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.

Sealing concrete has become a standard maintenance practice because that’s how you protect and preserve your investment in concrete driveways, sidewalks and patios. But there is a right and a wrong way to do it. Here are some important sealing tips:

Previous Sealing Applications

If you’ve been sealing your own concrete from the start, then you know the history of the products used and frequency of application. But if you’re working with a previously sealed surface that you don’t know with what product or the last time it was done, stripping away the old sealer before applying new is a good idea. This will remove the complication of two different products not working well together.

Cleaning and Prepping

You should clean concrete before applying sealer for the first time, or reapplying a new layer of the same product. Not only does powerwashed concrete look better, but also allows the sealer to adhere to the material rather than layers of dirt and oil. Concrete cleaning is about removing oils and grime so use a de-greaser rather than bleach. These detergents are available at the hardware store, but opt for an alkaline-based type rather than muratic, which can etch and weaken your concrete. Be sure to powerwash carefully, because too much pressure can damage the finish.

Depending on the type of sealer you’re using, cracks in the concrete should generally be addressed before sealing, and after cleaning. If small cracks have become larger with time, this can indicate a problem with the ground beneath the concrete surface, and needs to be corrected. Cracks due to heavy impact can be patched if they’re not too deep. Check the instructions on which patching products work best with your sealant.

Getting What You Pay For

Using the cheapest, consumer grade sealer on the market will usually create more trouble than it’s worth. The best sealers are a complex blend of chemistry designed to bond to the concrete internally and protect the surface. Some of the cheaper products on the hardware store shelf are only a surface protector that wears off too quickly. Invest in the best quality for long lasting results.

Proper Application

The temperature and sun exposure at the time the sealer is applied has a direct impact on the end result. It is important to follow the manufacturer’s instructions about the proper temperature range and weather conditions so you get good results and that the warranty will apply.

Reapply Regularly

Because you continually walk and drive on these surfaces – combined with the dramatic range of weather conditions in Metro St. Louis – even the best quality concrete sealer has to be reapplied eventually. The rule of thumb is the higher the quality of the sealant and the application, the lower the frequency of reapplication. And more is not always better; applying too frequently or applying too much at one time can make the surface slick, especially when wet.  Adhere to the recommended schedule for applying a new coat to maintain a consistent level of protection.

Drying Time

Just as you wouldn’t walk across wet cement, do not access sealed concrete until it has thoroughly dried according to product specifications. Along with a drying time, there may also be a curing time, so carefully read and follow the instructions about when it’s safe for the concrete to get wet.

There are many important steps to follow to have a seal that protects and prolongs the life of your concrete, which is why so many homeowners turn to Mosby Building Arts’ sealing professionals.  With over 20 years of sealing experience, Mosby has researched and found the best available product, which is not available in retail at this time.

Mosby sealing professionals know the proper way to repair, caulk, clean and seal concrete right the first time. Learn more about ProTreat Sealing for concrete at this link. For all your sealing needs, call the Mosby office at 314.909.1800 or contact them here.

First impressions are immediate and powerful, and every time someone passes your home they form a quick opinion about it based, in part, on your exterior siding.

Siding is the exterior envelope of your house, serving as protection from the elements while coping with moisture passing through from the interior. The location and weather patterns around your home – as well as its architectural style – will guide what type of siding to use, and the qualifications and experience of the firm who will install the new siding is just as important. After that, ongoing maintenance needs and price will help narrow down your choices.

EXTERIOR SIDING CHOICES

Stone & Cultured Stone Siding

Rock is beautiful and lends permanence to the home. Natural stone is nearly impervious to weather, and when it is properly protected it can last seemingly forever. These qualities also make it very expensive, which is why pre-cast stone veneers that look and feel like real stone are a popular option.

Whether you choose natural or cultured stone, ensure that it is protected with a special 10-year sealant to prevent spalling, and do not let vines grow on the walls as they weaken the mortar and hold moisture against the wall.

Brick & Brick Veneer Siding

Fired clay brick comes in a wide variety of earthy colors, and it is pricey because it can last for centuries. Brick veneers can look authentic for a more affordable price.

Brick requires maintenance to the mortar between the bricks, which will need to be re-tuckpointed based on the erosion caused by weather conditions around your home. Properly sealing brick and mortar adds substantially to its lifespan and greatly reduces the frequency (and expense) of tuckpointing. Certain sealers that bond internally need only be re-applied about every 10 years.

Cedar Siding

Cedar is a natural wood, and certain varieties are naturally resistant to insects and rot. Cedar shake can be left in its natural state so that weathering over time will give it a special patina. Paint or staining is also an option, and will need to be reapplied every 3-5 years.

Untreated cedar can crack or “cup” on the sides of the house that receive the most sun, while the shingles on the shady sides of the house can have mold, moss and fungus issues. Sealers specially formulated for cedar will reduce some of these concerns, and need only be applied one time.

Wood Clapboard Siding

Solid wood siding remains the first choice for traditional style and quality. With periodic maintenance, wood siding will outlast vinyl, as evidenced from so many wood clapboard houses built over a century ago still looking beautiful to this day. Unlike other siding materials, it can be repaired and partially replaced.

Improper installation can inhibit wood siding’s need to “breathe,” which results in paint and deterioration problems, and it will need to be repainted roughly every 10 years, depending on the amount of weathering the paint can withstand.

Engineered Wood Siding

Also known as oriented strand board (OSB), this is a composite material made with wood products and other materials. The panels are often molded to mimic traditional wood clapboard.

Engineered 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 in damaged siding. Partial replacement of damaged pieces is very difficult. How often it will need to be repainted depends on whether it’s a factory pre-finish or painted after installation.

Fiber Cement Siding

An extremely durable material that is fireproof, termite-proof and can have the appearance of wood, stucco or masonry. It cuts and installs like wood siding, and can be painted in the color of your choice. It’s higher priced than natural or engineered wood, but exceptional manufacturers’ warranties make it a durable, low maintenance investment.

Cement fiber siding is typically not a do-it-yourself project, and should be installed only by certified professionals with fiber cement siding training and experience so that warranties fully apply. This material holds paint longer than wood siding, needing to be repainted roughly every 15-20 years.

Vinyl Siding

Made from PVC, it won’t rot or flake, is affordable to buy and relatively easy to install, which is what makes it the most popular siding material. An endless variety of colors and textures are available to fit any home design, and 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. Because vinyl is cheaper and easier to install, unqualified installers overlooking important moisture and flashing details are an all-too-common problem, which can result in serious water damage to the exterior and interior of your home.

Siding is the public face and protector of your home, and it is a sizable investment, so make sure that whatever siding material you choose is properly installed and protected.

The exterior design team at Mosby Building Arts is trained and experienced in all aspects of exterior siding. They begin by removing the old siding and applying the proper moisture barriers and flashing that keeps water out of your house. Their deep bench of siding professionals are certified in the proper installation of fiber cement board and vinyl siding, and the Mosby ProTreat sealing system adds another layer of protection and value to your exterior remodeling project.

Exterior siding is a precise art, and here is an example of Mosby’s award-winning siding work. To work with a team that will increase the value and beauty of your home, call Mosby at 314.909.1800 or contact them here.

Brick and stone are the oldest and most durable building materials, but they also absorb water like sponges, which makes them vulnerable to cracking and crumbling. Sealing brick and stone is the best way to protect it from the wear and tear of water damage.

Sealing Brick

Brick is hard and dense, but quite porous and easily penetrated by water. For certain types of brick, it takes 20 seconds for the water to seep through to the back side, while other types pass water immediately. When it rains, or the garden hose hits it, a brick wall simply soaks up the water. That moisture transfers to everything surrounding the brick, including the tuckpointing mortar and the understructure of your home.

A by-product of brick’s absorption is efflorescence (shown above), the white film that appears on bricks with water management problems. Efflorescence happens when water that has seeped into the brick reappears upon evaporation as salt on the surface, which usually looks like a powdery, white deposit.  Left uncorrected, this process will eventually break down the brick’s structural integrity. Sealing brick almost always solves the efflorescence problem.

A brick is only as good as the mortar around it, so tuckpointing needs protection, too.  The bonus is that brick and tuckpointing is sealed at the same time, creating a continuous, protective shield that keeps water out.  When you consider the expense of tuckpointing, removing that maintenance from your future is a cost-effective benefit.

Sealing Stone

From flagstone sidewalks, to fieldstone patios to stone foundation walls on older homes, natural stone is a classic and desirable material, but it is just as porous as brick.  You need to seal stone and mortar to protect this sizeable investment.

When exterior stone wicks up more water than it can handle, the physical expansion of the stone is what causes it to crack. The frequent freeze/thaw cycles in Metro St. Louis are what cause our pothole problems on the streets; this same process also affects our stone wall and walks.  Once those cracks happen, water will continually wear down the stone from the inside, leading to an eventual crumble.

The photo above is from a Mosby Building Arts water management project on a St. Louis County deck, and it shows the damage to the wood structure behind the cracked stone column pictured above of this photo. This is what happens when water gets the chance to penetrate a stone surface. Sealed stone has a protective barrier that repels and reduces this kind of harmful water absorption. This seal also has the added benefit of resisting mildew, algae and moss, which reduces clean up of these common stains.

Seal It Right the First Time

When installing new brick or stone, include sealing as part of the work scope. For existing stone and brick, have it sealed now to maintain and prolong the life of what is already in place.

Mosby Building Arts has a high-performance brick, masonry and stone sealing system that provides internal protection against water. Our ProTreat Sealer team has over 20 years of experience and diagnoses which sealer works best for your materials, and how to properly clean and prep the surface before applying that sealer.  We also offer you the option of a sealer that will not alter surface colors, or go with a sealer that enhances and brightens the colors of natural stone.

Because you’ve made a sizable investment in brick, stone and mortar, you should protect it by sealing it right the first time with Mosby Building Arts. For deep protection from our deep bench of professionals, call 314.909.1800 or contact us here.

Concrete is the most durable and flexible material for driveways, patios and walkways.  It is poured into any shape you desire with an endless variety of colors and finishes, and – with proper care – is an investment with enduring value.

Concrete is a high-function surface, and just as with a kitchen floor, how it looks is just as important as how it performs. We are familiar with the standard look of concrete, but did you know that you can have a surface for your concrete that will compliment and enhance your home? You work with a designer to choose the best look and know that these cosmetic options do not compromise the structural integrity of the material. So you get the best of both worlds.

Let’s review the choices you have for the appearance of your concrete surfaces:

Dyed Concrete

Typical concrete with a pigment added during the mixing stage, so that the color runs throughout the entire slab. You have a large palette to choose from and the color will not wear off.

Stained Concrete

Colors are applied on the concrete after it is cured, and then sealed.  This is a surface finish and is not as durable as dyed concrete.

Stamped Concrete

Standard or dyed concrete gets added texture by rubber stamping a pattern onto the wet surface.  The colors can be variegated with the use of powder pigment broadcast over the surface during the stamping process.  Typically, stamping is done on dyed concrete, as stamped patterns do not have the same aesthetic impact on standard gray concrete.  See more photos of this project.

Exposed Aggregate Concrete

Concrete is mixed with a decorative, smooth rock that is brought to the surface and left exposed.  Mother Nature dictates your color palette.  See more of this project.

Above is an example of how several concrete finishes can be combined to create a unique look.  For this backyard pool, standard concrete with a broom finish is outlined by a border of dyed and stamped concrete.  See more photos of this project.  The picture of the driveway at the top of this page uses the same concept but with different colors, highlighting how many choices you have when it comes to concrete.  See more pictures of that project.

Protecting Your Concrete Investment

Concrete is a strong and long-lasting material, so you pay more for these surfaces.  A crucial step for maintaining your concrete investment is to have it sealed.

Water is concrete’s enemy, so sealing it minimizes the moisture that penetrates and weakens your concrete.  An example of how water damages concrete is shown above; this flaking and deterioration is called spalling.

Spalling is a very common problem in the St. Louis area due to our excessive freeze/thaw cycles.  Every time concrete freezes and then thaws out, the moisture content weakens the surface of your concrete.  We are prone to 40 – 50 or more freeze/thaw cycles a season, and this happens more here than in any other part of the country, which is why we have the nickname of The Pot Hole Belt.

Winter is hard on your concrete, so the sooner you seal it the better you are protected against this type of damage.  The other benefits of concrete sealing are easier maintenance, cleaning, and snow removal.

Protect Your Investment with ProTreat Seal by Mosby

Scott Mosby, the KMOX Home Answer Man and president of Mosby Building Arts, has spent years researching the very best system for sealing and protecting concrete.  Scott believes so strongly in this product, and its 2-part application process, that his company now offers this concrete sealing service.

Mosby’s trained and experienced technicians begin by deep cleaning your concrete and then they apply a permanent, penetrating sealer that bonds with the interior of your concrete to block moisture from seeping in.  This is followed by a surface application that protects the surface from stains.

ProTreat Seal can be applied to concrete that has been sealed previously, and all the different concrete finishes shown above need to be sealed to protect the colors and textures.  If you are pouring new concrete, applying ProTreat within 48 hours on the fresh concrete will improve the curing process, which makes for a stronger surface and slab.

The ProTreat Seal by Mosby is an ounce of prevention for a pound of cure.  We work with you to design and build the most unique concrete look for your home, and we assure that your investment remains sound by protecting it from the elements.  To explore concrete finishes and protection, call Mosby at 314.909.1800 or contact us here.

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Brick is beautiful. Seal it to protect the brick and avoid the costly maintenance of tuckpointing.

Water is brick’s greatest enemy. Sealing your brick protects against water, manages efflorescence and prolongs the life of the material.

Tuckpointing is expensive, so make it last longer. Mortar gets sealed along with the brick, and if you have paid for tuckpointing, you know that prolonging the life of mortar will cut down future maintenance costs.

Brick is one of the sturdiest and most durable building materials, but it is also a porous material. Spray the front of a brick with water and it takes only 20 seconds for the water to seep through to the back side. In effect, a brick is a very heavy sponge.

When it rains or the garden hose hits it, a brick wall soaks up the water. That moisture can transfer to the understructure of your home. When built correctly, a brick veneer allows for this natural occurrence and deters water from transferring to wood.

A by-product of brick’s absorption is efflorescence, the powdery white substance that can appear on brick. Efflorescence happens when water seeping into the brick brings salt to its surface, and once the water evaporates it leaves the salt behind as a fluffy, white deposit.

Mosby Building Arts has discovered a high-performance brick and masonry sealing system that provides internal protection against water. Because it bonds inside, it does not alter the color of your brick or mortar. Our ProTreat system is applied by trained and experienced Mosby technicians, and we stand behind the lasting results.

When you’ve made the investment in brick and mortar, you should protect it. Mosby helps you do that. Call 314.909.1800 or contact us here.

And here’s a bonus feature: brick must be deep cleaned before it can be sealed, so another benefit of a Mosby brick seal is having your brick and mortar deep cleaned. Your brick can look like new and be protected, too.

Painted Brick

A frequent question we get from homeowners is how to restore painted brick back to its natural state, or how to remove paint stains from brick. Click the links below to learn the answers.

Removing Paint Stains From a Brick Wall

Should I Paint My Brick?

Returning Painted Brick to Original Look

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.