Fall 2012
What Everybody Ought to Know About Remodeling! FALL 2012
HOME REMODELING EXPO Preview | Pages 16-17
Escale® Ensemble
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Contents Editor Jennifer Johnson
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President’s Note Bill Albright
12
Weigh Your Options Before A Do-It-Yourself Remodel
Creative Team Ingrid Schultz Alyssa Pronschinske
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2012 Fall Home Remodeler’s Expo Signature Event Preview
Printer Badgerland Printing
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Winter Preparation for Your Lawn & Landscape Contributed by John Bast, IV
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Orchestrate Your Dreams Contributed by Dana Baliff
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Add Green To Your Home & Pocketbook by Remodeling
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2012 Event Highlights
This publication is published three times a year by the Chippewa Valley Home Builders Association. No part of this publication may be reprinted or otherwise reproduced without written permission. For information regarding advertising in an upcoming issue, please call 715.835.2526. Visit us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/cvhba!
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2012 Board of Directors President Bill Albright, Heartland Homes Vice President
Billy Bergh, Driftwood Builders Secretary
Jon Schwieters, ShredAway Treasurer Pat Sturz, LarsonAllen LLP Past President Cody Filipczak, C&M Properties & Construction LLC Jim Bechly, Bank Mutal* Frank Biermeier, Menards – East* Lance Brunkow, Brunkow Builders, Inc. Neil Haselwander, Haselwander Bros., Inc.*+ Gregory Haselwander, Haselwander Companies, Inc.*+ David Hopkins, Woita & Associates* Tom Kruse, Independent Flooring* Paul Madsen, RainMaster Lawn Systems Mike Marthaler, Mike’s Custom Homes* Barb Oas, Royal Credit Union Dennis Pawlak, Pawlak Construction Bill Pozarski, Pozarski Enterprises* Roy Rico, Rico Quality Homes, Inc.* Jeff Schreiner, Creative Construction of Eau Claire LLC Monica Sommerfeldt Lewis, Archer Lion, Inc.*+ Jason Steen, Steen Construction of Osseo, Inc.*+ Randy Tews, R. Tews Construction & Design, Inc.*+ *Also serves as a Director on the Wisconsin Builders Association Board +Also serves as a Director on the National Association of Home Builders CVHBA Staff Jennifer Johnson, Executive Officer Ingrid Schultz, Office Manager Amy Zittel, Membership Services Coordinator Maddi Rodgers, Events Coordinator Alyssa Pronschinske, Graphic Designer
We’re putting the own in home ownership. We have room to grow and a room with a view. Every home has a story. Let that story be yours. Whether you’re buying your first home, a new home or simply creating a more inviting space in the one you’re already in, let us help. Come to AnchorBank for a mortgage, home equity loan or line of credit. Because rates are still low and, at 98%, our customer satisfaction is high. Apply today—in person, by phone or online at anchorbank.com. Chippewa Falls 723-4414 Eau Claire 834-1111 Stanley 644-5555 facebook.com/anchorbankfsb twitter.com/anchorbank
4319 Jeffers Road Suite 200 | Eau Claire, WI 54703 T 715.835.2526 | F 715.835.2905 visit us online: cvhomebuilders.com
The Chippewa Valley Home Builders Association (CVHBA) is a non profit trade association representing the area’s home building industry. Established in 1972, its mission is to build a better Chippewa Valley housing industry through promotion, advocacy and education. Representing almost 350 members throughout Buffalo, Chippewa, Dunn, Eau Claire and Pepin counties, the CVHBA is a powerful voice for the home building community.
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© 2012 AnchorBank, fsb. AnchorBank is a service mark of Anchor BanCorp Wisconsin Inc.
President’s Note The days are getting shorter and the nights are cooler. Fall has arrived and with it come thoughts of remodeling and home improvement projects. The 2nd Annual CVHBA Fall Home Remodeling Expo will take place on October 6th at the Eau Claire Expo Center. This will be a great opportunity to discover new and money saving ideas. Exhibitors will be presenting the best in interior and exterior dÊcor and home renovation. Concrete to roofing – flooring to lighting – cabinets to paint colors – the CVHBA Fall Remodeling Expo has all your project needs covered. It is also a great time to meet local contractors for your next home or business project. For many people, their home is the biggest investment they will ever make. CVHBA urges homeowners to gather as much information about a contractor before signing a contract or allowing any work to begin. It will take some time, but the effort will be well worth it in the end. Some important things to ask include:
t*T UIF DPOUSBDUPS TVÄ?DJFOUMZ JOTVSFE BOE PS DFSUJÄ•FE Check the contractor’s name with the State of
Wisconsin Department of Safety & Professional Services to see if the appropriate certification is on file. Also check with the Office of Consumer Protection for justified complaints filed with the Office.
t"TL GPS SFGFSFODFT What local suppliers, subcontractors and bankers does the contractor use? Call these companies and ask for references. Contact past customers and ask about the contractor’s timeliness for completing the work, quality of work, response time when follow-up calls are needed and the contractor’s manner in dealing with customers. Be wary of the contractor that offers only out of town references. t"TL BCPVU QSPGFTTJPOBM BTTPDJBUJPO NFNCFSTIJQ - Membership in the builders association, for
example, is an indication of the contractor’s interest in keeping up with the latest information about building industry technology, products and building materials
t8JMM UIF DPOUSBDUPS QSPWJEF ZPV XJUI B DPNQMFUF BOE DMFBSMZ XSJUUFO DPOUSBDU A contract
benefits both parties. Review it carefully! In addition, get a lien waiver from the contractor before you pay. This is proof that all the materials and labor have been paid for.
t*T UIF DPOUSBDUPS TVCNJUUJOH BO VOVTVBMMZ MPX QSJDFE CJE DPNQBSFE UP PUIFST ZPV WF SFDFJWFE Be cautious! It’s a dangerous situation if the contractor collects from you but cannot pay the suppliers from whom materials are purchased. The changing seasons also brings change to CVHBA. We welcome Jennifer Johnson to the CVHBA family as the new Executive Officer. Jennifer is a certified non-profit professional with previous experience in Home Builder Association management. She and her family come to the Chippewa Valley from northern Wisconsin. Lots of changes lately but one thing remains certain – CVHBA is the area’s best resource for contractor and home related services.
Bill Albright CVHBA President
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Weigh Your Options Before a Do-it-Yourself Remodel According the U.S. Census Bureau, home owner do-it-yourself (DIY) projects account for 20 percent of all home remodeling performed nationwide. While there are a substantial number of weekend warriors out there, remodeling industry professionals report that between 25 and 30 percent of their work comes from fixing DIY debacles.
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Some credit the desire among home owners to tackle repair and remodeling projects to hit television show’s like ABC’s “Extreme Home Makeover.� The introduction of cable channels with programming dedicated to all things home including HGTV and the DIY Network may inspire home owners to take on home fixes and decorating challenges as well. While most professional remodelers understand that home owners will do some of their own home repairs or small renovations, overwhelmingly they believe that many jobs should be left to the pros. “The rule of thumb that I always live by is that if a handyman service in your area can do the project, then odds are that a good do-it-yourselfer can do it themselves,� says Bob Birner, CGR, CAPS of Amazing Siding Corp. in Houston. “If they don’t do it, then that’s a good sign that you need a professional.� Birner adds, “Remodelers wouldn’t perform open-heart surgery on a loved one without medical expertise. Remodeling is open-heart surgery for the home — only professionals should attempt it.� Still think you can tackle a big remodeling project? Bob Van Cleef, CGR, CGB, GMB, owner of Yankee Housewrights in Jamestown, R.I. cautions all motivated DIYers. “A home owner should look at a project, consider the worst case scenario and ask, ‘If it comes to this, will I know how to fix it?’� says Van Cleef. Van Cleef and other professionals admit that when it comes to repairs and remodeling their own homes they hire professionals to do it. “I have been in construction my whole life and I still hire a pro to do work at our house, because there are certain things even I wouldn’t touch such as electrical, plumbing and framing,� says Van Cleef.
Advice for Do-it-Yourselfers There are some home projects that professional remodelers believe can be tackled by determined DIYers (depending on skill level) such as hanging pictures, interior painting, caulking, changing door knobs and cabinet pulls, and some aesthetic work such as installing crown molding. If you are willing to put the time and energy into a do-it-yourself home remodel, Barbara Rose Peck, co-owner of S.N. Peck Building, Inc. and Case Handyman Services of Chicago advises: t 'PMMPX QSPEVDU EJSFDUJPOT 3FBE FWFSZUIJOH that comes with the product and take it seriously. t (FU B EFUBJMFE JMMVTUSBUFE IPNF SFQBJS BOE maintenance book. t$POEVDU DBSFGVM BOE UIPSPVHI QSFQBSBUJPO 4FU everything up and protect surrounding surfaces and furniture. t 1SBDUJDF XJUI UIF UPPMT t 'PMMPX TBGFUZ QSPDFEVSFT BOE VTF QSPQFS TBGFUZ equipment.
their kitchen for more than two years.� Remember, DIY projects should be fun and suit your skill level. If they’re not, then consider hiring a professional.
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Consumers are cautioned not to take on more than they are capable of doing both in terms of time and skill. “The biggest mistake the weekend handyman makes is to take on a project larger than he can handle in a reasonable amount of time,� says Douglas Nelson, CR, CGR of New Spaces in Burnsville, Minn. “I have talked with people who have been remodeling
Size: 3.75 x 4.75� CVHBA 1/4 page
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New Incentives for 2012!
Go to www.ecec.com for more information on available incentives, how to qualify, and the incentive forms. For even more incentives,
Check out the ‘Focus on Energy’ www.focusonenegry.com web site at www.focusonenergy.com for even more incentives! FACEBOOK.COM/EAUCLAIREENERGYCOOP
visit the Focus on Energy website at
P.O. Box 368, Fall Creek, WI 54742-0368 14
www.ecec.com
Your source for homebuilding, remodeling projects and service for over 100 years.
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The best ideas for inside and outside of your home. From windows to window coverings, from additions to paint colors,
this show has it all!
Fall showcases a beautiful change in season and is a great time to consider remodeling and home improvement projects. The CVHBA Fall Home Remodeling Expo offers a unique opportunity to meet face to face with the experts. More than 50 exhibitors will be presenting the best ideas in décor and interior and exterior home renovation. From concrete to roofing – flooring to lighting – cabinets to paint colors – discover new ideas and gather money-saving tips. This is also a great time to meet local contractors for your home or business project.
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Presale Ticket Locations
Menards Eau Claire East & West Locations All Gordy’s County Market Locations CVHBA Office: 4319 Jeffers Road, Eau Claire
For additional information visit cvhomebuilders.com or call 715-835-2526 www.facebook.com/cvhba
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WINTER
Preparation for your lawn and landscape Contributed by John Bast, IV Ever-Green Services The shorter days and crisp temperatures that signal the start of fall are upon us, and there is no better time to take stock of your lawn and landscaping as you prepare for winter. Tackling these lawn and landscaping jobs now can pay longterm dividends.
Plan Your Fall Planting Fall is the best season for planting trees, shrubs, and perennials. Many nurseries and garden centers put plants on sale in the fall and most of them will be mature plants with a full season of growth behind them, so take advantage of the savings. Plants planted in the fall benefit from cooler air temperatures and also soil temperatures still warm enough to support good root growth. After a winter of dormancy, fall-planted trees and shrubs really come alive the following spring.
Cut your lawn one last time after it has stopped growing, but before the first snow. Adjust your mower to cut your lawn to about 1-2 inches. Use your lawn mower bagging attachment for this final mowing to pick up grass, leaves and other debris.
Take Stock of Your Lawn
To Aerate or Not to Aerate?
Fall also is a great time for new grass to take root, so consider reseeding in selected areas. Reseeding eliminates areas for weeds to grow in the spring. It’s also a good practice to rake leaves and debris off of your lawn in the fall. Put some muscle into it and rake out any areas where heavy thatch has built up. Lawns also benefit from a high nitrogen fertilizer application in the late fall, which encourages root growth. Look for a lawn fertilizer labeled “winterizing.”
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Lawn aeration involves the removal of small soil plugs or “cores” out of the lawn. Aerators typically extract 1/2 to 3/4 inch diameter cores of soil and deposits them on your lawn to allow air, moisture and fertilizer to penetrate down to the root zone. Even with meticulous care, lawns can thin out and lose color due to excessive thatch buildup, hard or compacted soils, or periods of high temperature, high humidity, or drought. According to The Lawn Institute, more than two-thirds of American lawns are growing on compacted soils. These soils slowly
reduce the amount of oxygen contained in the soil, thus retarding the penetration of both water and nutrients. Aerating and overseeding is an excellent treatment to control thatch, reduce compaction, fill-in bare spots and revitalize growth. Here are the key benefits of aeration: 1. Loosens compacted soil and increases the availability of water and nutrients. 2. Enhances oxygen levels in the soil, stimulating root growth and enhancing the activity of thatch-decomposing organisms. 3. Reduces water runoff. 4. Increases the lawn’s drought tolerance and improves its overall health.
to aerate in the fall, when there is less heat stress and danger of invasion by weedy annuals. On the other hand, late spring and summer is the best time to aerate warm-season grasses, when they are actively growing. While lawn care and landscaping routinely top fall maintenance lists, there are other home maintenance tasks that will help ensure a warm and happy winter. Please visit www.cvhomebuilders. com or www.nahb.org for more information on home care. John Bast IV is Co-Owner of Ever-Green Services in Eau Claire, WI. Learn more about them at www.evergreenservices.com!
The type of grass determines the best time of the year to aerate. With lawns composed of coolseason grasses such as Kentucky bluegrass it is best
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Room designed by Dorig Designs, LLC. Photo courtesy of Preview First
Orchestrate
Your Dreams
Contributed by Dana Baliff Ferguson Bath and Kitchen Gallery
R
emodeling an existing bath or designing the bathrooms for your new home can be a daunting task. The choices can be numerous and confusing. We suggest utilizing highly trained showroom consultants that can simplify the process and help you design the bathroom of your dreams.
Identify Your Style
Whether you are remodeling a current bathroom, or selecting products for a new home, it is important that the room reflect your style. As a first step in planning for your bath escape, take some time to do your homework. Look online for ideas, browse design magazines and begin to identify styles and trends that you find appealing. Once you have an idea of which designs appeal to you, a showroom consultant can apply these tastes to your lighting, and plumbing selections, as well as other key elements of your room design.
Room designed by Dorig Designs, LLC. Photo courtesy of Preview First
Fashion Trends
“Less is more” seems to be the trend when designing bathrooms. While contemporary styling is growing in popularity, according to nationwide showroom consultants, today’s customers are utilizing a combination of modern and traditional styles — a new world meets classic charm approach to design. Chrome, of course, remains a timeless finish, but brushed nickel continues to be one of the most popular decorative finishes in the bath. Today’s design trends lean towards clean lines while homeowners seek functional products that offer high style and quality. Many manufacturers have introduced faucets with mixed materials and finishes. For example, combinations with crystal and glass, or white and chrome are quite popular. Homeowners are looking to bring the outside in with their bath designs using a combination of stone, wood, glass and marble and natural earth tones.
Green
Today’s consumers continue to feel a strong personal desire to make the world a better place, and they remain alert and concerned about the need to conserve natural resources. As such, more homeowners than ever are looking for bath appliances that lessen the strain on the environment. The good news is, the industry is listening, and going green no longer means missing out on the latest gadgets and technological marvels. Most manufacturers offer high efficiency toilets (HETs) with attractive designs that do not sacrifice performance and result in a 20 percent water savings. Motion sensor faucets have transitioned from the workplace to the home, reducing water consumption by turning off when not required. Similarly, available touch sensors let users turn faucets on and off without reaching for the handle, reducing the frequency of using chemicals to clean and disinfect. Green also is present in the bathroom where manufacturers are using recycled and lower VOC (volatile organic compound) materials in vanities, shelving and bathroom furniture to reduce the environmental footprint while preserving the high-end appearance of hardwood. Tankless water heaters reduce energy consumption by up to 40 percent by heating more efficiently and only when needed, avoiding standby loss. A tankless water heater produces very low nitrogen oxide and carbon dioxide emissions, contributing to cleaner air and a healthier environment. Significantly smaller in size than their conventional counterparts, tankless water heaters use fewer materials and reduce what may end up in landfills.
Room designed by Dorig Designs, LLC. Photo courtesy of Preview First
Technology
Technology is changing the way we live in our homes, and is being used to make the bathroom more efficient, comfortable and luxurious. One of the fastest growing trends in bathrooms is custom showering, which is used to create a home spa experience. From customized showers that include rainbars, body sprays and hand showers, to rain canopies installed overhead, consumers want to create a personal and private space in their own home. In addition, enhanced digital systems offer customized experiences with multiple showering components, and many include music and ambient lighting. Chromatherapy and steam are also popular in the shower.
The Consultation Experience
Choosing products that will go into your bathroom project should not be rushed. Showroom consultants want to give you their undivided attention, and typically work by appointment. A one-hour consultation time is most productive, but some projects may require up to two hours. It is best to bring your project plan, know your budget or builder/remodeler’s allowance, and bring magazines pictures or other ideas. In addition, samples, color swatches, tile or flooring can help in designing your bathroom. Article contributed by Dana Baliff, Ferguson Bath & Kitchen Gallery. No matter what you are looking for, Ferguson’s Bath, & Kitchen Gallery provides all of the latest bathroom and kitchen products in one convenient location. Dana has been in the industry for almost 12 years and is always willing to help with any project you may have. Please stop in to see how we can help with your upcoming project.
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$$
Add Green to Your Home — and Your Pocketbook —
by Remodeling
It’s nearly impossible these days to open the newspaper and not see a story about the rapid growth of green building, where new homes are built using materials that conserve energy and environmental resources. Home owners of green homes said in a survey that 85 percent of the time they were happier with their new green home than with their previous, more traditionally built ones, due in part to the lower operating and maintenance costs that come with energy- and resource-efficient homes. But for the 120 million existing homes in the United States, remodeling is the only way for home owners to incorporate green. NAHB Remodelers offers the following suggestions to home owners who want to increase their home’s efficiency, decrease costs, and take advantage of the other benefits that green offers.
or siding of the house. Use caulking to seal all small cracks on non-moving surfaces and weatherstripping on windows, doors and other movable parts of the home.
1. Install maximum insulation in the area to be remodeled. Forty percent of the energy consumed in a typical house goes to heating and cooling. Adding insulation is an easy way to increase efficiency. Insulation is rated by its ability to resist heat flow, commonly known as “R-value.� The higher the R-value, the better its ability to resist heat flow. Adding insulation will help save energy costs, increase comfort by better controlling temperature, and improve indoor air quality by eliminating many gaps through which dirt, dust, and other impurities can enter.
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*OTUBMM IJHI FÄ?DJFODZ XJOEPXT JOTUFBE PG UIPTF that just meet the energy code. Ordinary window glass transmits ultraviolet heat rays from the sun, which can increase your air conditioning bill dramatically. ENERGY STAR windows can help control this effect. These windows may have two or more panes of glass, warm-edge spacers between the panes, improved framing materials, and microscopically thin metal or metallic oxide layers deposited on windows to reduce radiative heat flow. 3. Seal all exterior penetrations in the area being remodeled. You can reduce cold air drafts and heat loss by inspecting your home from the inside and outside and plugging cracks or openings. Be sure to check the areas where window frames meet the structure
1VSDIBTF POMZ &/&3(: 45"3 SBUFE BQQMJBODFT ENERGY STAR -rated appliances, ranging from dishwashers and refrigerators to computers and televisions, meet strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the EPA and U.S. Department of Energy. Qualified refrigerators, dishwashers and vent fans incorporate advanced technologies that use 10-50 percent less energy and water than standard models, more than making up for the slightly higher costs of these products.
In the average home, flushing toilets accounts for some 30 percent of water usage. By using low-flow plumbing fixtures such as toilets, faucet aerators and showerheads, you can save up to 25 percent of that water compared to conventional fixtures while providing the same utility. 6QHSBEF UP BO &/&3(: 45"3 SBUFE PS UBOLMFTT water heater. Tankless water heaters provide hot water on demand at a preset temperature rather than storing it. Replacing an electric water heater with a solar model can reduce costs by up to 80 percent a year. Over its 20year lifespan a solar heater will prevent more than 50 tons of carbon dioxide emissions. A low-cost option is to wrap insulation around your heater, which can reduce standby heat losses 25 to 45 percent. 7. Purchase the highest efficiency HVAC system you can afford. Over a ten year period, the average home owner spends more than $10,000 for heating and cooling. Installing high efficiency ENERGY STAR HVAC equipment can reduce utilities costs on average by ten to 30 percent over minimum efficiency equipment. It also can improve home comfort with more heating and cooling and a quieter operation, and often features higher quality components that result in longer equipment life.
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2012 Highlights Event
2012 Parade of Homes Premiere, Participating Builders
Summe r Golf O uting, L ake Ha llie Golf
Course
Chippe wa Vall ey Free Clinic S ervice Project , Volunt eers
Builder’s Garage Sale
Thank You! Showcase emodeler’s R l a u n n A 4th
To the members of the CVHBA and our community for another year of wonderful support! 29
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