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.