Every month we feature a contractor, business, or success story. After all, learning from each other is one of the best ways to grow. Up this month: John Schmitz with Alpine Log & Timber Finishes in Golden, CO. Keep reading for more details on how he got started and what helped him succeed.
(more…)Every month we feature a contractor, business, or success story. After all, learning from each other is one of the best ways to grow. Up this month: Nicole Carr with 888-Log-Guys in Ozark, MI. Nicole is managing 10+ log home finishing and restoration crews across 15 states, all while maintaining a customer-first mindset. Keep reading for more details on how she got started and what’s helped make 888-Log-Guys successful.
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Every month we feature a contractor, business, or success story. Learning from others in the biz is the best kind of learning. Today, Mike Bellevue shares a few of the inside secrets to Chewelah Painting’s success.
This month, we are featuring Mike Bellevue. Mike owns Chewelah Painting in Washington and has recently brought his log home finishing knowledge to Roe Paint in Idaho. Summer busyness is in full swing, so we’re grateful for the insights that Mike was willing to share about his business in the Pacific Northwest.
How’d you get started in the log home finishing business?
I am a carpenter by trade. I had every intention of working as a carpenter in Washington but was pulled into paint. We work in an area with a large number of log homes, and it wasn’t long before we worked on our first log home. The home came out great, but refinishing it was extremely tedious. Fortunately, I stumbled across Zero Failures and was blown away. Hands down the best training out there. I immediately bought a blaster and started marketing log home services. Three years later log homes became the majority of our work.
How big is your crew now?
We have five crews putting on coatings and working with several subcontractors. Our sub-contractors are vetted and are a part of the team.
What advice would you give to a newbie?
Attend Zero Failures training and pay attention…then go back the next year and learn more. Pay attention in the classroom, but also pay attention to your work. You will learn something on every job and refine your process.
What do you love most about log home refinishing?
We are artists, but not in the traditional sense. We take a work of art and make it beautiful again. Each log blasts and stains differently depending on species, exposure, and a number of other factors. We learn something on every job.
Mike, thanks for sharing a bit about your business. Feel free to look him up and pick his brain!
Find out what other contractor know about best way to boost your log home contractor business, now!
It can be hard to “talk shop” with other log finishing contractors when most of the time you work in the boonies.
A team is only as strong as its team leader.
A strong team and great relationships with your crew members (even if it’s only one!) are important! Why? Lost crew members mean lost revenue. It takes time to retrain and jobs take longer when you lose good people. Good employee relationships result in fewer headaches for you and better employee retention. Customers pick up on it, too! Your customers can tell if you’re running a smooth, happy ship. Here are 5 tips on keeping your team engaged and on board.
We all know that successful marketing is important to your contractor business. The good news is, not all marketing efforts have to be complicated, expensive or require that you be a professional writer or graphic artist! This month, we’re sharing five easy marketing ideas that you can start using right now!
In this month’s “Up in Your Business” article, we’re sharing four tips to boost your business and your sanity.
Capture the Timeless Beauty of Natural Grain
Don’t compromise at the end of a long and arduous journey by using an inferior stain not designed for logs. Capture and Cascade deliver performance worthy of the journey that got you here.
Available in 11 popular colors.
Backer Materials that Seal Things Right the First Time Backer Rod, Grip Strip, and Log Gap Cap all help you create the ideal joint desing for a long-lasting, durable seal
Logs are in constant dynamic motion. That's why there's Log Builder®, the sealant made for log structures. Stretches up to 500% of original size, while still maintaining tenacious adhesion to the wood.
When other chinking pulls away, Log Jam holds its seal With Log Jam chinking, you can keep the cozy feel and rustic look of a log home without compromising comfort and performance.
Available in 8 popular colors.
Easy to Use - Hard to See Keep out weather, bugs, and moisture without seeing it. Conceal disappears into the woodwork so you don't know the wood starts and the caulk begins.
Available in 7 popular colors.
It's Music to the Eyes Symphony works in harmony with the unique character of your logs and wood to reflect an atmosphere or cozy warmth and elegance while creating and scuff-resistant and durable surface that's easy to dust.
The Easiest Stain to Maintain Transformation Siding & Trim is the no-peel, easy-to-maintain stain for your siding, trim, and decks.
Restore What Nature Destroyed
Bring old, damaged, gray and weathered logs back to life with this flexible oil-based semi-transparent stain
Right Color. Right Quantity. Right Now. Never run out of stain at the jobsite again. Stock exactly what you need in your truck or trailer at the jobsite.
Maintenance Made Easy Now that Capture® Log Stain is applied, it’s time for Cascade® Clear Topcoat to bring out the depth and character of your unique woodgrain while protecting it against moisture, mildew, and algae. Predictable and affordable routine maintenance with Cascade throughout the years means your home stays protected and beautiful. Easy!
Keep the Color the Color Colorfast delivers the ideal canvas for stain application and leaves behind the strong foundation necessary for long-lasting color. It’s color confidence for your log home.
Rot, weather, insects, fungi all pose a serious threat to your logs. Protect your investment—treat your logs first to make them last. Tim-bor® helps protect your home from the costly damage caused by rot and insect infestation.
Remove Wood Felting and Raised Grain Remove wood fuzz (called felting) after power washing or media blasting, and knock down excessive raised grain with Sashco's finish sanding tools
Clean and brighten bare logs and wood, remove surface dirt, pollen, and kill mold for maintenance, and keep your logs looking fresh with CPR Log Cleaner and Brightener
The Serious Fix for Concrete Cracks Just say no to cracks
Textured like mortar - stretches like rubber
It's easy, it's fast, and it works.
Available in 5 popular colors.
The sealant that integrates into your design.
No mold. No mildew. No scrubbing needed!
Mold is gross. Stop feeding it.
Available in white and almond.
Won't Crack...It just stretches
All homes move - Big Stretch moves with them.
Available in 12 popular colors, and clear.
Seals leaks that asphalt can't
Stop leaks now!
The Tough Elastic Sealant For Every Job
Sticks To Most Anything
Available in clear and white.
