All Solomon Preventive Home Maintenance Programs start with a complete home inspection, looking for the little things that seal the envelope of your building from air and water infiltration. We are identifying areas that might not meet our program requirements that will need a seperate quote, plus we are writting our items that are included in the program. Our building envelope inspections are very thourgh and informative. Once that inspection is complete, your inspector will present you with a program proposal/ contract. Once your program has started, you will receive a house wash schedule date followed by our maintenance crew to perform the annual envelope maintenance. At the end of the program year, you will have the option to renew the program. Save on annual fees by buying up to 3 years at a time saving 15% on the annual cost. The base program covers any home up to 1800 sq ft for the cost of $1099.00 per year for the below program inspection points.

Kitchen remodeling sits at the top of many homeowners’ wish lists, and for good reason: If properly done, a renovation makes the kitchen more attractive, improves its efficiency, and raises the resale price of your home. Unfortunately, overhauling the kitchen is a complex job. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach, and even skilled designers and veteran do-it-yourself can miss critical details. Mistakes are not only common, they are inevitable. You can, however, keep them to a minimum if you watch out for the following missteps. Also, trust Solomon Contracting to help guide you through the gauntlet of products and ideas. Set a Budget If you’re planning to renovate your kitchen completely, be prepared to pay about 10% or 15% of your home’s current value. That’s no arbitrary percentage; it’s a budget that ensures that the quality of your improvements stays in line with your home’s worth. Although spending too little is a concern, it’s equally important to avoid overspending. Be sure to allow leeway for surprises. Who knows what plumbing or wiring nightmares lurk in the walls behind those old cabinets? Size Matters Are the cooks in your household taller or shorter than average? Careful shopping can make their lives much easier without making your kitchen overly specialized. For example, manufacturers recommend installing a hood 30 inches above the cooktop—in other words, right in the face of a six-foot-tall cook. Luckily, there’s a simple solution: Most hoods work just fine if mounted slightly higher. The lesson is that no matter how lovely something looks on the drawing board, you must account for the lifestyle and physical characteristics of the people who will actually be using the kitchen. Focus on Lighting In the hardest-working room of your house, don’t underestimate the benefits of living with neither shadows nor glare. Use a mix of fixtures to layer light of different types—ambient, task, accent, and mood. Recessed ceiling fixtures provide good overall light, while pendants and chandeliers are versatile choices for islands and dining areas. For kitchen work areas, under-cabinet task lights are popular, but you may wish to offset the reflectiveness of highly polished surfaces, like counter tops, by choosing fixtures with diffused or frosted glass. Also important are your lighting controls: Install a separate, conveniently located switch for each light source, preferably near the doorway. Dimmers are excellent for modulating the strength of lighting according to the occasion or time of day. Have a Plan Maybe you’re right on top of the latest trends, or maybe you love bright colors. Remember, materials and colors that look fantastic in a sample-size swatch might very well appear over- or underwhelming in a larger dose. Resist the temptation of going over the top with busy tile patterns or purple appliances. Instead, integrate the design elements you love as accents, not centerpieces. We think the best option is to have a "Design Contract" from Solomon Contracting, because it will insure that you build your project according to your budget and your style. We will take you to our suppliers helping you shop and helping you stay on budget. A design contract allows you to have help in packaging your project into a reality. Base Choices on Reality Who wouldn’t want a big bay window? The question is whether it will work in your individual kitchen. A bay window shown overlooking a lake may look great in a catalog, but if you live on a busy street, it’s likely you’d regret the choice. Likewise, oversize professional appliances are swoon-worthy, but they’re simply not practical in a small, cozy kitchen. In short, don’t lie to yourself! Make realistic choices. Lots of Landing Zones Include plenty of wide-open countertop space around each of your appliances. You know the feeling of removing a heavy, piping-hot pan from the stove, then finding there’s no convenient place to set it down? Think about how you use appliances like the dishwasher, refrigerator, and microwave, and adjust your kitchen design to suit your day-to-day habits. Island Style These days, a kitchen island is practically a must-have. But choose carefully: An oversize or poorly located island blocks both traffic and work flow. Allow sufficient space on all sides of the island, enough so that you can easily open cabinet doors. And as you are making design decisions, remind yourself that the island, being of finite and usually modest size, cannot be a catchall. Adding a sink or cook-top to your island would eat up a lot of the real estate you might like to have on hand for, say, casual dining. Don’t Forget the Backsplash Oh, the wonders of a back-splash. It ties together disparate elements even as it creates a focal point. (Plus, it makes cleanup so much easier.) Some complain about the paralyzing, seemingly infinite number of choices, but stick with the selection process and you’ll be amply rewarded. The best advice is to select your backsplash at an early stage of the renovation. Typically, the backsplash is installed shortly before project completion. If you postpone your decision until then, you may have to rush through the decision and end up settling on something you don’t love—which may become something you wind up hating. We hope these tips have helped you regarding a kitchen remodeling project. Solomon Contracting is more than happy to review what you want to do and offer you a suggestion on how to accomplish your remodeling goals. It's a free visit to find out how we can help. What's holding you back. Call 314-890-8000 now!

Myth: I looked at my roof and didn't see any problems, or my roofer inspected it and there are no problems. Fact: Roofing systems must be physically inspected by someone who has training and experience to determine if there is actual hail damage. Insurance companies send their adjusters to special training so they can properly identify hail damage to property, unfortunately there is not much ongoing training for the roofing or home inspection industries, and the adjusters as well are not the final “experts”. Hail damage identification, no matter what the “experts” say, is subjective. We’ve been looking at St. Louis hail damage for 29 years, we are the final answer. Myth: I'm not missing any shingles so I must not have damage. Fact: Missing shingles are related to wind damage claims and can happen during a hailstorm if the winds are high enough. However, hail damage is insidious in nature and may not physically cause leakage for years after a hail storm or ever. Wind damage is typically do to improper installation, namely improper shingle fastener placement by new home builders’ cheap labor and by the storm chasers who are canvassing your neighborhood now. Myth: I only have 1 year to file my insurance claim. Fact: This is a fear tactic used by solicitors and opportunists who portray themselves as qualified roofers. Whenever hail is discovered it is compensable by the insurance company, now or ten years from now. Myth: My roof is new so it's covered by the manufacturer's warranty, home builder, or contractor. Fact: Hail damage is not covered by anyone but the insurance company and even they may try to slip a partial exclusion and/or higher deductible into your policies covering hail. Myth: I was told my roof has minimal or very little damage and therefor I don't need to file a claim. →True Myth: If your roof has any damage what-so-ever you have a valid insurance claim and should file with your insurance company. Damage might not cause your roof to leak for years. This is why it's important to have a qualified person inspect your roof. → False Myth: My insurance company will cancel my policy if I file a claim. Fact: Most states prohibit insurance companies from cancelling policies for filing claims arising from severe weather related events. Check with your state however and your policy language as well. – They may. And at the very least you will be tagged as a “claim filer”. You must trust your qualified roofer, not a solicitor or opportunist who portrays themselves as an expert. Myth: If I don't file my claim, my insurance company won't raise my rates. → False Myth: After a disaster, insurance companies may raise every one's rates. By not filing your claim, your personal rate increase is paying for every one else's damage except yours. Fact: True but you still don’t want to file a claim that is not compensable, no matter what “everyone else” is doing.

Kitchen remodeling sits at the top of many homeowners’ wish lists, and for good reason: If properly done, a renovation makes the kitchen more attractive, improves its efficiency, and raises the resale price of your home. Unfortunately, overhauling the kitchen is a complex job. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach, and even skilled designers and veteran do-it-yourselfers can miss critical details. Mistakes are not only common, they are inevitable. You can, however, keep them to a minimum if you watch out for the following missteps. Also, trust Solomon Contracting to help guide you through the gauntlet of products and idesa. Set a Budget If you’re planning to renovate your kitchen completely, be prepared to pay about 10% or 15% of your home’s current value. That’s no arbitrary percentage; it’s a budget that ensures that the quality of your improvements stays in line with your home’s worth. Although spending too little is a concern, it’s equally important to avoid overspending. Be sure to allow leeway for surprises. Who knows what plumbing or wiring nightmares lurk in the walls behind those old cabinets? Size Matters Are the cooks in your household taller or shorter than average? Careful shopping can make their lives much easier without making your kitchen overly specialized. For example, manufacturers recommend installing a hood 30 inches above the cooktop—in other words, right in the face of a six-foot-tall cook. Luckily, there’s a simple solution: Most hoods work just fine if mounted slightly higher. The lesson is that no matter how lovely something looks on the drawing board, you must account for the lifestyle and physical characteristics of the people who will actually be using the kitchen. Focus on Lighting In the hardest-working room of your house, don’t underestimate the benefits of living with neither shadows nor glare. Use a mix of fixtures to layer light of different types—ambient, task, accent, and mood. Recessed ceiling fixtures provide good overall light, while pendants and chandeliers are versatile choices for islands and dining areas. For kitchen work areas, under-cabinet task lights are popular, but you may wish to offset the reflectiveness of highly polished surfaces, like countertops, by choosing fixtures with diffusers or frosted glass. Also important are your lighting controls: Install a separate, conveniently located switch for each light source, preferably near the doorway. Dimmers are excellent for modulating the strength of lighting according to the occasion or time of day. Have a Plan Maybe you’re right on top of the latest trends, or maybe you love bright colors. Remember, materials and colors that look fantastic in a sample-size swatch might very well appear over- or underwhelming in a larger dose. Resist the temptation of going over the top with busy tile patterns or purple appliances. Instead, integrate the design elements you love as accents, not centerpieces. Having a "Design Contract" from Solomon Contracting will insure that you build your project according to your budget and your style. Base Choices on Reality Who wouldn’t want a big bay window? The question is whether it will work in your individual kitchen. A bay window shown overlooking a lake may look great in a catalog, but if you live on a busy street, it’s likely you’d regret the choice. Likewise, oversize professional appliances are swoon-worthy, but they’re simply not practical in a small, cozy kitchen. In short, don’t lie to yourself! Make realistic choices. Lots of Landing Zones Include plenty of wide-open countertop space around each of your appliances. You know the feeling of removing a heavy, piping-hot pan from the stove, then finding there’s no convenient place to set it down? Think about how you use appliances like the dishwasher, refrigerator, and microwave, and adjust your kitchen design to suit your day-to-day habits. Island Style These days, a kitchen island is practically a must-have. But choose carefully: An oversize or poorly located island blocks both traffic and work flow. Allow sufficient space on all sides of the island, enough so that you can easily open cabinet doors. And as you are making design decisions, remind yourself that the island, being of finite and usually modest size, cannot be a catchall. Adding a sink or cooktop to your island would eat up a lot of the real estate you might like to have on hand for, say, casual dining. Don’t Forget the Backsplash Oh, the wonders of a backsplash. It ties together disparate elements even as it creates a focal point. (Plus, it makes cleanup so much easier.) Some complain about the paralyzing, seemingly infinite number of choices, but stick with the selection process and you’ll be amply rewarded. The best advice is to select your backsplash at an early stage of the renovation. Typically, the backsplash is installed shortly before project completion. If you postpone your decision until then, you may have to rush through the decision and end up settling on something you don’t love—which may become something you wind up hating. We hope these tips have helped you regarding a kitchen remodeling project. Solomon Contracting is more than happy to review what you want to do and offer you a suggestion on how to accomplish your remodeling goals. It's a free visit to find out how we can help. What's holding you back. Call 314-890-8000 now!