Check out our November newsletter!
Cousins Construction CHRONICLES
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NOVEMBER 2025
BUILT ON TRUST
Building Customer Care Into Contracting Success When my cousin Calvin and I came up with the idea to start our own business, we launched on a shoestring. We scrounged together all of the money we had, about
Calvin and I had been working for other people, earning an hourly wage as general laborers. We had seen all the dark sides of the industry. We saw contractors show up at a customer’s home, collect a down payment, and never finish the job. Others got into screaming matches with customers. I had long wanted to start a business, and I had been reading a business book a week back then. Calvin and I hadn’t crunched any data or done any business analysis. We just had a gut feeling that if we did three things well (communicate well, show up on time, and treat people right), we could build a great business. When we started selling our own jobs in 2023, we would work on building projects all day, and then bid on more jobs at night. We celebrated every project, and we celebrated every job we sold. We ran our first ad in May or June of 2023, and we soon had a 2 1/2-month backlog. By the end of 2023 we were selling projects valued in five figures. In 2024, we recruited some excellent installers and in-house sales and design consultants. In 2025, we added an in-house designer, launched our repair division, and brought in more project managers. I still have the documents from our first company meetings. We had a timeline for reaching certain revenue goals, and we hit some of those goals a lot faster than we imagined. It has been crazy to go from making $20 an hour as laborers to contracting for jobs valued at six figures! We had a vision from the start of building this big company, and we got there faster than we anticipated. These days, we are often the ones people call to patch up shoddy work by other companies. And it all started with the two of us just working out of the back of our trucks. If you have any home- improvement desires or hopes to fulfill, I hope you will share them with us. Call us for a free consultation. We would love to help you achieve your dreams for your home and family!
$4,000, and bought all our tools. We didn’t have a trailer, so we worked out of the back of our trucks.
After finishing work every day, we loaded all our tools into my 2007 Ford F-150 and Calvin’s 2013 Toyota Tacoma, drove 20–30 miles out to our grandma’s house in Aliquippa, and unloaded our tools to store them safely. We put in some long days. But that is how the company got started, just Calvin and me out of the back of our pickups, building decks. The hardest days were the ones when we had a really tough customer. But regardless of how our clients acted toward us, we treated each one like family. We loved what we were doing, and our mission was always the same: We were always going to do right by the customer. In recognition of National Entrepreneurs’ Day on Nov. 18, I’ve been thinking about the history of our company so far. If our story proves anything, it underscores what a well-known business coach once said: Success doesn’t come from what you do occasionally; it comes from what you do consistently. And what we have done consistently is treat our customers like gold.
—Sam Milligan
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Layering for Comfort Easy Tips to Build a Better Bed
There’s nothing like climbing into a comfortable bed after a long day, but if your bed feels flat or not quite right, it can make falling and staying asleep difficult. The good news is that a few small changes can make a big difference, and you don’t need to spend a fortune or redo your bedroom. You can get that soft, hotel-bed feel by focusing on comfort, one layer at a time.
something with a bit of cushioning. Memory foam or down alternative toppers are easy to find and can instantly improve how your bed feels. Once that’s in place, focus on your sheets. Breathable cotton or linen sheets that feel good against your skin can completely change how you sleep. And after a few washes, they soften even more. From there, build up the layers. A light quilt or comforter works well for everyday use, but adding a heavier blanket gives the bed a more grounded, cozy feel. Fold it across the foot of the bed or keep it within reach if you get cold at night. Of course, pillows are another key piece. Use two for sleeping and add one or two for lounging. Choose fills that match how you sleep, whether you prefer firm support or something softer. Texture also matters more than people think. A knit throw or velvet pillow can warm up the look and feel of the whole space, as can soft lighting and a bedside table. When your bed looks and feels comfortable, you’re more likely to use it to rest, not just crash. And once you have it right, it’s hard to settle for anything less.
Your mattress is the best place to start. If it’s too firm or starting to sag, a mattress topper can help. Look for
ASK YOUR CONTRACTOR Does Cousins Offer Gutter Cleaning or Other Exterior Maintenance?
Our customers often ask if our services include gutter cleaning and other maintenance for the exterior of their homes. The short answer is yes! As you scan your home ahead of wintertime rain, sleet, and snow, you might notice clogged gutters, damaged flashing around your chimneys or vent pipes, cracked or missing shingles, or leaks under or around your siding. The caulking and weather-stripping around your windows and doors should also be watertight. We would be glad to clean and repair your gutters, inspect your roof or deck, and examine the entire exterior of your home for maintenance needs.
or more! Most other contractors also have monthlong waiting lists, too. If you haven’t scheduled your routine home maintenance repairs yet, you will have to roll the dice to find a contractor. You will either wind up on someone’s waiting list or sign up with someone who isn’t busy. And if a contractor isn’t busy, that isn’t a great sign. Think about it: If you’re going out to eat, do you choose the restaurant with a line of customers out the door, or the empty one? You can safely guess that the one with the line out the door is better. It’s just social proof. To protect our customers from long wait times, we have begun recurring memberships. For any customer who asks, we will set up annual or semi- annual gutter cleaning, winterization, roof inspections, and other routine
maintenance. If we discover problems during an inspection, our Repair Division can almost always perform any needed repairs promptly. If you become a member, we will enter your information into our system, set you up with desired dates, such as gutter cleanings on Oct. 1 and March 31, and get the job done for you on time! As the days get shorter, the time for important maintenance on the exterior of your home is drawing to a close. Reach out to us today to get your maintenance needs on our calendar!
The problem with waiting until November to think about this,
however, is that our waiting list at this time of year runs around four weeks
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The Good Book “There are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.”
Smart Ways to Finance Your Next Home Improvement Project Dream It, Build It More and more homeowners are taking out loans to repair, expand, or update their homes. Rising real estate prices have made it easier to borrow against the equity in their homes. Also, the increased availability of flexible financing options makes cash for these projects more available. We offer a variety of financing options to our customers. Through our financing partners, Service Finance Co. and Turns Financing Services, our customers can secure loans to get started on roofing, siding, or deck projects right away. We will work with you even if you don’t have an 800-plus credit score. Our partners typically can offer financing choices for borrowers with scores as low as 550–650. The options often include a loan that requires no payments, with no interest accrued, for 12 months after we start a project. Our financing partners typically beat the interest rates offered by other personal loan companies, offering rates as low as 5.99% and 6.99%. Another advantage is that our customers don’t have to put their homes up as collateral for these loans. In the unlikely event that a homeowner defaults, they are not at risk of losing their homes! Service Finance Co. is a nationally licensed finance company and an approved FHA Title I lender. The company works with customers of home improvement companies that are enrolled in their program, covering projects from roofing and siding to sunrooms, windows, and insulation. Turns Financing Services is a technology company that serves as a broker and identifies potential lenders for customers of home improvement contractors. If you are budgeting for a project you could start sooner with financing, don’t hesitate to contact us to explore possible financing. We will be glad to help you find the option that works best for you.
I Corinthians 12:5-7
Testimonials
“Cousins did an excellent job on our siding project. They were immediately responsive to any questions we had throughout the project. The crew was great and went the extra mile on every aspect of the project, making the home look awesome. I would recommend them to anyone looking for a high- quality siding installation outfit that takes care of its customers.” –Conor O.
OUR SERVICES:
• Roofing • Siding • Gutters, Soffit, and Fascia • Decks • Roof Construction • James Hardie Siding • Windows and Doors
• Design and Build • Architectural Drawings • Concrete • Stamped Patios • Outdoor Kitchens • Outdoor Living Spaces • Repairs
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CALLTHECOUSINS.COM | (412) 347-1040
@cnscousins
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
2681 Sidney St. Pittsburgh, PA 15203
@CousinsRoofingSidingDecks
@cnscousins
INSIDE 1
The Story of Our Company: A Business Dream Come True
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Make Your Bed Feel Luxurious Join Our Membership Plan for Year-Round Home Maintenance Easy Financing Options to Make Your Home Projects a Reality CNS Testimonials
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Make Fixtures the Focal Point
Form, Function, and Flair
Fixtures That Define a Room
Lighting doesn’t just help you see in the dark. It also affects how a room feels. Often, the right fixture can make everything else around it click. A geometric pendant could be a great option if your space needs a focal point. The clean lines work exceptionally well in open foyers and dining areas. For something warmer and more rustic, try an Edison bulb. They add a unique charm to any space, especially with exposed fixtures. Sometimes, even furnished rooms feel unfinished. A sculptural floor lamp can fill in the gap while making a statement. Look for one that feels more like an accent piece than a utility. Want to add sparkle and elegance? A small
crystal fixture will catch the light and your eye.
You don’t have to follow any single rule. What matters is that the fixture fits the space and makes it feel more like yours.
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