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LAKE COUNTRY BUILDERS
Fall 2021
In this issue:
Fall 2021 Remodelers Showcase | Virtual Tour
Peter Jacobson | TRUST
Project Spotlight | Minnetonka Main Level
Blog | Winter Home Preparation
LCB Golf Event!
Artful Living | Autumn Issue
Trending | Schwinn Hardware
Single Office For Lease | Excelsior
We're Hiring!
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In lieu of visiting our home, please click the video below for a virtual tour!
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Business practices in our industry have changed. There are new obstacles in this “new normal” construction business that have not been experienced before. Never. Those challenges come in every shape and size and sometimes make you want to crawl back in your bed. But we can’t. We need to find solutions. We need to understand what and who our resources are and how to react. While most clients understand problems do happen (to them too) they still need solutions, and they are the customer. That’s why you want to hire a good Professional Builder.
In my daily travels, I am amazed at the number of new builder’s signs that are popping up in the front yards. New names, new colors, new logos. I’m sure some will be successful, and some won't. It’s a jungle out there now and the problems need to be solved by experienced professionals.
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I also run across yard signs planted by old competitors of mine, friends that still fight us for the job. I have many fond memories of that competition, building our companies, and making lasting friendships. I also know the folks that hired those professionals are well taken care of, the neighbors too. I have heard stories of carpenters catching run-away dogs and laborers shoveling the neighbors’ sidewalks. How about buying lunch for the guy across the street who got a flat tire. (Maybe our nail!)
Most builders behind the yard signs have websites complete with pictures and good comments by customers. That’s how you build a website…. not a house, and not a lasting relationship filled with ongoing referrals. Delve into your prospective builder’s history, their company culture, their past customers will have stories. What do they hold most important in working with you?
The best question I ever got asked was “Give me one word that defines your company”?
I replied “TRUST”.
Have a good one!
-Pete
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Project Spotlight | Minnetonka Main Level
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Client Review:
“We are so happy with nearly every aspect of the LCB team. We very much enjoyed working with Rob and getting the design in place. He was patient and understanding and helped us work through MANY iterations of the design.
The handoff to Bruce and the production team was also very smooth. The process was clear on how we would move through it. At every step along the way, he would let us know if team members weren't going to be there and always made time to have a casual conversation to be sure we knew what was going on and provided the opportunity to ask questions. Bruce clearly drove the timeline and advocated on our behalf. The communication was very clear and there was always quick responsiveness.
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Time-lapse Video of Project
Video produced by the clients: LeAnne & Paul Johansen
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We enjoyed getting to know the various team members such as Nick, Mark, Wally, and Steve. We especially appreciated the attention to detail, precision, and quality that Karl brought to our project every day. We felt like he was truly treating the project like he was constructing his own home. JC was incredibly organized and responsive and we always felt like he was an advocate for us working with suppliers or subs.”
~ LeAnne and Paul Johansen
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Written by: Derek Wilkinson
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Winter in Octobrrr?
Let's hope not but when October rolls around that is usually when I start planning to close down the cabin and prep our house for the soon-to-be arriving cold months ahead. With that said, I thought it may be beneficial to repost a previous blog that I did last year and highlight some steps that you can take at your cabin or home to prep things on your own and hopefully keep warm, save some money and keep your home or cabin running at peak performance and look all year round.
These steps of preparation will get your home ready for the cold winter months ahead.
You may have taken your to-do list up to the cabin and checked off all the items needed to prepare the cabin for the long winter months but that doesn’t mean you are out of the woods yet (pun intended). Now that you are home and in the comforts of city life, you need to do some preparation for your year-round home for the upcoming winter months. Although your home may be more prepared than your cabin for the tougher winter weather, there are still some valuable steps and things to account for that will save you time, money, and comfort.
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Windows and Doors
Whether you have brand new windows and doors or old and outdated ones like me, it is important to take a look at all of your windows and doors to make sure all borders are closed and blocking any kind of drafts. As the seasons and temperatures change so do the materials that hold your home together. This can cause cracking or gaps to appear, even in areas recently repaired or remodeled, so take some time to make sure the following are all checked.
- Check all the weatherstripping around windows and doorframes for leaks to prevent heat loss. Replace weatherstripping, if necessary.
- Replace all screen doors with storm doors.
- Replace all window screens with storm windows.
- Examine wooden window frames for signs of rot or decay.
- Repair or replace framing to maintain structural integrity.
- Check for drafts around windows and doors.
- Caulk inside and out, where necessary, to keep heat from escaping.
- Inspect windows for cracks, broken glass, or gaps. Repair or replace, if needed.
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LCB Golf Tournament | Bent Creek Golf Club
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We were so happy to be able to bring back the fun tradition of our LCB Golf tournament.! Bent Creek Golf Club did a fabulous job hosting our amazing staff and industry partners.
We enjoyed a day together during this very busy time of the year! Fun to take time out and appreciate each other! We hope to do it again next year!
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Artful Living | Autumn Issue Out NOW!
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Trending | Schwinn Hardware
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Cabinet handles use linoleum for sustainability
Schwinn Hardware unveils its newest collection made from linseed, also known as flaxseed, the natural product used in furniture linoleum. Called Vegan by Design, the new collection incorporates linoleum into four cabinet handle designs, two of which were designed by renowned American innovator and designer Michael Graves. Although linoleum has been available as a building product, it has recently become more popular as a furniture design material because of its sustainable, durable, naturally antimicrobial and non-allergenic properties.
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Single Office for Lease | Excelsior
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Looking to make a change to your work environment?
- Work in Excelsior
- Walk to the lake or shops in Excelsior
- Single office space in a unique building
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We are hiring!
â—˝ Laborer/ carpenter
â—˝ Experienced carpenter- with at least 5 years of construction/ building experience.

Please contact us for more information
about these job opportunities
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Handcrafting Your Vision + Impacting Lives
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