It would be pretty unfair of me to throw all these bad ideas onto the table, without leaving you with a few good ones.

1.) Wood Window Replacement: A homeowner will recoup nearly 80% of an aluminum-clad wood window replacement project when they sell their home. That’s pretty darn significant. Wonder why they’re so valuable? Not only are interior wood windows extremely attractive, their aluminum-clad exteriors offer the appeal of increased energy efficiency. They add value and they reduce energy bills – outstanding combination!

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Seriously. How rational does that sound?

I had to have a heart to heart with a client the other day. We were wrapping her kitchen remodel project up and she told me she was ready to go ahead and replace the windows throughout the home. We talked product and pricing, but when we started to talk scheduling, she told me she figured she’d just suffer through the winter as is, and schedule installation in the spring.

“Why in the world would you want to go and do that?” I said.

A very common misconception lies within most homeowners. They believe the winter months are inconvenient times to purchase and install replacement windows due to harsh elements and bitter temperatures. They make the logical – albeit false – assumption that a window replacement project would open the house up to the winter elements, thereby turning the cozy Kansas City home into an Alaskan igloo.

Not the case.

The average time a home is open to the elements during a professional window install is 10 minutes. (I say professional because I can only speak from the standpoint to which I work from. Those other guys, however – well, I’m not sure why you’d let them into your home in the first place. But that’s an entirely different blog topic in and of itself).

Windows are the #1 source of energy loss in any home. Choosing to wait any additional amount of time before replacement is costly and unnecessary.

Questions? Request for estimate? Interested in promos and discounts? You know where to find us.

(Quite clearly, we did not conceptualize or draw the hilarious image displayed above – hence the multiple forms of credit stamped throughout).

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Serial Remodeling projects are all the rave.

Gone are the days of one shot, once-in-a-lifetime home remodeling projects.  More and more, today’s residential undertakings are conceived, plotted, budgeted, and carried out in a “series-like” manner that allows the homeowner to attain the ultimate end goal, through a system of achieving a series of smaller goals.

Phased remodeling projects typically start out by obtaining an overall estimate for the full price of the full project.  The contractor then sits down with the homeowner and explains what phasing options are available and conceivable to the home itself.

People don’t always look at their major renovation as a multiple-project undertaking. But in all reality, many larger renovations can be broken up into smaller ones. This approach will offer several key benefits to a homeowner:

• Budget – So money is an issue? When is money not an issue, right? Phased remodeling is an excellent option for homeowners who are attempting to majorly upgrade their house but do not massive piles of money lying around to do so. This option would allow homeowners the ability to pay for portions of their overall project in smaller chunks, as they can afford them.
• Schedule – A ‘construction tolerance’ exists within every homeowner. Most will begin a project with much enthusiasm and excitement, but a few weeks into the project, will grow tired of people showing up at their house every morning.  Serial remodeling projects allow for short-lived jobs that bring a contractor to the home in brief intervals.
• Tax Credits & Discounts – Stimulus money, tax credits, special discounts… If a homeowner is able to plan her renovations around the opportunities, she will most likely reap great benefits.  For example: This year, many homeowners are choosing to take  advantage of the Window Replacement tax credit, thereby receiving a serious discount on their replacement product.

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Summer sniffles and Autumn allergies.  No fun.  The great outdoors can mean rough stuff to anybody who battles allergies.  But did you know that there are plenty of potential culprits, right within the comfort of your own home?

Find out how you can remove and/or prevent allergy-related particles from affecting you and yours, INSIDE the home.

1. Carpet : Dust mites and pet dander…yum!  Not so much. Carpets and rugs should be cleaned weekly.  Your vacuum should be equipped with a high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter to trap all tiny particles.  A non-HEPA version will only re-circulate the crud.
2. Windows : A sweet fall breeze may smell wonderful, but if it’s bringing more than just scent into your home (i.e. ragweed pollen spores), I’d recommend utilizing this little tip: Keep windows shut between the high pollen-count hours of 10AM to 3PM.
3. Bathroom : Moist bathrooms and basements are breeding grounds for mold.  Fight these allergens by wiping walls with a chlorine bleach solution made with 1oz bleach to 1Q water.
4. Bedding: I was listening to a radio show several months back, and the DJ was taking a poll as to how often everybody in the office changed their sheets.  I have to say, I was a little grossed out by some people’s responses.  Not changing your sheets for months at a time!?!  Yuck!  In addition to the dirty-factor, we should keep in mind that mites and mold can live in our beds.  Wash sheets AT LEAST every two weeks, in130 degree water.
5. Basement : Get a dehumidifier!  Set your unit between 35 and 45 percent humidity.  These come in multiple sizes and they range in cost. Mold in the basement is not pretty.
6. Houseplants : Keep an eye on these guys.  Potted plants can harbor allergens on their leaves, in their dirt and in their trays.  Remove moldy leaves immediately and don’t let water pool in the trays.
7. Pets : You can cover air vents with cheesecloth to help prevent pet dander from spreading from room to room.  I know you fellow animal lovers may not like this, but experts recommend that we keep our furry friends out of our bedrooms.  I know I do – well, a good 75% of the time I do, I suppose.

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Time to get a new roof, eh?  Do you feel like you’re walking into the situation a little blind, def and dumb?  Having a decent grasp on the terminolgy alone will allow you to feel more confident through the process, as well as make a better-informed decision, in the end.

Here’s a little roofing vocabulary:

Tear Off: To remove the existing roof material from the house

Recover: To install new shingles over the existing shingles

Valley: The area where 2 roof sections meet

Ridge: The peak of the roof

Hip Roof: A roof-shaped like 4 triangles

Gable Roof: A roof shaped like 2 rectangles

Rake: The side edges of the roof

Eve: The bottom or gutter edge of the roof

Decking: The wood underneath the shingles

Drip Edge: A metal trim that is fastened to all the roof edges, and protects the rake edges from hard rain

Felt Paper: Material used as a vapor barrier to protect the shingles from heat, air and moisture that comes from your attic space (acts as a 2nd barrier)

Flashing: Installed along walls, chimneys, and skylights to prevent water from entering seams – made out of aluminum

Ridge Vent: A long, continuous vent installed on the peak of the roof with a slot for exhaust ventilation

Cap-Shingles: Shingles installed along the ridge vent or hips

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People ask us all the time, “What’s this ‘Aluminum-Clad’ thing all about?  I thought the Marvin windows were wood windows.”

Marvin windows are wood windows.  But they’re nothing like those old, wood windows that came with the house, and are now rotting from the outside in.

Reason why – the Extruded Aluminum-Clad finish.

This is what the Marvin guys tell us:

“Marvin’s clad-wood windows feature a low-maintenance extruded aluminum cladding with a commercial grade finish…”

The finish comes is a number of different colors so you can match to your existing paint or trim – 19 different colors to be exact.

The finish is substantially stronger than roll-form aluminum (the commonly used product found on most wood window competitors), and it features a protective Kynar finish that offers resistance to fading and chalking.

I love this page.  Marvin lays it out, plain and simple, the differences between window finishings.  Look for yourself.

Just another little Marvin tid-bit, for you.

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Times may be tight, and you may not be able to afford the luxurious bathroom renovation that you’ve had your heart set on for who knows how long… But that doesn’t necessarily mean that you need be forced to operate in an environment that completely turns you off.

As you continue to save your pennies for your dream remodel, check out these little DIY tips that might help you as you “tough it out.”

THE MIRROR

30% of homes are rockin’ the plate glass bathroom mirror look.  Creating a focal point within the room will make a world of difference.  Pulling the plate off of the wall and trying to replace it with a different mirror altogether might force you into various issues that you could avoid by simply framing the existing plate.  Get crafty with this one!  Purchase any sized trim board or framing material, paint and finish as you wish, and hang around the perimeter of the glass plate.  You might be very surprised at how dramatically this will change the look and feel of the room.

THE COLOR

Maybe your walls are covered with hideous wallpaper, or maybe they’re struggling with chipped paint issues.  But even if your walls suffer from neither of the above, the decision to change the color of (what is typically a smaller) room, is a pretty fantastic idea.  You’ll get fairly quick, dramatic results.  And one of the best parts is – if you hate it, you can just redo it!  DON’T BE SCARED!

THE FAUCETS

Have you seen how hip, cool and trendy these guys have gotten on us?  Faucets range very dramatically in price and in style.  I’ve seen pricing as low as $25 and as high as $500.  For your little temporary fix (unless you’re planning on reusing your purchase for your future bathroom), don’t go balls to the wall, here.  But go ahead and pick out something really nice and sleek.  You might be surprised to find out that you can replace your old, hum-drum, chrome job for a pretty modern-looking, fun addition, for around $100.  (And check into the eco-friendly faucets, too, if you’re into that sort of thing.  Some of the newer ones can save water and update the look of your bathroom all in one).

THE LINEN

Shower curtain, hand towels, bath towels, soap dish, etc.  I was visiting with my mom the other day.  She wanted to go to Wal-Mart to get a new shower curtain.  I asked her why she was set on Wally World.  She said that they had the “nicest things for the best price.”  I had to stop her right there, and ask her to agree to go with me to a couple of my favorite shops.  By the end of the day, she had bought an elegant new shower curtain, hand towels and wash cloths – and she ended up paying about $50 more than she expected to pay at Wally World.  She said to me, “This shower curtain is so fancy!  Wal Mart wouldn’t have had anything like this!”  She was happy, and her lesson learned was this: Be willing to pay that little bit extra on things like this.  You’ll live with that shower curtain for how long?  Do a quick cost-benefit analyiss and then give me a good reason why you shouldn’t treat the ‘ol, ugly bathroom to something nice once in awhile.

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I love this report because it voices something other than the opinions of the salesmen, the manufacturers or the product reps.  It voices the opinion of the people who actually research, purchase, use and live with the product in their homes.

Consumer Reports did a study and produced a report in October
2007.  According to their findings, consumers believe the Marvin Window
product to be the best wood-clad window product available to consumers on the market.  The report did a side-by-side comparison of window samples from Marvin, Pella, Andersen, Peachtree, Crestline and Jeld-Wen.

I contacted Consumer Reports HQ and asked if a newer report existed other than the one from 10/07.  I was informed that the 2007 report was the most current report on file and that the windows are not reported on annually.  The representative did not disclose when the next report would be available to us.

*Although I am unable to attach the report to this blog, I am happy to share it with you.  Let me know if you would like a copy of the full window comparison report.

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One of the simplest ways to makeover the front of your house – Install a new front door.

Doors can be ordered for just about any price range; and if you haven’t taken a look into the door industry lately, you might be pleasantly surprised to see all of the beautiful ideas they’ve come up with.

The Artistic door collection by Marvin has the ability to offer individuality to each door.  All products are custom made – and this particular line takes the idea of “custom” to a whole new level.  Think: Family crest, initials, symbols or logos.  As with all Marvin entry doors, this one comes with a concealed multi-point locking system and the item can be ordered in any one of a variety of species.

The Classic line of doors will feature elaborate glass design and hand-beveled leaded art.  Various shapes and lines make these doors stand out in a very elegant, yet classic way.

The divided lites featured in the Marvin Luminary product line offer some of the most gorgeous of their kind in the industry.  A truly customizable feature, divided lites allow an individual to match the architectural style of their home to that of their entry door.

Simple.  Elegant.  Clean.  A line inspired by simpler times.  The Traditional Collection offers tasteful inspiration to any architectural style.

As with each of the customizable entry doors, this piece can be ordered in Honduran Mahogany, Cedro Macho, White Oak, Cherry or Walnut.

Yes, my photos are all Marvin product photos – What can I say…I like the creme de la creme!

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You may be well aware that the Guttering situation at your house is far from ideal – But do you have the first clue how to go about remedying the situation?  I read a blog entry the other day whereabouts a lady stated, “I was hoping I could just call Lowe’s and ask them to send over one of their installation guys to install new gutters for me, but I just talked to Lowe’s and they don’t do gutter installation unless they are also installing a new roof.”  This poor gal tackled this predicament completely bass-ackwards.  Calling in the little, red aprons?!?  Come on, now!

Here is a list of common homeowner questions, associated with Gutter replacement:

How do I know if my gutters are bad?

If your gutters are falling off of the house, they’re probably in need of attention.  Other suspicious signs of guttering malfunction include: leaky gutters, rusty gutters, water in the basement or a funny dirt line around house (from poor drainage/runoff).

What size guttering will I need for my house?

This depends on the pitch of your roof and the type of shingles you have.  5″ used to be the most common of the two residential sizes.  But more and more, 6″ gutters are used on homes with steeper roofs, shake shingles, slate roofs or tile roofs.  Your estimator will be able to professionally advise you on this one.

Do I need to purchase some sort of leaf cover?

Well, if you’re sick of cleaning your gutters out, then yes.  The market offers a variety of leaf barriers that can be added to your new guttering system.  Your estimator can assist you with this selection, as well.  These, I highly recommend.  (And special note, when purchasing at the time of new gutter replacement- the price is really not bad – Go for it.  You’ll thank me in the long run).

Do I have to be home for my estimate?

Nope.

Do I have to be home for my installation?

Nope.

Does it cost more money for a color other than white?

Nope.

Do I need to request a particular brand of guttering?

This is something that you do not need to worry about, either.  Gutters are made from coil material.  The coil is purchased wholesale by your installer.  Think of it like this: You go to Denny’s to eat a Denver Omelette.  You appreciate the service, the omelette tastes great and you leave a happy customer.  Whether Denny’s used eggs from Price Chopper or eggs from Hyvee - It really doesn’t matter.  What matters is that you received a great product from a great company with great service.

How often should my gutters be cleaned?

Minimum 2 times per year.   But in all reality, if your
troughs aren’t flowin’ – Then you better clear ‘em out.  I don’t care
what time of year it is.

Where do I find a good guttering company?

Well, aside from the company that backs this blog (shameless plug, I know), one of the best ways to avoid being taken by a couple of guys in a truck is to ask around.  Find out who your neighbors used – Who your sister used – Who your boss used.  Ask around.  You can also rely upon the local BBB & NARI websites.

How much will this cost?

Your job will be priced based on footage.  The guttering alone should run somewhere in the neighborhood of $2.75-$3.00 /ft (installed).  Downspouts are added to this price.  They should ballpark $2.50-$4.00 also.

Did I miss something?  Let me know.  Happy to answer any stragglers.

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