Smart Solutions

A recent Madison remodel needed a creative fix for a problem window.

The home sits on a narrow lot, making any kind of outside storage difficult. The decision was made to build a storage addition outside of their dining room. The addition would be perfect for their needs, but it would mean sacrificing the dining room window.

Since the window did not offer much in the way of a view (the neighbor's house and a fence), the main tragedy caused by the loss of the window was the loss of light. 

To solve the problem, we built a light box behind the window, installed rope lighting, and then ordered a custom piece of stained glass.

Now the homeowners have the light they would have missed, but this time with a better view!

Get the Kids Outside This Summer!

A great article and some kid-friendly garden ideas.
How to Cultivate a Young Gardener

Houzz

Interested in a Butcher Block Top?

Ever had a real butcher block? Ever wanted one? Find out why they're great and how to care for them... here!

How to Clean and Care for Your Butcher Block

Houzz- Kitchen, Bathroom and More »

Home Designs and Pictures- For Example:

Laundry Room Ideas · Bathroom Ideas · Home Office Ideas · Staircase Ideas · Landscaping Ideas · Basement Ideas · Wine Cellar Ideas ·

Here it is!

Here it is!

The first floor 

of our

2013 Parade Home

Are we ever excited!

Designing this year's parade home was a challenge.  The owners wanted a small footprint, but with all the amenities...as you can see, we did it.

This unique plan offers an envy-inducing master suite, a kitchen that will make you want to do the dishes, and some funky ceiling design features that will draw you in the front door, and right to the serene view from the screen porch.

Kickin' it a little old school (but updated and super cool), is the fireplace that separates the living from the dining. Wait until you see what we do with that focal point!

You'll have to wait until next month to see the basement plan...

Screen Addition for Cats

This custom screen porch addition was designed with the owners and their cats in mind. 

They wanted a screen porch that would be accessible to their cats, but didn't want to block the sun from their inside living areas.  Check out our solution!

Halloween Horrors

The phone rang earlier than usual that morning. It was still dark outside.

The voice on the other end crackled to life. “I’m not sure if you can help me…we seem to have a problem with our house.”

“What type of problem?”

“The ceiling upstairs is cracking and the windows on the level below won’t work.”

“Do you have any idea what might be the cause?”

“We just bought the house not that long ago. We found a leak in the basement, but that can’t be it…can it?” I could feel her uncertainty from where I sat at my desk. Nothing is scarier than having a problem with your house and no idea of the source.

When plumbing leaks, the plumber points to it and gives a price to fix it. When a light stops working, the electrician gives the homeowner a price to fix the wiring. When a ceiling cracks, it could be any number of things.

“I’ll dispatch someone right away,” I said, hanging up the phone to call our carpenter.

I called the homeowner back, “He’ll be right over.”

The homeowners watched from their window as he pulled the truck into the driveway. He grabbed his clipboard, camera, and a few tools. Before walking to the door, he looked up at the towering house. A modern construction of gables and pricey trim, the expensively crafted rooflines complicated the picture. A gust of wind swirled dead leaves around his feet. It would snow soon. The front door eased open, and Mr. Homeowner stepped out to explain the situation.

The family walked our carpenter through their beautiful home: floors carpeted with the highest quality coverings, granite countertops, and glossy bathroom fixtures right out of a magazine. Everything seemed in order. No, it seemed better than in order. Everything was perfect. But something lurked underneath it all-- something waiting to cost the family and untold price.

“You said there was a leak in the basement?” Our carpenter asked the fidgeting homeowner.

“Yes,” he admitted. “I don’t think it could be the problem though. That’s all the way in the basement.” He met our carpenter’s eyes, hope leaching out of his expression with each passing second.

“Let’s take a look.”

They eased into the dark unfinished space. A fluorescent light flickered to life. The homeowner pointed to the dried evidence: a ring on the floor.

Our carpenter bent, reaching down, testing the concrete for dampness, the wall for fissures. He ran his hand up along the rough, unpainted, poured wall and felt his way into the dark cavity above. The insulation melted between his fingertips. He brought his hand back, rubbing the mildew laced water onto his jeans. The homeowner took a step back.

“What’s that?”

“Not sure.” Our carpenter grabbed a flashlight out of his tool bag and shined it into the dark, cavernous space. He pulled out the obscuring insulation. Accompanied by a sodden slap, it dropped to the floor in a soggy, pink heap. He reached in again, glancing back to the homeowner before pulling his hand out.

The support structure of the house crumbled, wet, into the palm of his hand. The towering home above was disintegrating, deteriorating to a pulpous sludge. The ceiling on the second floor was cracking because the house was sinking.

The homeowner paled knowing the fix would cost him dearly. His wife called from the top of the stairs.

Our carpenter had to say it. He had to say the one thing every homeowner dreads. He could fix it, and he could give him an estimate, but the final bill would be based on Time and Materials.

Mrs. Homeowner covered her mouth and turned away. She busied herself with the children, coloring at the kitchen table, blissfully unaware of the horror brewing just a few feet away.

“I guess we don’t have a choice,” Mr. Homeowner said. He closed the door behind our carpenter who promised to return the next day.

The next morning our carpenter showed up on time. He brought more equipment than Mr. Homeowner had anticipated. He ripped siding off, removed the window, and tore off shingles. He brought someone else to help, and they cut away the rotted wood. They jacked up the side of the house and slid new supports into place. The homeowner went to work, counting the mounting expenses, hoping for a miracle.

Later, our carpenter called me at the office. “My hours are in. Can you create the invoice?”

With trepidation, I collected the receipts, typing the numbers into the spread sheet, calculating the hours, watching the total at the bottom grow with every new line item.

The last number in, I hesitatingly scrolled to the bottom of the sheet. It wasn’t cheap. Slowly, I flipped open the file, hoping our carpenter was close in his estimate, sending a quick prayer that we wouldn’t have to terrify the homeowners with a heart stopping, Christmas destroying, surprise.

“Oh.” I flipped back to the front of the contract, checking again, comparing it to my spreadsheet.

Twenty bucks. The time and materials estimate was within twenty bucks.

I let out the breath I’d been holding and sat back. I’d forgotten. I worked for Degnan Design Builders. These people know how to estimate.

I hit print, emailed the invoice to the homeowner, and smiled, knowing the homeowners would be thrilled.

I guess there’s no horror story here…sorry. Happy Halloween!

Big or Small Projects

A Cut Above

We take time to build things right the first time.

Sustainable Remodel

On April 21, 2012, we will feature one of our remodeled homes in the

2012 Sustainable Showcase.

This Madison family called us to update a home they'd recently purchased. They wanted to do so in a way that wouldn't interrupt the charm of the existing house, but would make the house more energy efficient and livable.

There were a number of items on their list, and with some design work and a little balancing of priorities, we accomplished what we set out to do--plan for a sustainable, updated house that stayed within their budget.

Some of the features they chose were:

• A whole house fan rather than an A/C unit
• Re-using as much of the current wood and trim as possible
• A soaking tub rather than a whirlpool
• CFL and Flourescent lighting
• Ceiling fans in each room
• A 1.28 gpf toilet in the remodeled bathroom
• Utilizing natural light in the remodeled bathroom

The green practices we followed:

• Lead-safe work practices
• Removing knob and tube wiring so house could be fully insulated at a later date
• Asbestos removal
• Used local source for new cabinetry
• Re-used and re-finished existing wood floors

Are you considering a remodeling project?

There are ways to stay green without increasing your budget.

Let us show you how!

Designed for Your Life

Updates

Some projects seem to go so fast, especially the ones where we are not replacing EVERYTHING in the room…which is an option we find a lot of homeowners forget is available.

Sometimes homeowners put off updating their old space because they think it might be too expensive, messy or disruptive. Worse yet, when a homeowner becomes disenchanted with the older space, sometimes they begin to put off needed repairs. This is a mistake – small changes now could save quite a bit of time and money later.

One of our recent projects was to transform a kitchen. This homeowner knew what he needed and what he wanted to spend. We knew the budget didn't have enough room to purchase new cabinetry. We offered a solution: replace the counter tops and leave the cabinets. They were still in great shape, well taken care of, and although not the newest style, they worked well. In fact, by not replacing the cabinets, there was room in the budget for a snazzy back-splash, which worked to make that not-so-new cabinetry look downright up-to-date!

The options are endless, and if you do a little something now, you might avoid having to do a lot of something later. Give us a call today, and let us show you what we can do with the budget you have. Even if it’s only repairs to your current space, why not enjoy living in your home now, without the worry and frustration of “the big project” looming in the future.

Hair Gel, Change Orders, and Trust

One day, I went to get my hair done at a popular “upper scale” salon that shall remain nameless for the purposes of this blog (If you ask me in person, I’ll tell you all about it).

I looked great. She cut my hair the exact length, she offered the perfect amount of pointless conversation to take my attention off her strangely applied eyeliner, and I walked up to the counter feeling spiffed up and ready for the rest of my day.

She, extending the camaraderie (or so I thought), walked with me, chatted with the cheery receptionist, and commenced to pull bottles off the shelves. She placed them in front of me, “you’re gonna’ love how easy this style is to maintain.” She waved at the clerk and bounced off to her next victim client.

And there I stood; buying bottles of junk I didn’t want.

I walked to my car, convincing myself I had not just been duped, but I knew better. She employed a tactic that worked on me, and probably a lot of other people as well.

You know the one. It’s the one where the customer unwittingly buys a bunch of stuff they didn't plan on buying.

Last week, I was talking to another contractor who had recently lost a bid to a competitor. The competitor bid low and planned to make up the difference in change orders. It’s sad to say, but this is a standard practice for many builders. Unfortunately, clients don’t talk about it much, because no one likes to admit they feel cheated.

After I got my hair cut, my friends all complimented me. Do you think I told them the truth about my experience? No way. I told them the name of the stylist and pretended like her up-sale at the end of the transaction was normal.

But it wasn’t. And it didn’t have to be.

If she wanted to style my hair in a way so I would have to buy bottles of goo, she should have told me, and I would have probably been on board – maybe even excited about the change. I definitely would not be writing this blog.

The fact is every sales transaction involves a level of trust. I will not return to that stylist. Not because my bill was too much, but because of the surprise at the end of the process. In essence, no matter how good the cut was, I do not trust her to work in my best interest.

So what about contractors who work with this surprise at the end philosophy, and do so successfully? Why do they get away with it? Why do people still use that styling salon?

It goes back to not wanting to be the person who was taken advantage of.

As contractors, this is frustrating. We are professional, we know how much something costs, and to have another “professional” under-bid to get the homeowner to sign the bottom line is just plain dishonest. But, there is little we as contractors can do about it.

However, there is a lot you, as a customer, can do.

The builder wants you to trust them. Make them earn it. Call their references, and keep in mind, like me not telling my friends about how I was duped, people do not want to think they have been taken advantage of. They probably won’t admit it if they went with the lowest bid and their finished project cost them more than the highest bid. Ask specific questions that go beyond if they liked their experience. Questions like:

-How many change orders were there in total?

-What was the dollar amount of change orders?

-What was the reason for the change orders?

-How much did you spend on your home outside of your construction loan?

-Were the contractor’s allowances realistic for your goals?

-Did your appliances go over your allowance?

-Did your flooring go over your allowance?

-Did your landscape go over your allowance?

-Did your lighting selections stay within the allowance?

-Was the decorating and painting budget sufficient?

-Did you feel like you had the option to reject change orders, or did you feel forced into them?

-After you reflected on the allowances you were given, did you feel like they met your original expectations?

A $50.00 haircut is not exactly what I would call low cost, but it still was a lot less than I ended up paying for the privilege of the experience.

How much will you pay for your experience? Has your builder earned your trust?

We pride ourselves on our honest approach, and yes, sometimes our numbers might sound a bit high. That’s because we will bid what you ask for and nothing less. If you want an expensive faucet, you will find it in your bid, and not buried in an allowance that does not get close enough to paying for it. On the flip side, if it turns out to be more than you wanted to spend, we will help you trim your budget in a way that will not come back to bite you in the end.

Working with unrealistic allowances cheats the homeowner, the builder, and everyone involved. At Degnan Design Builders, we design to your budget. That means you have to power to control your costs, and can be assured we will not suddenly raise prices at the end of the transaction and leave you walking to your car, wondering what just happened, and why your $50.00 haircut turned into a $100.00 experience.

Oh, and ask me for the name of my new stylist…she’s fantastic.

By: Cara Luecht - Office Manager

LED Lighting Becoming Mainstream

With prices approaching affordable, LED lighting is finally becoming mainstream.

Recently, we’ve tested 3 different brands of 5-6 watt, LED MR16 lamps. They range in price from $12 to $20 each, and have a life span of 20,000-30,000 hours. We’ve done the math, and if used about 40 hours/week, this can be well over a decade of illumination.

In comparison to the LED options, MR16 halogen bulbs (20 and 35 watt) cost around $5 each. They last about 5000 hours (if you are lucky), and have around 250-300 lumens. In our office environment, the LED bulbs appear slightly brighter than the 20 watt 250 lumen halogen lamps.

Beyond brightness, if the color of light is a concern, the LED’s are available in 3000k (Kelvin degree) warm white or cool white options. Typically, lower k temps mean a warmer color of light. But we found while halogen bulbs can be anywhere between 2800k to 3200k, they do appear slightly warmer than the LED’s in color, no matter the source.

There are two main factors to consider when comparing LED, halogen, xenon, or fluorescent options: 1. Duration of use; 2. Cost of replacement. The question is how long will the lights be on each day? The more they are used, the quicker the payback in energy savings. You can expect an LED lamp to last 4-6 times as long as a halogen. Keep in mind that while the purchase price of an LED bulb might be 3 times that of a halogen, an LED lamp can boast over $100 in savings over its 50,000 hour lifespan. When you add to these factors the cost and trouble of going to the store, finding the right bulbs, and replacing them; the decision in favor of the LED bulb seems fairly simple.

But other options, such as undercabinet lighting or recessed lighting could introduce variables that would sway your preference. This winter, thinking about efficiency and life span, I purchased LED undercabinet lighting from a MABA member (previously, I had used Xenon lights but was disappointed by the inordinate number of bulbs that quickly burned out). The reflective nature of the countertops created an unexpected consequence. Polished granite, it turns out, reflected the individual dots of light. Therefore, florescent T5 undercabinet lighting, due to cost and energy use (and the fact that it does not reflect off the granite) turned out to be a winning product for this application.

Compact florescent bulbs in recessed can lights are a viable option depending on your usage. LED’s currently win out in life span and energy savings, but when adding the extra cost of trim rings, and taking into account how often you use the lights, they may not be optimal for every situation. However, if you want to be able to dim the lights, the LED’s are the way to go.

Candelabra-base bulbs are another challenge, but we have tested a couple of products from former MABA member EFI (Energy Federation, Inc.) as well as The Home Depot with pleasing results. While not dimmable, there are some 5, 7 and 9 watt CFL’s that provide great lumens with a color similar to that of a traditional incandescent light.

For more product details, please follow the links below.

EFI candelabra base, 40 lumen/watt rating, with the flame-tip decorative style: http://bit.ly/f9vR9v

Home Depot Product comparison:

http://bit.ly/dG7scj

Home Depot - highest lumens and least expensive:

http://bit.ly/giB8Zy

These are the 3 MR16 LED's that we've found:

http://bit.ly/gC0NMV

This is the brightest lamp we tried:

http://bit.ly/evVkE0

Most efficient, least expensive, and bright:

http://bit.ly/fFIJfY

Demystifying Energy Improvements

If you look out your window in the morning and see this on the neighbor’s roof, you know something is not quite up to par with their home’s energy efficiency.

Besides causing you to wonder if your own roof has tell-tale spots (you may want to put on your robe and take a look while the frost is still on the roof, or better yet, ask your neighbor what they can see over their morning cup of coffee), signs like these reveal the lack of knowledge that homeowners, and even many builders, have in regards to performance expectations.

The dark spots on the left side of this picture reveal areas where heat from inside the house has escaped to melt the frost off the shingles. This is concerning for three reasons. The first is the potential of ice damming and the resulting damage. The second is the transfer of heat to the outdoors, which reduces efficiency and increases utility bills. The third, and possibly most concerning, is the evidence that for this home, energy efficiency may have been an afterthought, and along with the keys, the homeowners may have purchased an abundance of missed opportunities and unrealized potential savings.

Last week, I (Cara) crawled into an attic with Anthony as he taught some local maintenance technicians how to make their apartments more efficient. Going into the project, I thought I knew a fair amount about building with efficiency in mind. What I learned, however, is unless efficiency is a priority of the builder, it simply does not exist. The spots on the roof should not be there. They are easily preventable, and planning their prevention, or in this case, their correction, is essential to a well performing structure.

Over the next few weeks, we will work to demystify energy efficiency. We will describe what the term means, the modern expectations for an energy efficient home, and how these expectations are realized.

Watch our upcoming blogs for hints on how to make your home more efficient, including a list of projects, some approximate costs, what improvements can give you the most bang for your buck, and advice on what you may or may not want to tackle on your own.

The VALUE of DESIGN

Given the small area of most bathrooms, and the number of elements that need to be included, it is no wonder why remodeling can be such a challenge. However, breaking the obstacles down to their most honest form reveals a much simpler challenge, and fortunately, simple challenges usually have simple solutions.

No budge in the budget ...

Let's face it; the budget dictates your project. Even if it's a generous budget, it's still the deciding factor in not only the choices you make, but also the options you have to choose from. In fact, the only thing more important than creating the budget is sticking to it - and in a big-box-world of choices, sticking to a budget isn't easy…

…and the solution is not always about cutting back.

It is about making smart choices. Educating yourself about the available options is a good place to start, but the information is only as good as the source, and if you are counting on a teenager standing in the tile aisle of your local big box as your main source of information, then you may be placing your project in the hands of someone with very little practical knowledge. This assistance is probably fine for choosing paint colors, or a cool new lamp, but surely not the best source when considering plumbing and electrical code. In order to make the most informed decisions, you need a professional who is familiar with your home’s intricacies.

Your one defense against budget breaking choices are the experts you rely on. Yet for some reason, when attempting to control the budget, professional design is often the first item scratched off the list.

Design takes into account all of the elements: plumbing, electrical, traffic movement, ventilation, storage space, and aesthetics. A good design means that you will have a convenient place to plug in your blow dryer. It means that your door will close properly. It also means that the toilet is not the first thing you see when you walk past the bathroom.

A good design ensures the room will last. It alleviates mold and mildew before it starts to grow. It allows for plumbing accessibility in case of a malfunction. A good design means you only remodel once, the right way, with the right elements, chosen with the help of someone who knows which faucets will last, which tile is too slippery, and how to save you money without sacrificing value.

Consider this: over the past three years of projects, 100% of our customers surveyed reported that they were satisfied with how we handled their budget. We attribute this to the planning that takes place in the design phase, and more importantly, the resulting low incidence of change orders and surprises during construction.

When was the last time you talked to a friend who remodeled, and they reported their project actually stayed on budget?

If remodeling choices are truly about money, and they always are, the question is not if you can afford to use a design/builder, but rather, if you can afford not to use one.

The Man Cave

Every time I surf through the home building networks on TV, I seem to run into a “man cave” episode. So, with my curiosity piqued (and ignoring the potentially sexist implications), I decided to fire up the search engine and type it in.

One website, boasting the best of the best, caught my eye and I found myself scrolling through photos of rooms that look like hotel fantasy suites minus the hot tub. Star Wars rooms (including a life size 3CPO), and Star Trek rooms (let’s not get the two confused), popped up on the screen. The website promoted theater rooms with walls textured like an actual cave, garages with wet bars, spaces designed to look like a NFL locker room, and even a room built around a pole (yes…you know the kind). After the initial smirk and eye roll, I was impressed by the detail that went into these spaces, and especially the level of craftsmanship displayed. After all, taking a basement block wall and turning it into the Starship Enterprise, and doing it well, is not an easy task. There’s electrical to run (a lot of it for those control panels), and plumbing for the wet bar (where was that on the bridge?), and a good deal of well planned audio and visual equipment. In short, design and planning cannot be taken lightly for a well done “man cave."

If you have dreams of a “man cave” of your own, and you want it to be a place you are proud to invite your like-minded friends, give us a call. We will make sure your space consists of more than a big screen hanging on a painted block wall, attached to a giant orange extension cord running the perimeter of the room. In all seriousness, we would design it so every square foot is utilized to its fullest potential. Non-standard lighting choices, the perfect fixtures, and carefully selected flooring all influence the comfort of your “man cave”. We could even create a wet bar in the place where the replicator should be (as we have not perfected that yet). Or, add that fantasy suite hot tub back in.

Of course, if you are looking for a room that blends with the rest of your decor, we could design that as well, paying close attention to the details that will make your remodel or addition feel seamless and comfortable.

2011 Parade of Homes(tm)

Degnan Design Builders is proud to be a 2011 Madison Area Builders Association Parade of Homes(tm) builder.  We are offering Lot 35 in Rivers Turn, Conservancy Place, DeForest.  Please view this video to learn more about the site we are offering and contact us if you are interested.

Ice dams

With winter fast approaching, energy savings and comfort are primary focuses for many of our homeowners. Snow shovels, blowers, boots, and gloves beckon from their various household corners, and we at Degnan Design Builders, Inc. remember the heavy snows of recent winters with visions of ice dams, soggy insulation, and dripping drywall. Here’s to hoping for a mild winter…

Example of an ice dam

But just in case, there’s nothing like a little preparation to be on the safe side.

One of Anthony’s current projects is an interesting 1950’s ranch home in Madison, WI. As you drive down the quiet street bordered by mature trees, you realize that over the years the houses here have shed their post war look-alike aura for the more individual identities provided by generations of creative do-it-yourselfers. This home in particular started out modest, but with the prior addition of a room off the back of the kitchen, the footprint offered workable space for the homeowner’s desired improvements and updates. Specifically, he wanted the added room to be comfortable both during the summer and winter, a roof that did not develop ice dams and leak, and a focus on energy savings. Being a Green Built Home builder and remodeler, we at Degnan Design Builders, Inc. are prepared to help all of our homeowners meet these three goals.

As every experienced remodeler knows, working with an existing structure can offer some unique challenges, and as each new found layer if interest is peeled back, another may appear. In a house of this age, it is not uncommon to find signs of renovations that were poorly executed, and this home is no different: the floor didn’t align, and the roof actually sloped the wrong way. Another roof was built over the top in an effort to correct the problem, but it simply remained non-functioning. Consequently, in an effort to meet our customer’s goals, Anthony and Seth are working tirelessly to make the needed improvements to the existing structure.

After removing the old roof layers, Anthony is creating a cathedral ceiling which will give the room interest as well as provide an appropriate pitch for the roof.

According to permit records, the roof on this structure is only approximately 5 years old. So, as well as sharing a concern for the triple factors of comfort, functionality and efficiency, this homeowner wanted to know what can make a 5 year old roof wear out as if it has protected a house for decades.

Note how the shingles on the front of the house have curled.

Anthony’s answer: Improper insulation.

And, while the homeowner attempted to fix the problem by installing additional insulation in the attic, the new insulation did not extend all the way out over the wall plates at the overhangs of the house. This was the primary source of heat loss in winters past.

Simply described, proper insulation (in the Wisconsin winter season) creates a barrier between the heated indoors and the cold weather outside. In reality, however, it does much more than keep the household inhabitants snug and warm. When installed correctly, the insulation also sees to the protection of the house itself: wood, shingles and all.

Proper installation takes into account issues such as the type of insulation for the space and how the area is ventilated. But how is it that poor insulation can take years off of a good roof?

It begins with our weather. Remember, in the simplest terms insulation keeps the cold out and the heat in. In addition, it also provides a buffer so the cold and heat do not meet anywhere on the house. It is this meeting of extreme temperatures that damages so many roofs, including this one.

The damage occurs when snow falls on the roof and stays. If the insulation is inadequate, the rising heat meets the cold and begins to melt the snow.

http://www.tecotested.com

Now, in Wisconsin, in the dead of winter, this melt may only happen for a few hours during the short afternoons followed by a hard freeze at night - especially over the soffits and gutters at the edge of the roof. This freeze thaw cycle can take place daily for much of the winter and is the cause of the huge, dangerous looking, overhanging chunks of ice that we call ice damming.

The cycle can go largely unnoticed for most of the winter, but spring eventually comes to Wisconsin, and when the roof begins to reappear, the curled shingles are only the beginning of the problems.

The blockage of ice that forms at (or near) the gutters for most of the winter forces the melting water into the attic. This saturates wood, insulation, and sometimes pushes enough water into the house to penetrate the drywall as well. All this moisture leaves tell-tale lines and streaks on ceilings and walls, along with mold in the attic.

Example of mold due to moisture in the attic

Luckily, this problem is easily avoidable, and although fixing the damage can be daunting, protecting your home from the potential damage can be rather painlessly arranged.

There are many functional options to choose from when considering better insulation, or even replacing a damaged roof. With Anthony’s help, the homeowner of our current job chose a multifaceted approach to make sure that the new roof will stand up to whatever winter brings this year. For his new roofing material, he selected an upgraded, heavier-gauge standing seam metal roof system. In addition, the new roof over the old addition will receive foam insulation and dense-packed cellulose in order to achieve ventilated rafters, air sealing, and maximum energy efficiency. As we replace soffit and fascia around the perimeter of the house, ventilation baffles will be installed along with insulation over the wood top plates of the house (which were the previous heat loss and ice damming culprits).

All of these choices were made with energy savings in mind, and because of his focus on efficiency, over the upcoming years our homeowner will not only look forward to lower energy bills, but also a functioning roof that will last, and a room that will be comfortable in every season.

Do you have any questions or concerns about your roof? Call or post a message to us and we will do our best to help. You can find us here on our blog, on Facebook, Twitter, and in the office too!

I want to have some remodeling done on my pre-1978 home. What do I have to do first? FAQ # 21

This is the last in our series on Lead-Safe Renovation Practices FAQs. We hope you found these FAQs informative.

Q. I want to have some remodeling done on my pre-1978 home. What do I have to do first?
A. Give us a call @ 608-846-5963 or e-mail . We will be happy to talk to you about your project and help you through the process from beginning to end.

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What does a general contractor need to know when working with sub‐contractors? FAQ # 20

What does a general contractor need to know when working with sub‐contractors?
A. The person/firm who has the contract with the homeowner to conduct renovation work must be a certified firm and is responsible for all reporting requirements. While it is strongly recommended that all companies involved in a renovation are certified, a general contractor can hire an uncertified lead safe renovator sub‐contractor as long as the following is met:
o The general is responsible for assuring that other companies are properly trained and certified for the tasks they will perform and that work is performed per the work practice standards
o An uncertified sub‐contractor may not be in the work area while paint is being disturbed
o An uncertified sub‐contractor cannot disturb more than 6 sq feet of interior surfaces, 20 sq feet of exterior surfaces or remove or replace windows
o The general contractor must educate the uncertified sub‐contractor on:
The requirement to keep barriers and containment up, intact, and secured
The requirements of entering and exiting the contained work area
o The general contractor that hires a subcontractor is also responsible for lead‐safe renovation violations committed by the sub.

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Who can do the testing? FAQ # 19

Who can do the testing?

A. We work with local testing consultants who are certified to conduct the proper testing for the presence of lead. We can arrange for the testing to be done for you.


Please contact us if you have a specific question that is not addressed in this series.

Visit Monday's Blog Post to read another FAQ on Lead-Safe Renovation.

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