Message from LeDuc & Dexter
Our monthly newsletter is an opportunity to share information, education and promote our industry and customers. We feel that it is beneficial to provide a profile
of the working relationships we enjoy with our customers and help to build new relationships for all of us in the construction industry. Bookmark our web site at
www.leducanddexterplumbing.com and click on Subscribe to our Monthly Newsletter, then fill in name and e-mail address and that's it!
Tarrant Construction Builds Victory |
COMMERCIAL |
|
If you were to characterize Tarrant Construction you might say they're not too big and
they're not too small, perhaps they're just the right size, although they don't seem to be stuck in a comfort zone. "We're trying to get more commercial work," says Mike
Tarrant, Executive Secretary and Estimator for Tarrant Construction, which is located in San Rafael. Tarrant says that although commercial jobs make up only 20% of their job
sites, commercial work is 35% of their gross profit.
|
Tarrant Construction built the Victory Chevrolet Truck Showroom and truck
detailing building in Petaluma.
(click photo to enlarge)
|
|
|
A good example of Tarrant Construction's commercial capability is the two masonry buildings they constructed for Victory Chevrolet in Petaluma, the
truck showroom and the truck detailing building that were completed last January. The truck showroom is a two-story building with a mezzanine that also houses the truck sales offices. Tarrant
Construction hired LeDuc & Dexter's commercial department to complete the plumbing for both buildings including bathrooms for each structure. "LeDuc & Dexter were fine to work with, they were
timely and they kept it simple," says Tarrant.LeDuc & Dexter's residential department is also working with Tarrant Construction on a remodeling job in Petaluma. LeDuc & Dexter's main focus on that home is the kitchen
remodel including upgraded plumbing fixtures. Insurance reconstruction accounts for a portion of Tarrant's residential work, they are a Diamond Certified company, and Mike
Tarrant says the niche they seek in residential projects range in price from $50,000 up to $2,000,000. On the commercial side Tarrant says the projects they are interested in
range from $300,000 to around $2,000,000.Tarrant Construction has taken their time and used their experience to achieve this
niche; they have been in business for 53 years. This is the third generation to run the family business. Mike Tarrant's brother, Dave, is the President and their brother Steve is the Vice President.
Red Horse Constructors |
RESIDENTIAL |
|
Red Horse Constructors Project Manager Tom Knapp describes the homes his company builds as the "crème de la crème or you could say we build big beautiful
custom homes," says Knapp, who has just completed the pouring of the slab foundation for a crème de la crème home located in Napa Valley. The foundation is 12,000 square
feet including the patio areas; the home is 8,500 square feet. It's a linear design, 230 feet by 25 feet with two "arms" or wings that extend out 75 feet long and 25 feet wide.
The roof will be flat on this single-story steel structured home.
|
Red Horse Construction has completed the
12,000 sq. ft. slab foundation for this 8,500 sq. ft. home
in Napa Valley. LeDuc & Dexter's under slab
plumbing is visible in this photo.
(click photo to enlarge)
|
|
|
Red Horse Constructors have been in business for 20 years and build upscale custom homes throughout the Bay Area including Marin,
Portola Valley and the South Bay. They rebuilt homes that were destroyed in the Oakland Hills firestorm.This is the second residential project in which Knapp has hired
LeDuc & Dexter to complete the plumbing contract; the first project was a large upscale custom home in Sonoma. "LeDuc & Dexter are my plumbers," says Knapp, "they are very professional, on time and
on budget, Jim Kempers takes care
of business." Knapp originally chose LeDuc & Dexter from a competitive bid of three plumbing contractors, but Knapp stresses that he doesn't
always choose the lowest bidder, "LeDuc & Dexter wasn't the lowest bidder, but they qualified the best. I look at experience, product quality, our history of working with a sub
and their understanding of the project they are bidding on."This home has a unique wrinkle in the plumbing design. "There is a commercial
application for the heating and air conditioning," explains Knapp, "a geothermal field feeds the heat pumps to the air handlers and to produce instant climate control. If it's
100 degrees outside, within minutes after entering the house and turning on the system, it will be cool inside." LeDuc & Dexter's Bill Zeeb and Rob Main designed the plumbing for this system.
Other unique features included in this Red Horse Constructors home are hardwood floors and Fleetwood windows, French limestone floors in the bathrooms, family room,
wine room and media room. There will be a vanishing edge swimming pool and tennis court. Knapp will also build a 5' by 5' concrete and limestone tub with heating controls
and jets for this crème de la crème home.
Tom LeDuc Is President, Again |
TRADE ASSOCIATIONS |
|
On the evening of June 26th
at the Flamingo Hotel in front of 300 members and friends of the North Coast Builders Exchange,
Tom LeDuc addressed the crowd from the podium as the new NCBE President. LeDuc is only the second NCBE president to serve a second term. He gave a solemn and determined speech at the 49th annual NCBE
Dinner focusing on issues the Builders Exchange needs address.
|
|
|
Tom LeDuc, the new NCBE President, addresses a crowd of 300
people from the podium
at the Flamingo Hotel on
June 26th.
(click photo to enlarge) |
Outgoing NCBE President Jerry Minton will remain on the NCBE Board of
Directors during Tom LeDuc's presidency.
(click photo to enlarge) |
Keith Woods, CEO of the North Coast Builders Exchange, served as MC for
NCBE 49th Annual Dinner.
(click photo to enlarge) |
|
Upgrading the NCBE facility on Airway Court in Santa Rosa, which houses the NCBE
staff and offices is a project LeDuc feels is important, "The staff has been working in an outdated facility. We need to make improvements on their behalf, which will also make
it easier for them to serve our members. Our needs have changed, we need to make it more user-friendly." One improvement that has taken place recently is the completion of
the electronic plan room that makes it possible to download building plans and construction documents electronically.
LeDuc also addressed the severity of the current insurance crisis that is threatening the construction industry as well as other business sectors in California, "We really have to
get this insurance situation straightened out if we all plan to stay in business." Jerry Minton, the outgoing president who spoke before LeDuc, aired his sentiments regarding
insurance, governmental regulations and fees by simply stating, "If I was just getting into the construction business, knowing what I know now, I wouldn't do it."
Along with Minton, LeDuc has traveled to Sacramento to meet with state legislatures concerning the worker's compensation and insurance situation.
On a lighter note, LeDuc said he was looking forward to the upcoming 50th anniversary of the North Coast Builders Exchange and that, "We are going to throw a great party to
celebrate our first 50 years." LeDuc also expressed his thanks to the NCBE staff for all of their hard work and dedication during his first presidency in 2000 and his time on the NCBE Board of
Directors since 1995. LeDuc finished his speech by expressing how excited he was to begin working with North Coast Builders Exchange CEO, Keith Woods, who served as Master of
Ceremonies for the 49th NCBE Dinner. Next month in our newsletter Tom LeDuc will share his feelings about the importance of the NCBE and its members and how he
thinks he can contribute as their President during the next year. |
