March Madness, Forward?
Women’s History Month
March is overloaded with celebrating women and their accomplishments throughout history, internationally, and across the first week of March for women in construction. It’s a great time to recognize, honor, and uphold the achievements of women across all industries, professions, and trades. We’re proud to say that throughout 2025 HIRS is seeking to network and collaborate with industry specific women-owned organizations - and our lineup for the year is bursting.
However, it’s difficult to write an introduction paragraph during Women’s History Month without getting overly personal, political, or being too opinionated for a professional column. As a small, woman-owned business, paying all my damn business taxes, it’s hard to turn away from the atrocities happening not only around the globe, but right here in our own country and the chaos of the current patriarchy. HIRS supports all women and individuals and celebrates the truth and authenticity that comes with being a kind human, accepting of others, acknowledging differences, acting with kindness, integrity, and self-awareness. HIRS works to break barriers, improve skills and knowledge, and provide an alternative leadership and business-style in a male-dominated sector. We are normalizing working in non-traditional roles where we can excel and enhance the industry, encouraging men and women to work with their hands, learn how to manage and execute projects, and gain relevant and applied skills and experience.
Fun Fact: March of course, also recognizes Equal Pay Day on the 25th — acknowledging that women working full-time, year-round in the US earn approximately 83 cents for every dollar earned by men, according to the National Partnership for Women and Families.
There is yet work to be done.
Residential Projects
First quarter flew by and while we blinked, we estimated a full bedroom renovation, hallway patch and paint, and 2 bathroom renovations.
In the beginning of the month we worked on a small kitchen refresh: we installed a tile backsplash, patched and painted the ceiling, walls, and baseboard moldings. We also installed new hardware on the cabinets and installed new slim and streamlined reducers that replaced bulky and thick, oak thresholds for ease of walking and rolling between rooms.
And a quick PSA: because we tiled the backsplash, while we were extending the outlets to be flush with the new surface, we saw sparking and arcing in one of the outlets. With further inspection (of course by the electrician), multiple live wires were taped together in a complete mess, with no wire nuts, and folded into a 3-gang metal work box. Just waiting for something to happen. If you’re having work done in your house, it’s wise to think about the age and integrity of your outlets, switches, and wiring.
Mid-month we started on a full bedroom renovation in a basement which includes a new exterior door, removal of paneling, some light framing, new insulation and drywall, patching, patching, new moldings, and light fixtures.
The Project of 10,000 (tiny) Decisions
February and early March turned out to be a pivotal catalyst for getting started on the inside of the tiny house. Although it was freezing, sometimes snowing, often dripping water from the roof, we cranked up the propane heater and dug our heels on developing the plans for electrical and plumbing. And let’s be clear, Haley came up with, designed, and executed the electrical plan. Turns out, she had more time to work on it than expected and she hammered out the install, We also came to some terms, and had a few lightbulb moments. The learning curve has been real and steep, a good challenge for gaining skills and experience and fully understanding how critical “the plan” is and why knowing the finish details, materials, fixtures, appliances from the beginning matters.
A perfect example: it’s nearly impossible to frame a wall to prep for a shower if one does not know the finished shower products: base pan, walls, trim pieces. As being a first-time designer/architect/builder for a tiny home, it’s death by a 1,000 decisions …one decision, leading to a conversation, leading to an internet search about codes and hooks-up, leading down 14 rabbit holes, to 10 options on the design plan, to calling Backcountry Tiny Homes with questions, and attempting to make a final decision without changing my mind. ha!
One of the biggest aspects of the tiny home, has been answering the two MOST IMPORTANT questions: how will it be hooked-up and who will buy it? And because each time we ask those questions, we have a different answer, we have different answers for the build and design. And way back in November 2023 one of the very first decisions we made when framing was to use 2x4 lumber in the roof (the floor was already built out using 2x4s as floor joists over the trailer bed). It was a quick decision and not much thought went into it — we wanted to save as much space and headroom as possible, we blinked and that was that.
Not really tying all the knots together in the early stages, the sole decision to use 2x4 lumber in now present day, March 2025, is limiting us to R-13 or R-15 insulation throughout the house. The decision on insulation also impacts our plumbing and use of the home as 3-season or 4-season (a 4-season home requires closer to R-30 insulation in ceilings and floors). And the conversation we had 3 weeks ago about plumbing and insulation should have happened 16 months ago when we made the decision to frame the roof with 2x4s. And while we could have remediated the issue and sistered the ceiling joists, as well as the floor joists, we ultimately decided not to backtrack on lessons learned and instead forged ahead - and will deal with those impacts when we are attempting to sell. Now instead of someone living year-round, the tiny house will be sold as a 3-season home that needs to be winterized (much like an RV).
Moving forward and not backwards - we finished the majority of the electrical work with the last big task to run the chunky 6-guage main wire feed. We’ve run exterior outlets, ran the ground wire down under the trailer, ran wires for interior lighting, 2 exhaust vent fans, the hot water heater, the AC/Heat unit, a 2 burner stove top, and exterior lights. Simultaneously we began working on the plumbing. We ran pex lines in the walls — another rabbit hole of decisions. And then we began insulating — we had a mix of faced and unfaced - and then installed a vapor barrier over the unfaced sections. With the insulation up, the electrical mostly complete, and the plumbing now waiting for final hookups - it’s time to start covering the walls and ceiling and talking design. A whole other rabbit hole that we’ll save for next month!
This is just a fun hobby project, right? Travis keeps reminding me.
JCL Live Preparation
I’m looking forward to the upcoming Residential Remodelers Conference in Providence, RI at the end of this month. It’s a great chance to network, revisit business development and strategy, learn new management and technical skills, and hone in on industry trends and the latest products, tools, and apparel. I’ll be there to represent HIRS small business and women in residential remodeling and tiny home building. I’ll be looking to see if there’s new tools or equipment to enhance our services, meet other like-minded small business owners, and review our annual goals and vision. I enjoy the change of scenery from my home office to the hotel - it’s a good opportunity to reset and affirm priorities.
…filled with builders, carpenters, general contractors, remodelers, project managers, field crews, operation managers, dealers, distributors, and retailers – over 9,000 people attending. Additionally, they have 2 exhibit halls with over 200 manufacturers and hundreds of the latest products, tools, and innovations in the industry. They are also putting on 20 live clinics and demos of certain products such as windows, doors, tiling, and so much more...
Buildher Collaboration
Background to Vision
In late 2018, Buildher was founded by Tatu Gatere as a social enterprise empowering women through construction (in Nairobi, Kenya). Yes - open up Google and search it - it’s an amazing organization. Their works supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goals - look those up too. The organization is lightyears ahead on business development and upholding women in a male-dominated society. Buildher and Tatu are perfect examples of matriarchy through entrepreneurship: teaching and giving back to the community.
Since its launch, Buildher has been dedicated to transforming the construction industry and trades by empowering low-income women through technical training. They currently offer three training tracks – carpentry and joinery, painting and decorating, and tiling and are looking to add two additional tracks. They have trained over 680 women who are fully equipped with the skills needed for construction careers - of which 80% are placed into jobs after completing the program. Buildher gives access to training, tools, and resources to help women have sustainable jobs, and after just 6 months of training women see an increase of their income by 2-3 times. Additionally, they have created a furniture catalogue and continue to sell items crafted during the program. Follow them today on Instagram to see their latest projects and updates.
We are still in the early stages of developing a plan for a site visit to Buildher, in Nairobi, at the end of the year, in addition to participating and attending the Women in Construction Conference that Buildher will be hosting. We’ve agreed a site visit would be a great experience to learn and exchange skills across the trades, as well as hone strategic and business development. We are in the process of creating an itinerary, daily curriculum, and project scope. Look out for more details as the months progress to see if and how we can achieve this goal and how you might be able to get involved!
HIRS Origins
Home Improvement and Renovation Services (HIRS) is a woman-owned, family-operated business specializing in residential remodeling and repairs across southern New Hampshire. Founded in 2020, HIRS has grown organically through word-of-mouth referrals, offering a wide range of services, focusing on interior renovations such as kitchen, bedroom, bath remodels, flooring, doors and windows, painting, finish work, and custom carpentry. We bring quality service, extensive knowledge with a passion for learning, a drive for growth, and the resilience to make meaningful outcomes. We push the boundaries of the glass ceiling and look forward to ongoing collaboration with change and thought-leaders across the industry.
