Name: Johnny Yourgules

Position:  Siding Crew Leader

What do you do?:  I transform customer’s homes and install siding.

When did you start working at Lakeside?: I started working with Lakeside Exteriors on January 18, 2010.

What do you like best about Lakeside?: I like the way Lakeside’s employees are all one big family – ready to create customers for life!

If you could have any type of home what would it look like?: I would have a two story house on a piece of land surrounded by woods.  It would have a custom design with Hardie products.  I’d like people to look at it and say, “I want a house just like that!”

I am an outdoorsman who loves to hunt and fish.  I love to spend time with the kiddos and play sports.

Brian and Beth L. of Innsbrook, MO left Lakeside Exteriors a testimonial featuring Johnny!  Here’s what they had to say: “Johnny and his crew did a great job on the installation and were very sensitive to the disruptive nature of having a full house siding replacement done on our home.”

Miracle Makeover Gives Foster Home Energy Efficient New Look

February 7, 2013, ST. LOUIS, MO - In a one-day makeover marathon, employees at Lakeside Exteriors, Inc. plan to give an entirely new look to an Angels’ Arms foster home in Ballwin.

On Saturday, February 16, beginning at 7:30 a.m., Lakeside will undertake removal of siding, fascia, gutters, numerous windows and shutters, replacing it all with an updated look for the home.

The home has been described as “dissolving” by Mike Meyer, Angels’ Arms volunteer maintenance manager. “It is over 40 years old and the exterior is just falling apart. This is much more than just a new look. It’s a big boost to the energy efficiency of the home. New siding and windows will help with utility costs, and the new gutter system will also move rainwater more efficiently away from the home, preventing leaks around the basement.”

The Ballwin house is one of nine homes operated by Angels’ Arms, an organization dedicated to providing and supporting loving homes for foster children by keeping brothers and sisters together within a nurturing family until a forever home is found.

“We initially went to the home to see what we could do to help repair it,” said Matt Merrifield, president of Lakeside Exteriors, “Once we looked over the house, it was determined a lot more needed to be completed than repairs; many things needed to be replaced entirely.” Lakeside Exteriors will install all the materials. Supplies and other services were donated by Handyman Hardware, Wilken Seamless Guttering Inc., James Hardie, Lansing Building Products, IESI, Construction Supply and Sherlock Environmental Services.

As Pat Lanane, Angels’ Arms CFO, explained, “This is the type of project that is desperately needed, but could easily get put on the back burner. Funds from our budget must be delegated very carefully. Sometimes we just have to put off even needed repairs until things get even worse, like leaks develop or other pressing problems. Without Lakeside’s donations of materials and labor, this just wouldn’t be happening.

For the foster parents, the miracle makeover is a dream come true. We are thrilled with the makeover we are receiving from Lakeside,” said Foster mother Phyllis Hackman. “We are looking forward to lower utilities as well as the two front bedrooms having the same level of warmth and temperature control as the rest of our home. Because of the age of the home with all original windows and siding we have a lot of drafty areas. We can’t wait to see our home for the first time with all new exteriors.”

Due to the fact that this is a foster home, the exact location cannot be disclosed in the press release but if you would like to photograph or film a segment of the makeover, please contact Jasmina Schue at 314-771-5868 or jasmina@angelsarms.org for the address and directions.

There are a few reasons why you would want to use Hardieplank® siding to reside your St. Louis home:

The number one reason would be: warranty. It’s twice as strong as all the other competition siding. It’ll pay you back double the price of the product.

The second reason is: it looks just like real wood. It has a great wood grain in it that’s not too exaggerated. It looks like swelling wood, where the competition, tends to look very fake. Your house is going to look like someone sprayed some plastic wood fiber on it. Okay, stay away from this stuff. You are going to spend a lot of money to fix your house – the last thing wanted to do is look cheap.

The third reason is durability. Hardieplank siding is tough! It stands up to the harsh St. Louis climate, pests, fire, the works!

With James Hardie Siding, you have so many more options to add pizzazz to your house. There’s Hardieplank®, Hardiepanel®, Hardieshingle®, Hardietrim®; there are so many more options to make your siding project a huge success. The other guys? They pretty much just got cheap run of the mill siding. So stick with a James Hardie product and you’ll be happy at the end.

If you’re in the metro-St. Louis area, give us a call at Lakeside Exteriors – we’d be glad to help you with your siding project We are a James Hardie VIP remodeler – only 1 of 6 in the nation!

“Selecting a company to complete our siding job was a tough decision.  We had several estimates and Lakeside’s estimate was priced significantly above the others.  As we watched many different companies repair the siding on other houses in the neighborhood, we began to see the difference between the companies. Being somewhat of a perfectionist, I could tell I would not be happy with some of the other companies’ workmanship. I was given several home addresses that I could drive by to see the work completed by Lakeside. I did that, and was pleased with the work on those homes.

We selected Lakeside to do the work after Chad talked to us about our options and insurance estimates were completed. Chad was very professional, returning several times to answer additional questions, help with the matching of the color and meet with the insurance adjuster to help us match the estimate with the work that needed to be completed. This took almost 4 weeks (because of the insurance company, not Lakeside), and Chad was very patient and helpful throughout this process. Phone calls and emails were always returned immediately.

Both Chad and Eric discussed the job with us extensively, offering their professional advise about certain issues, and were willing to listen to our needs and desires and fulfill them as long as they were sound building decisions. Their number one focus was to satisfy the customer while providing the best service and workmanship.

Once the papers were signed, Eric ordered the needed materials and the work was scheduled. Another consideration for choosing Lakeside was their ability to meet a time frame that we requested. They were very punctual and worked very hard to keep their promise about starting and completion dates. Once again we were extremely satisfied. We were told that we would not need to be home to oversee the work, because they are known for their exceptional workmanship, quality and daily clean-up. I was leery at first, but now know that this claim to fame is definitely true.  I would be more than trusting to hire them again, and allow them to work even if I was not able to be home to oversee the job. This alone was worth the extra price we paid.

Eugene and his nephew were our siding crew. Wow, I thought I was a perfectionist. I have never seen any work completed to such perfection! The original builders put the home wrap in certain areas only, like patchwork. In one area, they even had it on backward! Eugene and his nephew covered the house like it should be done, making sure all ends were taped securely so no water will ever enter it. They also replaced some of the boards on the house that needed to be replaced because of the original shoddy job. I never had to question any part of the job. They did the job right the first time. If a mistake was made, they caught it and fixed it immediately. The siding workmanship is definitely the BEST in the neighborhood! It looks much better than the original siding job completed by the builder!

Daily, the site was cleaned up before they left the property. All debris was secured into the dumpster on the driveway and all tools, etc. were locked into the trailer in front of the house. Nails and screws were also picked up daily. We were able to use one side of the garage for one car, and never had to worry about getting a flat tire. I mowed the grass two days after they completed the job, and never saw one nail or screw in the yard.  The door that was replaced at the end of the siding job was also very high quality and installed to perfection! The installers were also top notch workers and very professional.

I can’t speak highly enough about the job Lakeside completed. Every step of the process went smoothly and we seemed to be the most satisfied customers in the neighborhood.  We had several neighbors inquire about the company because they were also so impressed.  We had friends in another neighborhood with nightmare stories about siding jobs. Others were extremely frustrated with the time it would take to complete the work and fix anything that they had to complain about. One person had to wait over 6 weeks to get a company to come back to repair something they had done incorrectly.  At that time I realized, you definitely get what you pay for!  The extra money was WELL WORTH IT!

I would definitely use Lakeside again for any work I may need in the future. They stand behind their lifetime warranty with a yearly visit to the home to check for anything that may need to be secured. The lien waivers were signed and given to us at the end of the job. Lakeside is a TOP NOTCH company. I have now experienced the difference between poor to average work done by the builder and exceptional work completed by Lakeside.  They have increased the value of our most expensive asset, and for that we are thankful!”

First of all, it is a good idea to set a budget for the window replacement project at your home. Determining how much money you have to spend right off the bat will help you later on when it comes to choosing your new windows. In addition, some window companies will be able to use your budget to come up with a number of different possibilities for window replacement that you can then choose from. Another important point to keep in mind is the long-term savings of certain energy-efficient windows. Some replacement windows may be more costly initially but will end up saving you more money on your monthly heating and cooling costs in the long run.

Next, start researching local window installation companies in your area. This will help you to at least get a better idea as to which companies are out there to choose from. Ask family, friends and neighbors who are homeowners and have had new or replacement windows installed before. From there, try getting into contact with a few of them to get a better feel for what their customer service is like. Other factors to consider are; is the company insured? What awards and certifications have they received?

From there, it may be a wise idea to schedule an appointment to receive a window estimate from at least a couple of the companies that you contacted. Once they come out to do the estimates, you can compare the prices that they give you to determine which replacement windows St Louis company offers the best deal. Be sure to keep other considerations in mind aside from price, however. For example, it may be worth it to pay a little bit more for windows that come with a warranty and a company that stands by their work!

Finally, be sure to read some real customer reviews online to get a better idea as to what others have had to say about any window installation company before you make a decision regarding which one to hire. From there, you should be able to make an educated decision and have your replacement windows St Louis in no time.

Lakeside Exteriors offers free replacement window estimates and are happy to answer any questions you may have about replacing your home’s windows.

Position:
Design/Build Manager

What do you do?: 
I am an idea guy.  I go to client’s homes, listen to their needs, get a sense of their style, take measurements and design something custom for them.  Once this is completed, I work with the Design Specialist and modify as needed.  When a project is sold, I coordinate with the architect, obtain permits and make the project built exactly as sold and within budget.  I also do bidding and draw a lot of concept drawings.

When did you start working at Lakeside?:
April 2004

What do you like best about Lakeside?:
I like the owners, Matt and Dan Merrifield, the people I work with and the custom design work I am involved with.

If you could have any type of home what would it look like?:
It would be not too big, somewhere around 2,000 square feet, have a hip roof, a basement, simple design elements, understatedly elegant and practical, low maintenance, energy efficient and built to last.

I had a state general contractor’s license and used build custom homes in northern California.  I worked as a commercial framer, finish carpenter and concrete former/finisher before that for ten years.  I love to go backpacking and kayaking for fun.

Name:
Dan Merrifield   

Position:
Co-Owner

What do you do?:
Sales

When did you start working at Lakeside?:
1999

What do you like best about Lakeside?:
Homeowners’ reaction after we transformed their home

If you could have any type of home what would it look like?:
Ranch style with lots of closets, big kitchen and a pool in the back yard

I love any and all sports.  I also enjoy watching my daughter perform or play sports.

Name: 
Andy Young

Position:
Design Specialist

What do you do?:
Meet with prospective customers to determine home remodeling needs and provide sales and design services aimed at achieving those needs through  the products and services Lakeside offers.

When did you start working at Lakeside?:
January 2005

What do you like best about Lakeside?: 
Small enough company to care about their employees, yet big enough to handle the various home remodeling needs of their customers. Great people to work with.

If you could have any type of home what would it look like?: 
Classic 2 story colonial with wrap-around front porch and covered patio area in the back, sitting on 15 acres outside of town with a stocked catfish lake on the property.

I enjoy sports of all kinds, both participating and watching.  I also enjoy spending time with my family, my wife and three kids.  I’m very active in my local church.

One of the things I enjoy most about my position at Lakeside is getting to know many of the customers on a personal level that I’ve had the privilege of working with.  I often get to learn just as much about my customers as they end up knowing about me and about our company. I have been blessed to have had the great opportunity to have worked with some very unique and special clients. Thank you, to each and every one of them!

Name: 
Julie Long

Position:
Production Coordinator

What do you do?:
Everything but hang siding and windows.

When did you start working at Lakeside?:
10/12/2004

What do you like best about Lakeside?: 
The people I work with

If you could have any type of home what would it look like?: 
In the Ozark mountains of Branson area with a view of table rock lake or the mountains.  No neighbors only God and nature.

I love Nascar and shoes but most of all I love God and my country.

Deciding which company should do your home improvement project can be stressful.  Lakeside Exteriors has put together a few tips for homeowners to go by.  These questions work for any contractor you speak with regarding your upcoming project. 

1. What is the full name and address of the company?
This may seem basic but there are a surprising number of contractors who work out of their trucks.  If a company does not have a permanent address, how can you be sure he will complete the project and come back if there needs to be work in the future?

2. Does the company carry insurance and is the coverage adequate?
Homeowners can suffer serious financial loss resulting from an uninsured or inadequately insured contractor.  A contractor should provide you with a certificate of insurance for comprehensive general liability, workman’s comp and completed operations insurance that protects you in the event of an accident.  The insurance should be adequate to cover the full value of your property.  Always call the insurance company to verify the insurance is as represented and is still enforced.

3. Is the company licensed?   Is the contractor a member of any trade associations?
Licenses are important but a better test is to question the contractor’s commitment to his trade.  Is he a member of any trade associations?  Call the association or visit their website to verify the answer.  Ask the contractor if he takes any continuing education training.  Ask to see certificates.  A professional contractor will be happy to respond to these questions.

4. How long has the contractor been in business?
The more experience, the better.  Less than five years can be a sign of an unstable business.  90% of contracting businesses fail within the first five years.  Check references carefully.  Most failed construction projects do not happen quickly but deteriorate over a period of years.  Current references are fine to see if the homeowner is happy today but only long-term references will show the contractor’s work holds up over time.  A professional contractor will gladly provide references and will want you to speak with past customers.

5. What is the contractor’s track record for handling complaints?
Ask the contractor for the name of a problem account and an explanation of how he rectified the complaint.  Every contractor that has been in business for a long period of time will have had disputes so the question is not if he has had a dispute, but how he handled it.

6. What is the company’s workmanship warranty?
Don’t confuse a product warranty with a workmanship warranty.  Product warranty covers the products used and are provided by the manufacturer.  They are important but even the best product will fail if it is not installed properly.  Ask to see the contractor’s training and certification credentials from the manufacturer.  Call the manufacturer or visit their website to determine if they are valid and if the contractor is still in good standing.  Professional contractors will have no problem providing this proof.  In fact, they will usually present their credentials before being asked.

7.  Ask specific questions for specific projects.
This is where you ask certain questions depending on the project.  If it is a big project, ask if a permit is required and verify it with your local building department.  Discuss payment terms, if appropriate.  Ask about daily cleanup activities or for specific time tables.  A professional contractor will welcome these questions.

Do you have any other tips?  Comment below with your advice!