Michael F. Simon Builders

Michael F. Simon Builders October 2009 Newsletter

Michael F Simon Builders - Quality Defined!

Have you ever heard the saying "Stick to what your good at?" Well we have. Although we have changed from building farm houses for a dollar a day, to building & remodeling top quality homes, we have stuck to what we are good at. We have been and still are, after 116 years in the business, setting the bar for top-notch quality homes around the Madison area.

We continue to provide a monthly newsletter filled with home improvement inspiration, tips for maintenance, and features from local experts. We hope you find it to be valuable information for your home and life. As always, we encourage you to share your thoughts and ideas for upcoming articles.

Best regards,

PS - Do you know someone that would benefit from receiving this newsletter, please feel free to send it on or send us their email address.

Home Energy Audits

With winter fast approaching, heating your home will be right around the corner. A Home Performance test can greatly help you save some money this winter, and who doesn't want to save some money?

A home energy audit is the first step to assess how much energy your home consumes and to evaluate what measures you can take to make your home more energy efficient. An audit will show you problems that may, when corrected, save you significant amounts of money over time. During the audit, you can pinpoint where your house is losing energy. Audits also determine the efficiency of your home's heating and cooling systems. An audit may also show you ways to conserve hot water and electricity. You can perform a simple energy audit yourself, or have a professional energy auditor carry out a more thorough audit.

A professional auditor uses a variety of techniques and equipment to determine the energy efficiency of a structure. Thorough audits often use equipment such as blower doors, which measure the extent of leaks in the building envelope, and infrared cameras, which reveal hard-to-detect areas of air infiltration and missing insulation. We work with, and recommend, Scott Sailor of Home Performance Testing in Oregon, an ENERGY STAR® Homes Program Consultant. Scott can be reached at (608) 241-5425, and make sure to mention Simon Builders sent you.

Past Projects: Before & After Remodel Pictures

Michael F Simon Builders has been remodeling homes for longer than most other building companies have been in business. Below are some of our more recent "Before and After" pictures and a quick description of what we were able to do to change a clients home to exactly what they want.

Above- We added a wet bar to a dead space that wasn't being used. The new wet bar includes an under counter refrigerator, a wine fridge as well new cabinets and a granite countertop.

Above- We "Refreshed" a kitchen by adding new countertops, cabinets and wall coverings. This once "modern" style home now has a warm and cozy feeling.

Above & Below- This was no small task. We added second story, garage, and new great room (about 2500 sq ft). It also received a complete interior and exterior overhaul.

Above- We "Refreshed" this deck by changing the decking and railings to new maintenance-free composite decking with glass railings. The old deck was turning green from mold and decay, while the new deck is green (green materials).

Above - We "Refreshed" a fireplace by replacing glass blocks with stone, and building a new mantel. The tile floor was also replaced with a new wood floor to transform this room from a "cold feeling" to "warm and inviting."

This is only a quick glimpse at some of our more recent transformations. If you are interested in seeing any more, feel free to stop in our office anytime and look at our "Before & After Book." If you're not in the area, you can email Paul and I'll be more than happy to send you electronic copies.

Remodeling Q & A With Phil Simon

Last month, Phil answered the question "We are thinking of remodeling.  Where do we start and what will it cost?"

His response was to give Simon Builders a call to meet and find out exactly what you're thinking.  Followed up with a sketch and a budget we think it will take to complete that work. 

This complimentary assessment is a great way to put our experience to work for you so you can make an informed decision on your homes potential.

Question: For your site visit to look at my home and assess what we envision, what are your expectations of us?

Phil's response:

It's important for us to schedule the meeting when all decision makers can be present.  We will ask what deficiency are you hoping to correct or what we need to change in your home to make it the home you desire.  You shouldn't worry how exactly it will be built or constructed, as we will figure all that out for you.  If you have a set of the original building plans, that will be most beneficial.  If you are contemplating an addition outside of your existing homes footprint, a copy of your existing site plan or mortgage survey would be most helpful.  If you only have one copy of plans or blueprints, not to worry, as we can make large copies for our use and return your copy back to you.  If you don't have plans, that's fine.  We can measure exactly what we need.

Question: Ok, you have come out to my home and we have explained what we hope to do with our home.  Now what happens?

Phil's response:

While meeting with you, we listen to what you desire, we take notes and we photograph your existing home.  We create, if appropriate, a basic computer generated sketch of our interpretation of what you desire.  This sketch is meant to convey a design solution or idea of what could be done based on the information gathered at the jobsite meeting. This initial sketch is not intended to be a final design, but rather a concept of what could be if you like it. The purpose of this initial sketch is meant to be a starting place to be further developed into a final plan.  At this point, we will also present you with a dollar range you can use as a budget for both the projected construction costs and the Design work. We separate the design from the construction into two separate Agreements.  We feel this complimentary assessment is the best way to express to you what your design can look like and what it might cost.

Green Tip:

Consider updating your heating and cooling system before winter. Heating and cooling account for about 56% of the energy use in a typical U.S. home, making it the largest energy expense for most homes. With the rebates that are available right now, the payback period is greatly reduced. We recommend calling RG Heating & Air Conditioning at 608-849-6728 (24 hr service).

Featured Lot for Sale: Glaciers Woods, Middleton/Verona

Lot 6, Saracen Way

Click for Printable Lot Map

This development is located just west of Hawk's Landing and nestled up to Glacier's End. This is a wooded lot offering tall, mature trees across the back half of the one-acre lot. Sloping terrain allows for an exposure on the east side. This is a very private lot. The out-lot located directly behind this lot is heavily wooded. Priced at $199,000.00.

Available Lots

From time to time, we come across properties that acquaintances offer for sale to us to build on or remodel for another client.  If you are looking for, or have a property you might like to sell and would desire us to include your property in our newsletter, contact Phil Simon at (608) 849-5916 or email him at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
 
FOR SALE:

Hard to find 5.271 wooded acres (approx 350' x 630') in desirable Town of Middleton, just off Old Sauk Rd. between Cardinal Point and Sauk Point Estates. Character a plenty with ability for exposed lower levels, gorgeous nature filled views, mature trees throughout property, multiple building sites and old stone farmers fence (est. age 125 years old) separating this from neighbors parcel.

* 5+ acres

* Wooded , private

* Great Schools

* Quiet Subdivision

* Close to Downtown Madison

* No deed restrictions
 
For more details about this unique building site, call Phil Simon at (608) 849-5916, or email him at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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, Terry would like you to check your doors.

With regards to your exterior doors, Terry says, "Make sure to check the operation and set back of latches and strike plates on your doors so that the door sits snug against the weather stripping. Also check for the small pads located at the intersection of the door jamb and threshold. These pads close the gap where the door sweep is short of the jamb."

Warm air leaking into your home during the summer and out of your home during the winter can waste a lot of your energy dollars. One of the quickest dollar-saving tasks you can do is caulk, seal, and weather-strip all seams, cracks, and openings to the outside. You can save on your heating and cooling bill by reducing the air leaks in your home. Below you can see the most common locations of energy loss in a home.

If you'd like Bob & Terry to answer any specific home related questions, feel free to email them to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Cheers to You: Our New 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: A Grill Master's Dream

Viking never ceases to amaze people with the type of accessories it adds to grills. With double side burners, a cooker, and an easy-moving cart setup, you may never want to use your indoor range again.

Now that stores are clearing out their summer inventory, great deals can be found.

Pictured here:
C4 Cooker Cart and Double Side Burners
Available from Viking

In the next issue:

» More Remodels- Before & After Pictures

» 2009 Best of Business Award
» New Products - Green Light Dimmers

» Green Tip - Using Your Fireplace

» Ceiling Fans Save Energy All Year Long

» Tips from Bob & Terry

» Tune-up from RG Heating Before Winter

Send story ideas and feedback to Paul Simon ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ).