Condensation on your windows is usually not the windows fault.

What is Condensation?

Condensation is the result of high humidity that produces a “fog” once it hits a colder surface. The humidity is caused by excess water vapor in the home. This is commonly seen in a foggy mirror after a hot shower. Condensation usually occurs first on windows because glass surfaces have the lowest temperature of any of the interior surfaces in the home.

What causes condensation on windows?

Whenever there is excess humidity in a home, it manifests itself in the form of condensation on the coldest area of a wall, which is normally the windows. The warmer the air, the more moisture it will retain, so when air in your home comes in contact with the colder glass surface, it is subsequently cooled and moisture is released in the form of condensation on the glass. All homes have a certain level of moisture due to household activities. Activities such as cooking, laundry and dish washing can add up to five pounds of water vapor into the air daily! Other moisture-producing agents include plants, heating systems and humidifiers.

Do windows cause condensation?

No, condensation on windows is not the fault of the window. However, by replacing drafty windows and doors or installing a new roof or siding, you are reducing air flow in your home and making it tighter. Tighter homes actually retain more humidity. Seasonal changes, quick changes in temperature, reconstruction and remodeling can also add excess humidity temporarily into the air.

Can I reduce the condensation on my windows?

Yes. In order to reduce condensation, humidity must be controlled and air movement must be generated. As the exterior temperature drops, the humidity level needs to decrease if condensation is to be controlled.

What steps can I take to reduce humidity in my home?

The two main things you can do are to control sources of moisture and increase ventilation. To decrease or control excess humidity and condensation:

Use exhaust fans in your kitchen, laundry and bathrooms. Run exhaust fans while the humidity-producing appliance is operating or the humidity-producing activity is going on, and let them run a while after the activities have ended.

Vent gas burners, clothes dryers, etc. to the outdoors.

Be sure that the ventilating louvers in your attic, basement or crawl spaces are open and amply sized.

Open fireplace dampers to allow an escape route for moisture-laden air.

Air out your house a few minutes each day. Because outside air usually contains less water vapor, it will “dilute” the humidity of inside air.

If you have a furnace humidifier or other humidifying device in your home, be sure it is adjusted to produce the proper amount of humidity, or turn it off. The humidity produced elsewhere in your home may mean these devices are not needed at this time.

Install ceiling fans to keep air circulating within your home.

If troublesome condensation persists, contact us at 608.643.7914 and we’ll send a specialist out for a free, no-obligation inspection of your windows and vantilation.

We have previously featured Sue Shaw’s beautiful bathroom. As promised, here is her kitchen remodel, which has just won Frey Construction a “Contractor of the Year” Award through the Madison chapter of NARI. Nobody would have guessed that a small bathroom project would unfold into a fabulous new kitchen, but that it did!

Even though Sue lived in an older house, with a severely outdated, cramped kitchen, remodeling that space was something she thought she might do “down the road”. Her first priority was the bathroom remodel. As it turns out, the bathroom remodel required opening up some walls in her kitchen to access piping, so the dream of a fabulous new kitchen space became a reality much sooner than anticipated.

Her initial hopes for the space were to have updated cabinets, countertops and flooring – all within the existing kitchen layout. However, with the help of our designers, we were able to come up with some much more incredible ideas! By opening up the wall between the kitchen and dining room and relocating the doorway into the living room (and rest of the house) to the other side of the kitchen, near the entry door, we were able to create a much better traffic flow for the entire space. This new arrangement allowed us to add space for a breakfast bar AND dining table, which Sue had barely enough room for before. We also replaced a window with a patio door, to allow more light into the space, as well as added access to the backyard directly off of the kitchen. Beautiful cabinets were installed (which no were longer falling off of the walls) and also included extra features and added storage. The updated flooring and countertops look amazing and are easy to clean. In the end, the expressed needs of the client were met beyond her wildest dreams! We already knew Sue was delighted with her new bathroom and now the kitchen of her dreams was a reality too!!

To see more pictures of this award winning kitchen remodel, click here!

A bathroom remodel had been a dream for Sue Shaw for quite some time, but it wasn’t until the discovery of an unfortunate leak from the outdated claw foot tub that forced her to spring into action. Besides the immediate need to replace the plumbing fixtures with ones that worked properly and more efficiently, Sue was most excited for a fresh and modern look!

Through careful planning of space, function, structure and style, we were able to transform this worn out and uncomfortable space into a place of retreat. By stealing 13” from the neighboring bedroom, we were able to provide all the necessary space for a properly planned bathroom. With some creative planning and careful product selection, we were able to provide a custom walk-in shower, larger vanity AND some open shelves for additional storage.

Superior craftsmanship was used in many forms in this project. Custom made cabinetry allowed us to make the most of the space. We designed a reduced depth vanity (only 18” deep, instead of the standard 21” deep) which allowed us to extend the width all the way to the door, providing lots of storage. Soft-close drawers were used as a bonus feature. We were even able to design a replicate of a unique medicine cabinet that Sue had seen in a magazine – for half of the cost!

Enhancing the aesthetics of this bathroom was as important to Sue as enhancing the function. We were able to do this by using a combination of materials that added different textures and colors. All together the mix of tile, stone, glass, metal, ceramic and wood, greatly enhanced the visual interest of the space. From what once was merely a utilitarian space is now a place of relaxation and repose.

Sue was so happy with how our design process worked for her bathroom that she decided to work with us on her kitchen remodel at the same time.

To see more pictures of this beautiful bathroom remodel, click here!

Frey Construction has NOT given them permission to be there and they have been asked to leave.

Frey is ranked #184 nationwide, and #4 in Wisconsin

Frey Construction & Home Improvement, LLC is honored to be listed by Qualified Remodeler Magazine in their annual “Top 500″ issue, which rates firms based upon such criteria as volume of completed work, years in business, and community service.  Frey Construction is ranked at #184 and #4 in the State of Wisconsin.

Frey Construction Named on Remodeling Magazine's Top 550

PRESS RELEASE: Prairie du Sac, WI., Nov. 3 – Remodeling Magazine, has named Frey Construction & Home Improvement, LLC on its annual “Top 550 List” for the second straight year!

The Remodeling 550 is a list of the nation’s largest residential renovation companies. It comprises four categories: full service remodeling, specialty and replacement, insurance restoration companies and franchise operations.  Frey Construction was named on the full service remodeling list, #181 Nationwide, and #2 in the State of Wisconsin.  According to the magazine, full-service remodeling companies offer general contractor services in renovation projects ranging from whole-house remodels to handyman jobs.

Frey Construction & Home Improvement, LLC Owner, Scott Frey said, “Being named among the top 550 remodeling companies in the entire United States is a strong boost of confidence in the entire Frey Construction team.  Great design and workmanship, combined with the best customer service and warranty in the business, bring us a lot of repeat clients who also refer us to their family and friends.”

About Frey Construction & Home Improvement, LLC

Frey Construction is celebrating its 15th year in business.  Over the past 15 years they have built a solid reputation in the Madison area and surrounding areas in Sauk, Dane and Columbia counties.  Frey Construction is located at 530 Park Avenue, Prairie du Sac, WI  53578.  Call (608) 643.7914 or visit www.freyconstruction.com

Kitchen Remodel | AFTER

We are featuring a beautiful kitchen remodel for Bob and Jane Wandry of Merrimac.  Jenn and Stacey, our remodeling consultants, first met with Bob and Jane back in April. At that time they described their hopes and dreams for this potential space. They wanted to open it all up into the dining room so more light could pass through the entire space and they desired a better, more functional area.  The major dilemma in their old kitchen was a wall that divided the kitchen from the dining room, which in turn divided the kitchen from the rest of the house. The space was awkward and in need of a face lift. Poor Jane had to peer through a hole in the wall to the dining room when she worked at the sink. Bob and Jane also loved to entertain. They enjoyed getting the whole group together to play cards, but the old kitchen left no room for everyone to gather in one space.

Jenn and Stacey got right to work. They produced a number of different arrangements for the kitchen. They twisted and turned and flipped and flopped the layout of the space until Jane and Bob found a kitchen design that worked best for them. Jenn and Stacey also produced some color 3D renderings of the new space, which really helped Jane see the “big picture”.

Once the layout was chosen, we only needed to overcome a few obstacles. One challenge was the main wall that was to be removed was a load bearing wall. With the help of our lead carpenters, we were able to redirect the support in that area by tying the beam up to the rafters. With the major problem wall out of the way, we were able to change the focus of the room from an awkward dividing wall to an open and spacious area, filled with beautiful custom cabinetry. Bob and Jane chose a Rustic Alder for their cabinets – this warm and cozy wood choice tied in very nicely with the laminate tile flooring and luxurious Pionite laminate countertops that they chose. We also included subtle accents of oil rubbed bronze lighting fixtures, faucets and hardware to dress up the space.

In the end the Wandry’s were very happy with the work we did in their kitchen – they even had us do a few smaller projects around there house. They thoroughly enjoyed working with both Jenn and Stacey on the designs as well as our carpenters on a day to day basis.

Check out what they had to say: “(I chose to contract with you because you are) a trusted company with super nice employees. We trust Frey to do a great job in a timely manner. The crew are super people! Jenn and Stacey were the best to work with, without them I don’t think I could have gone through a remodel at the time we did. We will continue to refer Frey to others and also ourselves in the future!”

~Bob and Jane Wandry, Merrimac, WI 53561

(Remodel, July 2011)

Kitchen Remodel | before

Kitchen Remodel | 20/20 Rendering

Kitchen Remodel | AFTER

Basement Remodel | AFTER

Michael & Michelle Mueller Basement Remodel

Jenn and Stacey, our remodeling consultants, met with Michael and Michelle in April. They were hoping to finish off a basement project that they had started and have the entire project completed by July, just in time to celebrate their daughter’s birthday. Jenn and Stacey knew that they were in a time crunch to get this one completed. Luckily, for their sake, the Mueller’s had already framed all of the rooms in the basement and had already decided on what the purpose of each room would be. The plan for the space was to have one large open family/game room that would include a wet bar, room for a pool table, space for two Murphy beds, and extra space for other games or activities. They also planned to turn one of the divided rooms into a library/office, and the third room was to be used as a theater room. Although each room had been designated with a purpose, we still had a lot of planning and designing to come up with. The first step in the process was to draw up the entire space. With the use of AutoCAD, Stacey was able to produce a fully dimensioned plan of the existing space.  From there, Jenn and Stacey worked with the Mueller’s to narrow down some of the details for each space.

For the wet bar area, the plan was to replicate the color and design of a furniture style bar that the Mueller’s had already purchased. This was possible by working with our custom cabinet makers from Cabinetry Plus in Columbus, WI. Not only were they able to match the door style to the furniture bar, but they were also able to come up with a coordinating custom stain color!

In the Library/Office area, the challenge was to provide a beautiful custom shelving unit that would store a wide collection of books, but also provide a space to incorporate a sentimental piece of furniture that the Mueller’s had received as a gift. Again, working with Cabinetry Plus, we were able to design this custom shelving unit to include a space for the special furniture piece and match the stain and style, without making it feel like an afterthought.

For the Theater Room we installed a stunning entertainment center to hold the Mueller’s new TV & components that included some perks like DVD storage drawers and doors with speaker cloths. We also built a platform in the back of the room to provide some stadium style seating. The final touches in this space included a custom cove lighting design that encapsulated the room and tied in with the entertainment center along with a few wall sconces that added that extra “theater room” touch.

Throughout the basement we laid a ceramic tile that had the look of a natural slate, which will be much more durable and easier to clean. The rich colors in the tile helped ground the space and tie all the other elements together. Another durable item we used was a sparkling solid surface countertop in the bar area, which has the look of granite but not the cost. A combination of light and dark paint colors were used because they play off each other well and increase the warmth in the space!

The entire space turned out lovely. The Mueller’s were very happy with their new basement and anxious to use it, which they were able to do just in time for their daughter’s birthday party! They enjoyed the help they received in picking out colors and materials and were very satisfied with our process.  They also enjoyed working with our crews and lead carpenters and had nothing but nice things to say!

Basement Remodel | AFTER

Basement Remodel | AFTER

To see more pictures of this amazing basement remodel project, click here!

You can imagine we were very pleased to learn that the amount in the revised estimate, after USAA received all details of the work and the invoices, was increased to 94% of the cost.  The only explanation I got from them was that this was based on several contacts by Frey Construction.  We have now received this additional payment.

So thank you, Scott, or whoever, for following up with my insurer so effectively.  Or course this will only add to the glowing recommendation of Frey Construction that I will give to others who need the kind of work your Company can provide.

~Dave and Sally Short, Madison, WI  53717
(Hail Damage, Siding Replacement, July 2011)