Recovery in Spending on Remodeling Forecast to Start This Fall
Erie Construction Mid West recommends:
“Spending on major home improvement projects will decline through the middle of this year from 2009 levels before recovering in the fourth quarter, the Remodeling Futures Program at Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies forecast today.
The homeowner improvements that LIRA measures generally are big-ticket items, such as kitchen and bath remodels and additions to existing homes. The dollar totals exclude general maintenance and repair as well as all spending on rental properties.”
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Homeowners Benefit During Economic Slow Down with Home Improvements
Great article on how to increase the value of your home despite the economic downturn:
“Consumer confidence is close to the lowest it’s been since the late 80’s. Home prices are dropping, foreclosures are rising, and fuel costs are high. While the news can be depressing, the impact can benefit homeowners planning home improvements. The housing slump is affecting home remodeling contractors and the home improvement stores that supply the construction materials.”
Erie Construction Mid West wants you to make the most out your most important investment: your home!
Remodeling in a Recession? It Makes Sense
Erie Construction Mid West recommends:
“With the current economic downturn, many home owners are deciding to stay in their homes and remodel instead of trying to sell to purchase yet a larger home. Whether you’re trying to sell your home or staying put for a while, if you’ve been putting off a remodeling job, this just might be the right time to tackle that project.
If you could add greater value to your home at historically low prices for materials and labor, wouldn’t it make sense? Just as the cost of homes has dropped, so has the cost of building materials and contractors’ fees. Aside from paying less for materials, contractors may be more likely to charge less for their labor as well. And while it may be difficult to think about spending money on your home at this time, taking advantage of lower costs could be a great long-term investment. Also, since more people are staying in their current homes, they’ve switched their thinking from a way of adding value to their home, to a way of adding value to their lives.”
EPA Announces Delay of Lead Paint Rule Enforcement
Erie Construction Mid West is keeping consumers on top of the latest news.
“The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced it was delaying for several months enforcement of its Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule (RRP), which had become effective on April 22, 2010.
The announcement apparently was in response to concerns raised by a number of building industry professional associations, among them the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI), the Window and Door Manufacturers Association (WDMA) and others.”
Compare 8 Home Improvement Financing Choices
“For the first time in four years, homeowners in 2010 are expected to spend more on remodeling projects than they did the previous year — by almost 5 percent, according to numbers from Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies. It’s one more sign that the struggling housing market could have hit bottom, says Kermit Baker, a senior research fellow at the center and director of its Remodeling Futures Program.”
Learn The Basics Of Roofing
By Ron Jumper
The best advice is always simple, such as “if you don’t know, just ask” and today we are going to cover some roofing topics that come up from time to time. At Erie Construction Mid West, we want to make our customers comfortable and confident in their home improvement decisions.
Q: I hate the color of my shingles, can I paint them?
A: Yes, you can but it’s not advisable. Shingles lose their granules over time. What you can easily wind up with is a splotchy looking roof. Keep them painted every few years, though and you’ll be okay. Another thing, shingles are made so that there are variations in coloring. With a painted roof, there will be no variations. It will be all one color.
Q: The roofer didn’t remove the little plastic strip from the back of my shingles. Should this have been removed?
A: No, it does not need to be removed. That particular brand of shingle is designed so that the sealant seals right through the strip. The strip is there to help keep the shingles from sticking together before the’re installed.
Q: My shingles got beat up in the last hail storm we had and I’m tired of replacing them. What type of roof should I use?
A: If the hail is big enough, then it won’t matter what you use, the material will still get destroyed. There are some shingles that can take quite a hit and remain in good shape.
Q: I did some repairs to my roof and noticed there is no roofing felt under them. Is this the correct way to install shingles?
A: No, it is not. Unless it’s an overlay (recover), there should be felt underlayment separating the roofing materials and the deck. Many home builders install roofs this way so that they can save money. It is frowned upon by the National Roofing Contractor’s Association, the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturer’s Assocation, and any roofer with integrity. Erie Construction Mid West does not condone thess type of installation practices.
Underlayment provides a vapor barrier between the roof deck and the shingles, is a secondary waterproofing element of the roof, and prevents the wood deck from leaching oils from the asphalt shingles.
I hope this has been helpful. At Erie Construction Mid West, we take an honest approach to making sure we satisfy our customers.
Vinyl Siding Receiving Help From Congress
At Erie Construction Mid West, we want to make sure consumers are informed and have nothing to complain about when it comes being knowledgeable of the different products and services we offer. Recently, a house bill approved last week to provide incentives for homeowners to install better insulation includes an amendment co-sponsored by Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy that she said would boost the vinyl-siding industry in Ohio.
The Kilroy amendment would offer rebates to homeowners who install insulated vinyl siding as part of a plan to reduce their energy use. According to the Columbus Democrat, four of the nine vinyl-siding plants in the country are in Ohio. Erie Construction Mid West has plenty of loyal customers in Ohio, so we want to make sure they are well-informed on any new changes being made that they could benefit from. No complaints there, right?
The $6.6 billion “Cash for Caulkers” measure, which passed the House by a vote of 246-161, would provide as many as 3 million homeowners with rebates to finance better insulation and energy-saving doors and windows. Erie Construction Mid West can work out a perfect payment plan for you.
Rep. Pat Tiberi, R-Genoa Township, who co-sponsored the Kilroy amendment, then joined most Republicans in opposing the bill, contending that it was not paid for. Breann Gonzalez, a Tiberi spokeswoman, said that “at a time when 43 cents on every dollar that the U.S. spends is borrowed, do taxpayers really want to pick up another $6.6 billion tab?”
While we all could complain about paying more taxes, judge for yourself whether this new bill can benefit you. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us for more information.
Energy Conservation
Erie Construction Mid West wants to help you save money in all aspects of home improvement. If you buy new insulation, roofing, or windows, you can become eligible for a tax break from Uncle Sam. Our company will take all the appropriate measures to make sure you qualify. The rising of energy bills has caused some people to try to find ways to conserve energy. Let us help you save money on your energy bill!
Back in 2005, the Energy Star reported that the Energy Policy Act of 2005 established tax credits for being energy efficient. The bill was signed by President Bush on August 8, 2005. Home builders may earn a $2,000 tax credit for a new home that saves 50% of heating and cooling energy over the 2004 IECC (International Energy Conservation Code) and supplements. At least 1/5 of that savings must be the result of building envelope improvements. A credit of $1,000 is available for a 30% savings under the terms listed above, with 1/3 coming from building envelope improvements. The homes must be built or produced between January 1, 2005 and December 31, 2007 in order to be qualified for the tax break.
This applies to homeowners as well, visit www.energystar.gov for complete details on the tax credit you can receive. These projects must be completed during the same two-year period as the home builders above. Credits for homeowners cannot exceed $500 during the two year period. This really becomes a win-win situation for the homeowner, you not only save on your energy bill but you save money on your taxes as well! How can you not like that? We, hear at Erie Construction Mid West, are striving to give our viewers every possible resource in saving money on their home.
You may wonder how you can conserve energy and lower your monthly bill, well don’t be in the dark any longer. We have all the resources necessary to make your house the most energy efficient house on the block! With the help of Doug Rye (www.dougrye.com ) and our excellent staff here at the Erie Construction Mid West, we will make sure you know everything you need to know to conserve energy and save money.
EPA Lead Certification
Listen up home owners, you should be aware of a new law that just took effect Thursday, April 22. Contractors must have gone through a special lead certification program. Erie Construction Mid West has completed the necessary training, but maybe the competition hasn’t. Why take that chance?
If you plan to remodel a home built before 1978, you’ll need to check with your contractor to see if they are certified to work around lead based paint. The new law is designed to keep families, and workers, safe.
As of last Thursday, the EPA requires all contractors who work in homes where lead is present, to be certified in proper lead safety techniques.
Anyone who disturbs greater than six square feet internally, anyone who disturbs greater than 20 feet externally, must be certified and is subject to a large fine otherwise. That includes painting contractors, electricians, plumbers, heating and ventilation contractors, and even landlords. Again, Erie Construction Mid West is EPA Lead Certified to handle any and all of your home improvement needs.
If you want to do a home remodeling project and your home was built before 1978, one of the best things to do is contact your local county health department and ask them to do a lead risk assessment. If lead is found, contact Erie Construction Mid West and we will help fix the problem. Otherwise, your next remodeling project may put your family at risk for lead poisoning. That is a risk that no family should take.
Homeowners should ask contractors to see certification that they are properly trained in lead-safe practices. They are supposed to have the documents with them. If you have questions about lead practices, feel free to contact us to learn more about the entire process so you can rest easy knowing you are in good hands.
Vinyl Siding
Erie Construction Mid West knows that, as a homeowner, the exterior wall material you choose has a major effect on the appearance of your home. How would you like to have the look of freshly painted lumber on the side of your home – for a fraction of the cost of real lumber – with a look that will last a lifetime with little or no maintenance? Believe it or not, you have just chosen vinyl siding!
Erie Construction Mid West’s Vinyl siding is the choice of many homeowners across the country, not only because of low maintenance but also the added insulation it provides, especially on older homes that lack adequate insulation. Most siding contractors install foam insulation under the siding or use siding that already has the insulating foam fused to it. This can result in an R-value 450% greater than conventional insulation, and an energy savings of up to 30%.
Vinyl siding will simply not rot, tarnish, bleach, crack or peel. Even if you have a brick home, you probably have some elements of wood that require repainting every few years. Replace those wood elements with vinyl siding, and throw your paintbrush away!
Low maintenance, true beauty, substantial energy savings – vinyl siding has it all. Contact Erie Construction Mid West today for the name of a reliable and proven siding contractor in your area. We believe in this product, and you will too!