Marine Corps veteran Christopher Cicotello founded C2 Operations as a “community engaged remodeling company.” Others who have served in the military will note the eagle, globe and “t” symbol reminiscent of the Corps’ logo in his own, and it’s no accident that Chris aims to evoke the kind of “command and control” efficiencies of his operational career in and out of the military as well as the honor and integrity that are its underpinnings.
He’s a self-described “bull in a china shop” when serving on boards, as he does with Habitat for Humanity, but when it comes time to inspect and renovate a property to turn over to a new homeowner, Chris is on the front lines. “We’re not C2 sales, we’re Operations. We get things done!” he asserts.
Lately, that means cleaning up after an increasing number of storms. “Storms are getting stronger and more frequent in our area. We’re almost part-time weathermen!” Since the company went full-time in 2015, it slammed into 2016’s big snowstorm and has helped homeowners recoup from frequent windstorms and then hurricane Riley in 2018 when the company fielded 1,100 phone calls in two weeks. More recently, February saw two tornados touch down near Battlefield Parkway and the Greenway before sliding into other high-density residential neighborhoods slinging shingles and siding and downing trees in their wake.
There’s no sign that extreme weather is abating anytime soon, so Chris offers the following tips and suggested home improvements to weather any major damage in the future, and improve your home's energy efficiency.
+ To maximize the life of your roof, have it maintained periodically. There are moving parts of your exterior that need repairs from time-to-time (flashings, sealants, pipe collars, vents). Plan for service every 2 to 4 years on all roofs. (You get your car’s oil changed; the same maintenance should be considered for your home as well!)
+ Builder-grade windows may be good for 15-20 years. Replacement windows can be installed in phases if your budget doesn't allow a total replacement. Start with areas you live in or that impact your family the most (bedrooms, kitchens, living/dining rooms). You will notice a drastic change to the interior once replacement windows are installed.
+ Not all doors are built alike. C2 Operations offers ProVia doors, units with either full composite or partial composite frames. No more calling a painter to repair rotten door frame bottoms. Realtors, you see this all the time.
+ C2 Operations replaces roofs with architectural shingles as a baseline although building code allows for 3-tab shingles (25 year). Architectural shingles boast a minimum of 115mph wind warranty for the life of the shingle at only around a 10% cost increase over old 3 tab/25 year shingles. We are working smarter to keep less waste out of our local landfills by extending building product lifespan.