“The Home Improvement Show with Scott Mosby”
Saturday, July 28, 2007, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Topic: Doors Sticking & Floors Squeaking

Scott will take your calls at 314.436.7900 or toll-free at 1.800.925.1120.

RECYCLED BUILDING MATERIALS

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, 32% of all American participate in recycling programs. Recycling paper, cardboard, glass and plastics is an easy habit to learn and conserves resources in an earth-friendly way. You can take that concept even further by building and remodeling with recycled building materials. Reusable construction materials become available whenever a demolition takes place, and there are several sources that cultivate these materials for you to use.

In the St. Louis area, we have ReSource St. Louis, who provide a searchable database of materials currently available. Visit this link, and click on the “Materials Exchange” tab. For a list of St. Louis City and County businesses offering recycled and reclaimed materials, visit this link.

WHAT CAUSES A DOOR TO STICK?

• Weather conditions
• The house settling
• Paint buildup
• Hinge malfunction
• Changed floor height

WHAT CAUSES A FLOOR TO SQUEAK?

• Unsecured subfloor
• Wood moving along a nail
• Metal ductwork
• Touching X braces

ANOTHER UNIVERSAL DESIGN TIP

Scott Mosby is the Certified Aging In-Place (CAPS) Specialist of the year, and as the national spokesman and educator about universal design and mobility, he offers this tip:

HALLWAYS The typical residential hallways is 32″-36″ wide. Expanding a hallway to 48″ wide allows clear mobility for people using wheelchairs or crutches. It also makes it easier to move furniture, and for anyone whose been stuck behind a bulky object, that wide hall would be both a convenience and a luxury!

THERMOSTAT SETTING FOR AN EMPTY HOUSE

Be it during a typical workday or away on vacation, cooling an empty house has become an expensive proposition, and there are valid concerns about what is the best thermostat setting. If the temperature is set too high, humidity build up will cause mold and mildew growth, or damage wood. So, what setting will protect both your home and the utility bill?

Humidity damage usually occurs above 90 degrees, so leaving the thermostat at 85 degrees while the house is empty is a safe compromise.

According to the American Solar Energy Society, the ideal solution is to have a programmable thermostat installed so you can follow the pattern of: 90 degrees during the day and 71 degrees from 3-5 a.m. The theory is that intense cooling in the early morning hours removes moisture from the air, thus keeping relative humidity low as the temperature changes to the higher setting for the majority of the day. Using this pattern, tests conducted on homes in Florida showed a 72% savings on utility bills during the period the home was unoccupied.

END NOTES

When you need expert assistance with any of the topics discussed today, we are here to take care of you and your home.

A summary of today’s KMOX Home Improvement Show, and access to frequently asked questions, is available here.

And a very happy birthday to Scott Mosby, who celebrates another year this weekend!!

“The Home Improvement Show with Scott Mosby”
Saturday, July 21, 2007, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Topic: Information You Need About Power

Scott will take your calls at 314.436.7900 or toll-free at 1.800.925.1120.

GREEN POWER

GEOTHERMAL HEATING SYSTEM

For more information about geothermal energy, click here.

PASSIVE SOLAR DESIGN

For more information about passive solar energy for your home, click here.

Learn more about renewable, green energy at www.energy.gov.

ARE YOU PREPARED FOR A POWER OUTAGE?

Click here for power outage preparation.

Our current newsletter includes a list of what should be in your emergency kit.

POWER GENERATORS

With St. Louis having gone through 2 power outages within 5 months, we at Mosby Building Arts continually field questions about backup power generators. In December 2006, we summarized all your generator options, and how to determine which option is best for you.
POWER OUTLETS & UNIVERSAL DESIGN

As the “Ambassador of Universal Design,” we offer a quick tip on how to make your home accessible for everyone:

Raise electrical outlets to 15″ - 18″ inches from the floor. Those in wheelchairs can easily reach it, and it reduces bending and squatting for others who plug and unplug.

END NOTE

A summary of today’s KMOX radio show, and access to frequently asked home improvement questions, is available here.

Scott Mosby’s long-time family friends share memories of his father Sam Mosby, and the room addition he built for them.

Click here to share another 60th anniversary flashback.

We are over-the-top happy to learn that Professional Remodeler - a national industry magazine - has declared us a 2007 Market Leader.

The July 2007 issue debuts the top 20 largest remodeling firms in the biggest remodeling markets in America. It was nice to discover that St. Louis is one of the big cities for home remodeling, a distinction our city shares with big hitters like Los Angeles, Chicago and New York.

So, St. Louis ranks in the top 20, and we ranked #1 in St. Louis!
That’s an incredible title to have and we are grateful that there are so many home owners wanting quality work and excellent customer service that it earns us a place as a “Market Leader.”

Considering that we’re celebrating our 60th birthday, Professional Remodeler gave us quite the birthday present, and now we share it with you:

Here is the on-line version of the magazine article.
Here is our write up (a larger version than shown above).
And here is their pdf mapping all the Market Leaders across the nation.

“The Home Improvement Show with Scott Mosby”
Saturday, July 14, 2007, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Topic: Eliminating Air Infiltration

Scott will take your calls at 314.436.7900 or toll-free at 1.800.925.1120.

It’s the middle of another Metropolitan St. Louis summer, and your doors and windows are shut because the air is on, yet bugs somehow get inside your home. When this happens, it means there is a gap just big enough for an insect to squeeze through, and gives you a clue to a much larger problem.

When a pest can enter, the hot outside air has been coming in as well. Plus, the cool air you pay for is also leaking outside. Come winter, it’s the reverse scenario, and whatever the season, that means some of your energy dollars are being utterly wasted. The quickest way to fix this problem and save as much as 10% on your energy bills is to seal, caulk and weatherstrip all seams, cracks and outside openings.

There are 11 key points of air leakage

1. Drop ceilings
2. Recessed lighting
3. Attic entrance
4. Sill plates
5. Furnace and water flues
6. Air ducts
7. Door frames
8. Chimney flashing
9. Window frames
10. Electrical outlets and switches
11. Plumbing and utility access

Each of these areas needs to be checked for air tightness, and any leakage must be sealed. There are several do-it-yourself tests, like holding up a lit incense stick to leak points on a windy day and watching for the smoke to go horizontal, or shutting a door or window on a piece of paper to see if you can remove it without tearing.

For a more accurate and thorough measure of your home’s air leakage, hire a certified technician to conduct an energy audit. By having a professional apply the blower door test and infrared thermal scanning, they will quickly identify all air leaks as well as determine your insulation needs.

Addressing air leaks not only helps with your energy performance, but gives you a more comfortable and healthier home all year long. Mosby Building Arts is Energy Star-certified to perform your Home Energy Audit and then take care of any issues discovered. Our motto is “Build it right, build it tight,” and plugging air leaks is the first step in living in a healthy home.

“The Home Improvement Show with Scott Mosby”
Saturday, July 7, 2007, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Topic: Exterior Siding

Scott will take your calls at 314.436.7900 or toll-free at 1.800.925.1120.

Siding is the exterior envelope of your house. It must perform as protection from sun, wind, rain and moisture outside while coping with moisture emanating from the interior. The design, location and weather patterns around your home should guide what type of siding to use, but it’s the installation of the siding that is the most crucial factor. The most expensive, maintenance-free material is rendered useless if not put up properly.

Malfunctioning siding is often related to the location and exterior design of a home, roof flashing systems, vents, drainage, wall insulation, windows and doors. Many components make up the exterior envelope of your home, and all must work properly in tandem. Siding is merely the most visible of the components.

EXTERIOR SIDING CHOICES

Stone & Cultured Stone Siding

Slabs of rock are beautiful and nearly impervious to weather but extremely expensive. 1” thick stone facing and pre-cast stone veneers that look and feel like real stone are the more affordable options.

With both versions of stones, ensuring that water properly drains from the structure will prevent spalling. Do not let vines grow on the walls as they weaken the mortar and hold moisture against the wall.

Brick & Brick Veneer Siding

Clay brick comes in a wide variety of earthy colors. It is expensive because it can last for centuries. Brick veneers can look authentic and are durable, although they have nowhere near the longevity of real brick.

The only maintenance brick requires is to the mortar between the bricks, which will typically need to be re-tuckpointed every 25 years. But this is only an estimate, as the weather conditions and quality of construction play a large part of when new tuckpointing is required.

Cedar Shingles

Cedar is a natural wood, and certain varieties are naturally resistant to insects and rot. It can be left in its natural state for the weathering effect, painted or stained.

Untreated cedar can crack or “cup” on the hot side of the house, while the cool side can have mold, moss and fungus issues.

Wood Clapboard Siding

Solid woods like pine, spruce, redwood, cypress and Douglas fir remain the first choice for traditional quality. With periodic maintenance, wood siding will outlast vinyl, as evidenced from so many wood clapboard houses built centuries ago still looking beautiful to this day. Unlike other siding materials, it can be repaired and partially replaced.

Wood from young trees can cause shrinks warps and splits. Improper installation over a vapor barrier and/or insulation can inhibit wood siding’s need to “breathe,” which results in paint and deterioration problems.

Engineered Wood Siding

Also known as oriented strand board (OSB), this is a composite material made with wood products and other materials. They come in panels that are easy and inexpensive to install, often molded to mimic the look of traditional wood clapboard. It does not look exactly like real wood, but the appearance is more natural than vinyl.

This type of siding is installed with “hidden fasteners” rather than “face nailed.” This prevents water penetrating the core of the veneer material, and failure to follow manufacturing instructions results is damaged siding. Partial replacement of damaged pieces is very difficult.

Fiber Cement Siding

An extremely durable material that is fireproof, termite-proof and can have the appearance of wood, stucco or masonry. Cuts and installs like wood siding, and can be painted in the color of your choice. It’s higher priced, but 50-year manufactures warranties makes it a safe, low maintenance investment.

Cement fiber siding is typically not a do-it-yourself project, and should be installed by certified professionals with fiber cement siding experience. Manufacturer’s instructions must be exactly followed for the warranty to apply. It will need to be repainted every 7 – 15 years, depending on the conditions around your home.

Stucco Siding

A natural, traditional material used since the days of the Italian Renaissance, stucco is hard, solid and moisture resistant when maintained properly. There is a wide variety of synthetic stucco that can look authentic, but do not have the same durability.

Traditional stucco preserves best in drier climates, and can turn fragile if proper maintenance is ignored. Synthetic stucco must be installed properly or it can cause severe water damage to the walls behind it, especially in wet or humid climates.

Vinyl Siding

Made from PVC, it won’t rot or flake, and is usually less expensive to buy and install than other siding materials. A large variety of colors and textures are available to fit any home design. A spray washing once or twice a year is the extent of surface maintenance.

It can crack, fade or grow dingy over time, and keep the BBQ pit away from it as it will melt. It’s now controversial because of environmental concerns. Because vinyl is cheaper and easier to install, unqualified installers overlooking required details are a common occurrence, which can result in serious water damage to the walls behind it.

Siding is the face your home shows to the outside world. It is a sizeable and visible investment, so make sure whatever siding material you choose is applied properly. We at Mosby Building Arts have decades of experience in properly installing all siding materials, so we know the importance of best practices. Click here to see a few examples of our exterior renovations, and call on us with all of your siding questions and needs.