Castle’s 2012 Homeshow Schedule – Come Visit Us!

2/18 – Roseville Living Smarter Fair 9:00 am – 3:00 pm.  http://www.livingsmarter.org/fair.html.

2/26 – West Metro Home Remodeling Fair 10:30 – 3:30 http://goldenvalleymn.gov/events/remodelingfair/index.php.

3/10 – Mac-Groveland Home Improvement Fair 10:00 – 3:00 http://www.macgrove.org/node/15.

3/10/12 – South Minneapolis Housing Fair 10:00 – 3:00 http://www.housingfair.org/.

3/17 –  NE Journal Homeshow  10:00 – 2:00 http://www.downtownjournal.com/index.php?publication=downtown&section=58&page=310.

3/24 – SW Journal Homeshow 10:00 – 3:00 http://www.swjournal.com/index.php?publication=southwest&section=90&page=292.

3/30 – 4/1 – Parade of Homes Remodelers Showcase (sm) http://www.paradeofhomes.org/index.aspx.

4/28-29 – The Minneapolis & Saint Paul Home Tour. http://www.msphometour.com/.

Exterior Care and Maintenance Part 5

A Paver patio looks beautiful when it’s new. After a few seasons of harsh weather and backyard parties, pavers start to show the strain. 

 

Broken Pavers 

Check for any cracked or chipped pavers. Hopefully, when you installed your pavers you bought extras just in case. Replace the damaged pavers. If your pavers are set with an adhesive or Polymeric sand, removal will be more difficult, but not impossible. Carefully, using a hammer and chisel, break out and remove the old paver and replace with a new one. 

 

Stain Removing 

 Use dishwashing soap and water with a stiff bristle brush to scrub away stains and just to give the pavers a good wash. If you have an oil based stain, soak up as much of the stain as possible with kitty litter. Leave the kitty litter on overnight and sweep up. Use a degreasing product such as Lestoil and a scrub brush. If the stain is deep, it may be easier to just replace the paver. 

 If you have rust stains on your pavers use care in choosing a product or remedy. Many of these home used cleaners can actually damage your pavers depending on the paver material. If dishwashing detergent, hot water and a stiff brush don’t remove the stain, your best bet is to go to a home improvement store and buy a product specifically made for your type of pavers. To avoid rust stains, make sure your metal patio furniture or grill feet are sealed with a rust inhibiting product. 

Paint stains can be removed with a paint thinner. Apply paint thinner to the stain with a rag and carefully scrape the paint stain away. Make sure you wash the area well after you clean the stain.
 

 

Sealing Pavers 

 Allow your pavers to completely dry. Apply a sealer specifically made for your type of pavers. Do not allow anyone to use the patio until the area is completely dry.

Regular cleaning, weeding and replacement of broken pavers will keep your patio looking as good as new. Pressure washing is not recommended for pavers. The force of the water is damaging.
 

Castle Turns 35 (and still looks pretty good)

Minneapolis, Minnesota – January 10th, 2012 -Castle Building & Remodeling is proud to announce that it is celebrating its 35th anniversary in the business of residential remodeling.  Owner, Mr. Loren Schirber says “As the second generation of my family to own and manage Castle, I am extremely proud to see the company reach its 35th birthday.  The residential remodeling business is a tough industry that faces lots of competition and low barriers to entry.  With failure rates for small businesses at about 50% in the first five years, I am extremely proud of our team and that we have continued to persevere and grow profitably over the five years that I have owned Castle”.

Last year Castle completed 39 design projects and completed 179 remodeling projects including: Kitchen Makeover: 4, Kitchen Remodel: 18, Baths: 32, Basement: 7, Cabinets: 3, Attics: 7, Exterior Renovations: 21, Addition Shell: 2, Shed Dormer Addition: 2, Handyman Carpentry Projects: 28, Misc. Handyman: 32, Ice Dams: 5, Flooring: 11, Porch / Deck: 4, and Landscaping/Fence: 3.

 

Castle Earns Coveted Angie’s List Super Service Award!

Castle Building & Remodeling has been awarded the prestigious 2011 Angie’s List Super Service Award, an honor bestowed annually on approximately 5 percent of all the businesses rated on the nation’s leading provider of consumer reviews on local service and health providers.  Castle was honored in two categories including: Interior Design & Decorating, Remodeling – Kitchen & Bathroom.

Noah Martin Castle Building & Remodeling’s Production Manager says “We are extremely proud to accept this award.  At Castle we take pride in being the best value in professional remodeling.  We work hard to deliver top design artistry and craftsmanship and take care to plan projects in advance so we can guarantee a better experience than our competitors.  Receiving this recognition reinforces that Castle’s processes and procedures are working and do set us apart from the competition”.

“Only a fraction of the businesses rated on Angie’s List can claim the sterling service record of being a Super Service Award winner because we set a high bar,” said Angie’s List Founder Angie Hicks.
“The fact that Castle Building & Remodeling can claim Super Service Award status speaks volumes about its dedication to consumers.

Angie’s List Super Service Award winners have met strict eligibility requirements including earning a minimum number of reports, an exemplary rating from their clients and abiding by Angie’s List
operational guidelines. Ratings are updated daily on Angie’s List, but members can find the 2011 Super Service Award logo next to business names in search results on AngiesList.com.

Countertop Care and Maintenance Part 4

DuPont Zodiaq® quartz surfaces are very easy to maintain. The quartz used in Zodiaq® – coupled with high-performance, stain-resistant polymers – results in a durable, nonporous, chemical-resistant surface. Zodiaq® is also heat- and scratch-resistant, but not heat- and scratch-proof. Therefore, the use of a cutting board is recommended when using a knife. Of course, Zodiaq® keeps its lustrous gloss and ultra-smooth surface without polishing. Because it is nonporous, Zodiaq® does not require sealants or waxes. Zodiaq® also gives you peace of mind. In the unlikely event that you do experience any problems due to a manufacturer’s defect, you can rest assured that DuPont backs Zodiaq® with a 10-year limited warranty.

 

Routine Care

With simple care, Zodiaq® will retain its radiant, lustrous appearance for many years. For routine cleaning, use a damp cloth or paper towel and, if necessary, a small amount of non-bleach, non abrasive cleanser. Even though Zodiaq® resists permanent staining when exposed to liquids (such as wine, vinegar, tea, lemon juice and soda) or fruits and vegetables, wipe up food and liquid spills as soon as possible. For stubborn or dried spills, use a non abrasive cleaning pad such as a white 3M Scotch-Brite® scrub pad coupled with Formula 409® Glass & Surface Cleaner or a comparable cleaning product. Avoid using cleansers that contain bleach. Always follow the cleaner manufacturer’s use instructions and exercise proper care when handling and storing any cleaning products.

 

Preventing Heat and Other Damage

Zodiaq® can withstand exposure to normal cooking temperatures from pots, pans and dishes without being damaged. To maintain the beauty of Zodiaq®, do not place hot skillets or roasting pans directly onto the surface. DuPont recommends the use of trivets and hot pads.

 

Removing Difficult Spills

Sometimes spills occur and dry on the countertop. For materials that harden as they dry (such as gum, food, grease, nail polish or paint), remove by gently scraping away the excess with a plastic putty knife. Permanent markers and inks may adhere to the surface and should be avoided. Should these agents come into contact with the surface, clean first as outlined in Routine Care. If the stain persists, moisten a cloth with Saniten 313, Greased Lightning™, or a comparable product and rub it into the stain. Let the cleaning agent sit for 15 minutes and wipe the surface clean with a cotton cloth. Rinse thoroughly to remove any cleaner residue. Avoid exposing Zodiaq® quartz surfaces to strong chemicals and solvents; especially paint removers or furniture strippers containing trichlorethane or methylene chloride. Keep nail polish remover, bleach, bluing, permanent markers or inks, and oil soaps away from Zodiaq®. While casual exposure to alkaline materials will not damage Zodiaq®, highly alkaline (high-pH) cleansers are not recommended when cleaning Zodiaq®. If any of the substances listed above come into Zodiaq®, rinse the exposed surface immediately and thoroughly with water.