4 Tips for Setting Up Your Outdoor Living Space

1. Use pieces that highlight your space, not take from it.

Maximizing space is key, you don’t want to feel like you are cooped up indoors when you’re enjoying the weather outdoors. So analyze your space and decide exactly what furniture you want and how much your space will fit.

2. Continue your style outdoors as well.

It’s easy to consider your outdoor space as separate from the rest of your home, but tying the aesthetic of your outdoor space to your indoor space emphasizes your existing design and maximizes your square footage.

3. Function is just as important as style.

Don’t waste space with pieces that won’t get used. Think about what you intend to do with your outdoor space and how you like to entertain. That should be the driving force behind your furniture selections.

4. Durability is a must.

This one is simple, but often overlooked. When selecting your outdoor furniture, pick pieces that are weatherproof. That way, they can either be used or left in the winter, rather than stored.

This post is an adaptation from https://www.hgtv.com/outdoors/outdoor-remodel/budgeting-for-a-porch-project, not an entirely original blog.

No two porches are exactly the same, especially when you are working with a design-build remodeler like J&R Construction. For this reason and more, the cost to upgrade an existing porch or add a new one varies widely.

Costs depend on what you prefer.  Factors like size and complexity play a large role and costs also vary region to region. A small and basic do-it-yourself porch project can cost about $5,000 to $10,000, but the budget for even a small porch project can go up quickly when lots of extras are included.

Things like lighting, hardware, architectural details and furniture add to the basic cost of the project. A major extra, like a large fireplace, can really drive up the cost of a porch, since it involves more materials and labor — and may require an upgraded foundation. When you work with a remodeler, labor costs also weigh into the cost of a porch, but likely mean less in maintenance costs.

A basic concrete-slab porch will be easier on the wallet than a larger screened-in porch or sunroom.

Prefabricated porches can be found for approximately $10,000 to $20,000, and expect to pay anywhere from $15,000 to $30,000 for a good-quality, medium-sized (about 16′ x 20′) porch with a floor and roof built by a contractor.

Large custom porches with lots of extras can easily top $50,000, so it pays to do your homework and planning. However, a custom porch is built to your specifications and requires less work in the long run. Companies like J&R offer warranties on their work, so you don’t have to worry about issues lingering. This ultimately is money back in your pocket.

by Ryan Richardson

OWENSBORO, KY (November 25, 2021) – More than 1,000 boxes of cereal will be distributed to local organizations thanks to a recent collection drive by J&R Construction and Thrivent. It’s the second year for the local cereal drive.

“We borrowed the idea from a friend of mine in Bowling Green, to benefit the community and have some fun,” said Ashley Profitt, J&R Project Designer. “It was on my heart to give back to the community considering the influx of people that go to food banks and shelters this time of year. What better way than to feed multiple people than with one simple box of cereal.”

A total of 1,036 boxes were donated and will be distributed to places such as the Daniel Pitino Shelter, St. Benedicts, Oasis, The Kings Table, Crossroads, and Church Alive.

“These organizations are so happy to see us and the way cereal puts a smile on their faces and ours is just unbelievable,” Profitt said. “We work with many trade partners and vendors in our line of business and it’s really fun to watch them step up to the plate to help us.”

CONTACT

Ben Taylor, Marketing &

Communications Coordinator

J&R Construction

(859) 225-0162 – [email protected]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

J&R Construction named to

Qualified Remodeler

 TOP 500 for 2021

LEXINGTON, KY (August 10, 2021) – Qualified Remodeler, a leading publication serving remodelers and home improvement companies in the U.S., has ranked J&R Construction as the No. 371 on its 43^rd annual TOP 500 remodelers of 2021. Since 1978, the QR TOP 500 has tracked the industry’s largest and fastest growing companies. In 2021, the TOP 500 represented $13 billion in remodeling sales volume on 1.1 million jobs.

J&R Construction was chosen as a 2021 TOP 500 remodeler by the Qualified Remodeler editorial staff for meeting a set of criteria including installed remodeling dollar volume, total years in business, industry association membership, industry certification, industry awards and community service.

J&R Construction is Lexington, Owensboro, and Central Kentucky’s leading Design-Build & Home Remodeling company. Design-Build is when a company has professional interior designers on staff to show you what your home remodeling project will look like, guide you in selections, and hand hold you throughout the project. Then having project managers, carpenters, quality craftsman, and trade partners build and remodel your dream.

“Based on Qualified Remodeler’s analysis, firms that are ranked on the 2021 TOP 500 are experiencing a boom in business. Firms that have made the list multiple years tend to share common attributes — strong revenues, a commitment to customer service, as well as leading sales and marketing programs,” said, Patrick O’Toole, co-owner and publisher of Qualified Remodeler. “These attributes helped put the firms on this list and contribute to their ongoing success in remodeling and home improvement.”

Additional information on the TOP 500 can be found on www.qualifiedremodeler.com.

This post is an adaptation from https://www.housebeautiful.com/lifestyle/cleaning-tips/a22652916/fall-home-maintenance-checklist/, not an entirely original blog.

Fall brings a lot of changes with it. It magically gets colder, leaves begin to fall, the holidays are suddenly right around the corner, and the air just feels fresher. These changes present several challenges to homeowners who may have spent more time at the pool than thinking about how to prepare for Fall (rightfully so)! Here are some simple ways to make sure your home is just as ready for a challenging as your stretchy pants are, come Thanksgiving time.

Clean, or possibly replace, your gutters.

Your gutters take a beating and if they’re clogged, you’re in for a world of hurt and dirty water in your home. So, clean them, and if necessary, replace them.

Check for leaky windows.

Heat loss through windows is responsible for 25-30 percent of heating energy use, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. But it can be easily fixed with some weatherstripping.

Pro tip: To check if you have a draft issue, close a door or window on a strip of paper. If the paper slides easily, you need to update your weatherstripping.

Drain your outdoor faucets.

Drain and disconnect all garden hoses from outside spigots to prevent any water freezing. Not doing this can result to pipes bursting. No bueno.

Bring your outdoor furniture in.

It costs you money and time to set that outdoor space up, so if you want to get another summer season out of it you should store it in a garage or shed. If you don’t have anywhere to store the items, you should cover it in a waterproof furniture cover.

Fix any cracks in your driveway.

When water gets into cracks it freezes, expands, and can make the crack even bigger. Enough small cracks can turn into big cracks, and eventually the concrete can crumble. So, using concrete crack sealer, fill it up and be done with it.

Change your filters.

If your filters are clogged, it’s harder to keep your home at the temperature you want it to be which will increase your heating bills. Clean these filters monthly, not just before the fall, and thank me later. FYI: Disposable filters can be vacuumed one time before you replace it, and foam filters can just be vacuumed and not replaced.

Fertilize your lawn.

If you want to keep your lawn looking great in the spring and summer, you need to prep it for the fall and winter. Roots are still active when the grass isn’t growing, so applying fertilizer will prevent winter damage. Doing this will also help your lawn turn green faster in the spring.

Test winter equipment.

Seriously, just check it all now and make your life easier later. You’ll be really happy when you discover you need a new snow blower in the summer, rather than when you’re standing in the snow, and they’re sold out.

Change your batteries.

Once a year you should be checking to make sure all smoke detectors and carbon monoxide devices are working. Fall and Winter mean it’s time to “roast those chestnuts on an open fire,” lets not roast your blinds and couch because you didn’t catch a stray log!

This post is an adaptation from https://www.hgtv.com/lifestyle/clean-and-organize/get-your-house-ready-for-summer, not an original blog.

Clean the walkway
Pressure-wash the walkway, then replace damaged pavers or bricks, or just flip them over. If any pavers are sticking up too high, raise them, remove a little dirt, and drop them back in place. On concrete walkways fill in cracks with a masonry crack filler that matches the color of your concrete.

Spruce up the front door
Probe the weather stripping around the door with a screwdriver and caulk any post-winter gaps before tightening hinges that may have come loose due to shifts in temperature.

Prep the windows
Caulk any gaps in the framing and check that the mechanics are working by opening and closing each window a few times. Wash windows with a vinegar-ammonia solution first, then with water only. Dry with a squeegee.

Quick tip: Wash windows on a cloudy day. The sun may dry the solution too soon, leaving streaks.

Tidy up the flower beds
Clear out weeds and use a spade to redefine bed edges. Till the top inch or two of soil if it’s tightly packed, being careful not to disturb any bulbs below. Apply 2 to 3 inches of mulch.

Fill in the grass
Remove leaves and twigs and de-thatch dead grass with a metal rake. Ask for help choosing the right seed at a garden center, then apply it to bald patches or anywhere you want a thicker lawn.

Quick tip: Weed-killing fertilizer will work fastest if applied right before it rains.

Fix the sprinkler
Check for any winter damage, including broken heads and cracked pipes, by running your sprinkler one zone at a time. Any bubbling or geyser-like area needs a new head.

Clean out the birdbath
Empty the bath and fill it with warm water and ¼ cup of chlorine bleach. (Bleach is safe if you rinse thoroughly, but you can also swap it for 1 cup of white vinegar.) Cover the bath with a tarp or plastic bag, and let the solution soak for 30 minutes before scrubbing and rinsing.

Hose down the air-conditioning condenser
Shut down the power on the electric panel, then clear away any leaves or branches lodged in the unit. Wash down all the coils with a garden hose. If you find any chewed wires, call a pro to repair them.

Clear out the gutters
Clean leaves and debris from your gutters. The next time it rains, stand outside and look for breaks or leaks in your gutters and downspouts.

Repair the siding
If your house has wood siding or shingles, inspect for post-winter rot, repair the damaged areas, then touch up any faded stain or chipped paint. A nylon scrub brush and all-purpose cleaner should eliminate dirt and mold on engineered wood, vinyl, or aluminum siding.