Heartlands Building Company

Although for the first time in ten years, we will not be exhibiting at the St. Louis HBA Home and Garden Show this weekend, we are still offering a discount on our retractable screen doors.   You can see the doors displayed in our showroom Monday through Friday between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm. Heartlands installs the Clearview brand of retractable screens. They feature extruded aluminum parts and come standard with a back plate (necessary for sliding door installations), hidden magnets inside the pull bar on French door applications, and most importantly, the built-in mechanical speed reducer. If you’ve ever experienced the “slam” when you accidently let go of the handle when operating a retractable screen door, you know what the “slam” is. It’s nice to know that if you, your guests or your kids let go of the handle, the screen will retract at a reasonable pace. The regular price for a single door is $450 and $800 for a set of French doors and that includes measuring and insta...

That is a good question! If you are considering an outdoor room addition, you’ll want to ask yourself a few questions to help you decide whether or not to screen in your space. The first question should be “Do you have a lot of insects, especially at the time or times of day that you like to spend outside?” Proximity to water and trees can increase the number of insects in an area. Of course those things can also create a more pleasant atmosphere for an outdoor room too.   The second one is “Are you or members of your family bothered by the presence of those insects?” Some people are allergic to insect bites or stings, making this an even bigger issue. The next question is how you plan to use your outdoor space. If it’s an area that you have no intention of covering, then it can’t be screened anyway. If you already have a roof over a patio or deck or would like to add one, screens can be a huge benefit if you plan to spend time eating there or entertaining in the evenings wh...

Pleasant temperatures are just around the corner! Soon you’ll want to open your windows and doors and let in some fresh spring air so now is the time to check the condition of your window and door screens. Over time, sun and weather as well as critters can damage the mesh on your screens and the spline that holds them in place. Bring them in to Heartlands and we’ll replace the mesh so you’ll be ready to welcome the warmer weather. Just give us a call or stop by Monday through Friday between 8:00am and 5:00pm.

http://realtormag.realtor.org/home-and-design/architecture-coach/article/2012/12/13-hot-home-trends-for-2013 As I suspected, the popularity of outdoor rooms is continuing its rise this year. And why not? As more and better products and building materials are introduced, the creature comforts and variety of possibilities are seemingly endless! Each year, Heartlands is asked to create new designs to elevate our customers outdoor spaces into their favorite spaces. As evidenced by the article in Realtor Magazine, making numbers 2 and 3 on the list is proof. "2. Outdoor Living Rooms and Screened Porches:   A trend that began a few years ago continues to inspire home owners to think beyond terraces and decks. These spaces have more of the feeling and function of an indoor room—better furnishings, fire pits, curtains, and even televisions and audio systems. Some spaces are designed as courtyards for greater privacy, yet with high-efficiency glass windows and doors to make t...

In an effort to offer more custom building options to our customers, Heartlands has created additional product displays in our Chesterfield showroom. Stop by to see what’s new! Fiberon Horizon decking is a composite decking that boasts multi-colored, wood grain and tropical looking deck boards. Fiberon decking and railing is beautiful, low-maintenance and made in the USA . It has a 25 year stain and fade warranty and is scratch and mold resistant. Its PermaTech surface material is resilient and encases its rigid core for reversible boards to save on cut and waste. Heartlands has built several decks with Fiberon but now has a display in our showroom for all to see this great product and visualize it on their own deck. You can also see it on project photos on our website: www.heartlandshome.com and you can find out more information on the fiberon website: http://www.fiberondecking.com. Synergy prefinished wood ceilings are tongue and groove ceiling materials that ar...

It’s been said that when you accept the highest bid, you risk the amount that is the difference between it and the lowest bid. This of course assumes that the end products would be equal. In reality, if you accept the lowest bid, you risk the entire cost of the project because it might not be done properly. I’m not suggesting that you spend more than you can afford, just that you need to balance budget and long term factors. An addition of any type to your home should be an investment in your quality of life. If you can’t use the space as often as you anticipated or have to repair or replace prematurely, then that investment is not as valuable. Besides the obvious differences between contractors such as poor design, using inferior materials or less skilled carpenters, there are other factors that might allow them to offer a lower bid. They might label it overhead, but it could be something like insurance. If another part of your home gets damaged during construction, who is li...

While it is now too cold to enjoy an outdoor room, it's amazing how quickly the weather changes, especially in the St. Louis area. Before you know it, the holidays will be over and we'll be tired of cold and snow and eager to resume spending time outdoors. What a great idea it would be to give the gift of a new, low maintenance screen room, deck or covered area to ourselves and our families. Start planning it now and it could be a reality by Spring.