As the sluggish economy trudges along, families continue to come together and support one another.
As the aloha spirit extends, so does the size of households as relatives move in, thus minimizing available space within a home.
For those faced with this dilemma, or homeowners simply looking to efficiently utilize space, Frank Duarte is ready to help. As the owner of D’s Plumbing and Ohana Home Additions and Remodeling, the general contractor has been honing his craft as an integral cog in the family business since before Hawaii was declared a state. Duarte and his knowledgeable staff, including his son Aaron, will work with customers to improve their homes while also accommodating various budgetary constraints.
“You will be in the hands of someone who has been in the business for over 31 years,” says Duarte. “We will take a project from the very beginning until it’s completed, and no job is too small. We take pride in our work.”
Duarte adds that customers must be wary of fly-by-night operations that promise a service, but fail to deliver. The 73-year-old recounts stories of contractors who fail to deliver, whether it be botching a job because of lack of experience or certification, or simply taking payment and not living up to the contract.
“The old saying is still true to this day, as my dad used to say, ‘You get what you pay for,'” Duarte says. “We provide free estimates, and you will feel no pressure or hard-sell tactics. We tell it like we see it, and always accommodate the interests and needs of our clients.”
Duarte is an expert at replacing aged materials with modern alternatives, including swapping out old, dark wood to enhance lighting and replacing galvanized piping with copper. Other techniques, including modernizing bathrooms by expanding shower areas to accommodate the disabled, or adding housings in a kitchen to free up more space by getting a microwave off the counter, are just a few in D’s arsenal.
“It’s all about the details,” Duarte says. “In today’s times, you have to meet the customers’ budget, and present something to them where they won’t have to struggle down the road.”
At a recent job, Duarte was asked to expand a shower and make it accessible so that the customer could wheel her father in and out without additional strain. Duarte suggested taking some space from an overhead pipe chase wall, and also expanding into a neighboring closet. By utilizing the space provided from the two areas, the customer was presented with the largest possible walk-in shower.
“As a contractor, you must have the vision to solve problems,” Duarte says. “When the project was completed, and she walked in and saw the new bathroom, her eyes enlarged with happiness — for us, that’s the underlying satisfaction.”
For more information, log on to www.AffordablePlumbingHawaii.com, or call 230-8308 or 734-2032.
CONTACT: 230-8308 • 734-2032
WEBSITE: >www.AffordablePlumbingHawaii.com
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