We collectively decided each beautiful day had been ordered by our own, Judy Bayer. She would have been glad to see so many of you in attendance and relieved that we didn’t have to make alternative arrangements for inclement weather.

She had to do that on more than one occasion in her 15 years of hosting events for our company.

About ten years ago she agreed, for the first (and only) time to try hosting the Thank You dinner for our vendors at home, lakeside. Asking everyone to help her pick up five, six-foot round tables, fifty chairs, tablecloths and place settings and run them inside out of the pouring rain was not her idea of a successful event. It also made for a very intimate dinner…in every inch of the lower level family room! To date, it was the coziest event she ever hosted.

A few years prior to that, the golf event was scheduled and fully set up at South Brook Golf Course. With three holes completely underwater from the previous night’s rain, a clubhouse full of golfers, approximately 140 of them, she had to find a way to pull off the event. The local bus service was enlisted to shuttle everyone from South Brook’s course to Whispering Pine’s course for golfing and back to South Brook for dinner and prizes. It was a memorable day.

What she loved most about hosting was good music, hearing friends laugh with each other and making sure there was plenty of good food. We hope you experienced all of these things and enjoyed time away from your desk and busy schedules. We look forward to these events each year because it gives us the opportunity to say thank you, again, for your business.

We are truly blessed to have your loyalty and friendship.

On behalf of all of us, we look forward to helping you make the rest of 2016 a success!

-Holly Bayer, ASID

Today we see this system being adapted for interior stair systems.  The overall look achieved can vary with the emphasis being placed on the newel post selection and handrail.  For example, when paired with a very spare, simple newel post and flat handrail, cable railing provides a dramatic and very modern vibe.    However, when a rustic or detailed newel post and handrail are selected, the overall look achieved could feel more industrial.
With vertical supports placed every 4’ between newel posts and wires kept at 3” on the horizontal, safety codes can be met with this cable railing.  When specifying this system, start by taking a photo of the proposed stairway, measure the lengths and runs of the proposed railing and contact your local Bayer Built dealer.  We’re happy to specify the appropriate materials to make this idea a reality in your next project.

-Holly Bayer, ASID

We often receive orders for painted exterior wood door frames.  While we love a pop of color as much as the next person, our customer service team cringes just a little bit each time they release these orders into production.  Not because we can’t do it or it won’t look great when it leaves our shop, but rather because we know how a painted wood door frame looks when it’s been through more than a few years of our Midwestern climate.  Snow, wind, rain, ice, heat, humidity… that painted wood door frame will require re-painting.  Do you enjoy painting?

We don’t either… we’d rather be at the cabin.

Which is why we offer a durable and attractive alternative, called, aluminum clad!  And we offer it in eight colors…which jive with your window and garage trim colors.  Extruded aluminum does not require re-painting and holds up to everyday use for the long term.  It also does not have exposed fasteners, will not dent or wave like roll formed material and is more durable than vinyl. It’s easy to install on pre-existing frames and we offer it in different profiles to coordinate with your window trim.

Behind that aluminum cladding we also utilize Frame Saver jamb legs.  In fact, unless you request otherwise, we consider it our standard product for all of our Acclimated Entry Systems.  Without Frame Saver, wood door frames are just that, a porous wood end sitting directly on top of the door sill…prone to wicking water up and inviting insects to the party.  The Frame Saver product has a patented composite bottom that resists water, warping, cracking and rot.  Plus, it finishes and paints just like wood…if you must have it painted rather than protected with clad.

(*psst…order the clad.)

Visit any one of our lumberyard retailers to see our Acclimated Entry system in person!  Find your local retailer here.

Happy Labor Day from the Bayer Built Team!

-Holly Bayer, ASID

Black exterior doors are not for every home and they are not a trend.  They date back to the early eighteenth century.  A black front door says “smart, stately, in control,” and they look beautiful with white trim.  What’s not to like?

A couple of things…

• Southern exposure.  Black paint and southern exposures do not mix.  Read that sentence again, please.  If your front door faces south, has no coverage or protection from the sun, and especially if your door is made of wood, the warranty on your door will be voided if you paint it black.  Black quickly absorbs UV rays, causing the substrate (your wood door) to expand.  If your wood door expands in it’s opening, it won’t open well…which will be a bummer when you want to welcome friends inside.  It also puts stress on the door opening, better known as the door jamb.  This phenomenon is a result of the Light Reflective Value of paint.  Black paint has a light reflective value of 0%.  It does not reflect, it absorbs light…hot, bright, sunshine-y light.  Wonderful for you if you’re cold in the winter (wear more black), terrible for your wood door all year round.  You can expect the finish to fade, crack and look crummy in short order.

“Fine,” you say, “I wasn’t planning on having a wood door anyway.  I’ll just paint my fiberglass door black.”

• Flaws  The irony of a black painted door is that often they are requested by homeowners who like things, “just so,” with zero room for imperfection or interpretation.  If that’s you, steer clear of black paint.  Black paint, especially with a high gloss finish, exacerbates imperfections.  Whether your door has the tiniest of factory blemishes or your toddler runs into it with a toy truck, black paint will show a bump, nick or fleck and draw your attention to it every day.  All week.  Even on Sundays.

“So what’s left?  Taupe?”

• Color There are plenty of colors which will add interest to your entry without also voiding the warranty on your door.  Consider colors for your door by referencing their LRV (Light Reflective Value).  You’re looking for something better than 0% if your door faces south and has no coverage from the sun.  In fact, if that’s a description of your entry door, shoot for 55% LRV or higher.  Most paint manufactures include this number on the back of their paint chip or on their website; below is an example from Benjamin Moore.

Orange is always a good idea…

-Holly Bayer, ASID

Like all good design, if we spend just a few minutes thinking about those basic elements and principles again, we can learn what makes this room work then apply it to our own homes.

Here’s why I love this space:

It’s balanced!  Balance is how we use objects, colors and the overall size of things in order to create either symmetry or asymmetry.   This photograph, from this viewpoint, captures perfectly how the room was designed with balance in mind.  The dark paint on the fireplace wall is balanced with the amount of white on all of the kitchen cabinets.  The hallway walls and island make an easy place for our eye to settle, right in the middle.

• TIP: If you find yourself veering back to the same paint color(s), take a look at the opposite color on the color wheel (green, opposite red, blue, opposite orange, etc.).  Then move a few shades lighter or darker and try adding that color as an accent.  If that seems too strong, try your favorite color two or four shade values lighter (as was done here) to gradually expand your color boundaries.

It has great light. There are four layers of light happening in this kitchen and the adjoining living room.  The upper cabinets have under cabinet lighting for tasks performed in the kitchen.  The traffic pattern is lit from above with recessed cans in strategic locations (not just an airfield-style strip on the ceiling), the island pendants provide ambient light and we can see that this room gets a great deal of natural light as well.  All the bases are covered!

• TIP:  Adding a few recessed cans or under cabinet lighting is a very simple way to add good light to the working spaces in your home (like your kitchen) and it doesn’t require a full remodel or large budget to complete.  A certified electrician can add these and literally transform the space in a day or two!

Textures galore. We can see leather, wood, granite and at least two metals that are mixed together (antique brass pendant and stainless/brushed steel fixtures) to make this space interesting.  A variety of textures makes everything more interesting; always.  Use this simple technique to your advantage.

• TIP:  If you’re attracted to shiny things, pick up a few rough, dull or handmade trinkets and add them to your room.  OR if you find yourself always buying the same swirly wrought iron accesories, grab something made of glass or natural fibers.

Happy spring!

-Holly Bayer, ASID

If that’s the case, you’re in luck.  Spring design trends are everywhere.  Here are the three I think you’ll see the most of in the coming months.  Stop by our booth on Innovation Avenue at the Minneapolis Home & Garden Show this weekend and learn more about what’s new in our offering for Spring!  We’re in Aisle 3000 and looking forward to talking with you about your projects.

Shades of gray 

Light gray tones, accentuate white trim and white doors

Deep gray tones feel less intense than black

Cabinets and trim in washed tones of gray are a new “neutral.”

Black, White and Green

High contrast black and white is soothed by a green plant in the room and wood elements, beams, floors or cabinets.

Interior doors can be stained almost black with white painted walls

Pillows or wall art and mirrors can add color

Metallics: Gold, Stainless and Brass

Metals can be mixed.

Door hardware might be oil rubbed bronze, light fixtures might be brass. This works!

Wallpapers with metallic accents can offer a more, “temporary,” option.

Existing wall art or mirrors can be spray painted with metallic paints for a brand new look.

Bring on Spring!

-Holly Bayer, ASID

The two comments I hear repeatedly on our plant tours are:

“Wow!” and “Hmm, everyone is smiling?”

As if that would be an unusual thing, something reserved for unique and exciting occasions.  The key to our success is not just the great work we do together as a team, but the gratitude and positive attitudes in our plant.  Both are contagious.

From our family to yours, a very happy and blessed Thanksgiving!  In a world full of chaos and uncertainty, let us be thankful for all that is good.

“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life.  It turns what we have into enough, and more.  It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity.  It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend.” – Melody Beattie

Any good Midwesterner, with half a lick of sense, will not be fooled by this abnormality in the second week of November.  That green grass could become white at any moment!  Starting around the day before Halloween, the ol’ Blizzard of ’91 is recollected and everyone begins watching the thermometer and the calendar… how many more days will we have to finish buttoning up the yard and the house in preparation for the first zing of winter?

The answer is about two weeks, according to the Weather Channel.

That means if you were planning to replace an exterior door before the snow flies; you have approximately one week to make a decision.  Don’t panic!  We have plenty of choices.  And make no mistake, we’ll take orders for exterior doors all year round, but you won’t want to replace that door in a few weeks…what with the wind blowing and biting at your ears; yikes.

Here’s a breakdown of our exterior door product offering (we’ll start with the best choice, first):

Fiberglass: fiberglass doors are perfect for our climate.  We offer them in two surface types, smooth or with texture that replicates wood grains.  We categorize our fiberglass doors into, Elite and Designer groupings.  Elite fiberglass doors have detailed panels, mirroring traditional stile and rail door construction with authentic wood grain patterns of fir, oak, mahogany and cherry.  They also feature the best thermal protection available…thermal protection is important in Minnesota!  Designer fiberglass doors offer high definition panel profiles, wood grain textures and polyurethane foam core for thermal protection.

Nature Series:  we have ten pages of options in species such as fir, knotty alder and oak.   Buyer beware: the Midwest is NOT an ideal environment for wood doors.  As noted above, we brave vicious weather cycles that include upper 90’s, with high humidity and extremely cold, dry winters.  Remember that -26 degree stretch in late January?  Wood, as you know, is a natural material that will expand and contract with temperature and humidity changes.

Steel: the smooth, clean line of a steel door is well-suited for service and garage to house entries where fire code may require a 20-minute rating.  Available in more than the standard six-panel design, we have selections that can incorporate plain or decorative glass, including blinds within the glass if privacy is a concern.

Take a peek at your options online and swing by your local lumberyard to take a look at our selections in person!  Don’t forget your coat and hat.

-Holly Bayer, ASID

Prioritizing can be a snap if you think top to bottom.  Outside gets top priority because those of us who’ve been through more than one Midwest winter knows that the middle of October is borrowed time.  “I hear it might freeze tomorrow night…” is now included in our daily greetings.

Below, a suggested list, in case you didn’t have enough to do.  Prioritized from the top to bottom, outside to inside:

1. Gutters and chimney. Are the gutters clear of debris?  Is the flashing on the chimney in good repair and the flue clean?  Be sure to perform this job with two people.  One on the ground, stabilizing the ladder and one on the roof, doing all the work.
2. Weather strip and caulk. Check your windows and doors to be sure the weather stripping is tight and that any small gaps are caulked.  If weather stripping is deteriorating, it can be replaced easily.  Important to your energy bill and to the life of your doors and windows!
3. Windows.  If possible, give them one last clean so that you can enjoy the view from inside and thereby minimize the effects of cabin fever. Save this for a cloudy day so you’re able to find streaks and wipe them away.
4. Bushes and foundation. After you’ve raked the lawn one last time, trim the hedges and bushes surrounding the house, looking for cracks or holes in the foundation where rodents might consider entering.  Seal gaps that are larger than a nickel with expanding foam.  We used, “Great Stuff,” on our house this year.  We recommend using gloves with this product!
5. Bird feeders and garden prep. The last of the garden vegetables need to come in and the birds will need a refill on their feeders.  Winter is especially hard on wildlife so make sure your seed is handy and that the feeders are clean.  A little vinegar and hot water will take care of the feeders without harming the birds.  Just rinse them well and dry them out before replenishing them.

1. Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. This is the perfect time of year, when we’re heating our homes, to ensure that your carbon monoxide detectors are working properly.  While you’re at it, check your smoke detector batteries as well.  These tests should be performed every six months.
2. Replace filters. You should check, clean or replace your air filter, dryer vent, air conditioner, stove hood and room fans to ensure appliances are running properly and to keep energy costs down.
3. Purge a closet. There is no better time to do this than when you’re about to be stuck inside for 6-9 months.  Rather than re-organizing the closet, toss out what you don’t need and donate items to Goodwill.  You’ll feel lighter and your home more spacious.
4. Hang your art and photos. It’s nice to rotate pictures or artwork from one season to the next.  Unless you haven’t actually hung anything up… in which case, what are you waiting for?  The middle of each picture should be hung no higher than 60″ from the ground.
5. Rugs, slippers and blankets. If it’s cozy and soft, it’s time to pull it out and have it handy. Shake out the lightweight rugs from this summer and store them away.  Consider using a thicker, softer rug during the winter months and don’t forget to put a pair of slippers in the mudroom.  Right next to the rubber mat that will hold your winter boots!

-Holly Bayer, ASID

With two, ten-field courses and 94 stands, there were plenty of challenges for everyone at a variety of skill levels.   Six of our fifteen salesmen were on hand for the event with a, “special guest,” appearance made by Dean Rosenberg who retired from our trenches just three years ago.

Just as we do at the event in Minnesota, the day finishes with a hog roast and awards ceremony.  This year’s big winner was Corey Horstmann, a contractor out of Creighton, Nebraska.  However, the most accurate shooter of the day was Dan Haken from Slayton Building Materials.  He shot an incredible 94 out of 100 birds!  Way to go, Dan!

Thanks to everyone who took time away from their yards to give us the opportunity to say, “Thank you!”

We’re already looking forward to seeing you in 2016!