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Residential Remodeling
We believe it is important to pay fair wages and work with subcontractors who share our philosophies. Together we work to make our planet a better place and your home a healthy haven.
Getting to Know Us
The first meeting sets the stage. Owner Jake Nau will listen to your ideas, dreams and concerns about your home's potential. He'll ask questions, such as:
What do you love about the current space?
What would you like to change?
What are your budget and timeframe considerations?
Designs of the Times
This is where the fun really begins and an ideal time to discuss ways to save energy and resources during your project. Depending on the scope of your project, the team may include an architect, interior designer, or our in-house design services.
The Proposal
After the design is finalized, you will receive a complete contract from Open Air Concepts.
Prep Matters
Before we begin your renovation, we gather the following information:
A Pre-Construction Questionnaire helps us determine the best way to enter your home each day, and where you'd prefer us to park trucks and store materials.
A Selection Worksheet establishes deadlines for deciding details such as paint colors, flooring, tile, countertops, lighting, and hardware.
A list of other areas of your home that need to be protected while we are remodeling.
We're All Ears
Regular communication is key to a smooth, efficient remodeling process. That's why we schedule project meetings with you and provide you with updates on the schedule. Of course, we encourage feedback throughout your remodeling project so we can make adjustments to make the process even easier for you.
Enjoy!
Your new space is transformed! Now that you are living in your renovated space, you may begin to notice details you want changed or warranty issues that should be resolved. Don't worry we'll schedule a follow-up consultation three to six months after completion.
Small Job Home Repairs
Small repairs on your home can be inexpensive and are essential to keeping your house in good working order. Maintaining good mechanical performance and durability of your structure are key elements to sustainable housing. These small repairs will most likely reduce your need for more costly repairs later on.
What's Happening Outside?
The exterior of your home is the skin that keeps damaging elements out. Water that leaks into a wall cavity can cause major issues such as rot and mold. The caulking around doors and windows should be tight because any amount of cracking can allow moisture in. In older homes especially, the caulking is often the only layer keeping water out.
Any exterior wood surfaces are susceptible to rot and deterioration if paint is loose or missing. A home typically needs to be repainted every 7-10 years.
An evaluation of your exterior landscaping, gutters and downspouts, and foundation may reveal water flow that needs to be re-directed away from your foundation. Water that settles near the foundation can lead to leaks and can result in mold and other water issues.
Adding or replacing storm windows and doors can increase their efficiency. And sometimes it is worthwhile to replace windows and doors.
Repairs of flashing, sidings and trim work all contribute to a tight exterior seal and a dry interior wall space.
And Inside?
Sometimes things just aren't working right. We can re-fit existing doors and repair door thresholds or adjust door hardware. You may have a stairway that needs a railing or handrail. We can replace caulking around sinks, showers and tubs to prevent water entering your wall space from the inside.
Sometimes you need to change or re-organize your space, but a remodeling project is not in the budget. Smaller changes can really make a difference. Things like replacing door or cabinet hardware, installing new doors & millwork, or adding storage shelving or built-ins may be the change you need.
These are just a few examples of the many smaller jobs you may need help with.
What does it cost you?
We charge $55 per hour with a 2 hour minimum. We can estimate the amount of time a job will take before we come out.
Greening Your Home Evaluation
Frustrated with trying to choose from the flood of tips that claim to improve the health and efficiency of your home?
If so, we can help. Our Greening Your Home Evaluation will show you which improvements would be most cost-effective for your home.
Our evaluator will visit each room of your home to inspect areas for energy loss and proper performance. The evaluator will then create a custom health and efficiency plan for your home.
Your Greening Your Home Evaluation will include an inspection of the following areas:
1. Proper Sealing and Performance
Exterior doors and windows
Wood burning fireplace dampers
Attic access door
Plumbing pipes and electrical lines that penetrate walls
Vents for your dryer, kitchen exhaust and hood, and bathrooms
Inspection for water leaks around tub/shower
2. Appliance Efficiency
Ceiling fans
Refrigerator/freezer door seals
Refrigerator/freezer temperature settings
Refrigerator coil cleanliness
Hot water heater temperature setting
Humidifier settings
Air exchanger settings
3. Heating, Ventilation, and Air-Conditioning (HVAC) system
Thermostat settings and optimal programming
Ductwork sealing and cleanliness
Filter condition and cleanliness
4. Insulation Adequacy
Visible hot water pipes
Hot water heater
Attic and rim joists
Crawl space
5. Water Conservation
Shower head and faucet aerator efficiency
Toilet water consumption evaluation
Putting your plan into action
After evaluating your home, we'll give you advice about easy do-it-yourself projects, and maybe even fix some problems immediately. For more specialized repairs and improvements, we will provide you with a written estimate.
How much does a Greening Your Home Evaluation cost?
That depends on the size of your home. The fee for homes less than 2000 square feet is $145. A home betweed 2000 - 4000 square feet can be evaluated for $180. If your home is over 4000 square feet, contact us for pricing.
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Testimonials
As a first time home-owner, with many questions and projects to conquer, I now feel confident in my choices of how to improve the efficiency and quality of my home, as well as my comfort. Jake taught me several things about my house during my Greening Your Home Evaluation. I am most impressed by Jake pointing out areas in my house that were extremely inefficient, yet cost nothing to fix. Most importantly, he took the time to show me specific and practical ways to insulate several areas of my house, many of which I'm able to do myself. After our consultation he sent me a list of multiple contacts for the larger projects, which allows me to choose who to hire. Jake's knowledge is shared through careful, patient explanations and his sincere consideration for the environment is genuine. Because of this Greening Your Home Evaluation, I have a much better understanding of the system of my house.
~Kelly, Minneapolis
Jake offered a lot of valuable information and answered many questions that I had about improvements that we should make to our home. He is very knowledgeable about the many different aspects of greening your home. The process can seem overwhelming but it is amazing how a few small changes can reduce the impact of our household on the environment while saving money on utilities.
~Cedar, Mahtomedi
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Contact us to schedule a consultation
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