Act Now to Reduce Ice Dams

We’ve spent a lot of time recently discussing water and the damaging effect it can have on homes. With the damage that water can cause, we feel it’s critical for us to share solutions for common problems. Fall is here which means winter is around the corner along with the potential for ice dams. If you have had ice dam issues in the past, call us to perform a free assessment of your attic ventilation and insulation. Don’t wait until the ice dams are on the roof and water is coming in the ceiling. In most cases there are immediate improvements that can be made to drastically reduce your ice dam problems.

Don’t ignore the signs of water damage!

It’s easy to look past signs of water damage to your home; the ripple in the paint by the window or the rotten siding under your deck because it doesn’t seem to be doing anything. But not taking action can only cause more damage to your home. In a matter of days mold growth can begin. Over a month or two of leakage into your wall, you can have thousands of dollars of repairs to your home.

The photos below show some examples of water intrusion we have found during window, door and siding replacement projects. In every case, there is evidence all around the damage that it has been there for a long time, but did not get the attention it deserved.

Make sure your house is watertight. At IHP, we can test moisture levels for an assessment of potential repairs. The sooner you catch it, the smaller the repair will be. Give us a call.


Complete rot-through framing from improper deck flashing

Rotten Rim Joist from improper door flashing.

Wall structure water damage from improper window flashing

The Attic’s Weather Role

Has the recent heat this summer in Minnesota soaked through your attic into your house? The amount of insulation in your attic can drastically affect the temperature in your house and the amount of energy you use in air conditioning. Proper ventilation in your attic also plays a huge role in keeping your attic cool. Winter will be coming again before you know it. Keep in mind that these two things, poor insulation and ventilation are the leading cause of ice damns in the winter. We live in an area of serious weather extremes and your attic plays a key role in how well your house performs in those extremes.

We can give you the information you need to properly maintain an attic helps monitor the ventilation in your home.

Being Sump Pump Prepared.

We have been helping customers with more Basement finishing and remodeling this past year as the economy recovers in the Minneapolis metro area. One thing to think about when finishing or remodeling a basement is the possibility of water problems. This past wet spring has sump pumps running constantly in many basements. If your pump fails or if the power goes you could have several inches of water on your basement floor very quickly.

We strongly recommend the installation of a back-up sump pump for any basement that has an existing sump. We discourage battery back-up pumps due to constant battery monitoring and maintenance. Plus, if you lose power for more than an hour or two the battery will drain, the back-up pump stops and you still have flooding. Installing a Zoeller® Home Guard Max back up pump that is powered by your city water is a great solution. The motor is turned by water flow that is connected to your city water line, which never loses pressure. The water powered pump keeps water out of your basement until you restore your electric pump. It pumps out two gallons of sump water for each gallon of city water used. This is not intended for use as a primary pump, but is the best back-up pump solution hands down. For more information on the pumping system check out: http://www.zoellerpumps.com/ProductBenefit.aspx?ProductID=65.

For all your basement finishing and remodeling needs, give us a call.

Deck Living

Summer is almost here in Minnesota. It’s time to enjoy the outdoors and entertain family and friends with grilling and parties. A new or remodeled deck can expand your living space to the outside with comfort, convenience and beauty. There are many decking options to make your outdoor living just right for your home. Here are some ideas:

• Enclose your deck with a roof for shade and a decorative addition.


• Get Creative - rail systems can be made from wood, metal and cable or as a combination of materials


• Add accents around your deck with: Lighting, built in seating, planters and more


• Feature metal accents as pole caps, accessories and other interesting creative ideas


• Build a store closet on your deck to hold and organize items for your deck


• Add Vinyl flooring for decks, a choice that is becoming more popular as an excellent alternative to wood

In addition to the top of the deck, you can add a water drainage system to allow you to comfortably use the space under a high deck. These systems divert water away from the deck to create a dry space below – now having double the outdoor living area.

9 Years for IHP!

Integrity Home Projects was founded in April of 2002 with a vision of creating a remodeling services company that would stand out in the industry with notable ethics and professionalism. We started this company to help people realize their dreams for their home. Integrity Home Projects has enjoyed steady and continuous growth since the start of the company keeping us busy and happy to be working with our customers. With over half of our business based on direct referrals and repeat business, satisfied customers are the key to our success. We thank all of our customers for their business and referrals. We wouldn’t be here without them.

At IHP, we will continue to provide outstanding service for our customers through our professional approach and detailed process-based business philosophy. Thanks for a great nine years!

-Dan & Brian

Home Exteriors

Spring is here. It’s time to refresh and give your home a new look and lots of curb appeal. Changing the look of a home's exterior with a facelift can bring a new modern look to your home or just give you the style you want. Something as basic as using new paint colors can update a home. A plain exterior can be made more distinctive by adding a package of coordinated trim. Or you can go for the truly dramatic by adding porches, columns or dormers to totally change the character of your house. Some ideas for giving your home a new look are:

• New paint color(s)


• New trim packages, colors or accents


• Adding stone to exteriors


• Including columns and archways


• A new patio or front porch Switching siding to hail-proof Hardie Cement board siding http://www.jameshardie.com/

Before Exterior Remodel

After Exterior Remodel & Design

For more ideas that bring a new look to your home, call Integrity Home Projects.

Selecting Wood Species and Finishes

The selection of the cabinet wood species and finish will have a significant impact on the overall design and look of your kitchen. There are several things to consider when choosing the wood species for your home.

Maple is excellent as a durable wood that you may need to meet your lifestyle. European Country design with traditional styling may be appealing with a painted cabinet, possibly incorporating more than one finish color. The key to a successful kitchen-remodeling project is keeping all elements of the overall home and room design in mind throughout the design process. This needs to be balanced with your lifestyle and use of the space.

An Overview of Woods Species

• Maple: Light – Hard Wood - Traditional to Contemporary
• Cherry: Medium/Red - Med/Hard Wood - Traditional to Contemporary
• Oak: Medium/Golden/Red – Hard Wood - Traditional to Transitional
• Clear Alder: Medium/Red/Brown – Soft Wood - Traditional
• Knotty Alder: Medium/Red/Brown – Soft Wood - Rustic/Countr
• Hickory: Medium/Red/Brown – Hard Wood - Rustic/Countr
• Rustic Hickory: Medium/Red/Brown – Hard Wood - Rustic/Country
• Walnut: Dark/Brown/Purplish Black – Medium Wood - Traditional
• Painted: Hard Wood - Traditional to Country

Woods and the Kitchen Environment
Kitchens tend to be affected by humidity and temperature and your cabinets need to adjust to changes in temperature. Solid wood often expands and contracts when exposed to humidity, leading to warping. Hardwood veneer and laminate alternatives can be incorporated to minimize shrinking and expansion through the drastic changes in Minnesota’s climate.



Cherry cabinets, clear finish, shaker style work well with existing oak millwork. The oak floor was refinished to compliment the tone of the cherry cabinets.

Shaker Style for Kitchens

According to the National Kitchen & Bath Association, Shaker style kitchens rose in popularity during 2009 and gained momentum in 2010 to become the second most popular style used by NKBA member designers. Traditional style remains number one but Shaker style is in demand.

The Shaker style is based on the Shakers, a religious and agricultural community established in the USA in 1774. The philosophy of shaker style can be summed up in two phrases: "whatever is fashioned let it be plain and simple and for the good" and "beauty rests on utility". The craftsman made furniture to highest levels of workmanship, using pure and simple lines without any ornamentation for durability and usefulness. The Shaker style is known for simple functionality and rooms that are arranged to feel clean and spacious.

An open, organized design with neutral wall colors reflects the Shaker ideal of simple living. Plenty of storage space is important and pegs are featured to keep order in mudrooms and entryways. Cabinets are made from hardwoods, with recessed panels and straight, simple lines. Authentic Shaker ladderback chairs and stools add simple elegance. Light fixtures with a chrome finish and natural wood flooring with a matte gloss give a kitchen the ambiance of an original Shaker home.

Call IHP for a Shaker Style kitchen in your home.

Choosing Granite as a Countertop

Kitchen countertop styles are available in a wide variety of materials but Granite has been extremely popular in recent years both in remodeling and in new homes. According to the NPD Group, a market research company, the biggest seller in countertops is still Granite. Granite countertops account for 56% of kitchen sales. It is an excellent solution for homeowners for beautiful, durable and easy to maintain countertops. It is a great choice for natural countertops.

Durability: Granite is the hardest and most durable of materials for countertops. It is quarried from the earth’s crust and is considered the oldest building material Granite countertops are easy to clean with just soap and water. They are also easy to maintain and are the most stain resistant, lasting a lifetime.

Beauty: The natural beauty of granite adds elegance to your home. The spectrum of colors is expansive from light to dark colors with a variety of markings; you’ll find the style you’ll love in your kitchen.

At IHP, we are here to help you make the right selection for your home.

Kitchen Remodeling Project: The Kitchen Layout

To start remodeling your kitchen, there are several aspects to consider for planning your project. The first step to consider is the existing layout of your kitchen to determine if a change is required. It is much more cost effective to remodel a kitchen if the appliances and sink remain in their current locations. If you are planning to expand the kitchen by redesigning or adding a peninsula/island, removing a wall or adding space your home, a revised layout is probably in order.

Even a minor layout change can give your kitchen new working spaces as well as opportunities for areas to be designed to meet your personal needs. New spaces or areas can create new ideas such as homework centers, snack/breakfast bars or even an informal dining table integrated into the kitchen workspace. Personalizing your kitchen to be remodeled to your specific needs is the first step in planning your project.

A wall is removed for a new island area.

A cooking prep area flows into informal dining.

A homework station is added.

Be a Resource for Your Customers

Just recently we were in communication with a past customer. He was looking a resource and some information for installing new kitchen flooring. The project was going to be a homeowner improvement project until they realized a project like this involves a lot more than just installing the new flooring. That’s really where our expertise steps in and provides the knowledge and experience to complete a remodeling or upgrade project for our customers. We help avoid issues by taking a good look at the overall project before things get underway to get the job done right and as hassle-free as possible.

At IHP, we love that our customers ask us for help. And we’re happy to provide our assistance.

Plan for Spring Projects

It's human nature to put things off until the last minute but don’t wait to start planning for Spring time projects. It's a new year, time to begin planning for that remodeling project you are thinking about for Spring. The time is now to start planning, designing and budgeting. Most remodeling projects take at least three to four months from initial discussions to a complete design that is ready to start construction. We need to give City Hall time to approve building permits which is a two week process if no variances are required. For some addition projects, set back variance approvals may be required and that generally takes two to three months to get through the local planning commission and city council, once the basic design is complete. Time flies! Don’t wait. Give us a call to help you get things started so ready when Spring comes.

Prevent Ice Dams

We have all seen ice dams - a ridge of ice that forms at the bottom edge of a sloped roof. This occurs when the temperature of the attic or part of the roof deck rises above freezing. The snow melts and water flows down to the cool eave, re-freezing and building a ridge of ice. Believe it or not, ice dams can cause permanent damage to your home. Some damage occurs to your shingles due to the freeze and thaw of the ice and in some cases shingles are damaged by homeowners using sharp tools trying to chip and smash the ice. The most significant damage is from water getting into the attic and exterior walls. This happens when water from melting snow pools above the dam and flows back under the shingles into your attic space, ceilings and walls below. Once this happens you must open up the wet areas, remove the insulation, treat for any mold that may have grown and rebuild the damaged area.

There is no way to completely prevent ice dams but things can be done to eliminate the causes to reduce their occurrence. The key is proper ventilation and insulation to keep the attic and roof deck as cool as possible to reduce the snow melt. Most homes can have additional insulation and attic ventilation installed - reducing ice dams with a bonus of improved energy efficiency. Homes with partially finished attic space present the greatest challenge in reduction of ice dams because the finished space warms the roof deck directly causing uncontrollable snow melt. In some cases there is no choice but to rake the snow from your roof after each major snowfall or install permanent heating elements to melt the dams. Whatever your situation is, IHP can help you find and implement the right solution.

Staying and Updating Your Home

In today's economy, many people are staying in their current homes instead of moving or building a new house. Design and styles most likely have changed as well as the needs of the family from the original purchase of the home. Remodeling or updating a home can be done in stages and economically smart by making small changes to achieve the home owner's goal. Re-finishing cabinet faces and doors in a kitchen or bathroom, or a partial revision to the kitchen layout such as a change to your island or peninsula can dramatically change the look of a room. Painting walls, laying new flooring or changing counter tops can also bring an updated look. For something more dynamic, knocking down walls between rooms to open a closed space can add modern look to a home. For more suggestions and help in updating your home, call Integrity Home Projects.

Time to Think Spring?

Believe it or not, right now is the time to prepare for Spring and April showers! The leading cause of wet basements is from not properly preparing for run-off water from the roof of your home. Gutters with correctly-sized downspouts are the key to directing the water to where it should go - away from your house. Kick out spouts at least 4 feet long on the downspouts move the water out away from your home's foundation. Combined with proper landscaping and the correct grade, you can keep most of the exterior water out of your basement.

Gutters also keep the roof run-off water from splashing on your windows, walls and doors giving your home added water intrusion protection. On homes we remodel, we use heavy gauge seamless aluminum that is fabricated right at your home, custom made for your eaves for extra protection and proper fit. With 49 standard colors, we can coordinate with the trim on virtually any home.

Another thing to consider is the amount of leaves you have in your yard from large trees. Large amounts of leaves may clog the gutters each fall. If that is the case we encourage the installation of the leaf protection system, Leaf Relief®, on your seamless gutters.

Preparing now can save you in the Spring from water damage or leaking.

Fireplaces and Your Home

Adding a fireplace or updating your current fireplace creates a whole new look and focal point for any room of your home. Create a cozy spot in your home with the almost unlimited fireplace options and styles that are available. Fireplaces can be gas-fueled, electric or wood-burning with styles from traditional to ultra-contemporary that match your home. When upgrading your wood-burning fireplace, there are several styles of gas inserts to convert your current fireplace into a gas fueled unit.

In addition to the fireplace insert, the area surrounding the fireplace must be considered - it is a very critical part of the style of the fireplace. Your contractor can help with the overall look and design with a stone surround, a mantle, built-in cabinets, a raised hearth, wood storage area and other design details to give you the exact fireplace you want for your home.

Choosing a general contractor that can handle the entire project is very important because a fireplace interacts with many areas of your home. We can help with all your fireplace needs. Call Dan at Integrity Home Projects to build or upgrade a fireplace in your home before winter is here.

Window Condensation in Your Home

Window condensation can be a common problem, even on new energy efficient windows. It's not the fault of the window, unless its an old single pane window. The main cause is the moisture level is too high in your home - indoor environments should be between 30% and 50% relative humidity. “Relative Humidity” is the amount of water vapor the air contains compared to the maximum amount it could hold at a given temperature. The indoor relative humidity may need to be lower in winter to avoid condensation on your windows. If the temperature of the glass gets below the dew point of the air in your home, the air can no longer hold the water and it condenses on the cold glass.

We have some tips to control condensation:

1. If you have a humidifier, adjust your humidity level as the temperature outside drops below 30°F. These are recommended settings to avoid condensation.
- 35% at 30°F
- 30% at 10°F
- 25% at 0°F
- 20% at -10°F

2. Use the bathroom fan during and for 15 minutes after running hot water or showering. Make sure the fan is working efficiently. A fan timer can be set after leaving the room.

3. Turn on your kitchen exhaust fan when cooking and make sure your fan vents to the outside.

4. Open your blinds to let the warmer air from the room get to the windows. The cold air built up behind a blind holds less moisture and will promote condensation.

5. Turn on ceiling fans - this also gets warmer, drier air to the window surface.

6. Install a whole house ventilation system with an air exchanger and humidity control.

7. If you can not control humidity well enough to eliminate condensation, wipe your windows regularly so window frames and possibly the wall structure below the windows will not rot.

A Facelift for the Front of Your Home

Give your front door a new look. Changing the look of your home from the curb can be as simple as changing your front door. We work with numerous door systems but Therma-Tru Entry Door systems are a great option. Get an updated look with entry door systems that provide endless designs to match the style you want for your home. We can give your home a new, beautiful look in a day.

The Fiberglass and Steel door systems are custom created with the selections you choose. An increase in energy efficiency and performance, comfort are also a great reason to update your entry door system. And the Tax Credit applies to Thermu-Tru Doors. There also incredible warranties on their door systems.

Call to learn more!

Tax Credits for Energy Efficiency

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Tax Act has been in effect to provide funding support in upgrading homes for increased energy efficiency. A lot of attention has been given to installing new windows and doors but the tax credits are applicable to many additional items for your home that improve energy usage.

Now through December 31, 2010, the $1,500 tax credit is available on new roofing, insulation, HVAC, water heaters and, of course, windows and doors for better energy performance in your home. You earn a tax credit equal to 30% of the product cost up to $1,500.

Although there are many guidelines and criteria, IHP Exteriors can help you understand the qualifications and product specifications needed for the tax credit. IHP Exteriors installers are certified by the American Window and Door Institute so you can feel secure that your new products are installed and working correctly.

Call IHP Exteriors today at 763-286-7429 to earn Federal tax credits!

Installation cost is not eligible for tax credit. The above information is not intended as legal advice regarding taxes, and you should consult a tax professional with specific questions.