CNS Cousins Construction CHRONICLES
CNSCONSTRUCTION.IO | (412) 347-1040
JANUARY 2025
STANDING STRONG Defending a Military Widow
The South Side Slopes neighborhood in Pittsburgh where Calvin and I live is important to all of us at the company. Our cousin Stephen’s childhood home is two minutes down the street from our houses, and Stephen’s dad once owned a business nearby. When a neighbor two streets down the hill called us recently for help with her roof, we sent a technician out right away. This neighbor, whose first name is Marty, is a widow whose husband had a long, distinguished military career. He passed away a few years ago, leaving Marty alone in their old family home. When our technician arrived, he discovered a bad leak — an active, visible problem with Marty’s roof that had been bothering her for a year. Every time it rained, water poured into her home. Somebody had tried to fix it, and they had installed this kooky patchwork. It looked as if they took a tattered blue tarp, shoved it underneath the shingles, then put extra shingles over the top. People do some nasty things to roofing. This kind of shoddy repair can cause all kinds of problems, including moisture buildup, gaps, and poor drainage. No wonder Marty’s leak was getting worse. Our technician assessed the problems and sold her a new roof. This type of job on a small home would normally cost about $6,000, but after giving Marty our “Life Experience Discount,” our technician priced the project at $2,500. Unbeknownst to us, Marty had been forced to borrow money to pay for a new roof. When Calvin, Stephen, and I found out
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!
about this, we talked it over. We are deep into the cold winter months. Marty lives in our neighborhood. We are dealing with a military family, the widow of a military guy, and she is just the sweetest lady. We didn’t want her to be forced to go into debt just to have a roof over her head. And we couldn’t allow a neighbor to be taken advantage of by the contractor who did such a poor job of patching her roof. We decided this was a good opportunity to do something right, so we gave Marty her money back. CNS installed her new roof for free, replacing the lumber in the roof deck with a full synthetic underlayment and installing new shingles. Marty now has a properly ventilated roof with a 50-year warranty from GAF, one of the largest producers of roofing materials. That warranty is only available on roofs installed by highly rated contractors like CNS, who have earned a GAF certification awarded to only 7% of all roofers in North America. As readers of this newsletter know, our goal at CNS is to create the best contractor-client relationships possible. When we founded our company, we resolved to treat every client like gold. The help we provided to Marty is just the latest example of that. Needless to say, our neighbor was delighted. When Marty Griffin, host of a popular talk show on AM 1020 KDKA Radio, sent a crew member to cover the story and asked for her comment, Marty summarized her reaction in two words: “It’s unbelievable!”
—Sam Milligan 1
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How to Craft Your Own Secret Door With Murphy Door Kits! Secret Passages Aren’t Just for Mansions
Have you ever dreamt of having your own secret passage? Well, now you can with a DIY Murphy Door kit! Transform any ordinary doorway into a hidden entrance and bring a touch of mystery to your home. Whether it’s a doorway to your study or a sneaky side entrance to your pantry, the Murphy Door offers an easy-to- assemble kit that lets you become the architect of your own adventure. All it
jamb, and casing a good sanding with 180-grit sandpaper. This will help your chosen paint adhere better, ensuring a smoother, more professional finish. Choose a hue that complements your room, or go bold with a pop of color — this is your secret door, after all! Step 3: Assemble the Jamb Now, let’s get building. Assemble the jamb according to the instructions. The great news is that all the hardware comes with pre-drilled holes, making this part a breeze. You’ll feel like a DIY pro in no time! Step 4: Install the Hardware and Casing With the jamb in place, it’s time to add the hardware and hang your door. Then, fit the casing around it to give everything a neat finish. The precision of the pre-assembled kit ensures everything aligns perfectly, leaving no clues about the door’s true nature.
takes is four simple steps! Step 1: Out With the Old
Voilà! You now have a fully functioning secret door that swings right or left and can open inward or outward, depending on your preference, and when it’s closed, everyone will think it’s just an ordinary bookcase or cabinet. With its simplicity, you can start this project whenever you’re ready to add a little mystery to your living space. Why settle for a standard doorway when you can have a hidden gem?
First, you need to say goodbye to your boring old door. Remove the door and the door frame you want to replace. It’s demolition day in the best possible way — no hard hats necessary, but feel free to wear one if you’re getting into the spirit! Step 2: Prep and Paint Grab your paintbrushes! But before you dip into the color, give your bookcase,
Factors to Consider When Replacing Drafty Windows ASK YOUR CONTRACTOR
sashes expand and contract, breaking the seal around the window. These fluctuations also can release argon, the pressurized gas between double- and triple-paned windows, sharply reducing the windows’ insulating capacity. Quality of the glass. No matter where you shop for windows, a salesperson is likely to start talking about low-e ratings. Low-e or low-emissivity windows are coated with a thin, non- toxic, nearly colorless metal oxide layer that allows light to pass through but reflects heat away. This coating has been around for decades and should not add more than a few dollars to the cost of your new windows. While the outer pane of glass on most mid-priced, two-paned windows is treated with this protective film, that protection is actually baked into both panes of glass on high-quality windows.
for high-quality windows. Here are three factors to keep in mind.
For many homeowners, one of the first signs of winter is a chilly draft through the closed windows of their homes. Selecting new windows to keep out the cold can be a complicated process for those who don’t understand the criteria
Fitment . Fitment is a measure of how well your window fits the opening provided and how perfectly it is installed. With proper fitment, the seal around the edges of the window is snug and the window aligns well with the frame. Regardless of the price tag for new windows, if they don’t fit the opening properly, they will leak and allow chilly drafts into your home. Material. More than 90% of windows sold today have sashes made of vinyl, a synthetic plastic material. For lasting protection for your home, look for windows made with high-quality materials rather than builder-grade vinyl, a thin, less expensive option. When temperatures fluctuate during Pittsburgh winters, builder-grade vinyl
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The Good Book “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” 1 Corinthians 15:58
Stop Ice and Snow Damage to Your Shingles Winterproof Your Roof
CNS Testimonials “CNS did a wonderful job on our deck replacement. Sam is an amazing, honest person and went above and beyond our expectation. His company completed the work in one day. I highly recommend CNS Construction.” –J. J.
While homeowners are busy clearing ice and snow from their driveways and sidewalks, wintry weather may be quietly causing serious damage to another part of the house — the roof. Snow melting on the roof, water or ice pooling at its base, or icicles hanging from the edge are all signs of potential damage. If the sun and radiant heat from your home’s indoor heating system are warming the roof deck, causing snow to melt off the roof, your attic isn’t properly ventilated. Snow should sit on the roof and remain frozen until the weather changes. Melting snow may form puddles along the edge of the roof. Cold air entering through the soffits under the overhang can freeze the water into ice, forming a dam that causes water to back up under the shingles. Significant damage may result, rotting the roof deck and causing mold and leaks. To prevent this, your attic should be equipped with a system of soffits and vents that keep the air inside at about the same temperature as the outdoors. Your attic needs to breathe, just like your lungs. Cool outside air enters through the soffits, and vents installed at the ridge or elsewhere on your roof serve as an exhaust. These vents are equipped with filters to keep out moisture, insects, and other intruders. Roofs with good ventilation last longer than those without. Also, if you neglected to clean your gutters last fall, you may pay a high price this winter. Clogged gutters allow rainwater to pool along the edges of your roof, damaging the shingles and opening up leaks. As wet material in the gutters freezes and expands, the gutters become very heavy and may rip away from the house, setting off a chain reaction of structural damage that can cost thousands of dollars to repair. Winter is a good time to do a roof check. We install maintenance-free gutter solutions to prevent gutters from clogging and freezing. And if your house is the one in the neighborhood with snow melting on the roof, call us for a free consultation today!
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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INSIDE 1 2
CNS Helps a Neighbor in Need
Add a Touch of Mystery to Your Home With a DIY Murphy Door
Ask Your Contractor: Replacing Drafty Windows
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Wintry Weather Can Wreak Havoc With Your Roof
CNS Testimonials
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Creative Ways to Design Around Exposed Bricks
Brick by Brick
Make the Most of Your Exposed Brick With These Design Tips
Highlight the heritage. Exposed brick can bring your space back in time, adding antique elegance. To amplify this charm, incorporate decor with a vintage flair. Think weathered wood, classic paintings, and ornate rugs that complement the brick’s rustic tones. Mix it with the modern. Who says old and new can’t mingle? Pairing exposed brick with modern elements creates a contrast that catches the eye. Opt for minimalist designs like sleek black countertops or glossy white surfaces. Focus on the brick. Let your exposed brick wall take center stage by keeping surrounding elements understated. A neutral color scheme with white, soft gray, or earth tones will let the brick’s rich texture and color shine through.
Whether your home has a rustic brick chimney or a bold brick accent wall, it’s all about balancing brick’s raw, textured charm with your style. Here’s how to make the most of this distinctive feature in your home.
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