L. R. Goodwin
Brought up in the construction industry, my father was a superintendent who saw to it that I was cross-trained in every field. At sixteen I made foreman over a sod laying crew, "green side up!" while working for a large utility and dirt contractor in Jacksonville Fla. By the age of twenty I was a forman over framing/remodeling crew in Middle Tennessee. At the ripe age of twenty-two, I was the Field Engineer over a six million dollar fitness center for a major university. After working as a field engineer and foreman on large construction projects for a couple of years, I was made superintendent over a twelve million dollar elementary school project. Great for the ego, but major disaster in every other way, no one should be a super at that age, you get no respect from fellow tradesmen no matter how much you think you know. From that point on, I bounced around construction projects working as everything from lead carpenter to forman and even as a set carpenter. For three years, I was the shop forman/lead carpenter for AMPS (America's Music Production Services), while there I built stage sets for half the country music industry not including being the exclusive set builders for the Billy Graham Crusades. Beyond the shallow pool of the music industry I found my true love, so to speak, building log homes. For several years I traveled North America building log homes for many of the largest log home companies. Most recently I worked as estimator, sales and as a super for a local company which built various projects ranging from remodeling the local Honda dealer's showroom to building a new recreation center for a local church. Currently I freelance and build whatever for whoever in and around Middle Tennessee.
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- 52,028
- Content
- 28
- Fans
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- Contributor since
- 5/18/2007
Education/Experience
Besides being a certified builder for Khuns Bros Log Homes, I have certifications in dozens of different branded products and processes.Interests
Master Carpenter, Plumber, Remodeler, Log Home Builder/Designer/Drafter, Superintendent, Estimator, Salesman, Amateur Historian and Politico, Furniture Builder/Designer, Can build ANYTHING with or without drawings....Motto
no problems, only solutions...which was recently stolen by a large corporation
Displaying Results 1 - 28 (of 28) for Yahoo! Voices
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Problems with Building and RemodelingOften when your in the middle of a project some unexpected problem will creep up and take a bite out of your budget. Read this and maybe, just maybe, you can avoid busting your budget. -
Novel Ideas for Lowering Your Electric BillAnyone can tell you to turn the lights off when leaving a room, but to save real money on electric bills you can make real changes to how you use electricity.
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Cut Your Water Bill by a ThirdThere are hundreds if not thousands of tips for saving water, but this system will trump all of the others. It will take time, money and effort, but this will pay for itself in a couple of years and increase the value of your home at the same time.
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Building on a Budget: Free and Low Cost Material ResourcesWith a little imagination and a little time can save you big on your next project.
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Simple Tips for GardeningGardening is such a broad topic that you could spend your entire life reading about it and never learn everything there is to know. -
Construction Math Made SimpleHow often have you had to split the difference between fractions of an inch? After reading this article you will be able to do the math in your head faster than your buddy with his construction calculator. -
Installing Laminate on CountertopsLaminate countertops are not as hard to install as the pros would have you to believe. It is tricky, though, so pay attention. -
Low Cost Kitchen Remodeling TipsThere are simple inexpensive options to change the look of your kitchen. Be careful though; if your changes look too cheap, your home will lose value. -
The Outdoor Kitchen and You: Style on a BudgetOutdoor kitchens are becoming the go to room for entertaining guests. -
Safe Rooms: A Disturbing Trend in Modern HomesWhat constitutes a safe room? How do you decide what your needs are? Are you trying to survive Armageddon or a home invasion?
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Building the Ultimate Structure: America's First Commercial Time CapsuleThe challenges that await this project could be described as overwhelming. Not only are there significant challenges to building the capsule, but there will be challenges in filling it. -
Home Improvement Ideas on a BudgetThere are many things you can do to change the look of your home without spending a small fortune. -
Adding a Screened Porch or Sunroom to Your HomeIf you are looking for more usable space while adding value to your home, a screened enclosure or a sunroom is a good way to do both without breaking the bank.
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The Final Word on Ceramic Tile Flooring: Read the Others, but Follow These DirectionsMany have tried to write this article, I have succeeded!
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Kitchen Trends: Concrete CountertopsMarble and granite have become the standard in kitchens and baths. You can use concrete for comparable results for a fraction of the price.
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Indoor Tanning: Tax Drives Millions into the SunI just finished writing an article on how they are going to tax the air you breath, imagine my suprise that they will try to tax an artificial sun.
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Ten Home Improvement Trends of the Last DecadeTrends come and go, but these ten (or eleven)trends are here to stay.
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Residential Construction Contracts: What to Look ForAll to often the builder supplies a contract. These contracts protect the builder while leaving holes big enough to drive your wallet through over and over.
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Writing Specifications: Getting the Most Out of a ContractWe are going to explore how to write specifications for your next project. My last article went into the why of it, this is going to explain the how of it.
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Winning the Estimate GameGetting estimates for a home improvement project can be overwhelming. Use the following tips to reduce confusion, specify products, set timelines and level the playing field for the contractors. These tips will help you get what you paid for and more. -
Log Home Decisions: FoundationsTrusses or build up roof, Plywood sub-floors or Advantech, Tongue and Groove walls or Drywall? The decisions are infinite the choices that you make now, you will have to live with. This is part one of a series, we are going to start with foundations and work our way up. -
Electrical, Plumbing and HVAC Systems in Your New Log HomeHow to plan for mechanical systems without getting ripped off by your contractors. -
Log Home Builders: Does Species of the Wood Matter?Today we are going to look at the most common species of wood used when buiding a log home and the differences of those materials. -
Choosing the Right Property and Location for Your Log HomeBefore you build your new log home, you need a place to construct it. This sounds as simple as purchasing any piece of property. This is not always the case, there is allot to consider before your make your final decision. -
Inexpensive Skateboard Ramp or Half-pipeMore and more kids are skateboarding, the problem seems to be that there are fewer places to legally skate due to vandelism and property damage. Give your kids a safe place to skateboard without breaking your budget. -
Proper Installation of Windows and Doors in a Log HomeMost log homes leak massive amounts of air around the windows and doors. How can I best install them to prevent it? How can I fix existing windows and doors? -
Log Homes R-Value Vs. Thermal MassControversy in the building world. Thermal mass versus R value. What is R value and how is it determined?









