October Tip of the Month

Clean your gutters before winter

Fall is officially here and winter is right around the corner. It is time to clean out gutters and downspouts and make sure all drainage areas are unblocked by leaves and debris. Flush gutters with water and inspect joints and tighten brackets if necessary.

It is also a good time to trim dead branches off the trees to prevent them from causing damage during storms.

September Tip of the Month

September Tip of the Month - Woodstock Building Associates

With summer quickly coming to an end its time to prepare for the cooler months. Walk around your house and look for any damage to the roof, siding and foundation.

Look for shingles that are curling, or cracking and inspect the flashing around skylights and chimneys. Seal gaps and cracks around window and doors to prevent critters from entering and heat escaping. Also, check around your house for peeling or blistering paint.

Doug and Steve visit WINY 1350AM

Doug and Steve visited GaryO today on WINY 1350AM.

During the interview, Doug and Steve pointed out that the current trend for homes is craftsmen style exteriors. Inside the home many people prefer an open floor plan with lots of counter space in the kitchen. While most also want a large island in their kitchens. Listen to the rest of the interview for the current home trends.

March Tip of the Month

The last few storms have been very strong and knocked power out, some people lost power for multiple days. Bringing us to the tip of the month, check that your generator is running correctly. Most generators are set to run a weekly test. If you have a Kohler Generator installed by WBA, you can verify it is running by looking at the screen on the generator. If it had any problems it will display an error code.

 
Hear Doug talk on WINY 1350AM last week.
 

WBA Awarded Best Of Houzz 2016

Woodstock Building Associates, LLC of Woodstock, Connecticut has been awarded “Best Of Houzz” for Design by Houzz, the leading platform for home remodeling and design. The 38-year old design-build firm was chosen by the more than 35 million monthly unique users that comprise the Houzz community from among more than one million active home building, remodeling and design industry professionals. Doug Porter, the Managing Partner, was very pleased with the award for the fourth year in a row.

The Best Of Houzz is awarded annually in three categories: Design, Customer Service and Photography. Woodstock Building Associates, LLC received the award for design. The award winners’ work was the most popular among the more than 35 million monthly users on Houzz, known as “Houzzers,” who saved millions of professional images of home interiors and exteriors to their personal “ideabooks” via the Houzz site, tablet and smart phone apps.

“Anyone building, remodeling or decorating looks to Houzz for the most talented and service-oriented professionals” said Liza Hausman, vice president of Industry Marketing for Houzz. “We’re so pleased to recognize Woodstock Building Associates, LLC voted one of our “Best Of Houzz” professionals by our enormous community of homeowners and design enthusiasts actively remodeling and decorating their homes.”

Woodstock Building Associates, LLC is the leader in custom home building and remodeling. Working in Northeastern Connecticut and South-Central Massachusetts, WBA, a design-build firm, has been active in the building industry for the last 38 years. The company’s on-staff Architects, estimators, project managers, carpenters, plumbers, and trade associates are committed to completing all projects to client’s satisfaction while meeting their budget expectations. WBA’s affiliations include Northeast Chamber of Commerce, Putnam Rotary Club, National Kitchen & Bath Association, GuildQuality, Boston Society of Architects, The American Society of Architects, NCARB and NAHB; Certified Graduate Builder, Graduate Remodeler, Green Professional, and Aging
in Place Specialist.

View the Houzz Press Release

January Tip of the Month

With winter finally coming, it is a great time to clean your dryer vent. Most people use their dryers more during the winter, so make sure there isn’t a clog in the line. A clogged dryer vent could lead to a fire, so be careful and clean it out. While you are cleaning, make sure there isn’t a pile of snow blocking the outdoor vent.

Another tip for January is organize your closet. Since you may be spending more time inside than out, take the time to get your closets organized.

 

Listen to Doug on WINY 1350AM

Wi-Fi Connected Flood Alarms

The average cost to repair water damage is $2,128 (1). Catch a water leak before the damage gets out of control, even if you are not home, with an Wi-Fi connected flood alarm. You can purchase one from Amazon around $55. (D-Link DCH-S160)

Place a sensor near:

  • Washing Machines
  • Sump Pumps
  • Water Heaters
  • Sink / Bathtubs
  • Dishwasher
  • Refridgerators

Do you have any suggestions for a great Wi-Fi flood alarm?

(1) – http://www.homeadvisor.com/cost/disaster-recovery/repair-water-damage/ 

November Tip of the Month

Yes it’s true, November is already here which means winter is not far away.  Check your engines this month!  We suggest that you have your generator serviced before those stormy days arrive.  Another good idea is to get your snow blower cleaned off and running to make sure it is ready for that first snow fall.
Continue reading “November Tip of the Month”

Ready for Winter Checklist

Download the Winterization Checklist.

With winter right around the bend, its a great time to get your home ready for the cold weather. Below are Doug’s 13 tips for the winter season.

  • Check your roof for loose and missing shingles.
  • Clean your gutters and remove all the dirt and grime. You may need to clean them a few times before the snow starts falling.
  • Make sure your gutter downspouts are clear and not blocked by any landscaping changes you may have made this year.
  • While you are on a ladder, double check the light bulbs for your spotlights.
  • Remove your window AC units, just covering them or turning off does not work. Leaving a window ac installed will cause cold air to enter your home, increasing your heating bill.
  • Remove your window screens and store them for next year.
  • Check your exterior door weather stripping. You want a good seal to prevent cold air leaks.
  • Take your garden hose inside.
  • Check your dryer vent to make sure it is clear and free of obstructions.
  • Check your washer hoses and make sure there are no leaks. We suggest changing the hoses every 5 years whether it looks like it needs it or not.
  • Change your smoke detector batteries.
  • Change your filters – Water and HVAC.
  • Get your furnace serviced to give you the best efficiency possible.

Listen to Doug from WBA talk to Gary-O at WINY about his winterization tips.