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Archive for the ‘Home Renovation Tips’ Category
Tuesday, 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 »
Tuesday, 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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Tags: door contractor, door installer, entry door, fiberglass door, insulated door, insulated entry door, insulated fiberglass door, insulated steel door, philadelphia door contractor, philadelphia door installation contractor, professional door contractor, steel entry door
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 »
Friday, 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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Tags: custom made windows, energy-star windows, insulated vinyl windows, insulated windows, replacement windows, vinyl replacement windows, vinyl windows, window company, window contractor, window installer
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 »
Friday, 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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Tags: kitchen bath remodel, Kitchen Remodeling, kitchen remodeling advantageous, kitchen remodeling contractor, kitchen renovation, remodel a kitchen
Posted in Ask The Contractor, Contractor Selection, Helpful Resources, Home Renovation Tips, Kitchen Remodeling | No Comments »
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