http://www.greentreerestoration.com/index.htmlHotel and Commercial Building Restorationenadam@greentreerestoration.comCopyright 2009 Green Tree Restoration2009-11-03T20:47:30-07:00 hourly 1 2000-01-01T12:00+00:00 Fri, 31 Jul 2009 20:34:09 -0700adam@greentreerestoration.comgreen hotels2009-11-03T20:47:30-07:00http://www.greentreerestoration.com/blog/files/833e7cc23545342e2428e6e038cd631e-6.html#unique-entry-id-6http://www.greentreerestoration.com/blog/files/833e7cc23545342e2428e6e038cd631e-6.html#unique-entry-id-6Harry Hobbs: Sustainability and the “Triple Bottom Line”

In August of 2007 when Peter Koehler, the general manager of the Hotel, asked me what I thought we should do for recycling and green programs for the new hotel. I told him that LEED was the best way forward. At the time I didn't know how true that was, but I did know that he and I shared a vision of operations for the new hotel that would be socially responsible, ecologically respectful, and financially sound. We are fortunate to be a part of an ownership and operating partnership that is committed to providing a luxuriously responsible hotel experience in downtown San Francisco. read more]]>adam@greentreerestoration.comgreen hotelsfurniture repair2009-11-03T19:25:38-07:00http://www.greentreerestoration.com/blog/files/109af7c22bd26fd291f08c28d2d73e41-5.html#unique-entry-id-5http://www.greentreerestoration.com/blog/files/109af7c22bd26fd291f08c28d2d73e41-5.html#unique-entry-id-5Department of General Services
State of California California Green Lodging Program

What is a Green Hotel? Green Best Practices for Hotels can be found on a detailed list provided by the State of California. Link Here

If you follow the link (above) you will find easy-to-use lists of green practices that will help you learn about what makes a hotel green, and also help hotels assess their environmental commitment and performance. Topics include: Commitment to Environmental Practices, Recycling and Reuse [furniture repair and restoration apply here], Energy Efficiency and Conservation, Lighting, Water Efficiency and Conservation, Landscape, Pest Management, Hazardous and Toxic Substances, Transportation, and Purchasing.

You can go to the Green Lodging Program main page to look up hotels that are comitted to green initiatives, and more information about the program.

]]>adam@greentreerestoration.comtouch-upfurniture refinishingfurniture touch-up2009-10-01T12:43:15-07:00http://www.greentreerestoration.com/blog/files/b600ab2698dac6b768c723c8182d1647-4.html#unique-entry-id-4http://www.greentreerestoration.com/blog/files/b600ab2698dac6b768c723c8182d1647-4.html#unique-entry-id-4Yes, Green Tree Restoration does share some of their tightly held trade secrets in nationally published magazines! Below is an article Adam Pishl authored for WoodDigest Magazine. This article is very relevant to the hotel and commercial office industry.

Touch-Up Start-Up
An introduction to touch-up
Adam Pishl




Eighteen years ago, I was introduced to touch-up while working in a small furniture restoration shop. During the finishing process, and occasionally after the finish was applied, we would pull out the set of 12 pigment powders and touch up the minor color imperfections.
When we were faced with more serious damage we would reach for the auto body filler topped with a dressing of the appropriate colored stains and paints and then seal it with the finish we were using on the furniture. Today, many shops continue to use these difficult and unpredictable methods of touch-up primarily because many finishers are unaware there are other available options.
A few years later, I attended my first touch-up class, and my eyes were opened to a better way of doing things. I was curious when I started my first class and amazed when I left. I didn’t realize what was available and how it would significantly impact the direction of our business. When all was said and done, our quality of restoration improved and when damage occurred, we had the best tools to properly repair the damage.
Shortly after discovering this new approach, I started a small touch-up business and for several years explored the different American-made brands and increased my abilities using their methods. Then I stumbled across the Heinrich König Company.
It had recently introduced its products into the United States through Coating Development Group, now König North America. The Heinrich König Company was not new to the rest of the world, having been around for over 100 years in Europe, but was relatively unknown in the United States. Excited to try a new approach, I dove in and explored the product line in depth. I quickly realized there was a choice to be made between the German method and the American method.
go to full article link]]>adam@greentreerestoration.comfurniture refinishing2009-08-10T12:29:26-07:00http://www.greentreerestoration.com/blog/files/fab063812608db6825374e6978da848a-3.html#unique-entry-id-3http://www.greentreerestoration.com/blog/files/fab063812608db6825374e6978da848a-3.html#unique-entry-id-3This is a pretty good article and although it was written several years ago the content is as relevant today.
Furniture refinishing saves money, assets
Hotel & Motel Management, March 18, 2002 by Bruce Adams

Smart hotel operators know the best time to renovate their properties is when business is down because they have many empty guestrooms and their properties then have a fresh look when room demand increases.
However, that doesn't make it any easier to secure capital required for costly renovations. But reducing the casegoods part of renovation costs by 50 percent to 80 percent might make things more financially feasible.
That's the savings furniture refinishers said hoteliers can expect by keeping and refinishing their casegoods instead of buying new ones of comparable quality.
"Refinishing furniture goes up and down the hotel dial, from economy properties to upper-upscale," said Neil Locke, president of Neil Locke & Associates, a purchasing company in Itasca, Ill. "There are many different levels and qualities of refinishing, from minor touch-ups and restorations to rebuilding and reupholstery."
Because of those wide differences, hoteliers need to make sure they understand exactly what level of restoration they are buying.
"I always make sure we do a sample piece and have the hotel sign off on it so we both understand the level of consistency required throughout the job," said Bill Ramski, owner of William's Restorations, a refinishing business in Westmont, Ill.
Ramski breaks the business down into three levels--touch-ups, reconditioning and refinishing.
"Touch-up is just taking care of scratches, dents, worn-out areas and burns to make them look better," he said. "Refinishing is when you strip the wood down and redo it. Reconditioning is a combination of touch-up and refinishing. You have to do touch-ups and recoating, but not any stripping."
Ramski said reconditioning is the best bargain because it gives owners a new look and savings of as much as 75 percent compared to buying new furniture. To read the entire article click here.]]>