Acadia Housewrights

Big and Small Renovation Ideas

2009-07-03T16:40:00.000-07:00

Home renovations come in many different shapes and sizes. Here's a brief list of ideas for small and major investments in your home. Acadia can assist you with these projects, and many more—call us for a consultation and more information.

Doors and Windows
One of the most popular home renovation ideas is replacement doors and windows. Relatively cheap, upgrading these small areas of your home can increase your home's efficiency and décor. These projects almost always pay for themselves in a short amount of time and help the environment and your home. An incredible high percentage of heat loss occurs through window openings. Installing double or triple paned windows will increase your windows U-Factor several times over. Heat gain, air leakage, and condensation resistance can also be improved.

Over time, wood doors can shrink, swell, or bow. This can cause your entry door to stick, make it difficult to open and close, or create an uncomfortable draft coming from under the door. Doors can be sanded down or extended to fix these problems, but it may simply be time for a new door. Wood is the traditional, timeless option, but fiberglass or steel may offer better performance and durability.

You may be eligible for the tax credit, as well! Check back on the previous post about qualifications.

Insulate and Ventilate
Roof insulation is one of the most overlooked and vital parts of insulating your home. Heat rises and much of it works its way up and out through the roof. Roof insulation will help keep this heat inside your home, directly affecting the overall insulation performance of most homes more than any other insulation project. The key is to make sure you install proper ventilation with your roof insulation to prevent wood rot and ice dams.

Basement insulation is another great home renovation idea. The best plan is usually to install basement insulation along your basement walls. Many homeowners install basement insulation in their basement ceiling to prevent cold floors upstairs. This type of insulation can work, but it also means cutting the basement off from the rest of the home, resulting in an ultra cold, damp basement. Basement wall insulation can help keep your upstairs floors warm and may reclaim your basement as a livable space at the same time.

Add Storage Cabinets and Reorganize
Few people like the idea of spring cleaning, regardless of the season or the need. If your home is being overrun by simple clutter, the sheer psychological weight of trying to clean the house can be overwhelming. Worse, you may not know where exactly your clutter can be stowed, forcing you to spend countless hours, trying to reorganize everything, knowing that in just a few weeks everything is going to have once again run amok. Installing extra storage cabinets and hiring an interior designer to come in and reorganize your home will give you a plan to stow your common household items in a way that will allow you to maintain a clean house. Custom built storage cabinets will help motivate you to clean house and cut down and the time-consuming and psychological baggage of clutter removal.

(via Service Magic)

Find us on Angie's List

2009-06-30T12:47:00.000-07:00

Finding a qualified contractor can be difficult—it's a delicate relationship, as you're trusting a company to enhance your biggest investment, and you want to find the best in the business. Acadia is proud to stand behind our reputation as a contractor who cares, and we treat each project as if it were in our own homes.

Acadia Housewrights is part of Angie's List—which carries unbiased reviews of service providers (over 40,000 new reviews posted every month!) for contractors, doctors, dentists and much more.

We invite you to take a look at what others have said about our commitment to quality and excellence, and look forward to talking with you about your commissioned residence or renovation.

Top 10 Kitchen Trends

2009-06-26T12:03:00.000-07:00

Your kitchen is the centerpiece of your home. It's where you inevitably spend the most time, where friends gather or the kids are doing homework. If you're thinking of upgrading your kitchen, some of these ideas may be a great way to incorporate functionality and style into your home, when planning your kitchen renovation with Acadia.

1. An extension of the living room Kitchen cabinets are looking more like fine furniture, and counters and islands are becoming dining tables. Banquette seating can offer comfortable seating for people who congregate in the kitchen for more than food. Making your kitchen feel like an extension of the family room can welcome people to stay and enjoy the conversation.

2. White cabinetry Beautiful and timeless, white cabinets are a versatile choice for any kitchen. One attraction of white cabinetry is that it works with multiple architectural styles -- from traditional to country chic to contemporary.

3. Stainless-steel appliances Stainless-steel appliances bring a sophisticated and rich feel to the kitchen and work with a variety of styles. The sleek silver lines bring a polished look to refrigerators, stoves, and even trash compactors and waste bins. And no more worrying about fingerprints smudging the surface of stainless—manufacturers offer fingerprint-resistant steel that eliminates this issue.

4. Create work zones Specialty workstations are cropping up in kitchens across the country and range from elaborate to utilitarian. Popular examples include baking centers, coffee bars, wine-tasting nooks, and pizza-making stations.

5. Walk-in pantry A walk-in pantry is the perfect solution for families who require must-have kitchen items in quantity. All necessities -- snacks, canned goods, baking supplies, and even surplus goods such as paper towels are hidden behind closed doors. Space for items used on a daily basis, such as silverware, dishes, glassware, and cooking gadgets, is reserved for kitchen drawers and cupboards.

6. Save and Splurge mentality Kitchen island or farmhouse sink? Professional range or granite countertops? By choosing to splurge on one item versus another, consumers are sticking to their remodeling budgets and saving money. This mentality has always been considered by remodelers, but when the state of the economy is shaky, this trend rises to top of mind.

7. Use technology As people become increasingly tech-savvy, kitchens and bathrooms are being accessorized with electronics rather than traditional decor. Popular electronic items, such as wall-mount televisions, sound systems, and computers, are showing up in all rooms of the home. Another hot trend is making the home "wireless."

8. Eco-friendly materials Products made from sustainable materials are increasingly popular. Eco-friendly cabinetry made from bamboo or wheatboard, are often manufactured with low- or no-formaldehyde glues, which protect the home's indoor air quality. Water-conserving faucets and Energy Star-rated appliances help homeowners save money on energy bills and reduce the use of natural resources.

9. Integrated appliances Refrigerators have become ever larger, but new technology and techniques make them virtually invisible -- a big leap forward in built-in refrigeration. The same is true for dishwashers. Cabinetry panels discreetly hide these appliances, allowing the room's style to take center stage.

10. Layered lighting Many functional and comfortable kitchens have a layered lighting approach. A series of recessed fixtures provide ambient light. Chandeliers and pendants are popular products for task lighting over an island or seating area. Accent lighting above and below cabinets -- or in a glass-front cabinet -- highlight special areas of the kitchen. Having a variety of lighting options lets you instantly convert your kitchen from a functional work space to an intimate dining space.

Now light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are available for the home. These low-voltage lamps consume less than half as much electricity as fluorescents, and can last 10 times as long. One of the most practical uses for LEDs right now is in undercabinet lighting.

(via Kitchen & Bath Ideas)

2009 Color Trends

2009-06-24T11:53:00.000-07:00

(via the Paint Quality Institute)

Three styles are emerging for interior color in 2009. Like fashion trends, these palettes are influenced by the current economic conditions, in addition to evolving values and the need to feel comforted and inspired by the spaces we live in.

Menswear

Like a warm argyle or paisley sweater, consumers increased yearning for artisanship, authentic materials and design motivates “Menswear”. Menswear allows for a more traditional use of hues than recently seen such as navy blue, leather-like brown and rich grey.

Texture-like finishes and decorative techniques are also important to this palette. Incorporating herringbone and argyle paint patterns provides a focal point in living and family rooms.

Color recommendations: grey, navy blue, brown, black

Weather or Not

Eco-consciousness continues to expand and “Weather or Not!” glances upward for inspiration. This palette takes a cue from the continually changing skies, provides the homeowner with colors represented by sunrise or sunset resulting in a shift from the more expected botanical hues.

While suitable for all areas of the home, these combinations are an especially good choice for bathrooms, bedrooms and family living spaces.

Color Recommendations: Dusty purple, deep blue, bronze metallics and rosy red

What's in Bloom?

Consumers increased desire for healthy and sustainable locally grown fruits and vegetables provides bountiful inspiration for “What’s in Bloom?”. Another twist on the “green” movement, this palette is inspired by fresh hues including citrus green, mango and lemon yellow.

Not just for a one-season offering, “What’s in Bloom” also derives inspiration from fresh fall produce such as pumpkin orange and apple red.

“What’s in Bloom” is ripe for use in a child’s bedroom, playroom and kitchens. Use in closets and pantry areas to provide an unanticipated pop of color.

Color Recommendations: Citrus Green, Mango, Apple Red, Lemon Yellow, Pumpkin Orange. Use black as an accent color on trim or doors, providing an unexpected frame for the color palette.

Benefiting the environment—and your wallet—through home improvements

2009-06-15T11:47:00.000-07:00

On February 17, President Obama signed into law the American Recovery and Reinvestment Tax Act of 2009. This bill extends and modifies the tax credits for windows, doors, and skylights established in the Energy Policy Act of 2005.

The following guidance is not intended as legal advice, and you should consult a tax professional with specific questions. For more information, visit the Energy Star website.

To qualify for the tax credit, windows, doors, and skylights placed in service after February 17, 2009 must have a U-factor and Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) less than or equal to 0.30. You can find the U-factor and SHGC on the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) label.

NFRC is the only federally recognized organization for determining the energy performance of windows, doors and skylights. Please see the NFRC website for information concerning product performance.

Qualifying products purchased between February 17, 2009 and December 31, 2010 are eligible for a tax credit equal to 30 percent of the product cost. The maximum amount of homeowner credit for all improvements combined (including roofing, insulation, HVAC, and water heaters) is $1,500 during 2009 and 2010. Here’s a simple breakdown:

Tax credits are available at 30% of the cost, up to $1,500, in 2009 & 2010 (for existing homes only) for:

Windows and Doors
Insulation
Roofs (Metal and Asphalt)
HVAC
Water Heaters (non-solar)
Biomass Stoves

Tax credits are available at 30% of the cost, with no upper limit through 2016 (for existing homes & new construction) for:

Geothermal Heat Pumps
Solar Panels
Solar Water Heaters
Small Wind Energy Systems
Fuel Cells

For products purchased between January 1, 2009 and February 16, 2009, the terms of the tax credit are less clear. The Internal Revenue Service will likely clarify these terms in guidance documents, which are expected to be released later this year.

Craftsman FYI #1 Wall Hanging Tip

2009-03-25T18:00:00.000-07:00

Here is a little tip that may be helpful. While hanging some artwork on freshly painted walls I made small pencil marks all over the walls for reference. Needless to say, my wife was not pleased with my lay out lines. I assured her that I could erase them with no problem. She was skeptical to say the least. Erasing pencil marks on raw wood or most surfaces can be done with denatured alcohol. My wife was worried that it would change the sheen on the walls. I tried the alcohol in an inconspicuous place first with no ill effects. Just put a little on a clean paper towel and wipe the pencil marks off.

Remember this only works on pencil marks!

Dan Carlyle

Production Manager & Master Craftsman

Wichita Cost Value Report

2009-03-20T13:22:00.000-07:00

As busy as we are in the office I was somewhat concerned that I could keep the commitment that I made to myself (and others!) to keep posting on a regular basis. So far so good.

I came across an article in Remodeling Magazine’s online version. Annually they put together a Cost Value Report which relates to average project type costs and how much a homeowner can expect to recoup from the investment made to upgrade their home. You can look at it on a national level but for reference sake here is the Wichita area information. If you open the link there is a map that qualifies what geographic areas are included in this specific report.

http://www.remodeling.hw.net/2008/costvsvalue/division/west-north-central/city/wichita--ks.aspx

Our posting ideas are beginning to really roll in from our craftsmen. Look for a great idea on how to hang pictures, mirrors, and anything else in our next posting!

Have a great weekend!

Jeff Grier

Here We Go!

2009-03-04T14:20:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the first posting of the Acadia Housewrights blog. Construction is not typically considered a large adopter of technology, especially when it comes to communication, but we created Acadia to not be a ‘typical’ construction company. My hope is that this site becomes an online tool for anyone to use as a resource regarding residential design and construction, in the Wichita area and who knows, maybe elsewhere.

My intent is to use this as a place where our leadership team and our master craftsmen can:
· post new product and design ideas
· place links for online articles that are worth reading
· share some of their handy techniques and tricks of the trade for the do-it-yourselfer
· maybe (if anyone out there has any!) answer questions about residential design and construction

I think this could prove to be a lot of fun for everyone on the Acadia team and will also prove to be a valuable resource for anyone looking for information on residential design and construction.

Keep an eye out for things to come! Check out our new website http://www.acadiahw.com/.

Until Later,

Jeff Grier