Proudly serving Western North Carolina beginning February 1, 2014

Change is in the air! Here at Yellow Dog Construction, Inc., we are fulfilling a longtime dream to move back to the mountains – to go home.

Beginning on February 1, 2014, we will proudly begin offering handyman services, remodeling, and creation of wonderful outdoor living spaces in Brevard, Pisgah Forest, Hendersonville, Mills River, and Asheville areas (and anywhere in between).

We are so grateful to all of our customers in Kannapolis, Charlotte, Gastonia, and Lenoir for your years of keeping us busy. If you have a very special project, please feel free to reach out and we’ll see if we can help you.

For our future customers in Brevard, Pisgah Forest, Hendersonville, Mills River, and Asheville areas, we can’t wait to meet you, become part of your communities and help you take the best care of your homes possible.

Sincerely,

Nelson Stegall, Proprietor

Ice and Lemon – that’s all it takes to maintain your garbage disposal

Don’t Let Your Disposal Be Ignored

Your garbage disposal sits in the bottom of your sink, usually un-noticed until the day after a fish fry or a batch of onion rings leave it reeking with bad smells. A little month maintenance will keep your disposal clean, in good working order.

Removing Odors:
Take a lemon or an orange and slice in half and toss the citrus fruit in to the garbage disposal. With warm water running, turn on the disposal and run it until the citrus is completely dissolved.

Or

Sprinkle a little baking soda down in your garbage disposal and allow it to sit overnight.  In the morning, run warm water and turn on the garbage disposal for a few seconds to rinse the baking soda and odors away.

Keeping Blades Sharp:

A few times per month chunk a few ice cubes into your running garbage disposal while the water is running. The ice is incredibly effective at sharpening blades while removing build up on them, which keeps your garbage disposal in clean, good working order.

Tips to Clean your Window Screens

Screen cleaning should be added to your home maintenance calendar. Over time, dirt and build up on your screens can lead to weakness and breakage ; ultimately this damage could cause you to have to replace them.

To clean your home window screens:

• Remove each screen, keeping careful note of where it goes and any hardware that goes with it
• Lay the screen on a flat surface – a stretched out tarp works well. Take care to remove any sticks, rocks or debris under the tarp that could damage your screen
• Mix a general cleaning solution of one part vinegar to three parts water in a spray bottle. Mix well
• Using your garden hose, completely soak each screen to rinse away dust and dirt
• Spray the screens with your cleaning solution and allow to sit for a few minutes
• Using an old toothbrush or a soft cleaning brush, apply delicate pressure and gently brush away excess dirt from both sides of the screens
• Rinse the loosened dirt and grime with your garden hose
• Prop upright in a well-ventilated area for drying

While the screens are already out of your windows, you might want to take this opportunity to clean your exterior windows and vacuum the window seals before replacing the screens.

Inspect Bathtub Caulking to reduce Mold and Repair Links

Aging, cracked or missing caulk around your bathtub and sink is more than just an unsightly problem. These gaping holes and minuscule cracks allow water to seep behind tubs, inserts and tile and ultimately saturate your drywall, which can lead to mold and mildew.

Inspect caulking around all sinks and bathtubs and be on the lookout for wearing and thinning, cracking, or where the caulking is missing entirely. As you go, make note of those areas that need your attention.

• Remove cracked or worn caulking using a scraper or razor edge
• Wipe those areas with a clean, damp cloth
• Allow the areas to dry completely
• Dip your finger in water; run along caulk line for a smooth “finished” look
• For longer strips of caulk (such as along a bathtub), place two pieces of painters tape parallel to each other and caulk in between for a straight, smooth line

Remember to wait at least 24 hours to take a shower or any other activity that could get the fresh line of caulk wet.

Preventative maintenance will allow your bathroom walls to stay dry and mold-free.

Termites, Moisture and Wood-rot Hides Behind Vegetation

What Lurks Beneath?

Gardening and landscaping near your wooden fence may look nice, but what may be lurking beneath those lush flowers and ornamental grasses could cause real problems.

Humidity and moisture from storms, combined with damp conditions that vegetation creates, can cause the soil around your fence to retain water. This moisture build up invites both fungus and wood rot, and insects such as carpenter ants and termites which destroy wood.

A quick walk around your landscaping and fences regularly gives you opportunity to spot and eliminate wood destroying insects and fungus before they can create long-term damage.

Here’s how to spot a problem and treat it quickly:

• Bushes, flowers and ornamental grasses should have at least a 6” clearance between them and your wood fence. Careful planning during planting season combined with regular trimming and clearing will maintain this important separation.
• Tree branches should not overlap a fence and are best kept 24” from your fence line, eaves and roof. A quick trim each season keeps things in check.

Keep cautious of insects and wood fungus around piles of firewood and any outdoor debris as well. It is easier and cheaper to prevent a problem rather than to treat it.

Dirty Air Filters Cause Your System to Work Twice as Hard

Don’t Let Dirty Air Filters Slow Your Air Flow

Not only does a dirty air filter cause your system to work twice as hard to put out comfortable air, but dirty filters also compromise the quality of the air in your home. This can contribute to allergies and respiratory illnesses among your family members and pets.

The air filter is an essential part of the HVAC system. This small filter is located at the point where your system takes in air. The filter acts as a guard against small particles, dust and dirt that can be sucked into the system.  If you have dirty filters, your system won’t work well. Dirt and dust can also clog up your HVAC unit’s coils, and clogged coils cannot heat or cool your home’s air efficiently or sometimes at all.  Scheduling monthly air filter replacement is the key to maintaining your HVAC system.

Here are a few quick steps:

1. Keep the sizes of your air filters written down and tucked away in your wallet or purse so that you’ll always be ready to pick a few up (especially if you notice a sale)
2. Store new air filters in an upright position, and ensure that nothing is propped up or laid on top of them.

At each filter change, there are a few steps that will enable your system to run more efficiently, and create less work for you in the future.

Here’s a Five Minute Plan of Action:

1. Turn off your system
2. Remove dirty air filter and discard (place in a tied-off plastic bag to trap the allergens if you have allergic people in the house)
3. Using a bristled brush, gently remove dust and dirt build up from your intake grates
4. Using the hose of your vacuum, vacuum into the entry portion of your system
5. Using the brush attachment, vacuum your intake grate
6. Replace the air filter and fasten the grate closed before powering on your system

A little maintenance each month will go a long way in preventing a system failure. You’ll also lower your energy costs because your system will run more efficiently.

Repair Caulking Around Your Shower to Prevent Mold and Mildew

We think of our showers as a place where things are clean – maybe a quick scrub once a week but for the most part, we may not consider what could be lurking in our shower.

Cracks in grout along your shower walls can lead to disaster on the drywall below. Mold and mildew love a dark moist place, and showers are an optimal location.

Your maintenance checklist should include inspecting and replacing grout within your showers that are worn, cracked or completely missing.

• Remove cracked caulking using a scraper or razor edge
• Wipe those areas with a clean, damp cloth and allow the area to dry completely
• Dip your finger in water; run along caulk line for a smooth “finished” look
• For longer strips, place two pieces of painters tape parallel to each other and caulk in between for a straight, smooth line.

Allow the replaced grout to cure for at least 24 hours before allowing the surface to get wet.

A Holiday Note from the Yellow Dog

Dear Customers and Friends of Yellow Dog Construction Inc.

Wow! It’s been a busy, busy 2012. As we have entered the holiday season, we want to thank you for your support, your business, and for connecting with us on social media:

Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/YellowDogConstruction
LinkedIn – http://www.linkedin.com/in/nelsonstegall
Twitter – twitter.com/YellowDogBarks

We enjoy sharing our adventures and hearing your comments. If you haven’t connected with us yet, you’re missing out! We post photos of projects, share our weekend adventures, and we’re launching 100 tips for homeowners in January 2013. Feel free to connect with us using the links above.

Because we’ve been so successful this year, we have been able to rehire one full-time and one part-time employee and have used a variety of trusted subcontractors on our projects.
    
We’d like to share some examples of our work this year:

• Screening in a porch to create a 3-season room that both the owners and their pets enjoy
• A truly custom home project near Boone, NC – installing 100-year-old wainscoting; custom molding and trim (some of which was custom made onsite); custom-built closets; custom staircases; installing a stained glass window; and various other custom touches throughout this gorgeous 5,500 square foot house.
• Changing out an old shingle roof, fixing wood rot, and installing a cool new blue metal roof that made the cottage look great.
• Removed various rotten windows and replaced them with energy-efficient windows with a life-time guarantee on the glass. These windows help reduce cooling and heating costs, too.
• Totally gutted and renovated several bathrooms, including tubs, vanities, showers, toilets, cabinets, tile flooring and shower surrounds.
• Completely renovated a rental home in downtown Kannapolis, including the kitchen, bathrooms, painting, garage door, and flooring.
• “Gut-to-the-studs” renovation of an apartment in Winston-Salem: drywall removal and replacement; kitchen appliances, countertops, sinks, and cabinets; bathrooms; and fixed an outside drainage issue.
• Demolished a hazardous and dilapidated deck on the back of a home and replaced it with a larger wooden deck for the family to enjoy.
• Built a custom-designed garden shed with lean-to and installed a privacy fence.
• Installed several stained glass windows, including two in homes and one in a church in Concord.
• Pressure-washed and painted the entire exterior of a single family home.
• Just started demo’ing a deck and will be adding on a 528 sq. foot room and a brand new 450 sq. foot deck.

    
Yellow Dog Construction Inc. appreciates YOU – our customers and friends who have trusted us with your work this year and who have referred us as a reliable source for quality home improvement projects. Don’t keep us a secret!

We wish you and your family (including the furry, feathered, and finned ones!) a peaceful holiday season.

Nelson, Bobby, and the Yellow Dog

First blog post!

As you well know, the past few years have been hard on the construction industry, and well, a lot of other industries too. We want you to know that Yellow Dog Construction, Inc. is still alive and kicking – we’re open for business and looking for projects!

A few of the current projects we’ve done this year include:

1. Transforming a barely usable unattached porch area into a usable new living space that increases both the value of the home and enjoyment for the homeowner.
2. Installing a 12×20 custom stained glass window for a local church
3. Creating a covered carport area for a fabulous concrete home in Charlotte
4. Repairing multiple storm damaged homes (including roofing, siding, and gutters) from the major hail we’ve had in 2011
5. Remodeling a low income apartment that took it from an unlivable space to a place someone can proudly call home
6. Designing a sustainable organic garden out of a neglected side yard (that now provides more tomatoes, cucumbers, broccoli, and eggplant than the 75-year old owner could ever hope to eat herself)