August 2010 - Deck Maintenance [news]
When people think about decks, they think about laughing in the sun, cooking steaks on the grill and kicking back in their favorite deck chairs. In the back of every home-owner's mind, though, is the knowledge that decks require maintenance – just like every other aspect of their home. If you are going to add a deck to your home, you should consider the so-called, “maintenance-free” decks. They cost more up-front but the payback is much less maintenance. Keep in mind that, while they require (...)
July 2010- Dryer Maintenance [news]
What would you do without your clothes dryer? It might actually feel good to wear wet clothes on a sticky summer day. Do that in winter in Minnesota, though, and you'll freeze up like the Tin Man without his oil can. Dryers do a lot of work over their lifetime. A little bit of extra care on your part can keep your dryer purring for a lot longer. You already clean out the lint screen after every load, right? You should also clean out the dryer vent at least once a year to get rid of the stuff the (...)
June 2010 - Conserving Water [news]
Its easy to overlook a dripping faucet - unless the dripping keeps you awake at night. But consider the accumulated effect of that drip and the small cost and effort to repair it will put you in the green - economically and ecologically. A dripping faucet can waste over 1,300 gallons per year. That is a lot of water down the drain. Its like having a leaky wallet. Even worse is a leaking toilet. They can waste over 100 gallons of water a day! When you repair a leak like that, it doesn't (...)
May 2010 - Air Conditioners [news]
The heat is approaching us and we need to remember to clean our air conditioners. Mother nature tends to leave our air conditioning units filled with dirt and other airborne particles. To keep your A/C units operating, remember to clean them periodically. The price of not doing so is much greater than the time it takes to clean them. Also, this is the time to check your air conditioning unit to make sure it is running well before the rush is on. Having a qualified heating and air-conditioning (...)
"You're the Boss" [news]
Chris Otto, of Otto & Sons Construction, LLC, went above the normal call on our home remodeling project, which initially started as just a window removal and replace with Marvin windows. Not only did he measure the 10 windows and one sliding French style patio door himself, but he had the window representative from Southside Lumber Co. confirm the specs. The window project took one day to complete and I was pleasantly surprised that it only took Chris' team one day. Quality and precision are (...)
April 2010 - Bath Fans [news]
There is something you tend to overlook - your bath fan.
It is very important to use this during and after your showers ...and baths. The moisture, while it may seem harmless, can do damage to your house.
We would recommend having a licensed electrician install a timer switch on your fan. This way all you have to do is hit your switch for 1hr of run time which should be enough time to remove the moisture from your bathroom. You won't regret this decision.
If you would like (...)
