Message from LeDuc & Dexter

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Revolutionary New Hot Water Heater	RESIDENTIAL

Jim Kempers, the manager of LeDuc & Dexter's residential department would like to share news of the first engineering change in hot water design in decades. This article appeared in Plumbing & Mechanical magazine in January. You can read it here by clicking on the article title, A New Design For Gas Water Heaters.

This cutaway model shows how the combustion chamber of a water heater with the American Water Heater Flame Guard system is located beneath the water heater's tank. The key components of this system include a sealed combustion chamber, a special combustion air inlet flame trap and a thermal switch. (Photo credit: American Water Heater.)

Napa's New River Terrace Inn	COMMERCIAL

Ground breaking has taken place for a new hotel in Napa. The River Terrace Inn, a 3-story, 108-room structure is now under construction. Andrews & Thornley General Contractors, Inc. is the builder. The wood frame building with board and batten exterior and built-up roof is a welcome addition to downtown Napa, a wine region city that many people feel lacks sufficient lodging for the sought after, wine based tourist trade.

Kurt Toso (left), Superintendent John Dunn (right) and Dave Riker (center) of LeDuc & Dexter's commercial department, layout the spa area plumbing for the River Terrace Inn in Napa. The 3-story, 108 room hotel is being built by Andrews & Thornley General Contractors, Inc.

Amy Haedt, Andrews & Thornley Project Manager, envisions the hotel to be, upon completion, "a very comfortable place to stay with lots of creature comforts." The luxurious hotel will have 2 elevators and the interior will feature stone floors, a lounge with a fireplace and a pool/spa area with another fireplace. A top of the line HVAC system will be in place to provide visitors with a most comfortable atmospheric environment.

The storefront windows of the River Terrace Inn will lend themselves to an abundance of natural light and the landscaping plan, devised by Brian Powell & Associates of San Rafael, is, according to Haedt, "really going to be beautiful." With views of the Napa River and easy traffic access, the River Terrace Inn promises to be a point of pride and interest for the city of Napa.

Amy Haedt, who has been in the construction industry for 22 years and within the past year joined Andrews & Thornley, shares the fact that good subcontractors are essential to a project such as the River Terrace Inn. "What I look for in a good subcontractor is someone who will jump in and offer ways to save money and get the job done in a better way while working well with the other subcontractors. Their track record is also important."

This is the first time Haedt has worked with LeDuc & Dexter. She had heard good reports about LeDuc & Dexter from the work at Infineon Raceway, Andrews & Thornley were also involved in that project with the construction of the grandstand suites and concourse buildings under the grandstands.

"When we sat down at the table with John Dunn (LeDuc & Dexter Commercial Superintendent) and told him what we wanted to do with the hotel, he listened closely to what was said and then after a thoughtful pause he said 'OK'. If you've been in this business you know what the general (contractor) wants."
 

The Material World	THE COMPANY

LeDuc & Dexter's warehouse is really more like a staging area for construction. It is here where all of the plumbing pipe, fixtures and valves are stored and readied for use in the field. Some specialty parts are ordered directly from suppliers to the field, but for the most part Steve Garner and his warehouse staff supplies the field workforce with the general plumbing materials they need on a daily basis.

Steve Garner, LeDuc & Dexter Warehouse Manager, is ultimately responsible for getting all plumbing parts and materials to all residential and commercial projects under construction. Garner has a staff of five people to assist him in his department.