COVID-19: Castle’s Plan of Action

COVID-19: Castle’s Plan of Action

Updated: Tuesday, May 13, 2021

Castle continues to follow the guidelines set by the CDC in helping to prevent the spread of COVID-19. We are proud to reward any full time staff member with a $25 gift card when they turn in a copy of their vaccination card.

We still have the same practices in place listed below to help keep our staff and clients safe and healthy.

Our events have continued to be virtual. This fall we will be hosting our annual fall educational home tour with safety measures in place. This year will be scaled back with less homes than we’ve normally had on tour. We will also be keeping the tour to one showroom region, and will rotate where the tour is hosted annually. This scaled down version will allow attendees to not have to travel as far, be able to see all the homes on tour, and require less weekend staffing hours for our team. While we have loved the grander tours we’ve hosted in the past, we’re hoping this more intimate approach will allow for an easier flow for all. To keep up with the 2021 home tour updates, head to our website to stay up to date. We will also be maintaining our edu classes / Impressive Progressive tours virtually on our YouTube channel.

 

Updated Monday, June 1, 2020:

All events will officially move to a virtual platform. Our annual fall home tour is cancelled this year and we hope to return in person next year. Please follow our Impressive Progressive page for up to date information about our virtual events.

 

Updated: Monday, March 23, 2020

We are open for business and plan to take precautions to help avoid the spread of COVID-19, also known as the corona virus.

In the past few days this global pandemic has gripped the nation as we come to terms with how this outbreak will affect our lives for the coming weeks and months. To summarize the issue: There is a severe lack of tests and no clarity on the extent of spread. There are probably many more cases than reported because there aren’t enough tests.  The country now must cancel large events and gatherings and move towards social isolation and a quarantine as the only option remaining to slow the spread and not overwhelm our healthcare system. Small groups and one on one interaction is still considered safe so long as those individuals are healthy and have take precautions to avoid interacting with those infected or large crowds.

Here are additional steps Castle Building & Remodeling is taking to do our part in this national crisis to protect employee health and the health of our clients:

  1. We have shared hygiene and sanitary best practices with all employees and strongly encouraged them stay home if they are sick and use the paid sick leave provided.
  2. We ask all clients who have projects in progress to let us know if they have health concerns or have chosen to self-quarantine in their home.  If needed we will delay the project and don’t want to put employees at risk.
  3. All Showroom hours will be suspended. Showrooms won’t be open for public drop-ins until further notice.
  4. Our employees will work from home unless necessary to meet with co-workers or clients. The sale team will use technology to complete virtual client meetings and utilize email and web services as much as desired.
  5. Cancellation of the April scheduled Impressive Progressive.  July Impressive Progressive will go on as planned.
  6. All in person staff meetings have been cancelled, meeting virtually until further notice.
  7. Thorough cleaning of ProHQ offices and continued regular cleanings of all showrooms. Efforts listed for job sites will be applied to work spaces as deemed appropriate.
  8. Efforts being made at each job site:
      1. We will wipe the door knobs, light switches, shared bath surfaces (faucet handles, countertop, toilet handles) with Clorox wipes (or spray) each morning and at end of day on job sites.
      2. We will wash hands when entering jobsite in morning, before and after lunch/breaks, and when leaving job site end of day. Project manager will designate which sink our workers can use (approved by client)/have paper towels there, or provide alcohol based hand sanitizer.
      3. We will not share the same tools with other workers throughout the day as best we can, but if we must they will be frequently wiped down.
      4. We will be using separate entrances to the work space than the entrance that homeowners use if possible and potentially more dust barriers/zip walls than normal. . i.e. we use back door if work area is in back and clients then use the front door.
      5. We will be scheduling jobs so that trades are not on top of each other and therefore exposure limited as much as possible.
      6. Keeping a 6’ distance from others. Easier said than done with some tasks, but something we are being mindful of.
      7. Masks/gloves/booties – We will wear them if you have them.
      8. Clients and workers may start seeing port a johns on jobsites to try and keep client and worker restroom spaces separate.

We believe that continuing our operations under these restricted operational guidelines is in line with doing our part in this national crisis to protect employee health and the health of our clients. Please let us know if you have questions or concerns.

To stay up to date on all thing COVID-19, please refer to the CDC’s website.

If you or a loved one are struggling with mental health during these difficult times reach out to a medical professional. Create a welcoming support team around you and consider checkout this guide about guarding mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Design Trends: Moroccan Influences

Design Trends: Moroccan Influences

Design trends come and go, but the bold look of the Moroccan design has been trending throughout homes since the sixties. Known for its color, texture, and fluid lines, this design style draws much of its inspiration from the Moorish design of the East and from the shapes and colors of the rolling sands of the desert.

One of the most prominent features in Moroccan design is their use of tile throughout design. In 2014, Design Manager Amy Hinck renovated her own kitchen. You can see in the tile backsplash, it is a very pretty arabesque pattern that pulls in the intricate beauty within Moroccan design. The creamy white colored tile darkens at the edges and is enhanced by the tan/yellow grout. They offer great balance between the white and navy cabinetry.

With a well-versed knowledge in remodeling, Hinck and her husband did most of the work themselves. However, with the help of Castle’s carpenters and labor crew, remaining details including window, beam, cabinets, backsplash and butcherblock counter were installed.

Amy is not alone in loving the beautiful design in the tile. Quite a few of our clients have also chosen Moroccan-inspired touches throughout their projects. Whether it’s in the tiling, choice of bold colors or soft curves throughout the room, all of these homes have a touch of the far East.

This year American Olean Midwest put out a ton of new amazing tile. One collection is heavily influenced by Moroccan designs and we’re simply obsessed.

Check out other amazing projects completed by Castle’s talented team here.

The 411 on Ice Dams

The 411 on Ice Dams

While the St. Paul Winter Carnival is an ice lovers dream, the ice dams at your own castle can be a nightmare. So what are ice dams and how do we prevent them?

What Are Ice Dams?

Simply put ice dams are a result of the heat escaping from your roof, causing the existing snow and ice on your roof to melt. When your attic is not properly insulated, the heat escapes out of your attic floor through cracks and gaps. The water then pools into your gutter system, and as temperatures drop down the water refreezes.

If you look at the image above you can see the roof on this 1.5 story home.  There are a couple things that you will notice when you looking at the house compared to the neighboring home. Many finished attics have inadequate insulation that allows heat to escape and melt the snow.

You can actually see the roof rafter lines because the wood conducts heat and may have some insulation between.  Under the knee walls where it isn’t heated in the crawl space there is no heat to escape and the snow doesn’t melt.  The water from above melts and runs down until it freezes near the edge.

How Do I Prevent Ice Dams?

A common misconception is that your gutters are not working properly. Many homeowners see the blockage and will replace the gutter system. While that may work as a quick fix, it is best to get to the root of the problem to prevent further damage.

Another method many homeowners try is roof rake the snow and ice off.  This can actually damage the shingles.  The melting and thawing repeatedly is what causes the big ice dams and build up of ice. This results in water backing up behind it then comes under the shingles and into the house.

The hard part is that once the space is finished it’s really hard to retrofit and insulate properly without tearing apart a finished attic at great expense. The easiest solution is to stop warm air from the house from leaking into your attic. Any existing cracks, gaps or holes within the walls and floors will need to be sealed. This will not only prevent further dams but it also will help your electricity bill by keeping the warm air in your home (and not your attic). Here at Castle Building & Remodeling, we have finished a lot of those attics and done closed cell spray foam insulation to help correct those water issues.

If your budget doesn’t presently allow you to re-insulate your home, you could also consider using Heattape. Heattape is a cable that will heat the ice enough to melt it but not cause damage to your home. It is another temporary fix but will suffice until you can go for more permanent solution. There are also companies you can hire that use steam to melt the ice from your roof. Make sure to hire an experienced company and do your research. We have heard good things from our customers about The Ice Dam Company.

Additional Things to Consider

While adding more insulation can be the next big part of the solution, another preventative measure to consider is the ventilation in your attic. It is important to make sure you are not trapping moisture within the space.

The boards that run horizontally under the roof edge are known as soffits. If you have insulation on the floor of your attic, within the soffit should be soffit vents, and in the attic there should be air chutes (sometimes called baffles). These chutes allow the cold air to flow between the attic space and soffit to exterior, therefore helping keep the eaves and roof cold and preventing heat/moisture from accumulating. Most newer homes are equipped with them, but many older homes are not.

If you create a “hot roof” though, where you spray foam the underside of the roof deck/between attic rafters, as is commonly done in story and a ½ attic finishes, you don’t typically use soffit vents or air chutes. The foam creates a barrier between heat in the finished attic space and the cold roof. If the roof can stay cold, you are less likely to get the ice dams. If there is enough room though, and the rafters can be furred down, it is possible to do a continuous vent from soffit to ridge, and use spray foam.

My home may have ice dams, now what?

If you suspect that your home may have ice dams, it may be time to give our team a call. Our experienced trade team can come out and assess the situation and provide you the best solution to your problem.


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Designers Visit Crystal Cabinet for Onsite Training

Designers Visit Crystal Cabinet for Onsite Training

This past December, our team of talented designers had the opportunity to visit Crystal Cabinet in Princeton, MN for some onsite training. These experiences allow our designers to become more intimate with the products we utilize in our projects. Design Manager, Amy Hinck, provides some insight on how the day went.


Designers Natalie Hanson and Emily Blonigen look at various cabinet doors

“Staff members showed us how the cabinets are built. They also taught in depth tricks/tips about the cabinet modifications. We learned about various cabinet options, lines and finishes. Staff members also gave us great information on the interactive pdf/spec book and ordering system.”

Amy Hinck, Designer Manager

Our team listens intently as one of the Crystal Cabinet staff members talks.

Various employees took the time to meet with our designers, including: multiple reps, members of their internal design and marketing/catalog team, customer service team, production team, and one of the partners.

Our reasons to work with this amazing company were further solidified after this visit. They are a local, family owned, creative, and a high quality cabinet company. Crystal Cabinets offers both a fully custom and an affordable custom line of cabinetry, so there is something for every client’s budget.

Overall, the training center was inspirational; and the training, hospitality and food were great! Not only did the visit strengthen our connection with the Crystal Cabinets but our designers had a great day learning.

If your home has Crystal Cabinets, check out this guide to keeping your cabinets in mint condition.