Hamilton Building Services

With winter on its way, your yard could probably use some attention. The good news is if you get a jump on it now you'll be all set to settle in an relax for the winter. Skim through these helpful reminders to refresh your memory on winterizing your lawn. Image via www.lawncare.org Deal with Your Plants Remove annuals and mulch perennials after the first hard freeze. If necessary, you may want to move around your perennials. Just be certain that you don't break any roots. Also, if you haven't yet, bring in any house plants that were enjoying the warm weather. Remove Leaves A few leaves left over in your lawn won't hurt much, but a pile of leaves is a different story. If you leave a big pile of wet leaves in your yard and visit the same spot come spring, you'll be sorely disappointed at what you see. After the snow and cold have gotten to it, the grass underneath with rot and kill that area of your lawn. Remove all leaves the best you can. Mow & Aer...

During the colder months, it is not unusual to watch heating bills skyrocket within a few days. If you are someone who can relate to this dilemma, follow the following tips & tricks to drop your heating bill up to 50%. Remember, though, that the more effort you put in to sealing off your house, the lower your bill will drop! Image via www.energy.gov 1. Use the sun's heat - If there's  a warm sun in the sky, let it in your house to help rise the temperature a bit. Having heavy, insulated curtains is a great start, but the sun's heat can really impact the temperature of your home if you utilize it at the right time of day.  2. Seal off cracks & crevices - Some people use plastic window insulation kits to seal off windows. This method is relatively cheap, and if done properly, it can save you a ton of money if you have poorly insulated or old windows. Quick tip: don't forget your chimney if it goes unused!  3. Add weatherstripping or caulking wh...

One of the best parts about this time of year is the incredible  smells associated with fall, and one of the most rewarding ways to get your house to smell like fall is to cook up some traditional fall recipes. We searched our favorite Pinterest boards to find some super yummy recipes that will make you want to curl up on the couch with your home-made, hot mulled cider! Mulled Apple Cider Hot apple cider is possibly the most traditional thing to drink in the fall. This recipe is the best because you can throw all the ingredients in the crock pot, turn it on, and you're done! This is great cold or hot, and for parties you can add in your favorite spiced liquor. Click here to view the ingredients and directions. Image via www.tastykitchen.com Pumpkin Cornbread with Cinnamon Honey Butter This pumpkin cornbread recipe has some out-of-this-world flavors going on. A balanced mixture of spicy pumpkin and cinnamon swirled with the sweet honey and butter flavor will ...

Can you believe it? It's already October. Get a jump on this month's maintenance early so you have plenty of time left over for hot cider, hay rides, and pumpkin carving! Image via www.amerifirst.com Sources www.amerifirst.com

Cooler nights are ahead, and with that thought in mind, it's a good idea to start checking some items off your annual to-do list. Now that you've likely put away some of your summertime household items (and don't fret if you haven't yet), it's time to prepare for the winter weather. One way to do this is by sealing off areas of your home that allow cool air in and warm air out. By blocking and sealing off places like doors and windows, you can be saving over 50% of your heating bill. Aside from some of the more obvious places such as doors and windows, there are some other miscellaneous areas that are money eaters during the wintertime. Your beautiful and beloved chimney can be a HUGE source of wasted heat. Watch this video we found helpful and informative for those who are searching for the right tool to block heat from escaping through a chimney.

We are proud to share with you the excellent progress being made on a current build in Greenwich, CT. For this home, you can see pictured GAF roofing, charcoal color, along with white cedar shakes. Check back later for more updated pics, and please don't hesitate to call into our office with any questions or if you are interested in meeting with your local Dealer to attain a quote! 607-299-4838

If you've ever been in a home with board and batten wainscoting, you probably noticed how nice it looks and how much it adds to a space while remaining simple. Some houses already have this featured installed, whereas others may have been put in by previous owners. Either way, they look great at a low cost. If you have an area in your home that doesn't have much going on, consider how board and batten wainscoting would look in your home. Often, people will add this feature to the entryway of their home or a bland hallway.  Image via www.younghouselove.com Directions 1. Clean your walls thoroughly with a mild cleaner, and remove any marks the best that you can so that they are not visible after new paint is applied. Mr. Clean magic erasers do a nice job removing marks. Dry your walls thoroughly after, as well. 2. Install the trim boards. If you buy the boards pre-cut, great. If not, you'll need to break out a ruler and map out just how you plan to arran...