A Great Article On Green Remodeling!
Source: http://www.nolo.com
Do you want to “go green” when remodeling your home? Here are some eco-friendly options.
Renovating a home can feel like such a fresh and healthy start — until you start worrying about issues like the environmental impact of newly harvested or wasted materials, the off-gassing of newly introduced toxins, and more. Fortunately, you can take steps to make any remodel more friendly to both the planet and your own health. And well-planned green renovations can even save you money.
Plan Your Eco-Friendly Remodel
The time to begin thinking about the environmental aspects of your remodel is during the planning phase. Consider the environment when you hire professionals, decide what to do with demolished materials, and choose materials.
Opinions: Have green building materials and construction “arrived”?
Source: http://www.renewableenergyworld.com
The world is going green. Of this I have no doubt.
What I have found lacking in the green marketplace is a concerted effort to advertise green building products and green construction. Although large well-known building supply centers – particularly The Home Depot and Lowes – now carry green building products and materials they have not done anything other than rudimentary and unimaginative advertising.
One still has to look hard to find green building products in these stores as they are not very well displayed. Instead of large and distinctive signage indicating the location and proclaiming the benefits of green building products, one still has to look carefully at labels on each product. Where’s the differentiation? Where’s the call to action? Why isn’t this a bigger deal?
“Green From The Ground Up”: A great book about green construction!
Green construction is the building trend of the decade.
In direct response to the growing demand for sustainable, healthy, and energy-efficient homes, David Johnston and Scott Gibson present the most forward-thinking theories and the best proven methods of new and remodeled green construction.
They begin with down-to-earth explanations of green building basics and move on to site planning, materials selection, energy efficiency, and indoor air quality — detailing along the way every step in design and construction, from framing to finishes.
We take sustainability and green very seriously!
Meet Don Ruth: Designer, Consultant and Innovator!
Don Ruth, FAIBD, is a professional designer of custom, luxury and estate residences; remodels and additions and a member and former executive officer of the AIBD and the NCBDC (Ret.).
He was elected to The College of Fellows in 1994, The Institute’s highest honorable body.
He was the third recipient of AIBD’s “National Designer of the Year” award in 1996. His articles, designs and interviews have been published in numerous forms of the national media. Don has over 30 years experience in the design of award-winning homes encompassing a wide variety of architectural styles.
For more information on Don Ruth, visit: http://www.donruthfaibd.com
What is green remodeling?
Source: NAHB.org
A home can be considered green when energy efficiency, water and resource conservation, sustainable or recycled products, and indoor air quality considerations are incorporated into the process of home building.
The increased availability of education for builders, growing consumer awareness and the exploding market for sustainable, environmentally friendly and recycled building products has accelerated green building’s acceptance rate and move into the mainstream.
According to a recent survey, more than half of the members of the National Association of Home Builders, who build 85 percent of the homes in this country, were incorporating green practices into the development, design and construction of new homes by the end of 2007.
How to Choose a Home Builder You Can Trust
Source: http://www.newhomeguide.com
Building a new home can be a very lucrative and rewarding investment — provided that you choose the right home builder to handle the job. These tips will help you clarify your home building goals and find the best home builder to entrust with your project.
Deciding what to build
Before you can choose a home builder, you need to have a clear picture of what type of home you want. Much like doctors who specialize in different types of medicine, home builders also specialize in building certain types of homes.
First decide which type of home you need: condo, townhouse, or single-family.
Then determine whether you want a custom home or a production home. Custom homes are typically one-of-a-kind single-family residences built on land the client owns. Because every aspect of a custom home is unique, a custom home is typically a higher-end home. Custom home builders also tend to build just a few (typically under 25) homes per year because each project is so different.
Replacement Windows & Energy Savings
Replacing old windows is one of the easiest and most apparent forms of energy savings. Old drafty single pane windows are very common in older homes.
Having a single pane window is like having a leaky faucet. Air is constantly escaping your house. Replacing ineffective windows can give your house a refreshing new look while also saving energy and money in the future.
The name of the game is double pane. Double pane windows will save you money on your heating and cooling bills. They significantly reduce heat loss in the winter and can very easily reduce heat gain during the summer.
It is suggested that a double pane window be covered with a special low-e coating (low emissivity). Where to apply this coating depends on your geographic location. A professional window contractor in your area can assist you in performing such a task.
Contact us for more information on how we can help you save energy with replacement windows in Winston-Salem and surrounding areas!
Choosing Replacement Window Contractors
If you have decided that it’s time to replace some or all of your home windows, the next decision is choosing replacement window contractors. Of course, really you are only selecting one company or contractor, but it shouldn’t start out this way. It’s a good rule of thumb to compare bids from several companies and then choose the one that is the best fit from your project specifics.
How long has the business been established? Generally speaking, the older the business, the better – it reflects the quality of service they provide. A business that lasts usually does so because it has satisfied customers. If they have opened other branches, that’s an even better sign. Here are some question to ask potential replacement window contractors.
Contact us at Ron Williams Building Company where we also do renovations, as well as custom homes!
Everything You Need to Know About Replacement Windows
Source: http://www.kiplinger.com
By Pat Mertz Esswein, Associate Editor
If your windows on the world no longer enhance the facade of your house, shield it from the elements or filter out noise, there is no better time to update them. Retailers whose business withered as homeowners stopped spending on big home-improvement projects are ready to deal — and anxious to keep their installation crews working.
Many dealers have cut markups to the quick, says Susan Selman, with Schmidt Windows, in suburban Chicago. Plus, the tax credit for installing energy-efficient windows in your home, which will help defray some of the cost, expires at year-end. The credit is worth 10% of the cost, up to $500. Just remember that replacing windows is an expensive proposition that includes not just the price of the windows but the cost of expert installation to ensure that the windows perform as promised.
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Most Important Things To Know When Choosing A Home Builder
Source: http://www.newhomeguide.com
Building a new home can be a very lucrative and rewarding investment — provided that you choose the right home builder to handle the job. These tips will help you clarify your home building goals and find the best home builder to entrust with your project.
Deciding what to build
Before you can choose a home builder, you need to have a clear picture of what type of home you want. Much like doctors who specialize in different types of medicine, home builders also specialize in building certain types of homes.
First decide which type of home you need: condo, townhouse, or single-family.
Then determine whether you want a custom home or a production home. Custom homes are typically one-of-a-kind single-family residences built on land the client owns. Because every aspect of a custom home is unique, a custom home is typically a higher-end home. Custom home builders also tend to build just a few (typically under 25) homes per year because each project is so different.
Production home builders, on the other hand, usually build a large volume of homes.
Contact us at Ron Williams Building Company where we also do renovations, as well as custom homes!
