Builders & Remodelers Blog

As the chill of Minnesota’s winter approaches, there’s still time to upgrade your home with new windows. You might think it's too late in the season to take on a project like this, but don’t worry! We can help you get your replacement windows installed quickly and efficiently, ensuring your home is ready to handle even the harshest winter conditions.

As homeowners ourselves, we understand how much time and effort goes into maintaining a home. That being said, sometimes it’s the little things that end up meaning the most in the end. Continued maintenance, attentive care and a little bit of effort go a long way. A perfect example of this is your gutters. Maintaining gutters is a relatively painless process, but it's one that can make all the difference in the long run. 

Changes in seasons will often cause homeowners to pour more money into their electric bills. Heating expenses rise, while changes in sunset times create a heavier reliance on electricity for lighting. However, as a homeowner, there are a few things you can do today that can save you hundreds if not thousands of dollars down the line on your energy bills. 

As winter descends on the Northern Hemisphere, homeowners search for ways to keep their living spaces warmer, while managing reasonable energy efficiency and utility bills. Some may not realize how important windows are to keeping the heat in through a frigid Minnesota winter.

When it comes to the overall performance of your windows and doors, it is vital to understand their efficiency, which means understanding how to read performance labels.  Performance labels are applied to a window or door at the point of manufacture, and they indicate the results of individual tests. These tests indicate the efficiency of a product, and these ratings are some of the most important factors when it comes to replacing windows and doors. Performance ratings grade efficiencies like U-Factor, VT, and Air Leakage, all of which impact monthly energy bills and living standards. These ratings are best used when compared to ENERGY STAR's map for ideal ratings based on different geographic regions. Click below to learn more about the industry's highest-rated window in the major performance categories. 

Without proper care and attention, energy bills in the wintertime can grossly exceed what we actually have to spend to keep our homes comfortable. The sheer variety of ways that energy efficiency can be leached from a home is one of the greatest problems facing the diligent owner. Improperly sealed windows, old siding, inadequate insulation in the walls  -- there is, unfortunately, a plethora of little escape routes and crannies for the heat to leave and the cold to work its way in. In this article we’ll talk about some of these routes, and go over some practical ways to address them. 

Cold weather can put a massive strain on your roof. Whether it's from moisture accumulation, snow, or freezing temperatures, the toll winter can take on your roof can have widespread consequences.  It's important to evaluate your roof before the winter rolls around, and ensure that it's ready to take on any challenges it may present.

What Cold Weather Does to Your Roof

As the outer layer of your home, siding has a large impact on insulation, weather protection and exterior design.  Thanks to advancements in the siding manufacturing process, homeowners today have more options than ever before.  Factors such as brand, material, R-Value, design options and ROI can help narrow the list of choices for a homeowner, and ultimately make the comparison process easier.  We’ve compiled an analysis of siding options to help you.

Siding is one of the most consistently overlooked aspects of a home when it comes time to budget for renovations. As it wears down and grows old, it can no longer protect the home and also becomes a liability for home energy efficiency over time. Here is a list of some of the most common signs that it’s time to have a local siding company come take a look: