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One spring morning, Mary Danford was weeding her prize-winning rose garden when she noticed something concerning. Between the blooming Prairie Roses, she glimpsed a large crack in her home’s foundation. She pushed through the flowers and peered closer. Dismayed, Mary discovered several cracks, some quite large. A few were vertical, but she also saw one...Read More

“The fall of dropping water wears away the Stone.” – Lucretius In 2001, a midwestern couple paid $446,000 for its dream home. They had saved money for years, all to buy a house with every desired amenity. Their builder – known for its luxurious homes – even referred to the housing community as “a little...Read More

As the saying goes, “April showers bring May flowers.” Yes, March 20 – June 20 is a glorious time of year known as spring. The months of March through June provide much good: loads of sunshine, fresh breezes, welcome temperatures, longer days, and flowers, flowers, flowers. It also provides an abundance of water. Spring is...Read More

Spring is close at hand and with it the return of birds, blossoms, and blooms – and something else: building. Last January, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) forecasted that new home sales would increase 2.5 percent in 2020 from 2019, reaching 708,000 new homes. That was the first time since 2007 that first...Read More

These days are, to quote Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, “cold, and dark, and dreary; it rains, and the wind is never weary.” For Michiganders, hunkered down as tempests blow across the state, winter days are demanding: temperatures harsh, west winds biting. For weeks to come, hardened residents will endure severe storms that transport an excess of...Read More

Now that the holidays are behind us and the emphasis on parties and presents has passed, it is the perfect time for a new focus: home maintenance. We are well into winter, and that means our homes are reacting to harsh and fluctuating temperatures, melting snow, freezing winds, and all that Mother Nature can conjure....Read More

According to a MSNBC poll, 81 percent of Americans say their home is their best long-term investment. Most will borrow thousands of dollars to afford this purchase and continue to pour money into their homes as the years go by. In fact, almost 40 percent of most Americans’ annual budgets goes toward housing. Thus, people...Read More

Our home is our refuge from the world. It keeps us warm, dry, and safe. It protects us and our families. Most of us, when evening falls, walk around our homes locking doors. Perhaps, we make sure the windows are closed and also fastened. We want to protect our loved ones – our valuables. Yet,...Read More