Hawaii Renovation - June 20, 2010

HAWAII

JUNE 20, 2010

INSIDE

THE MAN BEHIND PARAGON

EASY UPGRADES ON A SMALL BUDGET BUILDING THE PERFECT BATH AN ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT PUBLISHED BY OAHU PUBLICATIONS, INC.

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HAWAIIRENOVATION

Storm

Vulnerability

Hurricane connectors are strong and barely noticeable.

It’s just a matter of time before the next big storm hits the islands. Let HPS protect your home before Mother Nature unleashes her fury.

t’s hurricane season again in the islands, and experts say we are overdue for a big storm. But if you’re thinking that your shiny new house, your venerable 1930’s mansion, or your concrete high rise has no worries when it comes to big wind and rain storms, think again.

There isn’t a dwelling in our state that isn’t in need of minor or major protection against the ravaging effects of howling winds and torrential downpours.

Who says? Well, just about everyone connected to disaster preparedness, including federal, state and county civil defense officials, The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and its weather branches, property insurance companies, building code officials, and manufacturers of damage loss mitigation devices like the $900 million Simpson Strong-Tie Company.

Even Hawaii’s storm protection technical contractor leaders like HPS Hurricane Protection Services Division of General Engineering and General Contractor HPS Construction Services Ltd., are warning Hawaii’s homeowners to get their homes in order.

“We have inspected over 3,000 houses

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2 | HAWAII RENOVATION | JUNE 20, 2010

and condos in our nearly 20 years specializing in storm protection products and services,” says Gerry Peters of HPS. “We have never found one which didn’t need something to get it ready for our long-overdue, big-storm hit.

“It is wise for safety and peace of mind to invest the relatively modest amount it costs to better prepare your dwelling,” he adds. “Check the fine print of your hurricane insurance policy. It is different than your fire protection terms. The average deductible is 2 percent or more of insured value, or $6,000 to $10,000 before they have to give you even $1 of claim money. They have doubled it the last few years, and blamed it on Hurricane Katrina. However, nearly all of them will give you yearly reductions of $200 all the way up to $600 per year for hardening your house’s wind resistance.”

HPS has charted the following facts about Hawaii’s homes and what it would cost to better secure these dwellings: All houses, townhouses and condos. Windows, especially sliding glass door and window sets, are prone to pop off the tracks in high winds and also break into many pieces, even with window tint film

on them, since the code requires they are made of tempered safety glass like car windshields.

HPS products available — $50 to $1,000 per window.

Structures with roll-up garage doors.

Tracks are weakly connected to the garage posts or studs and need additional and original equipment-type brackets, as well as deployable garage door tiedown kits.

HPS Products available — $120 to $600 per door.

Structures with carports. These are everywhere and look and act like giant wings. They are infamous for blowing off even in winter storms, and need to be doubled up in number of hurricane clips, and also have simple roof corner tie-down strap kits, which go directly from the roof tops down to concrete slabs or blocks.

HPS Products available — $100 to $200 per carport.

Wood-framed houses and townhouses from 1920 to early 1990. These have roof systems basically just resting on the wall systems with the angled tips of “toe-

nails,” often barely still in position or rusted out. Over the years, these roof structures expand, contract, bend, move and dislocate. Yet, homeowners of old houses rationalize this away by saying, “Well, we made it through Iwa and Iniki,” even though the structural dislocation from all those years have put the roof in a pre-weakened position to be blown off next time.

HPS Products available — Simpson’s engineered, tested and recommended hurricane connectors (clips, ties, straps, brackets, braces). They are barely noticeable, weather protected with extra galvanization and coatings by HPS, and provide essentially a band of steel around the roof-to-wall connection equivalent in lay terms to adding a dispersed 40,000-60,000 pounds of weight on your roof. Better yet, they help keep the structure standing square against the uplift and side push of storms. The cost is $1,200 to $2,600 to install, and generally free after a few years of insurance annual discounts.

For more information on HPS Hurricane Protection Services and HPS Construction Services Ltd., call 847-4400 or visit the websites hurricaneprotect.com and hpsconstructionservices.com.

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HAWAIIRENOVATION

Remodelers Gearing Up for Expo

By Paul Kane

emodelers are a special breed — so special, in fact, that they have a peer group within the general membership of the Building Industry Association of Hawaii world.

The BIA-Hawaii Remodelers are most assuredly an energetic bunch, as many of the members have been working tirelessly in planning the 2010 BIA Remodel It Right, Remodel It Green Expo, scheduled for later this summer at the Hawaii Convention Center.

The show, which has won awards from the National Association of Home Builders in Washington, D.C. for its information and content, will be held inside the Kamehameha Exhibition Hall over a three-day period: Friday, Aug. 13, from 5 to 9 p.m.; Saturday, Aug. 14, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; and Sunday, Aug. 15, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Remodel It Right Committee meets monthly to revise and improve the expo’s format. We definitely have something for everyone, with experts at the ready to dis-

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cuss kitchen and bathroom remodeling, accessibility for family members, lighting, interior design, windows and much more. Experts also will educate expo attendees on green trends, technologies and products for your home and lifestyle.

BIA-Hawaii is affiliated with the National Association of Home Builders Green program — an alternative to LEED and the only ANSI standard for residential green building

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and remodeling.

Those looking into remodeling their homes or beginning a landscaping project, are invited to attend this year’s show and seek out the assistance of some of the best contractor members within BIAHawaii.

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Paul Kane, III, CSI, CDT, is the chairman of the 2010 Remodel It Right, Remodel It Green Expo. He is also the owner/manager of Aloha Marketing Manufacturers Representatives, LLC.

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Thousands of homeowners showed up for last year’s BIA Remodel It Right, Remodel It Green Expo. This year’s show is scheduled for Aug. 13-15 inside the Hawaii Convention Center’s Kamehameha Exhibition Hall.

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JUNE 20, 2010 | HAWAII RENOVATION | 3

HAWAIIRENOVATION The Man Behind

Featuring • • • •

Paragon Builders

hile growing up in urban Honolulu, Christopher Koike was the typical energetic youngster, always curious about how things were made and how they worked. “Some of my earliest memories are of taking things apart and putting them back together again,� he recalled. “Once when my dad was out of town, I took apart his clock radio and challenged myself to put it back together by the time he returned home. I managed to do that and put it back in its proper place.

My dad was never the wiser.� “If parts were left over, he would take the object apart as many times as necessary and wouldn’t give up until all the pieces fit. “As long as I can remember, building things has been my passion, and persistence my trademark,� Koike continued.

Without doubt, he was born with a builder’s genes. And the intense curiosity that drove him also paved the way for his future as founder of Paragon Builders LLC, a BIA award-winning local contracting firm. “I just couldn’t get enough of building things,� Koike said. “I just had to unlock the secrets of working parts.

Fortunately for me, my parents were tolerant and supportive. They never got upset when I got dirty, greasy and grimy while working on projects such as remotecontrol cars and air-

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planes. They always encouraged me to be the best I could be, no matter what I did with my life and my livelihood. “My dad used to say all the time, ‘Son, no matter what you do, do it well or don’t waste your time doing it at all.’�

In his spare time during college, Koike hung out at a car repair shop to learn automotive mechanics.

During this time, he rebuilt a hot rod — a blue Chevrolet Malibu Classic. “I thought this was a lot of fun, but my parents did not think so,� he recalled.

“All my spare time was spent tinkering and puttering around with various projects, distracting me from my college studies. To the pleasant surprise of my parents, I not only finished college, but I also spent four additional years in carpentry training while working for contractors.�

This powerful experience taught him the trade from the ground up, he noted. It formalized and enhanced what many obSEE PAGE 9

“As a longtime realtor, business owner, and former president of the Honolulu Board of Realtors, I know what to look for in a contractor. We had the 40-day rain while Chris was renovating my home, but he protected it and showed an amazing ability to solve problems as they arise.

I would recommend him to anyone who wants the job done in a timely manner and who wants to reach the final inspection with happiness and satisfaction.�

ANN KEAMO, AIEA Paragon Builders received a BIA Renaissance Building and Remodeling Award (2009) for the Residential Remodeling Division.

Courtesy of Archipelago Hawaii

License No. BC28003

Christopher Koike, Owner/Manager CELL: 808-306-2653 FAX: 808-841-6512 email:chriskoike@hawaii.rr.com

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AN ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT PUBLISHED BY OAHU PUBLICATIONS, INC. | ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

HAWAIIRENOVATION A Name

Customers Can Trust

Island Renovations has over two decades of experience in kitchen, bath remodeling

hether you want to remodel your kitchen, bathroom or just replace your old windows and doors, no job is too small for Island Renovations — a kamaaina company with more than 25 years of experience in the construction industry.

“Our experienced craftsmen have the knowledge and skill to make your dreams a reality at affordable prices,” explains Island Renovations president Howard Katano. “We will work with you through the various stages of your project and always ensure you know what options are available based on your budget.

“Customers also like to feel comfortable with the company they hire and

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knowing we’re licensed and insured gives them that sense of security,” he adds.

Island Renovations specializes in kitchen and bath remodeling. “If you’re approaching your senior years or your physical ability isn’t as it use to be when it comes to the two most used places in your home, there are certain modifications you should consider that will provide easier accessibility to help sustain your independence as well as provide added safety and comfort,” Katano explains.

Here are a few modifications to consider: • Convert a bath tub to a

walk-in or roll-in shower stall.

• Add hand rails or grab

bars and a seat in the shower.

• Consider an adjustable height or handheld shower fixture.

• Adjust vanity, sink, countertop and cabinet height for easier accessibility.

• Replace hard to grab cabinet knobs with handle or pull tabs, which is especially helpful for someone with arthritis.

• Improve the lighting around our vanity mirror, over the shower, toilet and sink area.

Besides kitchen and bathrooms, Island Renovations also provides full service installation on replacement windows and doors. It features Energy

Star products from top brands around the country in vinyl, wood, aluminum and eco-friendly products for residential homes, town home and condominiums.

In today’s economy, it’s important to watch your spending while improving those areas of your home that will give it added value and more accessibility — all the while providing added safety and independency to your lifestyle.

It’s an economical solution for life that makes sense.

To learn more about all of Island Renovations’ products and services, call 685-3377 to schedule a free in-home consultation or log on to the company website at www.islandren ovations.net.

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HAWAIIRENOVATION

Affordable

Upgrades Dressing up the home can be inexpensive if you stick to a plan

iving on a budget is the norm, rather than the exception, in the current economy.

Whether you’re trying to entice potential home buyers or just want to give your living space a quick spruce up, here are a few tips for making a big impact in the look of your home without breaking the bank:

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Small improvements, such as installing a new floor, can result in a meaningful home upgrade.

• Start small. Small improvements, like a fresh coat of paint or an attractive new floor, truly update a home because people’s eyes tend to notice surface areas first. Experts agree that

these upgrades make all the difference to prospective buyers as well. According to the International Association of Home Stagers, investing in small upgrades can increase a

home’s value as much as 7 percent — and a new floor has been proven to return nearly twice the value for every dollar spent.

SEE PAGE 9

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AN ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT PUBLISHED BY OAHU PUBLICATIONS, INC. | ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

HAWAIIRENOVATION Tips for the

Perfect Bathroom Remodel

iving an old, tired bathroom a makeover is one of the best things you can do to increase your home’s resale value. And while it can take some planning, remodeling your bathroom is easily within the capability of most homeowners.

Here are a few tips from The Tile Shop, one of the nation’s largest tile retailers, on how to create the bathroom of your dreams:

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• Get ideas. Start with a visit to a

premium tile or cabinet store that offers bathroom displays showing the use of the latest in wall, floor and shower tiles, as well as other bathroom products.

• Have a plan. It’s important to create a remodeling plan and a budget.

If you’re going to remodel it yourself, don’t be afraid to seek out information on the latest in remodeling standards. For example, The Tile Shop offers how-to videos on its website (see end of article) and

offers hands-on seminars at its stores.

• Bring it up to code. Check the city’s website to review or download building code requirements related to bathrooms — in particular codes related to plumbing, electrical and windows. And don’t forget to obtain necessary permits before remodeling.

For more bathroom remodeling tips, visit www.tileshop.com.

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JUNE 20, 2010 | HAWAII RENOVATION | 7

HAWAIIRENOVATION

The ‘Honey-do’ List

Requires the Right Tools I

t’s summer and there’s no better time to take on home improvement projects and that ever-expanding “honey-do” list.

The key to tackling everything from the largest construction project to the smallest touchup is to have the right equipment. Don’t talk yourself into trying to getting by with makeshift tools — you’ll only end up frustrated, and your project might not get done at all.

If you can’t find everything you need in your tool shed (or even in your tool box), you may be worried about the cost of buying a lot of expensive equipment — particularly if you plan to do more than one project.

For most people, renting equipment allows them to get jobs done without the extra cost of buying pricey items that they won’t actually use much.

To make sure that you’ve got everything

you need, start by assessing what tools and gadgets you have. Here are some ideas for what you’ll need for some of the most common summer home improvement projects: I For cleaning your home’s exterior, whether it’s the siding, deck or driveway, a rented power washer gets the job done in a fraction of the time with double the power.

I For touching up the paint on your home, you’ll need sturdy ladders, an array of painting tools and, of course,

I For putting in a new fence, you’ll need panels and posts, and, to make the job go faster, a power auger from your local rental store for digging post holes. Just make sure you contact local utilities to find out where it’s safe to dig before you get started.

I For adding a deck, choose the decking material you want, and deSEE PAGE 11

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HAWAIIRENOVATION The Man Behind

Affordable Upgrades

FROM PAGE 6

• Shop around. From mattresses and dining room sets to LCD televisions and sofas, you might be surprised to find the home decor items on your shopping list at budgetfriendly spots like thrift stores, boutiques and warehouse clubs.

For example, quality flooring is available at Sam’s Club. Traditional Living laminate flooring combines low-maintenance and authentic good looks with the outstanding value pricing for which Sam’s Club is known. Its glueless click installation makes Traditional Living flooring an ideal weekend do-it-yourself project, saving additional money on installation. The superior protective surface provides durability and scratch-resistance to stand up to years of heavy foot traffic from kids and pets.

“More consumers are on the hunt for retail locations that offer premium home products at bargain prices,” says Sherrie Towne, assistant marketing manager of SimpleSolutions, LLC, which distributes Traditional Living.

“For example, the cost of a Sam’s Club membership plus the cost of Traditional Living laminate floors is approximately 30 percent less than the price of premium laminate purchased at another retailer.”

• Accessorize, accessorize, accessorize. If a new sofa or coffee table isn’t in the budget, infuse a room with energy and color by adding simple finishing touches like pillows, artwork and rugs. Flea markets, estate auctions and garage sales are unexpected sources of one-of-akind — and often inexpensive — accessories that add color and personality.

In the bathroom or

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kitchen, swap out existing hardware on cabinets and drawers to quickly create a more up-to-date look.

• Clear the clutter. Piles

of papers, toys and books can detract attention from the unique items that make a house a home. If your space, and your budget, is tight, organize everyday items with furniture that pulls double duty such as a storage ottoman or a bookshelf with builtin compartments. And if you’re putting your home on the market, professional home stagers suggest removing one-third of furniture from public areas like living and family rooms to create the illusion of extra space.

For more information on the Traditional Living collection, visit www.tra ditionalliving.com or www.samsclub.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Paragon Builders FROM PAGE 4

served as the skills he possessed since childhood.

“Chris Koike and Paragon Builders completed the gutting and full renovation of a bath and kitchen for us in November 2007,” said David Bellino, one of Koike’s satisfied customers.

“It would be helpful to note that I am a bit of a picky person — not only about the finished product, but also about the way a person/company works with me and fulfills my requests. In all phases of this project, from inception to completion, Chris was there to completely satisfy our needs and ensure that everything that needed to be done was perfectly executed,” Bellino added.

“It is a fact of life that projects of this sort al-

ways have things that need to be changed once the project gets under way,” he continued. “New decisions have to be made. At times, we would need to bounce things around. Chris always completed my ideas and made them better. He and his subs worked very well together in completing work that both my wife and I are very happy with every day.

“I expected great things with Chris, and he delivered flawlessly. He takes

pride in each facet of his work. This high standard of quality, and his attention to detail, are very, very hard to find. In fact, I would go so far as to say that if you need to rearrange your project start date in order to get him, it will be worth it.

“I would not hesitate to have Chris do another project for me.”

For more information about Paragon Builders, contact Koike at 306-2653 or at chriskoike@hawaii .rr.com.

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JUNE 20, 2010 | HAWAII RENOVATION | 9

HAWAIIRENOVATION

The Strength of Vinyl Tile traffic of day-to-day family life. Luxury vinyl tile offers the perfect marriage of design and durability for today’s busy homes. Available in a wide range of colors, styles and textures, LVT works in every room of the house, giving homeowners unlimited

atural stone and ceramic tile floors have great design, architectural and sculptural qualities.

But they can be expensive, hard to clean, cold to walk on and not very durable.

So imagine transforming your aging flooring with the look of rich travertine, limestone, concrete, slate or ceramic tiles, but without the cost or frailty of these lavish coverings. Today’s luxury vinyl tile (LVT) products echo the look and styling of these natural materials but also live up to the rigors and

N

options for fresh style. “Luxury vinyl tile pops with depth and realism, combining classic and contemporary elements that deliver clean design and stylish floors,� says Erica Hubbard, Tarkett direcSEE PAGE 11

Far Right: With a wide range of styles and textures, luxury vinyl tile is perfect for any room of the house.

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Right: Luxury vinyl tile offers the beauty of natural stone and tile while providing greater durability and comfort underfoot.

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The Right Tools The Strength of Vinyl Tile

FROM PAGE 8

pending on your selection, you might need to pick out sealants and decorative accents. You’ll also need an air compressor for the building process.

Instead of having to shop around for the best price, you can save time and get started right away on your project by going to your local rental store and picking up the tools you need. To make finding the rental store nearest you even easier, the American Rental Associa-

tion (ARA) offers RentalHQ.com, the world’s largest and most comprehensive rental store locator.

You might even be able to talk your friends into helping out with your projects — combine an afternoon of deck building with a barbecue and you might just find more willing helpers than you’d expected. Armed with a little know-how, a little help from friends and the right tools, your “honey-do” list will be a thing of the past.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

FROM PAGE 10

classic and contemporary elements that deliver clean design and stylish floors,” says Erica Hubbard, Tarkett director of marketing NAFCO Luxury Floors. “You get all the design features of natural materials with a much more durable floor. When you stand on these floors and look down at them, you’re hard pressed to tell you’re not really standing on limestone, travertine, concrete or slate.”

Unlike their lookalike natural counterparts, today’s LVT floors are created to resist scuffs, stains, scratches and wear. This is due to durable construction and even protective wear layers or coatings,

such as Tritonite, exclusively used in NAFCO Luxury Floors. These hardworking construction details help keep floors looking new and wear-free.

Flexible, comfortable LVT floors also have the advantage of being warmer and quieter than hard-surface natural tile floors. Soft underfoot, they don’t produce a hollow sound like other flooring options.

Another benefit over “real” stone and tile is the safety aspect of LVT. Unlike stone or tile, LVT isn’t as slippery when wet. Glass or china is less likely to shatter if accidentally dropped and little knees won’t get scraped during falls.

Further adding to LVT’s realistic look is the fact that some of these

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floors can feature three very different installations options: for example, the NAFCO Luxury Floors’ PermaStone collection is available in GroutFit, which produces a realistic grout effect; GroutLess where tiles install edge to edge without grout or seam sealer for a uniquely modern look; and GroutFil, an option of 14 pre-mixed, stain-resistant, acrylic-based grout colors to create an endless number of pattern and grout possibilities and also heighten the mimicry of real stone.

“LVT is a practical choice that looks fabulous and stands up to everyday wear and tear,” Hubbard says.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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• Convert Bath Tub to Walk In Shower • Energy Star qualified windows/doors can ultimately lower your utility bill.

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