FS Construction Services Pre-Season Discounts

Pre-Season Discounts to Start the Year Off Right

While last year was as much proof as ever that you just never know what a new year might bring, there were still some things that were just as predictable as ever. Crops were still planted, rain still fell, plants grew and were still harvested. Buildings were still built, businesses were still opened, and people still needed to update, expand, or upgrade their grain and seed systems. At FS Construction Services, despite all the changes, we kept working and moving forward and helping our clients do the same.

Start Your New Year Projects with Pre-Season Discounts

Hopefully, you will have been able to take some time to slow down and rest a bit before jumping into this next year. These cold months are often a great time for reflection, planning, and preparing, and we just want to let you know that we’ll be here for you when you’re ready.

This time of year, many of our partners offer preseason discounts and offers for those who are looking to get a jump on the coming year. For those who know they’ll be in need of some upgraded or updated equipment in the coming months, now is the best possible time to take advantage of those offers.

If you’re still trying to figure out what changes you might need to make this year or you want to get a sense of the different preseason discounts that are available, don’t hesitate to reach out and talk to someone on our team.

For your building, grain system, seed system, roofing, garage door, and painting needs, our goal is to provide our customers and clients the best possible products at the best prices with the best service. If you have any questions at all, please let Gateway FS Construction Services know. Give us a call at 866-551-3454, and let our specialists help you find exactly what you are looking for. We look forward to providing you the best customer service experience.

FS Construction Services finding gratitude

Finding Gratitude in a Turbulent Year

Despite perhaps one of the most difficult, hectic, and strange years many of us can remember, we have managed to make it here to the end of 2020. And while it would be easy to reflect on just how unusual and confusing this year has been, we wanted to take a moment to slow down and count the things that we have appreciated.

Finding Gratitude for Incredible People

We are beyond grateful for our many wonderful clients and customers who have continued to reach out to us for help and service, despite the uncertainty that each new day has brought. Simply put, there would be no FS Construction Services without the incredible people that we have had the opportunity to work with year after year.

We are thankful for the family and friends that we have had around us when it has mattered most. We have always loved getting to serve our community and that will never change, even in tough times.

And we appreciate, more than we can say, the enduring spirit of the hardworking people that we see every day. Despite the unpredictable series of complications and troubles we have known this year, seeds were still planted, crops were still harvested, buildings were still built, and one way or another, people found a way to keep going.

We hope that wherever this moment may find you, that you will also be able to take some time to reflect on the simple pleasures and the small blessings that have carried us all through.

Who knows what the next day will bring, let alone the next year, and we don’t take it for granted that tomorrow is guaranteed. But we have also seen hope and joy in the endurance and stamina of those around us. And that is absolutely something to celebrate. So, wherever you are this holiday season, we wish you happiness and peace and the strength to keep moving forward.

As always, we are here for any of your building, grain system, seed system, roofing, garage door, and painting needs. If you have any questions at all, please let Gateway FS Construction Services know. Give us a call at 866-551-3454, and let our specialists help you find exactly what you are looking for. We look forward to providing you the best customer service experience.

Gateway FS Construction Services Red Bud IL

Finding Courage in a Year Like No Other

There is no denying that this has been a year like no other. As the months have passed on, it has been hard for many not to feel worn down, tired, and even hopeless. And yet, no matter how bleak things may feel, or how dark the outlook may seem, we are not without hope. All around us are stories of men and women who refused to give up, who kept on fighting, and had courage even when no one else did.

Remember Those Who Served This Veteran’s Day

Some of these stories we may know and some of them we never will. This November 11, as we reflect on the sacrifice and bravery of the men and women who have served our country, we hope that you will also take courage in their courage. Even in the midst of uncertainty and doubt, time and time again, people have shown their ability to rise above and keep on going. Whether it was overseas or right here at home, our veterans have proven that it is possible to be resilient and to persevere, no matter the adversity. So if you are spending Veteran’s Day with family and friends, or if you are spending it alone, we hope that you can find some comfort and solace, even in a difficult time.

And to those of you who have served, we would like to say thank you, not just for your service, but for the example you have provided for the rest of us.

As always, FS Construction Services is here for your building, garage door, grain system, seed system, roofing, and other handiwork needs. Our group of experts and specialists are always happy to answer your questions, give you advice, or help you in any way. Please feel free to reach out to Gateway FS Construction Services. You can give us a call at 866-551-3454, and let our specialists help you find exactly what you are looking for. We look forward to providing you the best customer service experience.

FS Construction Services farm safety power lines

5 Tips for Staying Safe Around Power Lines this Harvest

While this year has certainly been a year unlike any other, the realities of the ebb and flow of time haven’t changed a bit. After spring came summer, after summer came fall, and harvest, as it always does, has arrived. While many of us have had to take a number of extra precautions in our everyday lives this year, the high level of caution needed during harvest has remained the same. And while there are many safety tips and practices to bear in mind, we here at FS Construction Services wanted to take a little time to talk specifically about staying safe around power lines.

Stay Safe this Fall Around Power Lines

There’s no way around it, as a farmer, at some point in time you’ll be working around electrical equipment. Often, you’ll be working around electrical equipment in large, tall machines. We have compiled some information from Safe Electricity to have on hand as a reminder this year.

  1. Know when you’ll be working areas near power lines. Have a plan to keep everyone safe.
  2. Use a spotter to help keep you at least 10 ft. away from power lines in all directions.
  3. Be careful when raising augers. Use a spotter if necessary. When not in use, lower equipment extensions as low as they can go.
  4. This may be obvious, but never attempt to move a power line, even if it’s in your way.
  5. If any equipment you are on comes in contact with a power line, don’t leave the equipment. Call professionals to come and safely de-energize the line. If the equipment is on fire, jump as far away from the line as you can, with both feet together, to keep a current from flowing through your body.

There is, of course, much more that could be said, but hopefully none of this information is new to you and is simply a reminder. We wish you a safe and successful harvest this year. If you have any questions about grain systems, please let Gateway FS Construction Services know. Give us a call at 866-551-3454, and let our specialists help you find exactly what you are looking for. We look forward to providing you the best customer service experience.

FS Construction Services update painting services

Six Signs It’s Time to Update That Old Paint

For many people, painting is like a trip to the dentist. You know it needs to be done, you know it will be good for you in the long run, and yet you just don’t really feel like doing it. Some paint jobs have the added complexity of hard-to-reach places, lots of surface area to cover, or simply too much time negotiating a ladder. And yet despite all the work, eventually, it will need to be done. Because it’s a task that can require a lot of up-front effort, it’s one of those things that’s easy to put on hold, but holding out too long can cause long-term trouble. So we thought we would point out some signs that it’s time to finally update that old paint.

  1. Dry rot. Dry rot is caused by fungi that essentially eat away at wood, causing a loss in durability and strength. There are many types of protective paint that can be applied to protect your exterior wood to prevent this from happening.
  2. Cracking or breaking. When cracking or breaking of the base material is visible at the bottom of a structure, apart from being a sign of some other issues, it’s also a sign that it’s time to apply some new paint.
  3. Chipping or peeling. This one’s pretty obvious, but chipped or peeling paint is no good. Especially when it comes to outdoor structures, the more paint that chips away, the more exposed the material is to weathering and degradation.
  4. Color fading. It’s easy to forget just what color something used to be until you see it compared to its old self. Sunlight and a well-defined four seasons will slowly dull the color of your paint over time.
  5. Cracked or dried caulk. High-quality caulking is made to last ten years. If the caulking around doors and windows is starting to crack, dry, or peel, it could be a sign it’s time to also revisit the paint as well.
  6. If you have no idea when your structure was last painted, then it might be time to give it some fresh paint.

If you have an overdue paint job and don’t have the time, equipment, or desire to tackle it yourself, please let Gateway FS Construction Services know. You can give us a call at 866-551-3454, and let our specialists help you find exactly what you are looking for. We look forward to providing you the best customer service experience.

FS Construction Services painting services surface prep

Surface Prep to Avoid Painting Disaster

A fresh of coat of paint is one of the fastest ways to make something look brand new. Unfortunately, a poorly applied fresh coat of paint is one of the fastest ways to be disappointed. Lots of things can go wrong during the painting process and any one of them can ruin your hard work.

FS Construction Service’s resident paint expert Brian Garleb has provided some helpful tips about how proper surface preparation can prevent a whole host of headaches and wasted effort.

First off, painting after wallpaper removal. Removing wallpaper can be a chore, and it can cause damage to drywall that makes painting after a tricky process. Luckily, there’s a solution. Rather than painting over the damaged drywall and hoping for the best, applying a problem sealer coating can lock down the torn drywall or other unstable surfaces like crumbling textures by creating a hard, moisture-resistant foundation that won’t bubble. Damaged drywall should be clean, dry, and free of buildup or leftover wallpaper adhesive before applying the sealer. After the sealer has been applied, the wall can be painted.

Next is the trouble of peeling paint. Peeling paint can be sanded and scraped, but if you’re painting an outdoor surface, peeling paint tends to be a problem that takes more than just a little scraping. Instead, let a power washer do the removal for you. At the right pressure and the right distance, a power washer will remove peeling paint without damaging the surface underneath. After the old paint has been removed, apply a clear building sealer to fill cracks and glue down blistered areas. A sealer can act like a primer, so when it’s dried, it can be safely painted over.

Painting is always simple in theory and nuanced in practice. If you have any questions about painting or need someone to tackle a difficult or timely job, please let Gateway FS Construction Services know. We can even match your current color using X-Rite Color Matching. Give us a call at 866-551-3454, and let our specialists help you find exactly what you are looking for. We look forward to providing you the best customer service experience.

FS Construction Services Fourth of July

Finding the Celebration this Fourth of July

It’s no stretch to say that this year has been unlike any other that has come before. For many, it has been difficult, stressful, and if nothing else, strange. For many, it has been a time of waiting, and counting the days until it might all be past. But in the midst of all that waiting, life continues to move forward, including the Fourth of July, and we move with it.

Holidays are often times to slow down, take stock, and consider the previous year. It’s easy to imagine that many of us will be doing that this year, whether we are with family, friends, or by ourselves. There will be a lot to think about, perhaps most of all, how much everything has changed. And yet, despite the year’s struggles, despite the new rules and disruptions that have been added to our daily lives, despite the pain you or your loved ones may have gone through in the process, we hope that there will still be some cause for celebration. Even if it’s a different kind of celebration than we’re used to.

At FS Construction Services, we are grateful for the family, friends, and clients we get to live with, work with, and serve alongside every day. We celebrate the time that we have had and we celebrate the time that we will have. We know with some strength and some grit we will persevere and see better days. And we believe that too is a cause for celebration.

As always, you can reach out to us for any building, grain system, seed system, roofing, garage door, or other service needs. We are always happy to work with our clients on finding the best possible solutions, whether it’s a complex job or a simple task, and we’re happy to answer questions and troubleshoot problems when they arise. Please feel free to reach out to Gateway FS Construction Services. You can give us a call at 866-551-3454, and let our specialists help you find exactly what you are looking for. We look forward to providing you the best customer service experience.

paint problems solved paint services Gateway FS Construction Services

5 Common Paint Problems and How to Fix Them

It’s incredible what a fresh coat of paint can do to a space: liven it up, make it seem bigger, highlight best features, etc. With that being said, there a number of small problems that can derail an otherwise professional-looking paint project.

Brian “Boomer” Garleb, Paint Services Specialist at FS Construction Services, has put together a list of five common paint problems (and their solutions) to watch out for when painting a new space.

  1. Fish eyes. Fish eyes happen when paint is applied over oil, dirt, silicone, or other incompatible coatings. These small, crater-like imperfections can be frustrating, but their fix is pretty straightforward. Before painting, use a cleaning solution to clear away any grease or oil stains. The best available solutions are bleach, paint thinners, and trisodium phosphate (TSP). After the area has been cleaned, it can be sanded and painted.
  2. Cratering/pitting. This happens when air pockets get trapped in wet film. The best fix is to sand down or smooth out the current finish and then apply a second coat.
  3. Uneven gloss. Uneven gloss can happen a few different ways: when film thickness is not of equal parts, when there is moisture in the coating, or when paint is applied over a primer that hasn’t fully dried. The fix for this problem is simply, patience. It’s tempting to try and rush a paint job to be done with it, but everything must be allowed to properly dry before painting over.
  4. Fading color. When moisture gets trapped behind paint, it usually causes the paint to fade. The solution to this problem is in the kind of paint you buy. Purchasing paint with a powder tint, rather than a liquid tint will prevent this issue from occurring.
  5. Paint wrinkling. Paint wrinkling happens when too much paint is applied. If this has happened, the too-thick coat will need to be removed and then painted again with the proper amount of paint.

Painting is not only a detail-oriented process, but also one that many people would rather finish as quickly as possible. A little bit of patience and extra attention can solve most issues you would run into while painting, however, if you are interested in our painting services, or would like a free estimate, please let Gateway FS Construction Services know. Give us a call at 866-551-3454, and let our specialists help you find exactly what you are looking for. We look forward to providing you the best customer service experience.

Gateway FS Construction Services local county fairs

County Fair Season in Full Swing

At FS Construction Services we always love it when July comes around because it’s county fair month. Few things feel like summer more than the music, food, games, and entertainment of a county fair. Much of our work, whether it’s buildings, grain systems, seed system or more, takes place in the world of agriculture, and it’s always great to see that world opened up for and enjoyed by the many guests of these fairs. Lucky for us, where we’re located, we have the benefit of having two close by.

The first one is the Randolph County Fair, which takes place from July 12 to July 20 in Sparta. Traditionally, this fair features a variety of food, 4H shows, animal judging, and a tractor and truck pull.

The next week, the Monroe County Fair in begins in Waterloo. From July 21 to July 28 you’ll be able to enjoy all the carnival-type games, foods, and rides that you would expect as well as rooster crowing contests, demolition derby, figure 8, horse shows, and more. The 72nd year of this great event is sure to bring the same joy and fun it always has. Additionally, the Monroe County Fair features a few free admission nights, so anyone can come and have a great time.

To read more about this year’s Monroe County Fair you can visit monroecounty-fair.org and to read about last year’s Randolph County Fair you can visit here.

As always, you can reach out to us for any building, grain system, seed system, roofing, garage door, or other service needs. We are always happy to work with our clients on finding the best possible solutions, whether it’s a complex job or a simple task, and we’re happy to answer questions and troubleshoot problems when they arise.

We invite you to contact us today at Gateway FS Construction Services and experience the value, quality and service you deserve. You can give us a call at 866-551-3454, and let our specialists help. We look forward to providing you the best customer service experience.

 

Gateway FS Construction Services Residential Painting

Hassle-Free Painting With FS Construction Services

Over the years we’ve found that many people have had an experience that goes something like this: You decide its finally time to paint but realize you don’t have the time, patience or skill to make your new home maker look like it could be a featured product on those home makeover / fixer upper programs on TV! Not to worry.

Whether you’re looking for professional painters to do a job you simply don’t have the time or energy for, or it’s a job that’s too difficult or complicated, FS Construction Services has you covered. Interior, exterior, big, small, our paint specialists can handle all kinds of jobs.

Recently, Brian “Boomer” Garleb came to the rescue of a family who knew what they wanted but wanted to make sure it was done right. While some projects are only room or two, this project was much more involved and included a family room (with a 22’ vaulted ceiling), foyer, kitchen, two hallways and laundry room.

In the client’s own words, the experience was as simple as this, “We reached out to Boomer and he came by the house to look at the rooms we wanted done and provide a quote. He even helped us figure out how much paint we needed to buy. They showed up with all the tools, brushes, drop cloths, tape, and everything needed to get the project started.” One of the many benefits of hiring the FS Paint Service paint team is the experience they bring to every project.

“Honestly, we couldn’t be more pleased with the work. They finished on schedule and even a little under the quote they provided. Now we can get back to enjoying our home and we are loving it.” The home owner even told us, “This would have taken me WAY longer to complete and wouldn’t have looked nearly as good as what Brian and his crew did.”

With FS Construction Service’s paint services, painting never has to be complicated again. If you are in need of a fresh coat of paint, whether interior or exterior, residential or commercial, please let Gateway FS Construction Services know. Give us a call at 866-551-3454, and let our specialists help you find exactly what you are looking for. We look forward to providing you the best customer service experience.