During tough economic times, statistics show that home robberies and burglaries rise, which means we should increase our neighborhood vigilance.

We teach our children to not let strangers into the home, and this also applies to adults. If there’s someone standing on your porch that you did not invite or schedule to come to your home, the person is already circumspect.

An increasingly common occurrence is the unscheduled contractor appearing at the front door, claiming they are to do some work on your home. When you reply that you know of no such thing, they will ask to come in and use the phone to clear up the confusion. This is their ploy to get inside and case your home.

In this scenario, there are several clues that something is wrong.

• Reputable contractors will set up and confirm appointments with you in advance of the meeting day.

• Reputable contractors will have company-identifying clothing and/or vehicles in plain view.

• Reputable contractors that have come to the wrong door will not ask to use your phone, instead using their own phone to clear up their mistake.

Another common ploy used by criminals to case your neighborhood or home is the unsolicited knock on the door to ask for your business. While this once was an acceptable practice (think of the iconic “door-to-door salesman”), it is no longer necessary in today’s world. The majority of people research their consumer needs via the internet or recommendations from others, and there are dozens of avenues available to contractors to market and advertise their services to you.

Couple these facts with our needs for increased personal security. There remains no reason for a reputable contractor to canvass door-to-door to drum up business. Surely there are exceptions to every rule, but when it comes to the safety of your home and family, it is wiser to err on the side of caution when an uninvited person is standing at your front door. Reputable and professional home improvement contractors will work hard to remove any level of doubt in their dealings with clients.

Mosby Building Arts is a long-standing and trusted residential remodeling company in Metro St. Louis, and they do not make unsolicited phone calls or home visits. A Mosby Home Consultation is an appointment made in advance by the homeowner, and a Mosby Consultant will arrive for the scheduled meeting in a company vehicle, wearing a company logo shirt and will identify themselves as well as greet you by name. This is a reasonable expectation for you to have with any home contracting professional that comes to your home.

For all your professional and honest home improvement needs, call the Mosby office at 314.909.1800 or contact them here.

Getting away during January and February is traditionally known as a Winter Holiday, though people tend to go to places as un-winter as possible!  If travel during the winter months is on your agenda, here’s some ideas on keeping your home safe while you’re away:

Programmable Locks: Entering a code on a keypad is much easier for whomever is watching your home awhile you’re away than having to deal with (and possible lose!) door keys. These also benefit everyone in your family the rest of the year.

Light & Appliance Timers: Random patterns of light and noise are typical when we’re home, so replicate that while gone. Along with motion detector lights on the exterior of the home, use timers that operate exterior and interior lights at different times each day. Sound is just as important so set up a timer to operate a radio or television at random times each day.

Programmable Thermostat:  To avoid frozen pipes, you do have to keep your home heated while it’s vacant, and installing a programmable thermostat makes it easy to set this pattern: 55F degrees during daylight hours, switching to 65F degrees after the sun sets.

Home Automation System: All of the above functions can be taken care of in one place by investing in a home automation system. While at home, one screen coordinates lights, locks and heating. While you’re away, you can monitor and change all of these settings via a smart phone or laptop.

Hold All Deliveries: Newspapers on the lawn or mail spilling out of the mailbox are clear signs no one is home. Make arrangements to suspend all deliveries to your home while you’re away.

Snow Shoveling: A pristine, snow-covered yard is beautiful to look at, but is also an indication that not a soul is home. Make arrangements for someone to automatically clear and salt your driveway and walks in case of snow or ice while you’re on vacation.

Click for a free pdf brochure of other tips and ideas for having a productive and enjoyable winter. And if you need any remodeling or repair help to keep your home safe while you’re on a winter vacation, call the Mosby office at 314.909.1800 or contact them here.

Come fall and winter, there is less daylight and in the Midwest, the sun is often hidden by an endless layer of rain or snow clouds. This lack of sunlight is the main culprit of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), but luckily, there are many ways to keep it from impacting your daily life.

Along with the personal health remedies you can try, there are several different types of home improvement projects that can help you go from SAD to glad this season. Ideas include:

Let the Sun Shine In

• Trim any tree branches or bushes that may be blocking light from coming in a window.

• Skylights in rooms you use the most (like the kitchen or family room) bring natural light into your home, even on cloudy days. Skylights can also lower your electricity bills as you’ll tend to use less artificial light during the day.

• Solar tubes are an excellent alternative when you want natural light in a place where skylights cannot be installed. Good spots for a solar tube are your shower, hallways and entry ways.

Let There Be Light

• Add more layers of light to your home by installing task lighting in work areas and reading lights where you settle in with a book.

• Illuminate dark corners of a room with diffused, ambient light such as metal can up-lights that fit conveniently in potted floor plants or behind furniture.

• Wall mounted electric fireplaces add both light and heat to a space, and can be hung anywhere there’s an electrical outlet, plus they operate with the flip of a switch.

Brighten Your Mood

• Paint some walls in bright, optimistic shades. Most any shade of yellows, reds and oranges will work as a pick me up, as do the more intense shades of green and blue.

• Add bursts of energy with new throw pillows, blankets, floor rugs or curtains in bright colors that always make you happy.

• Pick one lamp to switch out the regular bulb for a pink one, which will add a subtle rosy glow to the room.

Get Moving

• Turn an unused corner of a room into your yoga studio. You need just enough room to stretch out and relax for a few minutes every day.

• Install your own home exercise room. It only takes an unused space to accommodate your workout equipment with enough room to move about freely.

• Cleaning out and organizing all the closests and drawers in your home keeps you moving, thinking and motivated.

Click for a free pdf brochure of other tips and ideas for having a productive and enjoyable fall and winter. And if you need any remodeling or repair help to avoid SAD, call the Mosby office at 314.909.1800 or contact them here.

We frequently hear from homeowners seeking answers to repair and maintenance problems. Many of these questions and answers are compiled in our Home Improvement Library. Here is a recent question.

Question
I recently had (major home improvement retailer) install a new back entry door. In the process, they had to remove the aluminum wrapping that covered the molding around the outside of the door frame, and now it’s exposed to the elements. They told me that cutting and shaping the wrap requires a large, expensive piece of equipment that only a large siding company would have, and no siding company would be interested in such a small job!  Can you recommend a source to cover this molding before winter?

-Donna B.

Answer
Dear Donna,
With your door installation, you’ve experienced a classic example of narrow-focused knowledge. Many people can install a door, but a true home technician knows that a proper door installation automatically includes integration it into your walls and flashing system.

It’s important to be able to disassemble the wall cladding to an appropriate point to rebuild the flashing system and then properly install and integrate the door into the wall. This can be as simple as taking vinyl siding apart and installing proper head or cap flashings (see the diagram below), or it can get extremely involved. Creative methods may be needed to insure a weather-tight installation with other wall materials.

The crew that came to your home are specialists trained for very specific tasks.  Our homes are made of thousands of interconnecting pieces, each one affecting the other. When specialists encounter an issue outside their knowledge, you’re lucky when they err on the side of caution rather than attempt something above their badge level. As you’ve learned, this leaves you needing to call in another company to, essentially, finish the job. What originally appears a cost-effective solution can become expensive if 2 or 3 companies are needed to do the job right.  Looking at the bigger picture, our experience has been that the majority of doors (and windows) are installed incorrectly, which can lead to water damage that eventually reveals itself.  Learn how to spot door frame damage.

In answer to your specific question, any reputable full-service remodeling company or exteriors company, should have metal brakes – the piece of equipment needed to bend a new wrap for your molding. We’ve found it’s generally best to use Big Box Stores for purchasing household hardware needs and avoid their remodeling services because they’re typically not knowledgeable enough for this type of work.

If you’ve recently shopped light bulbs, you may have noticed several different types of bulbs on the retail shelf. Not only does it take more time to wade through all these choices, but how do you know which type to choose?

America is moving toward increasing energy efficiency as outlined in the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. A popular misconception is that this act outlaws all traditional incandescent light bulbs beginning in January 2012. The facts are that any bulb that can generate the amount of light produced by a conventional 100-watt bulb, but with 30 percent less energy, will remain on the market. Over the past 4 years, there has been a rapid advancement in lighting technology, thus a plethora of new types of light bulbs to choose from.

Bulbs have always been categorized by watts – a measure of their power – but for Compact Fluorescent Light (CFL), Light Emitting Diode (LED), and halogen bulbs the industry now measures how much light they cast, known as lumens. While educating ourselves on these new standards, manufacturers will list “watt equivalents” so you have some idea on how to match the same amount of light with a new type of bulb.

But amount of light is the tip of the educational iceberg. Let’s take a broad overview of these 3 light bulbs:

CFL Light Bulbs

• Lamp life of 8,000 – 15,000 hours
• Use approximately 75% less energy than equivalent incandescent
• Casts even light over large area (lamps and exterior lighting)
• Most models are incompatible with dimmer switches
• Takes 30-45 seconds to reach full light output when switched on
• Contains mercury so must be handled carefully and disposed of properly
• Available in a wide range of light temperatures

LED Light Bulbs

• Lamp life of 30,000 – 50,000 hours
• Use approximately 90% less energy than equivalent incandescent
• Casts precise light in one direction (task and overhead lighting)
• Compatible with dimmer switches
• Starts up immediately when switched on
• No handling or disposal safety hazards
• Currently in cool light temperatures

Halogen Light Bulbs

• Lamp life of 2,000 – 5,000 hours
• Use approximately 30% less energy than equivalent incandescent
• Casts even light over large area (similar to incandescent)
• Compatible with dimmer switches
• Starts up immediately when switched on
• No disposal safety hazards
• Currently in warm light temperatures

Because each of these bulbs has different qualities, you may need to use different types for different purposes. For example, CFLs are perfect for table lamps while LEDs are perfect for specific task lighting, and for often-used rooms, it may be a combination of all 3 bulb types for different fixtures.

The best way to know which bulbs will work best for your needs and budget (both up-front cost and long-term energy savings) is to experiment. Buy one of each bulb type and try them out in the same light fixtures in your home. You will then get a clear picture of how it will work for your needs.

The energy efficiency experts at Mosby Building Arts are also available to walk you through all the new light bulb choices. To explore all your lighting possibilities, call the Mosby office at 314.909.1800 or contact them here.

Just as you change wardrobe from summer to fall, your home benefits from a purposeful transition into colder weather. Here is a list of things to do around your house to batten down the hatches for fall and winter.

WINDOWS & DOORS

• Remove screens right before the first threat of ice or sleet. Screenless windows also gain solar power, which can help with heating your home during the day.

• Check window seals. Fog or moisture between panes can indicate a broken seal, so now would be the time to invest in replacement windows.

• Seal air gaps around windows and doors. An energy audit from a certified energy analyst will show you exactly where these air leaks are. Caulking these gaps will bring you comfort and can reduce your heating bills.

• Inspect weather stripping around windows, doors and  thresholds. Replace them if they are damaged or rotted.

• Doors & windows have their tightest seal when they are locked, so be sure all windows are in locked position and deadbolts on your doors are engaged. This is also a safety tip!

HVAC & CIRCULATION

• Before you turn on your heat for the first time, change the furnace filter and have it serviced by HVAC specialists.

• Set thermostats and ductwork dampers to winter settings. If your furnace has a humidifier, also switch it over to the winter setting.

• Set ceiling fans to rotate clockwise, as seen from the floor when looking up at the blades. This change in direction moves warm air throughout the house. Keep it at the lowest speed to avoid the wind-chill effect.

• If you have a gas or wood-burning fireplace, have the chimney and flue inspected to assure clear passage.

WATER MANAGEMENT

• Disconnect garden hoses and sprinklers from outside spigots and store them inside.

• Before the first freeze, turn off the outside spigots at the interior shut-off valve to prevent water from freezing and cracking the pipes.

• To keep water draining properly during the rainy season, clear your gutters, downspouts, window and door wells of fallen leaves.

• Sealing your concrete driveway and sidewalks now helps protect them from the damage of freeze/thaw cycles, and makes snow and ice removal a bit easier.

For help with concrete sealing, window replacement or repair and all water management needs, work with the home improvement professionals at Mosby Building Arts. Call the Mosby office at 314.909.1800 or contact them here.

Between record-low unemployment and massive storm damage in Missouri and Illinois, there has been a surge in homeowner’s being ripped off or misled by unqualified and unscrupulous home improvement contractors.

Now more than ever it is crucial that homeowners hire only bonded, licensed, insured and accredited tradesmen. Tough times create new conditions, requiring special attention.

Layoffs have created many new freelancers willing to take reduced rates and often work outside their field of expertise. Storm damage has created many opportunities for rip-off artists disguised as repair contractors to take advantage of those in need. It is now vitally important that you have proof of trust and competence for the people you choose to work in and on your home.

Do Your Homework

Check out a company before you hire them. The Better Business Bureau is a good place to start, as it will help verify a company address, years in business and customer service record. Consumer groups such as Angie’s List are a great source of usable information, making it easy for you to research company accreditations. Reputable trades are proud of the industry organizations they belong to, and make it convenient for you to know their affiliations. Also, you can ask the company at hand for references to help your research.

If It’s Too Good To Be True, It Probably Is

An earnest sales pitch will not make up for inferior work. A rock-bottom low price on a service you know to usually cost much more can be a red flag.  To avoid falling for a false promise, ask questions until you’re satisfied with the answers. Professionals with the knowledge and experience love to talk about their work. They understand your trust and comfort is part of a good working relationship, so they are happy to fulfill any request that proves their expertise.

Get It In Writing

Knowledgeable and experienced tradespeople know exactly what it takes to do the job right. Before a project begins, there should be a contract with a written scope of work. The scope of work avoids shortcuts by detailing exactly what tasks, materials and labor will be performed for the price paid.  Professionals who take pride in their work and customer service rely on the scope of work so that expectations are met for both the homeowner and the contractor.

Accredited professionals include a written scope of work and contract as standard procedure. If a contractor you’re considering doesn’t offer this, ask for one; if they resist your request, consider this a flashing neon sign to choose another company.

Everyone prefers to save money, so it’s tempting to go with the part-time plumber your brother-in-law knows who just lost his job and is willing to work cheap. But if the work is not up to basic standards and codes, you will pay again in the future to correct it.

If your home has been damaged by a storm, the need to repair quickly is understandable. But if a fly-by-night “company” takes your money and runs, you’ll have lost the money and still be in need. Even when it’s urgent, please take a moment to protect yourself by doing your homework, verifying the truth and getting it in writing.

Be safe by hiring only proven professionals with a track record of doing it right the first time in a trustworthy manner. Mosby Building Arts can take care of all your home improvement needs in the Metro St. Louis area, or can refer you to trusted trade partners. For the assurance and quality you deserve, call the Mosby office at 314.909.1800 or contact them here.

Waiting till your siding is falling off or causing water to leak into your home is not usually the best time to replace it. This can put you in a situation of needing the work done right away, and sometimes it’s difficult to have quality work done on such short notice.

So how do you get a jump on replacing your siding while there’s still time for you to have it done right? First, take some time to inspect the exterior of your home, and here are some things to look for to help you determine if it’s time.

Signs That You Need New Siding

For wood siding, it may be time to replace it if you see the following:

• Peeling or curling paint
• Cracking or splitting boards
• Extensive hail damage
• Wood knots popping out (specific to cedar siding)
• Woodpeckers continually hacking at the boards

Wood siding can last from 20 -100 years, and the wide range comes from a deep list of variables. The species of wood (red wood and cedar last longer than pine), the age of the wood (old-growth vs. new growth), and the weather conditions around your home all contribute to the soundness of the boards.

For hardboard siding, it may be time to replace if you see the following:

• Boards swollen from water
• Finish peels or flakes off
• Doesn’t hold a new coat of finish
• Surface has delaminated

Hardboard siding is a relatively new siding material, man-made from wood fibers, wax and resin, and usually lasts as long as indicated by the factory-finish warranty. But if that finish is compromised (from scratches, scrapes or punctures), the soft material underneath immediately soaks up water and the board will fail. Hardboard is a high-maintenance siding requiring diligent cleaning and caulking.

For vinyl siding, it may be time to replace it if you see the following:

• Chalky film on your finger after sweeping it across the vinyl
• White streaks on brick or foundation below vinyl siding
• Faded color
• Cracked or brittle sections
• Becomes more difficult to wash off mold, moss and dirt

Depending on the original quality of the vinyl siding, it can last from 15-20 years. Pollution and UV exposure also breaks down the petroleum in vinyl, so vinyl siding on a rural home tends to last a bit longer than on homes in urban and suburban areas.

It is never a good idea to install new siding over existing siding. Whatever the problems that caused the old siding to fail will continue to grow unchecked behind two layers. Take the opportunity to completely remove old siding and apply a new moisture membrane (like Tyvek) and inspect window and door flashing to protect your interior from water penetration. Here are more reasons to remove old siding.

When in doubt about the condition of your siding, err on the side of caution and have it inspected. The Home Consultants at Mosby Building Arts are deeply experienced and trained in analyzing siding conditions, and will recommend which is preferable – repair or replacement. And the Mosby construction team is trained and certified in siding installation so you will have peace of mind that it’s done right the first time.

For inspection of existing siding, or installation of new siding, call the Mosby office at 314.909.1800 or contact them here.

If you’re in the spring cleaning spirit and are outside washing the windows and doors, now is the perfect time to inspect their frames for water damage.

Water invading the interior of your home can many times adversely affect your health (in the form of allergies and respiratory problems) as well as damage the surfaces and structures it comes in contact with. Your window and door frames can provide clues if water is penetrating.

Wood frames can absorb water from the bottom, and that moisture can wick its way up the frame. At the bottom of door frames or on window sills, look for the following signs of water penetration:

• Wood splintering or looking “chewed up”
• Paint finish blistering or peeling
• Black or green patches of mold appearing on the finish
• Wall areas around the frame swelling and/or cracking

Aluminum, steel or vinyl door and window frames can make it more difficult to spot water damage. While steel will show rust, aluminum and vinyl are impervious to water. But in a wood frame home, these types of door and window frames are originally set inside wood. So while the water can’t damage the frames, it may find a more “friendly” material to penetrate.

Inspect your steel, aluminum or vinyl door and window frames and look for the following signs on surrounding exterior and interior walls:

• Doors or windows becoming difficult to operate
• Swelling, cracking or soft spots appearing in drywall or plaster
• Surrounding areas not holding a finish for long (blistering, flaking)
• Ants congregating or living in these areas (they are attracted to moisture)

What if you have a brick over masonry home with aluminum door and window frames? You can still detect water damage by inspecting the floors just inside the door way. Wood floors may show stains, streaks or warping, while continually loose tiles can be a sign of a wet subfloor. You can also go into the basement and look at the ceiling in the spot just below the entries and windows. If that wood is discolored or warping, it can be a sign that water has penetrated.

Water is Enemy Number One of your home. It is always seeking a way inside, and efficient water damage repair and management is the key to keeping it outside where it belongs. The Mosby Home Consultants are experienced water management experts, well-trained in spotting tricky water problems, tracing it to the cause and repairing it properly.

For water management help with your doors and window frames, call the Mosby office at 314.909.1800 or contact them here.

Waiting till your roof leaks is not the best time to replace it, because then it’s an emergency and rarely will someone be able to help you fast enough. Plus, it’s difficult to get a quality job done on such short notice.

So how do you get a jump on avoiding a messy situation and replace a roof while you have time to do it right? First, take some time to inspect the exterior of your home, and here are some things to look for to help you determine if it’s time:

It May Be Time For a New Roof If You See…

• Cracked or curling shingles

• Bald spots on asphalt shingles

• Excessive amounts of asphalt granules in the gutters

• Black or rust-colored streaks running down the roof

• Vegetation growing on the roof

Because of dramatic weather conditions in the Metropolitan St. Louis area (including hail, high winds and intense heat), asphalt or fiberglass shingle roofs typically last 12-15 years, while architectural shingle roofs can go 17-20 years. Even when the manufacturer lists a long lifespan, the Midwestern climate tends to tip shingles toward the shorter end of the scale.

Improperly vented attics can also shorten the useful life of a roof.  If you’re coming up on the tail end of lifespan or see compromised conditions too early, it’s a good idea to have your roof inspected.

Some municipal codes allow for 2 layers of shingles on a roof, but it is never a good idea to lay new shingles over old ones. Completely removing old shingles is the perfect opportunity to inspect and/or repair the roof underdecking and flashing, and you don’t want to simply cover up existing problems that will eventually compromise the integrity of the new shingles.

When in doubt about the condition of your roof, err on the side of caution and have it inspected. The Home Consultants at Mosby Building Arts are deeply experienced and trained in analyzing roofing conditions (including flashing and gutters), and will recommend which is preferable – repair or replacement. And the Mosby construction team is trained and certified in roofing installation so you will have peace of mind that it’s done right the first time.

For inspection of an existing roof, or the installation of a new roof, call the Mosby office at 314.909.1800 or contact them here.