Design Your World With Houzz.com

You have your heart set on remodeling your kitchen. So you hit Pinterest in search of ideas. You enter “kitchen design” in the search criteria, and while you might find pictures of some things that you like, they all link back to such a wide range of websites that it’s hard to cull all of the information into something cohesive to simply put your ideas together.

Which is likely why Houzz.com is building substantial momentum in the social media world. Started by a couple who found the endless stack of magazine (i.e. Pinterest posts) overwhelming when they planned their home remodel, Houzz is a collection of images posted by homeowners and service pros showcasing awesome designs and features.

Not only are the posts you’ll find inspiring for your own design, but Houzz also helps you to find a construction professional in your area, so you can see pictures of the work they’ve done and can know whether they’re a good fit for you based on more than reviews (though those are available too).

Not only do you get the chance to search through photos of completed work, but you can search for and even buy products for your own projects right there on the site. Choose a room from the menu at the top and then an element, and you’ll find a wide range of options both in style and budget.

Houzz also does the Best Of Houzz awards every year, which is a homeowner-to-homeowner guide showcasing the top rated home builders, architects, interior designers, landscaping pros and other residential remodeling professionals on the site (including painters and countertop pros). Winners are determined by the number and quality of client reviews each professional received in the previous year. This helps homeowners to truly find the best of the best contractors in their community.

Follow HA Construction on Houzz and check out all of the great ideas that our projects can give you for your next renovation.

Everything You Ever Needed to Know About Windows

If you’re looking for new windows, you’ll soon find far more information than most know how to effectively process. Should you get single or double hung? Vinyl, aluminum, wood or fiberglass? What about casement windows? Well, never fear – you’ll find many of the answers you need right here.

Replacement vs. New Construction
There’s no denying that replacement windows are cheaper than new construction and a much quicker remedy. Additionally, you can utilize the old frame of the original window, since replacements are usually custom made. Another benefit is that you’ll have little to do to make everything look uniform after the windows are in, because there will be little or no painting and the exterior of your home won’t be altered.

Of course, there are several disadvantages to getting replacement windows. First, replacements most always come in vinyl only. While you can do many things to try and get the windows to match the style of your home, they still may not look quite right. Additionally, if there are issues with the insulation around windows, replacements won’t fix this problem.

Vinyl replacement windows give you less viewing surface and are also limited in style (only single and double hung options) and color. While they may be an easier and cheaper fix, they’re not the best idea for all homes. They’re ideal for older, smaller homes or single family rental properties, but definitely aren’t the best option for larger homes, especially those in which you want to maintain the highest quality.

Keeping Temperatures Where They Belong
Regardless of whether you have HA Construction build or replace windows, most all windows come with the same quality glass insulation. Usually this is a combination of two elements: low-e coated glazes and gas fills.

Argon is most commonly used for gas fills in window glass because it is more cost efficient and provides optimal thermal performance. It is a colorless, odorless, inert gas that is non-flammable, non-reactive and denser than air. The gas is put between double pane windows to prevent the loss of desired temperatures within the home by reducing the transfer of heat conductively and convectively.

Low emission (low-e) coating is a thin, transparent material made of microscopic metal and metallic oxide layers and placed on the inside of window panes. This coating allows the short-wave energy from the sun to enter a room, while preventing the escape of the internal warm (or cool) air.

Types of Window Materials
There are four essential materials used for windows, each with their benefits and disadvantages.

Vinyl – Vinyl windows are the cheapest, making them the most common. The quality continues to show improvements, but vinyl still has a reputation for being flimsy compared to other materials. They can often become brittle and see fading over time.

Aluminum Clad – Aluminum clad windows are more commonly used in commercial properties because they provide more strength than the other materials, but not without sacrificing the retention of heat.

Fiberglass – The construction of fiberglass windows closely resembles that of modern boats. It’s ideal for larger window spaces. While there were initial concerns over strength, durability and resistance to temperatures, those concerns are diminishing.

Wood – Wood is structurally sound, but you want to avoid exposed wood on the exterior of the window. Wood is prone to damage when left out in the elements and requires frequent painting maintenance. If you opt for wood, get aluminum clad on the exterior.

Window Styles
Replacement windows are usually either single hung or double hung. These styles have less viewing surface area over all and you can only open half of the window at a time. However, there are several benefits to these styles. Specifically single and double hung windows:

• Have hardware that is less prone to failure
• Are more durable
• Have more standard sizes available

The other style option is casement windows, which have far more viewing capacity available. Additionally, casements offer the following benefits:

• An interior screen that is removable
• More versatility in sizing for every possible opening
• Allow you to open the whole window

That said, casement windows are more prone to hardware failure, jamming and losing their fit to the window opening. So, which style of window you choose is totally dependent on your desired look and special needs.

Finally, as you keep all of this information in mind when exploring new window options, it’s important to also compare warranties offered by window and construction companies. Some warranties are far better than others, with companies offering a lifetime replacement, even if your son purposely chucks a rock through your window. Others may only offer a warranty on manufacturer defaults.

If in doubt, give Andy at HA Construction a call and have him come out and explore your window options with you. Sometimes an outsider’s perspective is all it takes to gain a clear understanding of the best options for your home and budget.

Adding a Sunroom to Your Home

If you’re looking to add space and value to your home, but are on a tight budget, then a sunroom is likely the best option. Just imagine enjoying the beauty of the outdoors without full exposure to bugs and the elements. HA Construction has optimal experience with sunroom additions and can help you to create a space that is all your own.

The Planning Process
While HA Construction can help you plan every last detail of your sunroom addition, there are a few things you should probably think about in advance. First of all, you need to have a budget in mind. The cost depends on several factors, including where you put the sunroom, how big it will be, the design you want, the type of glass used and extras you may desire. Typically, sunrooms cost anywhere from $5,000 to $15,000.

Once you’ve established your budget, consider the following to help determine the design you’re looking for:

• Do you prefer screens (used only from spring to fall) or windows (for all year use)?
• If you do windows, do you want them to open with screens or to be solid, stationary glass?
• Would you like to have ceiling fans installed?
• How about a skylight or two?
• Is security an issue?
• Do you want to install French doors or a slider?
• Do you prefer floor to ceiling windows/screens or knee-walls (a wall from floor to the bottom windowsill)?

As you consider where you would like to put your sunroom, keep in mind that it can easily be built on an existing deck or on concrete slabs (such as an existing patio or porch). There are other options that you will discuss with HA Construction during the initial consultation and throughout the building process; however, a general idea of the design and layout you’re looking for is nice to have in advance.

Types of Sunrooms
There are a few types of sunroom designs available for your consideration:

• Seasonal Sunrooms have single-pane windows with screens and are tempered by natural weather conditions (i.e. no heat/air-conditioning), which means they are used from spring to fall in most locations.
• Solariums (Conservatories) provide a panoramic view of your outdoor surroundings, usually with nothing but windows or a full composite roof. This style is best with heating/air-conditioning installed for year round use.
• Screened or Patio Rooms are used from spring to fall. All of the walls are made with mesh screens, allowing you to enjoy the outdoors without having to deal with insects.

The Materials
HA Construction can build a sunroom with materials that match the rest of your home’s exterior, providing the appearance that the sunroom was built with the rest of the home, rather than as an addition. This adds square footage to your home and usable value.

Sunroom companies (or even the DIY sunroom kits) often install aluminum products combined with composite or fiberglass materials, and the end result looks nothing like your home. These low grade materials are often marked up so high that a sunroom company will offer to install the room for free. The end result can actually detract value from your property in the future.

One reason why many people opt to do a sunroom rather than a home addition is because of the expensive of a roof. However, HA Construction recommends building a roof on your sunroom that matches the style and materials of the roof on the rest of your home. It is a bit more expensive than a flat roof or a roof of windows, but it will last much longer and will, again, look as though it was an original part of the house (and add value).

Options for the Future
As you plan your sunroom, keep the future in mind; HA Construction likes to leave all options open for progressive building. If your ultimate goal is to put on a full addition to your home, but your current budget won’t allow that, then HA Construction can build your sunroom ready for future renovations. For example, you may want to run heat and air-conditioning to the sunroom down the road. In that case, HA Construction can build a knee-wall so that you can easily add vents and outlets later.

Should you choose to build your sunroom on a concrete slab, have HA Construction pour the slab with an 18 inch footing (foundation). That way, it is already on par with building codes for future conversion to a year-round livable space.

Sunrooms are a great way to expand your home and enjoy more of what nature has to offer, without the full-blown expense of adding on. HA Construction can help you to envision your dream space and make it happen.