Another update, Now a crew of TWO, again. WE GOT THIS!!!

 they say, EVERYBODY LOVES A GOOD UNDERDOG STORY!!!

Is that true?

I'm not sure. but I do know this much, WE ARE UNDERDOGS... I started out as an underdog, working at 19 years old, just outta job corps and fresh out of a CAST on my right upper arm, for 4 months. I broke my arm, arm wrestling one of my best buddies since we were 14.. (but that's another blog post )

Back to my point. I started in the union at 19. I had a few bosses, but my FIRST BOSS was the most memorable. they called him, "sarge" and he was about 5 ft 5 in tall, but walked about 5 feet off the ground. he said he was a marine corps drill Sargent for TWENTY YEARS.. here's what I can tell you, he taught me how to work, how to KEEP a job up against grown ass men. He taught me that if I could work faster, do a better job, than those grown men, I'd always have a job! and he was right. he did give me a lot of CRAP.... but you know what? I needed to get used to that if I was ever going to make it in this field, right? I worked for Sarge until the school was built. took almost two years.  I was able to use him as a reference, but then thru the years I lost his info. I've looked for him a few times on facebook. 

I often wonder what he'd say about me, or what I've been through, more like what I've overcome to be here, and have a "seat" at this table. I would tell him THANK YOU if I could. thank you for teaching me, and convincing me that I had just as much right as anyone else, to be on these jobs, and to make as much as a man, doing them. 

Now, I'm just trying to pay it forward, teach someone ELSE how to do this job, and not only do it, but be the BEST AT IT.... to not take mediocrity. but to constantly strive for better. 

Our crew is back to LaNae Long, and I.... we have a very large siding job we are doing right now.  we are booking work for the month of August, right now. and if you remember, we've been working together now, 3.5 YEARS... so we are definitely getting AWESOME at what we do!! well, we were always AWESOME but now, we are REALLY GOOD. ask anyone. 

I will continue to be OPEN to hiring someone with at least a LITTLE BIT of construction experience. it is a HUGE INVESTMENT to teach someone this trade, and it's an even bigger investment to teach EVERY SINGLE SKILL necessary to know this trade (like use a hammer, a stapler, load nails in a nail gun, use a caulking gun, use a screw gun, know what forti flash is and the difference between that and flashing/drip edge) and I just don't have the resources or deep enough pockets to teach someone every single skill necessary. 

What I can promise the right person, is a good job with a great work culture. I'm in NO HURRY though,and I feel like the right person will come along some day. I'm going to trust my GUT to tell me who it is.  And LaNae and I can handle everything until then. (just as we have, for 3.5 years)

Being in charge is a funny thing sometimes. not "funny" but IRONIC... I used to be on the other side of this coin, and boy oh boy do I remember it. I think that makes me a good leader. I'm not any different than the person I'm leading. we are a team, and a TEAM only works when everyone has the same goals in mind. 

our goals are always the same,,,,, give the customer a great end product, and make money doing it... you know enough money to move OUT OF ALDER MANOR and into a REGULAR HOUSE!!!! we are going to make it happen, I swear if it's the last thing I do. 

I digress....

if you've made it this far THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING US!!! MY TEAM!!!

Stay tuned as we make more progress, finish more jobs and hopefully move out of this mobile home park!!! 

Next week we are on VACATION!!!  LaNae is going to spend some quality time with her 10 year old son, and Me, I'm taking my husband and kids down the coast to have some fun!! stay tuned for pictures of that!! 

BACK TO WORK JUNE 20th

Life is SHORT, take the VACATION!!!!

Thanks again for your support. 

Updates, and adversity! grateful for my struggle!

Good Day! I hope this blog posts finds you well and good, including your loved ones. First of all I feel like I owe you a big update. the 
"my story and how I got here" blog post is a GREAT one, and it explains, ME really well. but now, after 3.5 years in business, there is a lot more to this whole thing, than JUST ME!!!!   

So just for the sake of simplicity, I will summarize myself, in one paragraph, then I'll talk about the rest of the TEAM, and then I'll talk about some other stuff you'll hopefully find interesting. So, a little about me (amber) I went to job corps when I was 18. I graduated Job corps in 2001, I moved in with my NOW husband of 20 years, in JULY of 2000. My husband drives log truck for Gendenberg trucking. He has had his CDL for like 15ish years? many people are very surprised that well for one that I'm married to a man, I'll just come out and say it. and second, that the man I'm married to is a strong enough  man to support his wife who has been a carpenter since she was 19. Actually I got caught using my dad's saw around 11 years old, but that's another blog post. Fast forward to Job Corps, and went straight into the union and worked union carpentry jobs for about 6 years. I got tired of working in portland though, and decided to learn residential construction around age 25. It was never "easy" finding a construction job. I most often was able to do so by offering to work for FREE, for a couple hours, if you like me you can pay me, if not i'll be on my way!  I got many jobs that way.  So, much of my experience is with decks,doors/windows, siding and fences. I have done MANY things in my life, but decks and fences are my favorite. I now live in warrenton (alder manor, though we are trying EVERY DAY to move into a house!) with my husband and two sons who are 7(sully) and 13(sam). and we are out of space! That leads me to my next subject......

Lanae lives right across the street from me (thats right we are not related nor in a relationship!!) . Although I'm unaware of our "official" meeting day, I do remember her listening to me cry about my grandma who had recently (then) passed away, and Sully was just a little guy. Lanae had her own little guy (at a young age, her son is 10 now) , and my two and her son, Thor played well together, so we took a few adventures together; albeit broke, but we had fun!!! We helped each other out whenever possible. she was a hard worker, I knew she took care of a disabled man at night and had a cleaning job during the day. she always accepted any other work she could get, too, kind of like myself. Her Dad was (and is) a construction worker, also. so she had some clue what she might be getting herself into, when I BEGGED her for help about 2 months in to my "new company" in 2019. Well maybe everything works out just like it's supposed to, because she worked a few days a week for me, and still her other jobs, until her disabled client unexpectedly passed away one day. All of a sudden, she had no job, unless she wanted to take on another client. I promised her, if she took a chance with me and stuck it out, if she had faith in me, I'd make sure she was more than compensated for it. well I tell you something, that first WINTER WAS ROUGH.... much harder than I'd ever imagined it would be. But with very hard work and dedication, WE MADE IT... and I learned to charge enough money to not go into debt every single job, and that made a big difference, too. Not to mention the people who cheer for the underdogs!!        

 YOU ARE THE PEOPLE WE ARE!!!!   

 anywhoo, back to my point. LaNae has been working with me almost 4 years, now. and we are a great team, but we can only get so much work done during the day, you know I have to sell jobs, and do bookkeeping, and taxes, and payroll, and well you get it, right?? I've made sure LaNae is happy, and paid well, and we get massages every month, lunch daily,  she gets two weeks of paid vacation a year, we work 8 to 3 monday to friday, so it's a great work culture. I provide a much healthier work culture THAN I EVER EXPERIENCED. and I'm really proud of that!!! You know, it's a huge issue, there are contractors who charge a LOT OF MONEY and then they pay their guys 15 bucks an hour and work them 40 to 50 hours a week. that's why we are HAPPY TO BUILD THINGS!!! because, yes, it's hard and challenging, but it's rewarding, too. 

Sooooo, a few months ago we tried hiring help, several times. for one reason or another, NONE OF THEM WORKED OUT... I think the longest was 4 days. 

About a month ago, now I added Thomas, to the team. Who is learning this trade as he goes. he lives in warrenton, with his fiance and two sons. He's a hard worker, so I can work with that. I can teach, anybody who is willing to learn, really. I'm patient, because I needed patient people when I was learning this trade, and I will be the person I needed when I was younger!! Anyway, thomas hasnt' run away, yet, so maybe he's cut out for this. 

it's not easy, being the owner and chief of a PROFITABLE construction company, in a male dominant field. You would think in 2022, you wouldn't have to explain that a woman can in fact, BUILD ANYTHING A MAN CAN... you would think I'd never need to explain that IVE been working construction for OVER TWENTY TWO YEARS, but that my husband has HIS OWN JOB and does his own thing, but I find on an almost daily basis, this to be true. that and people assume Lanae is either my girlfriends OR my daughter!!!  I'm only 40 by the way and she is 27. so no, we are not related. soul sisters,  maybe?  

Don't think I am complaining, either, I wanted to EXPLAIN THAT, to explain this. I deal with adversity, DAILY... I've always had to make sure my work was THREE TIMES AS GOOD as the dude next to me, for half the pay. now, the "half the pay" may have changed, but I tell you what the judgements have not changed ONE BIT...  I think other women are almost more harsh than the men, some times.

 We do our best on EVERY JOB WE DO... I doubt there is ONE CLIENT out there who can say we DIDN'T do our very best. There's no other way I know how to do it. so, if you hire us, WE WILL DO OUR BEST. I can promise, that. 

AS material prices continue to skyrocket, I wanted to talk about this. about how my whole career I had to be BETTER Than average, JUST TO KEEP A JOB. I had 3 bosses, in 20 years that paid me more than a male worker with the exact same job as me. THREE.... I hope that is getting better, I hope the world is changing in that regard. I know I AM DOING MY PART!!!!!  I want you to understand what exactly you're paying for, and I don't  mind answering your questions, either!!! 

 I think most people would rather well paid, & happy people be working on their house, instead of disgruntled folks making peanuts, who may be looking for other ways to compensate their paychecks, because the boss wont. I have seen plenty of bad situations in my 20 years of experience working for other contractors. Not all are created equally, I tell ya! you should ask one of the workers about their "work culture" when the boss is not around. 

We are not the cheapest company and we are not the most expensive. but we are definitely the underdogs, trying to move out of the trailer park!!! And I will make it happen, eventually. I'm trying so incredibly hard, every single day. I sleep well at night, knowing that. So please, if you "hear" something negative about me or my company, take into consideration the SOURCE, and that they may not have the whole story. Or maybe they see me as a huge threat, and want to make sure I stay in the trailer park. whatever the reasons, I'm grateful for my struggles, without them I wouldn't know what "good times" are at all. the truth is, Ive been super happy lately, and never felt more healthy, mentally. I do struggle with where we live sometimes. I want so badly to be able to buy a house and have a place for my children to "land" when life chews them up and spits them out!! but as you probably know, we are talking a HALF A MILLION DOLLARS AND UP... we need about 24K for a down payment. we are ALMOST THERE... no joke!! and our credit is FINALLY GOOD>.. actually, I think it's great... around 720. that's way better than either of us imagined, after filing chapter 7 in 2016... 

grateful for my struggle. for they gave me STRENGTH. 

THANKS SO MUCH FOR READING!!!!!!!!!! I will continue to do my best every day! I will continue to pay LIVING WAGES for our area and promote  a POSITIVE WORK CULTURE!!! that is a guarantee. 

See you on the next big job!!!!  unless you're one of my haters.. have some haterade and watch me work myself right outta this single wide. 

amber 

 

The power of THREE!!! and a new truck!

greetings!! 

here we are it's almost MAY OF  2022 already!! how the heck did that happen?

FAST, that's how!!

Last year my top line revenue grew by about 33%   ...... Not bad for my second year in business, right?  We have managed to stay busy, steady all year, and for that, I could not be prouder! 

So for the last three years now, I've been working for myself, and I have one solo (but badass) employee. we have tried numerous times to add another to the team!! As you may or may not know,  I worked various construction jobs around here and Portland for about 20 years. Lanae started helping me part time while she took care of a quadriplegic at night,  when he suddenly passed away, she went full time, and that was about 3 years ago now! 

well I think we finally struck gold two weeks ago!!  Thomas is now on the team, he is learning this trade thing, and he is doing really well. He comes to work with a positive attitude, and ready to learn and listen!! It is a great feeling, to have confidence in the schedule, to not be stressed out about falling behind should one of the two of us get sick or injured!!! 

We are an army of three now, and I'm excited to see what the future holds. 

Our most recent project is a 450 square foot 2nd story trex deck. the deck board color is island mist, and they are getting cedar railing with black aluminum ballusters.  we should be done by the end of the week, next week. 

the original deck that was there, was definitely not to code and very unsafe. our clients are so excited to be able to use their outdoor space!! It's coming along beautifully, and I'm sure they will get many years from this deck, as it is built above and beyond code requirements. the new building inspector in warrenton had all praises for us, when we had two inspections. It's so nice to hear other people in the industry compliment our work!!  I mean, I KNOW it's great, and it's clean, and above and beyond what the "majority" of people do. but with the price of labor and materials, these days, I want to make sure things last as long as possible. if there's anything I can do, to make it last a LITTLE longer, I'm going to do that, because THAT is what I would want at MY HOUSE. 

When you hire US, you're hiring an army of Three, but we are an actual army!!

if you see us out and about, say hello! welcome Thomas to the team! we are so happy to have him!

I also took the leap and got a full size truck! I loooooove it! After looking at how much i spent on repairs to the Dakota in the last year, average was 500$ a month plus the payment. We paid the last 1200 on the Dakota and traded it in. I looked around a week or so and fell In love with a 2019 F150 with 20K miles. Has a 3.5 turbo V6. Pretty cool. 😍 no more renting a uhaul truck to pick up scaffolding, or heavy or bulky items. I'm already using less gas too! 

As of the end of April of 2022, our next available start date, is July 6th 

If you'd like to get an estimate, or have any questions, please don't hesitate to email or text me, and I will gladly get back to you with a ballpark estimate, or even a contract, and I will provide references, of previous clients as well!! As always THANKS for reading, THANKS for supporting living wages and small  businesses!! 

Cowan Custom Finishing

CCB  225044

503-791-7473

acowan1216@gmail.com

property Lines article Published June 2021

Property Lines article 

Published June 2021

Cowan Custom Finishing

Cowan Custom Finishing, based out of Warrenton, is a small, two-person operation, but for clients, that translates into tangible benefits.

From the moment a client contacts the company about a custom deck or fence to the moment it’s completed, they are working with either owner Amber Cowan or her trade partner LaNae Long, who have a shared passion not only for the craft itself but for helping others reach their optimal quality of life as well. That leads to an unparalleled level of transparency, communication and commitment to excellence.

“That’s kind of the way we do things,” Cowan said. “If we would feel comfortable doing it at our house, then we go for it.”

Guided by that philosophy, her goal is to help homeowners develop renovation projects that are attainable, affordable and long-lasting.

Developing a business partnership

Cowan started her business in 2019 after working roughly 20 years in the industry. She started in the union, doing a stint in Portland, before moving back to the Oregon Coast and working with other residential construction companies. Over the years, she gained experience ordering materials and products, scheduling and leading site crews.

Eventually, she decided to go into business for herself, and it wasn’t too long before she had gained enough clients to bring on an employee. Long, who worked seven years as an in-home caregiver, was the perfect fit.

The bedside manners, communication skills and attention to detail she developed as a caregiver translated into a high level of customer service and respect for clients. Plus, her father was a contractor and business owner, so she was no stranger to the industry.

“I knew exactly the stress I was putting myself into before I got into it,” she said, adding she’s picked up additional skills from Cowan along the way. “Because she has so much knowledge, I’m being taught the right way the first time. … With each job, we get better and better.”

Together, the women specialize in decks, fences, doors, windows and siding, along with occasional rot repair, and serve the entire Clatsop County region, along with outlying communities in Oregon. They feel honing a few distinct services is a better approach than attempting to do it all.

“It’s good to specialize, because then you really get good at what you’re doing, and you can produce the best of the best,” Cowan said.

If they are contacted about a job and they don’t feel it’s a right fit, they are happy to refer the prospective client to another small, local business that specializes in whatever service is being requested.

“We want you to get the best job for what you need done,” Long said.

Providing Multiple Solutions

Along with transparency, they put an emphasis on clear scheduling and communication, whether they’re working on a project that’s $500 or $5,000.

“[Clients] will know when we’re at the house, or if we’re not, why we’re not there,” Cowan said. “If you’re upfront with people, they’re really receptive.”

They also approach their craft with a problem-solving mindset and a desire to help clients find a solution that fits their project priorities and their budget.

“I communicate what my plan is and how I feel like we need to tackle the problem, depending on what it is,” Cowan said. “We try to give more than one option.”

If the initial project proposal isn’t within the budget range of the client, Cowan comes up with alternatives or gives them a breakdown of costs so they can see where they might cut back. Cowan and Long are also willing to answer questions and let clients contribute to certain aspects of a project, such as a demolition, to help them stay within budget.

On average, most renovations or deck additions take about a week to complete and sit in the $5,000 range, but some bigger, custom projects can require about two to four weeks.

Besides helping clients solve problems and improve their quality of life, Cowan demonstrates her commitment to the success of her business and the health of her community in other ways.

Cowan Custom Finishing sponsored a local youth baseball team this year, and in 2019, they rebuilt a bus stop at 4th Street in Warrenton that had been torn down. About 40 kids use the bus stop in the winter, so Cowan and Long spearheaded community fundraising for materials and donated labor to rebuild the structure.

Cowan also established a profit-sharing system, which ensures Long is fairly compensated for her work and establishes a business partner-type relationship.

“I don’t know why more people don’t do it,” Cowan said. “It’s a way you can make your employees feel invested in your company.”

By Katherine Lacaze

“It’s good to specialize, because then you really get good at what you’re doing, and you can produce the best of the best.”

As always,  if you'd like to get an estimate,  please send me a message or email with your project details and address,  and I'll send you a ballpark estimate!!! And references!!!

Thanks for supporting living wage jobs and small businesses!!! Thanks for keeping your money in your community!!!!

YES, TWO WOMEN DO ALLLL THE WORK!!!

 Good morning out there, internet land!!!

last week, while doing some job measures, it occurred to me when someone actually asked, and no it's not the first time I have been asked, but 

DO YOU GUYS DO THE WORK OR IS SOMEONE ELSE COMING??

well, lets start out with this.... I (amber cowan) have worked construction since i was 18 years old, and even before that, helping my dad with various things around the house and for friends. I used a skill saw for the first time when I was 11 years old. my dad was at work, and my mom knew I was always doing things with him out in the shop. so when she HEARD IT RUNNING, she asked, 

are you allowed to use that saw?       I LIED and said, oh yeah, dad lets me ALL THE TIME!!! well, I knew I better get EVERYTHING CUT THAT I NEED CUT cuz I"M done for, when dad gets home!!  I was building a tree fort, with my friends. and yes, i was indeed grounded when dad got home! I think he was secretly impressed, I still had all my fingers. 

Anyway, I attended Tongue point job corps in april of 2000, I graduated in august of 2001 (and I guess it's worth mentioning, I met my husband, there, too. he drives log truck, though! we don't work together)

I started out in the portland carpenter's union, in august of 2001. worked various jobs in astoria and portland, until I just didn't like it anymore. Living in a hotel room during the week, ETC. The guys I worked with were less than welcoming sometimes, especially because I got my own room. some were great guys, too though. a few of them would've taken a bullet for me, and I for them. 

In 2005 I worked for DK windows, about 4 years, Kiwi Glass about one year, Kirk Faucett,(general contractor) about two years , performed all the maintenance and clean outs for ten years at my grandparents' 8 unit apartments in seaside, Brother's door and trim in seaside, bergeson contruction in there somewhere, too. MANY bosses told me I should get my contractor's license. I first tried in 2015, but studying while watching pancreatic cancer steal my grandma was too hard. 

In December of 2018 I decided to get serious, and I took my test. I only missed four questions!!

so I started my company in January of 2019. well it wasn't too long before I realized I was going to NEED HELP, and FAST... and I KNEW good help was incredibly hard to find. (understatement)

I live in alder manor mobile home park. This is not my long term plan, but I don't just want a HUGE MORTGAGE we can't afford, either. My plan is to buy a buildable lot, and build some storage units, and a duplex. maybe some short term RV spaces? who knows. we need 30-50% CASH DOWN to buy a lot. they are 150K or so, for what would work. so here we are saving money! I KNOW we would be cash positive within the first year, maybe even 6 months. 

Back on the subject......

my neighbor across the street, LaNae, well we were already VERY good friends. We took our kids to the park together, and other holiday functions. when you live 20 feet from somebody, you get to know them!!! 

 I knew she did in home care for an elderly gentleman, so AT FIRST she was going to just help "part time"    She also had a son when she was 17, and struggled just as much as I have, just a different struggle. my point is, SHE KNEW HOW TO WORK, and I could TEACH HER THE REST!!! I can't teach someone to give a shit, I can't teach someone to WANT TO DO A GOOD JOB... I can't teach someone to be motivated by money! but I can teach anyone how to read prints, a tape measure, how to build a deck, ETC.

a couple weeks pass by with her part time help, and things were going well. her client she cared for daily, unexpectedly passed away! well this was maybe good timing, maybe EVERYTHING Happens for a reason??

she was all of a sudden FULL TIME, and we were in the thick of it!! It was a daily battle. I had NO PROBLEM paying her a little more than she was making previously, PLUS A PROFIT PERCENTAGE, because I wanted her to FEEL EMPOWERED, wanted her to KNOW that she was in charge of her own destiny, TOO!! if she could help "sell " jobs, and help come in under budget, I had NO PROBLEM sharing the "wealth" (or lack of, for that mattter) I knew we could do it. Look at all these idiots that don't  even do a GOOD JOB!! I knew we could do a good job for people, I knew we could make good money, and EVENTUALLY GET OUT OF ALDER MANOR!!!!

we learned a LOT OF LESSONS THAT FIRST YEAR!!!!! Especially that first winter. I didn't know if we were going to make it. I even broke a bone in my left foot and limped on it a good 6 or 8 months before I finally caved and got an xray. sure enough, it was broken. good thing I had such GOOD HELP!! I would have never made it on my own.  I'm incredibly lucky to have such good help, and we will continue to CONQUER our goals!! I just know it!! 

 WE DID IT WE MADE IT!!!! and now it's been almost THREE YEARS....

but we still have a lot of people, ask,,,,

when do the workers get here??

WE ARE THE WORKERS!!!!

I wanted to explain all of that, just in case you were wondering. LaNae and I work well together, as I'm sure the reviews and pictures tell their own story. Stay tuned for all our progress!!!  I will continue to be transparent with our success and struggles. We are REAL. We do our jobs to the very best of our ability, we don't leave until you are in LOVE with your project. We are not the cheapest in town, but we are by far not the most expensive, either. 

YES WOMEN POWER!!!!!

Thanks for all your support!!! thanks for supporting LIVING WAGES!!!! and our dreams!!!!

If you'd like an estimate, please shoot me a text or email and I'll gladly send references AND a ballpark estimate!!! 

503-791-7473

acowan1216@gmail.com

we are now licensed in WASHINGTON STATE!!!!