Employee Spotlight: Chip

By: Karah Hawkinson, Social Media Coordinator

chip Chip Frederickson is the sales manager at Country Lumber, and the contact person for our Launch Center location on Lake Mille Lacs. Chip also manages a marina and builds townhomes on the lake. He lives up in Wahkon near the Launch Center location, but he can also be found in the office in Becker (and I thought I had a long commute!).

Chip has been with Country Lumber for over nineteen years, and his favorite part about his job is the relationships he has formed with the contractors he works with (‘the people we work with’ is a popular answer when I ask the staff what they like about their jobs, so thank you customers for being great!).

Chip enjoys the outdoors, especially fishing, boating, and golf. When I asked him what his favorite treat is, the answered ICE CREAM in all capital letters, so I think he’s pretty serious! But his favorite thing in the world is spending time with his teenage son and daughter, whom he also calls his proudest accomplishment.

If you’re in the market for a lakeshore cabin, check out Chip and Shooter’s Meshigun Point townhomes for sale on realtor.com. As I write this (July 2019) there are three available units of the ten built in the community. There are also a couple lots available, which offer a custom building opportunity.

First Impressions: Exterior Trends 2019

By: Karah Hawkinson, Social Media Coordinator

You know the old saying, “You only get one chance to make a first impression.” The same is true of your home. Realtors call it curb appeal, and they know that it makes a big difference in attracting buyers. Here are some of the top trends for home exteriors in 2019.

  1. Colors: When choosing a long-lasting siding like steel or vinyl, you have to walk the line between current trends and the long haul. Fortunately, neutrals like beiges, tans, and greys are popular right now. Greige, a mixture of grey and beige, is on-trend for both exterior siding and interior walls.
    Grey house LP Smartside

    Grey doesn’t have to be cold. The deep wood-tone accents on this home by LP Smartside adds warmth and richness.

    If you prefer more color, consider blues or autumnal reds. Both are popular right now and classic enough to live with long-term.

  2. Details: Visit the Parade of Homes, or scroll through their inspiration galleries, and you’ll see lots of beautiful details on homes. Features like decorative trim and railings, carriage hardware on garage doors, or a pop of accent color are often simple and inexpensive touches, but they add so much character to a home.

    Lecy Bros. Parade of Homes

    Parade of Homes house by Lecy Bros. Note the detail trim at the peak, and the columns that add character to the front of this white house.

3. Try Before You Buy: Several siding manufacturers have tools on their websites to help you imagine all the possibilities and see what they look like on your home. Certainteed Colorview is one such tool. You upload a photo of your home (one taken on a clear, sunny day helps with color accuracy), map out the areas of siding, doors, windows, trim details, etc., then choose different products to try on your home. I’ve played with it some. Initial setup of mapping out the details of my home was a bit tedious, but once it’s set you can go back and try all kinds of siding, maintenance-free shakes, roof colors, trim options, and more.

Country Lumber is a supplier of several brands of roofing, siding, exterior stone, doors and door hardware, and other products to freshen up your home’s curb appeal and help you make the right first impression. Stop in the showroom today to check out all the on-trend finishes and color options.

Employee Spotlight – Diane

By: Karah Hawkinson, Social Media Coordinator

Diane is the Controller/Human Resources person at Country Lumber. Between the vendors, customers, and staff, she stays very busy! Lucky for all of us, her favorite part of her job is the people she gets to interact with.

Diane and her husband have two teenagers and a dog. They love the lake life – being outdoors, kayaking, gardening, attending their kids’ events, and going out on the pontoon are her favorite things to do.

Diane has worked at Country Lumber for four years. She represents us at Chamber of Commerce meetings and community events. She’s a big part of what makes our workplace work, and we’re glad to have her on the team!

Cabin Season – Country Lumber Launch Center in Wahkon

By: Karah Hawkinson, Social Media Coordinator

According to the Department of Revenue, there are 124,000 cabins in Minnesota. Many of them are on the over 90,000 miles of lakeshore around the state. Heading “up north” for the weekend is a tradition in Minnesota, and the recreation, relaxation, and communion with nature is part of our high standard of living.

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The Launch Center, 407 Bennett St. Wahkon MN

Owning a cabin isn’t all fun and games. Just like your home, your cabin needs maintenance and updates. That’s why Country Lumber opened the Launch Center in Wahkon back in 2006.

The Launch Center is a Country Lumber showroom conveniently located in the heart of lake cabin country, on the south side of Mille Lacs Lake. Just like our Becker showroom, customers can shop for options in roofing, siding, windows, doors, millwork, and much more. There are no scheduled hours at the Launch Center, but Chip takes appointments with builders, buyers, and cabin owners who want to shop, and products are delivered from Becker.

The Launch Center can be your headquarters for fishing too. We have seasonal boat slips, guide service, a fish cleaning setup, restrooms with showers, and half/full day boat rental.

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Launch Center showroom

We invite you and/or your company to consider hosting employee seminars, workshops, conferences, family reunions, or employee gatherings for up to 30 people. Launch Center amenities include a large conference table, galley kitchen and a 60” big screen – perfect for presentations or watching sporting events and movies.

Contact Chip Frederickson at chipf@countrylumber.us or 612-221-6923 for Launch Center rental rates or to schedule a visit to the showroom.

Employee Spotlight: Jim

By: Karah Hawkinson, Social Media Coordinator

Jim Jim Dingmann is another fairly new face at Country Lumber. He has been with us for five months, working as an Estimator. Aside from being the “new kids,” Jim and I also share a preference for strong black coffee – the darker the better!

Jim lives in St Cloud with his beautiful wife of twenty-four years, Brenda. The couple are proud parents of two young adult daughters, Jennifer and Mikaela. When he’s not working at Country Lumber, Jim likes hunting, fishing, photography, woodworking, and riding motorcycle. His dream vacation would involve hitting the open road and going somewhere scenic on his motorcycle.

I asked Jim what he likes about working at Country Lumber, and he said that he likes the working environment where, “we can work hard and still have an enjoyable experience.” The fun and productive environment is a direct result of our great staff at Country Lumber. We’re glad to have Jim as part of our team!

Deck Materials Comparison

By: Karah Hawkinson, Social Media Coordinator

The best home improvement project we ever did was putting a deck on our house. When we bought our home there was just a second story sliding glass door to nowhere. I remember looking out and dreaming of a place where I could sit with my morning coffee, access the backyard, and grill in the summer.

When we finally had the deck built, I was like a kid on Christmas morning. The morning after the deck surface was put on, before the railings were added or the stairs were finished, I finally unlocked that useless door and walked outside with a cup of coffee. As I sat in the middle of my incomplete deck, all I could do was smile.

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Year Three: Time to refinish again

 Fast forward a year, and I wasn’t smiling any more. I still loved my deck, but staining it is a HUGE job for amateurs who don’t own a paint sprayer. Protecting a wood deck with stain is vital. Harsh weather conditions cause unprotected wood to wear, and eventually rot. We’ve gone through the staining process every three years, and the job doesn’t get easier. You have to haul the grill and furniture down the stairs, powerwash the deck, wait for it to dry, scrape away the old peeling stain, and meticulously apply the new layer.

Properly maintaining the finish on a lumber deck is a lot of work, but doing it yourself saves money. With renting a power washer and buying supplies, it costs about $200 every three years (homeadvisor.com), plus two or three days of your time. If you don’t have the time or skills to do your own maintenance, you can hire it out. According to a pro contractor I spoke with, having someone come pressure wash, scrape, and refinish a 10×12 deck costs about $2000 every three years, and the process still takes several days.

Building with cedar instead of treated lumber reduces the maintenance burden. Cedar is more dense and rot-resistant than treated lumber. It costs more upfront, but the only maintenance it needs is an annual washing and coat of sealer.

AFCO Railings

A maintenance-free deck

 Maintenance-free decking is the ultimate labor-saving option. Composite decking materials resist damage and since they’re not absorbent, they don’t rot. The disadvantage is that maintenance-free costs more upfront.

According to Trex, a maintenance-free 10×12 deck (basic rectangle with substructure, deck, and railings – no stairs) costs about $2900 in materials. Compare that to cedar at about $1500, or treated lumber at about $1200 for materials (decks.com estimator). You can see that the upfront cost difference is significant. But does it save you money in the long run?

An untreated wood deck has a lifespan of about 15 years. With regular maintenance, that can be extended to about 20 years. With basic maintenance, cedar should last about 25 years. A composite deck will last 25-30 years.

Let’s lay this out in chart form so we can compare:

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As you can see, though it’s a bigger up-front investment, the long-term ownership cost per year is lowest when you choose maintenance-free materials, not to mention all the time you save!

Whatever material you inherited when you bought your home, or what you choose when building, make sure you maintain your deck properly to protect your investment and keep it safe and stable for many years.

*Prices listed in this blog post are rough estimates calculated by various cited websites. For an accurate estimate of your project costs, visit our showroom.

Employee Spotlight: Karah

By: Karah Hawkinson, Social Media Coordinator

The Blog is Back!

We’ll be featuring new posts at least twice a month to introduce you to our staff and keep you up-to-date on building trends, new products, and information about all things building and remodeling. Remember to follow us on social media, too. We have lots to share and project photos of what builders and homeowners are doing with materials from Country Lumber.

Employee Profile – Meet Karah

Karah and husband Scott at the Neon Boneyard Museum, Las Vegas

I’m Karah Hawkinson, and I’m the newest employee here at Country Lumber! (Seriously. I started one week ago today!) I work just a few hours a week maintaining the website, blog, and social media accounts. In my other life, I’m a professional historian. I have both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in history, and I work as the Program Coordinator at the Sherburne History Center here in Becker.

Though both of my jobs are in Becker, I live in Coon Rapids with my husband, Scott, our son, Jacob, and a beagle-mix named Cashew. 2019 is a year of milestones for our family. I have a milestone birthday this year, my husband and I are celebrating our 20th anniversary, and Jacob is graduating from high school. He’s also moving to the Seattle area this fall to attend college, where he will study to become a minister.

When I’m not working or commuting back and forth, I like to read, bake, and watch sports. I’m a rabid Vikings fan, and I also enjoy watching boxing and hockey. I serve on the deacon board at my church.

In the world of building and remodeling, I like a warm and cozy aesthetic. My favorite current trend is the way the rustic/farmhouse style has brought the emphasis back to homes that are lived-in, and traditions like family dinner around the table.

If you have pictures of projects you’re doing with Country Lumber products, I’d love to see them, and maybe feature them on social media. Email images and information to photos@countrylumber.us. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!

*In 2021 Karah left the history field and came to work at Country Lumber full-time. She is still maintaining the social media and website, but is also in the City Desk role. If you visit our facility in Becker, she is probably the first staff person who will greet you at the front desk!

Stair Parts

At Country Lumber we are eager bring to life the unique visions of our customers.

Stair Parts are a great way to showcase your individual design and become a great focal point in any home.   There are thousands of styles and materials that can be incorporated to make an idea become realized in your new home or remodeling project.

Most stairways feature three primary components:

The steps

The steps themselves (which are comprised of treads, risers and stringers) A very popular material for the stair treads is wood.   With many species to choose from and finishing options, wood treads are a great way to make a versatile staircase.  They are easily manipulated for each projects size shape and color.  Also can be refinished over time if you choose for a low budget update without purchasing new materials.

 

 

The newel posts and balusters (the pieces that support the handrail)

Mixing of materials for the newel post and balusters is another popular design.  By incorporating different textures and colors, you can create and enjoy a unique and stylish focal point.

The handrail

Countless handrail options let you make your project as modern or traditional an appearance as desired.

Let us here at Country Lumber make it easy to put your personal touch on your project along with helping make the selections and making you feel comfortable with the process of your next build.

Schlage

Schlage Electronic and Smart Locks are a perfect solution to keyless entry. Three lines are available in a keyless option: Schlage Sense, Schlage Connect, and Schlage Touch. All three lines offer an illuminated touch screen for easier visibility at night. They also allow for multiple access codes that can be programmed and deleted by the user. If you’ve got a contractor, cleaning person, etc. coming to your house and you’d prefer not to give them a key you can program a code specifically for them and delete it when you wish. No worries about someone having your key and gaining access to your home!

 

The Schlage Sense offers a Bluetooth feature to pair your lock with your phone.  If you’re not home and have friends or family members coming you can lock and unlock your door using the Schlage Sense app.  It also has a built-in alarm sensor that can issue you an alert when it senses someone trying to gain entry.  It pairs up with Apple HomeKit, Amazon Alexa, and Google Assistant. It is available in 2 styles and 2 finishes: Camelot or Century style and Satin Nickel or Aged Bronze finish.

 

Schlage also offers another keyless line called the Schlage Connect. It has the ability to connect to some home security systems or Z-Wave system. This series can also pair with Amazon Alexa.  This series offers a big selection with 7 options featuring Century or Camelot trim. You can choose a handle set/deadbolt combo, a lever/deadbolt combo, or a deadbolt only.  Satin Chrome, Aged Bronze, Bright Brass, Satin Nickel, Bright Chrome, or the popular Matte Black color.

 

The Schlage Touch line offers a completely keyless option. There is no keyway on this lock to give it a clean look. This line doesn’t offer access via your phone or security system.  It still offers the convenience of programming multiple codes.  This line is available with a touch deadbolt or touch lever.  The deadbolt line offers a variety of options including handle sets and levers with several color options.  The touch lever is offered in several styles as well as colors.

Feel free to check these locks out online or visit our showroom!

Diamond Pier Footings

Diamond pier footings are the perfect alternative to poured concrete pier footings.

They install in minutes with a jack hammer. Just set the head and drive in the pins. This allows for low impact to your yard. No extra dirt to get rid of. No concrete to mix and no ready mix trucks. You can frame right away, no need for waiting for the concrete to dry. They have a cast in galvanized anchor bolt, so you can attach a post base directly to it. You can install them any where you can carry them. Perfect for remote locations.

They can be used for decks, porches, sheds, gazebos, or anywhere you need a pier footing. They come in three different sizes. DP50 w/ 50” pins, DP75 w/ 50” or 63” pins, & DP100 w/ 50”, 63”, or 84” pins. Their load carrying capacity ranges from 2700# to 6300# depending on size and soil type. They come with a life time of the structure warranty covering parts & labor. As you can see these innovative pier footings can be useful for the contractor or the do it yourselfer.

 

See more information at www.DiamondPiers.com or call us at Country Lumber.