LT General Contractor Interview

Todd Peters with LT General Contractor, LLC gave us some great information about his business.

ProSource: Tell us about your business.

Todd: I started LT General Contractor, LLC in April of 2013. After 20 + years in the corporate world, I found myself unexpectedly unemployed so I decided to follow my passion. I graduated from Virginia Tech in 1990 with a degree in Economics & minor in Technical Writing. While in college I worked at a door shop in Radford, VA, then 84 Lumber & Moore’s Lumber Building Supplies; this is where I began to learn the construction trade. Living in and remodeling a 100 year old home for 17 years was where I perfected the trade (plus many, many side projects for family, friends and co-workers over the years). Losing my corporate job and coming back to my roots was the best thing to ever happen to me.

Todd: On April 1^st 2015, Sean Hall, formally of Kumis Construction, joined the business. Sean & his dad Dickie (when they were in business together) built six custom homes, multiple additions and other large new construction and remodeling projects. Sean is an amazing tradesman; his attention to detail in unmatched by anyone in the profession. I’m excited and fortunate to have him join the organization.  As of May 2015, LT General Contractor, LLC is a Licensed Class A Contractor with BLD Classification.

ProSource: Tell us about your favorite project:  

Todd: Kitchens and Baths.  I absolutely love working with the customer, hearing their ideas then working with Kay and Pam (at ProSource) to design the perfect kitchen and/or bath. 

ProSource: Can you give us a tip to share with our readers? 

Todd:  I am a huge proponent of Schluter Systems and all of their line of products.  I will only use Schluter Shower systems for custom tile shower and bath designs.  Tile got a bad reputation in the 60’s and 70’s because it was difficult to install the traditional “water-in/water-out” shower properly so coincidentally,  tiles showers did not last.  Fiberglass units were cheap to install and did not leak so they became very popular but let’s face it, fiberglass lacks imagination and it’s ugly!  With Schluter, if you can imagine it, we can built it and you can have the bath of your dreams and it will LAST and not LEAK.  A properly installed tile shower system should last a lifetime.  

ProSource: Can you share a Fun Fact about you or your business?

Todd:  My business name “LT” are the first initials of my daughter and son’s names:  Lauren & Thomas. 

Cressman Construction Interview

Chip Cressman shared a little bit about his business, Cressman Construction.

ProSource: Tell us about your business.

Chip: I started Cressman Construction one year ago and have been focusing on residential remodeling and renovation. I do commercial interiors as well.

ProSource: Tell us about your favorite project.

Chip: The Epperly kitchen renovation. The whole process was a model for how I like to work - collaborative design build, hands on through the entire job, and quality construction that adapts to existing conditions.

ProSource: Can you share a tip for our readers?

Chip: Weather strip. Inspect your weather strip around all exterior doors, they typically wear out, fail, get damaged, and/or need adjustment. Old doors need new weather strips and door bottoms that are properly installed and they will function like new.

ProSource: Tell us a fun fact about your business..

Chip: I started in construction 20 years ago building log homes with my father, and we still work together. We did custom, design build, and kit log  homes with a focus on quality and energy efficiency.

Michael J Barnett Contracting Interview

Mike Barnett, with Michael J Barnett Contracting, LLC, shared a little bit more about his business.

ProSource:Tell us about your business.

Mike Barnett: Michael J Barnett Contracting, LLC has been in business for 12 years. I specialize in general home repairs and improvements, painting, and kitchen & bath remodeling.

ProSource: Tell us about your favorite project.

Mike Barnett: My favorite project was when I did a complete kitchen remodel. The homeowners left town for two weeks. When they returned home and walked into their new kitchen, they were amazed. They kept saying how wonderful everything looked. That's what I enjoy, pleasing my customers.

ProSource: Can you please share a tip for our readers.

Mike Barnett: Use Goof Off to determine if the paint you have on your walls is either oil or latex. If the paint comes off using Goof Off, then you have latex.

ProSource: Thank you for sharing, Mike. If you would like to see more of Mike's work, please visit www.prosourceplatinum.com/michael-j-barnett-contracting.

Ground Floor Solutions Interview

Mike Buehring with Ground Floor Solutions, Inc. sat down with us to tell us a little bit more about what he does.

ProSource: Tell us about your business.

Mike B: Ground Floor Solutions specializes in installing, sanding and finishing hardwood flooring.  Our machines have a dust containment system that minimizes airborne dust, making for a cleaner job and better final product.  I believe attention to detail can be the difference between a decent job and one the customer and I can be proud of.

ProSource: Tell us about the project that you are the most proud of.

Mike B.: Every job brings its own unique challenges.  I am most proud of any job that in the beginning lowers my expectations and through persistence I exceed them.

ProSource: Can you please share a tip for our readers.

Mike B.: The most frequent question I get from my customers is how to clean their floors once I have left..  As always be sure to follow manufacturers guidelines on any prefinished product.  A general rule of thumb for most hardwood floors is to avoid cleaners that contain waxes or oils.  Most new hardwood floors are finished with a polyurethane or varnish that seals the wood from water, oil, dirt, etc.  Waxes and oils will sit on top of this finish, making the floor harder to keep clean, and can actually make it look more dirty over time.  These waxes and oils can also be responsible for finish failure should you ever decide to recoat your floors in the future.  I recommend a microfiber mop dampened with cleaner made by a hardwood flooring or finish manufacturer such as Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner or my favorite Basic Coatings Squeaky Cleaner.  When regular cleaning does not bring your floors back to where you are happy with them it may be time for a recoat.

ProSource: What's a fun fact about you?

Mike B.: Before I sanded hardwood floors I was a nuclear technician in the US Navy.  I like to think that experience helped to make me more conscientious which is a critical trait when you are working in someones home.