TOP 2013 REMODELING TRENDS

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Not too long ago, the “craze” was going green and being energy efficient. New public surveys released for 2013 show that the current home remodeling trend is none other than outdoor living. It’s a strange term considering how our ancestors spent most of their days thinking of ways to live on the INSIDE of the house and now that we have all the luxury of indoor plumbing and almost anything else imaginable: gyms, pools, saunas, theatres inside our home… we are wanting to live on the outside.

According to the 2013 Residential Landscape Architecture Trends survey conducted by the American Society of Landscape Architects, American homeowners are increasingly drawn to adding outdoor rooms for entertaining and recreation on their properties. Across all categories, 97% of responders rated fire pits and fireplaces in demand, followed by grills, seating and dining, lighting, and outdoor kitchens. Terraces, patios, and decks are high on the list as well at a 96% demand by the same surveyed responders.

Most would think these added features are luxuries and may not be practical in an uncertain economy; research shows the exact opposite. Homeowners want to be able to enjoy their homes and yards now more than ever as an alternative to travel and secondary expenses on vacationing. The consumer behavior is also leading toward an attractive outdoor space that is easy to take care of and is sustainable. This year, we have seen a drastic increase for deck additions, screened porch additions or remodels, and the adding of front porches and porticos.

Products that are low to no maintenance are very popular among consumers in the Atlanta market area such as composite decking boards. The new composite decking products referred to as “capped composite”  looks like real wood but the inner core similar to the first generation of composite decking is now wrapped with protective shell to create a lasting product that is easily maintained by just washing once per year or when a spill occurs. These products are warrantied for twenty five years which is twice the duration of your typical pressure treated wood deck. Don’t be fooled into thinking that your typical pressure treated wood products aren’t in high demand as well. There is a rich cedar look to these products that certain homeowners are after.  Adding a deck or porch to your home creates additional living space, resulting in a beautiful setting for outdoor entertaining. This time of year, we see many people looking to host parties for graduation, Memorial Day, birthday parties, and much more.  Creating space to host guests on the inside of your house is difficult to accomplish which is why so many are turning to the great outdoors for hosting the perfect summer party.

If you are considering adding some excitement to your house, by entertaining the outdoor living idea… there are tons of great ideas available on websites like Pinterest and Houzz. Don’t get sucked in! The decorating is half the appeal… watch out for those awesome Chevron pillows.

EXOVATIONS named 2013 Market Leader by Professional Remodeler Magazine

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EXOVATIONS named 2013 Market Leader EXOVATIONS was recently contacted by Professional Remodeler Magazine for a front cover photo opportunity after being named 2013 Market Leader by the publication. Kyle Clapham wrote this about EXOVATIONS in the magazine publication, ” Exovations … Continue reading →

QUESTIONS TO ASK WHEN CHOOSING A HOME IMPROVEMENT CONTRACTOR

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There are several important questions to ask when choosing a home improvement contractor. Unfortunately, many homeowners are far too busy comparing prices to learn more about the specific skills and qualifications of the professionals they are considering. Without carefully pre-screening companies, however, it becomes possible to lose far more than the money you’ve paid for their services. So, without further ado, here are some essential topics to cover when pre-qualifying a provider before making a financial commitment.

Past Experience
Learning more about the jobs that a contractor has completed in the past is one of the best ways to gauge the amount of artistry and skill that will be applied to your project. You can ask for photos and direct references. In fact, you can even ask permission to view some of a company’s completed work in-person. Many contractors are now hosting comprehensive photo galleries of their past work, right on their professional websites. Touring these images and taking notes is one of the easiest ways to gain confidence in a prospective provider.

Satisfaction Guaranteed
The best professionals in this business always offer their clients rock solid contracts. These detail the specifications of the work, including the materials that will be used and a fixed rate on labor. One key feature to ask about is whether or not the company’s standard contract includes a satisfaction guarantee. This guarantee will allow you to get any reasonable corrections, free of charge, without a lot of hassle. Your contract should additionally specify whether or not the provider will be responsible for hauling waste materials away from the project site and whether exterior bathrooms for laborers will be supplied.

Supplies
It is usually best to let your contractor do all of the necessary shopping for your project on your behalf. These professionals have a keen understanding of the best materials for different purposes and often have access to special discounts from their suppliers. In the event that you’re working with a contractor who is open to you buying supplies independently, then it would still only be worth it if you know that you’ll be able save a considerable amount of cash. If this particular company tacks additional monies onto their bills for their shopping efforts and you have an in at a local vendor, then it would work in your favor. Mark-ups are generally pretty nominal though. That said, it still helps to know how these will impact your total project costs before committing to services. You should also know that property owners who purchase their own supplies often forfeit their customer satisfaction guarantees in the process, as contractors know exactly what works and what doesn’t, and they don’t feel the need to try something out that could jeopardize their success and potentially their reputation.

Professional Coverage
No matter how pressed for time you might be, getting solid proof that your provider has coverage is an essential part of the hiring process. Without adequate insurance in place, your hiring decision could cause your own homeowner insurance to become voided. Should something go awry, whether it be property damage or physical harm incurred by a laborer while on your property, it could result in financial catastrophe. This makes it vital to hire companies that have general liability insurance with sufficient limits as well as professional liability insurance that will protect you from losses resulting from work-related errors, oversights and omissions. Proof of coverage and verification of coverage limits should never come from providers themselves. This information should instead be provided by their respective insurers, who can keep you updated should lapses in coverage as the result of non-payment ever occur.

General Guidance
A truly knowledgeable provider can help you to save tons of cash over time. These professionals can take your design ideas to the next level by showing you easy and low-cost improvements that will increase durability and provide your property with an additional measure of protection. Thus, before hiring any provider, you must ask whether or not he or she is comfortable with offering professional suggestions. Although you likely have some basic ideas of the results you want, it’s important to have expert assistance in the final stages of planning.

Katherine Donahue loves to write about getting the best deal. Her recent work is about colleges where students attend for free.

What Type Of Window Is Right For My Home?

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Windows can be one of the most expensive elements in the home. And there are many options to consider when deciding to replace or repair your current windows.

There are basically five styles of windows: fixed, double-hung sliding windows, horizontal-sliding windows, casement windows and bay windows.

And then there are many materials to consider.

Watch this video and learn more about available window styles and materials.

video courtesy of

http://www.kudzu.com/

Adding Curb Appeal to Your Home

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Fall is here and it’s usually the second time of year homeowners start thinking of vamping up their home’s exterior. The first home exterior game changer typically occurs in the spring after we have all sat inside all winter and dreamed of the possibilities we wanted to change once the first sign of warm weather occurs. For most home owners, time and money are a huge factor in all that we complete during those few short months of “Spring Cleaning”. Then summer arrives, unseeingly quicker than we would like for it to, and some of our “to dos” get pushed to the curb. Fall is a great time to reexamine what it is we didn’t finish in the beginning of the year. Some people are thinking of the guests they plan to entertain for football games, Thanksgiving, and even the Christmas Holidays. This brings me to my topic: Adding Curb Appeal to Your Home. Whether you are looking to add curb appeal for resale value or just make it more appealing for yourself, family, and friends.
The September 2012 issue of Atlanta Home Improvement Magazine has listed their top five things to add curb appeal to your home. I want to touch on those and elaborate on what I know best; home exterior. In an article written by Alma E Hill, it is noted that these are the five key elements in adding value to your home: remove weeds from planter beds and add new mulch and borders, repaint the house, repair porch railings, repair cracks in the driveway, replace a damaged roof with a new one. I couldn’t agree more. Sometimes the smallest of changes makes a dramatic impact. Just “cleaning” your exterior and minor landscaping can add pizazz to a dull, dirty, dingy outside. I recommend that you pressure wash your home exterior yearly to maintain a radiant look. This also helps prevent from mold and mildew building up on exterior surfaces that do not see very much sunlight. If you roof has stains or mold spots, be careful not to pressure wash your roof. Pressure washing your roof destroys the granules and can lead to major roof shingle damage. If you notice mold spots, you can spray an application of bleach and water on the area and let it sit. Simply wash it off with water from a hose and skip using a pressure washer on your roof altogether.
After your exterior has been cleaned and looks nice and tidy, make your “to do list” based on what you see. Maybe your paint is flaking or chipped? Maybe a few boards need to be replaced here or there. It’s easier to evaluate what is damaged and not just dirty once you have given your exterior a thorough cleaning. Repainting your exterior is a daunting task, but you may only need to touch up the trim. If you are ever in question, it’s always best to seek the advice of a professional. Changing the color of your trim, garage doors, front door, or shutters can create an intense change that is easy and cheap to do. If you are really feeling bold, consider changing colors, patterns, and textures of your home’s exterior for a thrilling transformation. The possibilities are endless as to simple changes you can make for a jaw-dropping effect. There are several free websites that will allow you to create changes to visualize what differences you can make on your home and if you are really considering a major renovation consider an architectural rendering of the changes before you make any commitments. Many companies offer these for little or no charge. There are also many sites available to browse existing homes to seek ideas from such as Pinterest and Houzz. Capture anything that catches your eye or appeals to you. Chances are, others would be taken by the same look if it is on your home.

Lastly, fall is the time to attend home shows to get more ideas and even pricing for professional services if you so desire to seek the help from someone else. Many home shows have companies that set up displays of their actual work so you can see what you would be getting from them if they were to work on your home. Meet their staff, ask for before and after photos and references, and always check reviews from sites such as Kudzu, Angie’s List, and Google Plus to see what their customers thought of their process, products, and pricing.

FLOWER COLORS TO COMPLEMENT YOUR HOME’S SIDING

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Choose Flower Colors to Complement Your Home’s Siding

When you begin garden planning, it’s important to consider how matching the colors of your garden to your home’s siding could improve your house’s curb
appeal. Plant combinations can make or break the aesthetics of a home, so choose a layout and flower colors that complement the color and style of your
home siding.

Picking out new siding or paint colors

Whether you just bought a new house or your current home needs a facelift, there are a lot of factors to consider. When you pick out new styles and colors
for your home siding, be sure you also take into account the cost of installation and materials, as well as how much upkeep is needed for the different
types of home siding.

If you love the look of your wood siding, maybe you just need a fresh coat of paint. However, now may be the perfect time to consider fiber-cement siding
in a cedar shake or wood style. Fiber-cement siding is a mix of sand, cement and cellulose fibers, available in vertical, horizontal, trim and shingle
styles. This home siding is non-combustible, it resists weather damage well, and you don’t have to worry about termites like you do with wood. If you’re
looking for something that’s lower maintenance than wood siding but not as expensive as fiber-cement, consider vinyl home siding for a fresh new look that
lasts longer than paint.

Once you know what style you want, it’s time to choose a color! If you don’t want to replant the entire garden or redo the patio, looking at adjacent
colors on a color wheel can provide the new style you want while still matching the garden. But, if you’re looking to change up your lawn and garden too,
just make sure your new flower colors match the new siding.

Finding complementing flower colors

As you prepare to boost your home’s curb appeal with some new siding, taking a look at flower colors can help create balance and continuity on your lawn.
If you’ve chosen a light color for your home’s siding, consider vibrant flower colors and dark shrubs for contrast. You can use almost any shade of green
against a white home, and white or pastel flower colors will help draw focus from the house to include the entire lawn. Homes with a darker siding should
be paired with light plants and dark evergreens to create depth. Flower colors like blues, purples and pastels are a perfect match. Complement homes with
brick siding with bright yellow and orange flowers and dark green shrubs.

Creating a design to highlight focal points

An important part of garden planning is choosing the layout. Do you want a structured front yard with a more lush and wild design in the back? Or a groomed
space for neighborhood games with some nice plants on the sidelines? Knowing how you want to use your lawn space will help you create a beautiful and
functional design.

It’s also important to design your lawn around current landmarks you want to highlight. Plant a path of low profile plants to the entryway, a natural
shelter of pines around the hot tub, or lit accent trees on the edge of the patio space. Use flower colors to accentuate particular areas on your lawn.
Similar plants and colors provide unity, but a little contrast in shapes and colors will draw attention.

Get ready for a season of planting with equipment updates

Before you begin any spring garden planning, make sure you have all the equipment you need. An electric rototiller is a great tool to start a new
flower bed or vegetable garden or to dig up a row for berry bushes, vines or hedges. You may also want to have a string trimmer to help keep the weeds in
line. Check to see that your garden tools are in good condition, change the oil, fill the gas tanks and replace any faulty lawn mower parts, tiller parts or trimmer parts. Keeping your gear
maintained each year will help ensure it’s able to perform at peak efficiency for many seasons.