Green Basements & Remodeling

On FOX's Tv Show HOME FREE

By Julie Senger

Arriving on the set of FOXs television show, Home Free, one would notice cast trailers, equipment tents, and tons of staff running around and doing their jobs. Despite all of the busy commotion, the General Contractor for this show, Laura Green of Green Basements and Remodeling, is very easy to spot. Shes the lady in the pink hard-hat, pink tool belt and work boots, who is confidently flitting around the set, making things happen. Family Life Publications sat down with Laura to find out more about the role her company plays in this television show, which is hosted by Mike Holmes, and airs on Wednesday nights at 9 pm.

FLP: So, is this your first television show?
 
LG: Actually, its not, but its by far the largest.  We previously worked on a show for HGTV, called Elbow Room.  There were six shows in that season, and we were awarded work for five out of the six episodes. We learned a lot and enjoyed working on some of the difficult, unique projects that we were presented with. Working on that show gave us the opportunity to meet several different project managers, one of which came to work for Home Free and recommended my company.

FLP: What are your responsibilities on this show?
 
LG: On this show, we remodel one house per week for a deserving family.  Due to production and filming schedules, we actually only have three and a half days to remodel the entire house, inside and out. We run shifts of crews 24 hours a day, for 80 to 90 hours straight, with few breaks. There are a total of eight episodes, so eight houses in eight weeks!   

FLP: How has doing these television shows benefitted Green Basements and Remodeling?
 
LG: We recently started fabricating our own countertops at our Woodstock, GA location. Silestone has sponsored the countertops for all of the houses, and we were lucky enough to be awarded the contract to install their product.  We had worked with their standard quartz product in the past, but were able to receive training and get certified to install their specialty quartz product called Dekton.  This quartz can withstand very high temperatures, and its best attribute is that it can be used outdoors.  We also got two displays for both of our showrooms (Roswell and Woodstock) of the color options for this product.  We are excited to be able to provide this product for our customers!

However, I feel that the primary benefit from our involvement in the show is that it has shown what we can accomplish as a company when we work together as a team. It has tested everyone in our company from our carpenters, to schedulers, to project managers, and we feel like we have passed with flying colors!  In addition, the accelerated work schedule has taught us many ways in which we can compress our own remodeling schedules and complete our jobs faster. If we can shave a day or 2 off of our current schedules, it means one less day our clients are without their kitchen or bathroom.

FLP: With all of your success and your busy filming schedule for television, how are you able to manage your everyday business outside of this arena?

LG: The television production schedule has been pretty grueling, but mostly for me.  Before taking on the Elbow Room project, I promoted many from within to management positions as well as hired some of the industrys top professionals to not only handle things while I am away, but to position us to be able to handle the continued growth we have been blessed with experiencing over the past few years.  I dont want people to get the impression that because we are on television, that we are too busy to take care of them. We will continue to add new crews, who will continue to be overseen by seasoned project managers.

FLP: Are there any other television shows in the works?
 
LG: Chip Wade, from Elbow Room, has now got a new show on the DIY Network called Super Great Rooms. We are simultaneously filming one of the episodes for that show at the same time Ive been filming this show for FOX. 

FLP: Lastly, what are your future plans for filming for Green Basements and Remodeling?
 
LG: I would love to create our own show on Green Remodeling. I would love to teach customers about advancements in technologies that improve your indoor air quality, such as using drywall that can now clean your air for 75 years, with up to 26 coats of paint on it!  Doing these shows has been great, but I would also love to help people in my own community as a byproduct of our remodeling business. For example, we would take cabinets out of a clients house that we are renovating, and then refurbish them and install them for a deserving family. I enjoy repurposing things, and if I can help someone while doing that, it would be very rewarding. If there are readers who know a deserving family or would like to donate their skills for these type projects, Id love to have them email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Green Basements & Remodeling
836 N. Atlanta St.
Roswell, GA 30075
678-445-5533
GreenRemodeling.com