Tom Lopatosky – The Home Improvement Expert

Exterior

The Benefit of a Properly Flashed Chimney

  There are many roofing companies out there that do a phenomenal job at roofing a home or business.   They are hard-working and knowledgeable professionals that do an absolutely fantastic job of putting a new roof on any given structure. They do a nice ...
Read More

Artillery Fungus

  Do you have small, black, hard spots that look like specks of tar over certain portions of the exterior of your home? If you answered yes, chances are you have something that is called Artillery Fungus affecting your home. Artillery Fungus is a wood-decay ...
Read More

What does “Cleaning out my Gutters” REALLY look like???

  Since I started out in the Painting & Repair business in 1995, I have frequently been asked “How much does it cost to clean out my gutters?” To me, this has always been sort of the Contracting version of a…… To have some someone ...
Read More

The Biggest Mistake Homeowners Make When Remodeling…..

  After being in the business for close to 25 years, the biggest mistake I see homeowners make when embarking on a remodeling project is         The failure to properly plan. This failure may be due to their inexperience taking on whatever project they are ...
Read More

Can you Paint Ceramic Tile or Glass?

YES! THIS CAN BE DONE! Once in a while we get a request to help someone paint (or for advice of painting) ceramic tile or glass. The most common initial question is often some version of “Can these types of surfaces be painted with readily ...
Read More

Protecting Your Deck!!

    July is a month where people typically really are enjoying the outdoors in New England. Whether going to a local park or the beach or simply working around the yard, July is full of outdoor activities! A feature that many Rhode Islanders enjoy ...
Read More

Possibly the MOST Advanced Flat Roof System YET!!!

    Click HERE to Watch GacoRoof in ACTION!!!   Possibly the Most Advanced Flat Roof System to DATE! This is not a joke. 50+ years. Throughout our part of the country, we have quite the variety of flat roofs that typically need maintenance, minimally, ...
Read More

Why does the Paint on Brand New Wood PEEL So Quickly??

  We have gotten many calls into our offices over the years stating that the potential Client was bewildered by peeling paint on a surface that was fairly brand new. Most often they are referencing a piece of siding or trim that was either installed ...
Read More

Read the controversial article that recently got me banned from writing in a magazine…

  In this day and age, energy efficiency seems to be all the rage. Home and property owners, in general, are constantly getting bombarded with marketing initiatives aimed at getting them to do “something” related to improving the energy efficiency of their property. Whether it ...
Read More

Buying a Home? What to Look For!!

  What to look for When Buying a Home!   Recently I had a friend reach out to me who was about to embark on the mission of buying a new home. She wanted to know of some things from a contractor perspective that she ...
Read More

Avoiding a Cabinet Painting Debacle!!

    Recently I heard a story of a newlywed couple that wanted to freshen up the look of their kitchen. They thought an easy way to do this would be to paint their kitchen cabinets. What sounded like a good idea at the time, ...
Read More

Bulkheads?

Bulkheads? What are they anyway? Great question!! Bulkheads are the set of doors that lead to the basement of a building (most often located on the rear or one of the sides of the building). Sometimes people refer to them as “Cellar Doors” or “Basement ...
Read More

Insect Damage!!!

Insect Damage!!!   Perhaps one of the most destructive situations someone can have happening around their home…and not even know it!!! – insect damage can be quite the disaster. We see so many instances where Clients have insects – termites, carpenter ants, etc. – chomping ...
Read More

Exterior Spring Maintenance Hints!

    As Winter gradually works its way out and temperatures begin to rise, many New Englanders participate in the unofficial annual tradition of taking a look at the outside of their property to inspect for any damage that has occurred over the last several ...
Read More

Is Vinyl REALLY Final?

  A good number of people that own their own home (…and/or commercial property for that matter…) would very much prefer absolutely NO maintenance whatsoever to its exterior. They could care less of the potential aesthetic beauty that often comes along with painted surfaces, they ...
Read More
Exterior

Washing Your Windows…

Now that our Spring weather has FINALLY started to warm up, many people are opening up (and keeping open!) their windows for the first time in months! As our windows open and stay open more consistently, it is a great time to take note of their condition to make ...
Read More

Powerwashing the Exterior of Your Home or Business!!

Maybe you have heard of the term “Powerwashing” before, maybe you have not. Powerwashing is essentially utilizing a machine to wash whatever it is you are attempting to wash (the outside of a building, walkways, etc.) that allows one to use varying degrees of pressure ...
Read More

What is the BEST way to maintain the Gutters on my home?

Believe it or not, Spring is ACTUALLY here!!! This time of year as our gardens & yards begin to take shape, it is important to pay attention to those wonderful gutter systems that a good number of fellow New Englanders have on their home. Gutters ...
Read More

Recognizing Winter Damage to the Exterior of your Home

  There is no question that the winter we have just experienced in New England has been amongst the most miserable in recent memory. Between varying amounts of snow (…and predicted snow!!), frigid temperatures, and the sheer time period that winter has seemingly dragged on ...
Read More

Preparing To Sell Your Home? What to Focus On!!

Preparing To Sell Your Home? What To Focus On!   As Spring kicks into gear in New England, many people that had been contemplating putting their home on the market to sell for quite a while, often decide it is time to pull the trigger ...
Read More

How Do Storm Doors Benefit Me???

In this day and age when central air and heating systems are all the rage, there are many who still prefer to “air out” the house as weather permits, there are quite a few who have not delved into a central air system for their ...
Read More

Ceiling Water Stains…..

  Ask any experienced realtor how they feel about water stains that are found on ceilings in homes that they are trying to sell, and you will almost feel the realtor’s blood pressure rise and see the look of someone who is experiencing electric shockwaves ...
Read More

Those PESKY Leaks!!!

A request that I have often heard over the past almost 25 years that I have been in the construction industry, is from a bewildered home or business owner that has a leaky “something” that is driving them absolutely insane! Usually the case is that ...
Read More

Guarding Against Unwanted “Visitors”

One steamy Saturday last summer, I had just fallen asleep when I was awakened to screams in my house like one had never heard before! I woke up extremely startled and as I raced for the door to find out what the heck was going ...
Read More

Drip! Drip! Drip!! How do I Know if I Need a New Roof??

How do I Know if I Need a New Roof?? Perhaps the most unsettling sound one can hear as a homeowner! You are lying in bed, well into the night, when the peaceful patter of rain against your window or on the ground outside in ...
Read More

Do you really know when the right time is to paint the Exterior of your home?

  Over our almost 25 years of being in business, this is a question that we have heard repeatedly, often at this time of year, when people are fine tuning their home improvement project ‘to-do’ lists in anticipation of Spring weather that really will be ...
Read More

When is the best time to hire a Home Improvement Contractor?

How many weeks until Spring??   11 Weeks 39 Days!! But who’s counting??? As we begin to delve into our plans for 2018, there may be home improvement items needing to be addressed on your agenda. You may be aiming to take them on yourself, ...
Read More

How to Best Navigate the Home Insurance Claims Process…

  Working with Insurance Companies when Your Property Has Been Damaged!   No one ever expects to have to file an insurance claim for damage caused to their property.   I believe the vast majority of Home and Business Owners alike simply consider insurance a ...
Read More

Interesting Residential Painting Facts!!

Residential painting seems to be something that has really been with us for hundreds of years. There have been samples of residential painting found in caves dating back to when humanity can be traced to originate! Here are a few interesting facts that we’ve borrowed from ...
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

PROTalk Podcasts