You like the neighbors you have. The local school. The beauty of your neighborhood. No matter the reason, you're not leaving any time soon. But remodeling can keep your home livable and enjoyable for your family.

Paul Kane, CEO and executive vice president of the Home Builders Association of Greater Tulsa, has said previously that homeowners are remodeling to make homes healthier, more convenient, more luxurious and more secure.

In addition to the high-efficiency models, some can also be a benefit to asthma and allergy sufferers. And forget about the noise your washer and dryer generate. New technologies dampen vibration and reduce the noise you've grown accustomed to hearing.

As more people take efforts to improve the environment, as well as their health, they're paying attention to their indoor environment, too. Find more low-VOC (volatile organic compounds) paints and other building materials with fewer, if any, harsh chemicals and toxins.

Window replacement is not the prettiest project, but it will save your household money and energy. Local window professionals recommend low-E, argon-filled, dual-pane windows. Such windows are designed to help keep your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer.

If homeowners aren't interested in replacing all of their windows, Justin Liogghio, regional manager of Woodbridge Home Exteriors, said some will opt to have at least the windows in the biggest rooms replaced or in spaces such as the main living room and the bedrooms that are used most.

Hardwood floors offer elegance and value. It's no wonder that people continue to request this flooring be put in or their carpets ripped out to reveal it. To get the most aesthetic value out of hardwood flooring over time, find engineered and prefinished flooring. It can be more durable and low-maintenance. Look for bamboo or porcelain tiles that are meant to look like hardwood.

Look for more outdoor kitchens, waterfalls, pools, bar areas and fire pits. If such an expenditure is too much, consider at least putting in pavers, one local remodeler recommended.

Patrick O'Neal of Bullfrog Pest and Lawn management said clients come to the full-service landscaper for a host of improvements. But pavers give a more "closed-in" feeling.

The bottom-line, O'Neal said, is about what you want to invest in: "Would you rather spend $3,000 on a cruise or something you can walk out and enjoy every Friday night?"

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Home remodeling trends enhance health, comfort

#1 Remodeling Contractor Home Remodel call Shafran 310-295-1960
Web site: http://www.shafranconstruction.com Email: shafranconst@gmail.com Phone: 310-295-1960 Choose the #1 Company in Los Angeles and Ventura County for your next construction or remodeling project: CSLB certified, we bring affordable prices to quality work: 24 years in Buss: veneer stack...

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#1 Remodeling Contractor Home Remodel call Shafran 310-295-1960 - Video

Thursday, January 17, 2013, 9:44am

A new report from Harvard's Joint Center for Housing Studies says that a rebound in home remodeling activity, an important component of economic growth, is picking up a steam across the country and the sector is set to expand in 2013.

The center's Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity (LIRA) shows robust spending in the second half of 2012, suggests the remodeling recovery is already underway. Spending on remodeling was up 8.2 percent in Q4 2012, rising to $124.1 billion, compared to $115.1 billion at the same time last year.

Its encouraging to see the residential sector finally contribute to growth in our economy, Eric S. Belsky, managing director of the center, said in a statement. Through the first three quarters of 2012, investment in the residential sector was responsible for one out of every six dollars added to our GDP. Moving forward, home improvement spending is expected to make an even larger contribution to GDP growth.

The LIRA projects annual homeowner improvement spending will see accelerating double-digit growth through the third quarter of 2013. The center estimated that spending will rise more than 19 percent in Q3 2013, to over $145 billion.

There are many external economic and political risks that could derail this remodeling recovery, Kermit Baker, director of the Remodeling Futures Program at the center, said in a statement. However, the solid momentum behind home building activity, existing home sales, low financing costs, and remodeling contractor sentiment all point to a solid start to the new year for home improvement spending.

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Harvard JCHS: Remodeling Recovery Picking Up Steam

The Marrokal Design & Remodeling team. (Courtesy Photo)

From Marrokal Reports

The San Diego Chapter of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) announced its 2013 Contractor of the Year Awards (CotY) this month. Marrokal Design & Remodeling received two awards one for Entire House Remodel over $1 million, and the other for Entire House Remodel for projects ranging from $500,000 to $1 million.

Remodeling has been gaining favor among homeowners who want to stay put in a soft real estate market. Despite the now-increasing housing prices, many are still finding their home can become their dream home with a remodel.

Homeowners are expected to increase spending on remodeling, boosting figures to double-digit growth in the first half of 2013. According to the Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity (LIRA), homeowners expected spending would lead to an annual rate increase of $115.1 billion to $134.2 billion.

San Diego is a hotbed for remodelers, but choosing the best contractor has eluded some homeowners. Thats why the NARI has national, regional, and local awards for its members, to highlight the best in the industry.

Its an honor to receive these awards. This is a testament to the quality, value, and trusted work we do each day on every single remodeling project for our clients, said Gary Marrokal, president of Marrokal Design & Remodeling.

These regional awards fall on the heels of Marrokal receiving the Remodeler of The Year Award in 2011 from Professional Remodeler Magazine. This year, the company celebrates 30 years in San Diego, another sign that this design/ build firm is an award-winning company.

The over-$1 million-remodel category found some interesting treasures, including the discovery of a world-class art collection of original Asian masterpieces that were later displayed in gallery exhibitions and auctions. The owners mother was an Asian art collector. This gift money provided funding for a complete redesign of the home and site, creating the retirement home of their dreams.

The $500,000 to $1 million-remodel award was for a custom home circa 1970. It was originally built for national tennis celebrity Bobby Riggs and located at a then-new golf course. The current homeowners had done only cosmetic changes and wanted an entire renovation while maintaining some original architecture and updating everything from systems, layout, structure, finishes, and interiors/exteriors to reflect a contemporary style.

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Remodeling projects net Marrokal two design and contractor awards

LA CROSSE, WI--(Marketwire - Jan 15, 2013) - Mortgage rates that remain at historically low levels are spurring a rise in home buying and new construction -- two factors that should make 2013 an excellent year for remodeling businesses like Kitchen Solvers.

Remodeling is expected to rebound strongly this year, Abbe Will, a research analyst for Harvard University's Joint Center for Housing Studies, said on a recent episode of The Wall Street Journal's MarketWatch radio segment. Will's prediction is based on her center's analysis of past data on housing starts and buyer activity and positive expectations from remodelers Harvard surveyed.

In essence, a tight rental market with few vacancies and high rents, combined with record-low mortgage rates, has pushed people back into the home market -- and a flurry of remodeling activity often accompanies spikes in home buying.

Kitchen Solvers franchise owners have witnessed the uptick firsthand.

"There's a positive feeling at the home shows that I attend," said Fran Rainey, owner of the Kitchen Solvers in Rochester, Minn. "A lot of people are walking around and want to know what we can do for them."

Kitchen Solvers, which has 75 locations in the United States and Canada, offers a full range of kitchen remodeling options, from a complete kitchen remodel to less expensive and time-consuming repair and refacing of existing cabinets.

The 30-year-old company pioneered high-end cabinet refacing, a process that reduces waste and saves time and money by merely updating the doors, hinges and surfaces of the cabinets while leaving the frame, usually the sturdiest part of the structure. Kitchen Solvers jobs can save clients weeks of work and aggravation and thousands of dollars.

Kitchen Solvers isn't just a refacing company, though. Franchisees guide customers through the entire remodeling process, helping with ideas, explaining options and creating renderings to ensure customers get the best value.

Kitchen Solvers franchisees benefit from proven systems, extensive training and business coaching, buying cooperatives and a network of other franchisees -- a support system that has helped franchisees succeed for 30 years. To learn more about Kitchen Solvers, visit http://www.KitchenSolversFranchise.com.

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What Record-Low Mortgage Rates Mean for Remodeling Franchises

LORTON, Va., Jan. 14, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --Foster Remodeling, a Northern Virginia-baseddesign build remodelingcontractor, will participate in the Home and Remodeling Show at the Dulles Expo Center in Chantilly, Virginia. The show will be held from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 18 and 19, 2013, and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 20.

"This is a great opportunity for people to see the latest trends in Northern Virginia custom remodeling and get some new ideas for theirhome additionsand renovations," said David Foster, CR, president of Foster Remodeling Solutions. "There are many new materials and technology features now available that can make a home much more comfortable and convenient."

Members of the Foster Remodeling Solutions team will be on hand to discuss the wide range of whole-home remodeling options, including exciting new possibilities forkitchens, baths, home entertainment, decks and outdoor kitchens. They will be at Booths 1218 and 621 throughout the weekend.

The Dulles Expo Center is located at 4320 Chantilly Shopping Center. Admission is $10 for adults and $3 for kids ages 6 to 12. Children 5 years old and younger are free.

About Foster Remodeling Solutions: Foster Remodeling Solutions (http://www.fosterremodeling.com) is a design build contractor based in Lorton, Virginia. The company has been in business for 30 years doing Northern Virginia home renovations and home additions. The home improvement company serves the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area, including Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia. Foster Remodeling is the recipient of several awards, including the 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 GuildQuality Guildmaster Award and the Angie's List Super Service Award 2010. It was also named to the Qualified Remodeler 2012 list of Top 500 Remodelers.

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Foster Remodeling Takes Part In Home And Remodeling Show

Remodeling the old Carrige House
From soup to nuts, extending an 1890 #39;s building for another 100 years.

By: Bolicheh

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Remodeling the old Carrige House - Video

For some 30 years, Santa Fe city councilors have been seated in an arc that leaves half the panel turned away from the crowd at public meetings. Now, through a $20,000 to $50,000 remodel plan, the council chambers could be rearranged so that the mayor and all eight councilors would face their audiences.

Currently, the four councilors seated to the left of the chambers (or to the audiences right) are facing toward members of the public, while the mayor and one councilor face the stenographer and the speakers dais, and three councilors on the right face the city manager, attorney and clerk with their right sides to the audience.

That means those councilors Patti Bushee, Chris Rivera and Bill Dimas have to turn to address members of the public. Rivera and Dimas sought the remodeling last year in a resolution that said the current arrangement causes some councilors to lack direct visibility and interaction with the public.

The proposed remodeling would rearrange the council table into a symmetrical arc facing the public seating, with the mayor in the center of the eight councilors. The stenographer would remain to the audiences right. The city manager, attorney and clerk would sit to the audiences left. The speakers dais where city staff, members of the audience and others stand to address the governing body would be moved to the center of the room.

The remodeling would keep the number of seats for the audience at 96 arranged in 16 rows of six seats.

On Wednesday night, the City Council voted to approve the design, with only Councilor Rebecca Wurzburger dissenting. She suggested holding off on remodeling the council chambers until city staff has a chance to review the big picture of physical problems with the entire City Hall, originally built in the 1930s as a school.

Wurzburger said when the Public Works Committee recently toured City Hall, its members learned that some automobile bays were leaking gasoline fumes into offices.

Were doing piecemeal planning on a building that needs a total remodel, she said.

Jason Kluck, the project manager, estimated work could begin on the council chambers in March or April. He said most of the chambers dates to 1976, when City Hall was moved from the Washington Avenue building that now houses the citys Main Library to the remodeled school building. The current configuration of the desks in was done in the early 1980s, Kluck said.

Dimas joked that the desk he occupies today is the same one he used when he was a councilor in 1984, and that it still has his markings of Go Demons and Go Lobos.

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Council chambers remodeling offers direct view to audience

1st Atlanta Remodeling - Waypoint JAVA Kitchen
1st ATL Remodeling - Roswell GA 595 E. Crossville Rd Roswell, Georgia 30075 Closed until Monday 9:00 am - 6:00 pm Phone 1 (678) 390-4542 Email info@atlremodeling.com http://www.atlremodeling.com http http://www.nkba.org 1st Atlanta Remodeling Inc. is licensed and insured General contractor . For many years we provided the renovation services to the customers of Re-max North -East , for the last five years we renovated a lot of foreclosures properties through the Banks, Investment groups and the private investors and homeowners . We provide the design services for every customer without any cost . Every project starts from the technical inspection of the house ( w/o extra cost for the owner ) and the design of the property using the element of FENG SHUI ( feng shui ideas and tips ) to make a balance of the colors , furniture , decoration and etc . to help our customers successfully to sell or rent the property . 1st Atlanta Remodeling is a full-service design build residential remodeling company based in Roswell, Georgia. For many Atlanta area homeowners, we are pleased to be their "contractor for life." For over ten years, we have been focusing on providing homeowners with innovative design, meticulous craftsmanship and high quality, personalized service.

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1st Atlanta Remodeling - Waypoint JAVA Kitchen - Video

Beyond Construction & Remodeling Discusses the Importance of Home Weatherization

Wenatchee, WA (PRWEB) January 10, 2013

Preventing the unwanted circulation or infiltration of air not only improves the efficiency of a heating and cooling system, but also reduces humidity, dust and pollen; eliminates pests and noise; and even prevents the growth and spread of mold that may eventually compromise the structural integrity of a building. Bottom line, its an investment in your health and your home, said Ruben Ornelas, owner of Beyond Construction & Remodeling.

Ruben shares the most common places to check for drafts and tips for weatherizing a home.

- Check the attic weather-strip and insulate the attic access door.

- Seal around the outside of the chimney with metal flashing and a high-temperature sealant such as flue caulk.

- Seal around plumbing vents, both in the attic floor and in the roof. Check roof flashings, (where the plumbing vent pipes pass through the roof), for signs of water leakage while viewing the underside of the roof.

- Have a radiant barrier installed in the rafters or joists of the attic. This will reflect the radiant heat that strikes it.

- Incandescent fixtures should be upgraded to compact bulbs.

- Seal all other holes between the heated space and the attic.

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Wenatchee Remodeling Contractor Announces Energy Saving Tips for Homeowners to Consider in 2013