I would like to mention that I put this website together more as an information and educational center than as a business promotion. You won't find any bologna on this website. I try to say it like I see it and help the customer attain "reality check" status rather than paint a flowery picture of the remodeling process and the contractors who do the work. Please understand that I realize that in projecting my humble opinion, I in no way think it's the only answer or explanation and realize that it may not be correct for everyone. We do not have to agree .... you'll be wrong .... but we don't have to agree. (A little humor).
Secondly and lastly for the intro, I would like to state that for all the bad publicity that contractors get, there are some really qualified, talented individuals with tremendous knowledge that frequently have to live down a negative stigma that seems to be the prevelant view of contractors from most of the public. Just as in most industries, bad news travels fast and instead of a bad apple becoming the rarity, that bad apple becomes a lasting impression in the minds of the public. So, grab onto hope, the good guys are out there, "ya just gotta find 'em!"
At the same time, we all know that there are the "nightmare" customers that go into a project knowing they are going to try and deceive the contractor or at least, try really hard to do so. It's a fact, and every contractor out there will verify that it has either happened to them, or one of their friends at sometime in their careers. It has been my experience that the working relationship that develops between the contractor and the customer is based heavily on the character and integrity of both. This is a truth in every field. So although I defend the contractors position, I do it with a disclaimer and I therefore believe it falls true for the customer as well. This is part of my "reality check" status that I try to bring to the surface. We'll see eh? (No, I'm not Canadian.)
Company Information - The Who, What, Where, Why & When of Deer Creek
If you don't particularly care about how Deer Creek came about, feel free to jump around. I won't get hurt feelings. I try to address the most common questions I've been asked and this one's at the top of the list; "Where'd ya come up with Deer Creek? Were ya born on a ranch or something or do ya jus' like deer?"
I wasn't born on a ranch and although deer seem nice, that's not how I came up with the name. But I was born in California. I founded Deer Creek back in 1990 and it's always been a small company. I prefer it that way. I had four employees for several years and I've gone back and forth since then but, I currently have no employees, just little 'ol me, and I use sub-contractors when the job gets too big to do all the work by myself in a reasonable amount of time. That is, when I can find them. Oh... and I only have one truck. I'm told often by people that "I see your trucks all over the place...." But it's just the one truck they're seeing, honest. (For more truck stuff, go to the "Contact & Truck" page of this web site).
As I was saying, I've been asked many times where I came up with the name "Deer Creek". Well, since I probably directed someone to this website to answer the most commonly asked questions I get asked, well, here ya go.....
When I was a teen-ager I used to race bikes. I was very serious about it and rode my life away for four years. I wanted to enter the Olympics but wasn't genetically able. I was told I would have to take steroids to compete. I'd ride a 17 mile route before school and 40+ miles after with 100 miles minimum on weekends. We would race the course each day verses riding it. There was a big difference. My last big ride was from Palo Alto to Long Beach (447 miles) in 3-1/2 days. I did this with a passion for four years and quit only because I started taking Karate at age 16 and I was finding it hard to keep both up while going to school. After dropping bike racing I continued with Karate for 30 years and just recently retired in December of '03 due to extensive dental work and joint repair. The bike racing was back at a time in my life when the biggest thing I had to worry about was the weather and if I'd had enough to eat for the day. Life was simple and I knew it wouldn't last forever. It was a unique time in my life and I always had good memories of these times. Everyday we'd end the rides by coming home down Deer Creek Road. It was the "kick back" time of the day and the sun was usually setting. It was always beautiful and always a relief. These good memories I associate with Deer Creek Road. So hence, Deer Creek Construction. (Yes, I used the word "hence"and no, people don't talk that way.)
Rebar holds it all together; don't skimp when it comes to steel. It's the best bang for your buck you'll find in construction
So when I started Deer Creek I wanted to do it with passion. When I got my license I was talking to a friend of mine, who is a contractor for a concrete company, about contracting in general. His name was Roger. Roger told me that now that I had a license, I was going to make all sorts of money. He couldn't stop laughing as he said it. He brought himself to tears saying that a few times. He then said something that I took to heart. (After he wiped the tears out of his eyes) He said, "Brian, you're always going to have people chasing you while you're in business. They're going to chase you because you did a good job or because you did a bad one. You have to decide which one you want after you." Although it seemed like such an obvious point, I guess I'd never really looked at it so simply put. Anyway, I took it to heart.
So, I now do custom remodels and additions. I try to do work that is unique and that becomes a conversation piece, if possible. If I do a tile pattern or hardwood floor pattern that's custom, I won't ever do it again in another house the same way. This makes the job unique. If I show up at your job site at 8AM one morning, I'll never show up at the same time again, or on time again. That...makes me a contractor. (Just a little more humor.)
I try desperately to stay away from the "copy what I once saw" look. With cabinet designs, windows and appliances all having a sort of "standard", it's hard enough to make a job truly unique by stepping away from boundaries of conformity. You don't need a contractor who's going to bring conformity to a new level by bringing it to your floors, ceilings, tile and skylights as well. I try to encourage people to step outside the box. I must admit that it doesn't always work. Most people are a little afraid to venture too far into the realm of what is sometimes unknown or not a sure thing. The less you conform, the narrower your support group, right? So don't expect to find support when you decide to step outside the boundaries that are sometimes, mundanely set. This is where you must exude confidence. It never fails that the people that will want to help you the most in making your decisions will help you the least with the financial support of those decisions. So I feel that if you're going to pay for the decisions, you should get to make them. Makes sense to me.
Notice: My opinion on customers is coming... warning... warning ...
"I think that extraordinary people take extraordinary chances and produce extraordinary results. Conformity will produce safe results but, creative outcomes are the result of taking chances on what's never been seen. You have to pick what outcome you'd like and a lot depends on your personality in doing so. There is nothing wrong with the sure thing. It's just not as much fun with the outcome, right?"
Well, after all the talk about how Deer Creek came about, along with my personal philosophies about remodeling, let's take a look at a few projects as examples of what I've been talking about. It's not that tough to bring a little character to the home and doesn't cost that much more either. Well...it doesn't cost much more in most instances.....ah...in some instances....okay, it cost a little more but, I think it's worth every dime. (Notice how I didn't say penny. Inflation.) Most contractors and/or carpenters are bored senseless with doing the same old thing and would welcome the change and often, the challenge of something different. So don't be shy and speak up! When you see a contractor's face light up after you mention to him that you're thinking of doing something different, now you know, it's not the money he's happy about. So, lets take a look...
This house epitomizes everything I've mentioned previously pertaining to remodeling, as well as customers. No, especially customers. This customer had uncommon insight. I thought that I was the one who could spot the potential and character of a home but no...I tried twice to get this house demolished but to no avail. The owner said it could be saved and saw potential where I thought there was no hope. It's a long story and cannot possibly do it justice in this small paragraph but the house started out very very scary. With creative options and the owner's uncommon insight and incredible decisiveness, it was transformed. Click on the thumbnails. I often go back and look at the "before" pics just to make sure it was the same house I remembered. Sometimes I still wake up at night in a cold sweat yelling, "Stucco! More stucco! Stop the tractor....NOW!" My wife pats me on the back and says, "There there, the house is fixed now. Fixed." I wipe my forehead and go back to sleep.
Before the Facelift (Pre-op)
After....I know you're saying, "no kidding".
The bay windows broke up this previously flat wall adding interest and depth. The oak doors added contrast. The stucco with the trim around the windows covers the previous plywood siding. Quite the change.
A Flat Wall Gets a Facelift
More often than you may think, the opportunity for very creative options will surface. If you're willing to step outside the box, your imagination is all that will limit you. After looking at that extreme case, let me go down the page here and show you some completed projects that all posses something that helps change or stand apart from the norm. Sometimes, very small changes can make a big difference but it often calls for taking a chance. I think it was Charlie Brown that wanted us to stamp out conformity wasn't it? Or was that Linus? Snoopy? You'd think I could have quoted Aristotle, Lao Tze, King Solomon or someone like that. No, I have to quote Charlie Brown.
A Creative Solution to Too Many Straight Lines that ah....Weren't in Line.
African Black Wood, otherwise known more commonly as "Iron Wood", is very weather-friendly while being extremely hard. Once installed, you can leave it for your grandchildren to repair because it won't be breaking down anytime soon. It's actually harder than oak. Because you'll be looking at it for a very long time, why not make it interesting? Bring some curves into an otherwise predictable line. Curves are always nicer to look at. Compare the Viper to a squared off sedan. Too obvious? Okay how about a basketball to a square? Round objects and curves allow your eye to flow making it easy on the eye rather than feeling like it's work to go from one point to another.
A combination of ceramic tile, slate and granite can add texture and interest to any room.
The Floor Can Be The Largest Tapestry in Your House
Don't forget the floor in your house. Stone, wood, tile or slate can all bring character to an otherwise "normal" looking floor. Ask yourself what type of feeling that you want a room to project and then, in the same way an artist would lead you through a painting using colors and shadows, do the same with the floor. Nature is unpredictable which is what makes it beautiful. Sunsets lack patterns but draw our interest and create a feeling through colors and the unpredictable shapes that somehow seem to balance each other. Don't make everything predictable. If someone says to themselves, "I wouldn't have that in my house in a hundred years but ah...take a look at this, how cool is that." The truth is, they probably would have it in their house, the problem for them might be stepping outside the bounds of normality and taking a chance. In all fairness, It could also be money. It does cost more to be eccentric lets face it.
A floor should serve a greater purpose than just a pathway or a surface to walk on. People who pass through your house must do so by way of the floor right? So, why not make it worth the walk. Give them something to look at not merely something to walk over.
Here's a hardwood floor, blind nailed with a walnut feature strip mixed in with slate and granite for the entry. Adding the stone helps break up the hardwood. The double feature strip adds a tremendous amount of interest to an otherwise predictable floor. Ya gotta admit, whether you'd have it in your house or not, it does make you look twice eh?
Doug Fir ceiling beams with knotty pine
A Vaulted Wood Ceiling
A ceiling can be a great place to add interest. Sheetrock has it's place but, if you'd like to bring a ceiling to life, try wood. If you want to take it a step further, vault it. Vaulted ceilings bring a feeling of space. They can make a small room seem large and therefore, easier to be in and less claustrophobic. If you don't think it makes that much difference, try standing in a closet. That's an extreme but it sure brings the point home. Well, it did for me.
This porch ceiling started out flat and painted. We converted the porch to living area and vaulted the ceiling. The porch now acts as an entryway with tremendous interest. Sure beats a flat white ceiling.
A little more of the same ceiling. You can see the wood trim around the window help tie the ceiling to the walls. The lighter color on the walls gives it a dramatic contrast. The windows were true divided light wood casement windows.
Interest is added to the entry way and the living room through a simple arch.
A Calming Archway
Instead of making a square passageway or doorway from the entry into the living space, why not put up an arch? It's easy on the eye and doesn't give off the harshness of squared corners.
This is truly one of a kind.
A Challenge That Paid Off
This is for you roof cutters/framers out there. Yes, that's four valley rafters. Yes, they plane out. Yes, it was a one cut, one shot deal where, because it was stained, there was no filler or paint to help you if you blew it. I wouldn't have been able to hide the cuts like I could have with paint and filler so they had to be right. I did this because one of my employees told me it couldn't be done. What he meant to saywas, that he hadn't seen it done before. (More humor).
Here is another opportunity to make a ceiling really unique. Not only is the ceiling framed with real wood for beams, (not boxed frames), but the four valley rafters add that "one of kind" status to it and make it interesting to look at.
I always like to acknowledge the courage of the homeowners for letting me try something that, even I hadn't seen or done before. This is where when someone asks you if you can do it, you just say "yes, sure, of course, no...problem!" and worry about those small details like "how" later.
Before I got started...
You Say Your Attic is Useless?
Don't pass over the attic. I converted this attic from a useless cold area to a living area complete with closets, cable and phone lines and even it's own circuit breaker box. Click on the photos below to make them larger. This is a really good example of a customer willing to take a chance. She was very creative herself and had a lot of insight as well. Although the contractor or carpenter do the actual work, the customer plays a pivotal role in whether a job takes the unique turn. Bottom line...it's your call eh?
Stainless Steel with African Blackwood
"Fences.....We Can't Compete Financially With the Pro Fence Guys".
I thought I'd throw in some pictures of some fences I've done that were custom. (You'll find the thumbnails on the "Job Pictures" page and then click on the button "Just a fence?" to see more. I do not want to give the impression that I should be doing fences. You do not need a general contractor to do your fence but depending on what you want your fence to do, you may need a craftsman of sorts. These fences and gates are a collection of my projects that were very custom and do not fall into the category of "standard" or even common "custom" fencing. Take a look at the thumbnails and click on 'em and see if you agree.
On your basic fence and even most custom fencing, go to a fence guy. I'm going to put in a plug for the fencing contractors out there because I believe in what I'm saying. You can't beat a fencing contractor for price, speed and efficiency.
Now this fence is truly one of a kind. It's the most custom fence on the planet. (That may be a stretch but it's close.) This fence is, yes, you guessed it, stainless steel. I designed this on CAD and had a sheetmetal shop punch out the metal framing. A fabricator did the lock mechanism and the Tig welding where needed. There are no nails in this fence but only two screws per end of each rail holding the wood. The wood was routered to fit together in a tongue & groove fashion to allow for expansion and contraction with the weather conditions. The posts are 4 x 4 stainless steel. Just sounds incredible doesn't it? I added some thumbnails on the "Job Pictures" page as I described above. You've already seen some of the stainless railing up above. Cool eh?
Check out the rest of the pics. The stainless steel fence/gate, the excessive routering on a couple of the wood ones and not to forget the half-square or 90 degree corner custom gate are all unique and unusual in their own ways. Not economical, not really necessary, but fun eh? Well built eh? Not Canadian eh? Sorry.
