How Energy Efficient is Your Home?

Yep. It's winter in Upstate New York, and we've all seen that reflected in our monthly energy bills. After all the grumbling and the letter from the energy company offering us the option to pay the larger-than-life bill in installments, how do you know where to start?

Well, wonder no longer. We've put together some things to consider to help you to mitigate those sky-high energy bills.

Lights and Appliances

• Paint walls and ceilings light colors that reflect light rather than absorb, reducing the need for extra lighting


• Keep light bulbs and shades dust-free - dust absorbs light


• Consider replacing incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent lights (CFLs), or light emitting diodes (LEDs)


• With incandescent lighting, use one high-wattage bulb rather than several low-wattage ones


• Turn off unused lights, stereos, televisions, computers, etc

Heating and Cooling Systems

• As a general rule, set the thermostat at 65°F to 70°F during the winter, and 58°F when away from home


• Install programmable thermostats to help you make those temperature changes automatically


• Have  your heating and cooling systems inspected annually by a certified HVAC professional. Inefficient heating and cooling systems can increase your consumption of energy.


• Hire a specialist to inspect your chimney and flues


• Insulate ducts and pipes that run through unheated areas


• Warm air rises, so use registers to direct warm air flow across the floor

The Kitchen

• Inspect the seals on your refrigerator, freezer, and oven doors to ensure that they fit tightly. Replace the seals if they don't.


• Replace outdated appliances with energy efficient rated appliances.


• When necessary, preheat your oven for no more than 10 minutes


• Check all your range burners. If your natural gas stove burns with a yellow rather than blue flame, something may be clogging it. Call a service technician to inspect and service it.

The Water Heater

• Remove sediment from the bottom of your water heater from time to time. Follow your manufacturers instructions to drain the dirty water until it's clear to keep your water heater efficient.


• Insulating your water heater could reduce your energy use by 5 - 8%. Check your owners manual for specific instructions.


• Set the temperature low (about 120°F) and use warm instead of hot water for dishes and clothes.


• If you still have an oil-fired water heater, be sure to have a qualified professional inspect it every year.

The Attic

• Insulate your attic! If you heat with natural gas or oil, at least 6 inches of R-19 should be sufficient while those with electric heat should have at least 12 inches of R-36 type insulation.


• Insulate and weather strip your attic access door.


• Be sure that your attic has proper moisture barriers and is vented properly to reduce condensation and interfere with the performance of insulation

The Basement

• Seal all cracks in masonry walls


• Insulate basement walls


• Insulate the floor joists above unheated areas


• Insulate crawl spaces under heated areas

If you want to get an idea how energy efficient you home is and get more of these tips, check out this printable quiz/checklist from RG&E: http://ow.ly/J5d0v

Source: http://www.trinityhomerenovations.com

Monochromatic Colors: 2015 Color of the Year

 

Guilford Green (HC-116), 2015 Color of the Year

It's that time of year again! Our friends at Benjamin Moore have released the 2015 color trend guide, and have announced their chosen color of the year.

After a quick flip through the guide, it's no question that monochromatic color schemes are "in," this year. They suggest trying warm, cool, dark and light layers of the same hue to create a concept that gracefully flows from room to room. So of their 3,500 colors, which did they pick?

Benjamin Moore announced that Guilford Green (HC-116) is the color that ties it all together, this year. We couldn't agree more!

"We chose Guilford Green as our 2015 Colour of the Year because it can be the hero or the highlight in any room, enhancing the architectural identity of a space," says Ellen O'Neill, Creative Director at Benjamin Moore. "Guilford Green is the perfect thread to connect nature, spaces and interiors with colour schemes that signify fresh energy and growth."

The 2015 color trend guide also contains a curated palette of 23 colors of green, blue, blush, and berry colors to transform any space into your new favorite space. So grab your paint brushes and rollers, let's get to it!

Source: http://www.trinityhomerenovations.com

Budgeting a Bathroom Renovation

So now that we’re approaching the middle of Upstate New York’s wonderful winter season, you’re probably ready for a change in scenery, since you’ve been “stuck” inside for weeks. A lot of homeowners opt for indoor renovation projects in the winter, and we see an increase in the amount of quote requests for bathroom projects. So for this month, let’s talk bathrooms!

Crunch the Numbers

According to Remodeling Magazine’s 2014 Cost vs. Value report, a mid-range bathroom remodel might run you somewhere in the neighborhood of 15.8 thousand dollars. Before you lose your mind over that figure, consider that your investment will vary greatly depending on how you define “mid-range,” the size of your space, and numerous other factors. In the end, the amount you spend may actually be much less. A good place to start is with an honest evaluation of your finances. Come up with a number that you are feasibly able to spend on the project. The National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) has a budgeting worksheet to make this step a breeze.

Let’s next consider how long you plan on staying in your home. This can give you a better idea of how valuable this project should be to you. If you plan on staying for less than five years, consider your project an improvement on investment, and consider how you can best improve the value of your home and improve its ability to sell. If you’re planning on staying more than five years, it’s acceptable to consider the comfort of you and your family over the ability of your home to sell.

Substitutions and Omissions

When you budget for a bathroom project, it’s important to remember to include labor costs. As a general rule, a third of your budget will be put towards labor.

Should you find that your budget needs a trim, start with the extras (a towel warmer, steam shower, etc.). From there, consider some other investment options, such as having an old tub re-glazed versus buying a brand new one. If you’re planning on changing the layout of the room, the plumbing is a big cost than might be able to be omitted by keeping the layout the same.

Leave Yourself Leeway

When you open up the walls and floors of any home, surprises tend to pop up. Plan for these little surprises by leaving some cushion in your budget to accomodate. Last minute changes are also a source for budget-busting costs, so try to finalize your plans before project start, and keep mid-project revisions to a minimum if at all possible.

On top of your labor costs, set aside 10 percent to cover the cushion. If you don’t use it, you’ll have ample funds to buy the little luxuries (towel warmers, fluffy towels, a nice massaging shower head, etc.).

Keeping On Budget

Once you’ve finalized your project, keep a spreadsheet to track actual expenses against what’s been budgeted. When you can visualize the impact on your project’s bottom line, you’re less likely to go over.

Source: http://www.trinityhomerenovations.com

Avoiding Holiday Decorating Disasters

Holiday lights and displays are inherent to the holiday season, and bring holiday cheer to all who pass. But a lot of homeowners aren’t fully aware of the risks that holiday lights and decorations pose, resulting in many never performing safety checks on lights and ornaments. In fact, for the fifth consecutive year, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) anticipates an excess of 12,000 emergency room visits for falls, cuts, shocks and burns related to holiday decorating.

Some of the more common injuries (such as electrical shocks or burns) result from an excess of lights strung end-to-end, low-wattage ornaments burning high-wattage bulbs, or overloaded extension cords. This safety list can help you and your friends/family avoid a holiday decorating disaster this year:

Ladders

Heed the warning labels on ladders. Following the manufacturers instructions on use will greatly lower your chance of accidental falls, or entanglement in high-current electrical wires.

Trees and Decorations

Buying a live tree? Be sure it’s fresh! We realize that not everyone has time to go cut down a tree themselves, so we want to make sure that you check that your tree is fresh. If it’s green, it’s needles are hard to pull from the branches, and the needles do not break when bent between your fingers, you likely have a fresh tree. Dry needles are more flammable than well hydrated ones!

Place trees away from heat sources. Fireplaces, vents, and radiators not only cause a fire risk when in close proximity to trees (live and artificial), but they can impede the heat distribution to the room or house. Keep in mind that warmer rooms will cause the tree to absorb water faster, so check the water levels in live tree bases daily!

Using an artificial tree? Look for the “Fire Resistant” label! While this doesn’t guarantee that the tree won’t catch fire, it indicates that it’s more resistant to combustion.

Have small children? Avoid small, sharp, heavy, or breakable decorations. Keep decorations that have small or removable parts out of reach, and avoid decorations that resemble food or candy that may entice children into putting it into their mouths.

Candles

Keep burning candles in sight. Extinguish candles when you leave the room or house. Do a double check before going to bed to ensure that you didn’t accidentally overlook one.

Burn candles only on a stable, heat-resistant surface. Make sure that they’re out of reach of pets and children, and on surfaces that won’t cause the candle to fall if bumped. Make sure that there are no adjacent drapes, decorations, or furniture that could easily catch on fire.

Lights

Use lights that have been tested. Use only lights that have been tested by a nationally recognized testing laboratory such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL), Intertek (ETL) or the Canadian Standards Association (CSA). On lights for sale in stores, UL’s red holographic label indicates that it meets the strict safety requirements for indoor/outdoor use. UL’s green holographic label indicates that the product is approved for indoor use only.

Check each set of lights. Look at both new and old lights for broken bulbs, cracked sockets, loose connections, or frayed/bare/broken wires. Throw out damaged light strings, and don’t use electric lights on metallic trees.

Check outdoor lights for labels. Be sure that the lights you plan to use outdoors have labels citing approval for outdoor use. When in doubt, or no label exists, don’t use it outdoors. When creating your outdoor display, plug the lights into a ground-fault circut interrupter (GFCI)-protected outlet only!

Fireplaces

Use “fire salts” with extreme care. Fire salts are used to produce colored flames when using a wood-burning fireplace. These salts contain metals that can induce gastrointestinal irritation and subsequent vomiting if swallowed. Ensure that these substances stay out of reach of children and pets!

Don’t burn wrapping paper in the fireplace. Wrapping paper is highly flammable, and can cause a flash fire, igniting any flammable material around the fireplace or causing severe burns to those in close proximity.

Source: http://www.trinityhomerenovations.com

Taking On A Winter Roofing Project

Many homeowners rush to take care of a roof repair or replacement before the snow flies. While not a bad idea, don’t fret if you haven’t gotten your roof taken care of. Most roofing projects can be done regardless of the time of year.

You’re probably wondering why it’s sensible to undertake a roofing project in the middle of one of Rochester’s famous winters. For starters, leaving a compromised roof alone until spring can actually be more of a detriment than to have it repaired/replaced mid-winter. Just like the freezing and thawing action of water in the cracks in pavement creates the all-too-familiar potholes in Upstate New York, the same action acts on your roof. Not addressing roofing problems can lead to more problems throughout the winter.

While feasible, there are some considerations depending on your roofing material.

Sloped Roofs

Asphalt shingles are the most commonly used residential roofing material, and can be installed regardless of the season. Because they are affected by temperature, however, they become more brittle in the colder weather. Installers must be cautious when installing them to ensure that they don’t bend and crack the shingle. The sealing strips are also heat-dependent, and installing them on cold days may cause them to not seal properly.

Metal roofs, however, can be installed easily in the winter months without any additional special considerations. The metal is designed to expand and contract with the changing temperatures, and will adjust without issue to the wide temperature swings we’ve come to know and love here in Rochester. Make sure you use a premium breathable underlayment, and upgrade ventilation whenever possible.

Flat Roofs

Thermoplastic Olefin (TPO) and Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) roofing is easily installed during the winter months. These products are mechanically installed and are welded together with a hot air gun.

Rubber and adhesive-based roofing materials, however, are the exception. These two types of materials are very temperature-dependent, and may not be effective when applied. Rubber roofs are usually only installed in temperatures greater than 40°F, as the rubber can freeze and fail to adhere to the roof. Adhesives are also susceptible to freezing, and may not bond, either.

Regardless of your roof style or material, you can prevent common issues and the premature failure of your roof by thoroughly discussing your needs with a trusted roofing contractor.

Source: http://www.trinityhomerenovations.com

Home Checklist: Preparing for Fall

With fall upon us, homeowners are busy preparing their homes for the months ahead. Considering these tips will not only save you money in the short term, but cut down on repair costs come spring!

Exterior Maintenance

• Ensure the foundation is sealed
  Take a walk around your home and check your foundation for cracks or other openings that could lead to heat escape. Specifically, check where any masonry meets the siding, pipes or wires enter the structure, and around windows and doors.


• Inspect your windows
  Windows are a big source of heat loss in the colder months. Fix any broken windows, and ensure that they lock tightly. Consider installing storm windows to add an extra air cushion to further insulate your windows from heat loss.


• Make sure your roof is in good shapeA lot of heat loss can occur through the roof of your home as well. Look for missing and loose shingles, and have it repaired as necessary. With the frequent temperature shifts in Upstate New York, further damage can occur as the melting snow and ice re-freezes as it works its way under the edges of the shingles.


• Clean out gutters and downspoutsAvoid the ice buildup in your gutters this winter by removing any debris, flushing them with water, inspecting the joints for a tight seal, and tighten any brackets that are loose. A gutter system that is off pitch due to a loose bracket can cause pooling, and eventually an ice buildup.


• Weather strip your garage doorKeep out the driving snow and rain, characteristic of an Upstate New York winter with weatherstripping. Not only will it keep your garage at a more bearable temperature, but it will help keep out some of those smaller animals, too.


• Inspect your driveway and sidewalk for cracksWhen snow thaws and re-freezes in the cracks of your driveway or sidewalk, it further damages the pavement, eventually creating what we commonly know as “pot-holes.” Sealing the cracks with a commercial sealer helps prolong the life of your pavement, and makes it easier for snow removal.

Interior Maintenance

• Inspect your doors and windows for leaksPrevent unnecessary heat loss and expensive heating costs this winter by inspecting your doors and windows for leaks. Check with your hand for air movement around the edges of the doors and windows. Caulk or install weatherstripping where appropriate, and don’t forget to check the door to the basement.


• Have your heating system checkedSet up an inspection of your heating system by a licensed heating contractor. When properly serviced, heating systems are more efficient, last longer, and experience fewer problems.


• Get your wood stove and fireplace in working orderExamine your wood stove or fireplace inserts door gasket for a tight seal, and ensure there are no cracks in the door. Additionally, have your chimney cleaned by a licensed chimney sweep. Blockages in the chimney put you at a significant risk for a chimney fire.


• Change the direction of your ceiling fansBy reversing your fans, you create an upward draft that redistributes warm air from the ceiling.

By addressing these easy tips, you set yourself up for long-term savings in both emergency maintenance, and in utilities!

Source: http://www.trinityhomerenovations.com

Super Easy Home Decorating Tips For Every Rochester Homeowner

For a lot of people, decorating the home is almost more difficult that renovating it. Which color to pick? What type of furniture? The options available are overwhelming. Even if you see something on TV or in a magazine, does that mean it's the best option for your unique home?

Decorating doesn't have to be complicated. Start by using some of these simple tips to help improve the look of any room.

Tip #1 - Add Plant Life!

By adding flowers or indoor plants to any space, you can bring color and life (literally) to the room. Who knows, it could even help your mood. The nice part about plants is that they come in all sizes and shapes. Don't have a green thumb? Ask your local greenhouse expert about the easiest indoor plans to maintain.

Tip #2 - Lay Some Rugs

Area rugs are a relatively cost effective way to really transform a room whether you're remodeling or not. The rug will warm up any tile or hardwood floor while protecting your floors from damage, wear and tear.

Tip #3 - Dress Up Your Windows

Blinds, curtains and drapes can do wonders for a space. These small touches will make the room look polished and give you some privacy. When in doubt, stick to lighter colors.

Tip #4 - Paint

Nothing refreshes a room like new paint. Again, when in doubt, choose a natural or neutral color. If you're brave, go darker. But you may wish to consult with an interior design expert first.

Tip #5 - Upgrade Your Lighting

It's amazing what new lighting can do. Whether you're going with a floor lamp, table lamp, or something installed in the ceiling, having the correct lighting pattern will set the tone for the whole room.

Tip #6 - Pillows & Comfy Blankets

While also serving a practical purpose, adding new throw pillows and blankets to your furniture allows you to add color, texture and personality at a very low cost.

Tip #7 - Art Work

We find that choosing the right art work for a room is very difficult. Consider photography or something more subtle. Check out a local art studio in addition to the usual retail stores. There are online sites that have a wider selection as well.

Source: http://www.trinityhomerenovations.com