Winter kind of sucked this year, right?  Without a doubt, we’ve seen nothing short of a nasty, long winter this past season.  As a result, many of us will emerge into the beautiful Spring season only to find that Old Man Winter has, once again, taken taken his toll on our beautiful homes and gardens.  Some of us will battle Roofing issues, others will discover Concrete or Stampcrete problems.  But most commonly, folks will encounter a rash of Wood Rot issues.

Wood Rot occurs—in most cases—as the result of poor materials and/or improperly installed materials, combined with harsh moisture elements like rain, snow & humidity.

Once moisture earns an opportunity to permeate the wood, decomposition begins.  While the most obvious effect of wood rot is that of those ugly, eaten-away-looking spots, the real damage occurs beyond what the naked eye can see.

Once wood rot has infected an area, it is sure to spread.  The spreading will occur in such a way that unless properly and quickly addressed, structural damage will take place.  Additional problems will arise, including:

• Mildew
• Mold
• Critter Penetration
• Health Hazards
• Leaky Windows
• Foundation Decay

Wood rot is not unlike a rash or a disease that infects a particular area of the human body, and then quickly spreads throughout, if left untreated.

Wood rot problems are typically first noticed around the base of window sills and siding.  Fortunately, if a homeowner catches these signs and symptoms early enough, minor repairs can be made—usually in the neighborhood of $100 per window, for example.

Here are some fun-filled photos that I found online of what rot can do if left untreated:

(Oh, and I went ahead and posted the last photo, even though it almost made me throw up in my mouth, because I thought it might make things a little more visible.  The title of this photo by the original poster was. “Genome Analysis of the Dry Rot Fungus.”  Glad this typically grows INSIDE the wood, not outside).

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Over time, bathroom caulking can erode or begin to peel away.  In order to keep moisture out of your walls/drywall & flooring, you need to provide proper maintenance and give special attention to your caulk.    Once that moisture seeps ‘behind the scenes,’ it’s there for good.  And the longer this problem persists, the larger this problem becomes.  Such a problem will lead to mold & decay, and it is extremely expensive to repair (think: FULL bathroom tear-out).

If you plan to replace your caulk yourself, I’d like to provide a few tips for the process:

1. It is important to clean the area extremely well before new application.  You must remove any remnants of the old caulk.
2. Be patient.  Wait to apply your new caulk until the area is completely dry.
3. Obviously, all caulk is a little different. Just like with any other product, you will get what you pay for.  Tubes of caulk typically run anywhere from $ 1.50 a tube to $ 6.50 a tube. I suggest a silicone based caulk (choose the color that best matches your decor).
4. When applying your caulk against a wall, keep in mind that silicone caulk cannot be painted.  You will need to purchase a different product for this type of application.
5. When in doubt, call.

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Green is a wide range of energy-efficient, environmentally responsible techniques, materials and strategies.  Green can be as expensive as one wants to make it or just the opposite–Simple and practical.  There are things that the majority of people can do that will not only help the environment but will also not strain their pocketbook (and will actually bring about savings in the process).

To be truly GREEN is financially impractical for the majority of us.  We need to start somewhere and do something to make a difference.  Some examples are: a hot water recirculating pump that gives you instant hot water rather than letting so much water go down the drain while waiting.  Such an item saves a minimum of 6,000 to 8,000 gallons of water per year; there is a unit that when attached to your electrical panel will cut your electrical bill by 40%, and the list just goes on.

These products are reasonably priced and can have a major impact on the environment.  There are 125 million homes in the U.S., the vast majority of which lack energy efficient features.  Just think how much water or electricity we could save if everyone just did their small part.  I have put these two items in my house and can attest to their true validity.  Everybody talks but few act.  Let’s get started and do something to make a difference.

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That’s crazy talk, right?  No, not at all.  Yes, in many cases, pricing is the driving factor and often the primary point of concern for most any purchase.  But when it comes to the re-roofing process of your home, this is no place to skimp.  Here’s why:

Although it may sound a little odd, the biggest mistake you can make when replacing your roof is CHOOSING THE LOWEST BID.  As a homeowner, it is your job to protect your most valuable asset–your largest investment–your home.  Why would you use the cheapest fly-by-night crew or two guys and a truck company when trying to restore value to your largest investment–to your home?

One of the largest misconceptions homeowners embrace in terms of making a claim is,

“MY RATES WILL GO UP!”

This is an absolutely false assumption.

It is against the law for an insurance company to increase your insurance rates based on a claim.  So, let’s think about this…

If you are responsible for the maintenance and preservation of your home, and if you are freely allowed to spend whatever monies are reasonably necessary to accomplish these tasks–Then why in the world would you consciously chose to do business with the cheapest contractor?

Let’s realize the following:

• If you do business with an unstable (fly by night) roofing contractor who has little to no track record and next to no local experience, your warranty on labor won’t be worth a darn thing.
• If you do business with an installer who does not properly install your shingles according to the manufacturer’s specifications, your perceived 25-30 year materials warranty will be worth nothing–That’s right, null and void.

Moral of this story is, do a little research, and don’t focus on thrifty.  Save thrifty for the cereal aisle at the grocery store or the clearance rack at the shopping mall.  Use your insurance roofing situation to pretend like you’re a lottery winner!

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If you think you will save some money by hiring a crew yourself, you had better think again.

I know, you have all of the bases covered–you have made sure they have work comp and liability; you think you have asked all of the right questions; but then BOOM!  Our illustrious governement, protector of all, sneaks in a new law that you didn’t know about.

Missouri, and soon Kansas, has come up with their own version of dealing with illegals.  If the crew you hire or the subcontractors that the roofing company hires have any illegals working for them and they get caught–here is what will happen: All work will stop and they will not be allowed back on the roof for a period of two weeks, if they happen to have a business license it will be suspended for this time.  In this time, the problem must be corrected.  The second offense draws a 6 month suspension and th third time permanently bars them from doing business.  There are some other details involved, but i think you get the idea.  All of that is well and good but in the mean time, you need to get your roof finished.  If you want to be the general contractor, it’s just one more thing you need to know about before you get started.  Good luck with your project!

Here is a link to an article that provides supplemental information on this topic: State Roofing Legislature

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With SO many options available to you in terms
of windows, you’re probably asking yourself, “How do I know what the
best window is for me?”  Allow me to assist.

The three most important factors for consideration are:

1. Appearance
2. Longevity
3. Price

Here is a quick-view summary of exactly how your window options weigh out in comparison to one another:

Clear as mud?  Hit me up with questions regarding further clarification, etc.

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We’ve just wrapped up our second home show of the 2009 season.  Despite the economy, the turnout was pretty good.  We met a lot of new people and we distributed a ton of literature.  With two down, we’ve only got one more to go–We will wrap up at Bartle Hall at the end of this month at the annual Greater Kansas City Home Show and Flower, Lawn & Garden Show.

It’s fun to meet new people, and we like eating the concession stand hot dogs–but let’s get real.  The whole purpose behind these home shows is to peak home remodeling interest, educate the consumer and drive new remodeling business.  Right?  Well, you may be surprised to learn that home shows are far more entertaining than one might think.

Last year’s big show at Bartle Hall delivered mixed reviews from the participants–but that’s not uncommon.  Most of us are unable to report accurate results until several months down the road–once all lead contacts have had a chance to materialize.  There are some, however, who can deliver immediate results as to the success of their 72-hour weekend.  I like to think of these guys as the “Infomercial Gone Live Group!”

Take for example, “The Magic Mop guy.”  This fella performs demonstrations all day long.  He sets up his little booth, dumps crap all over the linoleum, and then sucks it up with a powerful little mop that absorbs like never before!   He draws a big crowd and he sells  a ton of magical mops.  His product reminds me of that shammy guy–He also does quite well.  It’s really fun to look accross the sea of people at the show, and take note of all the little bright yellow mops and shammys walking around the aisles.  Man, those things are popular.

Another successful home show vet who is sure to put up big numbers is the cookware guy.  He, too, will run back-to-back demonstrations that will display how excellent his cookware can sautee veggies and broil steak.  He wears a neat little microphone headpiece (one that I wish I could have) and he draws a great crowd, too.  People walk away with little pots and pans thinking, “Yay!  Now we can go home and cook great food inside pans that won’t even require soap for washing!”

But my all time favorite non-remodeling “product” that was being advertised and sold at the home show can barely be placed in my little Infomercial category.  Last year, a couple had rented a little booth and were pedaling Sugar Gliders out of it to prospective remodeling clients!  What is a sugar glider, you might say?  (Well, look at the photo attached below).  Sugar gliders are little, furry animals that are considered exotic in nature.  These tiny marsupials were being sold in singles or as pairs!  Talk about an impulse buy, right?  These sugar glider pedlars are brilliant, I tell you!  Just imagine their remarkable thought process:

Mr. & Mrs. Homeowner head down to Bartle Hall–Looking to get a little more info on the Marvin Window product line.  While they are there, they grab some honey-roasted almonds and they taste-test a little red wine.  They meet up with these really cool guys from Total Home and they talk windows.  They mosey on down the aisle to check out the jacuzzis and then decide to head on home.  But wait!  On their way out the door, something catches their eye…It’s a teeny, tiny marsupial!

“What is it,” Mr. Homeowner asks.

“It’s a $300 marsupial that you can take home today if you please,” the sugar glider pedlar replies.  And what do you know–Mr. & Mrs. Homeowner walk out of that show with fully bellies, a buzz, a free window estimate appointment and a miniature marsupial for their little Fido to play with.  Who would of thought!

Ah, yes!  We love home shows.  We just don’t understand why everybody doesn’t love them as much as we do.  This year, we hope to meet a bunch of new people, set many new introductions and talk Pat into buying us a Sugar Glider for the office (I will tell him that I promise to feed it myself).

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You need a new roof.  You’ve done your homework, picked out a color and chosen a type of shingle.  You followed all of the dos and don’ts when it comes to the most important choice–the contractor.  By now, you’re anxious to get started and you’re probably pretty proud of your due diligence and decision-making.

Well, before you give yourself too many pats on the back, there’s one thing you forgot.  No, its not work comp certificates, liability or credibility.  It’s OSHA compliance.  “What in the hell is that,” you say–”Never heard of it!”  Before you get too frustrated, take heart in knowing that you are not alone.  It is really more of an industry thing, but it can certainly affect you.  Every roofing company in town knows about it but I’ve only found one for sure–and maybe two that actually follow the rules.  The rest either don’t udnerstand the rules or just choose to ignore them.

The guidelines have to do with safety, in short: hard hats, steel toed boots, safety tape for those on the ground and safety lines for those on the roof.  There’s more…but you get the idea.

Now here is where it gets hairy.  Picture this: The roofing crew that you so proudly chose is on the roof working away when along comes the Big Bad Wolf–an OSHA inspector.  If installers are not in compliance, all work will stop and the workers will be forced to get off of the roof.  Fines will start at $5,000.00–that’s right–5 G’s!  These fines will be levied against the installers and no work will be able to continue until compliance is met.  This may not be critical on a nice summer day, but if rain is imminent and the roof is completely torn off–you will find yourself in deep doo-doo.

So, a word to the wise: before you sign that contract, have the roofing company put it in the contract that they will do the job according to OSHA guidelines.  If they come to your house and you don’t see hard hats, harnesses and safety tape, then don’t let them on your roof.  OSHA inspectors are going to be out in full force this year because of accidents and non-compliance.

Good luck with your project.

Official Disclaimer: We by no means advocate the shooting of innocent animals or OSHA inspectors (or guilty ones, for that matter).

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