Swans are not the only partners for life

5 Reasons Why Inspiring Windows and Hunter Douglas Are Strong Partners, Too.
     -    By: Tina Sousa-Vieira (Inspiring Windows)

Hunter Douglas

As a business that designs window fashions and advises individual and business clients on all things related to design, we knew that finding the right partners to work with is key to business success. That’s why we partnered with Hunter Douglas for window fashions back when we first opened in 1997.

We made our selection to be an exclusive partner with Hunter Douglas in much the same way that you might interview and select companies you wish to work with in your home or business. Here’s what was important to us and what we pass along to you:

• Form and Function go hand in hand: It’s not enough to be a beautiful window treatment, it must also serve a purpose to our clients and we recognize that Hunter Douglas marries these qualities with perfection
• Energy Efficiency is Paramount: Hunter Douglas has made a commitment to lowering the carbon footprint by 20% with their Hunter Douglas green program and we have always been committed to helping our clients channeling and exploiting the natural power of sunlight wherever possible.
• American Design and Craftsmanship: We feel there is no explanation necessary. Wherever possible, we advocate for American made.
• Child Safety: We know that your children and pets are the most important dwellers in your home. That’s why we felt it important to have a variety of lifting systems that are cordless or designed to prevent potential hazards
• Lifetime Guarantee: Who wouldn’t want a product they purchased to have a lifetime guarantee? We feel the replacement policy Hunter stands behind is second to none.

We welcome you to use these 5 steps next time you are choosing a company to work with or a partner for your business.

Inspiring Windows is owned and operated by Tina Sousa-Vieira and Teresa Tavares, sisters and business partners. Better known as your Design Guides, Tina and Teresa bring complementary skills and backgrounds to Inspiring Windows. Their mission is to provide a quality design and seamless implementation to clients; always on budget, on time, and with a friendly and thoughtful approach. You’ll remember working with Tina and Teresa and seek them out time and again for each and every design project.

We are ready, willing, and able to help you with all your business and home décor needs: everything from preliminary design, window treatments, color, light, kitchens, and so much more.

Visit our showroom at: 1112 Washington Street
Hanover, MA 02339
781-924-5399, email us at: info@inspiringwindows.com

Hours of Operation:Monday: 10am to 5pm
Tuesday: 10am to 5pm
Wednesday: 10am to 5pm
Friday: 10am to 5pm
Thursday: 10am to 7pm
Saturday: 10am to 2pm

Hanover, Ma: Earth Day 2012 - Tips for Your Home

by: Allison Q Guido, CS (Hanover Ma)

Yesterday was Earth Day 2012. Earth Day is a celebrated each year, and events are held worldwide to increase awareness and appreciation of the Earth's natural environment. 2012 was the 42nd anniversary of that mission which was attributed to John McConnell staring in 1969.

In honor of Earth Day Almar Building & Remodeling, Hanover Ma wanted to share some tips and information about how you can make changes in your own home to improve the earth’s and your personal environment.

1.      Replace leaky Faucets: gallons of water can be wasted each day from what appears to be a minor leak.  Need helping finding the right faucets for your home? Stop in and see our friends at Snow & Jones in Norwell to get a Kohler faucet.

2. Choose the Right Cabinets: “Many cabinets are made from particle board, hardwood plywood paneling, or medium density fiberboard glued together using a formaldehyde-based adhesive. To avoid exposure to harmful chemicals, purchase cabinetry made with formaldehyde-free adhesives and finishes.”*1 Almar installs Huntwood Custom Cabinets which offers us Green Manufacturing.  

3.      Choose Flooring that has environmentally friendly attributes without sacrificing style.

a.       Sustainable Grown/Harvested Materials

b.      Reclaimed materials

c.       Recycles materials

d.      Reduced Toxicity 

4.      Water Filtration: Although the EPA enforces national standards for taps water approximately 4 out 10 American homes also have a water filtration system.  

5.      Replace old toilets: Toilets account for almost 30% of your homes water usage. In 1992 the Energy Policy Act was enacted which mandated water efficient toilets use up to 3.5 gallons of water per flush. By replacing your old toilet with a to high-efficiency toilets can save a family of four, on average, $2,000 in water bills over the lifetime of the toilets.*2 

6.      Upgrade Insulation: By insulating your house or sealing up air leaks you can your home cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. Installed correctly, insulation can deliver comfort and lower energy bills during the hottest and coldest times of the year. 

7.      Weatherize with Windows, Doors and Skylights: Leaky unites allow warm air to escape which makes your heating/cooling units run more. By installing Energy-Efficient Windows and Doors (Like Harvey Classic or Alside Excalibur Windows) you can reduce energy costs.  

8.      Low-VOC Paint: When choosing paint opt for Low-VOC products to reduce air pollution.  

9.      Choose low-maintenance Exterior Finishes: “When choosing the finish for your home, look into recycled-content materials that are locally manufactured. High-maintenance materials (such as wood) should be avoided to reduce repair, replacement, and upkeep costs (e.g., repainting). Brick, concrete, stucco, steel, aluminum, and fiber-cement offer superior longevity, and resist cracking and other deterioration.” *3 

     10.  Choose a Cool Roof: Most people choose dark roofing shingles. But if you choose a lighter roof shingle (or one of Certainteed’s Solaris Shingles) that have high reflectance and emissivity you can keep your roof up to 70degrees cooler than traditional shingles. Which can help save you money on air conditioning costs.

You can also get information about programs and incentives for renewable energy in Massachusetts please visit: http://www.dsireusa.org The Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency.  “DSIRE is a comprehensive source of information on state, local, utility and federal incentives and policies that promote renewable energy and energy efficiency. Established in 1995 and funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, DSIRE is an ongoing project of the N.C. Solar Center and the Interstate Renewable Energy Council.”

*1. http://www.epa.gov/greenhomes/Kitchen.htm

*2. http://www.epa.gov/greenhomes/bathroom.htm

*3. http://www.epa.gov/greenhomes/WholeHouse.htm

Hanover Contractor: Pella Pro Expo 2012

By: Allison Q Guido, CS

Craig and I love to have the opportunity to get out of the office and attend new educational programs. We know that we can only keep improving ourselves and Almar Building & Remodeling by paying attention to new products and best business practices. So we were delighted to be invited to the Invitation only Pella Pro Expo held at Gillette Stadium.

This Expo featured not only seminars and workshops on the latest ‘hot topics’ in the remodeling industry but also included many well know manufacturers. It was great opportunity to have one on one time with the manufacturer’s reps themselves to ask specific questions and learn about
new products and improvements to old products.

It was great to see all the Pella window and door products up close especially
their new 350 Series. As stated on the Pella Website:

Pella 350 Series windows offer an exclusive energy-saving system with triple-pane glass making them Pella’s most energy-efficient products. Advanced technology makes them stronger and more durable. Distinctive styling gives them a more beautiful look. Choose from three frame colors, two grille types and multiple hardware finishes and styles.

Maintenance-free vinyl frames
Stronger and more durable with 61% more vinyl
Dual-color frame option
Optional triple-pane glass for maximum energy efficiency
Fold-away crank won't get in the way

We were also lucky enough to attend two seminars presented by Patrick O’Toole from Professional Builder and Professional Remodeler on marketing and technology trends in remodeling. Craig and I are looking forward to sorting thru all our notes and putting new processes to work for all our remodeling clients very soon.

And don’t forget to give us a call (781-826-2577) at Almar Remodeling Co to organize all of your remolding projects. Almar is located in Hanover Ma, and serves many South Shore towns like: Hanover, Scituate, Norwell, Hingham, Cohasset, Duxbury and Pembroke for all of your Home Remodeling needs (Additions, Kitchen Renovations, Bath Remodels, Basement Finishing)

Summer Promotion

LIMITED TIME OFFER:
Buy 10 or more Excalibur windows and receive a FREE Ipad from Almar Building

It's time to think about the high cost of heating/cooling your home.

Excalibur windows are backed with one of the industries strongest Lifetime Warranties

CALL TODAY
781-826-2577
www.AlmarBuilding.com

Offer Ends: August 30, 2011

Contracts must be signed by August 30, 2011. Packages starting at $425.00 per window unit, 101 UI. Can not be combined with any other offer. Prior sales excluded. Please present at initial meeting. No Cash Value. Price includes normal installation only. Limit 1 Ipad per customer. Ipads will be distributed when final payment has been made.

2011 Tax Credits for Energy-Efficient Home Imporvements

NARI (National Association of the Remodeling Industry) has an article posted on their website dated 12.26.10, talking about how new federal law guts tax credits for energy-efficient home improvements. While reading this article I feel like they are taking a totally negative attitude towards the revisions in the tax credits.

Personally Almar was taking the opinion that once the tax credits expired on 12.31.10 that was it we weren’t getting anything in 2011. So my perception of the NARI article is a bit different, cause I’m reading it thinking “Great! At least my homeowners can get something a little extra for the improvements they continue to make this year”

The long and the short of the changes for 2011 are:

1. The bill pushed back the expiration date for tax deductibility of mortgage insurance premiums for another year.

2. In 2011 you can get a 10% credit with a $500 maximum for purchases of insulation materials, exteriors windows, storm doors, skylights, metal and asphalt roofs that resist heat gain.

3. $150 tax credit limit on the cost of qualifying gas, propane, and oil furnaces, and hot water boilers.

4. $300 credit limit on central air systems, electric heat pumps water heaters, biomass stoves, electric heat pumps, and gas and propane water heaters.

5. $200 is now available for installing energy efficient windows in 2011.

These are all huge cuts from the 2010 credit available, but it is still and extra something just for making smart improvements to your home that will continue to save you money year after year. Because don’t forget that once you make an energy efficient improvement the long-terms savings need to be taken into consideration as well.

My hope is that there will be another change and increase in the tax credit program for energy efficient projects, because I think they are very important to the health and comfort of Almar’s clients. Until you experience the change from draft windows to new vinyl replacement, or the change from a home with no insulation to one with you can’t really understand how vitally important the changes your can’t see sometimes are your home.

Allison Q Guido, General Manager

"The New Rules of Remodeling"

According to an April 15 report from the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University, annual spending on remodeling is expected to accelerate this year, with nearly 5% growth over 2009. "This year could produce the first annual spending increase for the industry since 2006," the peak of the housing boom, says center director Nicolas P. Retsinas.

After hearing this I was just reading an article in the Wall Street Journal that came out on April 24, 2010 about “The New Rules of Remodeling” and while I agree and disagree with some of the items it detailed. The underlying theme of the article we are finding to be true here on the South Shore. People are starting to fix up their homes again, but in different ways than in the past.

In many ways remodeling has always been a “keeping up with the Jones” kind of industry. That still holds true in some respects; but Almar is finding that a lot more people are finally ready to get those improvements and basic maintenance projects underway that they have been putting off “while they see what happens”. We are seeing a lot more clients deciding that they are going to stay in their current homes longer than they initial anticipated so they want to make their house more functional and comfortable for their life styles without doing major renovation. Instead of focusing on how much will this get me at resale they are considering more about how it will improve their lives.

What types of projects are people considering?

Well window, door & siding projects are very popular right now. The Energy Tax Credits that end in 2010 are really enticing people to make these type of improvements now. Minor kitchen renovations: Removing a wall to create an open-dinning area, new cabinets & countertops within the existing kitchen/house foot print. Along the same line a minor bath renovation, where you leave the fixture locations the same up grade all the actual fixtures with more modern, and efficient ones. Even expanding outdoor living space with new decks, and patio rooms allows to you get more space in your existing house at a lower costs.

That doesn’t necessarily mean that people aren’t taking on large projects now. Many people who have decided that they want to stay put have committed to invest the time and money now (before inflation starts) into larger projects, which they can enjoy in the short term and benefit from in the long term.

So with more people looking to make improvements to their homes, fewer licensed (Massachusetts HIC, CS, and EPA), insured reputable contractors in the market place how do you protect yourself?

Some quick tips: Ask the right questions, talk to a few people, and always choose someone who knows what they are doing.

For more a more detailed explanation of the steps you should take to protect yourself I recommend a Free Report called: Six “Secrets” To The Perfect Custom Remodel Of Your Home! Click Here to request your copy.

And always please feel free to call 781-826-2577 and ask whenever you have a question. If I cannot answer it I will get you in touch with another professional who can.