Advantages of Vinyl Frames

Vinyl frames are made primarily from polyvinyl chloride (PVC). This material has many advantages, including being virtually maintenance-free. There will be differences in the quality of one manufacturer's vinyl compared to another. This is because a vinylframe is made from a compounda recipe of sortsthat dictates its performance over time. Each additive to a company's vinyl recipe helps determine the long-term characteristics of the final product, like its weather and impact resistance. For example, titanium dioxide makes the vinyl more heat resistant. At first glance, competing windows may look the same, but there can be key differences in the vinyl recipe used and how vinyl parts are formed to make a window structurally strong and optimize insulation performance.

Generally, vinyl windows and doors are available in white and various neutral colors. Milgard recently developed a two-coat formulation of seven premium exterior vinyl finishes available in light and dark variety, in addition to standard white and tan. New coating technology allows UV rays to pass through the color formulation and reflect off the vinyl frame. This preserves the exterior finish. Consequently, a vinyl window or patio door can look nearly new for years.

Milgard produces vinyl in controlled environments to exacting standards. Milgard windows and doors do not contain fillers. Milgardextrudes itsown components and develop its own compounds with high quality titanium dioxide and stabilizers to ensure the final product is heat stable with high performance physical properties. All final products undergo extensive testing for quality and consistency.

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Vinyl Window & Door Frames, New & Replacement | Milgard ...

Our vinyl windows feature patented slim-line frames and sashes designed to maximize outdoor viewing. Each frame is fusion-welded at the corners for superior strength and a clean, finished appearance. In place of ordinary glass, high-performance insulated glass with a Low-E coating is used. Upgrading to a home window with glass of this kind can lower your energy bills and help you maintain a more comfortable indoor living environment year-round. In addition, our vinyl windows feature heavy-duty locking mechanisms for increased protection, sloped sills to deter pooling precipitation, and multilayer weatherstripping for even more protection against the outside elements. Thanks to these and other technologically advanced components, our windows have been awarded the ENERGY STAR certification label. You can thus be confident that you are receiving some of the most energy-efficient vinyl replacement windows available. ENERGY STAR-rated windows are in high demand among those who want to save money, shrink the size of their carbon footprint, and live in a home which is consistently comfortable.

Replacement windows from Beldon Windows offer the perfect marriage of technological innovation and aesthetic beauty. Accordingly, we go above and beyond to ensure that each window is installed correctly by strictly adhering to professional window replacement practices. That means that each window is measured twice and custom-fabricated to fit snugly inside a pre-existing window opening. Installation typically takes only one day, and should a pane of glass subsequently break for any reason, we will gladly replace it for free.

We invite you to contact us today to schedule a complimentary window replacement estimate. It will be our pleasure to help you achieve your home improvement goals. That is, after all, what Beldon has excelled at doing since our third-generation companys founding in 1946. Excellence isnt just something we aspire to achieve but an integral part of how we run our business.

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The city of Hazleton will use a $350,000 state gaming grant for replacing windows and completing roof and masonry repairs at City Hall.

The much-needed overhaul began taking shape with the arrival of warmer temperatures in recent weeks and includes work to replace 45 aged windows on the first and second floors with energy-efficient materials, said Dominic Yannuzzi, of Alfred Benesch & Co., the citys contracted engineering firm.

Additional upgrades include the installation of air conditioning units in the upper levels of Council Chambers, masonry repairs and a re-coating of the roof, he said.

The upgrades should lead to improvements in controlling the climate in Council Chambers, which fluctuates with the weather and creates an uncomfortable atmosphere in extreme heat and cold, Yannuzzi said.

Theyre going to help with reducing heat loss in the winter and reduce heat gain inside of City Hall in the summer, he said.

Improvements should also eliminate leaks and address a deteriorated section of the ceiling directly behind a seating area reserved for city council members, Yannuzzi said.

The city secured a $350,000 gaming grant from Luzerne Countys Local Share Account in late 2015 for the project, Yannuzzi said.

Contracts were awarded last year and additional time was needed for ordering and manufacturing the windows, the engineer said.

Oakridge Construction, Drums, is installing windows while Hudak Waterproofing and Masonry Restoration, Taylor, will complete roofing and masonry upgrades.

Approximately 45 windows will be replaced throughout the project, including a large set on the west side of City Hall, Yannuzzi said.

Officials evaluated conditions of existing windows and opted to replace the worst of the lot, he said.

Crews will replace windows that are between 30 and 40 years old, he said.

The majority of the project consists of window replacement, but Yannuzzi said some money has been earmarked for masonry and roof repairs.

The grant wasnt large enough to pay for an entire roof replacement so the city opted to repair sections while re-sealing the entire roof, he said.

It basically is repairing bad areas and re-coating the roof to be able to extend the life for a few more years until the city can receive additional funding to do a total re-roof, he said. Were going to look at alleviating the leaks.

Scaffolding towered over desks and chairs inside Council Chambers earlier this week and a thin layer of dust coated furniture inside the room.

The project will be completed next month, Yannuzzi said.

Contact the writer: sgalski@standardspeaker.com; 570-501-3586

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New windows, repairs coming to City Hall - Standard Speaker

The high court's ruling on Friday reinstates the class-action lawsuit brought by four Idaho residents who said they were denied the right to a fair trial because of Idaho's underfunded and faulty public defense system.

BOISE, Idaho (AP) - The Idaho Supreme Court says a lawsuit over Idaho's faulty public defense system can move forward against all the defendants except one: Idaho Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter.

The high court's ruling on Friday reinstates the class-action lawsuit brought by four Idaho residents who said they were denied the right to a fair trial because of Idaho's underfunded and faulty public defense system.

A lower court judge dismissed the case after the judge said he believed it would violate the separation of powers to require adequate state funding.

The American Civil Liberties Union-Idaho promptly appealed on behalf of the plaintiffs.

The Idaho Supreme Court said the ACLU does have the right to sue the state government over the problems. But the justices said the governor shouldn't be named as a defendant because he wasn't the cause.

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Idaho high court revives lawsuit over lousy public defense - KBOI-TV

MERIDEN After a heated debate on the possibility of violating the city charter to extend the deadline for adopting a budget, the Finance Committee voted to send City Manager Guy Scaifes latest budget revision with a 40.45 mill rate to the City Council.

The $194.9 million spending plan is more than $3.5 million above what Scaife originally proposed in March. The latest version strikes $223,000 from the citys capital fund, including cutting a proposed camera system to broadcast municipal meetings, softball field upgrades and window replacement at a Public Works building.

Scaife noted the hardships of compiling the budget, citing the recent revaluation which reduced the grand list by nearly 4 percent, and over $4.6 million in fixed increases such as contractual raises, debt service payments and pension contributions.

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The latest budget is a $3.5 million tax increase, Scaife said, noting the figure falls over $1 million below the citys fixed cost increases.

An alternate mill rate of 39.8 could be achieved by lowering the budget by $1.75 million which would mean cutting between 17 and 23 jobs, Scaife said. Scaife recommended violating city charter by waiting a month to enact the budget until more is known about state funding, calling the budget deadline arbitrary.

Theres no penalty if you dont adhere to (the deadline), but what I find challenging is it is really in the publics best interest to adhere to a date that has no operation impact if we delay it several weeks because at the end of the day what we all want is a mill rate that is respectful of what the public can absorb but also tries to deal with our strategic and technical needs, Scaife said. My fear is if we go forward without state revenues and lock in on a number, it could be excessive and we would have had to do severe cuts that would have not been necessary with a (different) budget or the number could be even worse, we would have needed to make deeper cuts due the state, due to their financial dilemma, cut us worse than what was expected.

Several Democratic councilors vehemently opposed the idea, including Majority Leader Brian Daniels. You are setting a precedent of intentionally violating the charter that sets forth a lot of what the powers and responsibility for the city are. You do it for this then someone says ... lets just violate the charter (next year), Daniels said. We have a city charter. Its a legal document that binds the power and responsibility for the people that run the city.

Republican and We the People councilors were open to delaying the process, including Walter Shamock, Lenny Rich, Bob Williams and Joseph Carabetta III. Im for it. Why wouldnt we? Theres no consequences to us making that decision so in that respect I would like to have more information, Rich said. We got time, whats the rush? Why are we mandated by a council thats not in business any more?

The charter, if it was so important, they would have made a penalty.

A motion to violate the charter and delay the process ultimately failed.

Finance Committee Chairman Miguel Castro, a Democrat, shared several proposed changes that had been discussed in caucus, which included reducing the citys Capital Improvement Project budget by $1.2 million by shifting several big ticket items to the fiscal year 2018-19 budget, including a $750,000 fire truck. Castro then shared a list of items that were below Scaifes proposed $50,000 capital bonding threshold to moved from the capital equipment budget to CIP.

The Committee did not act on those changes, however, opting to leave it up for discussion at the full City Council meeting next week. The Committee then voted to send Scaifes revised $194.9 million budget to the City Council.

By charter, the City Council must vote on the budget Monday to meet its deadline.

ltauss@record-journal.com 203-317-2231 Twitter: @LeighTaussRJ

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Meriden Finance Committee sends budget with 40.45 mill rate to Council - Meriden Record-Journal

Many times when people in the Hopewell Valley need repair or replacement for their heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, they turn to an old neighbor for help.

Stellitano Heating and Air Conditioning, Inc. is a name people have known in the HVAC business for 22 years. While the company is based in West Amwell today, proprietors Sharyn and Gary Stellitano grew up in Hopewell, started the business on Van Dyke Road in Hopewell, and they and their staff still serve the Valley community today.

Stellitano does maintenance, repair and installation for just about any heating or air conditioning system a customer could have or want. They install and service boilers, furnaces, heat pumps, ductless split systems, air conditioning systems, radiant flooring, geothermal, indoor air quality products and more. They also do custom ductwork.

One of the calling cards of the business, Sharyn Stellitano says, is that they know that their customers have a wide variety of needs. If a system can be repaired, and thats what the homeowner wants, we can do it, she says. But if they want a replacement system, we can do that also. We wont do a hard sell.

They do recommend high efficiency units and systems whenever its possible, because in the long run they usually mean energy cost savings, Sharyn says. They also look for ways to save their clients money, like recovering coolant whenever they do AC repair. The little things, Sharyn says, can add up.

Sharyn says that integrity is very important to her and Gary, and they look for it in the technicians they hire. The quality that were looking for is first, integrity, and second, mechanical skills, she says. The techs that are with us are loyal to us, and were loyal to them.

In an area like Hopewell, which has a mix of older and new homes, HVAC specialists are liable to see any and every kind of system. Many homes in the area depend on baseboards and radiators for their heat. So the Stellitanos insist that their technicians are all NATE certified and stay up to date on their training. Gary is very big on our technicians knowing everything they should know about the industry, so they can work in any house, Sharyn says.

When a person puts in a call, Stellitano typically responds on the same day as long as thats what the customer wants. They have staff on call 24 hours a day for emergencies. The person who goes to the house to make an estimate is always either Gary or head technician Jeffrey Geiges, Sharyn says people who actually work on HVAC systems, rather than a salesperson.

Theyve worked in the field, so they know what the best fits going to be for the house, or if they dont know, they can find out (from another technician), she says.

* * *

Gary and Sharyn Stellitano are choosy when it comes to heating and air conditioning equipment. Thats because they know that if the equipment they install for their clients isnt reliable, their customers probably wont return.

They have relationships with a broad spectrum of manufacturers. But there are three lines of equipment that they recommend most often: Bryant, Mitsubishi Electric and Weil-McLain.

We represent equipment that is good for our customers houses, Sharyn says. If we say this is good equipment and its going to work, then we have to stand by that, and we also need the manufacturers to stand behind Stellitano. If a customer has an issue, we need them to care. That said, we find that issues with those manufacturers are few and far between.

Just as important as the equipment is the quality of installation. The Stellitanos take pride not just in their own work, but also in their ability to diagnose problems with installations done by other technicians. Its common for them to see incorrectly installed ductwork, or systems that are oversized or undersized for the spaces they serve. They look to fix such problems whenever they can.

Sharyn and Gary, who are married, own the company together. They both went to Hopewell Valley Central High School. They live in East Amwell today with their two children. Gary started as an apprentice while in high school, and has been in the HVAC business his entire professional life. Sharyn did sales and marketing before the couple founded their company.

They count on word of mouth for a lot of their business. Sharyn says sometimes she is surprised when she sees people on social media asking for recommendations for an HVAC repair person or a plumber or electrician. They just dont have a regular person they can turn to, and thats not how it used to be, she says. Used to be everyone had a tradesperson they knew who worked on their home when they needed it. Many of our customers have been with us a long time.

Stellitano Heating and Air Conditioning. Phone: (609) 466-2310.

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Stellitano HVAC goes the extra mile - Mercer Space

WILMINGTON, DEL. More than 123 million home improvement projects, not including routine maintenance,were carried out in the United States in 2013-2015 in 43.9 million households.This accounts for a total of more than$431.1 billion dollars in expenses, according to the latest data released from the 2015 American Housing Survey, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Fixr.com, a site that provides cost guides, comparisons, and term cheat sheets for remodeling, installation and repair projects, analyzed the AHS data to determine how Americans are spending their money on home improvements. Around one-third, or 33.6 percent, of owner-occupied units completed at least one home improvement project for energy-efficiency purposes, 6.8 percent to improve accessibility for an elderly person or person with a disability, and 3.5 percent carried out at least one project to prepare the home for sale.

The median expenditure per job was $1,200, and out of all the home improvement projects, nearly 62 percent were carried out by professionals, while the remaining 38 percent were DIY. Moreover, 77.5 percent of respondents used cash savings as the primary source for funding these projects.

Americans spent 27.6 percent for projects such aswater pipes, plumbing fixtures, heating upgrades and electrical wiring,among other interior fixes. In this category, upgrades to HVAC equipment represent 9.3 percent of total expenditures with an average of $3,092, which is above the median.

Kitchen remodeling accounted for 10.9 percent or projects andbathroom remodeling, 8.7 percent. The remaining expenditures were as follows: exterior additions and replacements, 27.9 percent; lot or yard additions, 12.4 percent; disaster repairs, 5 percent; and other room additions and renovations, 7.4 percent.

Fixr.com compared historical data from the 2011 and 2013 surveys and found that despite a decline in home improvement expenses from 2012 to 2013, the latest numbers show a very considerable upturn.

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Survey: Home improvement spending on the rise - Contractor Mag

A duplex is a way for families to live together but also apart. This living arrangement has worked for the McKevitt sisters of St. Paul since 1989.

Its been a good solution for us, says Peggy McKevitt, each having our own place, but we share lawn work and snow shoveling. We also have a common washer and dryer in the basement, but other than that, we have separate entrances.

It also makes it easier when it comes time to remodel: Each sister can get her own way.

My style is more traditional, says Susan McKevitt, and hers is a little more contemporary.

The sisters hired David Heide Design Studio to help them remodel the cramped kitchens of their 1926 Arts & Crafts duplex on Jefferson Avenue in the Macalester-Groveland neighborhood: The two kitchens will be on display this weekend as part of the 30th annual Minneapolis & Saint Paul Home Tour.

It was just time, Susansays of the outdated kitchens. Something had to be done.

Through the years, the sisters had focused on their careers Susan is a registered nurse, Peggy has worked in human resources. Their co-owned duplex has always been a sturdy backdrop to their lives: Its a true duplex (one unit up and one unit down), built in 1926, structurally sound, says Susan. The sisters have donesome updating through the years: After they bought the duplex in the 1980s, they ripped out the the wall-to-wall carpeting, refinishing the hardwood floors underneath; they also remodeled each of their bathrooms in 2002; they replaced the roof.

Until now, the kitchens had only been tweaked.

We had both put in wallpaper, we had both put in dishwashers, we had both replaced a refrigerator, Peggy says.

It was minor decorating rather than structural changes, says Susan. The lower kitchen Peggys had had some remodeling (before 1989). Mine was older it had a metal sink and no cupboards. I had a few cabinets made for mine, nothing major.

There was nothing really wrong with the kitchens, says Peggy. They just needed to be updated.

Thanks to going on previous home tours through the years, the sisters knew who they wanted to hire for the renovations.

We had always liked David Heide, says Peggy. I think he has a good sense of how to put a new kitchen in an old house and make it look like it fits. He has a good use of color, too neither of us wanted a white kitchen.

The kitchens were reworked with the help of Kyle Veldhouse, an architect on staff at the studio.

Before, the two kitchens were typical of the cramped and closed-off kitchens in old apartments in St. Paul. Now, thanks to partially opening up a wall in each kitchen, the kitchens appear lighter and bigger.

That was the biggest decision, says Heide. At first, they didnt want to do that and we were truthfully ambivalent about it. We wanted to give the client what they wanted. But, because it was important that they understand the choice, we worked to explain to them the nature between the spaces and the sight lines, how it would give them more of an experience of windows around them. Once we convinced them that it wouldnt be done in a way that would be sacrilegious to the rest of the unit, they were able to get behind it. And I think the way that we detailed the lower portions of the oak walls and trimmed the openings really helps define them as separate spaces while allowing a visual connection to the rest of the unit.

Although Heide says that kitchen remodels can typically cost as much as three or four new cars, the sisters did their best to keep costs down.

We didnt move the plumbing, mechanicals or electrical, says Susan. We kept the floor plans the same. The kitchens are so small, you cant move anything around, anyway. And even if we had wanted to, there was a staircase in the way.

The kitchens are much more stylish now: Think stainless steel appliances, stone countertops, open cabinetry, farmhouse sinks.

Our friends are always surprised at how much bigger the kitchens look even though theyre still the exact same size, says Peggy.

The style of each kitchen is different, though.

Peggys kitchen, on the first floor, features a contemporary look of blue subway tile, gray soapstone countertops and a combination of blue and white cabinetry. Susans more traditional kitchen on the second floor has a green and cream color scheme with bead board paneling and granite countertops. Both have hardwood flooring that is original to the duplex (although Peggys flooring looks newer becausehad been covered with vinyl tiles).

Its a fun opportunity for people to see two different takes on the same solution, says Heide.

But even though the sisters now have two new kitchens, sometimes they only need one. Like last weekend.

On Sunday, we went shopping at Talbots and then Susan cooked salmon for dinner, says Peggy.

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St. Paul sisters have dueling kitchen renovations. See the before and after. - TwinCities.com-Pioneer Press

Sat., April 29, 2017, 6 a.m.

The remodeling industry expects strong growth in coming years, thanks to baby boomers. (Gerald Herbert / Associated Press)

By Joyce M. Rosenberg Associated Press

NEW YORK If you build it, they will stay.

The small businesses that dominate the home remodeling industry are expecting robust growth in the next few years, thanks partly to baby boomers who want to remain in their homes.

Home remodelers say theyve had a pickup in projects from boomers who are in or approaching retirement and are seeking to modify their houses. Its a trend known as aging in place, an alternative to moving to smaller quarters or a warmer climate.

Many of these homeowners are hoping to make their surroundings easier to manage and safer in case they have health problems.

Theyre replacing bathtubs with walk-in showers, installing safety rails, widening doorways and building ramps features known as universal design since they can be used by anyone, regardless of physical ability. Boomers are also redoing their kitchens and sprucing up other areas since theyre staying put, they want to enjoy their surroundings.

Zach Tyson estimates that 30 to 40 percent of his revenue is now coming from boomer renovations, up from 15 to 20 percent five years ago. Most of the projects come from homeowners who are healthy and mobile now, but want to be prepared if illness or injury hits.

Besides making bathrooms safer, theyre enlarging rooms so wheelchairs or walkers can be used more easily, and also to give the rooms a more open feel.

Its trending up, for sure, says Tyson, co-owner of Tyson Construction in Destrehan, Louisiana.

The oldest of the 76.4 million boomers, the U.S. generation born after World War II, are turning 71 this year. As more of them retire and make decisions about where they want to live, there will be a great need for accessible housing, according to a report released in February by Harvard Universitys Joint Center for Housing Studies.

A large share of these households live in older homes in the Northeast and Midwest, where the housing stocks have few if any universal design features, the study said.

The report predicts home improvement spending by homeowners 65 and older will account for nearly a third of the total amount of remodeling dollars by 2025, more than twice the portion that group spent in 1995-2005. Owners age 55 and over already account for just over half of all home improvement spending.

The boomer activity seems to be driving the market, says Abbe Will, a research analyst at the Harvard center.

Thats a change from the past, when older homeowners generally handled maintenance, repairs and landscaping but tended not to renovate. And some of the boomer-driven remodeling is coming from younger homeowners who expect their parents might later come to live with them and want to be ready, Tyson says.

The requests Tiffany and Bryan Peters get from boomer customers include replacing traditional turning doorknobs with lever handles that can be pushed down. Homeowners want motion-sensor light switches and faucets, and non-slip flooring. In bathrooms, theyre replacing fixtures with models that are designed for people with disabilities showers than can accommodate wheelchairs, and toilets at the same height as wheelchairs, Tiffany Peters says.

Weve definitely experienced an increase in requests for aging-in-place work, says Peters, who with her husband owns a Handyman Connection franchise business in Winchester, Virginia. We get several requests a month.

Home remodeling companies began seeing an increase in boomer spending about 18 months ago and expect it to contribute to their growth in the next few years, says Fred Ulreich, CEO of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry, a trade group.

We see this as something that is dramatically affecting the marketplace, Ulreich says.

Boomers typically live in homes that are several decades old, prime targets for remodeling, Ulreich says. Unless they move to a brand-new home thats designed for aging in place, their decision is likely to mean remodeling.

Sal Ferro says boomers are his biggest group of customers, but hes not getting many requests for aging-in-place projects. Its more renovations to make their homes more enjoyable.

Theyre finally getting the projects done that they always wanted. Theyre getting that kitchen or bathroom, says Ferro, owner of Alure Home Improvements, based in East Meadow, New York.

Some remodeling companies are specifically marketing to boomers, sending salespeople to trade expos and events those customers are likely to attend.

Miracle Method, a franchise business that refinishes kitchens and bathrooms, has increased its outreach to boomers, says Erin Gilliam, the companys marketing manager. Franchise owners say much of the 11 percent growth in the franchises overall business in the past year was driven by boomers, she says.

Gilliams husband, Gabriel, sees the trend in the franchise he owns in Salt Lake City. He estimates that revenue from boomers has risen between 10 and 20 percent, and the growth is prompting him to hire more workers. He has five staffers now, having added one per month the past three months, and expects to reach 10 in the next year.

Im hiring as quickly as I can, he says.

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Remodeling industry boosted by boomers wishing to stay put - The Spokesman-Review

HICKORY A vacant building along First Avenue SE will soon find a new purpose as office space for two local companies.

By June, Alex Harrill, owner of the customized home and renovation company Harrill Construction, said the building will have a new paint job and a new storefront.

The front space of the building will be used for office space for both Harrill Construction and the automotive customization business Xtreme Machines.

Its not the first time Harrill and his company embarked on a renovation project in that part of town.

The Block, a mixed-use development that housed both Harrill Construction's offices and the offices ofXtreme Machines across the street from the building being renovated, also was renovated in 2015.

The space at The Block is currently being rented out, while Harrill Construction offices are temporarily located off Highland Avenue until renovations are complete, Harrill said.

Giving new life to old and dilapidated buildings is a passion of Harrills.

"I just really love old buildings," Harrill said. There are buildings that are past the point of being repaired, but there is so much history in these thingsso much thats happened, that I think its important that we preserve what we can preserve.

In years past, the building has been used as a Chrysler dealership and the Ferguson Plumbing company.

Though Harrill said he had not set foot in the building until last year, he does remember it as the Ferguson Plumbing building.

Harrill said that while the building was in "poor condition," he saw a great deal of potential in it.

You know, a lot of people saw something that just needed to be torn down, but I saw opportunity, Harrill said.Its just really cool; the architecture of it and the barrel top roof is really neat.

The front part of the building had leaked and was moldy, Harrill said.

Renovators also had to contend with deteriorated wood in the building, but overall, the project has not been as difficult as the renovation at The Block, Harrill said.

The total cost of the project is roughly $500,000, a cost that will in part be covered by a $20,000 revitalization grant through the City of Hickory.

Community Development Manager David Leonetti said in a phone interview the project would be good for that area of town.

Were very excited to see the building moving toward re-development, Leonetti said.

Once this project is completed, Harrill hopes to continue renovating other buildings around the city.

I think its important that these buildings be refurbished and used, Harrill said. I dont like to see them torn down.

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Harrill Construction tackles renovation project in Hickory - Hickory Daily Record