| Â | Michael F. Simon Builders March 2010 Newsletter Think Spring! As Winter is starting to wrap up and Spring's right around the corner, many people are getting excited to jump on those spring projects. We are also getting excited to help out with those projects. No matter what size project you have, if you want it done on time, within budget, with quality craftsmanship and quality materials made to last, Michael F Simon Builders can help. The saying "You get what you pay for" definitely applies to construction. That's why, as the Madison area's premier custom builder, we've earned our tagline: Quality Defined! Best regards,
Air Seal and Insulate Sealing and insulating the "envelope" or "shell" of your home — it's outer walls, ceiling, windows, doors, and floors — is often the most cost effective way to improve energy efficiency and comfort. Energy Star estimates that you can save up to 20% on heating and cooling costs (or up to 10% on your total annual energy bill) by sealing and insulating. To Seal and Insulate: • Seal air leaks throughout the home to stop drafts, • Add insulation to block heat loss in winter and heat gain in summer, • Replace your windows. Simon Builders uses energy efficient Pella windows. 
If your attic is accessible and you like home improvement projects, you can Do-It-Yourself with help from this DIY Guide to Sealing and Insulating . The Guide offers step-by-step instructions for sealing common air leaks and adding insulation to the attic. You can give us a call. We work with a home performance expert who will use special diagnostic tools to pinpoint and seal the hidden air leaks in your home. Sealing Leaks Many air leaks and drafts are easy to find because they are easy to feel — like those around windows and doors. But holes hidden in attics, basements, and crawlspaces are usually bigger problems. Sealing these leaks with caulk, spray foam, or weather stripping will have a great impact on improving your comfort and reducing utility bills. Click on the house diagram to see common locations that air may leak in or out of your home. Homeowners are often concerned about sealing their house too tightly; however, this is very unlikely. All newer homes we build have a fresh air ventilation system that brings in fresh air so you stay comfortable and safe. After any home sealing project, have a heating and cooling technician check to make sure that your combustion appliances (gas- or oil-fired furnace, water heater, and dryer) are venting properly. For additional information on Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) issues related to homes, such as combustion safety, visit EPA's Indoor Air Quality Web site. Adding Insulation Insulation keeps your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer. There are several common types of insulation — fiberglass (in both batt and blown forms), cellulose, rigid foam board, and spray foam. When correctly installed with air sealing, each type of insulation can deliver comfort and lower energy bills during the hottest and coldest times of the year. Insulation performance is measured by R-value — its ability to resist heat flow. Higher R-values mean more insulating power. Different R-values are recommended for walls, attics, basements and crawlspaces, depending on your area of the country. Insulation works best when air is not moving through or around it. So it is very important to seal air leaks before installing insulation to ensure that you get the best performance from the insulation. To get the biggest savings, the easiest place to add insulation is usually in the attic. A quick way to see if you need more insulation is to look across your uncovered attic floor. If your insulation is level with or below the attic floor joists, you probably need to add more insulation. Here in Wisconsin, the building code requires R-38 insulation in the attics of all new homes. In Michael F Simon home, we liketo use R-50. We found that while this has a minimal investment up front, it will pay for its self in five years and save the you, the home owner, money every year after. (Article from EnergyStar.com)
Past Projects: Super Bowl Worthy Bar Area It seems like just yesterday we were watching the Super Bowl. How would you like to update your bar and entertainment area so next year when your friends and family come over to watch the Super Bowl they're blown away? I can hear the Oooo's and Ahhh's already! Here you can see how we took an ordinary bar area, and gave it a facelift that makes the entire space look more inviting and luxurious. The perfect upgrade for the "life of the party" entertainer! Scroll over the pictures to see the "Before" picture. 
Starting at the top, the popcorn ceiling was removed, and decorative wood paneling was added to the ceiling. The lighting remained the same, but a custom arch was added with additional accent lighting. The design for the columns came from the Roxbury Tavern. Wood paneling was also added to the walls, and even over the existing refrigerator. Why spend thousands on a new refrigerator when Simon Builders has skilled craftsmen that can dress up what you already have and save you some money! 
New granite countertops were installed to replace the existing laminated tops. And to wrap up the bar area, the Hamm's beer sign was reinstalled! The same wood paneling was used around the corner and up the stairs to create a unified look as you walk downstairs and into the bar area. It truly is quite the makeover that will make a huge difference while entertaining guests. Call today to transform that existing space into the perfect space. | Â | Â | Facebook: Become a Fan 
Michael F Simon Builders now has a facebook page! Click the icon above to visit our page and become a fan! We will be adding things over the next few weeks and are very excited about offering a different way for people to see the quality work we do.
Featured Home for Sale:682 Inverness St, Oregon WIJust Reduced to $799,000 This home has 4-5 bedrooms with fine details throughout! Distinctive Craftsman's style! Home is situated on The Legends of Bergamont golf course! Designed with expansive windows & panoramic views of the country side & golf course! Dramatic wall & ceiling plaster details! Entertainment Centre w/surround sound on both levels! Gourmet kitchen w/top of the line appliances & Brazilian teak island w/sink! Screened porch! Wet bar! Wine room! Central Vac! Security System! And More! Click here for pictures and more info. If interested, call Phil Simon at (608) 849-5916, or email him at
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Tips from Bob & Terry: Bob Clemens (remodeling expert) and Terry Dowell (Project Manager) from Simon Builders, have picked up a few tips and tricks over their 50 plus combined years here at Simon Builders. This month, they have a quick caulking tip. Caulk forms a flexible seal for cracks, gaps, or joints less than 1-quarter-inch wide. You can use a caulking compound to seal air leaks in a variety of places throughout your home, including around windows and door frames. In addition to sealing air leaks, caulking can also prevent water damage inside and outside of the home when applied around faucets, ceiling fixtures, water pipes, drains, bathtubs and other plumbing fixtures. Terry says, "Spring is a good time to check the caulking on your home. Inspect around windows doors and siding corners. To remove loose caulk before re-caulking use an old fashioned hole punch type can opener to scrap out the loose caulk." If you'd like Bob & Terry to answer any specific home related questions, feel free to email them to
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Cheers to You: Our Referral Program  The greatest compliment we can receive is a referral from you! If you know of anyone looking for a lot, a new home or a refresh or remodel in their current home, please have them give us a call.
As a token of our appreciation, we will treat you to a wine or brew of the month club, if your referral builds with us. Please contact us for more details. Cheers & thank you!
New Product: Delta H2O Delta's proprietary H 2 Okinetic Technology® creates a warmer, more luxurious shower experience that blankets the body while using less water. 
H 2 Okinetic Technology uses larger droplets that retain their heat longer for a massaging effect and a denser spray pattern for a feeling of drenching coverage; together these effects help the user feel more enveloped in the warmth of the water. The all-around experience is achieved with up to six body sprays in addition to an H 2 Okinetic showerhead. H2Okinetic Technology is quieter than conventional showers and uses no moving parts. And the water savings can be substantial; 1.5 gallons of water per minute actually feels like 2.5 gallons per minute; this can result in a 36% decrease in water usage compared to a high-flow system. Available from DeltaFaucet.com.
In the next issue: » New Lot's in Waunakee
» New Products - » Tips to get your home ready for spring » Caulking - What you need to know » Tips from Bob & Terry
Send story ideas and feedback to Paul Simon (
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