Kitchen designed and granite sealed by Mosby Building Arts.

Granite is the most popular material for countertops and if you have chosen this natural stone for your home, you know what a big investment it is.

Granite requires special care, from which types of cleaners you can use to what can or cannot be set on it. There’s a lot of Do’s and Don’ts to remember, and sealing your granite is recommended to decrease some of the maintenance. Sealing your granite helps relieve the worry of stains by keeping spills on the surface of the granite.

Granite sealers are typically a penetrating plastic solid that is pulled into the stone, but it wears off with daily use and cleaning, which is why yearly reapplications are needed. You know that the sealer has failed when a spill becomes a stain, which is frustrating. So, because the sealant will eventually wear off, you still have the worry of “ when will it fail?”

Mosby Building Arts is taking care of our client’s granite with ProTreat Sealer, a one-time application by trained and experienced Mosby technicians. What makes our sealer more efficient is that it internally bonds with the stone, filling the microscopic cavities, and this prevents the stone from absorbing liquids in the first place. Another benefit of the Mosby seal is that it also protects your grout, keeping it crisp and as easy to clean as the stone itself.

All stone walls, floors, grout and counters in this masterbathroom are sealed by Mosby.

ProTreat Sealer can go over and through any previous sealers you’ve used and does not change the appearance of your stone. Along with granite, marble and travertine countertops, we have sealed terrazzo floors, shower walls and stone fireplace surrounds. Most any stone surface that is vulnerable to stains can – and should - be treated.

The marble on this fireplace is protected with ProTreat Sealer by Mosby.

A sealer is only as good as its application, and Mosby has an expert – Jim - who has been sealing stone, concrete and wood for over 20 years. From practical application to chemical science, Jim has the training and experience to know the truth about what does and does not work. His expertise backed with Mosby knowledge and service gives you a sealing solution to rely on.

Seal it once – not once a year – and be free to use and enjoy your granite countertops and natural stone without the worry of staining. Click here for more information on ProTreat Sealer by Mosby.

Scott Mosby talks about his company and business philosophies in the December 2008 issue of Professional Remodeler magazine. You can read the article in pdf format by clicking this link.

We are preparing to remodel the master suite and kitchen of a 108-year old home in the Central West End. During a pre-construction walk-thru, the owner made a comment that surely there was once pocket doors that closed off the front rooms from the entry hall.

Our estimator Tim (shown above) is a veteran carpenter who has worked on houses of all ages. He responded that people typically either remove the doors and stash them in a basement, attic or carriage house or they simply push the doors back into the wall and cover over them. Worst case scenario is the doors get pitched.

With that said, Tim pulled out a pry bar and popped off a piece of molding in the middle of the door frame and…

…sure enough, there was a pocket door! He had to jimmy and prod quite a bit, but was able to yank the door from its deep hiding place.

It appears that when the door came off the track, rather than repair it, they simply shoved the door out of sight and covered up the storage well. Because of this forethought from a previous owner, the door remains in excellent condition, hardware and all. Getting this beautiful pocket door back in working order has been added to the remodeling project, and it’s good to note when a pleasant surprise pops up!

Forbes released their list of the 20 most expensive places to heat a home. St. Louis landed at #13. We have an average annual heating cost of $1,146, with 68% of our residents using natural gas, 24% electricity, 5% propane, and 0.6% heating oil.

According to Forbes, “Midwestern utilities generally offer natural gas more than heating oil, and this translates to lower natural gas prices due to higher capacity. In St. Louis, almost no one relies on heating oil, though high electricity consumption costs households quite a bit.”

#1 on the list is Boston, Massachusetts with $1,924 average annual heating costs, while Miami, Florida is #20 at $77. Forbes examined the country’s 40 largest metropolitan areas, singled out 20 based on size and geographical representation, then calculated how much an average family of four with a 2,100-square-foot house would spend each month to heat its home.

Increasing your home’s energy efficiency is the best way to take control of your own utility bills. A Mosby Home Energy Audit is the smart place to start.

Here is the list in its entirety:

1. Boston, Mass. - $1,924 average annual heat cost

2. Minneapolis, Minn. - $1,643

3. Washington, D.C. - $1,609

4. Buffalo, NY - $1,591

5. Philadelphia, PA - $1,574

6. Baltimore, MD - $1,568

7. New York, NY - $1,513

8. Seattle, Wash. - $1,382

9. Portland, OR - $1,313

10. Cleveland, Ohio - $1,232

11. Detroit, Mich. - $1,214

12. Denver, Colo. - $1,176

13. St. Louis, MO - $1,146

14. Chicago, IL - $979

15. Atlanta, GA - $780

16. San Francisco, CA - $622

17. Houston, TX - $616

18. Phoenix, AZ - $510

19. Los Angeles, CA - $246

20. Miami, FL - $77

Need a unique gift idea? Want to give something that is useful, desirable and has lasting value? Let Mosby assist you in giving the gift that gets it done. Give Mosby as a gift to others or as a gift to yourself to energize your Honey Do List in 2009.

Other Gift Suggestions
A Mosby Home Energy Audit makes a nice “housewarming” gift.

Know someone with a new home and lots of ideas? Give a Mosby Home Consultation for expert guidance.

Protect your granite countertop during home entertainment season with ProTreat Seal by Mosby.

To wrap up a gift of enduring value, have Mosby help with your holiday shopping list. Call us at 314.909.1800 or contact us through this link.