Hugh Stearns's Page

"As a contractor, when we start working on a bid for a large project, we will use rules of thumb to estimate costs.  This is a very handy tool that helps catch mistakes and provides direction.  We would never give out a proposal based on…"

"Phil, Do you suppose that because a home is built by the same company in the same neighborhood that it is going to have identical problems? Really?  Have you ever been in the field?  "

"Unfortunately, that 6 day wonder is tarnishing everyone's reputation and confidence in what we do.  If we are to be an "industry" we must establish standards in terms of knowledge, workmanship and ethics.  I have been a…"

"Well organized industries often do a good job of protecting the value of their trade.  What do you think the solution is?  I did not follow the "as with any government run enterprise..." comment.  Is you business…"

"As impressive as Google is for what it is has accomplished, it is almost as impressive what it has botched.  It is almost as if the company were run by a couple of impetuous ADHD kids.  Oh yeah, they are.   Not only is this an…"

"I would consider a safer house an aspect of ROI. I think that it is incumbent upon us to be able to quantify the various components of ROI. In this case we are looking at at least three variables (up front cost, monthly cost, % removed toxins.) The…"

"The statement "Some contractors use ERVs in place of bathroom and kitchen fans that are meant to exhaust moisture, but most ERV's capture and return the moisture--and other unwanted vapors like formaldehyde--back to the living space."…"

"If ERVs capture and return the moisture to the building, why do they make a lot of sense in hot-humid climates?"