Home remodels are resurging as the housing market recovers. Don’t let runaway costs steal your newly recovered financial ground. Follow these tips for managing your remodel funds: 1) Pick a quality contractor. Seek out a reputable, well-regarded professional. 2) Buy your own materials.  Be sure you can transport them or affordably have them delivered. 3) […]

The rollercoaster ride of home remodeling can be too much for some homeowners to bear. Home solution company, Bolster, conducted an online survey regarding some of the most prevalent remodeling issues. Here are a just few commonalities they uncovered: 1) 37% of homeowners entered the remodeling process without a predetermined budget. 2) 46% of remodelers […]

According to National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Opportunity Index (HOI) the housing affordability of new and existing homes slid from 69.3 percent to 64.5 percent for Americans earning a medina income of $64,400 per year. The rise in mortgage rates and housing prices are primarily to blame. Of the home recently sold, 65 […]

A thermos-type insulation for your home? Consider these four factors: 1) Heat transfer. Vacuum insulation removes the air molecules from your space, eliminating conduction and convection heat transfer, leaving just radiation transfer. 2) The primary characteristic of a vacuum is its “hardness”, or its ability to maintain pressure. A thermos is cylindrical and able to […]

Matt Risinger discusses how the International Energy Conservation Code change impacts the usage of spray foam. He outlines the differences in ceiling and wall insulation specifically. Hot attics are now required to go from R-30 to R-38. Conditioned attics must be R-25 rather than R-21 to meet code. For wall insulation, R-15 OR R-13+2 is […]

Spray foam is perfectly viable option, if you do the job well. Whether insulating an existing home or a new green home, there are common installation pitfalls you’ll want to avoid. First make sure the foam is thick enough, checking to be sure you’re not shorted, especially where you are using closed cell foam. Then, […]

Home sales became less affordable as interest rates increased and consumer confidence fell after the summer’s government shutdown. Slow job creation and “a stubbornly high unemployment rate” created concerns regarding whether rising home prices will match incomes well enough to prevent a housing demand decline in the cities. According to the National Association of Realtors, […]

The twenty-first century has been an era of phenomenal growth for the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program. The US Green Building Council reports that LEED certainly made its presence known with just over 59,000 buildings participating. According to LEED, credit for such a rapid rise is given to governmental commitment to green building. […]

Protect the value of your home; be sure the contractor you choose for your remodel is up to the task. Investigate his or her record with the Better Business Bureau and notice how complaints were resolved. Determine whether the contractor is sufficiently focused on your tastes and desires and is able to provide a solid […]

Home remodels are a significant undertaking. You need to hire a knowledgeable contractor that will manage your project well. First, look for a person who is responsive and respectful of your time. Be sure he or she is punctual and attends meetings prepared. Your contractor should be a leader who organizes the project and workers […]