OTHER TECH

GEARING UP Our day begins at 8 a.m., when we load the vans. People are often overwhelmed by the sheer amount of materials we take to a job. Along with all the system wiring and equipment, the vans are packed with specialty tools like thin, flexible rods and fish tape (to run wires through tight spaces or under carpets), laser levels (to help square things), fiber-optic scopes (to see inside walls), toners (to locate and ID wiring), and chop saws, jig saws, and a Roto Zip (to modify cabinetry). We bring conventional stuff, too, including ladders, work lights, and corded, cordless, right angle, and hammer drills with a bevy of different bits. Each man also has a fully packed toolbox. And, of course, there's a shop vac for cleanup.

Since the project might be a good distance from our store, the van becomes a self-sustaining home base. It pays to be prepared, especially during retrofits when you're never sure what you're going to run into until you start exploring.