How To Clean Your Stovetop

Great tips from Real Simple Magazine. Your stove-top can be clean in 5 minutes!

Speed Cleaning Your Stovetop Checklist: "Speed-Clean Your Stovetop
Checklist With the help of a few key tools, you can make your stovetop
10 times better in just 5 minutes."

Click here for more.

How To Clean Your Walls

Here are some tips on cleaning your walls from Real Simple Magazine.

Before You Clean Your Walls: "Before You Clean Your Walls
Find out which surfaces are safe to scrub with water."

Click here for more.

Cleaning Kitchen Appliances Checklist

A great checklist for keeping all of those kitchen appliances clean. From Real Simple Magazine.

Cleaning Kitchen Appliances Checklist:

"Cleaning Kitchen Appliances Checklist
Keep your kitchen appliances sparkling with these quick tips."

Click here for more.

How To Clean Windows

From the great folks at Real Simple Magazine:

How To: Clean Windows: "How To: Clean Windows"

Click here for more. There is even a video. Enjoy!

Clean Your Bathroom, Fast

Here's a great checklist from Real Simple Magazine to keep your new bathroom spotless in a jiffy:

Clean Your Bathroom, Fast: "Clean Your Bathroom, Fast
Time-saving tips and techniques to a quick clean

Bathroom Cleaning Time-Savers: Make It a Habit

Make cleaning the basin as routine as washing your hands. But don't stop there. Get the most out of your premoistened wipe by using it to clean around the edges of the tub and then the toilet before tossing it."

Click here for more.

How To Clean Grout

Tips on how to clean your grout from Real Simple Magazine:

How To: Clean Grout: "How To: Clean Grout"

Click here for more.

Complete Kitchen Cleaning Checklist

Keep your newly remodeled kitchen clean with this Kitchen Cleaning Checklist from Real Simple Magazine:

Complete Kitchen Cleaning Checklist:

"Complete Kitchen Cleaning Checklist:

A step-by-step guide to efficiently cleaning your most-used room (in just a few hours, or over the course of a few days)."

Click here for more.

4 Home Improvements That Can Boost the Value of Your Home

Remodeling projects that can increase your home's value right now. From AllBusiness.com:

4 Home Improvements That Can Boost the Value of Your Home Personal Finance
Corner:

"4 Home Improvements That Can Boost the Value of Your Home
Thursday, November 5 2009

Miranda Marquit

Right now, many people are lamenting that their home values have decreased. If you are interested in helping give your home a bit of a boost in terms of value, you can make some home improvements that could help you increase the value of your home. You should realize, though, that you will not likely recover 100% of the expense
outlay associated with home improvement. However, there are four home improvement projects that can help improve the look and feel of your home, and provide you with at least a 70% return on your investment, according to Remodeling Magazine:"

Click here for more.

Home Buyer Tax Credits

The National Association of Home Builders has designed a new website with everything you need to know in order to claim the recently extended first-time home buyer tax credit or the new repeat home buyer credit. That's right. If you already own a home, there is now a credit to move up. Check out the site here:

Federal Housing Tax Credit: Home: "The Worker, Homeownership, and Business Assistance Act of 2009 has extended the tax credit of up to $8,000 for qualified first-time home buyers purchasing a principal residence. It also authorized a tax credit of up to $6,500 for qualified repeat home buyers."

Cleaning Bathroom Accessories Checklist

To keep that just remodeled bathroom clean, here are some great tips from Real Simple Magazine:

"Cleaning Bathroom Accessories Checklist

Caution: Objects in the mirror may be dirtier than they
appear. Shine them up with this routine."

Click here for the rest of the article.

Ask the Builder: Research soapstone counters before buying - washingtonpost.com

Here's a great explanation of soapstone countertop material from Washington Post Ask the Builder columnist, Tim Carter.

Ask the Builder: Research soapstone counters before buying - washingtonpost.com: "Ask the Builder
Thinking about soapstone? Do your research."

For the rest of the article, click here.

Virginia Opens Its Solar and Wind Incentive Program

If you are interested in adding solar or wind power to your home or commercial space in Virginia, you may be eligible for a rebate.

An online form to request a conditional reservation of funds from the Virginia Residential and Commercial Solar and Wind Incentives Program is available here: http://www.dmme.virginia.gov/DE/ARRA-Public/SEPRebate.shtml

Virginia Residential and Commercial Solar and Wind Incentive rebates will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis until funds are exhausted. A two-step process will be used to allocate the money. First, applicants will request a conditional reservation of funds. Each request will be reviewed by DMME. When a reservation is approved, funds will be set aside while the applicant is allowed up to 180 days to complete work. The second part of the rebate process requires the applicant who successfully reserved funds to provide documentation of costs and compliance with all program requirements in order to receive a rebate check. That part of the process cannot be completed now. No cost and compliance documentation will be accepted and no rebates will be processed for 45 days after the online reservation system is opened, which occurred on Nov. 4, 2009.

Applications for rebate reservations that are submitted after funds have been exhausted will be placed on a wait list in the order of submission. If additional funds become available, the funds will be reserved for wait-listed applicants in the order that they applied until funds are exhausted.

Questions about the Virginia Residential and Commercial Solar and Wind Incentive Program should be directed to the following email address: FAQrenew@dmme.virginia.gov. Questions will be answered by DMME and posted to a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on the website for the program, here: http://www.dmme.virginia.gov/DE/ARRA-Public/SEPRebate.shtml.

Virginia is offering a rebate for energy efficient home improvements

The Virginia Energy Efficiency Rebate Program is now available. Check out my prior post on how the program works.

An online form to request a conditional reservation of funds from the Virginia Energy Efficiency Rebate Program is available at http://www.dmme.virginia.gov/DE/ARRA-Public/SEPRebate.shtml.

Virginia Energy Efficiency Rebates will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis until funds are exhausted. A two-step process will be used to allocate the money. First, applicants will request a conditional reservation of funds. When a reservation is confirmed, funds will be set aside while the applicant is allowed up to 180 days to complete work. The second part of the rebate process requires the applicant who successfully reserved funds to provide documentation of costs and compliance with all program requirements in order to receive a rebate check.

Applications for rebate reservations that are submitted after funds have been exhausted will be placed on a wait list in the order of submission. If additional funds become available, the funds will be reserved for wait-listed applicants in the order that they applied until funds are exhausted.

Questions about the Virginia Energy Efficiency Rebate Program should be directed to the following email address: FAQefficient@dmme.virginia.gov. Questions will be answered by DMME and posted to a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on the website for the program, at http://www.dmme.virginia.gov/DE/ARRA-Public/SEPRebate.shtml.

Manassas Bathroom Remodeling

If you are interested in a bathroom remodeling project for your home in Manassas, Gainesville, Haymarket, Dale City, Woodbridge, Lake Ridge, Dumfries, Montclair, Prince William County, Chantilly, Centreville, Fairfax, Western Fairfax County or Warrenton, please watch this video.

Virginia’s Residential Energy Efficiency Rebate Program

Great news, Virginians! Rebates for energy efficiency improvements and retrofits made by Virginia homeowners for the replacement of residential equipment and materials such as central air conditioning, heat pumps and furnaces, boilers, water heaters, windows, insulation and programmable thermostats will soon become available.

The rebates total $7 million for residential improvements (there is another $8 million for commercial improvements). Homeowners will be eligible to receive rebates up to $2,000 plus up to $250 of the cost of having an energy audit conducted by a certified auditor.

It’s all first-come, first serve with a web-based reservation and application process which will go “live” in a couple of weeks. Applicants can reserve funding for proposed projects and will be allowed four months to complete the project and provide the documentation before the rebate is approved.

There is not much more detail on the program yet. But if you would like to sign up for news about the rebate program, visit http://www.virginia.gov/eerebates and register for further updates. You will receive notice when the rebate reservation system goes live.

The rebates are being funded with federal stimulus money from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

October is National Kitchen & Bath Month

October is National Kitchen and Bath Month . . . .

And it's time to celebrate!

October is a popular month to begin remodeling a kitchen or bathroom in your home. The kids are back in school so there is less disruption in the household. And the holidays are just around the corner which means those holiday guests will soon be arriving.

The good news is you don't have to tear out and remodel the entire kitchen or bath. A few well chosen changes can make your kitchen or bath look new again. And we know the most cost effective changes to make for the biggest impact!

We'd be happy to discuss your kitchen or bath remodeling ideas. Just give us a call at 703-369-4446 or e-mail us at info@grecoremodelers.com to set up a no cost, no obligation, no pressure estimate. You can also visit our website at http://www.grecoremodelers.com/ for some great ideas for your kitchen or bath project.

Let's celebrate together!

Ask Real Simple: "How Can I Get My Cabinets Grease-Free?

Found this great advice on Real Simple magazine's website. Thought it may be helpful. Always be sure to test a cleanser on an inconspicuous spot first. And always check the cabinet manufacturer's recommendations for cleaning cabinetry. From your friends at Greco Remodelers, Inc.

Ask Real Simple: "How Can I Get My Cabinets Grease-Free?

Real Simple answers your questions.

Q. What is the best way to clean grease buildup from cabinets?
Norma Rodriguez
Via e-mail

A. Use an all-purpose cleaner and a microfiber cloth. Allen P. Rathey of Housekeepingchannel.com recommends the following method to eliminate gunky grease from kitchen cabinets: With a microfiber cloth, clean the area with an all-purpose cleaner that includes alkaline (see the ingredient list). This will break down the fatty acids in grease, so you can wipe your cabinets clean without much scrubbing. Try Mr. Clean Antibacterial Multi-Purpose Cleaner ($5.50, drugstore.com) or the environmentally friendly Red Juice Concentrate ($15, thecleanteam.com).

Or mix up a highly alkaline solution with household borax. Dissolve ½ cup borax in one gallon of hot water, and pour the solution into a spray bottle for easy cleaning. Spritz on the greasy area and let sit for a minute or two before wiping clean with a dampened microfiber cloth. ―Melanie Wagner"

How to Claim the Energy Efficiency Tax Credit When Buying Replacement Windows

Window replacement is a project that can qualify under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009's Energy Efficiency Tax Credit which allows homeowners to take a credit of up to 30 percent of the cost of new windows purchased and installed in a home between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2010. The maximum that can be taken between the two years is $1500.

Credits are generally better than a tax deduction because a credit is a dollar for dollar reduction in income tax. A deduction merely reduces the amount of income on which the tax is based.

The window's manufacturer is required to provide a written statement called the Manufacturer's Certification Statement to certify which windows qualify for the energy efficiency credit under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The Statement should be kept with the homeowner's tax documents. It does not need to be filed with the tax return.

The credit can only be taken on the amount paid for the windows, not on the amount paid for installation. Be sure to obtain a sales receipt which breaks down the cost of the product and the installation. Keep this document with your tax records, too.

To prove that the windows meet the credit guidelines, also retain the NFRC labels from the window that show the energy performance ratings have been met or exceeded.

The credit is claimed on Form 5695 for the 2009 and/or 2010 years. For more information and details on the credit, visit the government's Energy Star website and consult your own tax advisor.

The Energy Efficiency Tax Credit is available when purchasing and installing new windows that meet the tax credit requirements. Be sure to follow the steps necessary to take advantage of the tax credit.

To read more about replacement windows and saving energy, check out the article Window Replacement Saves Energy and the Environment.

And if you live in or near Manassas, Woodbridge, Warrenton, Lake Ridge, Gainesville, or Chantilly, Virginia, feel free to contact Greco Remodelers, Inc., for a free no cost, no pressure estimate for your Manassas replacement window project or call us at 703-369-4446.

P.S. For more ideas about replacement windows for your home, check out our new video, Manassas Window Replacement.

Time Is Of The Essence

Are you thinking about doing some remodeling before the end-of-year holiday season rolls around? Maybe a new kitchen? Or up-dating your bathroom?

If you are, it may be hard to believe, but time is running out!

That’s right, if you don’t act quickly, you may not get that work done.

Why? Working backward from your desired completion date, there will be materials to order and receive; plans to draw up and approve; permits to obtain, if necessary; and the actual work to be done. The backward timeline can easily put you in September.

So that you are not disappointed, make your calls today and get your project started.

P.S. If you live in or near Manassas, Woodbridge, Gainesville, Lake Ridge, Warrenton, Clifton or Chantilly, Virginia, feel free to contact Greco Remodelers, Inc., for a free no cost, no pressure estimate for your home remodeling project by going to Manassas Remodeling Contractor or call us at 703-369-4446.

How to Tell if a Replacement Window Meets the Energy Efficiency Tax Guidelines

A replacement window is one of the eligible building components that can qualify for the Energy Efficiency Tax Credit under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The tax credit allows a homeowner who installs eligible new windows in their home between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2010, to take a tax credit of 30 percent of the cost of the windows (without installation) up to a maximum of $1,500.

But not all Energy Star products will qualify for the credit. In order to qualify, the windows must also have a U-Factor equal to or less than 0.30 and a Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) equal to or less than 0.30.

The National Fenestration Rating Council, a nonprofit agency created by the window, door and skylight industries, developed a window energy rating system. Homeowners can easily see all of a window’s energy performance ratings on the NFRC label that is attached to all products certified to meet the NFRC standards. The label is also attached to all products which are Energy Star certified.

U-Factor measures the rate of heat loss in a window. The lower the U-Factor, the greater a window's resistance to heat flow and the better its insulating value. Look for a rating of 0.30 or less.

The SHGC is stated as a fraction of a number between 0 and 1 and measures the amount of solar radiation allowed through a window. Solar radiation can directly enter a house through the glass and can also be absorbed by the glass and then released inward. The lower a window's solar heat gain coefficient, the less solar heat it transmits. Look for a rating of 0.30 or less.

For more information and details on the credit, visit the government's Energy Star website and consult your own tax advisor.

With today’s NFRC labeling system, it is easy to tell whether or not a new window will qualify for the Energy Efficiency Tax Credit.

To read more about replacement windows and saving energy, check out the article Window Replacement Saves Energy and the Environment.

And if you live in or near Manassas, Virginia, feel free to contact Greco Remodelers, Inc., for a free no cost, no pressure estimate for your Manassas replacement window project or call us at 703-369-4446.

P.S. For more ideas about replacement windows for your home, check out our new video, Manassas Window Replacement.

Warrenton Window Replacement Project Maintains Contemporary Feel

Warrenton Replacement Windows

The homeowners owned a contemporary style home in Warrenton. Window replacement was needed because the old wood windows had begun to rot and were no longer energy efficient.

But the Warrenton couple did not want to replace the old with new windows that did not fit the contemporary feel of their home. Many of the existing windows were large floor to ceiling styles that allowed a view of the expansive countryside. The homeowners wanted as much glass as possible so the outside view would not be obstructed. The wife owns a large collection of quilts, many displayed on the walls of the home. She was interested in glass that would eliminate the damaging rays of the sun and keep her quilts from fading.

The solution was a window that could be custom-made in colors that fit the décor of the home. Large sizes allowed the windows to replace the contemporary window wall on the home’s landing. A small mullion strip in a contemporary pattern was in character with the contemporary feel of the home. The homeowners also opted for a Low E glass pack that filters out the damaging UV light.

Now more than ever, energy efficiency is important to homeowners. To read more about replacement windows and saving energy, check out the article Window Replacement Saves Energy and the Environment.

If you are searching for Warrenton replacement window contractors for your project, check out the article, How To Find a Great Home Remodeling Contractor in Your Area.

And if you live in or near Warrenton, Virginia, feel free to contact Greco Remodelers, Inc., for a free no cost, no pressure estimate for your Warrenton replacement window project or call us at 703-369-4446.

P.S. For more ideas about replacement windows for your home, check out our new video, Manassas Window Replacement.

Manassas Window Replacement

If you are interested in a window replacement project for your home in Manassas, Gainesville, Haymarket, Dale City, Woodbridge, Lake Ridge, Dumfries, Montclair, Prince William County, Chantilly, Centreville, Fairfax, Western Fairfax County or Warrenton, please watch this video.

Manassas Window Replacement Project Meets Homeowners Expectations

Manassas Replacement Windows

The homeowners owned a 25 year old house in Manassas. Window replacement was the top priority on a long list of remodeling projects. The home contained 14 windows, pretty much standard for the age of the home and neighborhood. The homeowners were primarily interested in energy efficiency; they wanted windows that would help their home stay cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. But they didn’t want to sacrifice the home’s looks by installing just any window. In addition, they were tired of painting and were excited to learn that vinyl replacement windows never needed painting or staining!

This window replacement project in Manassas gave the homeowners everything they wanted – an up-dated look, better energy efficiency, great looking windows and no need to paint ever again.

To read more about window replacement and saving energy, check out the article Window Replacement Saves Energy and the Environment.

If you live in or near Manassas, Virginia, feel free to contact Greco Remodelers, Inc., for a free no cost, no pressure estimate for your replacement window project by going to http://www.grecoremodelers.com/ or call us at 703-369-4446.

Window Replacement Saves Money for Manassas and Woodbridge Homeowners

Many homeowners living in Manassas, Woodbridge, Gainesville and Lake Ridge are thinking about ways to maintain or improve their present home instead of buying a bigger one. Staying put and increasing the value of your present home can be a smart move in today’s economy.

Some improvements, though, provide more benefits to homeowners than others.

Take, for example, window replacement. Many older homes have windows that have outlasted their useful life. And in recent years it seems that new home builders have used increasingly less expensive products that need to be replaced much faster.

One of the most critical benefits of window replacement is that new windows can improve the energy efficiency of the home. That means that heating and cooling costs go down. Also, because replacement windows save energy they are good for both the local and global environments.

Now is a great time to replace your windows. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 allows homeowners to take a tax credit of 30 percent of the cost of the new windows up to $1500 total. For more information and details on the credit, visit the government’s Energy Star website and consult your own tax advisor. Not all Energy Star products qualify for the credit. Make sure that your windows meet the strict government standards to qualify.

For even more information about choosing a great Manassas Remodeling Contractor for your window replacement project in Manassas, Woodbridge, Gainesville or Lake Ridge, check out our article Window Replacement Saves Energy and the Environment.

Manassas Remodeling Contractor Explains How to Find a Great Home Remodeling Contractor in Your Area

One of the best ways to find a good reliable remodeling contractor is to ask your friends and family who have worked with remodelers in the past. They can give you good insight into how the project progressed and how they felt about the remodeling contractor who completed the project.

Another source of quality home improvement specialists is to search the membership in industry organizations such as the National Association of the Remodeling Industry or the National Kitchen and Bath Association. These types of organizations set higher standards for their members.

Once you’ve put together a list of potential remodeling contractors, contact those companies to schedule an appointment. Upon meeting the contractor for the first time, pay attention to his or her people skills. Is he or she friendly, dressed well, and most of all, prepared? The contractor should be able to provide you with the essentials of doing business with his or her company: a contractor’s license, business license, insurance information, references and photos of prior projects completed by his or her company are a start. Memberships in organizations such as the Better Business Bureau, the National Association of the Remodeling Industry, and the local Chamber of Commerce, just to name a few, indicate professionalism and interest in the community and the industry.

Be prepared to discuss your proposed project in detail. Written notes, simple drawings and pictures from magazines and books can help the contractor to better understand your vision for the project. Pay attention here to how the contractor behaves. If he or she monopolizes the conversation with talk about himself or his company’s prior projects, he or she may not be taking the time to fully understand what you want. One who asks thoughtful, probing questions to better understand your vision will gain a thorough understanding of the project. Active listening is a key prerequisite for any remodeling contractor.

Use the time between your meeting and when the contractor gets back to you with an estimate to do some research. Check with your state’s licensing board, your city or county’s contractor board, the Better Business Bureau, and follow up with references. You may even ask to see some projects, if possible.

The remodeling contractor should present you with a written estimate. The estimate should detail the work that is to be performed and the materials that are to be used. A detailed written estimate eliminates the possibility of misunderstandings in the future.

Once you’ve done your homework, it’s time to make a decision. Sit down with all of the decision makers and, for each remodeling contractor, discuss the positives and the negatives. Look for the contractor who is the best fit for both you and your project. You should pretty quickly find your answer.

Finding a quality remodeling contractor will take some time, patience, and work on your part but it is worth the effort. A good quality remodeling contractor will help you to improve your greatest asset – your home.

For even more information about choosing a great Manassas Remodeling Contractor, check out our article How to Find a Great Home Remodeling Contractor in Your Area.

Manassas Remodeling Contractor Verifies Social Bookmarking Site

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If you've ever signed up for Technorati, a social bookmarking site, and claimed a blog as your own, you'll know what these numbers are all about. If you haven't and you're interested, these numbers are the code Technorati uses to verify that I'm claiming my own blog. If you couldn't care less, no problem.

You'll notice that I've place a widget at the end of each post. It will allow readers to print or e-mail a post and to submit the post to any favorite social bookmarking site. Hope it comes in handy.

Manassas Remodeling Contractor
Greco Remodelers, Inc.

MANASSAS REMODELING CONTRACTOR - REMODEL YOUR HOME

MANASSAS REMODELING CONTRACTOR


Since 1986, Greco Remodelers, Inc. has provided home improvement services to the Northern Virginia area:


~ Bath Remodeling
~ Kitchen Remodeling
~ Replacement Windows
~ Doors
~ Vinyl Siding


All employees go through a rigorous hiring process that includes drug testing, a background search and reference checks.


All work is backed by a 3 year written labor warranty (2 years longer than required by Virginia law).


Apples to apples, you can't get this much value for your money at an ordinary remodeling company.


Contact us at info@grecoremodelers.com or 703-369-4446 to set up a no-cost, no pressure appointment.

Visit our website at http://www.grecoremodelers.com


We proudly serve Manassas, Gainesville, Haymarket, Woodbridge, Dale City, Dumfries, Montclair, Prince William County, Centreville, Chantilly, Clifton, Fairfax County, Warrenton and Fauquier County, Virginia.


Class A Virginia license and fully insured


If you are looking for a reliable and professional Manassas Remodeling Contractor, call Greco Remodelers, Inc. today at 703-369-4446 or e-mail us at info@grecoremodelers.com.