Month: October 2016

Celebrating Rebuilding Together

Volunteers, partners, sponsors and supporters gathered on October 13th to celebrate Rebuilding Together Saratoga County at their annual fundraiser. It was a fantastic night to laud this organization and the meaningful work they do to help our neighbors in need restore and repair their homes.

Held at the Hall of Springs in Saratoga, the evening kicked off with a cocktail hour and silent auction, followed by a lovely dinner and then the live auction. We are so pleased that our donated package of a private chef dinner for ten at the Schrader and Company showroom with Rick Sleeper of the Cock ‘n Bull went to the highest bidder for $1,600.00. The evening raised a total of $75,000.00 for this wonderful organization.

These funds will go on to benefit Rebuilding Together and every homeowner who is helped by their care and attention, like the recent recipient of Rebuilding Together Saratoga County’s services who spoke at the event. This homeowner had long suffered from a chronic illness which left her housebound and isolated. Rebuilding Together worked to provide her with a much-needed ramp. The simple act of being able to collect her own mail for herself gave her a sense of control and independence. Schrader and Company President Ben Cangeleri himself has volunteered in her home doing other various projects to improve the space, and by extension the homeowner’s quality of life.

Her moving testimonial is just one example of how seemingly small home improvements can hugely impact the lives of individuals with disabilities, seniors, veterans, and families in need.

We are proud to support Rebuilding Together Saratoga County and their efforts to restore pride of ownership to our neighbors across the capital region.

To learn more about Rebuilding Together, visit their website.

All Treats and No Tricks

Soon enough the streets will be filled with little ones going door to door in search of sweet candy treats. Here a few tips on how to keep those superheros, cartoon characters, and ghouls that come to your home safe.

1 – Trim your hedges

If you have any hedges or shrubs in the front of the property it is a great time to trim them back a bit. Doing so will help increase visibility for trick or treaters AND drivers.

2 – Clear the way

A few days before halloween take the time to walk from the front of your property to your front door. Pick up any fallen branches, loose rocks or similar tripping hazards from the path. Fallen leaves can become hazardous especially if there has been rain recently

… and because we are in New York, in case of snow or sleet, make sure to shovel and salt your walkways.

3 – Light it up

Now that you’ve removed any potential tripping hazards from the path to your front door, it’s time to brighten it up. You can even work pathway lights into your decorations if you have any. Don’t forget to check your porch light and change the bulb if needed.

4 – Keep your pets in another area of the house

Halloween can be rough on your family pet, it’s a break from their normal routine. A night filled with so many different noises and smells to take in can really make some pets anxious. Scared pets may try to dart outside when the door opened, or could become aggressive if they perceive a threat. Even if your pooch is friendly, all the excitement might cause them to jump and knock over little trick or treaters.

We hope you have a safe and happy Halloween!

homeowner tips safety

Rebuilding Together – Fundraiser Information

We are so looking forward to this Thursday’s fundraising event to benefit Rebuilding Together of Saratoga County, our local chapter of the National Rebuilding Together Organization.

This annual event brings our community together to raise both needed funds and support for this incredible group and the invaluable work they do to improve the homes of our neighbors in need. Whether it’s making modifications to an existing home to accommodate a disability, providing weatherization or critical home repairs to low-income families or the elderly, or beautifying a community gathering place, Rebuilding Together works to restore pride of ownership to hundreds of capital region citizens.

This Thursday, October 13th we will join with them to celebrate their cause, which resonates strongly with all of us at Schrader and Company.

To help in their efforts we have donated another one of our enticing private chef dinner packages, this time featuring Rick Sleeper of the Cock ‘n Bull restaurant. A dinner for ten in our showroom and concierge service to coordinate all details awaits the lucky winner with highest bid at the event’s auction.

Tickets for Rebuilding Together’s Annual Fundraiser at the Hall of Springs in Saratoga are still available. You can learn more by CLICKING HERE.

We’ll be back with a re-cap and photos of the event soon!

Rebuilding Together – The Cock ‘n Bull

October 13th marks the Rebuilding Together Saratoga County Annual Fundraising event at the Hall of Springs in Saratoga. We will be there to show our support for this wonderful organization and the work they do to improve the homes and lives of our neighbors in need.

We have donated another private chef dinner package for their auction, and Rick Sleeper of The Cock ‘n Bull Restaurant, a beloved capital region institution for forty years, will be delighting the winner and his or her lucky party of guests at the Schrader and Company showroom.

Rick is the owner of The Cock ‘n Bull, a nineteenth century barn turned year-round dining establishment, which is as proud of it’s fine American cuisine as of it’s unique rustic ambiance. For The Cock ‘n Bull, the “farm to table” food movement is no new trend. Rick has long fostered special relationships between his restaurant kitchen and local growers, championing both healthy food and our regional economy. The Cock ‘n Bull is also a great place to catch local musicians, who take full advantage of the barn’s great acoustics.

If the thought of perfectly prepared steak, an extensive wine list, charming atmosphere, and excellent music appeals to you, don’t miss out on your chance to enter our contest to win a $200 gift certificate to experience The Cock ‘n Bull for yourself. CLICK HERE for details.

We are confident the bids at the Rebuilding Together auction will be plentiful for this tempting prize. Watch this space for more information about the event and our Rebuilding a Better Tomorrow Initiative.

Learn the Lingo – Porch vs. Deck

Let’s start this installment of “Learn the Lingo” off by diving right into the primary difference between a porch and a deck.

A porch is found at the entrance of a building, allowing people to be sheltered while waiting to gain access home or building. A deck on the other is a floored structure that adjoins to the house, decks may have a sheltered or enclosed area depending on whatever your preferences might be

In addition to location, height is another characteristic that differs between porches and decks. A porch is typically only a few feet above street level, whereas a deck can be up to a story tall and can consist of multiple levels.

A porch serves the utilitarian function of providing a covered space for people to wait for access to the home. Porches however do not have to be strictly utilitarian, for example the wraparound porch not only gives guests a place to wait outside your home, it can be used for entertaining or for leisurely purposes.

Both porches and decks can be enclosed for further protection from the elements, allowing you to enjoy your outdoor space even when the weather isn’t so great.

home improvement learn the lingo Lingo