Spring Newsletter

May, 2014

We are thrilled that Spring is finally here! Or is it? Hail, snow, and cold temperatures in late April and early May does not sound correct!

As we get ready for the change in weather, we would like to share some exciting changes happening at Dawson. In the last newsletter, we told you about our increased staff changes to accommodate our growth. Now we are thrilled to announce--- a new look for our Design Center on Cook Street! We are expanding our Design Center with an additional 1200 square feet. This will further help meet our your customer needs with a one-stop shop! Come check it out!

Come to our first Dawson Class and learn about "How to check and replace your sump pump" this Saturday, May 10, @ 10:00AM at the Dawson Design Center. See the details below.

As an existing customer, we would like to thank you for serving as the foundation of our growth. In addition, thank you for your wonderful referrals and your partnership with our trades, our sub contractors, our vendors, and our sales & design team.

If you have any questions or need any help with your home, call us!

Thanks,
John

This Newsletter includes:

Spring Home Checklist

Do you have Hail Damage?

Dawson Expands and Renovates

Spring Home Checklist

After our extremely long and dark Winter, signs of the Spring sunshine is finally here. While WE are all ready for it, is your home? Do you see leaves in your gutters, cracks in your sidewalks, or loose shingles on your roof?

Below is a simple checklist to help target those areas that may require maintenance so you can enjoy your home this Spring:

1) Don't Forget the Sump Pump!

First and foremost is verifying your sump pump is in working order. Now is the time to test your pump. Make sure the sump pump is operating correctly, and ensure you install a battery backup pump. The backup pump will kick on when the electricity goes out.
Be sure to check with your insurance agent, does your insurance cover 'sump pump failure?' This is a specific endorsement that needs to be added to your typical home coverage. Dawson has recently assisted a few home owners in the area that did not have the "sump failure clause." Unfortunately, the customers were responsible for entire cost of their basement remodel after the water damage.
Dawson is now pleased to offer Grainger water detection products. These water detection products can be placed on the ground next to the sump pump. In the event of the sump pump failure and water starts to build up in the basement.... Water will trigger an alarm and allow you to take action prior to water covering the entire basement floor. Call Dawson today to hear more about these products.
A few hundred dollars will give you peace of mind and save you thousands in water damage.

To help ensure your sump pump is in working order, Dawson will hold our first complimentary
customer training class on:

"How to check and replace your sump pump"
This Saturday, May 10, @ 10:00AM at the Design Center.
It will be a great opportunity to learn how to help protect your basement and ask any customer questions you may have.
Please RSVP to [email protected]

2) Check for loose or leaky gutters.

With the freezing and thawing from Winter, gutters expand and contract, so ensure they are flush to the roof, with no sags or dips.
Make sure gutters and downspouts drain water away from the foundation and are clear and free of debris.
Improper drainage can lead to water in the basement or crawl space.
Get a professional cleaning if you live in a two-story house. Do-it-yourselfers will be safer cleaning a ranch home.
Or you can consider installing gutter guards.

3) From the ground, examine for lost or damaged roof shingles.

Shingles that curl (turn up) and claw (turn down) can make your roof inefficient and susceptible to leaks and need to be replaced.
Flashing around plumbing vents, skylights and chimneys need to be checked and repaired.

4) Check outside hose faucets for freeze damage.

Turn the water on and place your thumb or finger over the opening. If you can stop the flow of water, it is likely the pipe inside the home is damaged and will need to be replaced.
While you're at it, check the garden hose for dry rot.

5) Change batteries on smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

6) Check and clean dryer vent, stove hood, and room fans.

Lint build up can cause a flash if sparked. As the temperatures rise and you entertain more guests, your appliances and fans will be getting a work out!

7) Check your attic for proper ventilation and birds' nests.

Look for obstructions over vents, damaged soffit panels, roof flashing leaks and wet spots on insulation.
Keeping a good airflow will save you when it comes to cooling costs.

8) Check your yard for landscaping changes.

Low areas in the yard or next to the foundation should be filled with compacted soil.
Spring rains can cause yard flooding, which can lead to foundation flooding and damage.
Shrubs and landscaping help against soil erosion and should be planted to form a negative grade, which means water will flow away from the house.
Also, when water pools in these low areas in summer, it creates a breeding ground for insects.

Dawson now offers a Spring (and Fall) home 'check up' service for $195 for each season. Call us if you have any questions or suggested areas of focus for you to feel safer in your home.

Do you have Hail Damage?

Several of our customers reported hail damage, which is an insurable loss, due to the hail storm on April 12th. One of our customers, who is having a new roof installed due to major hail damage, was told by the insurance inspector that 1 out of 3 roofs in our area experienced hail damage. In addition to roof damage, many exterior AC compressors were damaged.

It will not cost you anything to have your insurance company inspect your roof and AC unit. If you have damage, it should be insurable minus your deductible. The insurance company will likely ask for multiple repair quotes---Dawson can provide a quote via our subcontractors. Give us a call.

Dawson Expands and Renovates

Based on customer demand, we continue to expand and improve our business to meet your needs.

Dawson hired a new project manager to help serve the Del Web Community and for the Western Suburbs (Huntley, Woodstock,Crystal Lake, Algonquin, Lake in the Hills).
As part of the update, we are expanding our Barrington Design Center by an additional 1200 square feet in the show room.

We now are partnering and strengthening our relationships with key vendors to help provide improved solutions for our customers. We now display the following in our design center: Dakota for cabinetry, Precision Stone for granite and quartz, and Top Knobs for finishing knobs.