Hey C.J.,

The manufacturer's installation specifications should specify the type and length of fasteners that should be used with installing the 5 inch foam board.  You may want to contact the local store where you purchased the material for the manufacturer representative in your area. Hope this advice helps!

Eric Consuegra, 

AROCON Roofing and Construction, LLC 

TRY LESS DATA AND MORE SOCIAL IN YOUR PLANNING

if you need amazing go with 4k tech and tv video. this is trending now for media although, I believe the more informal family setting is popular.

The Clients who have new homes are spending more time with family and less time in a formal movie setting area. Families are coming together and the market has shown that in the end family and the friends you have are more important than anything. We look for more Family centered engagment in a setting. NO DATA OR IPADS ALLOWED. 

At Gavigan we even have gone so far as to have a NO DATA policy layout i.e. a room for Computers and data devices only. the owners may have a plan or family only in the family room and talk or enjoy time without data.

Ask your Clients about a Data room.  try making a no data policy and engage in family time layout. Having two beautiful daughters and the best wife has shown this to work in our home as much as we can... its a challange although a goal :-]

Billy Gavigan

Pres

Sagging gutters can be an easy fix depending on the severity / condition of the existing material.  Hidden hangers in the appropriate size (5" or 6") can be used to lift up the sagging areas in order to secure to the fascia boards and tighten as needed.  If the gutters are severely warped or bent from ice dams and / or debris, then replacement is recommended.  Contacting a professional to take care of this service is recommended unless the homeowner has experience working from ladders in order to avoid injury.

Eric, Arocon Roofing & Construction

Bekah, 

I woulld consult with a professional painting company for more information., however in my experience when encountering brick chimneys which have been painted, I have seen cases where moisture was trapped behind the paint causing the brick to deteriorate and flake off.  Again, a painting company may be able to recommend a specific paint that will be appropriate for this application. Hope this helps!

Eric Consuegra, Arocon Roofing and Construction, LLC

I have seen some extremely nice patio umbrellas with large bases that can cover quite a large area on a patio. These do not attach to the home and usually do not attract HOA disaprovals. I'd also recommend observing some of your neighbors and see what they have done to create shade on their patio. Finally contact your HOA and see what they suggest.   

Mark, the answer depends on the topo ie the slope and terrain. Consult a local structual engineer..

proper drainage away, footers, rock, filter cloth, french drainect ect ( water is a hydrolic tool)

The design and layout are also important

*** A great engineer showed us the value of reenforcing a wall with a block planting box....  this gave an enormus amount of protection from failure

Best of Luck

Billy Gavigan

Gavigan

John,

There are options available to go solar and be completely independent of you local utility provider. However, this type of set-up (solar+storage) is much more costly than the traditional "grid-tied" system mentioned by Mr. Cook. There are significant developments in the works for the energy storage industry and speculation suggests that batteries will become more reasonably priced in the next 3-5 years or so.

Until then, many folks are opting to install a grid-tied solar panel system, which can often offset 100% of your utility bill (minus a nominal monthly interconnection fee of $5 or so). In some cases, fully offsetting your electric bill isn't possible because of shading or roof complexity. When battery storage becomes more affordable, you can add storage and truly become energy independent!

Bekah,

It is perfectly fine to paint brick.  Here are some things to consider.  You need to clean it fiirst.  I recommend a thorough power wash with a 25 degree tip.  Keep the nozzle back at least six inches while you are doing this.  Then, you need to rub your fingertips across the brick and mortar.  If a lot of particles are dislodged, you need to apply a masonry conditioner.  This will help bind the particles together.  If no particles, or very few, are dislodged, then apply a masonry primer.  Remember to let the surface dry  for at least three days after the powerwash.  You are forcing water throught the brick and it will take a few days for it to dry.  After the primer or conditioner has dried, apply a high quality latex or elastomeric paint.  You will enjoy your work for many years.

One proviso:  Do not paint the brick if it is horizontal like the top of a planter.  That will peel and very quickly.  However, painting on brick on sidewalls is perfectly fine.

They have places that you can rent goats from.  They are prolific eaters. 

I FIND THAT USING A MR. CLEAN ERASER PAD WORKS GOOD!

Hello Pamela, 

We at NEWPRO suggest you have a professional examine your doors. Not only do these gaps create energy loss from within your home, but also pose a security issue. Without actually inspecting your doors, it would be difficult to pinpoint the precise cause. Circumstances we have run into that sound similar to yours have been caused by the door being warped, the jamb being bowed, or simply that the hinges have become loose or sagged.

I hope this helps!

~ Michelle Slowe

    NEWPRO

Gaps are typically caused by different expansion and contraction rates of different types of materials at different temperatures. The frame of the window may be vinyl or wood, which expands at different rates than the wood wall framing and the brick exterior wall surfaces, depending on the temperature or humidity of any particular day. Some days (or seasons) the gaps will be larger and other times they will be smaller. Using a window frame made of fiberglass, which has very low expansion and contraction rates, would be a good solution for this type pf problem.

 The quality of the caulk used to fill those gaps will also determine if it will stay attached to those surfaces, and the caulk will also expand at different rates. Generally, the thicker the caulk bead, the more you will see these negative effects. Thicker caulk beads, typically used to seal larger gaps, have a harder time staying attached to both surface they are sealing up and will come apart more often. Therefore, it is important that the window is sized properly and installed well in order to avoid large gaps around the window that then need to be filled with caulk.

Dear John

We've encountered lots of ice damming in the the Chicago area.   I agree with you, don't go on the roof now, it's too dangerous.  Attic/roof ventilation and insulation are key factors in the creation of ice dams.  If you're experiencing active leaking into your home now I'd consider using a snow rake w extension pole( while standing on the ground) to pull the snow off the leaking ice dam area.   This might slow down the leaking by exposing the snow/ice melt area and decreasign the amount of snow melt contributing to the ice build up.   

When spring comes, and it will!  Consider installing a quality gutter/downspout snow/ice melt system in the problem areas.  We've used the engineered systems made by WarmlyYour's http://www.warmlyyours.com/en-US/snow-melting/roof-deicing to solve ice dam problems for many of our clients.  See the attached photo of a client's home in Wilmette, Illinois 60091 with a snow melt system actively working.

Once again- stay off the roof ! 

Best wishes

David Roberts 

Roberts Construction Group

First, figure out how you are going to use the space. What works about your current kitchen that you would like to maintain? What drives you nuts, and how can you solve that? How you use the space will influence the design of it.

Secondly, take a look at what you can reasonably afford. If you have a very low budget, DIY options may be the way to go. If you have a bit more disposable income, you might look in to hiring either an architect, designer, or design-build company to take a look at the project for you and give you a solid design to base your work upon. 

These people will get to know you and your space, and will be able to tailor a layout or design based on your needs and your desires. Some professionals will also cater that design to your budget (design-build firms usually specialize in this type of approach). 

Here's a link to the history of design build!

This website also has a great video on the history of design build.