Published by the Remodelers Council of Lincoln • August 2012 • Vol. 15, No. 8 • Editor Jennie Korth

Chairperson’s Message

by Molly Johnson

Best of the BestBest Deck Winner

Reese Construction

To see a color version of this photo, visit www.hbal.org/rc/events.

Congratulations to Reese Construction on being the “Best of the Best” winner with their deck entry. Next month features landscaping, so be sure to submit your photo of the best landscaping you have done or been a part of in the past year to the HBAL office no later than August 15, 2012 to be considered as the Best of the Best! Below is the list of the “Best of” projects we will be looking for the rest of the year. Photos can be submitted to Kayla@hbal.org or drop them by the HBAL office and we will scan a copy of them. Recognition will include a picture of the project along with your company name in the Step by Step publication and a spot on the HBAL website for one month.

August – LandscapingSeptember – Garage

October – Interior Remodel

November – Custom Cabinetry

December – Bar/Wine

THE Event for Remodeling Professionals October 9-12, 2012

Baltimore Convention CenterBaltimore, MD

Remodeling Show is a full-service event, complete with the latest

and greatest products, one-to-one discussions with manufacturers’ technical experts

and shop talk with other remodeling professionals. Hosted side-by-side with DeckExpo, Remodeling

Show is the only national event serving the residential remodeling segment of the construction

industry. Knowledge is power, and in this economy, you need every advantage you can get. Make plans

to attend today - it’s the one event you can’t afford to miss!

Plan to join us in Baltimore!

Summer is winding down and before we know it the kids will be back in school. This summer has flown by! Hopefully we will be enjoying some cooler temperatures in the near future. Congratulations to Reese Construction! They are our Best of Best winner for July’s Best Deck contest. Thank you to everyone who submitted deck project pictures. The theme for August is landscaping. If you have a landscaping project and you would like to submit your pictures to enter the Best of Best, email them to Kayla@hbal.orgAugust 3rd is our Remodelers Golf Outing at Wilderness Ridge. There are still a few spots open if anyone is still interested in registering. I look forward to seeing everyone at the Golf Outing! TP Run Contributors

Nadine CondelloJim & Sue Crawford

John & Kayla HarrisonBrian Senkbeil

Thank You!The annual Remodelers Council TP Run benefits the Community Mental Health Center (CMHC). Clients of CMHC are on fixed incomes, and after rent and medical expenses, often are left with very little money for the basic necessities. And, with a decline in the amount of items given from the Center for People in Need, donations from the Remodelers Council of Lincoln are even more helpful and appreciated than ever before.

10 Uses for Window ScreensIf replacing yours this summer left you with extra fiberglass material, don’t just scrap it. Instead, tailor it to these new purposes. Brought to you from the August 2012 issue of This Old House.

1Protect newly seeded grassStop hungry birds from devouring the seeds you planted in a bare spot of lawn by covering it with

a patch of screen. Tack it in place with a few long nails; remove them once the blades sprout.

2Prevent drain clogsWad up some screen scraps and tuck

them into a utility sink’s drain to keep debris from slipping through.

3Scrub your skin cleanGently rub a length of mesh over

hands to scrap away dried-on paint.

4Sift unmixed groutUse a piece of screen as a sieve to

uncake powdered grout and remove any lumps before mixing with water.

5 Dry herbsStaple mesh to a wood frame to make

a platform for drying fresh sprigs. Place the frame wood-side down so air

flows beneath the mesh.

6Keep critters outThink like an insect, then stuff strips

of screen into narrow crevices in your home - like those around pipe entries

under sinks - to foil pests.

7Make compost teaBundle a half pound of compost in a

1-foot square of mesh, and cinch with twine to make a tea bag. Soak the

bag in a 5-gallon bucket of water for a week or so, stirring daily. Fertilize a

veggie patch with the brew.

8Give a sponge scour powerCover a plain household sponge with a piece of screen, and tie with string

at both ends to prep it for heavy scrubbing jobs.

9Strain old paintPour paint through a piece of

screening to filter out debris from an otherwise still-good batch.

10 Keep soil inside a flower potLine the bottom with a patch of screen

before filling it to stop dirt from washing out through the drain hole.

# Cost # Cost # Cost # Cost # Cost # Cost # CostJan. 19 333,000 7 87,400 9 1,364,460 2 52,000 6 152,980 3 80,100 2 43,500Feb. 13 426,676 4 314,300 9 141,600 5 125,240 3 99,500 7 178,700 5 107,786March 34 613,750 33 1,283,155 36 589,154 10 206,900 11 317,000 18 452,005 10 691,458April 52 560,472 56 539,511 62 1,208,366 10 198,413 19 706,474 15 908,366 11 600,931May 57 907,924 55 818,301 52 809,323 9 183,000 9 148,500 20 340,080 20 723,945June 59 520,942 62 481,374 19 543,997 14 297,872 12 460,740 16 603,388 7 224,812Total 234 3,362,764 217 3,524,041 187 4,656,900 50 1,063,425 60 1,885,194 79 2,562,639 55 2,392,432Avg. Cost

2012

43,499

Remodeling Permits: AdditionsCity of Lincoln - Detached Single Family - 7 Year Table

21,269

2006 2007 2009

16,240

2008

24,90314,371

2010

31,420

2011

32,438

# Cost # Cost # Cost # Cost # Cost # Cost # CostJan. 89 1,007,372 88 1,163,863 81 907,619 71 784,232 57 502,454 69 988,395 81 804,484Feb. 87 967,125 78 909,207 76 947,505 76 706,588 69 600,743 79 893,584 69 565,929March 100 1,147,674 107 1,280,089 89 800,412 72 946,927 125 1,229,150 104 900,086 96 1,055,957April 87 706,214 88 1,031,776 82 877,275 85 813,112 154 1,386,859 133 1,292,245 96 871,985May 120 1,042,668 115 1,578,971 79 723,878 65 617,270 124 931,223 111 946,242 123 1,544,337June 97 985,229 97 736,760 76 662,915 89 766,615 117 754,480 112 819,225 110 1,093,867Total 580 5,856,282 573 6,700,666 483 4,919,604 458 4,634,744 646 5,404,909 608 5,839,777 575 5,936,559Avg. Cost

Remodeling Permits: AlterationsCity of Lincoln - Detached Single Family - 7 Year Table

10,12011,69410,097 10,186

2006 2007 20092008

8,367

2011

9,605 10,324

20122010

Tips for Keeping the A/C Working During

the Hot WeatherFrom the August 2012 issue of This Old House

Central air conditioning should be serviced annually, but homeowners can do the following:

• Check and change the filter once a month. Dirty filters use more energy and it can cause the cooling coil to freeze and start leaking.

• Set the thermostat to 80 degrees when you leave the house so that the condenser doesn’t have to work as much while you are gone.

• Call the pros if the air coming from the ducts isn’t as cool as it should be. This is a sign that the outdoor condenser needs a refrigerant charge or if you spot a puddle beneath the indoor unit, this could indicate the coil is leaking.

• Turn on a ceiling fan, this helps circulate the air in the house and is another way to cool off instead of turning the A/C down.

20th Annual Remodelers Council

Golf TournamentAugust 3 at Wilderness Ridge

(1800 Wilderness Woods Place)Registration 7:30-8:15

Shotgun Start at 8:30 am

•$65 per golfer, includes golf, cart, food and prizes •Tournament format is 18 holes, 4-person scramble.•Tournament is limited to 36 foursomes•Hamburgers and hot dogs are served all day•Handicappedevent,flightswillbedeterminedbased

on a 9 hole score randomly selected.•Prizes awarded following the tournament

Volunteers needed: r Yes, I’d like to volunteer to help out at the

Remodelers Golf Tournament

Name ______________________ Phone____________

Company_________________________________

r Yes, I’d like to contribute to the Remodelers Council Scholarship Golf Tournament

Amount $______

Name ______________________ Phone____________

Company_________________________________

Remodelers Council of Lincoln6100 S. 58th Street, Suite CLincoln, NE 68516

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Calendar of EventsAug. 3

Remodelers Council Golf TournamentWilderness Ridge Golf Course8:30 a.m. Shotgun Start • $65 per person

Aug. 6Night at the SaltdogsHaymarket Park6:00 p.m. Picnic • 7:05 p.m. First Pitch