In this week’s blog we are going to start a new segment entitled “Project Wrap-Up”.  After every project is complete we will blog about it and give you a general idea of what the project detailed, how we preformed the job, any issues that we may have ran into during the job, and before and after pictures that will be coming to our Projects Portfolio page soon.

So we have just wrapped-up a new floating cedar deck with an existing enclosed screen on a porch in Golden Valley. The customer requested that we remove the screening, tear-up existing deck, replace deck with cedar, and then re-install the screening.

1. Our first task was to remove the existing screening without damaging it. We achieved this by carefully removing one section of the screening at a time. The screening was held up with screws that were screwed into the existing deck and also nailed into the fascia. This made it somewhat difficult to remove without ruining the fascia.
2. We tore up the existing decking and hauled it off. This was fairly simple since it was pretty old. We basically just pulled it out with our own hands.
3. We re-leveled the surface & started framing the deck which was very difficult because of concrete that was beneath the old decking. The concrete was cracked and significantly shifted which created an uneven surface.
4. While the deck was being framed with green treated wood, we also started staining both sides of the cedar decking boards. We always stain all sides of cedar board decking to keep moisture from causing the boards to warp.
5. We installed the pre-stained cedar decking boards making sure all our Deck Mate screws were in line with each other. We always use screws instead of nails to ensure that all boards a fastened securely and will not pop out later on down the road.
6. We re-installed the screening. We put the screening back in opposite of how we took it out in order to line everything up properly.

An issue that we ran into during this project was the heat; it was about 80 degrees on average out there. The problem with the heat is it’s just not that fun to work in, well we already know that. The real problem comes when it’s time to stain the decking boards and there is not enough shade in the area. If it’s too hot out during the staining process without ample shade, then the boards do not dry properly.  So a good tip is to try and do your staining early in the morning or make sure you have plenty of shade in the area while staining.

All-in-all, the porch turned out to look very nice and the client was pleased with the outcome. To look at some before and after shots, please check out our photo page. If you have any questions about this project or any future projects please let us know by contacting us.

For now, you can look at the Golden Valley Deck page here until the final page is launched.

In today’s world the concern for energy efficiency in our homes is a Hot topic.  We hear about “Lower your costs with Energy Star”, “Put money back in your pocket”.  Is this truly the case?  Here are a few numbers to get you thinking just from a laundry standpoint.

Top loading washers on average use 65 gallons of water per load.  Front load washers use an average of  20-25 gallons per load.  Top load washers have a spin out speed maxing at 600 rpm’s .  Front load washers have a max spin of 1000 to 1200 rpm’s, depending on the model.

What does this mean to you as the consumer?  Less water = less money being spent on a water bill.  Higher spin out speeds = dryer clothes, which translates into shorter dry times in the dryer, which equals faster turning laundry loads, along with less energy being spent on Electric or Gas.

Truly, you save money when using Front Load Laundry, but more importantly, you save TIME and you also help to save our environment.  Both of the latter I feel are more important than the money aspect.  Time is Money, and by helping to preserve our environment, we save money down the road via taxes, and already being in compliance with EPA regulations that are bound to hit us sooner than later.

Word of Advice:  If you are considering purchasing Front Load Laundry, remember that you don’t have to spend a lot of money on the biggest and best, you want to talk to an experienced sales person, and have them fit you with a machine that will do that job without breaking the bank.

Justin Woessner

ApplianceSmart

952-930-1736

10 Reasons why you need Life Insurance

1.)    You have a loan on a vehicle

2.)    You or your children have loans for college

3.)    You have credit card debt

4.)    You have personal loans

5.)    Your spouse relies on your income

6.)    You are saving for retirement

7.)    You have outstanding medical bills

8.)    You have young children

9.)    You have a mortgage

10.)  You have a second mortgage

Why is life Insurance Important?

Life Insurance won’t guarantee you’ll never face a tragic situation, just as wearing a seat belt won’t keep you from crashing your car. Whatever hopes and dreams you have for your loved ones can still be realized, even if the worst were to happen.

REAL EXAMPLES:

~Husband/father was driving home from work and lost control of his vehicle. He was killed instantly leaving wife to raise two kids, a $200,000 mortgage and loan for vehicle.

~The couple each had a $500,000 dollar life insurance policy to pay for his $15,000 funeral, $200,000 Mortgage, $20,000 Car loan and also covered expenses to raise children.

~A 19-year old was riding in a vehicle with a few friends. The driver wasn’t paying attention and ran a red light getting T-boned by an on coming vehicle killing the teenager instantly.

~Her parents carried a $100,000 policy which paid for her funeral, college debt and some medical expenses. Parents also missed work for 6 months which life insurance paid for.

~Mother/Wife was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and was given 6 months to live. Family incurred $90,000 in medical bills and many trips to and from hospital. They spent the last two months traveling and shortly after she passed away leaving two children.

~Husband/Father received $250,000 in life insurance which was used to pay for funeral, medical bills, travel expenses and time missed from work.

American Family Insurance offers 25% discount with your home & auto insurance. We offer another discount on your auto insurance with a life insurance policy.  To find out your rate on your home, auto & life insurance go to my link under partnerships and click on American Family Insurance.

Office: 763-428-1004      Fax: 763-428-3063

Office: 763-428-1004     Fax 763-428-3063

What is the purpose of this program? FHA loans provide mortgage insurance for a person to purchase a principal residence in metro or rural areas. The mortgage loan is funded by a lending institution, such as a mortgage company, bank, savings and loan association and the mortgage is insured by HUD.

Advantages about FHA:

• Borrower’s credit can be much lower with FHA versus a conforming loan.  I’ve seen approvals for borrowers with 570 scores.
• Borrower is eligible for approximately 97% financing on a purchase and with the Nehamia program up to 6% of the final contract sales price for down payment and/or closing costs.  So you can buy a home with no down payment out of your pocket and get a great rate!
• Eligible properties are one-to-four unit structures, including farm housing located on 2 acres or more of land adjacent to an all weather road.
• Available for first-time and repeat homebuyers.
• Approved for new construction and resale homes.
• Interest rates are as good as conforming rates.
• Borrower can refinance and take Cash Out for up to 95% of the appraised value!!

FHA is a great option for those who do not own other properties and want to purchase a home with little or no money down. It is also great for borrowers who want to refinance and pull cash out of their home up to 95% of appraised value. FHA however is more expensive and not always the best program. To find out what loan program is right for you just give me a call at 612-481-7841 and we can go over your specific needs to find the right loan for you. Thanks for reading and stay tuned for more market news.

Eric Ollestad, Mortgage Consultant

work (763) 416-2653     cell (612) 481-7841

Hello all,

Its Eric Ollestad with Mortgages Unlimited.  I’m excited to introduce myself as the Mortgage Consultant for JWC Residential Construction.  I’ve worked with JWC since the very first construction project and I’ve helped the owners and many friends, family and clients find the right loan for their specific needs.  I’ll be blogging periodically about market conditions and updates on interest rates along with different products available for refinancing, purchasing and new construction.  Big thanks to JWC Residential for all of their support and partnership.  Check back soon for my first blog about FHA financing.

Eric Ollestad, Mortgage Consultant

work (763) 416-2653     cell (612) 481-7841

While at Marvin, we learned a great deal about some of their new products like SillGuard, and Venting Picture Windows. We also learned about their manufacturing process.

Marvin SillGuard is a new way of keeping out water and moisture by effectively moving it to the exteriors of window and door openings. The Marvin SillGuard is easy to install and is made from non-corrosive and non-conductive recycled polypropylene.

The new Marvin Venting Picture Windows are an industry first. The Venting Windows provide the beauty of a picture window with the opportunity for cross ventilation. It provides fresh air and outside noises without any actual breeze coming through.

Here are some of the highlights of the manufacturing process we noticed while at Marvin:

• Marvin does not ever use two different species of wood for any of their products.
• They can design and produce any window that you can think of.
• Some of their patio screen doors are operated by rollers on the top of the doors.
• It’s unbelievable how many steps go into making a window!

To sum it up, this tour showed us that Marvin has got some new ideas and great products. However, while we like what Marvin is doing, there are many other companies out there that build great windows. It’s important to choose a window that not only looks great, performs well, and fits within your budget.

If you’re interested in finding out more information about windows or would like an estimate on adding or replacing windows at your house, please feel free to contact us.

Disadvantages of Composite

1. Only wood will truly give you the true look of a wood deck
2. Will scratch or stain. Immediately clean with warm water and soap if there is a spill.
3. Hot grease from the grill could melt a panel
4. It will fade over time. A tan line effect could happen if you have rugs on your deck. We also recommend choosing a darker color than you want to counter act the fade.
5. Not completely maintenance free. It needs to be cleaned to maintain a fresh look
6. It expands when heated and contracts when cooled so be sure your installer is accounting for this fluctuation by applying a gap between boards.
7. More expensive than a natural wood deck

Disadvantages of Cedar

1. Requires a power wash and stain at least once every 3 years
2. It may crack, splinter or warp
3. Softwoods deteriorate quicker than hardwoods
4. Can mold if it is not well maintained
5. The upfront cost is cheaper but over time it cost more to maintain
6. Cedar is not as flexible as composite decks limiting the ability for custom curves
7. There aren’t as many color variances in comparison to a composite deck

Disadvantages of Ipê

1. Hard to work with because of its weight and lack of flexibility
2. Expensive. Cost is about the same as your high end composite decks
3. Availability can be an issue since it is imported from South America
4. Requires additional labor. (pre-drilling of fasteners)

We hope we have helped you in making an educated decision on what kind of material to use for your new deck. If you would like more information on deck designs feel free to contact us. Our next blog will be on windows. If there is a topic you would like for us to blog on leave a comment request and who knows the next blog could be just for you.

Benefits of Composite Wood

1. Composite is low-maintenance
2. No weather sealing or staining
3. Can be molded to create desired curves and arches
4. Cost more upfront but cost to maintain is low
5. Typically last 10-20 years
6. Splinter free
7. No need to paint and comes in a variety of grays and earth tones
8. Made to look like many exotic wood grains 

Composite wood material is a mixture of natural wood scraps (sawdust, pulp fibers, bamboo, straw etc.) and virgin or waste plastics. It is viewed by some as a renewable resource because it’s made out of materials that would normally be thrown away. Trex is probably the most well known and been around the longest. For more info check out the following www.TREX.com.

Benefits of Cedar Wood

1. High resistance to UV rays, moisture and insects
2. Range of color from cinnamon to silver gray, if stained the colors vary even more.
3. Strong enough to protect deck fastenings from corrosion
4. Along with its beauty it also gives off an appealing scent
5. Light yet durable and easy to work with
6. Biodegradable and environmentally friendly
7. Accepts stains well
8. Has a proven track record throughout history

Cedar is softwood and a popular natural wood used for decking because of its high resistance to elements and insects. Besides being durable its rustic charm makes it considered to be one of the most appealing to the eye. Cedar can be stained in a number of different colors, and purchased in a number of different grades. (smooth vs. knots). Here is a great site for cedar decking information www.cedar-deck.org.

Benefits of Ipê  Wood

1. High resistance to decay can last up to 25 years
2. Scratch resistant and about twice as hard as oak
3. Fire resistance rating similar to concrete
4. Low maintenance, can be left unsealed or sealed to capture the natural color
5. Wood characteristics allow boards to resist twisting, bowing, and cracks
6. Biodegradable and environmentally friendly
7. Resistant to termites and other insects
8. Used for boardwalks in NY including Coney Island docks

Ipê (ee-pay) is a durable Brazilian hardwood. Although not well know, Ipê decking is a great alternative to those looking for a low maintenance deck with real wood.  Like xerox to the copier, Ipê is commonly referred to as “Iron Wood” who is a major distributor of Ipê decking materials.  www.ipedeckingsource.com

As you can see you have many choices when it comes to decking, we hope this information helps and please feel free to ask any us any questions in the comments and answer the poll question to the right.  Finally if all this deck talk has you ready to add one to your house let us know, we ‘d be happy to provide you a free estimate on your project.

You can count on JWC to keep you in the loop on such topics as real estate, new homes, green building, the latest technologies, industry trends, trade shows, and who knows, we may even throw in a BBQ recipe every now and then.

We’d like to encourage everyone to participate. So feel free to leave comments, check out our polls, and subscribe to the RSS feed. Click on our partners tab to find out more about the companies that will also participate in our blogs.

Thanks for visiting and check back soon for our next post. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions; please let us know at info@jwcresidential.com