HOME REMODELING EXPO Preview | Pages 16-17

FALL 2012

Fall 2012

What Everybody Ought to Know About Remodeling!

LIGHTING PLUMBING FIXTURES SHOWER ENCLOSURESPASSIONATE PEOPLE

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08 President’s Note Bill Albright

12 Weigh Your Options Before A Do-It-Yourself Remodel 16 2012 Fall Home Remodeler’s Expo Signature Event Preview

20 Winter Preparation for Your Lawn & Landscape Contributed by John Bast, IV

23 Orchestrate Your Dreams Contributed by Dana Bali!

27 Add Green To Your Home & Pocketbook by Remodeling 29 2012 Event Highlights

EditorJennifer Johnson

Creative TeamIngrid Schultz

Alyssa Pronschinske

PrinterBadgerland Printing

Photo contributed by Kim Cesafsky

Contents

!is publication is published three times a year by the Chippewa Valley Home Builders Association. No part of

this publication may be reprinted or otherwise reproduced without written permission.

For information regarding advertising in an upcoming issue, please call 715.835.2526.

Visit us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/cvhba!

2012 Board of DirectorsPresident

Bill Albright, Heartland Homes

Vice President Billy Bergh, Dri!wood Builders

SecretaryJon Schwieters, ShredAway

TreasurerPat Sturz, LarsonAllen LLP

Past PresidentCody Filipczak, C&M Properties & Construction LLC

Jim Bechly, Bank Mutal*Frank Biermeier, Menards – East*

Lance Brunkow, Brunkow Builders, Inc.Neil Haselwander, Haselwander Bros., Inc.*+

Gregory Haselwander, Haselwander Companies, Inc.*+David Hopkins, Woita & Associates*Tom Kruse, Independent Flooring*

Paul Madsen, RainMaster Lawn SystemsMike Marthaler, Mike’s Custom Homes*

Barb Oas, Royal Credit UnionDennis Pawlak, Pawlak ConstructionBill Pozarski, Pozarski Enterprises*Roy Rico, Rico Quality Homes, Inc.*

Je" Schreiner, Creative Construction of Eau Claire LLCMonica Sommerfeldt Lewis, Archer Lion, Inc.*+Jason Steen, Steen Construction of Osseo, Inc.*+

Randy Tews, R. Tews Construction & Design, Inc.*+

*Also serves as a Director on the Wisconsin Builders Association Board

+Also serves as a Director on the National Association of Home Builders

CVHBA StaffJennifer Johnson, Executive O#cer

Ingrid Schultz, O#ce ManagerAmy Zittel, Membership Services Coordinator

Maddi Rodgers, Events CoordinatorAlyssa Pronschinske, Graphic Designer

4319 Je"ers Road Suite 200 | Eau Claire, WI 54703T 715.835.2526 | F 715.835.2905

visit us online: cvhomebuilders.com

!e Chippewa Valley Home Builders Association(CVHBA) is a non pro"t trade association representingthe area’s home building industry. Established in 1972, its mission is to build a better Chippewa Valley housing industry through promotion, advocacy and education. Representing almost 350 members throughout Bu#alo, Chippewa, Dunn, Eau Claire and Pepin counties, the

CVHBA is a powerful voice for the home building community.6

© 2012 AnchorBank, fsb. AnchorBank is a service mark of Anchor BanCorp Wisconsin Inc.

We’re putting the own in home ownership.

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"e days are getting shorter and the nights are cooler. Fall has arrived and with it come thoughts of remodeling and home improvement projects.

"e 2nd Annual CVHBA Fall Home Remodeling Expo will take place on October 6th at the Eau Claire Expo Center. "is will be a great opportunity to discover new and money saving ideas. Exhibitors will be presenting the best in interior and exterior décor and home renovation. Concrete to roo#ng – $ooring to lighting – cabinets to paint colors – the CVHBA Fall Remodeling Expo has all your project needs covered. It is also a great time to meet local contractors for your next home or business project.

For many people, their home is the biggest investment they will ever make. CVHBA urges homeowners to gather as much information about a contractor before signing a contract or allowing any work to begin. It will take some time, but the e!ort will be well worth it in the end. Some important things to ask include:

Bill AlbrightCVHBA President

8

President’s Note

Check the contractor’s name with the State of Wisconsin Department of Safety & Professional Services to see if the appropriate certi#cation is on #le. Also check with the O%ce of Consumer Protection for justi#ed complaints #led with the O%ce.

What local suppliers, subcontractors and bankers does the contractor use? Call these companies and ask for references. Contact past customers and ask about the contractor’s timeliness for completing the work, quality of work, response time when follow-up calls are needed and the contractor’s manner in dealing with customers. Be wary of the contractor that o!ers only out of town references.

- Membership in the builders association, for example, is an indication of the contractor’s interest in keeping up with the latest information about building industry technology, products and building materials

A contract bene#ts both parties. Review it carefully! In addition, get a lien waiver from the contractor before you pay. "is is proof that all the materials and labor have been paid for.

Be cautious! It’s a dangerous situation if the contractor collects from you but cannot pay the suppliers from whom materials are purchased.

"e changing seasons also brings change to CVHBA. We welcome Jennifer Johnson to the CVHBA family as the new Executive O%cer. Jennifer is a certi#ed non-pro#t professional with previous experience in Home Builder Association management. She and her family come to the Chippewa Valley from northern Wisconsin.

Lots of changes lately but one thing remains certain – CVHBA is the area’s best resource for contractor and home related services.

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Weigh Your Options Before a

Do-it-Yourself Remodel

According the U.S. Census Bureau, home owner do-it-yourself (DIY) projects account for 20 percent of all home remodeling performed nationwide. While there are a substantial number of weekend warriors out there, remodeling industry professionals report that between 25 and 30 percent of their work comes from #xing DIY debacles.

Photo contributed by Wurzer Builders

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Some credit the desire among home owners to tackle repair and remodeling projects to hit television show’s like ABC’s “Extreme Home Makeover.” "e introduction of cable channels with programming dedicated to all things home including HGTV and the DIY Network may inspire home owners to take on home #xes and decorating challenges as well.

While most professional remodelers understand that home owners will do some of their own home repairs or small renovations, overwhelmingly they believe that many jobs should be le& to the pros.

“"e rule of thumb that I always live by is that if a handyman service in your area can do the project, then odds are that a good do-it-yourselfer can do it themselves,” says Bob Birner, CGR, CAPS of Amazing Siding Corp. in Houston. “If they don’t do it, then that’s a good sign that you need a professional.”

Birner adds, “Remodelers wouldn’t perform open-heart surgery on a loved one without medical expertise. Remodeling is open-heart surgery for the home — only professionals should attempt it.”

Still think you can tackle a big remodeling project? Bob Van Cleef, CGR, CGB, GMB, owner of Yankee Housewrights in Jamestown, R.I. cautions all motivated DIYers. “A home owner should look at a project, consider the worst case scenario and ask, ‘If it comes to this, will I know how to #x it?’” says Van Cleef.

Van Cleef and other professionals admit that when it comes to repairs and remodeling their own homes they hire professionals to do it. “I have been in construction my whole life and I still hire a pro to do work at our house, because there are certain things even I wouldn’t touch such as electrical, plumbing and framing,” says Van Cleef.

"ere are some home projects that professional remodelers believe can be tackled by determined DIYers (depending on skill level) such as hanging pictures, interior painting, caulking, changing door knobs and cabinet pulls, and some aesthetic work such as installing crown molding.

If you are willing to put the time and energy into a do-it-yourself home remodel, Barbara Rose Peck, co-owner of S.N. Peck Building, Inc. and Case Handyman Services of Chicago advises:

that comes with the product and take it seriously.

maintenance book.

everything up and protect surrounding surfaces and furniture.

equipment.

Consumers are cautioned not to take on more than they are capable of doing both in terms of time and skill. “"e biggest mistake the weekend handyman makes is to take on a project larger than he can handle in a reasonable amount of time,” says Douglas Nelson, CR, CGR of New Spaces in Burnsville, Minn. “I have talked with people who have been remodeling

Advice for Do-it-Yourselfers

their kitchen for more than two years.” Remember, DIY projects should be fun and suit your

skill level. If they’re not, then consider hiring a professional.

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For additional information visit cvhomebuilders.com or call 715-835-2526

Fall showcases a beautiful change in season and is a great time to consider remodeling and home improvement projects. "e CVHBA Fall

Home Remodeling Expo o!ers a unique opportunity to meet face to face with the experts.

More than 50 exhibitors will be presenting the best ideas in décor and interior and exterior home renovation. From concrete to

roo#ng – $ooring to lighting – cabinets to paint colors – discover new ideas and gather money-saving tips. "is is also a great time

to meet local contractors for your home or business project.

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"e shorter days and crisp temperatures that signal the start of fall are upon us, and there is no better time to take stock of your lawn and landscaping as you prepare for winter. Tackling these lawn and landscaping jobs now can pay long-term dividends.

Lawn aeration involves the removal of small soil plugs or “cores” out of the lawn. Aerators typically extract 1/2 to 3/4 inch diameter cores of soil and deposits them on your lawn to allow air, moisture and fertilizer to penetrate down to the root zone.

Even with meticulous care, lawns can thin out and lose color due to excessive thatch buildup, hard or compacted soils, or periods of high temperature, high humidity, or drought. According to "e Lawn Institute, more than two-thirds of American lawns are growing on compacted soils. "ese soils slowly

To Aerate or Not to Aerate?

Plan Your Fall PlantingFall is the best season for planting trees, shrubs,

and perennials. Many nurseries and garden centers put plants on sale in the fall and most of them will be mature plants with a full season of growth behind them, so take advantage of the savings.

Plants planted in the fall bene#t from cooler air temperatures and also soil temperatures still warm enough to support good root growth. A&er a winter of dormancy, fall-planted trees and shrubs really come alive the following spring.

Take Stock of Your LawnFall also is a great time for new grass to take root,

so consider reseeding in selected areas. Reseeding eliminates areas for weeds to grow in the spring.

It’s also a good practice to rake leaves and debris o! of your lawn in the fall. Put some muscle into it and rake out any areas where heavy thatch has built up.

Lawns also bene#t from a high nitrogen fertilizer application in the late fall, which encourages root growth. Look for a lawn fertilizer labeled “winterizing.”

WINTERPreparation

for your lawn and landscape

Cut your lawn one last time a&er it has stopped growing, but before the #rst snow. Adjust your mower to cut your lawn to about 1-2 inches. Use your lawn mower bagging attachment for this #nal mowing to pick up grass, leaves and other debris.

Contributed by John Bast, IVEver-Green Services

21

reduce the amount of oxygen contained in the soil, thus retarding the penetration of both water and nutrients. Aerating and overseeding is an excellent treatment to control thatch, reduce compaction, #ll-in bare spots and revitalize growth.

Here are the key bene#ts of aeration:

1. Loosens compacted soil and increases the availability of water and nutrients.

2. Enhances oxygen levels in the soil, stimulating root growth and enhancing the activity of thatch-decomposing organisms.

3. Reduces water runo!.4. Increases the lawn’s drought tolerance and

improves its overall health.

"e type of grass determines the best time of the year to aerate. With lawns composed of cool-season grasses such as Kentucky bluegrass it is best

to aerate in the fall, when there is less heat stress and danger of invasion by weedy annuals. On the other hand, late spring and summer is the best time to aerate warm-season grasses, when they are actively growing.

While lawn care and landscaping routinely top fall maintenance lists, there are other home maintenance tasks that will help ensure a warm and happy winter. Please visit www.cvhomebuilders.com or www.nahb.org for more information on home care.

John Bast IV is Co-Owner of Ever-Green Services in Eau Claire, WI. Learn more about them at www.ever-greenservices.com!

22

VITAL LEADERCommunity Partner

Local business, organizations and events enrich and improve the quality of life in our communities. For this reason the Leader-Telegram proudly supports and sponsors more than 55 local events and programs.

By subscribing to the Leader-Telegram you are helping us sustain and develop many

of the areas largest community events and non-pro!t fundraisers.

To Subscribe call 715-833-9268leadertelegram.com

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By supporting and sponsoring these events and programs the Leader-Telegram is posed to donate over $150,000 in in-kind advertising this year. With this help these organizations can maximize their advertising efforts and reach their potential.

OrchestrateYour Dreams

Contributed by Dana Bali!Ferguson Bath and Kitchen Gallery

R emodeling an existing bath or designing the bathrooms for your new home can be a daunting task. "e choices can be numerous and confusing. We suggest utilizing highly trained showroom consultants that can simplify the process and help you design the bathroom of your dreams.

Identify Your StyleWhether you are remodeling a current bathroom, or selecting products for a new home, it is important that the room

re$ect your style. As a #rst step in planning for your bath escape, take some time to do your homework. Look online for ideas, browse design magazines and begin to identify styles and trends that you #nd appealing. Once you have an idea of which designs appeal to you, a showroom consultant can apply these tastes to your lighting, and plumbing selections, as well as other key elements of your room design.

Room designed by Dorig Designs, LLC.Photo courtesy of Preview First

Fashion Trends “Less is more” seems to be the trend when designing bathrooms. While contemporary styling is growing in

popularity, according to nationwide showroom consultants, today’s customers are utilizing a combination of modern and traditional styles — a new world meets classic charm approach to design. Chrome, of course, remains a timeless #nish, but brushed nickel continues to be one of the most popular decorative #nishes in the bath. Today’s design trends lean towards clean lines while homeowners seek functional products that o!er high style and quality. Many manufacturers have introduced faucets with mixed materials and #nishes. For example, combinations with crystal and glass, or white and chrome are quite popular. Homeowners are looking to bring the outside in with their bath designs using a combination of stone, wood, glass and marble and natural earth tones.

Green Today’s consumers continue to feel a strong personal desire to make the world a better place, and they remain alert

and concerned about the need to conserve natural resources. As such, more homeowners than ever are looking for bath appliances that lessen the strain on the environment. "e good news is, the industry is listening, and going green no longer means missing out on the latest gadgets and technological marvels. Most manufacturers o!er high e%ciency toilets (HETs) with attractive designs that do not sacri#ce performance and result in a 20 percent water savings. Motion sensor faucets have transitioned from the workplace to the home, reducing water consumption by turning o! when not required. Similarly, available touch sensors let users turn faucets on and o! without reaching for the handle, reducing the frequency of using chemicals to clean and disinfect.

Green also is present in the bathroom where manufacturers are using recycled and lower VOC (volatile organic compound) materials in vanities, shelving and bathroom furniture to reduce the environmental footprint while preserving the high-end appearance of hardwood. Tankless water heaters reduce energy consumption by up to 40 percent by heating more e%ciently and only when needed, avoiding standby loss. A tankless water heater produces very low nitrogen oxide and carbon dioxide emissions, contributing to cleaner air and a healthier environment. Signi#cantly smaller in size than their conventional counterparts, tankless water heaters use fewer materials and reduce what may end up in land#lls.

Room designed by Dorig Designs, LLC.Photo courtesy of Preview First

Article contributed by Dana Bali", Ferguson Bath & Kitchen Gallery. No matter what you are looking for, Ferguson’s Bath, & Kitchen Gallery provides all of the latest bathroom and kitchen products in one convenient location. Dana has been in the industry for almost 12 years and is always willing to help with any project you may have. Please stop in to see how we can help with your upcoming project.

Technology Technology is changing the way we live in our

homes, and is being used to make the bathroom more e%cient, comfortable and luxurious. One of the fastest growing trends in bathrooms is custom showering, which is used to create a home spa experience. From customized showers that include rainbars, body sprays and hand showers, to rain canopies installed overhead, consumers want to create a personal and private space in their own home. In addition, enhanced digital systems o!er customized experiences with multiple showering components, and many include music and ambient lighting. Chromatherapy and steam are also popular in the shower.

$e Consultation Experience Choosing products that will go into your

bathroom project should not be rushed. Showroom consultants want to give you their undivided attention, and typically work by appointment. A one-hour consultation time is most productive, but some projects may require up to two hours. It is best to bring your project plan, know your budget or builder/remodeler’s allowance, and bring magazines pictures or other ideas. In addition, samples, color swatches, tile or $ooring can help in designing your bathroom.

Room designed by Dorig Designs, LLC. Photo courtesy of Preview First

25

$

It’s nearly impossible these days to open the newspaper and not see a story about the rapid growth of green building, where new homes are built using materials that conserve energy and environmental resources. Home owners of green homes said in a survey that 85 percent of the time they were happier with their new green home than with their previous, more traditionally built ones, due in part to the lower operating and maintenance costs that come with energy- and resource-e%cient homes.

But for the 120 million existing homes in the United States, remodeling is the only way for home owners to incorporate green. NAHB Remodelers o!ers the following suggestions to home owners who want to increase their home’s e%ciency, decrease costs, and take advantage of the other bene#ts that green o!ers.

1. Install maximum insulation in the area to be remodeled.

Forty percent of the energy consumed in a typical house goes to heating and cooling. Adding insulation is an easy way to increase e%ciency. Insulation is rated by its ability to resist heat $ow, commonly known as “R-value.” "e higher the R-value, the better its ability to resist heat $ow. Adding insulation will help save energy costs, increase comfort by better controlling temperature, and improve indoor air quality by eliminating many gaps through which dirt, dust, and other impurities can enter.

that just meet the energy code.Ordinary window glass transmits ultraviolet

heat rays from the sun, which can increase your air conditioning bill dramatically. ENERGY STAR windows can help control this e!ect. "ese windows may have two or more panes of glass, warm-edge spacers between the panes, improved framing materials, and microscopically thin metal or metallic oxide layers deposited on windows to reduce radiative heat $ow.

3. Seal all exterior penetrations in the area being remodeled.

You can reduce cold air dra&s and heat loss by inspecting your home from the inside and outside and plugging cracks or openings. Be sure to check the areas where window frames meet the structure

or siding of the house. Use caulking to seal all small cracks on non-moving surfaces and weatherstripping on windows, doors and other movable parts of the home.

ENERGY STAR -rated appliances, ranging from dishwashers and refrigerators to computers and televisions, meet strict energy e%ciency guidelines set by the EPA and U.S. Department of Energy. Quali#ed refrigerators, dishwashers and vent fans incorporate advanced technologies that use 10-50 percent less energy and water than standard models, more than making up for the slightly higher costs of these products.

In the average home, $ushing toilets accounts for some 30 percent of water usage. By using low-$ow plumbing #xtures such as toilets, faucet aerators and showerheads, you can save up to 25 percent of that water compared to conventional #xtures while providing the same utility.

water heater.Tankless water heaters provide hot water on

demand at a preset temperature rather than storing it. Replacing an electric water heater with a solar model can reduce costs by up to 80 percent a year. Over its 20-year lifespan a solar heater will prevent more than 50 tons of carbon dioxide emissions. A low-cost option is to wrap insulation around your heater, which can reduce standby heat losses 25 to 45 percent.

7. Purchase the highest e#ciency HVAC system you can a"ord.

Over a ten year period, the average home owner spends more than $10,000 for heating and cooling. Installing high e%ciency ENERGY STAR HVAC equipment can reduce utilities costs on average by ten to 30 percent over minimum e%ciency equipment. It also can improve home comfort with more heating and cooling and a quieter operation, and o&en features higher quality components that result in longer equipment life.

by Remodeling$$Add Green to Your Home — and Your Pocketbook —

27

Serving Chippewa, Dunn, Pepin, Rusk, Jackson & Eau Claire Counties

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2012 HighlightsEvent

2012 Parade of Homes Premiere, Participating Builders

Builder’s Garage Sale

Thank You!To the members of the CVHBA and our community for another year of wonderful support!

Summer Golf Outing, Lake Hallie Golf Course

294th Annual Remodeler’s Showcase

Chippewa Valley Free Clinic Service Project, Volunteers

43

Remodeling . . .

New Construction . . .

Watch our Online Video Tours

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.... Quality

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