Exterior Finishes

The primary exterior finish on Fulton Homes is stucco and wood fascias. Some homes have stone or brick accents. These finishes were chosen for their beauty and durability in this area. Because they are exposed to constantly changing weather changes, the exterior finishes on your new home require routine maintenance and care. We recommend that you inspect the exterior surfaces of your home every three months.

Stucco
Stucco is a cement product and takes approximately 28 days to cure or harden after it is applied. Stucco is susceptible to cracking due to expansion and contraction. Cracks should be expected during the lifetime of the home due to fluctuating temperatures. This is normal and does not reduce the function of the stucco in any way.  The white, powdery substance that sometimes accumulates on stucco surfaces is called efflorescence. This is a natural phenomenon and cannot be prevented. Consult your home center or hardware store for commercial products to remove efflorescence.

Other suggestions for maintaining the stucco on your home are:

• Avoid spraying water from irrigation or watering systems on stucco surfaces. Check the spray from your lawn and plant irrigation system frequently to make certain that water is not spraying or accumulating on stucco surfaces.
• Keep dirt a minimum of 6-8 inches below the bottom of the stucco finish. Do not pour concrete; construct masonry or brick walls or place dirt on, or up against, the stucco finish.

Wood
Wood is found throughout your home. Because wood is natural, porous material, it requires protection with paint if it is exposed to the elements. Inspect your exposed wood surfaces frequently. If you find cracking or peeling of the paint, sand the area and repaint it promptly. All exterior wood on your home will require repainting every two to four years or more if necessary.

Surfaces that receive direct sun in the morning and mid-afternoon will require more frequent repainting. Inspect these surfaces every six months. Repaint every year or as needed.

Split or damaged wood, particularly on the ends of beams, should be repaired or repainted to avoid further damage. Small splits on the ends of beams are called checking. This is normal and does not affect the integrity of the beams. The natural drying of wood can result in gaps and splits in wood molding and trim parts. Nails can work loose. Reset all popped nails and reposition trim parts that have been moved by natural drying of the wood. In case of severe warping, replace the trim parts. Fill any cracks with commercial wood filler and use touch-up paint.

Fencing
Please note that fencing height around your home may vary from that in the models and from homes with different grade elevations.

Do not add to the height of your fence. Your fence footers are engineered only for the existing height. You’re C.C. & R.s., homeowners association and local building authorities also govern the height of your fence.

Gates
Wrought iron gates with wood slats require annual sealing or oiling of the wood. Sprinklers should be directed away from gates to avoid discoloration.

Wrought Iron Fencing
The fencing on your property may be made of wrought iron, an attractive material that adds beauty to your home. Wrought iron is subject to rusting if it is not maintained properly. Use touch-up paint on nicks and scratches every six months or as needed. Repaint every one to two years. The wrought iron portion of the gates should be inspected for corrosion on a regular basis. Use touch-up paint or repaint as needed.

Fulton Homes, KNIX and the Dairy Council of Arizona are proud sponsors of the Teacher of  the Week program. All you have to do is tell us why your teacher should be the teacher of the week. Teachers that are selected will $300 in cash plus special prizes! To find out who the teacher of the teacher of the week is, listen to Ben and Matt every Friday morning on 102.5 KNIX.

Want to nominate a teacher? Click here! For a list of past winners, click here.

ENERGY STAR recently sent us a letter of thanks for our continued partnership with them. By building ENERGY STAR qualified homes, we are doing our part to help protect the environment while offering consumers new homes that are more comfortable and save money on utility bills.

Fulton Homes has built a total of 287 ENERGY STAR Qualified Homes in 2009. This is equivalent to:

Based on the number of qualified homes we built last year, we have been informed that we qualify for the ENERGY STAR for Homes Leadership in Housing Award We are very proud to receive this award!

How many ENERGY STAR appliances do you have in your home?

Solutions to common heating & air conditioning problems

Diamondback’s Home Runs Build More than Winning Scores

Fulton Homes’ Home Run Program Steps Up to the Plate to Support Local Charities

Arizona Diamondback fans have more than a stellar line-up to look forward to this season, because every cheer for a home run is a cheer for a great charity. With every homerun hit by the D-backs, Fulton Homes will donate $150 to be shared by the Central Arizona Mountain Rescue Association and the Youth Assistance Foundation with the Fulton Homes Home Run program.

Now in its fifth season, Fulton Homes has raised tens of thousands of dollars through the Fulton Homes Home Run program, which this year spans the entire regular season and will end with this year’s game against the LA Dodgers in early October.

Also known as the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office Mountain Rescue team, the Central Arizona Mountain Rescue Association has a rich history of saving lives since its establishment in 1969, and is trained technically to perform search and rescue missions in the backcountry of Arizona. The Maricopa County Sherriff’s Office Youth Assistance Foundation works to prevent youth violence through efforts like the Explorer Program which allows 14-21 year-olds to become positively involved with law enforcement and the Sherriff’s Youth Boxing Team, which gives young men ages 8-18 a positive alternative to drugs and gangs.

The Central Arizona Mountain Rescue Association and the Youth Assistance Foundation are just two of the many charitable causes supported by Fulton Homes, the Tempe-based homebuilder that has built a legacy upon community activism. Fulton Homes generously contributes over to Arizona communities, schools, and children.

“Fulton Homes recognizes the importance of building not only great homes for a community, but strengthening and supporting the community that lives in those homes, as well,” said Fulton Homes CEO Douglas Fulton. “Fulton Homes is proud of our D-Backs, and now we have even more reason to cheer on our team—every home run can now help someone in need here in the Valley of the Sun.”

Fulton Homes was founded in 1975 and grew to be one of the top homebuilders and family owned businesses in Arizona. During the past year, in the face of one of the worst housing markets in US history, Fulton Homes soldiered on in a market devastated by foreclosures and short sales. Fulton Homes, which offers many homes in the $116,500- $140,000 range, was the first homebuilder to highlight the downside of foreclosures in an informational advertising campaign. The online tool ForeclosureCostCalculator.com can be customized to fit the parameters of any foreclosed property, and analyze such factors as exterior paint, cabinets, and termites.

Selecting the products that will turn your house into a home can be a daunting process, a process that requires your time, creativity and commitment.  There are so many decisions to be made from flooring to countertops to other interior finish options and we’re sure that you have many questions.

We want to help prepare you for your appointment by providing you with the expectations, tips and guidelines that will enable you to make your selection process run smoother and be more enjoyable! Today’s post is about expectations for the process.

WHAT TO EXPECT

To begin with, you should expect to have a great appointment! This is one of the fun parts about buying a new home. It’s your opportunity to select the products that you like with the advice and guidance of a trained professional. What else could be better?

Just like every homebuyer is different, so is every homebuyer’s design appointment. Knowing what to expect before walking into your appointment will help you prepare.

Foe example, Fulton Homes Design Center is a 13,000 square foot facility right off of Warner Road east of the 1-10 in Tempe. At the center you’ll see thousands of choices of options such as Appliances, Cabinets, Flooring, Countertops, Structural Wiring, Window Coverings, Doors, Lighting, Electrical fixtures, ceiling fans, bathroom and kitchen fixtures, outdoor kitchens, garage systems, closet systems, and even fireplaces with plasma TV’s.

We realize that with this many option selections, in all of our homes; the Design Center process can be overwhelming. That’s why we have created the first on-line design center in Arizona. Our buyers can preview and even save options in their own home, well before their actual design center appointment.

When you initially purchase a Fulton Home, you are set up with a “MyFultonHome ” account, and with this account you can access almost all of the options that are available for your particular plan, in your community. With other builders, the sales associate will usually give you a 10 page listing of all of the options that are available, in some sort of code. Some may or may not have prices, so when you finally get to the Design Center you have to make many decisions in a relatively short period of time without much preparation. With Fulton Homes Online Design, you can view pictures, warranty information, descriptions, and prices for this vast array of customized touches for your new home.  Not only can you see what the price is for each option before you purchase, but the site will display how much that option is going to cost per month.  You can also compare options ensuring that your final selection is right for you. These options can be saved and prepared in advance of you appointment and the Design Consultant can review your saved items with you at the appointment. Upon completion of your appointment, your selections will be finalized.

At Fulton Homes, we believe your Design Center experience should provide you with adequate time to become confident and familiar with your choices. However it is vital to the construction process that selections be finalized at your meeting.  For this reason, it is in our mutual best interest that you utilize the significant preparation tools that we offer.

Your appointment may last just a few hours or may require two meetings. The time allotted is solely dependent on your available options and your personal decision process. Once again, preparation is the key. If you have questions prior to your Design Center appointment, please contact your Sales Associate.

Since you will be spending several hours making some permanent design selections, we ask to make child care arrangements and not bring children to the Design Center.

At your Fulton Homes Design Center appointment, you’ll meet with your Design Consultant.  He or she will briefly guide you through the process and review any items that you have saved on your Fulton Homes Design Online program. He or she will be your main contact throughout the appointment, although you will interface with subject matter experts in Cabinets, Appliances, and Structured wiring. These three areas can be so detailed and sometimes confusing, that Fulton Homes wanted to have experts in each of these areas available for all of our homebuyers.

Also, remember to bring your checkbook. A deposit will be required when you finalize your selections.

We hope this information helps you understand more about the Design Center process and how Fulton Homes handles this process. Stay tuned for more information about the Design Center Process.

The cabinets in your home are often a big investment. Like other big investments in your home, your  cabinets needs to be cared for.  Your cabinet fronts are made of finished hardwoods. With proper care, the beauty and utility of your cabinets will last for many years. Below is some information to help you properly care and maintain your cabinets.

• Remove splashes and splatters promptly to avoid permanent stains.
• The beauty of your cabinetry can be preserved by polishing with waxes or polishes formulated for furniture use. Lemon and orange oils are not recommended and whitewashed finishes require a non-yellowing wax or polish. You can contact the cabinet manufacturer by their web site for additional information.
• Minor scratches can be covered with a putty stick that matches the finish of your cabinets. (Putty sticks can be purchased at paint or hardware stores.)

The wood in your cabinets is a natural product. It is subject to drying and can warp. This could cause drawers to stick and prevent doors from closing properly. For Fulton homeowners, if you notice sticking drawers and cabinets doors that do not close properly during the warranty period, please notify the CUSTOMER CARE DEPARTMENT on your “myfultonhome” web site. Maintenance of cabinet drawers and doors is the responsibility of the homeowner.

It should be noted that it is not unusual for the color of the installed cabinets to be different from samples shown at time of selection.

Color can differ with wood grain variation and stain used some color variation on stained areas is to be expected.

Cleaning Tips for Wood Finishes:

Dusting

Dust cabinets frequently with a soft lint-free cloth. You can dampen the cloth slightly with water or a spray-type dust remover.

Spills
Clean spills immediately. Use a clean cloth and mild soap if necessary. Wipe dry with a clean soft cloth.

Cleaning

There are a number of products available for your wood cleaning needs. See manufacturer recommendations for recommended cleaning products.

Polishing

We recommend that you wash and polish cabinets once or twice each year. See manufacturer recommendations for recommended polishing products.

Don’ts

Never use detergents, soap pads, or steel wool on your cabinetry. These harsh abrasives will mar the wood finish. Additionally, the manufacturer recommends that you avoid the use of paste wax and polishes that contain silicone; the wax build up is difficult to remove and will leave a residue that attracts dust.

Melamine and Vinyl

Periodically clean the interior surfaces of your cabinets. See manufacturer recommendations for cleaning products.

Glass Doors

You can use any commercial glass cleaner to clean the glass. Additionally, the glass can be cleaned while mounted on the door, or can be removed for better access.

While cleaning mounted glass, be careful not to damage the finish of the door and cabinet parts while cleaning.

To remove the glass panel, carefully loosen the screws and lift panel out. The door glass is tempered to resist chipping and shattering. However, all glass is fragile so handle carefully.

Do not spray glass cleaner directly onto glass or cabinet parts. Glass cleaner seeping into areas behind the mullions may discolor the wood. Instead, spray a small amount of cleaner onto a lint-free cloth or paper towel, then wipe the glass.

Fulton Homes 3-Point Zone

The Phoenix Suns continue to raise money at a record-breaking pace for Phoenix Suns Charities this season, as part of the Fulton Homes “Proud to Own 3-Point Zone.” Fulton Homes donates $150 for every 3-point field goal that the Suns make while playing on Fox Sports Arizona (FSAZ) this season.

The Suns, the league’s top 3-point shooting team (41 percent), have connected on 179 3-pointers (9.9/game) while playing on FSAZ this season, generating a total of $26,850 for Phoenix Suns Charities. If the club continues at that pace, a total of 328 3-point field goals will raise $49,200 for the organization, almost twice the $28,200 that was raised all of last season.

Phoenix Suns Charities is the cornerstone of the team’s foundation, making grants to non-profit organizations that serve children and youth in the areas of education, health and human services, the arts, sports and recreation, and rehabilitation. In the 22 years since its inception, Phoenix Suns Charities has donated over nine million dollars to worthy Arizona organizations.

Please leave us a comment if you would like to receive more information on this or other charities we participate in!

Every design decision is an opportunity not a problem. The trick is knowing how to approach each design situation.

To get you started, begin by reviewing your home’s floor plan and assess each of the different rooms. It is important to understand how each room in the house will function and the kinds of activities that will take place. You may use areas of your home for a specific function and it is important to match your interior to that intended purpose. Also, determine your home’s traffic patterns. High traffic areas typically include hallways, downstairs and upstairs, extended entryways and additional entrances to the home. Hard surface products are advisable in these high use areas and provide greater design flexibility for the connecting rooms.

Once you know how the room will be used, you can then determine what kind of mood and style the room will reflect. Should the room be soothing and elegant such as a master bedroom suite? Or should the room be stimulating and informal such as a family room?

Again, the kinds of activities that will take place and the amount of time spent in the room will help guide you in determining the mood.

Your next step is to create a furniture plan. Take measurements of your current furniture and any new pieces and determine in which rooms they will be placed. Then, arrange or draw your furniture on a scaled floor plan. Now that the furniture has been determined, a lighting plan can be designed.

The last step is to explore decorating schemes for your different rooms. Your Design Consultant can lend a trained and professional opinion, but it is important that you create schemes that are right for you.

We hope this information helps! Remember, this process is supposed to be fun, rewarding and a reflection of your personality and style!

Fulton Homes is a proud sponsor of the Phoenix Suns. Being the largest family owned homebuilder in Arizona, our local ties for organizations result in benefiting the community through charitable contributions. In addition to our sponsorship, we wanted to share with you some other community efforts.

The Phoenix Suns Wives organization has teamed up with Cold Stone Creamery to host their annual book drive through today Friday, March 26.

Fans that bring two or more new or gently used children’s or young adult books to any of the 50 Cold Stone Creamery locations valley wide through March 25 will receive a complimentary Like It Creation™ with one mix-in.

The book drive will then culminate at US Airways Center when the Suns take on the New York Knicks tonight. Fans who bring a book donation to the game will receive one raffle ticket per book donated. Winners will then be drawn to receive one of six raffle prizes that will be given away at the end of the game. Members of the Suns Wives will be collecting at each entrance of the arena. The game will tip-off at 7 p.m., with doors opening at 5:30 p.m.

Each prize package will represent a Suns star and feature an autographed jersey, a chance to meet a Suns player and a Cold Stone Creamery gift card. The six prize packages are:

• Leandro Barbosa package
• Channing Frye package
• Grant Hill package
• Steve Nash package
• Jason Richardson package
• Amar’e Stoudemire package

Following the book drive, more than 10 Valley non-profit organizations will arrive at US Airways Center at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, March 30 to collect books for their programs. In previous years, more than 10,000 books were collected, which supply children in need with reading materials as part of the Suns Wives organization’s early literacy program.

The Suns Wives organization is comprised of the significant others of the players, coaches, basketball operations staff and senior management. The Suns Wives strive to make a difference in the lives of families and children by volunteering time, energy and resources to various charitable organizations throughout the Valley.