Hamilton Building Services

Labor Day weekend is rapidly approaching, and there's so much planning ahead! Get a jump on your Labor Day festivities by making some yummy recipes ahead of time, and you are sure to alleviate stresses before they even arise! Jalapeno Popper Dip  Four jalapenos, diced Image via www.snapcreativity.com Chives, diced Package cream cheese 1 c sour cream 2 c shredded cheese 3/4 c parmesan cheese 1 c bread crumbs TBSP taco seasoning TBSP melted butter Dice jalapenos and chives to set aside.  Mix cream cheese and sour cream. Add  cheese to mix, mix, then stir in jalapenos  and chives. Pour mixture into oven safe  dish or crock pot and spread evenly. Top  with bread crumbs, spices, and butter. Heat  in oven at 350 degrees until lightly toasted. Image via www.imperialsugar.com BBQ Beer Cocktail Links 2 packages cocktail sausage links 2 c ketchup 1 c brown sugar 1 c beer Mix ketchup, b...

We all know how important it is to spend time with the kids, but sometimes family fun can get pricey. Here are 8 activities you can do with your kids that won't drain your wallet. Image via www.whattoexpect.com Go to the library - Most libraries have special times just for kids, but you can visit and read books together at no cost at your leisure. Take a hike - Look up a trail, path, or whatever you have nearby, and check it out. Spending time together in nature can be an excellent bonding tool between parents and their children.  Visit your local firehouse - Usually if you call ahead, you can set up a time with a fireman to take your kids in to see the trucks, hoses, and operations of a real firehouse.  Game night - Dig out those old board games, form teams, and relive your childhood memories of playing games like Monopoly and LIFE. Watch a baseball game - Check online or ask your kids any local baseball, softball, soccer, etc., games are going on. Games th...

Similar to a one story home, a two story has pros and cons; however, many of these positive and negative elements are very dependent on your own personal preferences. Age, family dynamic, income, location, and more need to be taken into account when making this kind of decision.To get your mind thinking in that direction, consider some of the benefits to owning a two story house versus a single story house. #1   Price  - Some of the most expensive elements of a home (foundation, rafters) can be averaged over a larger square footage on a smaller footprint, so the price per square foot on a two story home often goes down, making it a cheaper option in many cases. #2 Fuel efficiency  - Generally energy costs drop with a two story house. This is because less outdoor walls and roof areas are exposed to weather. Also, heat rises, so if you put bedrooms upstairs, you won't need to crank the heat as high in the winter. #3 Plumbing  - Two story homes are ...

A bathtub is a very important part of a home. It's a place where you can kick back, relax, and find your happy place. Check out some different styles of bathtubs to make your bubble bath experience completely serene. Image via www.pinterest.com Image via www.pinterest.com Image via www.pinterest.com Image via www.pinterest.com

New home builder warranties can be intimidating; nonetheless, having a good grip on how they work is important to avoid future headaches. Keep these helpful hints in the back of your brain, and it should alleviate some of your concerns. Image via www.rigleyrealtygroup.com Builder warranties often cover materials workmanship for 1 - 2 years for a new home, and coverage generally lasts up to 10 years on anything considered major structural elements. Your state Attorney General Office or contractor licensing board is a good place to check that the builder you are working with is offering you the warranties that are required by law. Many states now have laws that are being put into place that change the general 1 year warranty coverage to 2 years, covering materials and workmanship. Some are even adding more time to warranties for defects in electrical, plumbing, HVAC, structural defects, water damage, etc. Sometimes, home buyers are coaxed into signing what i...

The entryway of your home often gives someone a first impression of you and your personal style of home decor. Are you sleek and modern? Are you rustic and rural? It only takes a few key pieces to put together your foyer space, so carefully choose these few pieces. Consider two major components that can make or break your entryway - organization and space! Check out some of these neat Pinterest inspirations to get some brainstorming ideas. Figure out a source for organization . Choose this piece first, as it will likely be one of the biggest components to your new and improved entryway. If you dig through some Pinterest posts, you'll find some great, budget-friendly DIY organizer. Image via www.pinterest.com   Image via www.diyjoy.com Image via www.homedit.com Manage the space of your entryway appropriately . No matter how big or how small, you can decorate your entryway to fit the size. If you live in a tiny apartment, look for narrow, tall piec...

We would like to wish a happy birthday to Deanna Gostinski, Hamilton's Marketing Specialist! Image via www.crosscards.com

Hamilton Building Services is proud to participate in the 2017 Great New York State Fair. The fair will be on New York State fair grounds from August 23rd - September 4th. We invite you, your friends & family to visit Hamilton's booth located in the Center Progress Building, booth 134.  All images via  www.nysfair.ny.gov

It might not be a fun task, but sealing up your garage floor can be a huge benefit to your garage. Not only will your garage floor look better, but it will also be better protected against any chemicals that may spill and could potentially ruin your floor. This option is cheaper than adding a new floor on top of the concrete, and it is low-maintenance and easy to clean. Follow this helpful diagram to review the process of epoxy-coating your garage floor. Image via www.thisoldhouse.com Sources www.corraypainting.com

An island can be a phenomenal addition to a kitchen. You can make your island as functional as you want, or leave it as more of an entertainment attraction. When picking an island for your kitchen, keep these tips in the back of your head. Image via www.hgtv.com Size matters  Choosing an island that is too big is almost as bad as choosing one that is too small. Make a list of how you intend to use your island to figure out which elements are most important to you. Is storage important to you? Is the appearance your most important factor? All these answers will lead you to what size island will accommodate you best. Image via www.houzz.com Placement Where you decide to put your island will be important to consider. Some people prefer the island in the center of the kitchen so that they can use it for cooking. These plans usually include a small sink of cutting board section. Others choose to place their island on the outskirts of the kitchen, acting as a buffet ...

Trimming the trees around your house can be a stressful event. Nonetheless, it's a necessary task that can keep your landscaping looking fresh and clean, and most importantly, it can keep you safe ! Follow these tips to help guide you through your tree trimming process. Image via www.treeremoval.com                             #1 Safety always comes first when it comes to trimming trees. Staying safe on a tree trimming site means a lot of things, so you'll want to double check that list twice, and always make sure there is someone there to monitor the situation from the side lines. #2 Prune and trim trees during the tree's dormant season for the best result. Sometimes trees or limbs need to be taken down because they are a safety concern, and that's fine. But if everybody's safe, wait until the opportune time. #3 Not all branches can be removed. If a branch is less than 5 centimeters, it's safe to cut. ...

Hamilton's standard door package features a ThermaTru SmoothStar fiberglass 3068 door. ThermaTru doors are energy efficient, aesthetically pleasing, and their performance will increase the comfort of your home. If you're looking to install new entry, patio, or other interior doors within your home, take some time to look at what ThermaTru has to offer! Image via www.thermatru.com                 Image via www.thermatru.com                                            Image via www.thermatru.com                                               Image via www.thermatru.com                                         ...

Before the summer weather splits, make sure you squeeze in these awesome summer bash ideas!  #1 Backyard Picnic  Image via www.pinterest.com #2 Hawaiian Luau  Image via www.pinterest.com #3 80's Music Video Image via www.pinterest.com #4 Japanese Style Image via www.pinterest.com #5 Country Hoedown  Image via www.pinterest.com Sources www.hgtv.com

Outdoor lighting can be an inexpensive way to glam up your landscaping or garden area. Lights are a great way to decorate outdoors because there are so many different options you have to choose from. Check out some of these neat lights for ideas: Image via www.wordpress.com Image via www.pinterest.com Image via www.pinterest.com Image via www.pinterest.com Image via www.pinterest.com Sources www.apieceofrainbow.com www.pinterest.com

Hamilton Building Services's team will take your dream home from rendering to reality. Our  in-house draftsmen will draw your custom floor plan FREE OF CHARGE, and then Hamilton will help connect you with the right Independent Dealer for your new home construction. Watch this house, located right here in Cortland, NY, go from rendering to reality!        

Take a glance at these beautiful, newly installed kitchen cabinets at a custom Hamilton home in Clay, NY. These Kemper Echo  cabinets are made of hickory, and they are a part of Hamilton Building Services's standard kitchen package. Kemper  offers an array of cabinetry to choose from including alder, cherry, hickory, maple, oak, PureStyle, specialty laminate, rustic adler, and thermofoil. Additionally, Kemper cabinetry is backed by a lifetime warranty!