Weather Tight's Money Saving Blog

Below is a post from our friends United Home Experts, a painting contractor in Massachusetts. Replacing your siding often make more sense than painting.  If you need siding be sure to give Weather Tight a call.

Painting a home is a big commitment, and one you don’t want to take lightly.  Many homeowners are surprised that it often makes more sense to invest the money you would spend on painting into new siding instead.  To help you decide, you’ll want to know the average cost to paint a house. Here’s the data:

What Makes a Painting Job Complex?

Even a simple painting job might turn out to be a bit of a nightmare.  Many things can make it more difficult to paint your home.  For example, if you have thick layers of paint on your walls, stripping it is an added expense.  If you have damage hidden under layers of paint, you will need spot repairs or sometimes even more to prep the home for painting.  And, worst of all, if you have lead paint on your walls, you need to strip that out which is costly.

Lead paint must be stripped while following strict EPA guidelines.  This means more than wearing masks to keep lead particles out of your lungs: you also need to properly dispose of the waste.  If lead paint were left to fester, it could seep into the soil and become hazardous.  Because of the complexity and regulation, you’ll want to find an expert in lead paint removal, which can be very expensive. In this case, the cost of new siding might be more appealing.

The Average Cost of Paint Materials

Small painting jobs on small homes are fairly cheap, with costs ranging from $500-$1,000.  The larger the house, the more you will spend on materials.  An average-sized home costs between $800-$1,200, a large home $1,000-$1,800, and an extra-large home $1,500 and up.

For more information visit: http://www.unitedhomeexperts.com/blog/bid/100571/How-Much-Does-it-Cost-to-Paint-a-House

The snow has finally appeared in Milwaukee – and it was a wakeup for some of us here at Weather Tight: It’s Winter!  Winter in Wisconsin is a time to bundle up and run the heat. But how do you balance staying warm and saving money?  Here are five tips to save money this winter – without spending a penny!

-Use the sun to your advantage! Open your curtains and blinds during the day to help warm the rooms. As the sun beats down, it will warm up your home for free! Don’t forget to close them at night to keep the warmth inside.

-When using a dish washer, wash full loads only. Running two half-full cycles can DOUBLE the cost! Wait until your dish washer is full to get the most for your energy and water usage.

-Use the energy-savings options on your appliances. Many new appliances have energy-savings modes that you can turn on to help cut down on electrical and heating costs.  It is especially useful on dryers and dish washers.

-If you use a self-cleaning option on your oven, start the self-cleaning process directly after using the oven. This will help save money by using the heat that is in the oven from cooking to start the cleaning process rather than having to build up heat from room temperature.

-Lower your water heater to 120° or ‘low’. You will still have hot showers and clean laundry, and you will save money since the water tank will not have to work as hard to keep water at a higher temperature.

If you are in the market for new appliances, be sure to find the ENERGYSTAR® label before you purchase. In order to qualify for an ENERGYSTAR® rating, appliances must reduce energy and water usage by 10-50% compared to standard models in the industry. They may cost a little more in the beginning, but will save you more over time.

When: Friday November 25th
Hours: 11am-3pm
Location: West Allis Showroom-11400 West Oklahoma Avenue, West Allis, WI 53227

Join us Black Friday November 25th from 11-3 for a Huge Showroom Sale and Craft & Gift Show. Featuring: overstock windows starting at $99, 18 months no interest/payments with 18 can donation to Hunger Task Force.

Craft & Gift Show: Avoid the mall and shop for gifts from some of the most popular gift suppliers. Vendors include: Lovely Bracelets, The Crafty Ones, Party Lite, Tupperware, Pampered Chef, Grandma Vinny’s Cookies, Mary Kay, Tastefully Simple, Dove Chocolates, Celebrating Home, Just Relax! A place to escape reality! Massage & Wellness, Modern Woodsmen, L’Bri, Fresco Art, Usborne Books, & Avon.

Below is a post from our friends in Massachusetts.  If you need siding be sure to give Weather Tight a call.  If you are wondering why your paint is peeling, read this article for some helpful information.

Thank you to Weathertight for a chance to share some information with their readers!

Among other things we are a painting contractor in Massachusetts and one of the most common questions we receive is  “what causes paint to peel on my house?”  Most people assume it was just done poorly last time, or “the last painter didn’t use primer”–we hear that one a lot! Sometimes that may be true, but usually it’s a much deeper problem.

If you have significant peeling paint it’s likely that you have 1 of 3 conditions:

1. A really old paint job:  Even a house that was properly painted every time will eventually start to peel especially in U.S. climates that see 4 seasons and varying amounts of moisture.  If your home falls into this category, you have 2 options:  Either paint more frequently (which is expensive) or bite the bullet and go with siding replacement.  The second option will pay for itself in 2-3 paint cycles and add resale value to your home.
2. A moisture problem: Moisture isn’t just a problem from the outside–although in many cases it is. Moisture can also be from an inside source escaping through the walls thus causing loss of paint adhesion.  Sometimes there are ways to correct or minimize this, but what’s causing it? Is it condensation from winter heat escaping through the walls? is it a leak? is it a moist climate?  No matter what the problem is, in most cases trial and error will not lead to a long-term fix.  I’ve witnessed countless people try gimmick after gimmick with the hope of solving this problem only to replace their siding after wasting lots of money.
3. Mill-glaze: When wood clapboard is milled, often the tannins from the cedar are heated by the saw blade which creates a waxy like surface that paint won’t adhere to. When installed smooth-side out, the glazed surface of cedar clapboards will often reject paint altogether and as you can imagine create a massive nightmare.  This problem will never be solved with paint and usually requires replacement of the affected areas.  Some painters will try to sand down the surface and re-paint.  Our experience has been, this is expensive and never works 100%.

Your best solution is to work with a trustworthy contractor who can go over all your options and make educated recommendations.  Study after study show that replacing your siding is a great investment if you plan on being in your home for a long period of time.

When: Saturday October 22nd
Hours: 10am-2pm
Location: West Allis Showroom-11400 West Oklahoma Avenue, West Allis, WI 53227 &
Brookfield Showroom-14640 West Capitol Drive, Brookfield, WI 53005

Join us for the Weather Tight Halloween Event. We will have safe trick-or-treat for the kids with prizes for best costume. For adults we will have free energy efficiency clinics where you’ll learn about r-value, heat loss vs. air infiltration, home energy savings tips, and much more. The first 20 customers will get a free home winterization kit (limit one per household).

When: Saturday September 24th
Hours: 10am-2pm
Location: West Allis Showroom-11400 West Oklahoma Avenue, West Allis, WI 53227

Join us for the Weather Tight Border Battle-25th Anniversary Event. We will have food and games for the entire family including hot dogs, chips and drinks for 25 cents each. There will be opportunities to get entered into our grand prize Green Bay vs. Chicago tickets for the game on Christmas night. There will also be opportunities to win other door prizes. In recognition of our 25th anniversary, we will be offering a selection of product upgrades for $25. Hope to see you there!

Here is a thank you letter Weather Tight recieved from a recent donation.

Red Cross Donation Event
Hours: 10am-2pm Event is free.
Location: West Allis Showroom-114th & Oklahoma

On Saturday, June 25th, Weather Tight will be hosting a donation drive for the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund on from 10am to 2pm.

Visit our West Allis showroom located at 114th and Oklahoma Ave during the event and for $0.25 you can enjoy a delicious hotdog, chips and soda to celebrate our 25th anniversary! Nothing beats a whole meal for under one dollar and all proceeds earned will go directly to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund.

We will also have our overstock windows for sale and they will be on display in our West Allis showroom. These windows are discounted to sell and to top it off, 50% of all overstock sales will be donated to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund!

When you set an appointment for an estimate anytime during the day on June 25th, 5% of your project will be donated to the American Red Cross.

Don’t have a need for any additional remodeling projects? You can always stop in and enjoy great food and make a donation to the American Red Cross.

Remember, if you are unable to attend this event for any reason, you can call to set your appointment on Saturday, June 25th and 5% of your
project will still be donated to the American Red Cross –even if you do not attend the event!

Hours: 10am-2pm Event is free.
Location: Both Showrooms West Allis-114th & Oklahoma & Brookfield-146 & Capitol (free leashes and frisbees only)
West Allis Location Only
11am Pet Fashion Show and Photo Shoot
12pm Pet Contests-Largest Dog, Smallest Dog, Owner/Pet Look-a-like, Best Costume
Bring your pets to enter into our contests.

Join us for Pounds For Pets on Saturday June 4th at our West Allis location. The event is designed to collect pet food for local animal shelters. For every can, item, or pound of food donated you will get 1% off your Weather Tight purchase up to a maximum of 20% off. The H.A.W.S mobile unit will be onsite with pets available for adoption. Elmbrook Humane Society will also be at the event sharing information about their organization. Bring your pet to enter in our Pet Fashion Show and Pet Contests. Our Brookfield location will have free dog leashes and frisbees available.

Roofing ventilation doesn’t get discussed like roofing, windows, or siding, but is a very important part in your home. Ventilation helps with ice damming, attic moisture, and excessive heat. This video from Tod & Todd the owners of Weather Tight will help you answer the question “do you have enough ventilation in your home?”

Home Show & Weather Tight 25th Anniversary – May 21st
Hours: 10am-4pm Event is free.
Location: TheHome Show is at our West Allis location 114th & Oklahoma Ave.

Join us for our spring Home Show on Saturday May 21st. There will be a wide variety of vendors including: home security, window treatments, closets, carpeting, heating & air conditioning, landscaping, kitchen remodeling, appliances, second floor home additions, and bath coverings. All vendors will be offering door prizes. Weather Tight will also be celebrating its 25th Anniversary. 25% off all Weather Tight products.

We have been hit by a ton of rain this spring! Do you have gutters that are missing or not working properly? This video helps answer the question “When Is It Time To Replace My Gutters?”

Spring is here! That means a few nice days and allot of rain. You may have experienced ice damming this past winter or have seen some shingles blown off your roof. When do you know if its time to replace your roof? Tod & Todd the owners of Weather Tight will help answer that question.

Weather Tight is hosting an Easter Egg Hunt for Savings in both of their Milwaukee-area showrooms. This event runs during regular business hours April 4^th-24^th.

The Easter Egg Hunt for Savings allows homeowners to come into our showroom and select an Easter egg from our basket for a chance to win up to 50% off their project! Everyone is guaranteed to win – there’s nothing to lose! While you’re there, be sure to talk with our showroom staff about your upcoming project, take a look at our display models and set up your free, no-obligation estimate.

Stop by either of our showrooms before April 24^th to see if you can find the egg worth 50% off!

Brookfield – 146^th & Capitol Dr.

West Allis – 114^th & Oklahoma Ave.

You may have seen the shortened version of some of Tod and Todd’s home improvement tips on TV lately. The second video in the series focuses on siding. How do you know when its time to replace your siding? Watch the video to find out.

Tod Colbert and Todd Schulz, the owners of Weather Tight have created some videos to help with common home improvement questions.  The series of videos covers a variety home improvment topics including common roofing, window, and door issues that face homeowners.  The video below helps homeowners answer the question “Is it time to replace my windows”.  Enjoy the video!

Weather Tight is working hard to save energy in the workplace to keep the costs of energy-saving home remodeling down for you. Here are 5 tips to save energy by taking some extra steps with your computer

1. Turn your computer off at night. It may take longer for you to check your email in the morning, but turning the computer off overnight will save you an average of $90 a year on your energy bill.

 2. Stop using screen savers. The term “screen saver” seems like it would save your screen from energy usage, but it does not. It still uses energy to display the images. A better alternative is to have your computer go directly into sleep mode after an allotted period of time, or turn your monitor off manually every time you step away.

 3. Exchange your desktop for a laptop. Laptops draw less wattage during regular use than the standard desktop computers. (15-25 watts compared to 150 watts.) Sleep mode also uses less energy on laptops. You’ll love the versatility too!

 4. Make sure your computer is Energy Star rated. Energy Star rated products for your computer: monitors, laptops, desktops, printers, faxes, etc. can save you upwards of 70% off the energy costs of using your computer.

 5. Use a surge protector for your electronics. Yes, surge protectors were created to safe guard your computers from lightening storms, but did you know they can save you money too? Up to 75% of the energy the electronics in your home use is being used when they are turned off. (That’s 8% of your total energy bill!) Electronics sit in an idle mode when turned off but still plugged into an electrical socket. By switching the surge protector off, you are cutting off the source of energy to the electronics and saving yourself money on your energy bill.

Subscribe to our Energy Savings Blog to be alerted for more energy-savings tips!

Weather Tight is hosting a Free Bridal Show Saturday February 26 from 11am-3pm at their West Allis Idea Center (114th & Oklahoma).  The show will feature a variety of wedding vendors including: party supplies, photographers, DJs, etc.  There will be a grand prize raffle that will feature a gift from each vendor.  You can register by clicking on the link below.

Register Now

Free Pictures With Santa & A Chance To Be A WTMJ4 Weather Kid!

Saturday December 11th 10am-1pm
Both Showrooms 114th & Oklahoma Ave.  & 146th & Capitol Dr.

Forget the long lines at the mall this year, and bring the kids to visit Santa at our showroom on December 11th instead! All kids that stop by will be entered to win one of twenty guaranteed spots as a Weather Tight Weather Kid on Channel 4 during January and February broadcasts.