Tom Lopatosky – The Home Improvement Expert

Metal work

The Dangers Of Improperly Done Metalwork

Across the trades there are various skillsets which not only are lacking in their overall availability, but are creating a bit of a crisis in many areas. For example, try to find someone to correctly replace a cracked stained glass windowpane. Or attempt to find ...
Read More
Flooring

Is Vinyl Planking REALLY Waterproof??

Perhaps one of the more interesting conversations I have with our floor install techs are those revolving around vinyl planking and its use in areas where there is a good chance that they will be exposed to a fair amount of moisture after installation. I ...
Read More
Railings

Aluminum Rail Systems

If you are thinking about either adding or replacing a rail system on the outside of your home, there are quite a number of options to choose from. While you may think of wood, wrought iron, or composite rail systems when exploring this topic, one ...
Read More
Doors

What Is A Barn Door?

Sometimes there are solutions that exist for our home improvement dilemmas which may not be quite thought of right away. One of these such solutions is the idea of a barn door setup. Barn doors are one of these types of products that are typically ...
Read More
Exterior

What Is The Best Way To Match The Exterior Color On Your Home?

There are a number of reasons why we match paint colors on the exterior of our homes. Sometimes when painting the entire exterior of our home we want to paint it the way that it was previously painted. Or maybe the whole home does not ...
Read More
Painting

Why 2 Coats Of Paint Is Not ALWAYS The Answer

When it comes to painting, one of the common themes I have heard along the way in the 30+ years we have been in business, is the almost default mechanism of many folks – homeowners, contractors, etc. – to simply assume that any time something ...
Read More
Home Improvement Projects

Why Is February The Best Month To Plan Your Home Improvement Project?

Every year it seems like we see the same cycle. Homeowners get through the Holiday season, put the idea of home improvement planning on hold, and start back up trying to come up with a plan to fix things around the house some time after ...
Read More
Weather Conditions

What Is The Best Way To Remove Ice & Snow From Wooden Decks & Porch Floors

It is something that obviously has to be done. Any time it snows or there is ice that has built up on a wooden deck or porch floor area, clearly it is not something that it is ideal to leave sitting there. Letting ice or ...
Read More
Gutters

The Solution To Water Leaking Behind Your Gutters

Regardless of how you feel about the way they look cosmetically, gutters serve an enormous purpose from a functionality standpoint. The key (which I’m sure seems logical) is water being able to make it into the gutter from the roof and being able to be ...
Read More
Epoxy

The Best Wood Epoxy On The Planet

Sometimes when we are contemplating doing wood repair instead of replacing a whole piece/section of wood, it can be very easy to be unsure as to the exact “best” approach. After all, isn’t replacing the wood the best option? Even if it were not, there ...
Read More
Exterior

Modern Coating System For Wooden Gutters

There are certain things that were commonplace years ago which because of a variety of different reasons have evolved to something much different today than yesteryear. Think of the typewriter as an example. Anyone under the age of 40 (and perhaps even older!) may find ...
Read More
Bathroom

Why It Is Important To Use Silicone vs. “Regular Caulk” In Bathrooms

Being in so many homes on a weekly basis often provides me with a unique perspective on a wide variety of home improvement items. One of those things that catches my attention every time – even if it is not what I am “there for” ...
Read More
Bathroom

What To Do If The Toilet Will Not Stop Running??

Some things are certainly more annoying than others. One of the items that anybody who has experienced it might agree, a toilet that will not stop running, has got to be at the top of the list! If your toilet won’t stop running, it likely ...
Read More
Electric Panel

How Do You Know When It Is Time To Upgrade Your Electric Panel?

Your home’s electric panel is like its brain, directing electricity to where it’s needed. Over time, it can become outdated or unable to handle your household’s electrical needs. Knowing when to upgrade is important for safety, convenience, and efficiency. Here are some signs that it ...
Read More
Tools

What Are Joist Hangers?

In the arena we typically play in, we most often use joist hangers when building or providing maintenance to decks or porches. While always being incorporated into a new deck or porch that we are building, it is not unusual for us to come across ...
Read More
Follow Us on Social Media!

OUR HISTORY

LOPCO Expert

While looking for a way to pay his way through college, Tom Lopatosky started LOPCO Contracting in 1995. Since then, when Tom began the company with less than $100 in his pocket, LOPCO has grown to become the Home Improvement Contractor of choice for a wide number of people throughout Rhode Island and Southern New England. Tom learned many valuable lessons as he grew the business while attending college. Ultimately Tom (in the year 2000) graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree with a Concentration in Marketing, a Bachelor’s Degree with a Concentration in Finance, and a Minor in Computer Information Systems from Bryant University (Bryant College at the time) in Smithfield, RI. 

Prior to earning his degrees, Tom graduated from Classical High School in Providence, RI (where Tom won the ‘Al Morro Award’ for Football in 1994). After High School, Tom left for the University of South Carolina to pursue his dream of playing football. Soon after his mother passed away in 1997, he relocated back to RI and completed his college career at Bryant. Tom continued to play minor league football for 9 years and was part of 4 championship-playing football teams. 

As the demands of the company grew, Tom decided to retire from football in 2006 and focus on LOPCO full time.
Under Tom’s leadership, the company culture of striving to overdeliver on every project they undertake has led to much repeat business and their clients are often very happy to tell their friends and families about their experiences with LOPCO. This has helped tremendously as LOPCO has sought to further increase their customer base. Tom’s long-term goal for the company is “To lead LOPCO Contracting in continuing to paint and build the way to social consciousness while becoming the largest painting and repair company in New England.”

Tom lives in East Providence, RI with his girlfriend Leslie and his daughters Tamara & Ivelisse. Tom has held a variety of titles over the years including President of LOPCO Contracting, Regional Board Member of the PCA’s (Painting Contractors Association) Northeast Council, President of the RI Chapter of the PCA, Board Member of RIBA (Rhode Island Builders Association), and Building & Property Trades Advisory Committee Member for MTTI (MotoRing Technical Training Institute in Seekonk, MA).

Tom has been a RIBA member since 2008 and a member of PCA since 2006. In 2013 Tom received the PCA’s National “Humanitarian of the Year” Award, a “40 under 40” Award from Providence Business News, and his BNI (Business Network International) Warwick peers voted him “Member of the Year”. Tom has been involved with BNI for a number of years as well as quite a few other networking organizations.

In 2006 Tom was inducted into the Classical High School Athletic Hall of Fame. Over the years Tom has been a contributing writer and/or columnist for ExpertBeacon.com, RI Local Magazine, ShopInRI Magazine, The Jewish Voice, The Rhode Island Echo, The RI Wave, the East Providence Reporter, and The Smithfield Times and also has had weekly Home Improvement Tips that have run on the radio (630AM & 99.7FM WPRO in the RI area) and on television (WPRI 12 in the RI area). 

Tom is Roman Catholic and is a firm believer that success is often correlated with a person’s faith, not necessarily a particular religion, but faith in a greater power. 

Roman 12:12 is his favorite Bible verse which reads, “”Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer.” Tom is very involved with his Church (St. Adalbert’s Church in Providence, RI) – Tom served as Chairperson of St. Adalbert’s Church’s Polish-American Festival for 6 years – and really tries to make it a point on attending service at least once per week (Tom also spends 30-45 minutes in prayer prior to beginning each day).
As a fun sidenote, Tom made it as a Semi-Finalist in the second season of “The Apprentice” (the round right before the finalists are on the show!).

Tom has been featured on the Real Estate Radio Network, the ‘Discover Rhode Island’ TV show, and on The Strongpreneur Nation Podcast. Today, Tom has his own weekly Home Improvement radio show on 630AM & 99.7FM WPRO in the RI area – ‘PROTALK Home Improvement’. Tom feels VERY fortunate to have been involved with a number of terrific community organizations over the years, such as: Amos House, Children’s Wishes, Clinica Esperanza, Goodwill Industries of Rhode Island, Habitat for Humanity of RI – Greater Providence, The Institute for the Study and Practice of Nonviolence, The Town of Johnston, RI Police Department, Junior Achievement of RI, One Neighborhood Builders (formerly Olneyville Housing Corporation), Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council, YouthBuild Providence, and YMCA of Greater Providence. Two of the biggest community initiatives that Tom has been involved with are being a lead organizer of ‘Clean Day’ on the Woonasquatucket River Greenway for nine years and a lead organizer for YouthBuild Providence’s annual ‘Build-a-Bed’ event for four years.

In addition to LOPCO, Tom also owns Cheer UP Athletics – an All-Star Cheerleading Gym located in East Providence, RI – and The Smithfield Times. Tom is an avid New York Yankee, University of South Carolina (ALL of their sports!), and Providence College Basketball fan. Tom’s extensive experience and overall industry knowledge have made Tom one of the most sought-after experts in the Home Improvement Industry. Remarkably, Tom is often even called upon by other contractors to help them through challenges in their businesses (often speaking at National Industry Conferences). Because he has made it a focus to delve into and solve problems that others in the industry simply want nothing to do with, Tom has become an invaluable resource for homeowners near and far. With all being said, it confidently is safe to say that Tom Lopatosky truly is – The Home Improvement Expert!!!

Print Media Features & Published Pieces