Are there any lakehouse needs that are currently unmet by local contractors?
 

For example, do you ever find yourself saying, "I wish there was somebody who can handle (blank)."

Not unmet, put difficult to schedule. Spray foam insulation and floor leveling


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If you need a spray foam guy I have a few recommendations. Foam Fellas in Dover did all of our storage unit ceilings as well as my business partners home and was fast and cheap. Northwoods Spray Foam did our home in Gilford.

We have been fortunate to have a number of very good tradesmen at our house. But it is very hard to find contractors or others to do small jobs. If a new contractor hangs out a shingle, and then is responsive and professional and does good work, he will be successful pretty quickly

im looking for a price to have the underside of my cottage spray foamed - only 19X22. It is on post and beam so underneath which is about a 3-4 foot craw space area is wide open to get to, such a small job have not had any luck. I wanted to do closed cell, have been hoping a neighbor of mine was going to do something like this in their unit as my job is so small id be paying for a full truck and job so to speak

I would love to find someone to urethane the interior walls of, replace the carpet on, and level the floor of my camp porch.

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Check with your insurance on spray foam. Have read articles many are not insuring if you have it due to mold issues in voids

Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce is holding a home show at the Belknap Marketplace (mall) in April.

Maybe some companies/contractors there that might take on some of this?

The good news is I'm the agent lol, but that aside, as long as closed cell spray insulation is applied to dry material there should not be a mold issue, being closed cell, it does not allow air or moisture to pass through so the material is it sprayed onto needs to be dry and free of moisture at time of application, open cell can let air and moisture in if used in open areas after applied

Do you have even the slightest idea what your job would cost? I ask because I've been thinking of doing the same at our post & beam cottage. Sounds very similar to what you're looking at although a little bigger. Main purpose is insulation and moisture barrier. But if this is a break the bank endeavor, I'll probably refrain.

I do not, I made some inquires last year (i should have done it when i rebuilt in 2017) and what I got for answers is that it is a small job, or I would have to charge you for a whole day and they didn't show when said they would. My thoughts are the exact as yours, moisture and insulation for the ealry spring season and fall the floor gets really cold and obviously transfers to everything else, and cost concern was the same


is there a energy group for NH, like MA Saves, that comes out and does an assement of your property and then offers names/discounts through grants for energy saving jobs???

I just check NH Coop's website...under the 'Save Energy' tab. It states:

Energy Efficiency That Pays
Looking to make your home more energy efficient and more comfortable? The Home Energy Performance Program will reduce your energy costs and improve the comfort of your home. This program offers access to participating contractors, who will conduct an energy audit of your home and recommend improvements like air sealing, added insulation, energy-efficient appliances and more. If your home qualifies, the program will pay up to $6,000 of those improvements. Project financing options are also available. Learn more here. Get started…see if your home qualifies by using this home energy calculator. Questions about the Home Energy Performance program? Please contact Jerry Spaulding at spauldingg@nhec.com or (603) 536-8663.

Let me know if you learn anything more and/or if piggybacking another job might result in a better cost outcome for each of us. I'm in Meredith.

I went to the link and entered the information in to see if I qualify. I do not use enough KWH to qualify for grant programs, the funny thing is in checking my KWH somehow I went from 19 in January 2024 to 46 in January 2025, but everything is shut down. Apparently there is no way to argue that, I just got off the phone. They are saying something must be plugged in and using energy. There is nothing plugged in

Someone could have tied into your source


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Do you have a bubbler? My January statement doubled YOY due to minimal bubbler operation during last year's warm winter compared to this year.

The most unmet need I have for contractors is to return phone calls, actually send a quote after looking at a job, and starting and finishing the job on schedule.

Take care of those items, and customers will beat a path to your door.

Sounds like there's enough skill set. Just not enough to fill the needs.

I do not, they were saying it could be a few phone charger cables plugged in or something small running. Too far for me to care about the few extra dollars it is costing me to check. But I will when I open up in April

We had that happen, our bill was so high they actually told us something was wrong. We could NOT figure it out but finally it was a septic pump. So if you have one, you could check that.

Just discovered this link:

https://www.lakesregionbuilders.com/find_a_pro.php

It might help in filling some the unmet needs.

Could not agree more. We have owned our house for about 12 years now and it's gotten progressively worse. Really surprises me that no one from out of state doesn't take advantage of the opportunities up here.

They are. My eyes and ears are telling me there are many more electricians, plumbers and painters in the area than a few years ago. Framers and finish carpenters not so much. HVAC employees are scarce everywhere.
Work is plentiful, so that return phone call may never come. Got to keep calling. State licensing has a lot to do with the labor shortage. Sununu promised he would address it during his last term and he didn’t.
The Lakes Region isn’t everyone “cup of tea” for many reason. Me, I find it a wonderful place to live.


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Are you suggesting we need licensing for framers and finish carpenters?

Sort of confused on the post.

I thought NH broadened licensing reciprocity on a number of occupation last year. Not sure which ones. I always thought some trade groups/professions made licensing difficult to prevent new competition.

I agree with the last.

In MA they decided you needed an LSP (Licensed Site Professional) to clean up hazardous waste sites. Initially you had to pass a test, be a degreed scientist (engineer, geologist, hydrogeologist, etc.) or have x number of years of experience in the field. It took the so called “professionals” a few years but, they eventually eliminated field experience as a substitute for a degree. I always looked at it as them saying, “We can’t have THOSE people as part of OUR group.”


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They may have.
But his post was that he is seeing more of the licensed professions in the area, and not enough framers and finish carpenters.

DOGE is going to eliminate the EPA so you will be able to build anything anywhere regardless of hazardous waste.

I just talked to an electrician at dinner tonight and he said things are definitely slowing down. He's been straight out for the past few years now. He said in the past he would give estimates and people would just say "do it". Now he says they are just doing the bare essentials, only what's absolutely needed.