As we look back on the past year, our hearts are overflowing with gratitude for the many people who have enriched our lives – YOU! It is truly a privilege to be invited into your homes and businesses and we are thankful for your trust.

The theme for our Christmas card this year was MIB4 (Men In Black 4), the yet-to-be  science fiction thriller movie in which a brave band of construction services heroes takes on Portlanders’ worst fear (the chaos of home remodeling) and saves the day with Honesty and Caring. Who knows, maybe a scene from the movie will play out in your home this next year!

If you have friends or family considering awaking the home remodeling monster, please tell them about our super powers! We have a well-established referral rewards program as a way of saying thank you to the people that keep Olson & Jones in business.

Here are some candid shots from the set on the first shoot:

With original shutters, beautiful column details and four ornate fireplaces this project is both a challenging and inspiring home to bring up to date.  Poor color and tile choices as well as Ikea light fixtures have detracted from its charm, however the original hardware and fireplace surrounds (above, not below) have given us a peek into what the house was once like!

The story of the original owner is also intriguing.  Wallace McCamant was a lawyer in the Portland area who was very involved in the community and held several political offices.  He was also the only person who took a chance on the then little known Calvin Coolidge and nominated him for Vice President thus shaping the history of our entire nation!

You can find out more about McCamant here.

Demolition photos will be posted in a few weeks to keep you up to date as we bring this Portland gem back to its original grandeur!

How Much Is Too Much?

There is little doubt that radon at high exposure levels over time is very harmful to human health. The Surgeon General has warned that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States today. Only smoking causes more lung cancer deaths.Why Is It Dangerous?

There is no safe level of Radon. Any amount is a detriment to health. However, the EPA has determined that 4 pCi/L (a measure of Radon concentration in the air) is a practicable level at which to recommend remediation. A NE Portland home that was recently tested near Rocky Butte had 22 pCi/L – over five times that amount!

If You’re Asking These Questions, You Should Test

The only real way to know if you have a Radon problem at your house it to have it tested by a certified Radon Professional. A monitor or test kit can be used to record radon levels over a period of time. If levels are above what you are comfortable with, a remediation plan can be enacted to ventilate the radon out of the house. Learn more at the very informative EPA Radon website.

How Much Does It Cost?

The cost of a Radon test varies from $15-20 for a do-it-yourself kit that must be mailed to a lab for results, to $150-200 for full home Radon inspection and monitor setup with more immediate results. If you have questions or would like help in assessing your radon risk, don’t hesitate to contact us. We may assess the situation and refer you to Radon Testing and Remediation Specialist if that is the best fit for your concerns.

What Does a House Need Air For?

Our inside living spaces need ventilation to circulate fresh air, supply gas appliances with oxygen for combustion, allow dust and odors to escape, and evacuate moisture buildup from breathing, cooking, and bathing. This can all be supplied by “controlled breathing,” or, proper ventilation.

The problem is, most homes are hyperventilating – so much air movement is going on between indoor and outdoor air that your heating bill and comfort really suffer! Not only can unhealthy air infiltrate from places like crawlspaces and attics, but you are also heating the neighborhood by allowing all your precious heated air to escape. Air leakage is one of the most significant sources of energy loss in a home.

How Much Air Does My House Need?

So how much ventilation do you need? The Building Airflow Standard (BAS) is an official number calculated for your home that allows for healthy ventilation air while reducing unnecessary energy loss. It is the target for your home to be at its peak performance. The basic formula is this:

V x ACH / 60 = BAS

• V (house volume, square feet of conditioned floor area times average cieling height)
• ACH (air changes per hour, the national ASHRAE standard for a home is .35, or a complete change of house air every three hours.)
• 60 (converts hourly ventilation to minutes)

Does My Home Hyperventilate?

The only way to know is to have a Blower Door Air Leakage Analysis performed on your home. During this controlled test a calibrated fan measures the actual air leakage in cubic feet per minute from your home. This number is then compared to the Building Airflow Standard for your home to see if you are at, above, or below! Anything above the BAS means you’re hyperventilated!

Can a House be TOO Tight?

If a home is air sealed below the BAS, this is actually a good thing! No additional ventilation is required down to 70% of the BAS (65cfm in the example above). Below that point, mechanical ventilation is added for “controlled breathing” that lets in just the right amount of air from the right place, no more. Having a house below 70% of the BAS without mechanical ventilation is not recommended, as this will cause discomfort, air quality issues, and potential mold, mildew, and rot problems from moisture buildup inside.

Most condo owners are scared off of remodeling by the massive volume of building rules and Homeowners Association regulations. However, contrary to popular opinion, most condos will allow improvements, but it takes an experienced general contractor and designer who are very thorough and thoughtful to make the project a success while keeping all your neighbors happy!

Jason Ball of Jason Ball Interiors was contacted by the homeowner first as the designer, and when Jason realized the extent of the renovations necessary, he knew just who to call. Olson & Jones is consistently rated at the top among homeowners for cleanliness, promptness, and attention to detail – things that will make or break your condo remodel project. Jason Ball and Olson & Jones were both dedicated to making this project a success.

This home features fantastic gardening and landscaping to complement the historic house packed full of character. 

The one-of-a-kind custom fence ringing this corner lot was falling apart from rot. Olson & Jones restored the affected posts and tops with Kleer Cellular PVC material that is impervious to rot.

Each person represents a character in the classic nativity, while their costume and location give clues as to their role at Olson & Jones. Gwen, for example, is Mary with a 16-Key calculator (office manager); Sean is baby Jesus with his iPhone never far (Home Performance manager and sales guru), Jeff, Frank, and Leo are wise men/project managers with their plans in hand; Benjamin, Darren, and Rick are handy shepherds with carpentry tools at the ready; Wes is the announcing angel, also displaying fall protection while hanging a drop light; and Greg is Joseph, caretaking the whole scene dressed in company president style. To see their REAL job descriptions, visit our team page.

If you didn’t receive a Christmas card this year and want to be first in line for whatever crazy idea we come up with next year, shoot us an e-mail at inquiries@olsonandjones.com with your name and mailing address and we’ll make sure you get a post card next Christmas.

We’ve had an overwhelming response from our 30ft. long, candy cane wrapped glowing hammer! Our team’s Christmas decoration tradition has turned into a Christmas tradition for thousands of Portlanders who travel I-5 after sunset between Capital Highway and Multnomah exits in SW Portland.

Keep an eye out on the north side of the freeway for our hammer – a sign that Christmas is near and that Olson & Jones is busy taking care of Portlanders and their homes with honesty and caring.

Claudia had called Olson & Jones many times in the past for updates and repairs to her home, and this time she wanted a total kitchen transformation. The project was so successful that she featured it in the latest edition of Portrait of Portland!

View a pdf of the magazine article.

See the finished product of the Ultimate Master Suite in our slide show. A huge thanks to the subcontractors and suppliers who worked so hard to make this come together on time!