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Question of the Week
Each week a question is asked. Recent winners include:
August 25, 2007
Q: Since what year has every newly-constructed single-family home in Minnesota been required to have a mechanical ventilation system?
A: 2000 (April 2000).
Winner: Eunice Clauson, Oakdale
August 18, 2007
Q: Name two popular interior design styles.
A: Contemporary, arts & crafts, craftsman, eclectic, country, country French, Asian, etc.
Winner: Daryl Donath, Prescott, WI
August 11, 2007
Q: Name three wood species commonly used as flooring materials.
A: Oak, maple, hickory, bamboo, cumuru, beech, ash, birch, pine, douglas fir, walnut, mesquite, cherry, cypress, bubinga, gum, mahogany, cork, teak, sapele, wenge, merbau, iroko, jarrah, padauk, purpleheart, etc.
Winner: Eunice How, Hutchinson
August 4, 2007
Q: When does the next Parade of HomesSM begin?
A: September 8, 2007.
Winner: Scott Raines, Marshall
July 28, 2007
Q: Name two amenities you can usually find in a 50+ housing neighborhood.
A: Community or activity center, walking/biking trails, parks, picnic areas, pool, pond, gazebo, putting green, exercise room, etc.
Winner: Shelly Markley, St, Paul
July 21, 2007
Q: In 1950, what percent of new homes had one-and-one-half baths or fewer?
A: 96 percent
Winner: Rhonda Paulson, Wyoming
July 14, 2007
Q: Why is an egress window required in a basement bedroom?
A: For emergency escape and rescue.
Winner: Jody Zielinski, St. Paul
July 7, 2007
Q: What do the letters HVAC stand for?
A: Heating, ventilation, air conditioning
Winner: David Petricka, Faribault
June 30, 2007
Q: What is an inventory or spec home?
A: A new home which is designed and the building process gets underway before it is sold
Winner: Gramham McMeeken, Somerset
June 23, 2007
Q: What is a safe temperature to keep your water heater set to?
A: No higher than 120° F
Winner: Mike Cartwright, Shoreview
June 16, 2007
Q: When is the next Parade of Homes Remodelers ShowcaseSM set to start?
A: October 12, 2007
Winner: Diane Barka, Litchfield
June 9, 2007
Q: What is the title of Sarah Susanka’s new book?
A: The Not So Big Life
Winner: Cate Clemmerson, Edina
June 2, 2007
Q: What cities do representatives DeForest and Lenczewski represent?
A: Andover and Bloomington
Winner: Phyllis Tripple, Hugo
May 26, 2007
Q: To the nearest thousand, what was the median annual salary for an electrician in the Mpls. St. Paul metropolitan area in 2005 according to the US Bureau of Labor and Statistics?
A: $62,000 ($62,310)
Winner: Jeff Woodrich, Owatonna
May 19, 2007
Q: What is the Parade HomeSM number of the Accent home from which we’re broadcasting?
A: #110
Winner: Bob Hannon, Sartell
May 12, 2007
Q: True or False: In summer the interior relative humidity in your home should be lower than in winter?
A: False, in winter your relative humidity should be no more than 30% in summer that can go up to 55%
Winner: Kurt Estenson, New Richmond, WI
April 28, 2007
Q: What year was the Parade of Homes EasyStreetSM held?
A: 2003
Winner: Joan Gruldl, Edina
April 21, 2007
Q: What does the acronym MPC stand for?
A: Master Planned Community
Winner: Rose Marie Barringer, Edina
April 14, 2007
Q: By 2005, how many in-ground pools were in the US?
A: 4.7 million
Winner: Derek Wyman, St. Cloud
April 7, 2007
Q: Building Green includes several key components like efficient energy use, name one more.
A: Sustainable devleopment/home sisting; materials efficiency or use of renewable/recycled materials; water efficiency or stewardship; waste reduction; indoor environment; reduction of toxics; use of renewable energy resources
Winner: Virginia Krichoff, Dassel
March 31, 2007
Q: What does CAPS stand for?
A: Certified Aging in Place Specialist
Winner: Mary Meffert, Marshall
March 24, 2007
Q: Where would you find a crown molding?
A: At the junction between ceiling and wall
Winner: Dick Ney, Eagan
March 10, 2007
Q: What is the the term used to refer to the “control box” that connects and controls the various cables and wiring for an integrated home?
A: A hub
Winner: Laurie Dustin, Ramsey
March 3, 2007
Q: How many families has the Foundation housed in the Frogtown area?
A: 12
Winner: Don Davis, Brooklyn Park
February 24, 2007
Q: On what date did the current legislative session start?
A: January 3, 2007
Winner: Pam Lantto, Elk River
February 17, 2007
Q: Name one of the three tasty kitchen mini-tour titles?
A: When You Can Have Everything You Want....Urban Chic....Countertop Allure
Winner: Arlene Klofstad, Princeton
February 10, 2007
Q: Name four kinds of oil you might have in the kitchen?
A: Vegetable, olive, peanut, sesame, canola, flax seed, soy bean, safflower, sunflower, corn, palm, palm kernel,coconut, grape seed, hazelnut, walnut, hot chile
Winner: Tammy Bhend
February 3, 2007
Q: Cambria,Silestone and Zodiac are countertops made of what kind of stone?
A: Quartz
Winner: Dean Benschoter, Algona, IA
January 27, 2007
Q: In what year did the Minneapolis and St. Paul Builders Associations merge to become the Builders Association of the Twin Cities?
A: 1991
Winner: Darlene Carpenter, Brooklyn Park
January 20, 2007
Q: True or False: the amount Americans spend on remodeling, renovation and repair is over twice as much as they spend on new homes?
A: False, it’s nearly the same
Winner: Jean Anderson
January 13, 2007
Q: True or False: Designers today never recommend mixing wood species in a room, like Cherry cabinets with a white oak floor in the kitchen?
A: False
Winner: John Merrill
January 6, 2007
Q: Name four materials you might find on the exterior of a new home?
A: wood, vinyl, steel, aluminum, copper, cedar shakes,
asphalt shingles, stone, brick, stucco, fiber cement, HardiePlank, etc.
Winner: William Anderson, Excelsior
December 30, 2006
Q: What percentage of new homes in 2004 had one-and-one-half bathrooms or fewer?
A: Five percent
Winner: MaryAnn Thomas, Dundas
December 23, 2006
Q: What was the median sales price for homes sold in the Twin Cities in November 2006?
A: $228,047 (accept $228,000)
Winner: Gerri Clarpin, Maplewood
December 9, 2006
Q: What was the median sales price for homes sold in the Twin Cities in November 2006?
A: $228,047 (accept $228,000)
Winner: Edna Burns, Waseca
December 2, 2006
Q: What are the parties that control the Minnesota house, senate and Governors office?
A: Democrat, Democrat and Republican
Winner: Tim Shields, Richfield
November 25, 2006
Q: What are the three points of the traditional kitchen work triangle?
A: Sink, Stove/Oven, Refrigerator/storage
Winner: Jim Rudack, River Falls, WI
November 11, 2006
Q: What is the name of the architect who created the Prairie School style?
A: Frank Lloyd Wright
Winner: Jim Cashman, Minnetrista
November 4, 2006
Q: To the nearest thousand, how many homes for sale (listings) were there in the Twin Cites metro area during the month of September 2006?
A: 30,977 (accept 30 or 31)
Winner: Gail Bingen, Cottage Grove
October 28, 2006
Q: What is the value of a Point?
A: One percent of the loan amount.
Winner: Sue Hansen, Woodbury
October 21, 2006
Q: What percent of housing units in the Twin Cities are owner occupied (homeownership rate)?
A: 76.6 percent
Winner: Kristen Roepke, Silver Lake
October 14, 2006
Q: What year was the first Remodelors Showcasesm held?
A: 1988
Winner: Dennis Peterson, Roberts, WI
Q: Name three new technology features you might find in today’s home?
A: Security system, surround sound theater, audio throughout the home, in-floor heating, lighting controls, computer networks, Insulated Concrete Form construction, steam showers, interconnected control systems/hub, video surveillance systems, smart home technology, etc.
Winner: Nancy Stockmann, Stewart
September 9, 2006
Q: How much does the lowest priced home in the Fall Parade of Homessm cost?
A: $129,288 (accept $129,000 and
$130,000).
Winner: Georgia Pergakis, Bloomington
September 2, 2006
Q: A hot water faucet leaking one drop per second will waste how much of hot water a week?
A: 60 gallons.
Winner: Jane Krzesowiak, Plymouth
August 26, 2006
Q: Name three construction careers?
A: carpenter, framer, roofer, electrician, plumber, architect, accountant, drafter, sales person, interior designer, dry waller, etc. etc.
Winner: Triva Bowling, Isanti
August 19, 2006
Q: How many home for sale have the realtors listed in the Twin Cities in the first seven months of this year?
A: more than 70,000.
Winner: Marlin Stenberg, Center City
August 12, 2006
Q: Which alternative heating system uses the constant temperature of the earth to heat and cool your home?
A: Ground source heat pump or geo-thermal.
Winner: Patti Behrenbrinker, Sauk Rapids
August 5, 2006
Q: Name three types of lighting you might find in your home?
A: task, ambiant, downlights, uplights, decorative, direct, indirect, emergency, LED, solar, outdoor, specialty, track, rope, recessed, halogen, flourescent, etc.
Winner: Dottie Stenberg, Arden Hills
July 29, 2006
Q: Minimally, how wide should doorways be to allow wheelchair access?
A: 36 inches.
Winner: Kristi Strawn, Blaine
July 15, 2006
Q: What percent of new homes built today have 1.5 or fewer bathrooms? A: four percent
Winner: Stan Dahl, New Brighton
July 1, 2006
Q: Name two different names that can refer to wetlands
A: Bog, slough, swamp, marsh, shallow marsh, deep marsh, wet meadow, seasonally flooded basin, floodplain, wooded swamp, shrub swamp, open water wetland
Winner: Jackie Abbe, Stillwater
June 24, 2006
Q: What is a dual fuel range?
A: This range has an electric oven and a gas cook top.
Winner: Renae Christiansen, Lester Prairie
June 17, 2006
Q: Name three common countertop materials?
A: Laminate, solid surface, Corian®, quartz or manufactured quarts, Silestone®, Cambria®, Zodiac®, granite, marble, slate, concrete, metal, wood...
Winner: Jean Brown, Woodbury
June 10, 2006
Q: True or false, a kitchen countertop height of 32 inches is mandated by code?
A: False. 32 inches is the typical countertop height but today’s home buyers often raise or lower cabinet heights to fit their personal needs.
Winner: Lorraine Gresser, Maple Grove
June 3, 2006
Q: What was the total bonding bill amount approved for 2006?
A: Nearly $1 billion dollars.
Winner: Randy Cirksena Jr., Owatonna
May 27, 2006
Q: Where is a Bonus Room typically located?
A: In the “attic” space over the garage.
Winner: Karlene Gormley, Wells, MN
May 20, 2006
Q: Name four different types of residential architectural styles.
A: Prairie, Contemporary, Tudor, Country French, Victorian (Folk, Romanesque, Beaux Arts), Four-Square, Colonial, Federal, Greek Revival, Gothic (Gothic Revival), Italianate, Cape Cod, Mission (California Mission), Craftsman...
Winner: Carl Enzler, New Brighton
May 13, 2006
Q: How long does Minnesota statute dictate a home is warrantied for major construction defects?
A: 10 years
Winner: Wayne Urista, Blaine
May 6, 2006
Q: How many association-maintained homes are on this year’s EasyStreet tour?
A: 244.
Winner: Kevin McGonigal, Golden Valley
April 22, 2006
Q: Name a Master Planned Community in the region?
A: Wedgewood, The Lakes, The Wilds, Dancing Waters, Stonemill Farms, BearPath, Insipiration, Liberty on the Lake, Cobblestone Lake, etc..
Winner: Kirchoff Jeff, Hutchinson
April 15, 2006
Q: On what date by law does this legislative session end?
A: May 22, 2006.
Winner: Tony Timmons, Prescott, WI
April 8, 2006
Q: True or false: turning a light on and off requires more energy than simply leaving the light on?
A: False, a bulb that is on for one second uses one second’s worth of electricity – no more, no less. This is true even for fluorescent bulbs – so turn lights off whenever they’re serving no purpose.
Winner: Betty Christopherson, Blaine
April 1, 2006
Q: Name three different ways you can finance your remodeling project.
A: Cash-out refinancing; home equity line of credit, second mortgage, home improvement loan, future value loan, cash
Winner: Bonita Vodinelich, River Falls,WI
March 25, 2006
Q: According to the Harvard Joint Center for Housing, how much did American’s spend on remodeling, renovation and repair in 2005?
A: $149.5 Billion (accept $150 billion)
Winner: JoAnn Fischer, Sleepy Eye
March 18, 2006
Q: Name three typical selections you will need to make when building a new home or remodeling your current home?
A: (take almost anything -- lighting fixtures, floor coverings, wall coverings, cabinet wood species, cabinet doors, tile, brick color, etc. etc.)
Winner: Arlene Westberg. Brooklyn Park
March 11, 2006
Q: Name two different foundation types?
A: concrete block, wood, pourd concrete, slab on grade, crawlspace, ICF
Winner: Bob Kendall, Excelsior
March 4, 2006
Q: How many of the 201 state elected officials are up for reelection in 2006? A: all 201
Winner: Mike Schrantz, Lake Elmo
February 25, 2006
Q: Name three types of home loans?
A: fixed rate (10-15-30 year), ARMs, Balloons, Interest only, FHA, VA, No Doc, 80-20, Jumbo, Construction...
Winner: Joe Klick, Albert Lea, Mn
February 18, 2006
Q: What date does the Parade of Homes Spring PreviewSM end?
A: March 19.
Winner: Gain Bingen, Cottage Grove
February 11, 2006
Q: How many homes and neighborhoods are in the 2006 Spring PreviewSM?
A: 1,249.
Winner: Jeff Strand, Princeton
February 4, 2006
Q: What is a “spec” home?
A: a home that is started by a builder on “speculation” before it is sold.
Winner: Karen Kirschner, Mora
January 28, 2005
Q: How many new households are expected to be formed in the Metropolitan region by 2030?
A: 470,000
Winner: Betty Hisek, Blaine
January 21, 2005
Q: The best place to start shopping for a builder is the upcoming Parade of Homes Spring Previewsm, when does it start?
A: February 11.
Ginny Swanson, North Branch
January 14
Q: According to the NAHB, the impact of building 100 new single family homes includes creation of how many new jobs?
A: 284.
David Forstad, Hastings
January 7
Q: What government entity is currently in charge of residential contractor licenses?
A: Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry.
Winner: Lois Raduenz, Lester Prairie
December 31
Q: Name three different kinds of porches.
A: three season, four season, screen, covered, front...
Winner: Nancy Tritz, Owatonna
December 24
Q: Name three holidays that occur around the time of the winter solstice? A: Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanzaa, Saternalia, Childrens Day, Yule (or Yule Tide)
Winner: Larry Lee, Sherburn
December 17
Q: Name three types of ovens?
A: gas, electric, convection, halogen, microwave....
Winner: Lu Schmidtke, South St. Paul
December 10
Q: Name two of the four types of instrusion detection in home security systems?
A: motion, sound, contact, air pressure
Winner: Linda Boeding, Mankato
December 3
Q: What is was the Twin Cities median price of homes sold in Sept. of 2005?
A: $230,000.
Winner: Bev Bindig, Good Thunder
November 26
Q: What is was the Twin Cities median price of homes sold in Sept. of 2005?
A: $230,000.
Winner: Gini Gutknecht, Howard Lake
October 22
Q: When is the deadline for applying for the $500 Women’s Council Scholarship?
A: November 15th.
Winner: Bonnie Schirlinger, New Ulm
October 8
Q:What do the initials ARM stand for?
A: Adjustable rate mortgage
Winner: John Patterson, Sauk Rapids
October 1
Q: In what year was Sarah Susanka’s original The Not So Big House published?
A: 1998
Winner: Sandra Getschell, Osceola, WI
September 24
Q: How many homes are on the 2005 Parade of Homes Fall ShowcaseSM tour?
A: 1126
Winner: Doris Roelofs, Renville
September 10
Q: What date does the 2005 Parade of Homes Fall ShowcaseSM end?
A: October 9, 2005
Winner: Virginia Kirchoss, Dassel
September 3
Q: What is the maximum percentage relative humidity you should have in your home when the temperature dips below 15 degrees F?
A: 30 percent.
Winner: Lee Yager, Maple Lake
August 27
Q: Name any two of the five macrotrends we’re talking about?
A: any two: Torquing, En Vogue, Artisan, Outside In/Inside Out, Ready Set Go!
Winner: Kitty Marac, White Bear Lake
August 20
Q: Name two of the four common foundation types?
A: concrete block, poured concrete, wood, slab on grade (or concrete slab on footings).
Winner: Doug Sommerfeld, Watertown
August 13
Q: On what date does the 2005 fall Parade of HomesSM begin?
A: September 10, 2005
Winner: Shelly Layer, Elk River
August 6
Q: What percentage of new homes have at least two-and-one-half
baths?
A: 56 percent (NAHB national survey, 2003)
Winner: Dave Anderson, Minneapolis
July 30
Q: Name three types of ovens.
A: any three -- gas, electric, microwave, halogen, convection,
solar, wood fire, pizza
July 23
Q: Name three types of rooflines?
A: any two -- gable, hip, shed, mansard, flat, cross-gable,
gambrel, cross-hip, pyramidal, saltbox
Winner: Jim Montgomery, Woodbury
July 16
Q: What was the title of Sarah Susanka's book that helped
bring this concept into the public eye?
A: the Not So Big House.
Winner: Tom Lijewski, Minneapolis
July 9
Q: Over the past 50 years, new homes have increased in size by
approximately what percentage?
A: 50 percent.
Winner: Sally Vogt, Sauk Centre
July 2, 2005
Q: What is an allowance in regards to selections?
A: A specific dollar amount written into the contract to
accommodate the costs for a specific selection (e.g. lighting, appliances).
Winner: Howard Merrill, Roseville
June 25, 2005
Q: Name two Master Planned Communities in the Twin Cities.
A: The Lakes, Stonemill Farms, Dancing Waters, Cobblestone
Lake, Liberty on the Lake, The Wilds, Wedgewood, etc.
Winner: Jenny Joa, Woodbury
June 18, 2005
Q: What was the name of the first neighborhood planned and
constructed by a developer?
A: Levittown
Winner: Harriet Schueller, Dawson, MN
June 11, 2005
Q: What's the difference between a patio and a deck?
A: A Patio is on ground level, a deck is supported off the
ground (may be 2nd or 3rd level, or even just a few feet off the ground).
Winner: Delores Schmidtke, Morristown, MN
June 4, 2005
Q: The Trillium Awards began in what year?
A: 1990.
Winner: Don Williams, Little Canada, MN
May 28, 2005
Q: What date is the Minnesota Legislature required by law to
conclude their business, barring any special sessions called by the governor?
A: May 23, 2005 -- session must end the first monday after the 3rd Saturday of May.
Winner: Sue Lindquist, Vadnais Heights
Each week a question is asked during the show. The caller with the correct
answer receives a Parade of Homes Radio HourSM table-top cathedral
style replica of a 1921 Crosley Harco Radio am/fm radio (pictured below)
