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May 11th, 2010
Congress is about to up-the-ante for homeowners interested in making their homes more energy-efficient. Currently making its way through Congress is "The Home Star Energy Retrofit Act", affectionately known as "Cash for Caulkers". Its goal is to provide rebates for completing energy-efficient home improvement projects and installing energy-efficient appliances.
At present, the maximum tax credit available for installing qualifying replacement windows, doors, insulation and high-efficiency HVAC equipment is $1,500.00. "The Home Star Energy Retrofit Act" aims to enhance those credits, making it as cost-effective to make these improvements as it may ever be…in our lifetimes!
For instance, currently homeowners receive a 30% tax credit for installing windows and doors that comply with stringent US Government requirements. That percentage may rise to 50% of those product's cost once the bill is passed by both houses of Congress.
Perhaps the most compelling piece of the legislation is known as the "Gold Star" program. It would require homeowners to obtain a Home Energy Audit from a licensed, professional, trained contractor and implement the recommended improvements in order to increase their homes energy-efficiency by 20%. Those who do so would receive a $3,000.00 rebate on the products purchased. Homeowners who increase their home's efficiency beyond 20% would earn an additional $1,000.00 rebate for every 5% increase in energy-efficiency. A homeowner who, as a result of making the recommended improvements, increases his or her home's energy-efficiency by 45% would receive a rebate of $8,000.00, which is the maximum rebate amount currently being considered.
Regardless of exactly what the legislation looks like once it makes its way out of Congress and onto President Obama's desk, homeowners would be wise to prepare themselves for the home improvement opportunity of a lifetime.
We hope that you'll allow American Home Concepts, Inc. into your house to perform a Home Energy Audit in order to determine how best to make your home more energy-efficient. Be sure to take advantage of all the rebate opportunities available to you! Please click the link below for more information.
For More Information about our Home Energy Audit, Vinyl Window & Door replacement & Insulation services or to schedule a free consultation, call 610-667-7775 or click here.
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Tags: Cash For Caulker Contractor, Contractor, Energy Tax Credit, Home Energy Audit, Home Star Rebate, Window and Door installer, Window and Door replacement
Posted in Ask The Contractor, Contractor Selection, Doors & Windows, Energy Saving Tips | No Comments »
April 20th, 2010
Contractor EPA Lead-Safe Certification
Effective April 22, 2010, all contractors and renovators who perform improvements to homes built prior to 1978 are required to be lead-safe certified by the EPA. How can you know for certain if your contractor is certified? For one thing, they will display the following logo provided by the EPA:
A certified contractor will also be able to provide you with a certificate bearing the seal of the EPA along with the company's unique certification number. This is proof to you, the homeowner, that your remodeling contractor has been trained in the containment of lead, which could be present if your home was built prior to 1978. Don't allow a remodeling contractor to perform work on your home unless they can provide a valid EPA certificate.
According to the EPA, lead paint that is in good condition is not a health hazard. But once you start your kitchen or bathroom remodeling project, you'll feel more comfortable knowing that your contractor is lead-safe certified by the EPA and has been trained in proper lead containment. Similarly, window & door replacement can potentially disturb lead paint. A remodeler using lead-safe practices will take the precautions necessary to contain any lead, should it be present.
When searching for a contractor in the greater Philadelphia area, make sure that you include EPA lead-safe certification as one of your criteria. As a lead-safe certified firm, American Home Concepts, Inc. sincerely hopes that you will consider us for your remodeling needs.
For More Information about our lead-safe certified home remodeling services or to schedule a free consultation, call 610-667-7775 or click here.
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Tags: Certified lead-safe contractor, EPA approved contractor, Lead-safe certified firm, RRP certified contractor
Posted in Ask The Contractor, Contractor Selection, Helpful Resources, Home Renovation Tips, Remodeling News | No Comments »
March 24th, 2010
First and foremost, you may wonder what exactly is a Home Energy Audit?. Most homeowners in the United States face escalating fuel and energy costs during summer and winter season, discover that it's hard to know where to begin when you're faced with the intimidating task of determining where exactly your heat from the furnace and cool air from air conditioning or central air unit are going! Is it out through your windows and doors? Perhaps its even through the roof. It could very well be your basement that is drafty and robbing your home of its heat in the winter? Last but least perhaps it your furnace that is no longer energy efficient?
A Home Energy Audit can take the guess-work out of isolating the culprit. An energy auditor has been trained to perform tests on your home in order to determine exactly how you are losing these precious resources. Basically, an energy audit consists of a "blower-door" test in which all windows, doors and any other openings (i.e. fireplace flues, etc…) are sealed shut, except for the front door. Whoever conducts the test places a large fan in the front door opening and literally creates a negative air-pressure environment inside of your home by sucking as much air as possible out of your house. By doing this, he or she can then use smoke-sticks, incense sticks or infra-red photography to determine where the leaks in your home are most evident. Once this is ascertained, you'll have a checklist of items which are in need of attention.
A licensed, professional contractor can then provide the products and professional installation required to solve all of the problems identified by your energy audit. Check to ensure that the company performing the audit has experience installing replacement windows, doors and insulation. The Better Business Bureau (www.bbb.org) is a good source for obtaining an independent opinion.
We hope that you will choose American Home Concepts, Inc for all of your energy-saving needs.
For More Information about our Home Energy Audit, Vinyl Window & Door replacement & Insulation services or to schedule a free consultation, call 610-667-7775 or click here.
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Posted in Contractor Selection, Doors & Windows, Energy Saving Tips, Helpful Resources, Tools & Tips | No Comments »
March 9th, 2010
I am often asked which replacement entry door will insulate a home the best. Usually, the answer has as much to do with the installation of the door as the insulation inside the door.
An entry door is only as good as the contractor who installs it. Make certain that you’re dealing with a contractor who understands that only a custom-made door installed securely against your door frame will keep out the elements. An installer who purchases a door from a home-center or big-box retailer and merely “makes the door fit” should be avoided at all costs.
Similarly, check the contractor’s record at the Better Business Bureau (www.bbb.org) in order to obtain their grade rating. This independent source of information is priceless, as it might save you quite a bit of heartache. Check also that the contractor has been in business for more than 15 years. Sadly, most contractors are out of business within the first five years. One who has at least a 15-year track record has most likely made a commitment to servicing customer problems and performing excellent work.
As for the door itself, it is worth noting that high quality steel and fiberglass replacement doors are typically filled with the same insulating material in their interior cavity. Specifically, good quality doors contain polyurethane foam and possess a thermal-break which both help to keep the cold temperatures which contact the exterior of the door from infiltrating the interior surface of the door.
Aside from drafts coming in through the sides and top of a replacement entry door, problems with cheaper, inferior-quality doors often come from drafting underneath the door. Insist on a door with an adjustable threshold and rubber “fins” at the bottom of the entry door and you’ll be happy with your purchase for years to come. The adjustable threshold literally hugs the rubber “fins” for a secure seal to eliminate air penetration. Likewise, a magnetic rubber seal around the door frame will ensure an air-tight fit on both the sides and top of your new door.
Unfortunately, the big-box retailers are more interested in attaining a low price-point than in supplying a good high quality replacement entry door. Search for a professional, local door installation contractor whose door possesses the elements above and you’ll avoid the headaches associated these mass marketers of mediocrity.
We hope you’ll consider American Home Concepts, Inc. for your door replacement and for all of your other home remodeling needs.
For More Information about our Door Replacement & Installation services or to schedule a free consultation, call 610-667-7775 or click here.
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Posted in Ask The Contractor, Contractor Selection, Doors & Windows, Energy Saving Tips, Helpful Resources, Home Renovation Tips, Remodeling Ideas, Remodeling News, Tools & Tips | No Comments »
February 26th, 2010
Much of the decision about replacement windows will not only involve price, but what is more advantageous over time. While both vinyl and wood windows have their advantages, wood windows have several built-in disadvantages. These will have a significant impact on what your windows will actually cost you in the long-run.
Vinyl windows are far more durable than wood windows. They also provide long-lasting benefits, including excellent insulation properties and the ability to tilt-in both the upper and lower sashes for easy cleaning from inside your home. Vinyl windows are typically competitively priced, are available in a variety of shapes and styles, and they never need painting.
Windows that are made from wood tend to be less durable than their vinyl counterparts. In addition, they require far more maintenance whether you stain or paint them. Wood stains can fade over time and paint will eventually crack or the color will dull, necessitating repainting.
Wooden windows can often swell as a result of moisture, making them more difficult to lift and lower. In short, wooden windows are both more expensive to install and far more expensive to maintain than vinyl windows.
If you are considering replacement windows, it’s important that you fully understand the advantages and disadvantages of both vinyl and wood. An experienced window installation contractor can help review your home, and work closely with you to decide which type is more suitable for your home. They will take into consideration where your home is located, what you are attempting to accomplish and your budget.
For More Information about our Window Replacement & Installation services or to schedule a free consultation, call 610-667-7775 or click here.
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Posted in Ask The Contractor, Contractor Selection, Doors & Windows, Energy Saving Tips, Helpful Resources, Home Renovation Tips, Remodeling Ideas, Remodeling News, Tools & Tips | No Comments »
February 26th, 2010
It’s been a long accepted fact, that remodeling your kitchen almost always increases the value of your home. Kitchen remodeling is one of the most common and sought-after home improvement projects in the United States. Kitchen remodeling projects do not necessarily have to be extremely expensive. In fact, minor kitchen remodeling can make a big impact on your kitchen's appearance without breaking your budget. Be careful, though, not to equate "minor kitchen remodeling" with using poor quality materials.
Before remodeling your kitchen, you must first find a professional contractor to help you determine how major or minor you'd like your remodeling project to be. It's often most beneficial to decide which type of remodeling will make your kitchen space more efficient to use. If you yearn for additional cabinetry and counter top space, a complete kitchen remodel is in order, perhaps with considerable reconfiguration of your kitchen. If you're satisfied with the size and location of your cabinets, counter top length and layout of your existing kitchen, you may simply want to replace the counter tops with granite, install ceramic tiles on your backsplash and tile the kitchen floor anew. Painting your existing cabinetry and installing eye-catching hardware (knobs or pulls) often transforms an otherwise "tired" looking kitchen into one you will be proud to show-off!
Your best plan is to review some home improvement magazines in order to determine what most interests you. Once you’ve done this, contact a licensed kitchen remodeling contractor and discuss with them your budget as well as the desired end-effect you hope to accomplish with your remodel.
Whether you ultimately decide on a major kitchen renovation or some minor kitchen remodeling, these are the first steps that you should take. Hiring a licensed contractor will also help ensure that the work is done exactly the way you want it, on schedule and within the budget that you have set aside.
For More Information about our Kitchen Remodeling Services or to schedule a free consultation, call 610-667-7775 or click here.
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Posted in Ask The Contractor, Contractor Selection, Helpful Resources, Home Renovation Tips, Kitchen Remodeling | No Comments »
February 26th, 2010
Remodeling your bathroom can be the most fun you've had in a while or a truly miserable experience. Choosing the proper bathroom remodeling contractor will ensure that you fall into the first category.
Many older bathrooms show the excessive wear from years of water and moisture damage. Often, floor joists are rotted and need replacing and plumbing under the floor has deteriorated to the point where repair is not an option. You must choose a licensed contractor who has worked with scores of similar problems over at least the last 15 years. This is the best way to ensure that he or she won't be surprised when something unforseen arises. An inspection of your existing bathroom by a licensed contractor with a good track record and hundreds of completed projects will eliminate your worry.
The very first step your contractor should take is ensuring that your bathroom is structurally sound. This will mean making sure that the sub-floor has not been damaged by water and that the floor joists are not beginning to rot. Next, an inspection of your plumbing will shed light on its condition. Once this has been determined, you will be better able to judge how much you will have to spend on remodeling your bathroom.
If you want only to give your bathroom a facelift, you could keep it very simple by replacing only your vanity cabinet or pedestal sink, faucet and perhaps buying a new shower curtain, hand towels and a nicely-framed mirror.
If your home is over 25 years old, though, a complete bathroom remodel is probably in order. Converting a soaking tub to a Jacuzzi or Whirlpool becomes an option in this scenario. Some homeowners find that they don't really need a bathtub at all and would rather create a large walk-in shower with glass doors and a marble sitting area. Ceramic tile designs aid in creating the bathroom of your dreams. Heated floors and double-vanity cabinets are just two of many options which are available when you decide to engage in a full-scale remodel of your existing bathroom.
A bathroom remodeling project can be time-consuming and somewhat inconvenient. A licensed bathroom remodeling contractor can help design your new bathroom, make sure your remodeling is up to code, and ensure that the job is done in a timely manner and right on-budget.
For More Information about our Bathroom Remodeling Services or to schedule a free consultation, call 610-667-7775 or click here .
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