Our Boulevard model included a loft style bed in the guest bedroom. Kids could climb up the ladder and enjoy their own semi-private sleeping nook or play area. This home also had an elevator incorporated into the floor plan. The "elevator" area was a walk-in pantry, with conversion to an elevator later as an option.

Adrienne with SAB Homes

I think it is necessary to sit down and calmly talk about this issue.  Most people in the service business do the right thing.  But it is a two way street and normally it is best to find the middle path.

Philip Anderson

HDR Remodeling

Berkeley Ca

Your federal tax credit is 30% through 2016.  For your state tax credit see http://dsireusa.org/

In Louisiana you can get 30% plus 50% on a system that costs $25,000, so you would get $20,000 here!

It would be a very good Idea to have your foundaton looked at. Unfortunaly in this area foundation shifts area a big problem. Find someone that will provide a free estimate and check with your home insurance to see if they are able to help offest your cost. Make sure you get a copy of your vendors insurance certificate before you pay anything or have any work done.

Good Luck !!

Mary Redwine

Mary's Handymen LLC

14919 SW Fwy # 301-205

Sugar Land TX 77478

Air sealing and insulation are the two biggest things you can do to globally improve the efficiency of the home. 

There are several articles on this application and I have yet to be in a home that didn't need it. 

Tightening up the envelope across the attic surface will lessen air infiltration at all the other areas of the home. 

Ask Your Wife First!!! Happy Wife Happy Life... and Hire a professional Do Not attempt this under taking witht he amout of recon and intel You have provided here.

here are a few industry terms

  Deck Building Terms

Here are some of the terms you'll need to know to complete this project:

Beam: A horizontal support member (Also see post.)

Decking: The material installed over the supporting framing members to which the roofing material is applied

Edge: Either of the two longer sides of a board, perpendicular to the face

Face: Either of the two wide surfaces of a board

Footing: The base on which a masonry wall or other support rests. It spreads out the load to prevent settling

Joists: Horizontal framing members that support a floor or ceiling.

Pilot Hole: A small-diameter hole that guides a nail or screw

Post: Any vertical support member

Rim Joist: The outermost joist in a structure's floor framing

Rise: The vertical distance from one point to another above it; a measurement you need in planning a stairway or ramp (Also see run.)

Run: The horizontal distance a ramp or stairway traverses (Also see rise.)

Screed: Leveling concrete, sand or other material by pulling a board pipe or other straightedge across it in a sawing motion

Three-Four-Five Triangle: An easy, mathematical way to check whether a large angle is square. Measure 3 feet along one side, 4 feet along the other. if the corner is square, the diagonal distance between those two points will equal 5 feet.

Toenail: To drive nails at an angle.

Next to building or buying a home, a remodel may be one of the biggest investments you’ll ever make — and choosing the right remodeling partner is the single most critical component to whether that investment maintains its value. The best place to start in considering a remodeling partner is to identify those that are registered and/or licensed with the state to do business as remodeling contractors. In addition, check for their membership in local and state remodeling professional organizations, such as NARI (National Association of the Remodeling Industry), and whether they have certifications in their trades — i.e., Green Certified Professional Certification, Certified Remodeler (CR), Certified Remodeler Specialist (CRS), Certified Remodeler Associate (CRA), Certified Kitchen and Bath Remodeler (CKBR), Certified Lead Carpenter (CLC), Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS), etc.

Other factors to consider include years in business, reputation, recommendations and references, and membership in local business, civic and community organizations. NARI suggests the following questions you should ask prospective remodelers:

How long have you been in business?

Who will be assigned as project supervisor for the job?

Who will be working on the project? Are they employees or subcontractors?

Does your company carry workers compensation and liability insurance?

What is your approach to a project such as mine?

How many projects like mine have you completed in the past year?

May I have a list of references from those projects?

May I have a list of business referrals or suppliers?

What percentage of your business is repeat or referral business?

If you are getting competitive bids, be sure to only work with reputable companies.  We also recommend researching articles and tips from industry websites such as RemodelingMag.com and NARIofIdaho.org to learn more about the importance of selecting a professional remodeler.

Over the years, we've collected a number of commonly asked questions that we hear from folks who are contemplating a home remodel, and we've devoted part of our website to answering them.  Feel free to peruse these Q&As.

Dear C E,

I would leave the window alone.  Aluminum windows are typically electro statically painted in a controlled environment when they were originally built at the factory.  This environment includes air cleaners, pressure sprayers, heat/infrared curing ovens and lots of air handling equipment (large fans).  This controlled environment leaves your aluminum windows looking like brand new car paint finishes.  It is nearly impossible to replicate such an environment in the field at your home thus leaving many people with unhappy results when they try to repaint aluminum windows after they have been installed.  The weather effects and pitting you describe make this process almost impossible.  I believe you will be in for a lot of work and frustration and not happy with your end result if you try such a task. 

Sincerely,

John Patrick

President, Larmco Windows, Inc.

We like to use a sanded caulk that matches the grout for that seam between the countertop and backsplash. The flexibility of the caulk allows it to expand and contract without cracking out like normal grout. It's not a forever fix and needs to be touched up occasionaly, but it's a much better solution than just grouting that joint.

The killer mistake that people make is they let money become too big a deciding criteria, and then suffer through the whole project because of it. First, don't do that! Don't let the money become a bigger part of the process than the quality of service you want. Reputable contractors in any given area are buying from mostly the same vendors, so there aren't major differences in pricing. Interview the firms you are interested, find one that you feel a high level of trust for. If you "feel" one is going to be more expensive than another, examine that feeling and ask yourself if it isn't just because that firm might have a better handle on the entire scope of your project and their responsibilities within that scope than firms that might tend to gloss over things like that. Decide on the firm based on if you  want to work with THAT firm or not.

That said, also make sure to write out a list of all the things you'd like to have when all is said and done, and then prioritize them, so you don't forget or bail on something important to you. And then- have fun!

Were the gutters included in a line item on the proposal or contract?

You need to make sure that the material allows water to pass thru the block or stone.  Both choices can allow water thru if planned ahead.  Blocks can have weep holes that allow water to pass and many faux stone products are designed for drainage. 

Give a place for the water to go -

Being too trendy especially if you are going to sell the home in a few years.  Also, if you are staying in your home, installing cheap cabinets like IKEA is a big mistake.

One of the most important foundational elements of a successful fire damage restoration project is the philosophical approach the restorer takes in addressing the damage. Years ago the typical practice was to add oderants (smelly stuff) and try to cover smoke residues with encapsulants (e.g.KILZ). The professional restorer today concentrates on source odor removal, that is, removing the smoke residues as completely as possible rather than trying to overpower them with other "better" smells and covering them up with some sort of "sealer". This is more labor intensive, but is fundamental to restoring the property to a true pre-loss condition and maintaining the property's value. The best bet for successfully identifying what can be successfully salvaged is finding a competent restorer advisor that you trust- this is not really a do it yourself skill. set.