Sentinel Restoration, LLC

10/20/2025

Sentinel Lansing will be holding walk-in job interviews for Carpenters and Laborers this Thursday on 10/23 from 10 am and 12 pm. Address below.

2555 Alamo Dr, Lansing, MI 48911
Last suite on the left. See you there!

01/27/2023

Good News!!! Sentinel is hiring restoration techs and construction trades. We offer a great work environment, fringe benefits like insurance and transportation, and competitive pay.

Apply to [email protected]

05/26/2022

One claim for flooring and one basement remodel at the same house. Sentinel can do it all!

07/29/2020

At our production meeting we all wondered why turntables in cabinets and on tables were called “Lazy Susan”. Here is the answer.

Thomas Jefferson invented the lazy Susan in the 18th century, though they were referred to as dumbwaiters at that time. It is said that Jefferson invented the lazy Susan because his daughter complained she was always served last at the table and, as a result, never found herself full when leaving the table.”

04/29/2019

Hiring painters, Drywaller’s, and carpenters. Here is the painter’s posting.

Find your next great career opportunity at SentinelRestoration

08/18/2017

In case you haven't noticed, the construction industry in Michigan is back. For the most part we are happy to be putting people back to work and paying higher wages, but it's not like ten years ago.

During the recession that hit Michigan as hard as any state, we lost a great deal of skilled labor to other states, as well as to other careers. The good trades are booked out months, which means I am booked out months. Tradespeople that are less than stellar are busy and charging a premium as well. But their product is often unacceptable for the cost and must be redone.

What does this mean? If you would like your job done right, it's going to take longer and be more costly than just a few years or even months ago. Market conditions are such that we cannot possibly turn around jobs like you see on tv. We use to be able to "spike" a job for a premium and lure the best of the best to do the work. Now, it would triple the labor, and no one wants to pay that much.

If you are thinking about a project and want to have it done efficiently and for the best cost, here are my suggestions:

-Plan ahead, if you don't know what you want, find out prior to shopping a contractor. You can find anything on the inter webs. List out finishes only, we can work out the infrastructure.

-Budget to fit your needs. Does everyone need a two person spa in their Master Bath? Probably not. Make a list of must haves and a list of wants or a "wish list". Materials and labor may blow the budget out of ballpark of what you wanted to spend. It's easier to price things when you have a must and want list. It also saves you money by not having to return items or pay for change orders.

-Finally, whether you hire a small outfit that does it all or a GC like Sentinel, be prepared for it to take twice as long as you think. If you start adding 3 days for drywall, 2 for plumbing, etc. you come up with the critical path. Now take that path and double it for weekends, late starts, and unforeseen work.

Have a great weekend!

03/27/2017

Do you know what I never hear after a kitchen remodel? Boy, I sure miss that desk!

Desks as a part of cabinetry were popular twenty years ago, now they just take up space that could be used more effectively.

03/16/2017

March Madness sums up the recent storm. Some have been without power for a week now. Here are some tips:

Your insurance company may pay up to $250 with no deductible for spoiled food.

Insurance companies do not pay expenses for lodging just because the power is out, if a tree caved your roof in, that's another story.

Never, ever, ever, and I mean ever, hire someone to roof or repair your home that knocks on your door. As an industry we all know who these people are and we see the damage they do. They leave people high and not-so-dry while taking a portion, or all of their insurance money. Most are out of state contractors and are difficult to prosecute.

Lastly, be careful. Don't try to clear trees off of power lines (yes this happens), and definitely do not hook a borrowed generator up to your home if you do not know for sure what you are doing.

Lance

03/09/2017

The wind storm that battered SE Michigan yesterday isn't the only disaster residents are facing. If you have not reviewed your policy with your agent, then do so BEFORE a claim happens. One of the most concerning issue are people that have $1,000 dollar and higher deductibles. If you choose a high deductible to lower your monthly payment, or your agent raised it to buy your business, then you must be prepared to cover that deductible.

If you have $10,000.00 in damage and a $2,500 deductible you cannot ask a contractor to absorb a 25% hit, that's more than they would make and they will likely walk. If your contractor raises the price at your request to absorb your deductible, then you are committing insurance fraud.

You can avoid all of this by finding a reputable insurance agent and carrier such as Gino Conedera at Farm Bureau Insurance in Brighton.

01/26/2017

Our first FB ad. Since we get all of our clients based on referral this was a natural step for us. Also, we will have tips and Q & A regularly from now on.

Sentinel Restoration, LLC is primarily an insurance restoration company specializing in smoke, fire, water, and mold damage. In addition to mitigation, remediation, and restoration, Sentinel is a full service construction contractor.

01/26/2017

DIY Tip:
As a contractor and a DIY'er I often get asked for my advice on demolition. Specifically how to tell if a wall is load bearing and what to do if it is?

When it's an exterior wall its obvious, eaves normally bear the entire load. When it's in the middle of the home then some select demo will help. Remove the drywall and see what literally bears on the wall. If the joist ends rest on the top plate of the wall in question, then it is certainly load bearing. If there are no ends you still may have a bearing wall due to span distance, in this case call a pro. If there is attic above the wall then it all depends on the truss or rafter configuration and span which could prove trickier to determine.

Load bearing walls require engineered beams which may be a deal breaker design wise so it's good to know prior to the start of the project.
If you don't know for sure then stop and call a professional. We repair many homes damaged from sagging or just outright collapse which could be avoided with a little investigation.