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Oct 16

Meet Jason Stephens: Estimator

Jason is the newest member of our Estimating team, he joins us from Kennedy Restoration. Find out what inspires him…

You’ve been brought on as an Estimator. Tell us about what your areas of responsibility will be.

As an estimator my primary responsibility is pricing. Whether it be contacting subcontractor, material suppliers or estimating labor hours I need to shop around and sharpen my pencil to get our customers the best quality goods and services at the best price.

You have a background in construction, flood and fire restoration, remodel and design. What aspects of Arciform’s work and process are most similar to your previous work? What’s the most different?

I graduated from Idaho State University with an A.A. in General Education. I also have a design degree from the Art Institute International Portland in Multi Media and Web Design. The most similar part of my new job here at Arciform is the construction process. It does not matter if you are dealing with an average home in an average neighborhood or a huge luxury home in a gated community, the bones of the home are built the same and in the same order. I would say the biggest difference is the client base, Arciform specializes in older, historic homes. I am used to working more on the average home in the average neighborhood or the occasional light commercial project.

Describe one of your favorite past projects. What were the challenges? What were some of the features that made it memorable?

One of my favorite projects was a residential fire in the West Hills. This two story home had a major structural fire on the main floor and we ended up tearing the home down to only a few standing walls in the basement. I was able to use the insurance proceeds to re-design and value engineer the home to increase the square footage of the home by changing the livable attic space into a full master suite. The owner was thrilled, he couldn’t believe I could get such a great new space using only the insurance proceeds.

What are the top 3 things on your “bucket list?”

Travel to see the ancient ruins of Cambodia

Sail the Caribbean Sea

Visit Cuba

Oct 13

Meet Roger Muller: Field Carpenter

Roger is one of Arciform’s newest field carpenters, read on to find out what inspires him and why he loves restoring homes…

What inspires you about restoring and renovating older homes? What drew you to this line of work?

I love the challenge of taking on a project that most others would pass on and updating it without sacrificing or compromising the architectural integrity. It drives my wife crazy, but I am always pointing to rundown/neglected historical homes and commenting on what potential they have – she would prefer I focus on our 1928 Dutch Colonial Revival’s “potential” instead!

What drew me to this line of work? I grew up around the business, my dad was a builder in Florida for nearly 40 years, and I spent summers from high school through college working on his projects. That’s where I learned carpentry. These were old school guys who, except for a circa 1950 Skil circular saw, didn’t believe in power tools. You really understand the meaning of “measure twice cut once” when you are cutting 8” high baseboards on a miter box with a back saw!

Do you have a special skill you want to tell us about?

I have a green thumb and I enjoy nothing more than working in my yard.

Describe one of your favorite past projects. What were the challenges? What were some of the features that made it memorable?

While living in Mobile, Alabama I tackled a project that comprised four homes adjacent to one another. The houses were abandoned and condemned, no one thought these homes were worth saving. However, beneath the neglect and remuddling there was architectural beauty: heart pine floors, ornately carved fireplace mantels and custom trim. They ranged in age from a circa 1850 Creole shotgun to a 1910 foursquare. Just cleaning out the debris and gutting them took four months and filled six 40 cubic yard dumpsters. In the end, all four houses returned to being single-family homes. The City of Mobile awarded me the restoration of the year and the houses were featured on Bob Villa’s Restore America TV show.

What are the top 3 things on your bucket list?

This I where I’m supposed to say something hip and exciting like climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro and watching the sunrise or having a one-on-one over an IPA with the Dalai Lama but, my bucket list is to spend as much time with the ones I love.

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