Beyond the Studs: The Wonders of Pella Windows

In this episode of Beyond the Studs, Josh Gauwitz — owner of Legacy Exteriors — talks about windows, specifically the different options a homeowner has especially when it comes to Pella windows. To begin, it’s important to note that we carry many different brands of windows. So we’re not locked into any specific brand, as we like to have the flexibility to provide homeowners with exactly what they are looking for. But Pella windows are definitely one of our staples that we carry because the brand speaks for itself as far as the quality and service they are known for. Our customers love Pella, and we love working with the brand because of their outstanding history. And they have a lot of options inside Pella. There’s the wood line, fiberglass line, and the vinyl line. So there’s a price point for everybody. And there’s a design look for every homeowner, too. Pella offers really great options no matter what line a homeowner chooses.  Let’s talk about some of these different options to help clarify which

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Beyond the Studs: Dealing with Storm Damage to Your Home

In this episode of Beyond the Studs, Josh Gauwitz spoke about storm damage here in Wisconsin. He also covers when it’s smart to have your home inspected, insurance claims, an the importance of doing your homework when choosing a company to work on repairs from storm damage … Recently, some pretty severe weather hit southern Wisconsin, and even in the far eastern parts of Sun Prairie you could hear sirens going off when it occurred. It was pretty crazy.  What I’d like to do is talk about how a homeowner can proceed in the event of storm damage, so the people in our community are prepared when this kind of stuff happens.  To begin, you need to know what type of potential issues you should be looking for after a storm. Obviously, there may be clean up of branches and debris, but what about your home itself? This last storm at the end of July had 70-mile an hour winds, and there were reports of baseball sized hail in areas. And then to top it

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Beyond the Studs: Winter is Coming, is Your Home Exterior Ready?

In this episode of Beyond the Studs, Josh Gauwitz spoke about the Wisconsin weather and how it can affect the exterior of your home, especially if your roofing or siding is in need of repair. Here’s what Josh had to say … Living in Wisconsin, we have extreme weather conditions — from below freezing cold, to smoldering heat, and everything in between. So it can really open the exterior of our house up to a lot of potential problems. If your siding or roofing isn’t holding up the way it should, that extreme temperature change can really break down the composition of those materials … especially if there is a manufacturer’s defect, or even a labor defect. This can open the exterior of a home to an array of potential problems. So, it’s always good to have an inspection done by either yourself, or a professional, which could be just a visual inspection. Some of the issues are going to be extremely obvious, like if you if you’re on a roof and you see cracking

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The Many Benefits & Types of Pergolas

Pergolas have grown in popularity in recent years, and for good reason. These simple-but-stylish structures are an affordable addition to your home, and they come with a long list of benefits. Read on to learn more about what pergolas can provide, beyond shade and a place to spend outdoor time, as well as what to consider before you begin a pergola project of your own. What to Consider Before a Pergola Installation The first big decision that comes with adding a pergola is whether you will use a kit from the store or have your structure custom-built. Store kits are made with style and quality in mind, but you will not be able to customize them to the space you have available. For example, you may not be able to find a perfect fit for the deck or patio you already have and plan to build around. Kits can typically be installed in DIY fashion, but you can hire a contracting company to put them together for you. This is especially helpful if you haven’t

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Wood Decks vs. Composite Decks: What You Need to Know

You’re ready to install a new deck on your home. But which material is right for your project? Today’s deck builders use both wood and composite materials. Each of these offers a unique set of pros and cons surrounding cost, appearance, longevity, sustainability, and required maintenance. Below, you can learn more about each of these areas to make an educated decision on materials for your latest home project. The Costs of Composite vs. Wood Decks Cost is often the first factor that you’ll notice when you start to look into deck materials. In general, composite decks have a higher up-front price tag. However, it isn’t always as extreme as you might think. The cost of composite materials is fairly stable, while wood prices fluctuate often (especially in recent years). Hard or exotic woods are also priced higher than woods like pine, and may fall near or over the cost of composite boards. The longevity, which we’ll dive into in more detail below, is also important to keep in mind. Composite decks typically outlast wood decks

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