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A modern kitchen in Madison, WI, with a stainless steel stove and vent. The backsplash features light green subway tiles. Wooden floating shelves hold white dishes, bowls, and mugs. The dark stone countertops have various kitchen items placed neatly amidst recent exterior renovations.
Additions

Remodeling trends for 2019

Are you planning on adding or renovating your home in 2019? If so here are some popular remodeling trends for you to think about.

Close-up of a roof vent located at the peak of the roof, where brown shingles meet white vent covers with perforations. The structure showcases clean edges and proper alignment, exemplifying expert exterior renovations in Madison, WI.
gutter guards

Fall is beautiful …. and then there’s the leaves!

I love autumn. It’s festive, colorful and the start of the holidays. I look outside and see cool crisp days and then the explosion of color. The red, yellows and browns against a blue sky or even a grey sky are beautiful. There’s something about fall that makes it my favorite season of the year,

A modern two-story house with blue siding and large windows is partially shaded by tall green trees. Sunlight filters through the leaves, casting dappled light on the home's exterior renovations. Nestled in Madison, WI, the sky is clear and bright, adding to the serene atmosphere.
Additions

Low-E Windows

It’s getting cooler and eventually, the weather will turn downright cold. We live in Wisconsin so this is no surprise to anyone. It’s also the only time of year when people start to think about the quality of their windows.  Adding Low-E windows to your next upgrade, addition, or remodel project is a must.

A building under construction in Madison, WI, is covered with Tyvek HomeWrap, displaying logos and text stating "DuPont Tyvek HomeWrap" and "Made in the USA". The wall has a cutout for windows, and some wooden framing is visible behind the wrap during exterior renovations.
Tyvek

Why Use Tyvek?

What’s in a name? If the name is Tyvek by DuPont™, the answer is “Plenty!” DuPont has dramatically changed the way we live as many products we use on a daily basis come from DuPont. When it comes to the home building sector DuPont is a standout name. DuPont has slowly and quietly snuck its

A slanted roof with brown shingles and weathered green copper gutters graces this Madison, WI home. The exterior wall is adorned with stone bricks, reflecting meticulous exterior renovations, while a portion of a gable window with a small roof is visible in the upper section of the image.
Copper Gutters

The beauty of copper gutters

I love copper gutters. I pulled up to a house recently that had the most stunning copper gutters I have ever seen and the look is amazing. Rich, colorful and striking, the attention to detail that copper brings a home is incredible. The green patina was in full bloom and all you could say is

Shingles on a roof in Madison, WI are damaged and buckled, with tree branches and leaves lying on top, suggesting potential storm damage or impact from the tree. The green foliage contrasts with the dark, greyish-brown roofing shingles. Exterior renovations may be necessary to restore the roof's integrity.
hail damage

Checking for roof leaks

I’m not trying to pile on to everyone’s misery but with the heavy rains and strong winds as well as the devastating flooding we have seen in Dane County this summer, another problem you may also encounter is roof leaks. Strong winds and hail play havoc on your roof shingles as noted by Transition Roofing.

An unfinished room under construction in Madison, WI, with exposed wooden studs and rafters. Insulation partially covers the walls, and there are two windows. Various construction materials and tools are scattered on the floor, including a box of supplies and a vacuum cleaner, hinting at ongoing exterior renovations.
Additions

Adding a room above the garage

Benefits of Adding a Room Above the Garage How would you like the value of your house to go up by $100,000? Not by a sudden property boom or anything as rich as that, obviously that isn’t going to happen anytime soon – but by adding an extra bedroom and bathroom above your garage. This

A modern, rectangular gas fireplace is built into a dark, tiled wall. Flames dance over a bed of blue and orange glass rocks. A glass coffee table with a yellow fruit bowl and a gray sofa with green and yellow cushions are partially visible in the foreground, perfect for cozy evenings after your exterior renovations in Madison, WI.
Additions

Best gas fireplaces for your new addition.

Let’s face it, we live in a cold weather climate. (For at least part of the year.) And when considering your new addition adding a gas fireplace is a must-have feature you will not regret. The struggle here is which brand is the best. Let’s take a look at some of my favorites:

A charming backyard in Madison, WI, featuring a pergola with a transparent roof, decorated with hanging flower baskets. Supported by stone pillars, the pergola sits beside a newly completed exterior renovation: a house with blue siding accessed by wooden stairs. A black metal bench sits nearby.
Decks

We love pergolas!

A pergola is a simple structure that can transform your backyard and turn it into an outdoor living space that you love. Those are the easy reasons but there are many other reasons and one big reason for me is they provide interesting shade and a place to hang plants and bird feeders. Especially Hummingbird

Concrete is being poured over a network of red heating tubes arranged in a grid pattern. The tubes are secured to a concrete subfloor with plastic clips. The fresh concrete is spreading evenly, partially covering the tubing, creating a new floor slab as part of ongoing exterior renovations in Madison, WI.
remodeling

In-floor Heating Systems Pros & Cons

I want to come right out and say that I’m a fan of in-floor heating systems because when you stand on a warm floor during the cold days in winter it makes you feel good.  It literally puts a smile on your face! In-floor heating, also called radiant floor heating, is a luxurious home feature

A person wearing protective gear sprays foam insulation on the walls of an unfinished attic space in a home in Madison, WI. The wooden frame of the roof is visible, and the floor is covered with a tarp to catch excess foam material. Natural light enters through a window in the background, highlighting ongoing exterior renovations.
Additions

Insulation 101

If you’re going to put an addition on your home or perform any kind of remodeling, insulation has to be a topic you’re going to need to talk about. Today, insulation is one of the most technologically advanced products for your home and although you don’t see it, it’s so important in many ways.

A rustic wooden house in Madison, WI, boasts a large two-door garage featuring grey doors. The exterior renovations include a blend of wood and dark metal siding with a steep, shingled roof. Out front, the well-maintained garden showcases various bushes, trees, and greenery along the paved driveway.
Live edge siding

Live edge siding on your cabin

The get-back-to-nature movement has taken on a new revival over the past decade or so and many people are remodeling their current home instead of moving. Good for them! The idea is to add a vacation home or cabin on a lake somewhere (preferably in northern Wisconsin) where a family will have something to pass

A Nest thermostat mounted on a wall in Madison, WI displays an orange screen with the text "HEATING" and the temperature set at 68°F. A small green leaf symbol is visible at the bottom of the screen. The sleek, round design with a silver border complements any recent exterior renovations.
Design

The amazing Nest programmable thermostat

A Nest Learning Thermostat is an amazing thing and the longer you have it the more you realize how great it really is. The Nest is cool! Pure and simple. It looks incredible, it’s owned by Google, it’s completely programmable and you can work everything it does on your phone with Wifi. Those items all

A person wearing a gray hoodie, blue jeans, and a brown cap is kneeling on a roof in Madison, WI while working on shingles. The individual has a tool belt with various tools. Trees and rooftops of nearby houses are visible in the background, highlighting the exterior renovations underway.
Ridge Vents

Ridge Vents vs Box Vents

I was walking through a new housing development when I noticed that none of the roofs had box vents for ventilation.  Every home was using ridge vents. The look is much more appealing then box vents but in all fairness, box vents are on placed on the backside of the home so you don’t see

A room under construction with exposed wooden framing, windows without panes, and scattered tools and materials reflects the ongoing exterior renovations. There are ladders, a saw, a red snow shovel, an uninstalled window, and various boxes and cables on the floor in this Madison WI project.
Additions

Should you remodel your home?

Thinking about remodeling your home? If you watch enough HGTV you will eventually get the itch to remodel. But home remodeling isn’t for everyone, and do-it-yourself remodeling is an even bigger challenge. .It may not be a problem if you’re patient and can do the work yourself but in our instant gratification world, we often

An illustration of a two-story house in Madison, WI, highlighting energy loss. Red arrows show heat escaping through the roof, windows, and doors, while blue arrows indicate ventilation and drafts within rooms. Exterior renovations are shown to improve efficiency. The house is surrounded by trees with the sun shining brightly.
Additions

Does going green really save you money?

I have been asking this questions for years and every time I ask it a new energy efficient product comes out that costs a lot of money but it’s supposed to save you money in the long run. Is this really True? The only answer to this question is that it depends on your time

A cozy backyard at dusk in Madison, WI, featuring a lit swimming pool, trees, and shrubs illuminated by ground lights. The paved patio area includes a seating arrangement under a large umbrella. Soft, warm lighting from recent exterior renovations creates a serene and inviting atmosphere.
James Hardie Siding

Be artful with your exterior lighting

Exterior lighting is one of the first things you notice when you walk or drive by someones home at night. When the lighting is done right the look is stunning and inviting and it doesn’t matter what time of year it is. Great lighting actually feels like an invitation to come inside and stay awhile.

A black metal roof vent is installed on a roof with green asphalt shingles in Madison, WI. The vent has a curved, rectangular shape with side grilles for ventilation. As part of the exterior renovations, the shingles around the vent appear slightly weathered.
Design

The importance of roof venting

One of the most common questions we receive from homeowners when they are thinking about replacing their roof is what kind of vent should they use. This article show you the importance of proper roof venting so, if you are looking for a quick answer, here it is: ridge vent coupled with sufficient soffit venting

A damp, unfinished basement with concrete walls and floor. Water stains and visible mold patches cover the lower portion of the walls, particularly in the corners. Several small puddles of water on the floor suggest possible leakage or poor drainage, highlighting a need for exterior renovations in Madison WI.
Additions

The importance of a good gutter system

Why a Good Gutter System Is Essential for Wisconsin Homes In some Madison and Dane County neighborhoods, it looked as if a dam had burst. Recent winter storms have submerged backyards, raised rivers to the breaking point and caused plenty of other chaos. But for many local homeowners, it’s their crawlspaces and basements that have

A modern two-story house in Madison, WI, with a renovated white exterior, large glass windows, and a spacious backyard with green grass. The house features a balcony, a stone chimney, and a patio area with outdoor furniture, set against a clear blue sky.
Additions

Do’s and Dont’s for your 2018 remodel project

The first couple of months of every New Year are primetime for predictions. Everything from the economy to diets is fair game for the prognosticators in all industries, especially the home remodel industry. For home design, the predictions from the experts at Houzz are always eagerly anticipated. Houzz is a website which offers products, ideas