Parrish Construction

Archive for the ‘Winter’ 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 ...

Your “Winter’s Coming” Checklist

Thursday, September 15th, 2011 Posted in Advice to Clients, Disaster-Fire, DIY Home Improvements, Freezing Temp. Problems, Frozen Pipes, Handyman/Small Jobs, Heating/Cooling, Home maintenance, Insulation, Money-Saving Tips, Plumbing, Safety Hazards, Seasonal Considerations, Timely Home Upgrades, Waterproofing, Windows & Doors, Winter | No Comments »

Conserve and Protect: that’s what winterizing is about.  Homes can take a beating in our cold Colorado winters, and so can your heating bill. After some education and practice, winterizing will become as natural a rhythm to a homeowner as is flying south ...

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: 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—Is it too late in the year to start construction projects because of bad weather?

Friday, October 15th, 2010 Posted in Construction Costs, Construction Process, Fall, FAQ, Freezing Temp. Problems, New Construction, Winter | No Comments »

A—Since Colorado is blessed with so many sunny days in the winter, we are able to build year-round with only short delays during the worst weather. The biggest problem is with foundations. Once frost is in the ground deeper than ...

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 ...

Q—Is it too late in the season to begin a large addition project?

Wednesday, September 15th, 2010 Posted in Additions, Construction Process, Fall, FAQ, Remodels/Additions, Winter | No Comments »

A—Our weather is usually mild enough to allow construction throughout the fall and winter without serious problems. In past years, my company has begun many large projects in October and November without significant problems. Ideally, if you can get the ...

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—We have hot-water baseboard heat in our home. We’re planning to add a master bathroom addition, and would like to install radiant heat in the floor. Can we use the existing boiler?

Wednesday, February 10th, 2010 Posted in Additions, Bathrooms, Energy-Saving Tips, FAQ, Flooring, Freezing Temp. Problems, Green Building Topics, Insulation, Money-Saving Tips, Plumbing, Remodeling Concerns, Winter | No Comments »

A—Assuming your boiler has the surplus capacity to handle the extra heating load, you should be able to heat your bathroom floors by using a mixing valve to moderate the water temperature. Radiant floor heating requires somewhat cooler water than ...
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