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Questions to Ask Yourself Before A Bathroom Remodeling Project

Written by on April 19, 2012 · Leave a Comment

The tiles are outdated, the fixtures are rusting and you’re tired of caulking around the tub. Sound familiar? It’s the small annoyances that you notice over the years that make you want to rip everything out and start all over again. Before you or someone else starts remodeling your bathroom, consider all aspects of the project before committing to it.

Is It Worth It?                                                                                         

Assess the issues you’re having with your bathrom carefully. Often, homeowners will resort to drastic measures to resolve frustrations – but only suceed in making matters worse. Other times, a full remodel is the only valid option. Builders, in a haste to meet strict deadlines, can easily make mistakes in the construction process, and owners may not find out until years later. If you think the problem is beyond what you can handle, shop around for estimates.

Where Do I Find a Contractor?

In today’s market, homeowners can choose from several resources to help them decide on a bathroom remodeling company or local handy man.  Referrals, however, are still one of the best ways to learn first hand about the quality of work and service levels. You can also refer to governing organizations like the Consumers’ Choice Award, Better Business Buerau and Energy Star for their approved businesses and partnerships.

What Will it Cost?

Home remodeling is a significant financial commitment, even for do-it-yourself projects. If your budget isn’t aligned with your job expectations, you can end up with a half-done bathroom and heavy doses of frustration. Answer the honest questions about your financial security with your family. Some companies offer remodeling financing options that you’ll want to discuss with them in depth. If costs becomes a factor, you may have to break up the project into phases. In some situations a contractor can handle the bulk of the work while you focus on smaller updates and finishing touches afterward.

How Long Will it Take?

You’ve probably heard “Rome wasn’t built in a day,” and a bathroom remodel might not be either.  Whether you use a contractor or family and friends, establish a reasonable timeframe to have it completed.  After the financing process, remodeling companies have to work with various outside sources to gather what they need to complete a remodel plan. They also need to coordinate with their other projects and make sure they have enough manpower available. Add a couple of days to the end of your schedule as cushion for unexpected situations. A timely finish to a project is everyone’s goal, but the best plan is to plan for the unexpected.

If you have questions about your bathroom remodeling project, let us know in the comments or ask us on Facebook and Twitter!


Categories: Bathroom Remodeling, Blog, Homeowner Tips

Home Designs That You Can Fall in Love With

Written by on February 9, 2012 · Leave a Comment

Valentine’s candy started showing up on store shelves in November, so you don’t need us to remind you the holiday is just around the corner. It is cause for celebration, but after the candy is gone and the flowers are thrown out, the process just starts over – and how are you going to top this year?

Why not give something that will last and add value to your lives?

Our homes are a source of security, comfort and also love. Updating your home’s features can add a private getaway or create an atmosphere for your entire family to enjoy. Take a look at these five ways to turn the house you like into a home you love.

A Bathroom for Two

In most homes, the master suite comes standard with two sinks but can leave much to be desired when it comes to the rest of the area. What many home owners don’t realize is that the amazing bathrooms seen in resorts and hotels are accessible for homes.

Tubs like the one pictured can be inviting for you and your spouse. Take some time to relax with a loved one, enjoy a book or movie on your tablet, or just drift off to the sounds of your favorite music. You can easily revisit this tranquility without having to pay resort prices.

Can’t spend all day soaking? Spacious showers can do the trick as well. Multiple shower heads and jet streams add a modern touch to a home regardless of its age. Open entry platforms provide easy access and add depth.

Private Escape

Women may call these their oases, men call them their man caves, and kids call them hideouts – or maybe they’re something different all together. Whatever you call it, this part of your home can be an opportunity for you to escape into a world that is your own.

Andrea Riley of Happy Chaos has mastered this. Her home has four hidden rooms that act as play rooms for her children. But the house isn’t all about secret gateways – the remodeled attic hosts her husband’s own area.Ever dreamed of having a hidden passage way behind a bookcase? A company called Creative Home Engineering specializes in making this a reality for their clients. Their designs incorporate a variety of building materials that can open up your home in imaginative ways.

What’s for Dinner?

If your family is like most, the kitchen is more than a place to eat. Of course, a lot of that does happen! But it’s also a meeting, study, crafts, planning and entertaining space. With so much that can go on, the kitchen is a place near and dear to all of us.

Creating your dream kitchen is all about working your concept into a real space. Plentiful and sleek counter tops, backsplashes with touches of color, and expansive storage spaces are just a few touches that can add value to your home.

Trends for 2012 are focusing on personality. This will, of course, depend on the homeowner, but consider using contrasting colors and unique fixtures to depict the character of the home and the people who live there.

So, buy something sweet this year and flowers always freshen up a home, but consider making a real Valentine’s Day investment. Make your house your dream home with designs you’ll love.

Categories: Bathroom Remodeling, Blog, Home Remodeling, Homeowner Tips - Tags:

What It Means To Be An Energy Star Partner

Written by on October 28, 2011 · Leave a Comment

You may have heard of Energy Star but are wondering what it really is about and what being an Energy Star partner means.

For starters, Energy Star is a program developed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency or EPA as a way to identify as well as promote products and practices that are proven energy efficient.  Specifically, the Energy Star label or program was established to reduce pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions that are brought about by the inefficient energy use.  Energy Star products are therefore proven to help consumers save money on their energy bills while also protecting the environment, without them sacrificing comfort and performance.

Since Energy Star was developed, the government has partnered with industry members to support the program.  A partner’s tasks include promoting the program and expanding its scope to include not just major home appliances (like refrigerators, air conditioning units, heating/cooling systems) but also new homes and new buildings.  As such, home remodeling companies can be Energy Star partners, too.

For a home improvement company  to be an Energy Star partner, it has to provide home products that help home owners reduce energy costs.  Thanks to major advances in technology, we now have products like solar water heaters, radiant barrier reflective insulation, vinyl siding and vinyl replacement windows.

An attic radiant barrier insulation that is from an Energy Star partner, for instance, is guaranteed to make homes more energy-efficient and to solve the problem of skyrocketing heating and cooling bills.  Many homeowners, as you know, do not realize the importance of proper home or attic insulation  until a product like this allows them to see the significant changes in their homes and in their savings, too.

Home insulation products from an Energy Star partner apply state-of-the-art foil laminating technology that is guaranteed to save homeowners at least 25% on their heating and cooling costs.  These products give homes a longer life as they help prevent mildew, condensation, settling, and toxic molds.  What’s more, these advanced products are non-allergenic, fiber-free, and practically maintenance-free.

Categories: Energy Consumption, Homeowner Tips - Tags: , , , , , ,

Consumers’ Choice Award: What It Means

Written by on October 25, 2011 · Leave a Comment

Not many companies and brands can boast of being given the Consumers’ Choice Award.  It is a distinction given to a special few and only to those who have gained the trust of the public.  This award is something that dedicated businesses should strive hard to get.

But, what is this award about and what makes it a big deal?

For starters, the Consumers’ Choice Award is an annual program that honors businesses in the United States and Canada that provide consumers reliable and satisfactory service.  It is an award for excellence, and winners are chosen by no less than the consumers themselves.

Each year, the Consumers’ Choice Institute, which is the body behind the award, commissions a research group to conduct a survey among consumers in major North American cities.  Consumers will have to identify top establishments from approximately 100 categories of industries.

What the CCA Means to Us

Statewide Remodeling has won the 2011 Consumers’ Choice Award for Business Excellence.  This means that we are acknowledged by consumers as a leader among home remodeling companies and insulation contractors.

The award is a testament that we have delivered on our promise to provide homeowners top-notch products and services.  When it comes to home repairs, home insulation, and home remodeling projects, we use products that are of premium quality and warranted by experts in the industry.  Our team is composed of skilled and professionally trained craftsmen who understand how much you value your home and your family.

We are a home improvement company that takes pride not only in the amount of satisfaction we give homeowners for our home improvement and remodeling services, but also in our efforts to provide environment-friendly and energy-efficient products.  We aim to help families build safe and energy efficient homes, and in so doing, help them save energy costs and help them do their parts in saving Mother Earth as well.

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Maintenance-Free Siding: Is There Such Thing?

Written by on October 17, 2011 · Leave a Comment

We know how sidings help improve the way your house looks and how they improve insulation.  But cost is always the first concern for most homeowners.  If it’s not the cost of installing replacement siding, then it’s the cost of maintaining it.

The good news is that there’s now vinyl siding, which is becoming more preferred than traditional fiber cement siding.  This is because vinyl siding comes with an amazingly long list of benefits.

For one, it contributes to the aesthetic value of your.  Thanks to recent advances in technology, home product manufacturers have come up vinyl siding whose textures mimic the look of authentic cedar wood.  Aside from this benefit, vinyl siding is undeniably durable and offers greater thermal efficiency.

However, at the top of the list of benefits is that vinyl siding is practically maintenance free.  How come?

Unlike fiber cement and wood sidings, vinyl does not require painting and caulking to keep its appearance and to keep it functional.  We know how homeowners always dread having to deal with loose planks, splintered and rotting wood, peeling paint, and other siding repair needs, especially after winter.  With vinyl siding, you no longer need to.

This is because this kind of siding will not crack, rot, flake or split, even after being exposed to rough weather conditions for a long time.  To maintain your vinyl siding’s fresh appearance, all you really need to do is to wash it about once a year.

What’s more, installing vinyl replacement siding  doesn’t have to bore holes on your pocket.  In terms of materials, the vinyl siding’s price has remained stable.  Labor-wise, this type of siding eliminates the need for priming, back priming and painting.  Vinyl building products, as a result, means lower installation costs for local builders and remodelers.

In other words, vinyl siding actually has the lowest total cost for installation and for long-term maintenance.

Categories: Homeowner Tips, Insulation - Tags: , , , , ,

Tips on How to Look for the Right Home Remodeling Contractor

Written by on October 12, 2011 · Leave a Comment

Looking for the perfect home remodeling company is not easy, not only because there are many contractors out there offering their services, but also because there are only a few you can trust.

So how do you look for a highly qualified and reliable home remodeling contractor?  You don’t have to be an expert at home remodeling to do so.  Here are five simple tips.

1.  Ask for referrals.  Do you know somebody who had previously hired insulation contractors, bath or kitchen remodeling contractors, or home improvement companies?  Ask them how they found these companies and ask to take a look at the work.  The safest bet is to get at least two referrals before meeting with any contractors.  And once you get in touch with a contractor, ask for photos and phone numbers of previous clients.  You can call these previous clients and get feedback.  You can also check forums and read up on reviews.

2.  Check availability.  Once you get in touch with a home improvement company, ask them if they can get the job done within your timeline.  It is frustrating to homeowners if a contractor promises to complete a particular project and doesn’t deliver on that promise.  However, if not one of the contractors you have contacted is willing to commit to the timeline you have set, then that may mean you have very high expectations.  You need to make sure your timeline does not force contractors to do quick yet low-quality work.

3.  Check quoting and billing practices.  Ask the contractor about his quoting or billing procedure.  What specific services are included in their billing? Does it include clean-up, for instance?  Ask too if they itemize fuel surcharges, labor, material up-charges, and waste removal, etc. in their invoice, or if they just roll everything up in one big bill.  See if their quoting and billing procedure works for you, and if not, ask if they can adjust it.

4.  Trust your instincts.  Look at the contractor and observe his outside appearance – the way he dresses and carries himself – and his manners.  Does he conduct himself in a professional way?  Is he clean and can you tell if he takes good care of his tools and equipment?  If you have a negative impression, then you might as well look for another contractor.  Trust your home to people who makes you feel at ease.

5.  Does your contractor promote energy-efficient and environment-friendly products and practices?  It is best to choose a contractor who shows you ways to make your home more energy-efficient and ways to save on energy bills.  Know about the attic insulation products it uses, for instance.  Will the remodeling work on your home give you the chance to get energy tax credits?  Is the contractor an Energy Star partner?

Statewide Remodeling is proud to have an A+ Better Business Bureau rating, making us a safe choice to help you with your project. Be sure to drop by our new showroom for guidance or just to look around!

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Green Products for Your Home

Written by on October 11, 2011 · Leave a Comment

In this day and age where everything we do seems to adversely affect Mother Nature, we need to look for ways to help stop the cycle of destruction.  And there’s no better way to start going green than through our homes.

How? There are actually many easy ways.

We can start by installing green products in our homes.  Green products are those that are environmentally safe and energy-efficient.  From home insulation to solar products, these “green” products help us reduce our carbon footprint and save on energy costs.

Not only that, but in taking on a home remodeling or renovation project that incorporates the use of such products, we can also be assured of lower monthly energy costs since there will be less need for us to work our heating and cooling systems double time.   That translates to hundreds of dollars in savings through time.

New green products include:

  1. Attic radiant barrier insulation.   With attic radiant barrier reflective insulation, your home is protected against radiation, which is the primary cause for the loss of hot and cool air, therefore leading to escalated utility costs.
  2. Solar water heater.  A solar water heating system uses the sun’s energy to heat water.  This way, not only do you help the environment by utilizing renewable energy, but you also get to reduce your monthly water heating expenses and get rid of ever-fluctuating energy costs.
  3. Vinyl replacement windows.  Vinyl windows are great for their thermal resistance.  But aside from this, they are also strong, durable, and maintenance-free.  What’s more, vinyl windows that meet federal energy efficiency requirements will qualify you for energy tax credit!
  4. Vinyl siding.  Vinyl siding is a great way to protect the exterior of your home.  Installing insulated siding will give your home a high level of thermal resistance and help you achieve optimum energy efficiency.

For more information on how you can go green, give us a call today!

Categories: Green Right Now, Homeowner Tips, Insulation, Replacement Windows, Solar Products - Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Energy Tax Credit for Homeowners

Written by on September 16, 2011 · Leave a Comment

Homeowners can be given an energy tax credit  if their homes are energy-efficient.  And that’s where the importance of getting energy-saving products for your home comes in.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which President Barack Obama signed  in February 2009, provides that taxpayers can take credit for qualified energy-efficient home improvements installed.   Such improvements include insulation, exterior doors and exterior windows, roofing, heating and cooling systems, and also solar panels.

A qualifying radiant barrier insulation for your home, for instance, will entitle you 10% off of the cost, with a maximum of up to $500.00.  Installing qualifying replacement windows, on the other hand, would mean 10% off, up to $200.00.

We always say “qualifying” because the IRS has issued guidelines and regulations that define “energy efficient” and, in effect, also define qualified products and solutions, such as energy-efficient windows. Basically, energy products are those that are tested and proven to reduce our carbon footprint.  Energy-saving products must have a “Manufacturer Certification Statement,” which you will need in order to claim your credit.

The good thing about remodeling your home to give way to these energy-saving solutions is that, aside from qualifying for tax credit and for being able to help protect the environment, you also get to save on energy costs.  With proper insulation, for example, you no longer have to work your heater or your cooler double time, and you can, therefore, significantly reduce your monthly utility bills.  You can instead spend your money on some other more important things.   There is also one bonus to getting an energy-efficient home renovation.   You get to improve how your home looks.  You get rid of your old and rusty roofing, or those old and rotten doors and windows in the guide of going green!  If you have always wanted to have a newer-looking living space, then you might as well do it, but in an environmentally friendly way.  It’s really like hitting two birds with one stone.

Categories: Energy Consumption, Green Right Now, Homeowner Tips, Replacement Windows - Tags: , , , , , , ,

When Do You Replace Your Windows?

Written by on September 8, 2011 · Leave a Comment

It is quite difficult to figure out when your windows need replacement.  In fact, when it comes to home improvements and remodeling particular areas of the house, homeowners seldom think of their windows.  For them, there are always those other areas that need to be prioritized for repairs.

However, this mindset ought to be changed.  Home window repair or replacement should be deemed just as important as other kinds of repair around the house. This is because windows are a great factor when it comes to your home being energy efficient.

Replacing your home windows into energy efficient ones, or simply repairing them to ensure that they are properly insulating your home, will help lower your utility bills and allow you to save in energy costs.

So how do you know when it is time to go about window replacement or repairs?

1. When your windows get condensation or frost build-up.  If this happens, it means that your windows are not giving your house good insulation.  Extra moisture can get in, and this can cause toxic mold growth, which in turn would jeopardize your family’s health.  This can also cause your window frames to rot and weaken gradually.

2.  When the inside window panes are cold to the touch during winter, or hot during summer.   This is also another sign that your windows are not insulating your home well enough, and are therefore making your heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system work double time.

3.  When there are cracks on the glass or signs of rotting.  This is pretty self-explanatory.  If you take a look at your windows – both from outside and from the inside – and see cracks, broken parts, or sign of damage, or if they don’t close or open properly, then it is time to get replacement windows or do some repairs.

Even without these signs, you can also get home windows replacement when you are no longer happy with how your windows look. Make sure to come visit Statewide Remodeling and consult with our knowledgable staff regarding this important investment in your home.

Categories: Energy Consumption, Homeowner Tips, Insulation, Replacement Windows - Tags: , , , , ,

Amazing Energy Savings Results from Statewide Remodeling! [VIDEO]

Written by on August 1, 2011 · Leave a Comment

You may remember our home energy video a few weeks ago where we showed you a homeowner’s attic that was 131 degrees even though it was only in the mid 80′s outside.

This video shows you the actual energy saving results that Statewide Remodeling achieved for this family with 5 energy saving home improvements.

Even though it was 104 degrees outside when we returned to shoot his video, we were able to cool the attic over 20%.

Learn the 5 things we did to lower the attic temperature and improve energy efficiency.


Find out how Statewide Remodeling can help you Go Green and save money on your energy bills.

Categories: Energy Consumption, Green Right Now, Home Page, Homeowner Tips, Insulation, Newsletter, Video - Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

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