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.

America experienced a residential building boom from 1997 to 2007, with an average of 1.72 million new homes going up each year during that period. This far outpaced the suburban building boom after World War 2, which peaked in 1977 with an average of 1.4 million new homes built.

But we’re learning that there is one key difference between the two new housing booms – the quality of the construction.

The December 2011 issue of Angie’s List members’ magazine featured a piece by the company’s founder, Angie Hicks, wherein she wrote:

“There are more problems with homes built during the 1997 to 2007 housing boom than during any other time period, according to a recent Angie’s List survey of highly rated home inspectors. The sheer volume of houses being built during that time made it difficult for local housing code authorities to enforce proper building methods. Many of those homes today have problems related to hasty construction, poor quality of materials and failure to meet minimum housing code standards.

A recent online poll of members reveal more than half who built a home during the boom discovered their homes were fraught with problems after a contractor completed the job. Poor drywall and carpentry work, structural troubles and plumbing problems were the three most widespread issues reported on the poll. Bad roofing jobs, insufficient insulation, dangerous electrical wiring, and improperly sized heating and cooling systems were other common complaints.”

Why the Quality Suffered

Factors that influence the poorer quality of homes built between 1997 – 2007 include a sharp rise in the cost of buying new land, and the materials and labor to build them. This created a need for home builders to erect the homes to minimum building code standards at the lowest cost per square foot in order to recoup their cost and make a profit.

The need for speedy home building was inspired by consumer access to easier home loans with record-low interest rates. The American public felt this new housing bubble pop during the October 2008 financial crises, though the home builders’ felt the sting in 2007 when the sub-prime mortgage crises greatly reduced the new housing starts. By 2009, new home building slowed to a crawl.

Common shortcuts taken by some new home builders during the boom years included using wood of debatable quality for framing, insufficient drying times for concrete foundations and skimping on insulation. These are issues that typically do not show on the surface of a pretty new home, but rather reveal themselves over the years as bowing walls, cracked foundations and high energy bills to heat and cool the home.

In the Metro St. Louis area, homes built during this time period have a propensity for water leaks around windows, a problem caused by flashing installed incorrectly (also known as reverse flashing – which actually pushes the water into the house), or no flashing at all.

How to Solve the Problem

As too often happens, the problems hidden behind the walls of some new homes reveal themselves long after the contractor has moved on, which makes it difficult to get any help from that contractor, even when it can be proven they were responsible for the issue. Unfortunately, this can leave the solutions in the hands of the homeowner, who too often face regular repair bills atop the monthly payments on a new home.

If you are considering buying a home built from 1997 – 2007, it is wise to invest in a full inspection or evaluation of the home’s construction. Be sure that these are by companies independent of a real estate agent or builder so you receive honest answers.

If you own a home of this vintage and are experiencing problems beyond regular, required maintenance, have the Home Consultants at Mosby Building Arts analyze and solve the problems. Mosby specializes in home evaluations and water management, and because they have worked on correcting issues with homes built during the boom years, have all the resources you need to finally have the home you want. Call the Mosby office at 314.909.1800 or contact them here.

A kitchen remodel is your prime opportunity to get it right. If you’ve lived with an ugly or outdated kitchen, the thought of choosing new cabinets, appliances, flooring and lighting can be spellbinding. But don’t let form drown out function.

To have lasting value, a new kitchen needs to perform as good as it looks. This is your chance to really analyze how you use the kitchen, what features and layout will help you prepare and cook meals efficiently, and how to best store everything to make life easier for everyone who uses the space.

Once you have all the functionality figured out, choosing surfaces and materials is like icing on the cake. Here’s a list of things you need to consider to avoid a badly designed kitchen:

A Gigantic Island – For a single-cook kitchen, you need a minimum of 42” between the island and the cabinets that surround it; for a multi-cook kitchen, that becomes 48”. This helps with foot traffic and being able to access all doors and drawers. Even in a large kitchen, a single-level kitchen island larger than 48” wide x 120” long becomes harder to use and clean.

Where’s the Trash? – Between garbage and recyclables, a kitchen produces a lot of waste, so plan for it. If you prefer freestanding trash and recycle receptacles, decide in advance where they will be placed in the floorplan. If you prefer them hidden in base cabinets, both trash and recyclables need a minimum 30 quart container.

Wasted Space – Hundreds of linear feet of kitchen cabinets mean nothing if they’re inconveniently placed or the storage is configured wrong. In the above example of an island during construction, note how much space is wasted by the 45-degree, bat-wing style.  Plates, bowls and cups should be above or near the dishwasher so it’s easier to unload directly into wall cabinets. Pots and pans work best in base drawer cabinets near stoves and cooktops. Deep pantry cabinets work more efficiently with rollout shelves.

Watch Yourself – Don’t let your new kitchen fall into the shadows. Chopping blocks and range tops can be dangerous places in the kitchen, so have plenty of light above these areas so you can see what you’re doing. Under-cabinet lighting illuminates all of your countertops, and task specific lighting can be a timesaver. Consider lighting as 10% of your kitchen remodeling budget and you will – literally – see beautiful results.

These are the types of details that can make or break a kitchen remodel, so use the design phase to address and perfect how well your kitchen works. Working with professional kitchen designers and remodelers will help you avoid bad kitchen design, as well as common mistakes like inadequate electricity, ventilation and water supply.

To get the best form and function for your new kitchen, work with the Certified Kitchen Designers and planners at Mosby Building Arts. Check out a portfolio of their kitchen remodels in Metro St. Louis. And if you have any questions, 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.

The Holidays… it’s a month and a half of planning, juggling, shopping, cooking and socializing. It’s a special time of year, but it can be really stressful, right? With the holiday race behind you, it’s now time to relax.

The New Year is traditionally about resolutions, but it’s also about unwinding and creating quality time to rest, relax and stay healthy. Remember, many mammals hibernate this time of year, but we humans are the only ones who have to keep up a steady pace. Stress can compromise your immune system during cold and flu season, so it’s important to pamper yourself to maintain good health.

The easiest way to relax is to create an environment that makes it hard to resist doing just that. Here are some ideas for turning your home into a stress-free winter wonderland:

Water

The therapeutic qualities of water are well-documented. Take advantage of this in your home by installing an air tub (also known as a whirpool) in your master bathroom or in a sauna space you can create in your basement. Use it to ease tense muscles and whisk away joint and muscle pain.

Scent

A smell can unlock intense memories, which highlights how powerfully scent can affect your mood. The art and science of aromatherapy to restore balance and harmony can be as simple as using scented candles in the places where you relax. Or you can experiment with essential oils in warming pots or in your bath water.

Music

The saying is “music soothes the savage beast” and it can also soothe your soul. The rhythms of classical, orchestral and ballad music are proven to lower the heart rate, and it can elevate or calm your mood. A whole-house audio system can bring music to wherever you are. There are also many forms of water-proof sound systems to choose from so you can put a song in your heart as you soak.

Lighting

A lack of sunlight is the main culprit of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Installing skylights and solar tubes are an effective way to keep the sun (and its Vitamin D) shining all winter long. Increasing the wattage of light bulbs during the darker months is another way to get more light. Mood and ambient lighting is another way to uplift your spirits. A home automation system is a convenient way to control all the lights (and even window blinds) with a simple touch.

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 relax into a Happy New Year, call the Mosby office at 314.909.1800 or contact them here.

Hunter (above) was born to Candice and Justin Lane on December 7, 2011. Their firstborn is happy, healthy and adorable. And as if being a new Daddy doesn’t keep him busy enough, Justin has something else to do this month.

See Justin’s ponytail in the picture above? He’s cutting it off for Locks of Love. This will be the second time he has done so.

Another highlight of Justin’s big year is that he became the Mosby Building Arts Warranty Technician. This is a new position for the company, created to maximize the efficiency of caring for past clients. Because this covers such a broad spectrum of home improvement projects, we need a craftsman who could analyze and solve any problem that arose. Justin was the logical choice.

The Kirkwood native started at Mosby in 2001 as a carpenter helper, and as he advanced his skills in framing, shingling and drywalling he became a Lead Carpenter. What is another specialty he developed? “My favorite challenge is water management,” says Justin. “I love detecting and solving water leak problems!”

We extend our heartiest congratulations to Candice and Justin Lane for the arrival of Hunter, and are pleased that our clients now have the peace of mind that comes from Justin as our Warranty Technician.

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 bought a late 1950’s vintage house and have been very happy with it. But there is a cedar-lined closet in the master bedroom that show signs of a leak. Work was done to re-flash a chimney, but during the recent heavy rain the leak reappeared. The roofer said that if the flashing didn’t solve the problem then moisture may be coming through the bricks themselves.

Is it possible for moisture to penetrate bricks? And could you recommend a reliable contractor to find and fix the leak?

Answer

Water does penetrate brick, and very quickly. Brick is a very porous material and a brick wall can pass water through it in as quickly as 20 seconds from when a typical garden hose with a sprayer hits it.

With that being said, it is very possible that there is another problem causing the leak other than the brick. Your chimney is probably solid masonry and has a mortar cap around the clay flue liner. If it has a crack, or is deteriorated, or if your chimney is in need of tuck pointing, it could be the cause of your leak.

There are several other areas to look at to find these kinds of leaks where the roof intersects with the brick. Once the problem is found and corrected, sealing the brick and tuckpointing gives you another layer of protection.

Mosby Building Arts specializes in finding and solving water problems and we have sealing experts on staff, as well. Please give us a call at 314.909.1800 if you would like help analyzing and correcting your leaking brick chimney.

As if it isn’t exciting enough, the 3rd Annual Mosby Christmas Cube Contest had two new twists from previous years. But first, let’s review all of the participants before we get to the winners.  Above is one of the highlights of Tina Reese’s cube: a 3D Christmas tree!

And elsewhere in her cube, she had to clarify an important point.

Designer Julie Giljum went with a round ornament theme with special guest appearance by the ICART polar bear.

David Cluff turned everyone in the office into Santa Claus for the mural above.

A fine detail of Ken Ware’s cube was decorated bottles of merry.

Darrell McClanahan (with the help of his two daughters) went Feliz Navidad, complete with chips & salsa and a blender for non-alcoholic margaritas. Pay attention to that Christmas tree pinata hanging above – it makes a spectacular return appearance.

The first new twist to the 3rd Annual Mosby Christmas Cube Contest was a tie for 3rd place.

Noel Jacob’s cube (2 photos above) was decked out as the North Pole.  She was the 2010 1st place winner, and this year she shares the 3rd place win with…

…Kelly Rooney and her Peppermint Gingerbread House theme, shown in the 2 photos above.

In 2nd place is Michelle Bridgewater (above and below) with her BridgeH2O Candy Cane Palace.

And finally, the 1st place winner is…

Tracy Bax with Snowman Resort!

Tracy was the 3rd Place winner in 2009, proving that working at your craft will always produce winning results.

And here are our 4 big winners, with gift cards to treat themselves over the holidays. From left to right, we have Kelly Rooney, Noel Jacobs, Michelle Bridgewater & Tracy Bax.

Ahhh yes, the Christmas tree pinata… The second new twist is we had a Christmas Cube Contest After party where  contestants were blindfolded and spun around as the pinata lowered, and here’s the action packed result:

Look at the group of adults rushing at the candy like 5-year olds. We love it! Thank you to everyone who took part in this event we love so much. And from everyone at Mosby Building Arts, we wish you all Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year!

Come the first cold and windy days of winter, we become very aware of any drafts coming from the outside, or places in the home that just never seem to warm up right.

When you’re uncomfortable, it’s understandable that you want the problem solved as quickly as possible. But it’s important to have an accurate answer so you’re not spending good money on the wrong solution.

I Feel a Draft

PROBLEM: You can literally feel cold air coming through a window.
ASSUMPTION:  I need replacement windows.
RECONSIDER:  It could be air gaps around the window that need to be sealed.

This Room is Cold

PROBLEM: On room in your home is colder than the others.
ASSUMPTION: Increase insulation in the attic above this room.
RECONSIDER:  It could be an unbalanced HVAC system or a closed damper.

My Heating Bills are Outrageous

PROBLEM: You’re spending a lot for a minimum of comfort.
ASSUMPTION: I need a new or bigger furnace.
RECONSIDER: It could be air leaks or inadequate insulation creating chilly conditions.

How Do I Learn the Truth?

A home energy audit is the smart and cost-effective way to learn about the weak spots in your home. Have a certified energy auditor perform a series of tests to find the real problems, analyze the solutions, and give you a list of ways to improve the comfort and energy efficiency of your home.

It’s best to find the real cause rather than pay for something you may not need. Testing will ensure you’re spending wisely on long-term solutions for your comfort, health and utility bills.

Learn more about the Mosby Home Energy Audit here. And to get started with making your home comfortable for the winter, 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.