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It's a journey that, as a homeowner, you are bound to undertake. You prepare the best you can, then plunge into the jungle of pitfalls that are home remodeling and repair problems. You wield a machete of knowledge, determinedly clearing the way toward a successful project.
Finally, you come upon a seemingly trustworthy contractor and inquire, "Eichler Network, I presume?"
Choosing a home improvement professional may not be as dangerous as those jungle searches by explorer Henry Livingstone, but when your home is as important to you as it is for most Eichler owners, the danger is real enough. You can be confident, however, if your 'machete of knowledge' includes the 2018 'Eichler Network Home Maintenance Directory,' mailed free of charge this week to all our Bay Area homeowners.
"Experienced Eichler owners have found that contractors are often totally unaware of the basic construction method for Eichlers," says Randy Feriante, owner of Dura-Foam Roofing & Solar Center, who's been working on Eichlers with foam roofing and solar services for nearly 40 years. "It's very important that a neophyte contractor not be turned loose to attempt modifications in important areas."
Feriante is one of many trusted Eichler Network participating professionals who has been featured in the directory for two decades and can retell horror stories of uninformed work done to their clients' homes by uninformed contractors.
"Eichler design and construction is different, so you need someone who understands the feeling, the materials, the layouts, the joints, and the specifics of MCM [mid-century modern] homes," explains seasoned architect John Klopf, whose Klopf Architecture has been tied to the Network for more than a decade. "We recommend companies from the [directory] publication to our clients who need specific types of contractors."
There is a solid reason why so many professionals trust their colleagues in the Eichler Network, which has to do with the ongoing effort to confirm the competence and professionalism of participating companies. This year's 36-page issue includes profiles of more than 40 professional companies across 13 different fields of home improvement, plus listings for an additional 50-plus Network service providers.
"All the businesses that are featured in our company profiles, and also the ones tagged at the end of the directory, have been vetted by the Network," promises Marty Arbunich, owner and publisher of the Eichler Network. "We know, through our research, these companies do quality work and are responsible."