Tom Lopatosky – The Home Improvement Expert

Bathroom

The Bidet – Not Just A Fancy Schmancy Way To Use The Bathroom!

On a recent episode of the ‘PROTALK Home Improvement Radio’ show, we were having a discussion of some of the items that in recent times I have seen to be growing in popularity amongst our clients. While some of the focus certainly was on more ...
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Exterior

What to Caulk & What NOT to Caulk on the Exterior of Your Home

Caulking is one of those tools of the trades that when used properly can be a huge help on the outside of your home. On the same token, it can cause disastrous results if used improperly… Assuming you are using a good quality caulk (do ...
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Deck Care

The Only Sure-Fire Way To Give Your Deck Coating ANY Shot At Longevity

If you have ever heard me preach about the best way to give your deck coating a fighting chance at lasting for any length of time, it may very well be the first time you have ever heard someone describe the methodology for this potentially ...
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Deck Care

What Is The Best Way To Prevent Rusty Nails On Deck & Porch Floors & Steps From Looking Like Rust Spots?

When going about life each day, certain things are bound to catch your eye more so than others. One such thing falling within this category in the home improvement world certainly can be the unsightly rust spots that are found bleeding through the finish on ...
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Informational

What Is The Best Way To Strip Paint?

Stripping paint can be a big job, but with the right steps and tools, it can be done effectively. Here’s a simple guide on the best way to strip paint from wood, metal, or other surfaces. Before you start, gather these supplies: – Paint stripper: ...
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Exterior

Why ‘ Hose Tests’ Do Not Work

Some things at the outset may seem to make a lot of sense, until they do not. A perfect example of this is something that I refer to as the ‘hose test’. As many folks are aware, we do a ton of work helping people ...
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Exterior

What Is The Best Material For Exterior Trim To Be Made Out Of?

We replace A LOT of trim on the exterior of people’s homes, most often due to wood that has rotted out. One of the most common questions we get asked in working through this process is: “What is the best material to replace the rotted ...
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What Is The Best Type Of Countertop For My Kitchen?

Choosing the right countertop for your kitchen is a big decision. There are many options out there, each with its own pros and cons. Let’s break it down to help you find the best one for you! First up, we have granite countertops. Granite is ...
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Window

Transom Windows

There are certain features of homes that are just as pleasant, attractive, and useful today as when they were first introduced into home construction years ago. I strongly feel that ‘Transom Windows’ fall into this category. A transom window is a window – typically rectangular ...
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Drywall

Nail Pops In Drywall

Nail pops are a common issue in drywall (sheetrock, blueboard, and the like) that many homeowners encounter. When you look at your wall and notice small bumps or protrusions, often circular or oval in shape, you might be seeing a “nail pop”. These pesky little ...
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History

What Is A ‘Historic District Commission?’

Imagine walking down a street lined with beautiful old homes, each one telling a story of the past. These historic structures are not just relics of bygone eras—they’re living pieces of history, connecting us to the people and events that shaped our communities. But preserving ...
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Window

Replacing Cracked Glass On A Vinyl Window

Certain things that we come across in life can lead to a feeling of our heart dropping into our stomach. These are usually related to a situation which we intrinsically believe that we have no control over. This could be something super serious such as ...
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Exterior

Why Does Exterior Paint On Wood Surfaces Peel?

There certainly are a wide variety of items related to home improvement where if you asked the opinion of a professional as to ‘why’ something was occurring (or not occurring) you would receive a differing answer from every individual you asked. The reason why paint ...
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Exterior

The Challenges Of Exterior Structural Repairs

Some of the more difficult things to work through while addressing areas in need of repair on the exterior of your home, are those that come along when tackling repairs of a structural nature. Exterior structural repairs present a unique set of challenges which require ...
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Interior

How Does The Color Green Relate To Home Improvement?

As the luck of the Irish might have it, the color green is clearly synonymous with St. Patrick’s Day. What you may not realize, however, is that it is also VERY closely related to Home Improvement! The color green is, in fact, like a secret ...
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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!!!

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