Archive for September, 2010
Tuesday, September 28th, 2010
You many not think of roofs having the potential to be energy efficient, yet installing certain types of new roofing will qualify for the national energy tax credit that expires at the end of this year. And you can go green with your roof without the “green” roofs out there that have plants growing from out of them.
We use CertainTeed shingles for all of our roofing projects because they’re not only durable and come in a variety of colors, but they also have several products that are Energy Star rated. These products will qualify for the tax credit, as you can see here.
Although these products will continue to be available and save you money on your energy bills, you need to have your new roof installed in 2010 to qualify for the tax credit. Contact us and we’ll get your roofing project started.
Tags: Allied Remodeling, Certainteed, energy efficient roofing., Energy Star, energy tax credit, energy-efficient roofs, roof, roof replacement, roofing, roofing replacement, roofs, shingle, shingle replacement
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Thursday, September 23rd, 2010
As the weather turns colder, many homeowners are turning to outdoor heaters to extend the use of their patios or decks. These upright heaters throw out so much heat, they’re great for letting you enjoy your outdoor living spaces longer into the fall or winter. However, because of their shape and use of open flame, there are safety precautions you should take, as this article demonstrates. Finding the right location for the heater is probably the most complicated but important safety concern.
- First, don’t move a heater while it’s lit or still hot.
- Heaters should be away from anything that can catch fire.
- They should be located away from strong drafts because they can blow over or the fire be blown out.
- Find where the heater’s air holes and vents are and move the heater to a spot where they’re not blocked.
- This should go without saying, but outdoor heaters should never be used inside.
We’re happy to offer this advice to our decking customers as well as to those interested in adding decks to their homes. If you’re interested in deck installation and repair, contact us to learn how we can help you.
Tags: Allied Remodeling, deck, deck installation, deck repair, decking, decking installation, decking repair, decks, outdoor deck heaters, outdoor heater safety, outdoor heaters, outdoor patio heaters
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Sunday, September 19th, 2010
We’ll be the first to tell you that composite decking is a great option for homeowners trying to avoid the intense maintenance that wood decks demand. However, you shouldn’t believe those who tell you that you never have to maintain composite decks. Here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Composite decking has seemed susceptible to mold and other biological growth, so your deck needs to be cleaned regularly. Although that’s better than painting or staining every year.
- Wood is stronger than composite material, which means some of your support structures may still be made of wood. In that case, you should still inspect the wood annually for wear or rotting.
- Leaves and plants give off tannins that can stain your composite deck. As fall approaches, you should keep your deck free of leaves and clean around and under flowerpots.
All in all, composite decking is still a great, low-maintenance option. It’s few cleaning requirements are nowhere near as tough as the work that wood decks demand. Contact us if you’re in the market for a new deck or want to learn more about composite decking.
Tags: Allied Remodeling, composite deck maintenance, Composite Decking, composite decks, deck, deck installation, decking, decking installation, decks, low-maintenance decking, low-maintenance decks
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Thursday, September 9th, 2010
As we leave summer behind and move into fall, you may be considering turning your deck or patio into a sunroom so you can spend time out there in the winter. It’s a great idea, and we can give you a sunroom that you’ll be using all through the cold weather. However, if you don’t think far enough ahead, you could wind up with an unlivable room when summer rolls around again.
Sunrooms are designed to let sunlight and the heat it brings into the room, which make them great in the winter but not so nice in the summer. Fortunately, this article can give you ideas for keeping a sunroom cool. It’s far easier to incorporate these elements during the initial building than to install them after the fact, which is why we’re bringing it up now.
- Build air vents or exhaust fans into the roof. Moving air is cooler than stagnant air, and these items will encourage airflow.
- Install window blinds. Just like normal curtains, window blinds can block the sun and slow the heating up process. You’ll still want to have vents or fans for the heat that does get in.
- Choose insulated or tinted windows. Tinted windows also block sun and heat, while insulated windows keep either warm or cool air in depending on the season. This is good for not only comfort but energy efficiency too.
Contact us now if a sunroom sounds good to you. You can have it in time for winter, and we’ll be happy to add features to make it just as good in the summer.
Tags: air vents, Allied Remodeling, cooling sunrooms, exhaust fans, insulated windows, keeping sunrooms cool, sunroom, sunroom additions, sunroom window blinds, sunrooms, tinted windows
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Friday, September 3rd, 2010
If you’ve read our recent blogs and have decided to install insulation in your attic, you now have a new decision to make: what kind of insulation should you choose. Bat insulation is sold in sheets at hardware stores and can be installed by homeowners. Blown insulation is sprayed into your attic to create a consistent blanket and requires a professional.
You can make an argument for both methods. As this article shows, neither option is consistently cheaper than the other although bat insulates slightly better than blown. Those who prefer to DIY projects, will obviously choose bat insulation. However, it is time consuming, potentially frustrating, and requires you wear protective clothing and accessories.
If you want the comfort and savings without the hassle, then blown insulation is probably a better option. Contact us and we can help you with the installation process.
Tags: Allied Remodeling, attic insulation, bat insulation, blown in insulation, blown insulation, DIY insulation, insulation installation, sheet insulation
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