Cummings Enterprises

05/08/2023

I would hope that everyone reading this post would pass it on to everyone they know. Google "The Energy Transition Delusion: Inescapable Mineral Realities". It is a presentation given by energy expert Mark P. Mills at the Skagen Fund's New Years 2023 Conference. In it he talks about the minerals that need to be mined and processed in order to transition away from oil, coal, and natural gas. It is very enlightening.

04/20/2023

I would recommend to anyone who is interested in getting information to help them make decisions about climate change, politics, illegal immigration, China, and many other issues of importance in today's world to subscribe to the "Epoch Times" weekly newspaper. It offers information that is not available by following any of the major news media outlets. There is an interesting "letter to the editor" in the March 29 - April 4, 2023 issue regarding climate change. It debunks the media/political narrative concerning this issue by explaining it in a way that even I can understand. It also explains China's CCP's ways in which the communist party is undermining and influencing American society. A subscription is well worth the price.

07/16/2017

I see and get requests to have a wood deck re-stained. Most of those requests come from people who do not realize what the process is to properly re-stain their deck, stairs, and handrails. If their deck is weathered and dirty, or has moss and mildew on it, it will need to be cleaned and the old finish stripped off of it before it can be re-stained. The deck will also need sufficient time to dry before it can be stained. It is also possible that the deck will need to sanded before staining. All of this work takes time and a contractor is going to charge for his time. And this process needs to be repeated every two or three years. Composition decking and handrails eliminate most of this. An annual cleaning is usually all that is required and most home owners can do it.

06/22/2017

Met with a couple yesterday about refinishing their deck. The deck was less than 2 years old and the deck stain was popping off. It looked like the contractor had used varnish

After inspecting and measuring the deck, I could tell that it was not built to code. The handrail posts were spaced too far apart and had been notched. The posts did not have the post connection hardware or code approved fasteners that are now required by code for any deck that is 30" or more above the ground. There were more code violations so it was evident that the contractor who built the deck did not take out a permit to build it.

Yes, it does make the deck cost more to comply with the deck building code but it also helps insure the safety of the people who will be using it. No one wants to be on a deck that collapses under their feet nor do they want their family or friends to be on it. Always make sure the proper permits are taken out on any project that you have done and that the people doing the work are licensed.

06/06/2017

Evaluate any contractor who you are considering hiring based on his or her knowledge of their trade, their professionalism, their craftsmanship, how long they have been in business, referrals, licensing, and any complaints filed with the licensing authority. It takes years for most contractors to develop the skills, competency, and knowledge needed for them to do what they do and do it well. You are paying for their knowledge as well as their skills. A really good contractor can save a client many headaches on a job as well as money and provide a quality product to be enjoyed for years. Their value is worth more than just the cost of a project.

05/31/2017

I have found in my many years of contracting, that most people shop price when they should be shopping value. Take having someone build you a deck or paint your house. If contractor A bids the deck for a price that is 10% or 20% less than contractor B, do you know the reason for the difference in their prices? Contractor B may be using stainless steel fasteners and installing an isolation membrane between any galvanized connectors due to the high copper content in the pressure treated lumber being used to frame the deck. The high copper content in pressure treated lumber is very corrosive to galvanized metal fasteners and connectors. He may also be putting a membrane on top of the deck joists to shed water and extend the life of the deck framing since most of the treatments do not pe*****te very far into douglas fir lumber.

Contractor B may also know how to select the best materials that are available and that will be used to build the deck in order provide his client with a better quality finished product.

The same is true for the contractor painting a house. One contractor may bid pressure washing, scraping loose paint, priming, caulking, and painting with the primer and top coats being back rolled and brushed while another contractor may only bid pressure washing and spray painting. This difference can add years to the life of the paint coating since the preparation and priming are the most important parts of any paint job.

It is up to the homeowner to do their due diligence and make sure that they understand what a contractor is including in their estimate. Make sure that the estimate or contract spells out in detail what work and materials the contractor is providing including any permits if they are required. Make sure that the contractor is licensed to do the work they are bidding on by checking with Oregon's CCB. The information on the CCB should be included with their estimate or contract and will be on the notices that they are required to give a homeowner.

12/19/2016

08/05/2016

I have climbed back into the saddle although some what gingerly and am starting to work again. I've finished my physical therapy altho the exercises will have to go on forever or at least until I die. I am currently work on a small deck repair project.

02/17/2016

I will not be working on any projects or bidding on any after February 24th for three months or longer while I heal from back surgery.

12/18/2015

This is part of the cedar deck that I built this summer and leads to a membrane roof above a garage. The cedar handrails and pressure treated posts are painted with two coats of Cloverdale's Sharkskin solid body deck stain. The deck is sealed with one coat of Penofin deck stain.
The first photo of the deck shows the 18" diameter concrete piers, support posts. bracing, deck, and handrails. The deck was built to code using the prescriptive deck code now used by the city of Eugene, OR.

04/21/2015

These photos show the different stages of the "leaking shower" repair. This shower was installed about four years ago during an extensive remodel of the master bedroom and bathroom. It began leaking two years ago. The original tile contractor tore the shower floor out about one year ago and did not return. The first photo shows the bottom row of tile, waterproof membrane, and sheet rock removed. The second photo shows the new water resistant sheet rock installed and the plywood floor repaired with new plywood. The third photo shows new Kerdi waterproof membrane installed on the walls. Not shown is the installation of the Kerdi shower pan and curb. The fourth and fifth photos are of the finished installation of the new tile. The client had just enough tile left over to make the repairs. Note the linear drain near the back wall of the shower.

04/11/2015

I had stripped a semi-transparent deck stain off of a second story cedar deck last fall. After sanding all of the decking and handrails, I was re-coating it with Cloverdale's Sharkskin solid body deck stain. I had not finished when the wet fall weather was about to start so I built a frame work over the deck and covered every thing with "Skrim" 6 mil clear visqueen. The "Skrim" visqueen is re-inforced with nylon string and is exceptionally strong, tear resistant and UVA resistant. This kept the deck dry throughout the winter. Once the temperatures warmed up over 50 degrees and the humidity level was below 85%, I was able to remove some of the cover over the stairs and continue brushing on the deck stain. I quit near the end of each day so that I would have a minimum of 6 hours of above 50 degree temperatures without increased humidity levels as per the manufacturers application requirements. I will continue working on the deck's handrails as weather permits until the deck staining is complete and all of the deck's exposed surfaces have two coats of deck stain on them which will comply with Cloverdale's warranty requirements. This product is one of the best deck stain products that I have used. I will post pictures once the project is complete.