: Maintaining Tradition Financial Perspective: Insurance Update: The 2008 Legislative Session (The Song Remains the Same) Supplier spotlight: Aluma-Tec of Central Florida: Providing Quality Products and Great Service

Schafer Construction of Gainesville: A Journey to Great Building Cover photo by David Johnston

Supplier Spotlight

Aluma-Tec of Central Florida: Providing Quality Products and Great Service By David Greenberg At Aluma-Tec of Central Florida, providing quality building products with superior design and installation is not enough for owners and business partners Rick Mixson and Susan Johnston Mixson. Superior account management is a prime goal for the husband-wife team. “When we bought Aluma-Tec in November 2006, the company had a 35 year history and many happy customers,” said Mixson. “Our number one concern is to keep building the number of satisfied customers with an emphasis on customer service and hands-on supervision in the field.” The Ocala-based company manufactures and installs pool enclosures, sunrooms, screen rooms, siding, soffit and fascia, windows, hurricane shutters, aluminum structures, garage screen doors, pergolas and decks for residential and commercial construction. The company works with residential and commercial builders and the general public. “What sets us apart isn’t just the wide selection of products and services we offer, although that does make Aluma-Tec a onestop choice for our clients,” said Mixson. “We bring knowledge, skills, and the integrity of the people in our company to the table. With our master craftsmen, installers, and service personnel, we have a combined industry experience of over 200 years working for you.” Mixson and Johnston Mixson are no strangers to construction, having grown-up with families in the industry. Both understand the critical need for subcontractors to meet deadlines and resolve any issues that might arise. The company maintains two full-time service technicians to follow-up on any punch list items. “My dad was a residential and commercial contractor in Brevard County,” Mixson explained. “My uncle was a contractor, too. It was my upbringing – from digging footers to putting on shingles. I was out at my dad’s jobs during the summer and weekends starting at a very young age. I understand the importance of getting my part of the work done when it’s scheduled to be done.”

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Johnston Mixson’s family has remodeled and built custom homes and commercial properties for years, and still owns and operates a heating and air conditioning business. Combined with a degree in communications, she brings almost 30 years experience working on deadline in business planning, marketing, writing, editing and strategic-platform building. “I understand the importance of merging quality workmanship with deadlines and the value of good client communication,” said Johnston Mixson. “If something needs clarification, clarify it. Ask questions, define expectations, and don’t wait until the last minute to get things done properly.” This combined experience and attitude helps establish the high bar of excellence the company sets for their work. Good relationships in the building community have led to industry professionals calling when they need work done on their own homes, and to referring family and friends. “We’re taking Aluma-Tec to a higher level of organization and competency through investments in innovation, sustainable business practices, and most importantly, our people,” said Johnston Mixson. “No matter how successful a company is perceived to be, it’s our people that create that success. This leads to higher satis-

faction for our clients. I am very proud to work with the people I work with. And, I’m also proud of the products and services we deliver to our customers.” Judging by some of the builders for whom Aluma-Tec works, the company’s quality has to be good. “We work with some of the high-end contractors and projects in the Central Florida area,” said Mixson. “They include Armstrong Homes, Rick Lorick Construction, Claeys Construction, Ferrentino and Sons, Ecclestone Homes, and Juliette Falls.” Mixson says buying Aluma-Tec was an opportunity for him to get back into construction, but he also saw it as a chance to give back to the community. The company supports many charitable organizations and is involved in a number of trade associations that are equally dedicated to the community. Based on the quality of their products, and the service provided by Aluma-Tec of Central Florida, the true beneficiaries are the customers and the local community. To learn more about the array of products and services offered by Aluma-Tec of Central Florida, go online to www.alumatecflorida.com, or call (352) 732-7362.

Aluma-Tec of Central Florida adds beauty, safety and security with its enclosures.

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Building™

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MAGAZINE

The Local Voice in Building

Contents Supplier Spotlight

Aluma-Tec of Central Florida: Providing Quality Products and Great Service

Publisher’s Column

Financial Perspective

Insurance Update: The 2008 Legislative Session (The Song Remains the Same)

Cover Feature

Schafer Construction of Gainesville: A Journey to Great Building By David Greenberg Photography by David Johnston and Aaron Bailey

In the News

Gary Powell Joins RBC Paul Gaynes and Michael Rowe Join the Team at Lighting Unlimited

Individual Spotlight

Leonard Sherouse, Jr.: Maintaining Tradition

Association News

MCBIA is Thinking Green

Focus Section

Curb Appeal Making a First Impression By David Greenberg

Government News

Alachua County Commission Candidates Speak to Business Community

Jake’s Corner

Welcome Jake Fuller: Jake’s Corner Comes to Advantage Publishing

Index to Advertisers

From the Publisher North Central Florida Edition August 2008 Publisher Advantage Publishing Inc. Scott Costello 4140 NW 37th PL Suite D Gainesville, FL 32606 Gainesville: 352-372-5854 Ocala: 352-368-1707 Scott@AdvantagePublishingInc.com www.advantagepublishinginc.com

Sales Director Kyle Lindsey Kyle@advantagepublishinginc.com Advertising Sales Andrea Heugel andrea@advantagepublishinginc.com Zone Manager Rick Jacobs Editor David Greenberg Senior Writer Holly Christensen Marina Blomberg Staff Writers Attiyya Anthony Yvonne Ayala Erica Blake Anjalee Khemlani Ju’lia Samuels Hailey Petway Hailey Mac Arthur Editorial Cartoonist Jake Fuller Public Relations Erica Blake Kara Kennedy Copy Editor Marcia Greenberg Design Kevin Sheehan Ad Design Kristine Bowser Photographers Aaron Bailey David Johnston Publication Coordinator Tiffanie Holladay General Manager Kevin Burdge kevinb@excelgraphics.com Home Office 201 East Bay Blvd. Provo, Utah 84606 801-734-1516 kevinb@excelgraphics.com Although every precaution is taken to ensure accuracy of published materials, Building Edge cannot be held responsible for opinions expressed or facts supplied by its authors. Copyright 2008, Building Edge Magazine. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited.

A Word In Edgewise: August….my favorite time of year. In sports, you have the pennant race heating up, and the football teams back at work preparing for the fall. At home, school is starting back up and the kids are busy again. And in local politics, it is primary season. The new economic stimulus plan is being rushed through, and should provide some nice relief for the housing industry. Oh, and gas prices fell below $4 a gallon. Who would have thought I could get excited about $4? We are pleased this month to bring you the story of Bruce Schafer and Schafer Construction of Gainesville. This is a remarkable story of a man who started learning his craft in North Dakota, and ended up as one of the area’s top full-service, custom-home builders. Along the way, Bruce brings a unique perspective to creating a home. Our Individual Spotlight this month is on Leonard Sherouse, Jr., of Sherouse Plastering. His company has been working with the local business community for 75 years, and with a younger brother and son waiting in the wings, it looks like it will be here for some time to come. In Government News, we bring you a summary of a recently held political forum hosted by of the Gainesville Area Chamber or Commerce, the Builders Association of North Central Florida (BANCF), Gainesville/Alachua County Association of Realtors (GACAR) and Preserving Rural Property Values (PRPV ). If you attended, then you know which candidates best support your interests. We have a Financial Perspective this month from Brian Scarborough, of Scarborough Company Insurance, Inc. Brian does what few people can – explain what the legislature did this year with property insurance. It is a confusing topic made much clearer with Brian’s insights. We also include a Supplier Spotlight on Aluma-Tec of Central Florida. The husband-and-wife team of Rick Mixson and Susan Johnston Mixson took over the company a little less than two years ago, and has maintained the goal of building the base of satisfied customers. In Association News, the Marion County Builders Association had a visit from Scott Monroe, treasurer of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) Heart of Florida Chapter, who explained how easy it is to consider aspects of green building in home construction. And of course, we bring another edition of Jake’s Corner to you. Jake is able to make light of what is happening in our worlds like no other. As always, I want to remind you that Building Edge is only made possible by the tremendous support and participation of our advertisers. Without them, this magazine would not be possible. If you are in the market for a new product or service, and you see them advertised in Building Edge, please consider using them. Until Next Month, Scott Costello

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Financial Perspective

Insurance Update:

The 2008 Legislative Session (The Song Remains the Same) Your Florida Legislature once again had insurance on their collective minds during this year’s session. Most of the reforms concerned Citizens Property Insurance Company. Citizens, originally intended to be the state’s insurer of last resort, is now (thanks to the last three legislative sessions and the efforts of Governor Crist) the state’s largest insurer with over 1.2 million policyholders. The problem with Citizens’ position as the state’s largest insurer is simple. They are not an insurance company. They aren’t required to carry ample reserves or reinsurance in relation to the massive property exposure that they’ve accepted. So what happens if a Category 3 (or higher) hurricane visits Florida this summer? To paraphrase House Speaker Marco Rubio, Floridians would face the largest tax increase in the history of the state. Put simply, we are Citizens Property Insurance Corporation. If a storm hits and Citizens blows through their reserves/reinsurance, they will first assess their policyholders to make up the difference (up to 15 percent of the policy premium). If that isn’t sufficient they can

By Brian Scarborough

levy an assessment on all insurance policies (other than medical malpractice and workers comp) for up to six percent of the policy premium or six percent of the deficit, whichever is greater. Any remaining deficit would be funded by a bond issue which, you guessed it, would be then funded by multi-year assessments on all Florida policyholders of up to 10 percent of the premium or 10 percent of the deficit, whichever is greater. You’ve probably already noticed these types of assessments showing up on your home, auto and business policies. I never knew I would become both an insurance agent and a tax collector, but here we are. Alex Sink, Florida’s statewide elected chief financial officer, was unsuccessful in her lobbying efforts to reduce the state’s catastrophe exposure. Instead, the Legislature passed a bill with the feel good title of “The Homeowners Bill of Rights.” The most significant provision in the bill froze Citizens rates until at least 2010. CFO Sink performed an analysis on the Citizens rate structure and found that in many coastal areas the rates Citizens charges are subsidized by 20-40 percent. In further deference to those with coastal vacation homes, the bill raised the maximum limit on homes from $1 million to $2 million. So in effect, this particular bill guaranteed inadequate coastal property rates through 2010, and allowed the company charging the inadequate rates to insure even bigger homes. But don’t worry, it is only your money that they’re gambling with. The other significant insurance reforms concern residential condominiums. Changes effective January 1, 2009 include requiring condominiums to obtain independent appraisals every three years to confirm that the buildings are being insured to full replacement value, the HVAC units will again be the responsibility of the condo association rather than the individual unit owner, individual unit owners will be required to carry at least $2,000 of assessment coverage, and condo boards (or their property managers) will be required to obtain proof of coverage on an annual basis from each individual unit owner. The good news is that if you don’t understand the new rules they’ll almost certainly change next year. In summary, following the 2008 legislative session the song remains the same in Florida. If the wind doesn’t blow most will remain oblivious to the bullet we’ve once again dodged, and property insurance rates will continue to drop. But if a storm brews all of our pocketbooks are in danger. Thanks to your state government, we’re all in the insurance business now. Brian Scarborough is a producer at Scarborough Company Insurance, which has been handling insurance needs in the Gainesville area for 40 years. He is also associate vice president of the Builders Association of North Central Florida. Brian Scarborough

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Cover Feature

One of the most distinctive features of this Schafer home on a horse farm in Jonesville is the accented, copper-metal roof.

Photo by David Johnston

Schafer Construction of Gainesville: By David Greenberg Bruce Schafer’s journey to great build- “He said bring a tool belt, hammer, ing began with a single premise. Do what square, nail set and a pencil,” said Schafer. you need to do to meet your customer’s “I started training trimming high-end, cusneeds. He did not settle on a career in tom homes.” construction in North Dakota, and he And it was some serious training. Among did not settle on jobs where he could not other things, Schafer learned to build cabicontribute his ideas. The result is Schafer nets and trim on site. Construction of Gainesville – a full-service, “There were also no pre-hung doors,” he custom home builder determined to suc- said. “We did it all on the construction site. cessfully meet the needs of its customers. There were the door slabs and other material. Like many other builders, Schafer got We put it all together right there.” his start through a family connection. In the During those early days Schafer late 1970s, he was just out of high school in learned to deal in both residential and Grand Forks, ND, and his older brother, Mark, commercial projects. helped get him a job with a contractor. “When we got to the site, it was dirt,” he 8

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said. “When we left the building was done. We did pretty much everything except the plumbing and electric. There were few subcontractors on each job. It was a great start for me. I learned how to do everything. “After a few years, I needed to get into a warmer climate,” he said. “One year we got lucky, and had an inside job. In fact, it was a mild winter with temperatures often reaching the mid 30s. Ironically, the job involved adding an insulated, raised subfloor and duct work to heat a concrete floor inside a five-story-tall freezer, and the temperature was maintained at minus five.” Following in his dad’s footsteps, Schawww.BuildingEdgeMagazine.com

Photo by David Johnston

This spacious kitchen creates a comfortable working space.

A Journey to Great Building fer decided to enlist in the military. Schafer joined the U.S. Navy. He says it is a date he will never forget because it was leap day – Feb. 29, 1980. “My father served in the Army,” he said. “I considered all branches including the Air Force which had a local base. I ultimately joined the Navy to be closer to the water.” Schafer spent six years on submarines, and living near the Navy base in New London, CT. A friend had an excavation business, so in his off hours, Schafer ran a backhoe for him, and helped him build stone walls. He left the Navy in 1986, and went to the University of Rhode Island to study civil engiwww.BuildingEdgeMagazine.com

neering. He graduated at the top of his class and came to the University of Florida to earn a master’s degree in structural engineering. “I was offered an assistantship to UT Austin and the University of Florida,” said Schafer. “My future wife, Rana, who was a student at UF, convinced me to move to Gainesville, so I accepted the offer from UF.” What Schafer did not yet realize was the one constant in his journey was construction. Whatever he was doing, he was always in and out of construction work. After earning his graduate degree, Schafer went to work for Exxon in New Orleans, where he was part of the offshore production

group, supervising the design and installation of oil rigs. “Exxon was a great experience but I realized that I preferred a more intimate environment, and I really wanted to do structural design,” he said. But Schafer still had one more stop to make on his journey back to Gainesville. “I had interviewed earlier with a small structural design firm in Tallahassee,” he said. “I heard from them, and two weeks later, I made my way there.” Schafer spent a few years in Tallahassee doing structural engineering work for architectural projects there. But by this time, he

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BUILDING EDGE MAGAZINE

Photo by Aaron Bailey

knew that he wanted to be in Gainesville. “Rana and I were still dating, and she stayed in Gainesville the whole time,” he said. “I moved back here in January 1994.” One night, he and Rana went to dinner with a local commercial contractor. He was looking for project managers, and offered Schafer a job. Schafer enjoyed working on large projects such as the Brain Institute and the Physics buildings on UF campus. That allowed Schafer to come full circle back to construction, but bring with him years of experience – both traditional and non-traditional. While working with the 10

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contractor, Schafer obtained his general contractor’s license, and shortly after his son was born, he started Schafer Construction of Gainesville in January 1997. “I started with three lots at Haile Plantation,” he said. “While I was building my first spec home, I had the opportunity to start a complete custom home on my second lot in Haile, and realized that is what I really wanted to do.” Schafer has focused on building custom homes. He also enjoyed working on some additions to existing houses. “The majority of our business comes from referrals and real estate agents,”

BUILDING EDGE Magazine

he said. Building a home with Schafer Construction of Gainesville is like working in a onestop shop. “You can come in here with an idea or concept, and we can design the floor plan and build it,” he said. “These are true custom homes, based on what the customer wants.” Schafer has built anywhere from 1,250 to 5,500 square feet. But it is the customer’s budget and desires that dictate the size home to build. He builds anywhere from four to eight homes a year. “We give homeowners a lot of leeway in design,” he said. “Most of our customers do www.BuildingEdgeMagazine.com

Left: This Schafer home is tri-leveled. This view is from the entry, looking down at the two-story, family room, and up at the bedrooms on either side of the third level.

Below: The bathroom in this recently completed home in Saddlebrook Farms features an oversized jetted tub, extensive tile work and a ceiling fan.

their own interior decorating. I help when they want it. At the end of the day, it has to be two things – a job I enjoy working on, and a home in which they will enjoy living.” Schafer likes to utilize his engineering background. When he and the customer are working on design, he can picture how to build that home in a structurally sound and cost-effective fashion. Also, Schafer is the superintendent on all his jobs. “When you are talking to someone at Schafer Construction about your home, you are talking to the builder,” he said. “I try to get to every job every day. And if need be, I www.BuildingEdgeMagazine.com

Photo by David Johnston

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Photo by Aaron Bailey

can still pick my hammer up, and do what Chuck Childs is an engineer, and, as needs to be done.” a result, Lisa Childs says they were able to And again with his engineering back- communicate effectively. ground, when Schafer is inspecting some- “There were no surprises,” she said. thing, he knows when the job is done right, “Chuck really liked the fact that Bruce was and when it is not. not just a manager of contractors, but he “I wear every hat,” he said. “I am the understood building, and could build himsales person, designer, superintendent, self. They talked the same language. Everywarranty person and sometime marriage thing was straight forward – from the budcounselor.” get to the timeline. I would use him again, Schafer built a 3,800-square-foot home and recommend him.” in Archer for Lisa and Chuck Childs. She says Schafer designed and built a that the best thing about the process was the 3,700-square-foot home in northwest way Schafer communicated with them. Gainesville for Steve and Carol Gillis in 2005. “We came from Atlanta, and didn’t know “We came to him with some drawing we the area or the people,” she said. “Our banker had done on notebook paper,” said Steve Gilrecommended Bruce. He made me feel good lis. “We asked him if he can make this hapfrom the very beginning. He was easy to work pen. Through meetings back and forth, and with, and that was very important because his expertise, we got what we wanted.” we had never built before. He listened to the Building a home in late 2004 and early things we wanted. I had two plans in mind. 2005 was an even greater challenge than norHe said he could combine the two plans, and mal because of tropical weather, said Gillis. we loved the result.” “It was a unique time to build because

Attention to the unique detail in the ceiling, along with the number of windows, creates a bright, attractive dining room.

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of the hurricanes,” he said. “The two that hit our area really impacted us. They put our building process in flux. Bruce put us back on schedule. He communicated with us constantly, and kept us in the information loop. For that reason alone, I have recommended him to others. And assuming I ever build again, he would be our first choice.” Regarding warranty, Schafer does what it takes, no matter what it says on a piece of paper. In one home, a leak did not appear until two years after the fact. “We fixed the leak,” he said. “We took off the acrocrete, and removed the insulation. The area was allowed to thoroughly dry and we refinished it as if we were never there. The bottom line is if it is something we did, we will fix it.” Rana Schafer, who is a Realtor with Coldwell Banker, M.M. Parrish Realtors, said she watched her husband take this journey, sometimes long distance, and knows that it was a process he had to take to get to where he wants to be. She remains very involved in all aspects of

Photo by David Johnston www.BuildingEdgeMagazine.com

the company and homeowners. “With his engineering background, Bruce brings a unique perspective,” she said. “He knows during design where a beam should go. That doesn’t have to be figured out later, and that keeps costs down. He tries very hard to keep his homeowners within budget or very close to it.” She says that Schafer brings flexibility to the homebuilding process as well. “His customers generally work full time,” she said. “That means they may need to meet nights or weekends to make it work. He can and will do that. This is a family affair, and we are happy when our homeowners bring their children with them. Our kids enjoy interacting with other kids.” That does not mean family does not come first in the Schafer household – because it does. It has to with two children – Alex, 12 and Geena, 9. “When he was working for the commercial contractor, we had just started our family,” she said. “He wanted to work for himself, so he started Schafer Construction.

The towering, brick fireplace is clearly the focal point of this living room, which also has a symmetrical look because of the balance created by the windows.

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Photo by David Johnston

Each home is different with Schafer Construction. In this case, the homeowner wanted a lot of frontage and windows.

Photo by Aaron Bailey

This colorful family room with built-in shelves is perfect for entertaining.

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Working from home, it gave him something that fathers don’t often get – time to bond with a new son. Everything fell into place. Work may be 24/7, but family comes first around here.” For both parents, the work schedule is flexible, and is often structured around children activities, and volunteering at school. When it is not work or family, Schafer finds a little time for his other passion, which – not surprisingly – involves using his hands. He enjoys rebuilding cars. In his garage, there is a 1972 Pontiac that he rebuilt, and a 1964 Nova that he is just about to start. “I did everything but the paint on the Pontiac,” he said. So from a cold start, and with many interesting and unusual stops along the way, it has been an interesting journey for Schafer, and now he gets to do what he wants – build custom homes. To learn more about Schafer Construction of Gainesville, Inc., call Bruce at (352) 376-5608 or visit his website at www.schaferconstruction.com.

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In the News

Gary Powell Joins RBC Gary Powell has recently joined the staff at RBC Bank, bringing 29 years of banking experience that includes 10 years of dealing with builder financing. Powell, who came from another bank in Ocala to the RBC branch at 4300 Newberry Road, services builders in Gainesville and Ocala. “We can handle builder financing with builder lines of credit for models, spec and lot inventory,” said Powell. “I deal strictly with the residential construction market, and bring a great deal of knowledge when it comes to builder transactions and their financing needs.” RBC, one of the top 10 financial institutions in the country, took over Millennium Bank earlier this year. RBC Bank has more than 430 banking centers in six states. The bank’s home-builder division is a separate section of the bank, which recognizes the importance of the residential building industry to the economy. RBC builder finances lending activity focuses exclusively on products that are designed to fund single-family residential construction projects. The financing products include single-family residential construction loans, residential land acquisition and development loans, including land and finished lot facilities, participating debt loans and small builder loans. “We have competitive rates and products available for residential construction lines of credit,” said Powell. “And we have an experienced local staff for any support or services that may be required.” To learn more about the products and services RBC Bank has available for residential builders, contact Powell at (352) 335-4035 x228, or visit the office at Gary Powell 4300 Newberry Road.

“The addition of Paul and Mike brings us great experience,” said Heuser. “This is very exciting to me. They are well known for their ability to create exciting displays and model programs. This can only further enhance the shopping experience for our customers.” Gaynes agrees, suggesting that “the addition of their expertise, in concert with Lighting Unlimited’s existing success should Michael Rowe produce very beneficial results.” “We had built some wonderful relationships with the clientele where we were previously,” said Gaynes. “That should only continue.” Lighting Unlimited will maintain its commitment to making available the latest in product introductions from industry leaders such as Kichler, Minka, Sea Gull, Quoizel, Schoenbek, Maitland-Smith and many more too numerous to mention.

To learn more about Lighting Unlimited, go online to www.illuminateflorida.com. The Ocala showroom of Lighting Unlimited is located at 1839 SW College Road. Stop by, or call the showroom at (352) 732-9692.

Paul Gaynes and Michael Rowe Join the Team at Lighting Unlimited The addition of Paul Gaynes and Michael Rowe to the expert staff at Lighting Unlimited in Ocala will make the company an even stronger resource for builders and their customers in the Ocala area. Founded in 1973, Lighting Unlimited, under the leadership of Bert Heuser, is known as one of the best sources for the Paul Gaynes fine lighting, builders lighting, hospitality lighting and lighting concepts. Gaynes, now the showroom manager, brings with him more than 30 years of experience in the lighting and home-accents industry, which includes manufacturing, design, merchandising and most recently, the president of Decorative “D” Lites in Ocala. Rowe, who came with Gaynes, was the store manager. At Lighting Unlimited, he is a builder-lighting specialist.

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Individual Spotlight

Leonard Sherouse, Jr.: Maintaining Tradition By David Greenberg We’re now getting into Leonard Sherouse’s favorite time of the year – the fall. It isn’t because business picks up now, says the owner of Sherouse Plastering, Inc. But if you want a clue about why Sherouse likes this time of year, just step into his office. The orange and blue theme will immediately give it away. “I am happiest starting in late August,”

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he said. “That is because it is football season at the University of Florida. I could care less about pro football. I watch one game a year – the Super Bowl. My office is covered in orange and blue. I just love college football and the Gators.” Sherouse, 48, has had plenty of years to watch the ups and downs of Florida football, just as he has been able to watch the ups and

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downs of the local building industry. Sherouse Plastering has been serving residential builders for more than 75 years, providing drywall, hard coat and stucco. “Our goal is to provide builders with honesty, craftsmanship and superior service,” said Sherouse. “My goal is to please each and every soul I come across. When it comes down to it, in this line of work you have to have 10 people saying good things about you for every one person saying something bad. We try to leave everyone happy. We don’t want people to have anything negative to say about us. We strive to be fair, competitive and honest.” And he says that belief does not change, even when the industry has slowed down. “I’ve been around a while,” he said. “I have seen business go up, and I have seen it come down. It may be down now, but it will be back.” Sherouse compares the current state of the business to the late 1970s. “Back when Jimmy Carter was in office, business was very slow,” he said. “For fiveto-seven years, until very recently, it was fabulous. Real estate was growing. Construction was growing. Everyone was prospering – making money hand over fist. Even people outside the industry wanted to come in. Everyone and their brother was getting a contractor’s license, and the market got flooded.” Despite what has occurred, Sherouse is optimistic about the future. “It’s going to come back,” he said. “There’s an old Robin Hood type character with a feather in his hat and an apple sitting on the hat. He’s been hit by several arrows that were shot by people aiming at the apple. None have hit the apple yet. But he stands there because he has faith that one will hit the apple. That’s where I am. You take the good with the bad, and bad with the good, and keep plugging along. “People will continue to move to Florida – and to North Central Florida,” he continued. “This is a great place to live. I believe with the University of Florida and Gainesville, this is a place where people want to come.” www.BuildingEdgeMagazine.com

Sherouse Plastering is doing what it takes to remain vital and active, he said. “Until recently, we have been strictly residential,” said Sherouse. “We are now looking at commercial projects. We’re not geared up to jump on huge commercial jobs, but we can handle small-to-medium jobs, and we have started to bid on some of them.” While some adjustments may be made to the work it does, Sherouse Plastering is not going anywhere. The company was started in 1935, when Guy Wesley Sherouse, Sr. moved here from Tennessee. When he retired, brothers, G.W. and Leonard, Sr. took over the business. “Leonard was my father and G.W. was my uncle,” said Sherouse. “Out of six children, my father was the youngest, and only one was older than G.W. When he retired, dad continued with the business. When my dad retired at the end of 1999, I kept the business going. My dad went on vacation for Thanksgiving, and never came back. He came back from vacation, but never came back to work. I’ve been trying to keep it going ever since. Today, he is still a vital part of the business,

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especially when it comes to estimating.” Sherouse started during the summers when he was eight or nine, cleaning floors and picking up trash. He started working full-time when he was 17. Sherouse says it will be a while before he steps aside, but his younger brother, David, and his son, Heith, will be ready to take over when the time comes, so the tradition will continue. Also there is a fourth generation, Leonard’s grandson, 16-month-old Wesley Heith Sherouse. When he is not at work, or at a Gator football game, you can likely find Sherouse on his Harley Davidson, maybe with the rest of his family. “I love riding my Harley,” he said. “I grew up with motorcycles with my father. We all have Harleys. We try to ride as often as we can. We haven’t had as much time lately. We spend a lot of time working, or trying to drum up work.” So if Sherouse is not on that bike, you can assume he is involved in one of two other activities – cheering on the Gators, or carrying on the family tradition of providing

honesty, craftsmanship and superior service to area builders and homeowners. To learn more about the products and services offered by Sherouse Plastering, call (386) 462-4236, or go online to www.sherouseplastering.webpointusa.com.

Leonard Sherouse, Jr.

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Association News

MCBIA is Thinking Green By David Greenberg Green is definitely the trend in construction, and during a recent Marion County Building Industry Association (MCBIA) membership meeting, builders and others in attendance heard how simple it is to take some small, green steps. Scott Monroe, treasurer of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) Heart of Florida Chapter talked about the chapter’s inception, and the services it can provide in the community. Monroe, who works for BBI Construction Management in Gainesville, said, that back in 2002, his boss, Joe Burns, suggested he go to a USGBC meeting in Orlando. “I started going, but the meetings were at 5:30,” he said. “I was leaving Gainesville at three in the afternoon, and driving to Orlando. It seemed that in my SUV, I was doing more to hurt the environment.” So Monroe got in touch with UF Professor Bahar Armaghani, and the USGBC Heart

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Scott Monroe, treasurer of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) Heart of Florida Chapter, speaks about green building at a recent MCBIA membership meeting.

builders to consider thinking green in their of Florida Chapter was started. The chapter serves Alachua, Marion, Levy, Gilchrist, Dixie, construction. “The building industry has a major Gilchrist, Bradford and Union counties. “We are one of seven chapters in Flor- impact on environmental issues,” he said. ida,” said Monroe. “It is not expected that “Construction accounts for 62 percent of water consumption, 65 percent of waste any new chapters will be formed in the output, 39 percent of CO2 emissions and near future.” 71 percent of electric consumption. Build Monroe demonstrated the case for

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ings account for about half of all the greenhouse gas emissions.” But on average, green building will result in 30 percent savings on energy costs, 35 percent on carbon, 30 to 50 percent on water use and 50 to 90 percent on waste costs. The role of USGBC, said Monroe, is to help builders do the things they need to do to offset some of these numbers. USGBC’s goal is to make green buildings accessible to everyone within a generation. USGBC does this through its LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification system. There are five categories for LEED certification, said Monroe – certified, silver, gold and platinum. The certification is based on a system where the structure gets a certain number of points for things in the construction of the building that would be considered environmentally sensitive.

dividual to become accredited will be consolidated, with all the categories being put together,” he said. “That means the testing will be different. I would encourage you to do this soon. Many projects now require a LEED-accredited person on your staff. It is definitely worth your while.” While many people make the argument that building green costs more, Monroe says that is changing. “First of all, consumers are motivated for green,” he said. “If they are asking for it, builders should be in the position to provide

it. We are also starting to see a trend toward fully sustainable communities. We are going to see more and more of that.” According to information from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), as many as 50 percent of builders are focusing their attention on green-building issues, and it is expected that by 2010, 40 to 50 percent of the homes built will be green. “And with energy prices going the way they are, the cost of building will go up,” Monroe said. “Building green will level that playing field.”

Scott Monroe

These could include having more windows for natural light, toilets that use less or no water, certain types of heating and air conditioning systems, and even carpooling or bicycle parking and showers for employees who ride to work on their bikes. Monroe suggested that while some of this may be different than traditional building practices, it is the wave of the future, and builders need to adapt to it. “For the most part, silver LEED level is already required for any public buildings,” he said. He also urged that any builders thinking of getting someone on their staff LEED accredited should act quickly. Currently, there are several categories for individuals to earn LEED accreditation. They include new construction, existing buildings, commercial interiors, homes, neighborhood developments and more. “But the new rating system for an inwww.BuildingEdgeMagazine.com

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Focus Section

Curb

Because of new technology, front doors like this one from Therma-Tru’s Mahogany Collection, can have a traditional look, but still be made from the newest, strongest materials.

Appeal Making a First Impression By David Greenberg

omebuyers generally want two things from builders – a well-built home that is a great value, and a home that looks beautiful. And while a home may look great on the inside, the first impression comes from that gut feeling when the buyer gets out of the car, and stands in front of a model. The builder either gets them while they are standing on the curb, or they are probably heading down the road to the next builder. That’s why appearance and quality are vital issues for a new home. If you brought 10 Realtors into a room, and asked them what the one most important thing was when it comes to curb appeal, you might get 10 different answers. It might be the landscaping, the front door, the siding,

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the roofing, the lighting, or any one of a number of other features. The fact is that they are all critical, and together they make up a home’s curb appeal. The roof does more than protect the home from the elements. It has to do that while looking good. No company provides better options when it comes to roofing material than GAF Material Corporation. And as a result of its recent merger with Elk Corporation, it can now offer even more. Professional installers speak highly of the dependable performance of GAF roofs, making it one of the largest roofing companies in the country, offering a wide variety of steep and low-slope applications. When it comes to low-slope roofs, most manufacturers offer only two low-slope

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roofing options – repair the roof or replace it. Because GAF offers roof restoration as an option with low-slope roofs, the choice does not have to be immediately dismissed at the construction stage. For steep-slope roofs, research shows that consumers, when given the choice, prefer to buy complete systems (as opposed to matching individual components). GAF-Elk’s Smart Choice® Roof System Solution satisfies that need. And the Roof System Solution is supported by system warranties that will protect the homebuyer’s investment. CertainTeed is another leading manufacturer of low-slope and steep-slope roofing products for residential-roofing applications. CertainTeed has served the roofing industry for more than 100 years, establishing a solid www.BuildingEdgeMagazine.com

reputation for quality, reliability and technical innovation, and offers color choices based on regions of the country. CertainTeed is also in the forefront when it comes to siding, offering a wide variety of vinyl products, along with Building Solutions®, its special program for builders. Vinyl has become one of the primary siding materials available in today’s market. It has become more popular and more widely used than wood for remodeling and new construction. It provides far better endurance than any other siding product, while requiring far less maintenance. But what homeowners like about vinyl most over other products is its design versatility, offering an unmatched variety of styles and colors. CertainTeed carries one of the widest color palettes in the industry, with a broad array of high-quality siding products backed by outstanding warranty coverage. Vinyl provides enduring beauty and design flexibility. Using a variety of siding and soffit styles, colors, accessories and trim, the homebuyer is only limited by his or her imagination. Whether it is new construction or remodeling, siding can be selected that is consistent with a home’s design, or can fit into the environment and neighboring homes. While it may not be so obvious from the curb, the front door says everything about a home. And when it comes to doors, looking back may be the best way to describe the newest trends in doors. Because when it comes to doors, old is apparently new again. The reason for the trend backwards is simple – new technology. Door manufacturers today can create things that are far stronger than in the past, and without the complications that might exist because of climate conditions. Marvin Windows and Doors is one of the leading suppliers of doors for the building industry. Marvin entry doors are intricately handcrafted, using an extensive offering of vintage and popular designs. The grain and color is carefully matched for a furniture-grade look. The stile and toprail construction is solid-wood engineered, and has been enhanced to accommodate www.BuildingEdgeMagazine.com www.BuildingEdgeMagazine.com

Lighting is critical to highlight what is special about a home’s exterior. This light, part of Sea Gull Lighting’s Hermitage line is designed to accentuate the brick and entry.

Roofing and siding from GAF Material Corporation will not only protect a home, they will add to the beauty.

the concealed multi-point locking system. Marvin offers seven styles, including Artistic, Classic, Traditional, Craftsman, Old World, Luminary and Rustic, all coming in five specialty wood species, and either primed or in five distinctive finishes. Therma-Tru was founded in 1962, and created its fiberglass door category in 1983 as an alternative to wood. Therma-Tru’s Classic-Craft® inventory comes in fiberglass, and includes a variety of styles – American Style, Mahogany Collection™, Rustic Collection™ and Oak Collection™, along with the Fiber-Classic® Smooth-Star®. Creating the fiberglass alternative has made Therma-Tru the nation’s leading manufacturer of fiberglass and steel exterior door systems, and one of the most preferred brand of entry doors by builders and remodelers. Plastpro provides another alternative in the fiberglass-door market. Plastpro’s line includes Distinction Doors™, which utilize Hydroshield Technology™ to make the entry door moisture resistant and energy efficient. For garage doors, the market leaders are Overhead Door Company and Clopay. Overhead’s founder, C.G. Johnson, invented the upward-lifting garage door in 1921 and the electric door opener in 1926. Today, Overhead Door includes a number of garage door alternatives – the Banner Collection®, Thermacore®, the Courtyard Collection™, the Ranch House® Collection, as well as it s traditional steel and wood garage doors. Clopay offers a complete line of residential garage doors that are not only an integral part of a home’s style, but are durable and reliable too. Whether you are looking for carriage style garage doors in wood or steel, or a fully insulated traditional raised panel steel garage door, Clopay has a product to choose from in either its Portfolio™ or Classic™ lines. One area that may draw the eye more quickly than any other factor has nothing to do with the actual structure of the home itself, but more with everything around it. That would be the landscaping, paving, patios and railing. As far as landscaping goes, it’s best for the builder to include the homeowner in those decisions, just as they would for the cabinets, flooring and other interior

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This home has the complete package, starting with a roof from GAF Material Corporation, a beautiful exterior, landscaping, strategic lighting and brick pavers.

Garage doors, like this one from Overhead Door, consider style as much as practicality.

options. If the builder puts in landscaping that is quick and easy, without giving any thought to the needs and desires of the homeowner, and it turns out two years later to be the wrong thing, there’s little likelihood of repeat business or a good reference from that homeowner. When it comes to paving a driveway or walkway, more people are moving toward paver systems as a solution. Oldcastle Coastal, a Florida-based company, sells pavers for use on driveways, walkways, pool decks and backyard patios. Paver Systems of Florida, an Oldcastle Company, is a leading hardscape and paver manufacturer with several locations throughout the state. The company manufactures a wide variety of hardscaping products, including Belgard Interlocking Pavers. With concrete or cement, cracks can spring up quickly, due to poor workmanship or the ground’s stability, and repair can be a huge investment. But pavers, which generally are offered in brick or clay, are far less expensive, and offer many more options in

terms of color and design. Gull Lighting and Kichler Lighting. For decks and railing, builders should Outdoor lighting by Sea Gull Lighting look no farther than GAF Material Corpora- combines safety and security with style. Not tion. As the company does for roofing mate- only do outdoor lights enhance the beauty rial, it provides a large selection of patio and of the property, it makes a home safer and railing alternatives. more secure. Sea Gull’s inventory includes While wood is the common thought for complete lines of post and wall lighting, indecks, the material can warp, crack, splinter cluding its highly popular Portofino, Chesor rot over time. For the beauty of a wooden wick, Eternity, Hermitage, Yorktowne and deck with less care and effort, choose GAF- Jamestowne lines. Elk CrossTimbers® composite decking. Its In recent years Kichler Lighting has engineering and design creates a deck that added to its outdoor lighting inventory. The lasts longer than ordinary wooden decks newest entries are the Aries Manor™, which with less maintenance. is accented with genuine marble, ornate de With Elk RailWays™ Railing collections, tailing and an Olde Bronze finish, and Larkin you have the aesthetic charm of decorative Estate™, offering an art-glass inspired look balusters and accessories in a low mainte- with distinctive geometric lines, with path nance solution. The product comes in wood, lights, deck lights and a lit path finished in composite and vinyl applications. durable brass, as well as umber-etched glass Finally, all of these efforts won’t be suc- for a welcoming touch. cessful without the proper lighting, unless So builders and homeowners have a lot of course, the homeowners are only going to consider when they plan a new home – to look at the outside of their homes in day- quality construction, value and appearance light. If you are looking for outdoor, residen- – both on the inside and the outside. tial lighting choices, look no further than Sea

Garage like this one from consider style as much as practicality. northdoors, CENTRAL FLORIDA julyClopay’s 2008 Coachman BUILDINGline, EDGE Magazine

Pavers from companies like Paver Systems of Florida add to a home’s exterior beauty without the cost and maintenance issues of concrete or cement.

Because of their unique colors, when pavers are installed in a pattern to go with the surrounding landscaping and other home features, as is the case with these steps and flower beds, they greatly enhance the look.

Government News

Alachua County Commission Candidates Speak to Business Community By David Greenberg Candidates running for the Alachua County Commission made their case to a full house of interested people Thursday at a forum hosted by Partners for a Better Alachua County. With about 300 people in attendance at the Best Western Gateway Grand, candidates covered topics that included transportation, economic development, growth management and county finances. Present at the forum were District 1 candidates Rick Bryant, Mike Byerly and Kevin Riordan, District 3 candidates Lloyd Bailey and Paula DeLaney and District 5 candidates Rodney Long and Ward Scott. District 1 write-in candidate Stephen OsRick Bryant, a candidate for the Alachua County Commission District 1 seat, speaks at a recent candiborne did not attend. date forum hosted by Partners for a Better Alachua County. With Partners for a Better Alachua County comprised of the Gainesville Area Chamad valorem taxes from new development for ture, what has the commission been doing ber or Commerce, the Builders Association road infrastructure. for the last eight years,” he said. “The sales of North Central Florida (BANCF), Gaines “I would have seconded his motion,” tax some of us worked on would have made ville/Alachua County Association of Realsaid Bryant. a difference. But some people, including tors (GACAR) and Preserving Rural Property As it stands now, whenever Pinkoson members of this commission, were silent Values (PRPV), the clear crowd favorite at the suggests what a questioner referred to as the during that effort.” forum was Bryant, a former Gainesville city “Pinkoson Plan,” it dies for lack of support. Byerly, the incumbent who Bryant is commissioner. Others candidates at the forum talked trying to unseat, said that he supported the Bryant received significantly loud cheers about road infrastructure being a serious five-cent increase to the gas tax and raising and applause twice – first when he talked problem, including the three incumbents. impact fees to pay for infrastructure. about building partnerships in his opening That left Bryant to raise this question during “Growth has consequences,” said Byerly. remarks, and later when he said he supporthis closing comments. “I am looking at a vision of the community 50 ed a proposal by County Commissioner Lee “If we have a backlog in road infrastruc- years from now.” Pinkoson to dedicate a certain percentage of Unfortunately, the gas-tax increase has proven to be more of a negative than a positive as the price of gas reaches record levels, and with a slowdown in housing construction, impact fees are not raising any significant money. “I oppose the nickel gas tax,” said Bryant, who has said previously that if he is elected he would work to repeal it. Bryant continued, saying that with the right economic-development tools and targeted incentives, business can improve. “We have about a one-and-a-half percent growth rate in Alachua County,” he said. “That’s good solid growth. Others argue that is too much growth, and they are using the growth-management tools as a weapon to stop growth.” Riordan, who will face the winner of the Democratic primary in District 1 – either Bryant or Byerly – said that his experience as a business owner is needed on the commission. www.BuildingEdgeMagazine.com

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“We cannot afford more taxes,” he said. “We have to use what we have wisely. I would bring balance to the county commission.” Regarding, the District 3 seat, incumbent DeLaney faces Bailey, who has had two unsuccessful campaigns in the past. DeLaney, who was elected with the support of the business community, has supported several decisions in the last few years that were viewed by many people as anti-business. Of late, she has been very critical of the state vote on Amendment 1 in January, which cut property taxes. She has said that she will not support programs that would require the county to increase funding in districts that voted in support of Amendment 1. In her opening comments, she held up a map showing which districts in Alachua County voted for and against the amendment, and said “I’m listening to the voters this year.” Bailey argued for less government. “Government needs to get out of the way of the market economy,” he said. “Government destroys wealth. We need to end

About 300 people attended the forum in order to hear from candidates for the Alachua County Commission.

corporate wealth distribution.” Incumbent Long, a democrat, will face Scott, a Republican in the general election. Long focused on his dedication to the community, referring to his involvement since 1988. “You have to have a passion for this,” he said. “I have done it a long time, and I love it. If you look at my record, I think you will see that I have been balanced and fair. I do what is right.”

But Scott, a teacher who recently retired from Santa Fe College after 40 years, said that change is required, and this is a critical time for the county because with three incumbents up for re-election, that change can be significant. “We have to rein in government spending,” he said. “We have to protect the quality of our lives. We have to change the direction and philosophy of the county commission by diversifying the tax base.”

Jake’s Corner

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Congratulations Schafer Construction of Gainesville

We are proud to be a part of The Schafer Construction team!

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25 25

Index to Advertisers

Aluminum Aluma-Tec. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Categorical Index

Banks/Lending Bank of America. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Blinds/Shutters Gotcha Covered . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Brick Harwood Brick. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Carpet/Flooring The Floor Store of Newberry. . . . . . . . . . . 19 Central Vacuum Systems Crime Prevention Security Systems/ Custom Home Entertainment. . . . . . . . . . Back Cover Doors/Millwork One Supply Windows, Doors & More. . . . . 16 Window Classics/Marvin Windows. . . . . . . . 6 Electrical Contractor Specialty Wiring. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Security Systems Crime Prevention Security Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . Back Cover

Garage Doors/Overhead Doors Overhead Door Company of Gainesville. . . 17

Signs Festival Sign Service. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Home Entertainment Custom Home Entertainment. . . . Back Cover

Structured Wiring Crime Prevention Security Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . Back Cover

Landscaping Lewis & Henley Landscape . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Pest Control Florida Pest Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Photography Johnston Photography. . . . Inside Back Cover Plastering/Stucco Sherouse Plastering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Utilities Gainesville Regional Utilities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Web Design Advantage Web Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Windows One Supply Windows, Doors & More . . . . 16 Window Classics/Marvin Windows. . . . . . . . 6

Plumbing Ferguson Enterprises. . . . . Inside Front Cover M&R Plumbing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Window Coverings Gotcha Covered . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Aluma-Tec of Central Florida. . . . . . . . . . 23

Florida Pest Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

One Supply Windows, Doors & More. . . . . 16

(352) 732-7362

(352) 224-1014

(386) 752-7578

www.alumatecflorida.com

www.flapest.com

www.onealroofing.com

Bank of America. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Gainesville Regional

Overhead Door Co. of Gainesville. . . . . . . 17

(352) 338-6638

Utilities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

(352) 468-2733 in Alachua County

www.bankofamerica.com

(352) 393-1492

(352) 622-5737 in Marion County

www.gru.com

www.overheaddoor.com

Home Entertainment. . . . . . . . . . Back Cover

Gotcha Covered . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Sherouse Plastering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

(352) 376-1499 in Gainesville

(352) 378-3646

(386) 462-4236

Harwood Brick. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Specialty Wiring. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

(352) 377-1699

(352) 745-6803

Flooring/Tile The Floor Store of Newberry. . . . . . . . . . . 19

Alphabetical Index

Full Technology Integrator Crime Prevention Security Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . Back Cover

Crime Prevention Security Systems/ Custom

(352) 351-0382 in Ocala www.cpss.net Custom Home Entertainment. . . . Back Cover

www.harwoodbrick.net The Floor Store of Newberry. . . . . . . . . . . 19

(352) 376-1499 in Gainesville (352) 351-0382 in Ocala

Johnston Photography. . . . Inside Back Cover

(352) 472-1331

www.cpss.net

(352) 372-2512

kstinton@att.net

Ferguson Enterprises. . . . . Inside Front Cover

Lewis & Henley Landscape . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Window Classics/Marvin Windows. . . . . . . . 6

(325) 732-3114

(352) 375-7279

(352) 867-7219 www.windowclassics.com

www.ferguson.com M&R Plumbing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Festival Sign Service. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

(352) 374-9867

(352) 376-0003 www.festivalsignservice.com

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