Why Should I Upgrade My Homes Exterior?

Why Should I Upgrade My Homes Exterior?

The more you learn about today's exterior products - particularly Owens Corning vinyl siding, roofing and windows - the more you'll ask, "why would I not update my home's exterior?" As the saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words, so be sure to check out the Transforming homes from ordinary to extraordinary section where we share remarkable before-and-after photos of older homes that now enjoy a completely rejuvenated appeal using the Owens Corning Exterior Design Collections™.


 


A beautiful way to add value.

According to a study by the National Association of Real Estate Appraisers, you can expect returns up to 106% on home project investments involving the siding, windows, doors, roof, and energy upgrades.* And if left undone, they will nearly always reduce a home's resale value.

A place you’re proud to call home.

The value of your home's exterior goes beyond dollars and cents. It's the feeling you get when you pull in the driveway every day. It's the way it enables you to express your unique personality and style. It's the compliments you receive from neighbors and visitors. In other words, a well-coordinated exterior featuring one of the Owens Corning Exterior Design Collections makes your home a source of pride.

TIPS TO INCREASE YOUR HOME'S RESALE VALUE

TIPS TO INCREASE YOUR HOME'S RESALE VALUE


MIAMI - May 10, 2006 - You've decided to move, but the housing market is more competitive than ever. To get an edge on your competition, it's important to make your home as appealing as possible so that you can sell it quickly and at its maximum value. The experts at Nailite, a manufacturer and distributor of premium residential and commercial siding, provide the following tips to increase the resale value of your home.

Give it curb appeal
A home's exterior is one of the most important selling points. During the warmer seasons, have colorful flowers and potted plants adorn your yard and entryways. Repaint your front door and replace welcome mats that appear worn or dirty. Also, have the grass cut and trim bushes and shrubs regularly.

Improve or replace siding
If the outside of your home is looking a bit dull, re-siding can be a dramatic and cost-effective way to improve its appearance. Nailite offers high-definition polypropylene siding that replicates the beauty of real cedar, brick and stone yet requires less maintenance. If you are not looking to replace the siding on your entire home, choose certain areas for accent siding.

Remove the clutter
Excess furniture can make a room seem smaller. Rearrange or remove certain furniture to give your home a feeling of openness.

Address any imperfections that can be easily fixed
Look at carpets for stains; walls and ceilings for paint scuffs or marks; floors and stairs for chips or cracks; and any other noticeable flaws. Replace fixtures and hardware to improve the appearance of the kitchen and bathroom.

Brighten it up
Lighting is essential because it can portray a certain mood and accentuate certain features of a room. Open the blinds and drapes to let as much natural light in as possible, and consider installing accent lighting.

Make it sparkle
Your home should be thoroughly clean and tidy to ensure potential homebuyers see it at its best. Burn candles or scented oils to remove any lingering odors. And don't forget about the outside: Clean off porches and decks and brush off debris from walkways.

For more information about Nailite's extraordinary siding panels, please call (888) 300-0070 or visit www.nailite.com.

About Nailite
Nailite, headquartered in Miami, Fla., has been manufacturing and distributing residential and commercial siding for more than 25 years. It specializes in creating high-definition polypropylene siding that replicates the beauty of real cedar, brick and stone, yet requires less maintenance and is lower in cost than these natural products. All Nailite siding orders are placed through an installer and a Nailite distributor.

Home Energy Saver

Home Energy Saver
The first web-based do-it -yourself energy audit.

Investing in a home on your street could be more profitable than investing on Wall Street.
MAKING IT HAPPEN
Find resources to make your home more energy efficient.

More Info

Kitchens get Bigger and Greener

Kitchens get bigger and greener
A survey shows what features homeowners want these days.
By Joan Brunskill Of The Associated Press
Homeowners continue to look,and want larger kitchens, and now they also increasingly want eco-friendly materials for their floors and space for recycling centers, according to a new survey.

Those are among conclusions in the latest Home Design Trends Survey of members of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), based on kitchen and bath trends during the fourth quarter of 2006.

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Basement Remodeling Ideas

Basement Remodeling Ideas
Are you thinking about remodeling your basement? Check out these great basement remodeling ideas and step by step instructions for framing basement walls from Better Homes and Gardens® Online.

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Time to Update

Before you remodel your kitchen, make a checklist of major and minor problems and keep notes of the features you dislike and like the most. This way, when it comes time to sit down with a qualified designer, they’ll know exactly how to suit your needs, taste and style. Start off by thinking about the following important details in your kitchen and how you’d like to either change or keep them in your remodeled room.
Is there adequate space? Make sure you’re satisfied with the amount of counter space, cabinet space and floor space. The position of your refrigerator or shape of your counter may be taking away from a useful area.
Are you happy with the traffic flow through your kitchen? If there’s more than one cook in your household, you may want to consider making more room around the main work space. If you enjoy entertaining, you may want an open plan kitchen that allows for more social interaction between rooms other than the kitchen.
Is your kitchen efficient? If your appliances are outdated, they may be costing you more money than you expect. New technological advances with dishwashers, disposals and refrigerators can save you a considerable amount of money and may be worth the investment.
Do you have children? Depending on whether or not you have children, and their ages, your kitchen may need to be remodeled. Dated appliances and the set-up of your kitchen can be hazardous for young kids. If you are in the process of extending your family, you may even want more room for cooking larger meals and lower cabinets for easier access to children’s food.
Do you like the location and design of your kitchen? Maybe you’d like to add a deck on to the side of your house and would like to incorporate the door into the layout of your kitchen. You may want to re-arrange the position of windows to allow more or less sunlight or to watch your children play in the yard. Many people don’t realize it’s unsanitary to have a bathroom connected to the kitchen. If this is your layout, you may want to consider creating a hallway or different entrance to the bathroom.

Metal Roofs' Popularity on Rise

Metal Roofs' Popularity on Rise

Source: Sunday Gazette - Mail; Charleston, W.V.
Publication date: February 11, 2007
By Charles Shumaker

For the Sunday Gazette-Mail

Homeowners who roofed their homes with shingles for years are finding that the decades-old use of metal roofing is a now stylish and practical option.

Pam Sovine, vice president for Southern Building Systems Inc. in Charleston, said the trend of installing metal roofs has especially taken off in the past five years.

"People are realizing that this isn't that old tin roof," she said.

The older version of the metal roof brought loud noises indoors when rain landed, she said. The new generation of metal roofs, however, is quieter and more durable.

Many come with a 45-year warranty.

"As much as anything, people realize this could be the last roof they have to put on their house," Sovine said.

The roofing material is now galvanized and can be installed on top of shingles. That means the metal roof is more environmentally friendly because the old shingles don't have to be removed and thrown out.

"You can save money too on removal and disposal," Sovine said.

Homeowners who become customers at Southern Building Systems have been attracted by the appearance of the metal roofs. There are different styles and colors that bring in customers solely on the look, she said.

"I think this is mainly, like with everything in home decorating, it's a trend that is appealing to people visually," Sovine said. "But then, people start being educated on it and find it lasts longer."

Sovine, who has worked with her family's metal roof supply and installation business for 15 years, has customers who have metal roofs as old as the business.

"A 20-year shingle may start showing age in 10 years," she said.

She said most metal roofs need very little maintenance and take much longer to age.

She said the prices can be more expensive for metal roofing but the cost can be offset by not removing existing roofs and by not replacing them as often.

(c) 2007 Sunday Gazette - Mail; Charleston, W.V.. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.

Tips To Make Your Small Bathroom Look Bigger

Tips To Make Your Small Bathroom Look Bigger
There are a number of ways to make your small bathroom appear bigger when you’re consider small bathroom remodeling. Allow us to present you with a few bathroom remodeling tips on small bathroom remodeling:

1. Paint. Paint your new small bathroom in light, cooler colors. Lighter colors on your small bathroom walls will feel airy and should cause an optical illusion where your eyes naturally try to look "beyond" the color. Try painting clouds on the ceiling — if successful, such design can really add much needed creativity and flare to your small bathroom!

2. Wallpaper. When you decide to use wallpaper on your bathroom walls make sure you use small patterns – you don’t want giant, blocky design overwhelm your bathroom space. You can also install a bathroom tile with a delicate pattern that will repeat itself on the floor.

3. Light. Play with the bathroom light fixtures – install heavy lighting or better yet, a skylight if you can. A bay window is ideal, of course, you can create additional space for storage by using its alcove.

4. Bathroom Mirrors. Place bathroom mirrors opposite each other if possible. This old space-creating trick should do wonders to your small bathroom; combined with lots of light, this will definitely make the space appear larger than it is. Also if you place a bathroom mirror (on the angle if at all possible) against the bathroom window you will create additional "bathroom window" that way and make the room more spacious.

5. Reflective Surfaces. Choose bathroom cabinets, bathroom vanities and bathroom countertops with shiny, reflective surfaces; see if you can install a glass shower enclosure during your bathroom remodeling process or even install a full-length mirror inside or right outside your shower.

6. New Horizones. Focus on the horizontal parts of your bathroom, for example, add a tile put a bathroom cabinet above the toilet, put up hooks and hang bathroom baskets. border. See if you can turn any unused vertical space for bathroom storage,

7. Bath Mats. Skip bathroom rugs or bathroom mats if possible or choose lightly-colored ones for your small bathroom. Don’t overdo it on towel racks – make sure only the necessary accessories make it to your new small bathroom.

Small Kitchen Remodeling Ideas

Kitchen remodeling ranks among the most popular remodeling projects each year, as kitchens have become the functional and social hubs for many families. Almost every kitchen has a design flaw or something that can be changed to make the space more workable. However, no challenge is quite as difficult as reworking a small kitchen space. If you are on a tight budget, have building restrictions, or own a condominium where you must work with the space allotted, there are options that can help transform your kitchen. Use the following tips as a guide.
Counter Space

Even large kitchens are difficult to work in if there isn't enough counter space. Plan to cover as much of the area not occupied with appliances with counters. If the difference in floor space is a matter of a few square feet, plan your design with deeper counters.
Storage

Squeeze as many cabinets into your design as possible. Think about the placement of cabinets in relation to appliances, also. Deep cabinets that can hold plates should be located near the dishwasher, and large cabinets with slide-out drawers should be placed near the oven. The fewer unnecessary steps needed to complete a task, the smoother the function of your kitchen will be.
Built-Ins

Built-in ovens, microwaves and storage for small appliances will make your kitchen appear less cluttered. Waist high sliding shelves that hold mixers and toasters can quickly get small appliances out of sight, but keep them easily at hand. Built-in storage for foods like potatoes and onions, and bread storage cabinets will also give the kitchen a cleaner look.
Roll-Out Pantry

If there isn't enough room for a closet pantry, many cabinet manufacturers now make roll-out pantries. These can be pulled out to view the items you have, but rolled back into a space about 18 inches wide and 5 1/2 feet tall. If there isn't room for any type of pantry, consider converting a closet outside of the kitchen to a storage area for fine china, large pots and infrequently used items.
Lighting

An easily overlooked design element is good lighting. Under counter lighting and clean halogen lights can make the space appear larger and more comfortable.
Sinks

A small kitchen does not have to have a small sink! A large sink will make it easier for you to clean large pots and pans, and is a great place to stash the dirty pots before you have a chance to rinse them. If you are in an apartment or a small house, a large sink in the kitchen can serve double duty as a utility sink, too.

Some other ideas to increase the efficiency of your kitchen:
Put a wire basket on the inside of the cabinet to hold trash bags and other frequently used items. These store-bought products are affordable and easy to install on the back of the cabinet door or under the sink.
Mount an instant hot water heater on the sink. This is something small that makes a big difference. Installing such a device will usually replace the sprayer or soap. This could be really useful if you indulge in a cup of tea or instant coffee each day.
Install a tile back splash on all the walls above the counters, stove and sink. Doing this can quickly change the look of the kitchen and make it easier to clean.
Change the cabinet and drawer knobs. Out with the old and in with the new. This is a very simple and affordable option that will give the kitchen an extra special touch. There are a lot of unique designs out there, so be prepared to use your creative side.

Energy Efficiency Ratings

Energy Efficiency Ratings
Making Sense of the Numbers

It's pretty much a given that your new vinyl replacement windows will be more energy efficient than your old ones, especially if you're switching from single pane to dual pane windows. When shopping for new windows, you will be bombarded with terms and numbers that indicate just how energy efficient your new windows are. It can be very confusing, so here's a brief rundown of the terms you should know.
U-Factor or U-Value

The NFRC label displays the energy efficiency rating of your windows.

The U-Factor tells you how quickly heat can escape through your window. Since you want a window that insulates well, a lower U-Factor number is generally better. Most windows have a U-Factor between 0.20 and 1.20.
R-Value

The R-Value measures how well a window performs as an insulator. A higher R-Value means better insulation, so you want to look for a high number. The R-Value is the inverse of the U-Factor.
The Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC)

The SHGC number indicates the window's capability to block heat from the sun. Ratings range from zero (the best) to 1.0 (the worst).
Visible Transmittance (VT)

This is a measure of how much light gets in through the window. The higher the VT number, the more light you will see. VT ratings range between zero and one. A zero means the window would let in no light.
Air Leakage (AL)

The Air Leakage rating tells you how much air gets through the window. A lower number is better.



Argon

Some companies offer an insulating layer of argon gas between the panes, usually for an extra fee. Argon is a very heavy gas you cannot smell or see. It can do the job, but you'll have no idea if it will leak out over time since it's invisible.
Low-e Coating

"Low-e" means low emittance of energy. A low-e coating is a nearly invisible metallic layer on the glass that reduces the flow of heat. They keep hot air out in the summer and cold air out in the winter. Most modern vinyl replacement windows include low-e coatings to increase energy efficiency.

The NFRC Label

NFRC stands for the National Fenestration Rating Council. It is a non-profit organization created by the window industry to develop a standard way to rate energy efficiency. When you get your new windows, you should receive a label detailing various aspects of your windows' energy efficiency. The label is the best way to know you're getting what you paid for and to compare the efficiency of different windows. Don't buy vinyl replacement windows unless they come with the NFRC label.
Energy Star

Energy Star is a US federal government program designed to help consumers find energy efficient products. For vinyl replacement windows, the Energy Star program relies on the U-Factor and solar heat gain coefficient ratings supplied by the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC). To qualify for Energy Star, vinyl windows must meet certain criteria that vary depending on your geographic location. Buying an Energy Star window takes some of the guess work out of the process. It means that the government has given the window its seal of approval for energy efficiency. If you don't want to take the time to learn about the numbers on the NFRC label, looking for and Energy Star window is a quicker alternative.