The Builders’ Bulletin is intended to provide a convenient way to track housing in our market and includes information from the Northwest Multiple Listing Service, State of the Cities Data Systems, Office of Financial Management and the Washington State Employment Security Department.

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Whether you're building a new kitchen or remodeling an existing one, here are some tips to keep in mind as you start the process.

By Eric Jaeger, Dunn Lumber

Q: Give me everything you've got on the craft of kitchen cabinetry.

A: Whether you're building a new kitchen or remodeling an existing one, here are some tips to keep in mind as you start the process.

1. Consider lead time

   Before you get started, it's important to know that there's typically a four- to six-week lead time when ordering your cabinets. This means that once you've gathered all the dimensions, made all your material choices, and placed the order, your cabinets will take around about a month to arrive, depending on how customized they are and which vendor you use.

2. Think through your layout

   How do you use your kitchen? One helpful design tip is to create an equilateral triangle between the sink, refrigerator, and stove—it creates an easy flow of activity. Where will you store pots and pans? Do you want open shelving? Where will the garbage and recycling go? What about a dishwasher?

3. Collect measurements

   It's important to know critical dimensions when planning your cabinet layout. Consider plumbing, gas and electric for appliances, and doors and windows you'll be working around. As you gather these measurements, remember to measure from the outside of any trim or casing, rather than the inside. And don't forget to measure your ceiling height—this will determine the height of your cabinets.

4. Visit a showroom

   Once you've considered the layout and gathered measurements, sketches, and photos, it's time for the fun part: choosing your cabinets. View your cabinet options in person at a showroom if possible—it will help you visualize the cabinets in context. Bring along any inspirations and references, whether it's a kitchen you saw in a magazine or an entire Pinterest board. To get you thinking, here are some of the choices you'll be making:

   • Cabinet face. Do you want framed or frameless cabinets? Framed cabinets have a more traditional look. Frameless cabinets are often referred to as European-style. Other than the aesthetic, the biggest difference between these two options is that a framed cabinet has, well, a frame, which means there's more space between the doors and drawers.

   • Wood type. For the box, consider plywood—it's stronger, especially in sink bases. Particleboard has improved tremendously over the years, but it will still deteriorate faster in water than plywood, and an under-sink leak at some point in time is almost inevitable. Door-wise, you have options. Oak has an open grain; beech has a huge variation in grain (the darker you stain it, the more pronounced the differentiation); and maple is popular because it's dense with a tight grain that has a nice, smooth finish when painted. Cherry and black walnut are great choices, too. Beyond this, the face of the doors and drawers are customizable—consider inset, full overlay, or partial overlay.

   • Finish. Staining and painting are typical options.

   • Hardware. From the way your drawer slides to the sound your cabinet door makes when it closes, there's opportunity for cabinet and hardware customization, including the color and material of your pulls and hinges.

You may be tempted to order your cabinets on the spot, but it's a good idea to go back to your space and revisit the decisions you've made. Do the cabinets you've designed still make sense in the space? If so, place your order—and try to wait patiently until delivery day.

Eric Jaeger is a cabinet specialist at Dunn Lumber and a member of the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties (MBAKS). HomeWork is the group's weekly column. If you have a home improvement, remodeling, or residential homebuilding question you'd like answered by one of the MBAKS's nearly 3,000 members, write to homework@mbaks.com.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Sharon Couts
Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties
425.499.1723

Master Builders Association Hires Kathleen Sims, Former Weyerhaeuser Executive, as its New Executive Director

Bellevue, Wash—March 1, 2018—The Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties (MBAKS) announced the selection of Kathleen (Kat) Sims as its new executive director. Sims is the first woman to lead the association in its 109-year history. As the former vice president of environmental affairs, sustainability, and corporate responsibility of Weyerhaeuser Company, she is an influential leader accustomed to the building industry. She begins her new role Monday, March 5.

“Kat’s depth and breadth of experience as an executive, real estate attorney, and coalition builder will be a tremendous asset for our association,” said Erich Armbruster, the association’s board president. “She will be an excellent representative for Master Builders Association as we expand our influence with regional leaders in addressing the growth and critical housing issues facing our region. I could not be more pleased that such an exceptional leader is taking the helm.”

Sims is a seasoned attorney specializing in real estate law, with more than 10 years of in-house business management expertise. Prior to her most recent position at Weyerhaeuser, Sims worked as vice president of government affairs at Plum Creek Timber Company Inc., which merged with Weyerhaeuser in 2016. She also served as senior director of sustainability and senior director, real estate law at Plum Creek. Early in her career, Sims was a partner at Alston, Courtnage & Bassetti LLP and an associate attorney at Foster, Pepper & Shefelman LLP (now Foster Pepper), where she provided strategic legal advice to developers, landowners, and lenders.

“Developing adequate housing is vital to the health of our region and the Master Builders Association needs to be at the table as discussions are made that impact housing availability,” said Sims. “I’m looking forward to forging new partnerships and locking arms with the association’s leadership, members, and staff to help solve critical issues affecting our communities.”

“Having an opportunity to engage an experienced leader with Kathleen’s credentials is a terrific outcome for our association,” said Mike Walsh, MBAKS 2017 board president and head of the executive search committee.  “Kat has sound judgement and common sense and will be an effective voice for Master Builders Association.”

About MBAKS

Founded in 1909, the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties has grown to become the largest residential homebuilders association in the United States. With nearly 3,000 member companies, the association is dedicated to membership value, housing advocacy, community service, and financial stewardship throughout the Puget Sound region.

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This week, Leah Missik, Built Green program manager, shares the results of the latest Built Green® white paper, featuring a two-year analysis of Dwell Development's Emerald Star home.

Check out the study

Expert advice about what to do if you find a frozen pipe in your home and ways to prevent the occurrence in the future.

By Cash Walcome, Aquor Water Systems

As winter slowly crawls to an end here in Seattle, it's natural that some of us will stumble upon a frozen pipe. A frozen pipe isn't the end of the world, but a pipe that has burst can cause thousands of dollars in damage to your home.

According to Esurance Insurance Services, water damage due to burst pipes is the second-most filed insurance claim in the U.S.—with the average claim totaling close to $10,000.

Let's talk about the right steps to take if you find a frozen pipe in your household, along with ways to prevent this occurrence in the future.

The first indication that you have a frozen pipe happens when you first turn your water on. If you get just a trickle or nothing at all, suspect a freeze somewhere in the line. A freeze usually occurs in areas closest to the exterior wall. Hose bibs or outdoor spigots are notorious for freezing. A common mistake is to run the water to try and thaw out the lines. Do not do this—it won't help and can cause other sections to freeze.

Figure out if the piping is accessible in the spot you suspect frozen. If not, unfortunately, a plumber is necessary unless someone in the household has some relevant experience. If you have access to your in-wall plumbing, start by applying heat to the piping closest to the wall. This can be done by wrapping the pipe in towels soaked in hot water, a hair dryer, or by simply leaving a space heater close to the piping.

For the most part, your problem is now solved. But how do we prevent it from happening in the future? In some cases, it might just be the way your plumbing is structured, which would require a plumber consultation so that a long-term solution can be found.

One of the most common reasons a pipe freezes is because a hose is left attached to a hose bib throughout the winter. The sitting water in the hose freezes up the line all the way into the home. Removing the hose and checking to see that the hose bib is completely drained ensures that you won't have issues come spring. Sometimes a foam faucet cover is necessary for older hose bibs. You can also purchase a frost-free outdoor faucet, which provides extra protection against the elements.

Make sure the home is properly insulated. If the ambient temperature on the inside of your wall is freezing, there is nothing preventing the pipes from freezing. Look for places in the home that aren't usually heated, such as the garage and crawl space. An inexpensive infrared thermometer should determine whether those spaces have enough insulation.

A frozen pipe is a fixable problem, but it's also a sign to start taking precautions to avoid the headache of a burst pipe.

Cash Walcome is the president of Aquor Water Systems and a member of the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties (MBAKS). HomeWork is the group's weekly column. If you have a home improvement, remodeling, or residential homebuilding question you'd like answered by one of the MBAKS's nearly 3,000 members, write to homework@mbaks.com.

Five Key Things to Know About Washington’s New Sick Leave Law

By Larry Dickinson, PrimePay

In 2006, the City of San Francisco passed the first mandatory sick leave law in the country. Since then, many other states and municipalities have adopted similar statutes. In fact, 47 states and the District of Columbia have considered establishing such ordinances to help protect the wages of employees affected by illness, injury, or domestic violence.

1. Washington law—the basics

   In November 2016, voters in Washington state voted to establish a mandatory sick leave law for workers in their state. Starting in January of 2018, all employees covered under the Washington State Minimum Wage law must accrue one hour of paid sick leave for every 40 hours worked.

   This law applies to all employers, even if they only have one employee. The problem is that many large cities in Washington such as Seattle and Tacoma have also adopted their own sick leave measures, and these measures are not always in sync with the state law.

   What is the employer to do? We will attempt to highlight some of the differences between state law and those of the municipalities. Note that we are using Washington state as the example here; the same scenarios are playing out in other states around the nation.

2. Allowable uses of sick leave

   According to the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries, employees will be allowed to use sick leave for themselves or a family member for these reasons:

• To care for themselves or family members.
• When the employees’ workplace or their child’s school (or place of care) has been closed by a public official for health-related reasons.
• Absences that qualify under the Domestic Violence Leave Act.

Note that employers may allow employees to use paid sick leave for additional purposes.

Unlike the laws adopted in Tacoma and Spokane, the Washington state regulation does not cover bereavement due to the death of family members.

3. Family member definition

Washington allows the usage of paid sick leave for personal illness or injury as well as for family members defined below:

• Child
• Parent
• Spouse
• Grandparent
• Grandchild
• Sibling
• Registered domestic partner

The big difference here is that Washington state allows that the child relationship is enforced regardless of the age of the child, while the city regulations only cover children up to the age of 18.

4. Accrual of sick time

   In general, employees must earn a minimum of one hour of paid sick leave for every 40 hours worked. This covers all non-exempt employees covered by the Washington State Minimum Wage Law. There is currently no coverage for exempt workers, including white collar workers, outside salespeople or other professionals.

   In many of the local regulations, white collar workers are covered with the assumption of a flat 40-hour work week. Seattle law, as an example, covers all workers who work in the City of Seattle. While the new state law applies to all employers with even one employee, local laws can be applied differently depending on the size of the company. There is currently no cap on the number of hours earned each year by an employee. There is a cap on the number of hours that can carry over into the next year.

   Read a full list of FAQs.

5. What should your business do?

   In today’s business climate, employers are often confronted with conflicting city and state ordinances regarding sick leave accrual and usage. These laws and their differences can provide today’s small business owner with a nightmare.

   How do you apply different laws to different groups of employees with different job descriptions, working in different jurisdictions? An automated time and attendance system is a great option.

   PrimePay offers a variety of systems to meet any employer’s needs. These programs can define almost any type of accrual policy imaginable and apply those policies to different groups of employees based on geography, employee type, or job description. Let the professionals at PrimePay build a system that will keep you in compliance for years to come.

Learn more at primepay.com.

This article originally appeared on primepay.com.

This week, Bob Smith from Advanced Insurance Solutions shares why he's been an MBAKS member for 28 years.

Learn more about member benefits

Join us for the Taste of Italy Dinner & Elected Officials Reception, March 15 at the Normandy Park Community Club (aka The Cove) for delizioso Italian cuisine and the exclusive opportunity to chat with area elected officials.