Parrish Construction

Archive for the ‘Spring’ Category

Q—The brick planter box on our house has a white, chalky stain on it. We have tried scrubbing it off, but it keeps coming back. What causes it, and what can be done about it?

Tuesday, June 21st, 2011 Posted in DIY Home Improvements, Exterior Remodeling, FAQ, Freezing Temp. Problems, Historic Homes, Landscaping, Materials- Construction, Spring, Waterproofing, Winter | 1 Comment »

A—The white stain is called efflorescence, and is caused by salts that have been transported from within the brick and mortar by moisture in the brick, and deposited on the surface by evaporation. The stains are cosmetic, and not harmful. ...

Q—Our concrete driveway has sunken near house, and water now ponds there. Is there any way to fix the problem without removing and replacing the driveway?

Thursday, April 7th, 2011 Posted in Exterior Remodeling, FAQ, Flood, Landscaping, Spring, Structural Issues, Waterproofing | No Comments »

A—The dirt backfill near your house has settled, causing the concrete slab to settle with it. Your driveway is a prime candidate for “mud jacking”. The process involves drilling a few small holes in the slab and injecting slurry (mud) ...

Spice up Your Life: Tips and Recipe

Friday, March 25th, 2011 Posted in Advice to Clients, Custom Cabinets, Handyman/Small Jobs, Kitchens, Money-Saving Tips, Seasonal Considerations, Spring | No Comments »

How many bottles of rosemary would you find in your spice cabinet or drawer if you looked right now? If you’ve ever purchased an herb or spice you thought you were out of, only to find that you already had ...

Q: Last spring I had a flood in my basement from a broken water pipe. The plumber said it was caused by a frozen yard faucet. Why did it wait until spring to leak?

Thursday, March 17th, 2011 Posted in Advice to Clients, Basements, DIY Home Improvements, FAQ, Flood, Flooding, Handyman/Small Jobs, Insurance- Home, Money-Saving Tips, Safety Hazards, Spring, Timely Home Upgrades, Winter | No Comments »

A: “Frost proof” sillcocks are designed with a long extension tube to allow the water valve to shut off deep inside the wall where the heat of the house will keep the water from freezing. If the garden hose is ...

Q- It’s Fall and will start to freeze soon at night. What can I do to prevent frozen pipes?

Saturday, October 9th, 2010 Posted in Advice to Clients, Basements, DIY Home Improvements, Energy-Saving Tips, Fall, FAQ, Flooding, Freezing Temp. Problems, Frozen Pipes, Heating/Cooling, Insulation, Plumbing, Spring, Timely Home Upgrades, Ventilation, Winter, YouTube Videos/"Larry on the Level" | No Comments »

A--As we all settle in for the upcoming Winter, it is worthwhile to consider one aspect of the new season that is not pleasant—frozen water pipes. Whether you are new to our climate or a “seasoned” veteran, a review of ...

Closet Organization 101

Tuesday, May 25th, 2010 Posted in Custom Cabinets, Design Tips, Remodels/Additions, Space-Saving/Organization, Spring | No Comments »

    By Annette Parrish- Vice President   Who wouldn’t want a beautiful closet like the "After"  pictured here—large, bright, and ultra organized?  Even the most beautiful closet should be extremely efficient and functional or it will soon become a large, bright, disorganized mess.     As we're ...

Keeping Your Cool

Thursday, May 20th, 2010 Posted in Energy-Saving Tips, Heating/Cooling, Seasonal Considerations, Spring, Summer, Timely Home Upgrades | No Comments »

By Larry Parrish- President, CR, CGR, CAPS, GACP       [caption id="attachment_1919" align="alignright" width="243" caption="This ceiling fan helps cool a child's bedroom with vaulted ceilings, where the top bunk usually feels warm"][/caption] Colorado’s climate is just about perfect isn’t it? And it doesn’t get ...

Save Energy By Replacing Your Windows

Monday, April 26th, 2010 Posted in Energy-Saving Tips, Green Building Topics, Money-Saving Tips, Seasonal Considerations, Spring, Timely Home Upgrades | 1 Comment »

By Larry Parrish, CR, CGR, CAPS, GACP   They’re leaky, they’re ugly and they’re hard to open. Yep, they’re a triple-pain. Consider replacing them.   Few features of a house are more important than its windows. Windows make an architectural statement, but also provide ...

How to Prevent Spring Water Damage

Thursday, April 22nd, 2010 Posted in Basements, Flooding, Landscaping, Safety Hazards, Seasonal Considerations, Spring | 1 Comment »

By Larry Parrish, CR, CGR, CAPS, GACP   The sounds of Spring — birds, lawnmowers, sump pumps. Flooded basements: a rite of Spring. With a little planning, however, you can minimize the likelihood of hauling soggy carpet out to dry.   Most flooded basements/crawlspaces ...

Q: Every Spring, we get water in our basement. Is there anything we can do to prevent this from happening again this year?

Friday, April 2nd, 2010 Posted in FAQ, Flood, Flooding, Insurance- Home, Landscaping, Seasonal Considerations, Spring | No Comments »

A: In my experience, most water problems in basements are caused by improper channeling of surface water away from the foundation. If water from downspouts, roof runoff, or adjacent landscaping is allowed to pond near the foundation, it can saturate ...
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