Parrish Construction

Archive for the ‘Summer’ Category

2/3 Window Wonderland FAQ: I’m selecting new windows for my home, but I’m confused by all the acronyms–for what appear to be rating systems. Can you help me sort out all the ‘E’s and ‘U’s?

Wednesday, September 28th, 2011 Posted in Construction Terms, Energy-Saving Tips, FAQ, Green Building Topics, Heating/Cooling, Insulation, Materials- Construction, Summer, Windows & Doors, Winter | No Comments »

A: Energy Star Acronym Guide for Windows, Doors and Skylights. In the EnergyStar standards set by the DOE and EPA for windows, doors and skylights, requirements change with the latitude. In the northern areas of the U.S., energy concerns are to ...

1/3 Window Wonderland FAQ: I want to save energy in my home by purchasing new windows. Generally, what sort of things should I consider regarding energy efficiency?

Tuesday, September 20th, 2011 Posted in Energy-Saving Tips, FAQ, Green Building Topics, Heating/Cooling, Materials- Construction, Summer, Windows & Doors, Winter | No Comments »

A: The salesman says the windows he’s selling are energy efficient. Probably true, but the question you should be asking is: are they the right kind of energy efficiency for the climate where you live and your particular home and ...

Preventing Fire: Practical Precautions

Monday, July 25th, 2011 Posted in Building Codes/Regulations, Disaster-Fire, Electrical, Fall, Insurance- Home, New Construction, Remodels/Additions, Roofing/Ceilings, Safety Hazards, Summer, Timely Home Upgrades | No Comments »

[caption id="attachment_3702" align="alignright" width="300" caption="© Justinjohnson555 | Dreamstime.com"][/caption] There's almost nothing more frightening to a homeowner than the threat of fire. This fall's Fourmile and other fires were not caused by the individual homeowners they affected, but they've got us thinking ...

Q—Our redwood decks that were beautiful when new have become stained, almost black. Is there any way to restore the original color? Should we use a sealer or finish to protect the redwood?

Sunday, June 19th, 2011 Posted in DIY Home Improvements, Exterior Remodeling, FAQ, Landscaping, Materials- Construction, Summer, Waterproofing | No Comments »

A—The stains on your redwood are most likely caused by a combination of dirt, mildew, iron stains, and the reddish-brown tannins that occur naturally in redwood. There are several options for cleaning that can result in dramatic improvement. Many old-timers swear ...

Q—We’re building a new fence and will be digging post holes soon. How can we find out if there are any buried utilities in the way?

Saturday, June 18th, 2011 Posted in Building Permits, Disaster-Fire, DIY Home Improvements, Electrical, Exterior Remodeling, FAQ, Flooding, Insurance- Home, Landscaping, Plumbing, Safety Hazards, Summer | No Comments »

A—Anyone who damages an underground utility such as electric lines, cable television, telephone, sewer, gas, or water lines is liable for damages. Fortunately, you can protect yourself by making a single telephone call to an organization which will notify all ...

Benefits & Features of Outdoor Summer Kitchens

Wednesday, June 1st, 2011 Posted in Exterior Remodeling, Home Luxury, Kitchens, Landscaping, Seasonal Considerations, Summer, Uncategorized | No Comments »

Original summer kitchens were cooking areas outside the home to double cooking space during harvest and to limit heat gain in the non-air conditioned house.  The modern “summer kitchen” addresses these concerns as well as some more noble and pleasant ...

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 ...

Home Energy Audits—Part 2

Tuesday, April 6th, 2010 Posted in Energy-Saving Tips, Green Building Topics, Heating/Cooling, Money-Saving Tips, Seasonal Considerations, Summer, Winter | 1 Comment »

  By Annette Parrish- Vice President   In the last blog, posted in the March 2010 Newsletter, Larry shared that we had a blower door test performed on our own residence in order to learn which energy saving changes could save us money.  ...

Q—Is My Attic Fan Poisoning Me?

Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010 Posted in Advice to Clients, Energy-Saving Tips, FAQ, Heating/Cooling, Safety Hazards, Summer, Ventilation | No Comments »

A—An alert reader has contacted me with a safety concern related to attic fans. He referred me to an article which details a study conducted on the safety of these fans. This study concluded that under certain conditions, attic fans ...

No Job too Big or too Small…Handyman Services

Saturday, January 2nd, 2010 Posted in Aging-in-Place & Handicap Mobility, Building Trends, Energy-Saving Tips, Handyman/Small Jobs, Historic Homes, Money-Saving Tips, Safety Hazards, Seasonal Considerations, Space-Saving/Organization, Spring, Summer, Timely Home Upgrades, Winter | 1 Comment »

  In celebration of over 40 years in the Boulder Valley, we are offering a service that our clients have always enjoyed: Handyman Services (for your Honey-do list!) and small jobs for those things like decks, outbuildings, porches, patios, repair work, ...