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CNS Cousins Construction CHRONICLES
CNSCONSTRUCTION.IO | (412) 347-1040
FEBRUARY 2025
Bring Your Ideas, Hatch New Ones at the Home & Garden Show Are you cooking up some exciting ideas to improve or expand your home? Or are you looking for help planning a new deck, patio, or remodel? As a special attraction, we have put together three custom DREAM, DESIGN, DISCOVER
doghouses that we will raffle off during the show. Each one will feature our custom products, including James Hardie siding, GAF roofing,
The nation’s largest home and garden show is the perfect place to grow your hopes and dreams for your home and hatch new ideas for the future. We are excited to be among 1,500 exhibitors at the 43rd Annual Pittsburgh Home & Garden Show on March 7–16. The event is expected to draw 350,000 visitors to the Pittsburgh Convention Center. Spread throughout the show’s 10-acre exhibition space will be the broadest possible selection of home products, along with expert builders and contractors who can explain their offerings and answer questions. We will have a big booth, No. 146, on the ground floor. Just veer right as you enter and you will find us. We will be glad to talk with you about home improvement projects you would like to do, or plans you are already making, either in your head or on paper. We can show you videos and photos with examples of our work, from our decking and design projects to roofing, siding, architectural designs, and outdoor kitchens and living spaces. People often come to us with a specific design in mind, and we can review it with them right on the spot. We will also be happy to schedule a visit to your home so we can provide a quote. Just about everyone on our staff will be at the show at some point, and many of our family members will come by to help out, too. A lot of what we enjoy about the show is just hanging out, meeting people, and having a good time. People call us throughout the year who say, “Hey, I met you at the show, and now I need a project.”
TimberTech decking, and AZEK Wrap, so you can see and feel firsthand the quality of our products and our craftsmanship. As those of you who follow us on Instagram know, we had a big learning curve on our first doghouse. At 5.5 by 4.5 feet, it was way too big for any living dog! We called it “the Pawj Mahal!” We were happy to donate it to Humane Animal Rescue of Pittsburgh, a nonprofit dedicated to the welfare of animals. Our new doghouses are about 2 feet by 3 feet in size, suitable for a dog of almost any size. To secure your chance to win, pick up raffle tickets at our booth or check the box at the bottom of our estimate form with your name, number, and email. We will be notifying the winners during the week after the show. Beyond advancing your home improvement ideas and plans, the Home & Garden Show is just fun. People from the Amish community come and build big structures inside the Convention Hall, and local bakeries and restaurants will have food booths with delicious food, snacks, and coffee cakes. I walked around the show last year and brought home probably $200 worth of food. It’s fun to go even if you aren’t a homeowner because vendors offer so many giveaways and games. The show runs from March 7–16: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 4–9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays. Stop by our booth to say hi or give us a chance to get to know you! We look forward to seeing you there!
WE VALUE YOUR REFERRALS! Your referrals help the community! CNS will donate $100 of every job to local charities. Your business and referrals help people all over Pittsburgh!
—Sam Milligan
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CNSCONSTRUCTION.IO | (412) 347-1040
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Simple Maintenance Tips for a Cooler, More Efficient Refrigerator Keep It Cool!
— blocked airflow could prevent your fridge from cooling properly. Don’t ignore the gasket. That rubber seal, or gasket, around your fridge door may look minor, but it’s essential for keeping cold air in and warm air out. If the gasket doesn’t seal tightly, your fridge has to work harder to maintain its cool, costing you extra energy. Inspect it for cracks or wear occasionally, and wipe it with warm, soapy water to remove any crumbs or spills. If it’s looking cracked or brittle, head to your local hardware store for a replacement — it’s an easy fix that makes a big difference. Remember your filters. If your fridge has a water or ice dispenser, its filters need regular changing, too. Over time, old filters can clog and require repair, so a good
A little TLC for your refrigerator can go a long way in keeping it running smoothly, saving you on energy bills and, ultimately, from buying a new one sooner than you have to. With just a few easy maintenance steps, your fridge will stay cool, efficient,
rule of thumb is to swap out these filters every three months, around the same time you’d replace other filters in your home. Keep it fully stocked. An empty fridge isn’t as efficient as a full one! Refrigerators need thermal mass (i.e., cool items) to stabilize temperatures. When you open the door, cool items help absorb warm air, so your fridge doesn’t have to work as hard. These simple steps help your refrigerator stay energy-efficient and fully functioning to keep your food at the perfect temperature!
and fit to do its job! Clean those coils.
Did you know your fridge’s coils, usually behind a lower panel on the back, play a key role in cooling? These coils release heat as refrigerant passes through, but dust, pet hair, and debris can build up over time, making your fridge work harder. Slide your fridge out twice a year, open the lower panel, and use your vacuum cleaner’s hose attachment to clear out dust. Want to give it a final wipe? Use a dry towel, as moisture could damage the coils. Just be careful not to bend anything
Stay Off That Roof! How to Maintain Your Gutters Safely ASK YOUR CONTRACTOR
copper. Copper has a naturally antimicrobial effect, preventing growth of mold or lichens and resulting in cleaner water flowing through your downspout. This system is an improvement on cheap plastic gutter guards that gradually break down over time, allowing the mesh screen to pop out. These old-school systems eventually allow your gutters to clog and cause the same issues you were trying to avoid. Also, some of these traditional systems void a homeowner’s roof warranty. That is not the case with Klean Guard. All too often, we hear from customers like the one who recently complained, “I am getting too old for this job. I was just climbing up to clean the gutters and I almost fell off.” I was happy to assure him that we could solve those problems so he never had to climb up there again!
Many resort to paying somebody else to do the job, which can get expensive. Others just let their gutters go and allow water to back up, causing serious problems such as damage to their sheathing, joists, and drywall. We recommend a proprietary gutter system called Klean Guard as an affordable solution to all these problems. The Klean Guard system uses a three- layer micromesh screen that is mounted to the fascia or under the shingles and screwed onto the gutter lip. The mesh guard, which slopes at the same angle as the roof, keeps out leaves and debris while directing water via a central seam into the gutter. We can install this system on old gutters that are still in good shape, or on new, seamless gutters we install.
We often hear from clients who say they are tired of cleaning their gutters. Not many homeowners enjoy climbing a ladder, scooping out muck and rotted leaves, climbing down the ladder, moving it over a few feet, then starting the whole drill all over again.
The patented Klean Guard micromesh filter is made of stainless steel and
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CNSCONSTRUCTION.IO | (412) 347-1040
@CNS-Construction
Protect Your Home from Winter Roof Damage Ice Dam Dilemma
The Good Book “Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech.” Titus 2:7-8
An ice dam may sound like a winter pileup on a frozen river. Actually, an ice dam may be forming much closer to home — and it could be destroying your roof and walls. An ice dam is a ridge of ice that forms at the edge of a roof and prevents melting snow from draining off the roof. This problem plagues many homeowners in our area, and it risks doing severe structural damage to a home and causing mold and mildew as well, creating a real mess. As snow melts near the top of the roof, water trickles down to the colder edges of the roof and freezes. This can cause water to back up behind the ice and leak under the shingles into the insulation, walls, ceilings, and other areas inside your home. It also may leak down the side of the house inside the walls. Ice dams can be a major problem in our area on roofs that haven’t been installed properly or lack proper venting or water shields around the perimeter. In other cases, your roof may be reaching an age where it simply isn’t protecting your home as well as it should. To guard against this problem, keep snow off the roof and clear gutters and downspouts year-round. Make sure you have good airflow from under the eaves or soffits along the underside of the roof and through the roof vents. This helps keep the air inside the attic cool enough to prevent the thawing-and- freezing cycles that allow ice dams to build up. Also, if you are re-roofing your home, a contractor can install an ice and water shield, a waterproof, rubberized asphalt covering under the shingles around the perimeter of your roof, to prevent water from seeping in. As March snowstorms come and go, keep a close eye on your roof for pockets of ice that are trapping water. If you are concerned about ice dam problems, don’t hesitate to call us to schedule a visit and consultation. We will be happy to help you assess the problem and develop a solution.
CNS Testimonials “Sam and Calvin are amazing! They worked with four families to give us a new roof. Their team of roofers did an excellent job and Sam was here checking on things to make sure we were all satisfied. Sam and Calvin also replaced our front steps and railings. We are all so pleased with the workmanship. You can’t go wrong with this company.”
–B. K.
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
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CNSCONSTRUCTION.IO | (412) 347-1040
@cnscousins
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
@CNS-Construction
2681 Sidney St. Pittsburgh, PA 15203
@cnscousins
INSIDE 1
CNS to Exhibit at the World’s Largest Home & Garden Show
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Fridge Maintenance 101
Do You Hate Cleaning Your Gutters? Here’s a Fix! Spot Roof Ice Buildup Before It Wreaks Havoc Inside
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CNS Testimonials
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Innovative Ways to Use Wallpaper
Think Outside the Paint Can
Revolutionize Your Ceilings and Closets With Chic Wallpaper Designs
Wallpaper is a versatile and playful tool in interior design. It transforms a space with a pop of color, pattern, and texture. Let’s explore three innovative ways to use wallpaper beyond just covering walls. Dramatic Ceilings Take your design to new heights by applying wallpaper to the ceiling. This approach works wonders in rooms with architectural details like tray ceilings. Add a striking light fixture, and your space will instantly feel more luxurious. Chic Closets Elevate your closet from a mere storage area to a delightful retreat with bold wallpaper. This is your chance to play with patterns or hues you love but wouldn’t want to use in larger living spaces. It’s a simple change that can make getting dressed a joy.
Creative Drawers and Shelves Revamp worn or dated drawers and shelves with leftover or favorite wallpaper patterns. This easy DIY enhancement is perfect for using extra wallpaper pieces.
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