Best Value Remodeling – Remodeling Magazine’s 2015 Winners

Posted by: Ken Mariotti

Each year Remodeling Magazine releases it’s Cost vs. Value Report. The report compares year by year changes in job costs with Realtor’s perceptions of what those jobs bring to a home’s price at resale. The 2015 Report measured 36 projects nationally and by region. Three projects that exceeded 2014 values stood out in this year’s report, they are, steel entry doors, roofing, and vinyl siding replacement. The cost-value ratio expresses resale value as a percentage of construction cost. In the north central area, steel entry door replacement returned 86.3% of the replacement cost at the time the

It’s not surprising to see these three replacement jobs on the list of most return for your investment given the rising perception nationwide of the value of curb appeal. If you’re considering undertaking any of these remodeling projects in 2016, now is the time to start your research and here are a few things to consider as you make your decisions.

Upgrade the front door

Steel Door with Sidelites

Your entry door is a key element of design so use this opportunity to capture the look you’ve dreamed of. Modernize your home with a contemporary door, add architectural detail with a craftsman style, or replicate a historical period with a traditional door. In the report, steel entry doors return the greatest value on your investment and an insulated steel door will likely save on energy costs. Wood and fiberglass doors generally cost more than a steel door and so, rank below the lower cost steel in the Report, but we’d recommend comparing the performance of different materials when you do your research. Lastly, once you’ve decided on the type of entry door you want, make sure you get the perfect fit. The most reliable method is to remove any interior or exterior trim to expose the true opening and then measure the width, height, door thickness, hinge locations, hinge width and height and handle center. Better yet, let us help before you order your door.

Replace your old roof

Red Metal Porch Roof - Pinterest

Aesthetics, materials cost, weight and installation requirements are key considerations when researching replacement roofing. A square is the basic unit of measurement in roofing, you may win a Trivia game with this little known fact. One square is 100 square feet, making a square the equivalent of 10 feet x 10 feet. A typical two story house, 2,000 sq. ft. with gable roof will consist of less than 1,500 sq. ft. or 15 squares. The cost for your replacement roof will primarily depend on the condition of the existing roof and shape of the roof. Asphalt is the least expensive and slate (most durable) is the most expensive material, with wood, tile and cement, and metal somewhere in between. Asphalt is the most popular because it’s economical and easier to install. When choosing roofing material, the slope of your roof and the weight of the shingles are key factors to consider. Add flair to the look by adding a red metal roof over a porch like you see in the photo. When you’re ready, let us help you select the appropriate material and design for your roof style.

Add flair with new siding

Alside Prodigy Siding

Vinyl siding has been the siding of choice now for many years since technological advances made it both functional and stylish. Replace ugly or damaged siding and you’ll change the entire look of your home’s exterior. When replacing siding, consider adding a few architectural elements such as crown moldings, beaded soffits or decorative trim. Numerous vinyl siding styles and colors, including custom colors are available. When you’re ready for a change, visit our showroom to see and touch these beautiful products and learn about installation.

Merry Christmas

Posted by: Ken Mariotti

Nearly thirty-four years have past since President Reagan delivered his first Christmas address to the nation December 23, 1981. We hope you will find this message inspirational and we wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas.

View Reagan's message to the American People at Christmas.

Reimagine Winter with Skylights

Posted by: Ken Mariotti

HGTV 2015 Smart Home

The success of HGTV is that it stretches our imaginations. For years now HGTV sponsors a contest and selects one home that best represents the design and building trends for the year. This year’s 2015 Smart Home features a modern farmhouse in the very hip Austin, Texas. It’s “modern” in that it’s a fresh take on the classic traditional farmhouse style. The architect’s use of skylights to reimagine the space caught my attention as we slip into the annual winter darkness.

In the last decade, builders installed recessed lighting in ceilings in an attempt to brighten the dark corners of a home. Now with technological advances like solar power, built in shades, and always clean “Neat®” coated glass, VELUX® skylights are replacing artificial lighting with natural lighting.

As the winter turns the skies darker, windows barely capture light depending on the time of day, whereas skylights provide balanced daylight that fills even remote corners of a room.

Natural light bath

2015 Smart Home Children's Bath Skylights

How common is it to see windowless interior bathrooms in homes? Take a look at the Solar Powered Fresh Air Skylight by VELUX in the HGTV’s Modern Farmhouse children’s bath. These solar operated skylights don’t require wiring, which is a real advantage over the traditional manual or electric models. Small bath ventilation can be a real challenge, especially in winter and this remote controlled skylight can easily be opened to release unwanted condensation.

Master bedroom privacy

Today’s homes are built closer together than ever before, making privacy a key concern for homeowners.  Likewise, homes are shrinking, leaving less wall space for windows. The use of skylights in the HGTV’s Modern Farmhouse incorporates new shade technologies that keep out the light for better sleep and keep the bedroom private. The factory installed blinds operate by remote control to easily open and close the blinds to keep out light. You can also program the control to draw the shades during the heat of the day to keep the room cool or to open the skylights to manage temperatures throughout the day.

2015 Smart Home Master Bedroom Skylights

Powered by the sun

The skylight uses the power of the sun to open and close. A small solar panel resides on the exterior of the skylight to capture available daylight and charge a small, concealed battery. Even on cloudy days, the solar panel will continue to charge. If your skylight is open and it begins to rain – the rain sensor will automatically close your skylight.

Sensor control

VELUX KLR 200 Intelligent Touch Remote Control for skylights and blinds - comes standard with every electric and solar powered skylight. You can open or close your skylights at your convenience. Or program them to open and close during scheduled times of the day to refresh or protect your home.

Velux Remote Control

Installation

Woodland installs skylights using a variety of different installation methods that vary based on your particular home’s location. Depending on your needs VELUX offers products that make the installation process as easy as possible. The three most common installation methods are: deck-mounted, curb-mounted and self-flashed.

Tax Credits

The revolutionary No Leak Solar Powered "Fresh Air" skylight is eligible for a 30% federal tax credit, which according to VELUX, is saving eligible homeowners an average of $850 on product and installation.

Check out the HGTV 2015 Smart Home and reimagine what winter could be by adding VELUX skylights in your home.

Want that model home feel? Focus on the detail.

Posted by: Ken Mariotti

Earlier this year our blog titled “Want that model home feel? Aim high”, suggested that the very act of creating taller windows and doors in your home increases the wow factor found in model homes. The desire to create that model home feel in your own home is a sentiment many homeowners express. Another design secret is the importance of detail.

Once a home’s style is determined, what makes that style come alive is attention to detail. It’s important that you take the time to select the windows, doors and other objects in your home beginning with three design principles.

Marvin Windows

Think about what you don’t see

Oftentimes design is about thing that you don’t add, rather than the material that you do create. In other words, good design requires you to consciously do less. I’m reminded of a couple that selected arched windows and then they proceeded to cover the beautiful design under lavish window coverings. It’s hard to design minimally because we feel that convention dictates otherwise. Try to resist the urge to over decorate. Remember less is more. Open space creates focal points.

Andersen A-Series

Refine to the finer details

Fine-tune a space, the elements, alignment or scale of your windows and doors with the size, shape and existing features in the room. Get the detail right by focusing on proportions and lines of sight. For example, window grills can be used discretely as design elements, rather than simply repeating the identical pattern throughout.

Borrow from what you see

Andersen Visualizer

Get inspired by studying spaces similar to the space in your home that you intend to remodel or build. Today, many manufacturers offer visual tools that allow you to be your own designer. Andersen provides a visualizer to select your trim and sash colors. Andersen Renewal products offers a visualizer that allows you to upload a photo of your home, replace your existing windows with Renewal windows to see the effect. Likewise, Simpson Door's visualizer lets you choose your home style and select from a variety of door styles and colors to create the look you want. It’s as though you have your own personal designer.

When you walk into a model home, you can be certain that professionals created that beautiful space. Becoming a professional at your craft means you’ve created a lot of bad work and made a lot of mistakes on your journey to becoming an expert. Build your skills by decorating less, creating focal points and experimenting.

If you want that model home feel focus on the details like a professional does. Visit our showroom to touch the products, see the colors in different lights and get advice from professionals who can help you avoid common mistakes.