Rain Barrel

Here is our rain barrel, which collects rain water from the roof.  The downspout from the gutter feeds into the top of the barrel.  Once the barrel is full, overflow goes back into the storm water system.  This is a very simple way to conserve water.  We use the water from our rain barrel to water plants.

Obviously, ours is not the most aesthetically pleasing, but it does the job!  It is out of view on the side of the house.  We made this one ourselves and it was a very inexpensive project.  If you want to buy a pre-made rain barrel there are plenty of choices out there, and some of them are really cool looking.

One Fine Pergola

While hunting for elk two years ago, Chris and I found ourselves in a meadow waiting for the big one to walk through. We spent the better part of six hours huddled down behind a log, whispering stories to each other and really getting to know each other for the first time. It was then that he mentioned he and his wife wanted to build a pergola in their backyard.  We discussed details.  Even though no one got an elk that year, I did make a great friend, and a new client. 

Chris and Betsy live close to downtown Ashland, Oregon in a beautifully remodeled home. Their attention to detail could possibly rival mine, so I was trying to bring my A game to the table. They had a picture of a pergola that they liked, but it wasn’t exactly what they wanted. That helped us get an initial direction so I could provide an estimate. After a few meetings, and the larger details agreed upon, we were off and running. 

I always try and build projects in our shop, then do the install on site. Chris and Betsy loved this idea because they rent out one of their rooms, and wanted little to no disturbance on site. I love this idea because as a carpenter, the shop is a great place to be. A pergola of this quality demands the best materials. For this project we ordered kiln dried, clear grade cedar. All the main beams are notched into each other, glued, and then lagged together from the top. Everything is stained prior to bringing it on site. This way we get stain inside all the areas that would have been missed if the pergola was built on site, and then stained at the finish. The posts are secured to the concrete patio with Simpson base posts and bolts installed with epoxy. We wrapped the bottoms to cover the metal connection. I don’t like to see metal connections unless they are aesthetically pleasing, so we painted any metal bolts or lag screws a flat black. At the end we actually go around with a tiny brush to give them a final coat. It is the small details that matter most.

It took two weeks in the shop to complete this project, and two days of install on site. The final product was better than I could have imagined. Cedar is gorgeous when stained, and incredibly durable. The tight grain and quality of this wood is as good as it gets. This pergola has a very clean, classy look. At the same time it will withstand the worst of Mother Nature’s elements.




See more pergolas by Jovick Construction.

Benefits of Hiring a General Contractor

If you are considering building a new home or doing any sort of major renovations (such as an addition, bathroom or kitchen remodel, etc.) then you will need to hire a General Contractor (GC). I know there are a lot of people out there thinking to themselves, "I can act as the GC, it can't be that hard..."

To start with the basics, I want to make sure you know the difference between a GC and a subcontractor (Sub). Subs are specialists in a certain trade of the construction industry. Examples of subcontractors are plumbers, electricians, masons, painters, drywallers, framers, finish carpenters, etc.

General Contractors hire and manage subcontractors. Which brings me to the first reason you should hire a GC- We, as GC's have established good working relationships with subs. We know which subs share our work ethic and commitment to quality work. We know which subs can get their part of a job done on time, and have weeded out those who can't. In our case, subs know that we are fair, organized, and pay them on time. All reasons that they enjoy working for us, give us fair prices and strive to make us happy.

Something that is often overlooked by homeowners is the number of subcontractors that need to be involved in a project. Let's take a Kitchen remodel for example. Typically you would need a plumber, an electrician, a drywaller, a carpenter, a cabinet installer, a tile setter, a painter, and someone to install the countertops. That is a lot of people to manage! For things to go smoothly everyone must be scheduled to come in at the right time and in the correct order. All the materials that they need must be there when needed. A GC can get the job done much more quickly than a homeowner simply because he has experience on his side! Ultimately this results in less money spent and less stress for you.

To put it simply, the General Contractor is the manager of your project. The GC hires and oversees all the subcontractors. The GC also makes sure that all of the products and materials needed for the project are there when they need to be. The GC is the only person that the homeowner will need to sign a contract with and pay directly. The GC is then responsible for paying subs and suppliers. It is imperative that the GC be a good communicator because he needs to keep you informed as to what is happening throughout the project, and he also needs to communicate any concerns you may have to the subs and vice-versa.

As in the case of any job that involves multiple people working together, your construction job needs a manager. Hire a professional General Contractor!