No excuses

We didn't wish you a Happy Thanksgiving! We hope you can forgive us, we've been so busy, but it's not excuse. We'll do better, we promise. We've been doing research on great ways to save money on holiday decorations and great places to find great deals. Check back soon, we'll be updating. Plus we need some holiday music on this thing to get us super ready for the season!!

Halloween!

Happy Halloween from our family to yours!


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Something New

Do you remember when we went to that Reward Wall training course for the ICF (Insulated Concrete Forms)? We're sure you remember that you were probably just ad interested about it as we were and frankly still are. Don't worry we aren't going to tell you more about the course, but we wanted you to know we have an ICF home under construction. We are pretty excited about it and thought you might want to see a picture of it. As always if you want more information just get in touch with us.


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Almost time to sprinkle...

The sprinkler systems are coming! We realize you may not know what we’re talking about, so we’ll clarify and try not to get to technical or boring. Fire protection sprinkler systems will be required in all new single-family homes starting January 1, 2011. The will be required in new town homes and multi-family housing as of January 1, 2010. Now, there is still a chance that this could change. There are two pieces of legislation floating around that would either remove sprinkler systems or just make builders continue to follow the 2006 building codes rather then moving to the 2009 codes.

Still following? Trust us, it isn’t as bad as it sounds! We attended a residential sprinkler forum (you don’t need to be jealous, we’re sharing the information with you!) in Harrisburg a few weeks ago to get the details so that we could keep you “in the know.” The residential systems are not the same as the systems you will find in Home Depot or Lowes (we like home improvement stores, we can’t help it). In fact, the system that could be in your home would only be designed to run about eight to ten minutes, just long enough to get out of you house during a fire. Since the systems don’t run long the chances of needing a water tank in your basement are slim.

Now to the fun part, a true and false quiz about sprinkler systems!
(The quiz comes from the United States Fire Administration)

1. When one sprinkler goes off, all the sprinklers activate.
False! Only the sprinkler over the fire will activate. The sprinkler heads react to temperatures in each room individually. Ninety percent of fires are contained by the operation of one sprinkler.
2. A sprinkler could accidentally go off, causing severe water damage to a home.
False! Records compiled for well over 50 years prove the likelihood of this occurring is very remote. Furthermore, home sprinklers are designed specifically and test rigorously to minimize such accidents.
3. Water damage from a sprinkler system will be more extensive then fire damage.
False! The sprinkler system will limit a fire’s growth severely. Therefore, damage from a home sprinkler system will be much less then the smoke and fire damage if the fire had gone on unabated, or less then the water damage caused by water from firefighting hose lines.
4. Home sprinkler systems are expensive.
False! Current estimates suggest that when a home is under construction, a home sprinkler system costs approximately 1 to 1.5 percent of the total building price.
5. Residential sprinklers are ugly.
False! The traditional, commercial-type sprinklers as well as sprinklers for home use now are being designed to fit in with most any décor.

Stay Tuned!

We’ve been absent! We’re very sorry, but don’t worry we’ve been thinking about you! No, for real, we’ve been thinking about you a lot recently, which lead us to conferences and webinars and forums and away from our blog. We really are sorry. Well, we’re sorry for being absent, but we’ve learned so many great things that we can share with you or use to aid in the construction of your home or remodel of your home if that’s what you want.

As you know, we already have a Certified Green Professional on staff. We can’t remember if we told you that earlier this year four of our team members went to a Reward Walls training course. Reward Walls is a company that makes insulated concrete forms (we’re building our first ICF house now, we’ll show you pictures later, don’t worry!) We also had someone take a course on the Environmental Protection Agency’s new Lead Paint Regulations and then there was a course on Green Building Safety given by the International Code Council and while we were at it one of our team members also became a member of the International Code Council. Just when we thought things were slowing down someone traveled to Harrisburg for the Residential Sprinkler Forum given by the Pennsylvania Housing Research Center! We’re also buried up to our noses in trade magazines, but we wouldn’t trade it for the world!

Keep reading, we’ll update more, we promise… Next topic, residential sprinklers! (You may not think it’s exciting, but we’ll get you pumped don’t worry)

We LOVE Festivals

Not only is it carnival season in Central PA, but it's also time for the 2009 Iron Heritage Festival in Danville! This Festival has lots of great things and it kicks off tonight, that's right today, July 22 and lasts until July 26. If you're interesting in going to the event that's starting it all it is tonight at 6 PM at the Grove Mansion (A Picnic in the Grove is the name if you were wondering). You'll have to get tickets for it though, but they are only $20 a person and can be purchased the the IHF (Iron Heritage Festival) Company Store on Mill Street, Danville. Perhaps a picnic is not your thing, there are lots of other great events to check out like fireworks, a parade, a fly-in, a USO Show and Dance, train rides, wagon rides and lots more. Make sure you check out their website http://www.ironheritagefestival.net or call 570-275-6700. Hope to see you there!

time flies

We're on twitter now! It seemed like that's what all the cool people were doing so we wanted to do it too! You should follow us, we're exciting!

We also owe you an apology, we haven't blogged in awhile and we're sorry. We have been keeping rather busy though and enjoying our spring, we hope you have too. To insure we don't disappoint you though we got a remodeling magazine the other day and would like to share some stuff with you. While it probably doesn't make up for out absence, we're trying, honest!

Windows are pretty common things in homes, they are also a pretty common thing that people replace and update. Since there are tax rebates for remodeling and one of those rebates comes from windows we wanted to share the different types of windows available out there. We found this information in Fine Homebuilding: The Remodeling Issue.

Aluminum:
The frames are strong, durable, inexpensive and required little maintenance. They, however, are only available in limited colors and aluminum is highly conductive. To achieve even modest insulated levels the frames and sashes must be carefully engineered with thermal breaks. They are best in mild desert climates or on impact resistant windows in hurricane zones.

Vinyl:
The frames are formed with extruded PVC, and are made of multiple chambers in the frames and sashes that add rigidity. The chambers also have an insulating factor and some manufacturers fill the frames with foam to improve the insulating value. It is typically the least expensive window, but also available in a handful of colors.

Wood:
These windows offer a variety of color choices that can even be changed at a later date. The are moderately priced and have good insulating value and structural strength. They are not, however, low maintenance. They require periodic cleaning and painting.

Fiberglass:
The frame is the best at maximizing insulating ability. It is the least conductive material and the frame can be insulated with foam. They are more expensive then aluminum, wood and vinyl, but require little maintenance and are durable and strong. Several colors are available or it can be painted. Fiberglass also expanded and contracts at the same rate as glass which helps prevent seals along the glass from failing.

Clad:
Windows with an aluminum, vinyl, or fiberglass-clad wood frame are the most expensive. It offers low maintenance durability and thermal resistance and appeal of wood on the inside. Well-engineered aluminum cladding should strengthen the window. Custom colors are available at additional cost.

get away!

Memorial Day weekend is a great kick off for spring and summer time festivities. We’ve compiled a list of day trips and maybe weekend trips, if you’re feeling adventurous. There are plenty of opportunities in the local area as well as around the state and in nearby states. If you’re not from the area we suggest looking in locals newspaper and local news stations for ideas.

Looking for fun for the whole family? How about an amusement park?
Knoebels Amusement Resort, Elysburg, PA is great for all ages. Plus on of the major perks of Knoebels in the free admission. That’s right, you don’t have to pay to get in, just to ride the rides you want and food. It is also pet friendly, so you don’t have to leave your best friend behind. Along with many adult rides they also have a children’s area if you have little ones.
Hershey Park, Hershey, PA offers the amusement park and chocolate land, so there is a little something for everyone. Ticket prices range from $20-$50 depending on age. They also have a kennel called the “Barking Lot” where you can leave for dog for the day while you have fun in the park. Plus it is close to ZooAmerica so there is defiantly something that will entice almost anyone. Rides are available for children so it is a place the whole family can enjoy.
Looking to venture outside Pennsylvania, try Six Flags in Jackson, NJ – feature Great Adventure, Hurricane Harbor and Wild Safari

Looking for something a little low key? How about a state park?
There are several state parks throughout Pennsylvania.
Ricketts Glen is a national landmark with its cascading waterfalls and bountiful hiking trails it’s the perfect place to spend the day. Pets are allowed, but if you’re planning on hiking the waterfall trail you may not want to bring small children. The website for the park can be found at: http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/parks/rickettsglen.aspx
Hickory Run has an amazing bolder field that everyone should see, along with several hiking trails. Plus, the boulder field is a national landmark. The hiking trails vary from easy to difficult and provide opportunities for people of all skill levels. Want to learn more? Check out the website: http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/parks/hickoryrun.aspx
Cherry Springs is known as a dark sky park and is one of the only dark sky parks around. A dark sky park presents a perfect place to watch the skies at night and is a haven for astronomers. They often have star gazing activities and shows. They calendar event is on the website at: http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/parks/cherrysprings.aspx
There are several other parks that have much to offer such as Lyman Run, Bald Eagle, Nescopeck… if you’re looking for a particular park check out the DCNR website for more information!

Looking for a change of scenery, may multiple? Take a road trip along PA Route 6!
Route 6 encompasses 400 miles, so you could do small pieces here and there or go all out and just do the whole thing. The road travels through 11 counties in northern Pennsylvania traveling from border to border. There are even things for children along the way! If you want to learn more go to the website. It explains the history along with things to do and see. Plus if you want to spend more then one day it gives places to stay and places to eat. http://www.paroute6.com/index.cfm

What else did we think of? Well, plenty…
Lititz, PA
Lewisburg, PA
Gettysburg, PA
Ephrata, PA
Tannersville, PA
Dutch Wonderland
Steamtown
Philadelphia, PA
Inner Harbor – Baltimore, MD
Corning Museum – Corning, NY
Yuengling Brewery – Pottsville, PA

Happy Earth Day, now on to the educational stuff...

With all the talk of building green and making your home more green things can get overwhelming. People just used to use a standard incandescent light bulb in their homes, but then CFL’s or Compact Fluorescent Lights came out and now there are LED and halogen and it keeps getting more confusing.

We understand feeling confused and overwhelmed, we do too, sometimes. BUT that’s why we have this blog, so that we can share what we learn with you and hopefully ease some of the confusion! Plus, it’s Earth Day, so what better a way to celebrate then to discuss energy efficient lighting.

It is important to note that the federal government passed a bill recently that will outlaw many wattages of the standard incandescent bulb in 2012! (Guess that means we should start learning about alternatives now)

CFL Pros:
-They are the most cost effective all the alternatives
-They are about four to five times more efficient then incandescents
-Can get colors very close to standard incandescent bulbs
-Pin-based CFL’s withstand heat better then screw-in CFL’s
-Pin-based will last about 10,000 hours
Screw-in will last about 6,000 hours
CLF Cons:
-Contain Mercury
-Expensive to dim
-Do not dim to warm glow
-Still limited fixture options
-Must warm up to reach full brightness

LED Pros
-More efficient than incandescent
-Longest life (30,000 to 50,000 hours)
-Emit no ultraviolet light
-Can be embedded into surface
-Efficiency improves 100% every 2 years
LED Cons:
-More expensive
-Color quality and consistency varies greatly
-Do not dim to warm glow
-Send light in only one direction

Halogen Pros:
-Best color rendering
-Fully dimmable
Halogen Cons:
-Less efficient then CFL's and LED's
-Put out more heat

there is always more to learn!

while looking around on the National Association of Homebuilders website (again - we know we do this a lot - but thats a good thing) we found a 'homeowner maintenance quiz' we wanted to share with you. we'll post the questions first and then we'll post the answers at the bottom (we don't want to make it too easy!)



Questions:

1. How often do forced-air furnace filters need to be changed?

2. What part of the faucet usually needs replaced when you have a water leak?

3. Should you run hot or cold water through your garbage disposal

4. How often should the moving parts of garage doors be oiled?

5. What tools can you use to unclog your drains?

6. What tool can be used to unclog a toilet?

7. What faucet part needs to be cleaned every three to four months?

8. What can you use for traction on icy sidewalks, steps and driveways?

9. Where should the fire in your fireplace be built?

10. What will prevent soot and add color to the fire in your fireplace?

11. What will prevent soot and add color to the fire in your fireplace?

12. What helps keep unpainted concrete floors easy to keep clean?

13. What should you use to clean unpainted concrete floors?

14. When can you clean hardwood floors with water?

15. Do hardwood floors need to be waxed?

16. What is the best polish for vinyl floors?

17. When is basement condensation at its maximum?

18. Why should noisy water pipes be fixed promptly?

19. Why should frozen pipes be thawed slowly?

20. How often should your roof be inspected?

21. What should be regularly checked on your security system?

22. To ensure your safety, what household equipment uses batteries that must be checked regularly to make sure they are operable?

23. What do you use to fill nail holes and cracks in plaster walls and gypsum wallboard?

24. What is the white powdery substance that develops on masonry walls?

25. At what temperature should your water heater be set?

26. How often do skylights need to be inspected?

27. What is a simple solution you can use to wash extremely dirty exterior windows?

28. What can you use to help a window slide easily?

29. What should you look for when you inspect your siding yearly?



and now... The ANSWERS!



1. At least every three months during the heating season.
2. The washer.
3. Cold water.
4. Every three months.
5. A plunger and a plumber’s snake.
6. Coil spring-steel auger.
7. Aerator—the screen inside the end of the faucet.
8. Cat litter or sand—never use salt because it damages the pavement.
9. On the andirons or grate, never on the fireplace floor.
10. Throw in a handful of salt.
11. Outside, away from your house and not directly on the ground.
12. Concrete sealer.
13. A solution of 4 to 6 tablespoons of washing soda in a gallon of hot water. Mix scouring powder to the solution for tough jobs.
14. When the floors have a polyurethane finish.
15. Hardwood floors that do not have a polyurethane finish probably will need to be waxed periodically. Use liquid or paste “spirit” wax.
16. Water emulsion wax.
17. In new homes because gallons of water went into the concrete of basement walls.
18. The condition that causes noisy pipes may be accompanied by vibration that can cause fittings to loosen and leak.
19. Frozen pipes should be thawed slowly to prevent the formation of steam, which could cause the pipe to burst.
20. A qualified roofer should inspect your roof every three years.
21. The alarms and circuit breakers should be checked to make sure they are in working order and the sensors should be inspected one by one.
22. Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
23. Spackling.
24. Efflorescence sometimes appears on masonry walls. It is crystallized soluble salts that can be removed by scrubbing with water and a stiff brush.
25. 120 degrees Fahrenheit
26. Skylights should be inspected each time your roof is inspected so leaks don’t develop from cracks and interruptions around its seals, caulking and flashings.
27. A solution of equal parts vinegar and water or 3 tablespoons of denatured alcohol per quart of warm water. Use a piece of crumpled newspaper to wash the glass to avoid lint left behind by papertowls.
28. Rub the channel with a piece of paraffin.
29. Determine if wood-sided homes need to be repainted; check to see if the caulking around the windows and doors has split and cracked, and replace the caulk; clean the mildew; trim shrubbery away so it does not touch the siding.

something else to set us apart

We now have a CGP on staff! What is a CGP, you ask? Well, it is a Certified Green Professional and it is a professional designation that is earned through the National Association of Home Builders or NAHB. The designation shows is just another way that we are educated and involved in green building. If you're interested in learning more feel free to call us. You can also check out the NAHB's Green website at www.nahbgreen.org.

the season is upon us...

we're not talking about the spring season either, we're talking about tax season. not exactly our favorite time of the year, but still we'd like to offer some assistance. after visiting the irs website the other day we wanted to make you aware of a couple things.
1. They have a free file section on their website. It claims that it is fast and free and easy, we haven't personally used it, so we can't tell you whether that is true or not, but if you're gross income with less then $56,000 in 2008 it might be worth looking into. http://www.irs.gov/efile/article/0,,id=118986,00.html
2. They also have a section called 'where's my refund?' This is supposed to help you track your refund so you can determine about when it will arrive in your mailbox or bank account, depending. someone here did try it, however, they were not able to locate our return - perhaps you will have better luck! http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=96596,00.html
3. They discuss the Recovery Rebate Credit, which is for individuals that didn't receive a stimulus payment last year or those that didn't receive the full amount. if you're interested in seeing if you qualify check out: http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=186065,00.html


If you're really interested they also have daily tax tips and a lot of other information. www.irs.gov

Happy Groundhog Dog!

Happy Groundhog Day!

Phil did see his shadow which technically means six more weeks of winter.... We're not saying we disagree, we're just going to see what happens. Since Phil started his tradition he has seen his shadow 97 times and hasn't seen his shadow 15 times. (we think maybe Phil just likes hibernating).

we think you should pick us!

we realize we post a lot from the nahb (national association of home builders), but we really can't help it - they have some great articles. we saw an article on how to chose a builder and thought we'd share some of the tips with you. we, of course, would LOVE to be YOUR builder, but we'll show you the steps you can take to end up with us :)

The article states that you want to shop for your builder are carefully as you shop for you home. remember you're going to be working with them for a couple months - maybe longer - depending on what you're looking to build. The first step is to make a list of possible builders; ashford homes should be number one (well the article doesn't say that exactly...)

How To Make a List:
1. Contact your local homebuilders association for a list of builders in your area. If you're not sure where your local association is you can start from the state or national level and work from there.
2. Look in the real estate section of the newspaper local to the area in which you're looking to build. This will give you a chance to check out the ads and the articles to find which builders are active in that area. sometimes those same ads and articles can lead you to prices and information on different types of homes available - as a side note: not all builders put all that information in an advertisement, you may want to look at websites are stop by their office.
3. Local real estate agents may be able to help. ask friends and relatives for recommendations - even if they haven't build a home recently they might know someone who has.

Next Step - Do Your Homework:
1. Ask builders to provide you with names and addresses of previous clients who would be willing to speak with you
2. Drive by the homes - try to drive by over the weekend when homeowners may be out in the yard. By doing this you may be able to talk to homeowners and see the quality of the homes the builders build.
3. Take a notebook when you talk to builders - that way you can write down your thoughts and impressions. This will allow you to make comparisons later. Make sure you ask people if they're happy with their homes and if they had any problems were they fixed promptly?

Final Step - Shop for Quality and Value:
Look at the quality of construction features. Don't be afraid to inspect the cabinetry, carpentry, carpeting, trim work and paint. (You can inspect ours, we don't mine - make sure you don't just do a visual inspection - touch it too, you'll notice a difference - trust us)

Most importantly: ask questions, lots of questions, we don't mind. we understand that we've spent our lives in this industry, but that not everyone has, so ask away - we're ready!

terms!

we like the national association of home builders website. we can't help it, we just do. so since we spend time looking to see what is new we also spend time looking at what can help you. we recently stumbled across a home buyers dictionary and decided to place some terms on here to help you out. maybe you already know some or all or maybe you don't know any, either way, we're here for you. want more info? check out www.nahb.org

Appraisal - An evaluation to determine what a piece of property would sell for in the marketplace.
Appreciation - The increase in the value of a property
Buydown - A subsidy (usually paid by a builder or developer) to reduce the monthly payments on a mortgage loan.
Cap - A limit to the amount an interest rate or a monthly payment can increase for an adjustable rate loan either during an adjustment period or over the life of the loan.
Certificate of Occupancy (CO) - A document from an official agency stating that the property meets the requirements of local codes, ordinances, and regulations.
Closing - A meeting to sign documents which transfer property from a seller to a buyer. (Also called settlement)
Closing Costs - Charges paid at settlement for obtaining a mortgage loan and transferring real estate title.
Conditions, Covenants, and Restrictions (CC and Rs) - The standards that define how a property may be used and the protections the developer has made for the benefit of all owners in a subdivision.
Credit Rating - A report ordered by a lender from a credit bureau to determine if the borrower is a good credit risk.
Density - The number of homes built on a particular acre of land. Allowable densities are usually determined by local jurisdictions.
Downpayment - The difference between the sales price and the mortgage amount on a home. The downpayment is usually paid at closing.
Earnest Money - A sum paid to the seller to show that a potential purchaser is serious about buying.
Equity - The difference between the value of a home and what is owed on it.
Escrow - The handling of funds or documents by a third party on behalf of the buyer and/or seller
Fixed Rate Mortgage - A mortgage whose interest rate remains constant over the life of the loan. The payments are not necessarily level.
Interest - The cost paid to a lender for the use of borrowed money
Mortgage Broker - A broker who represents numerous lenders and helps consumers find affordable mortgages; the broker charges a fee only if the consumer fins a loan.
Mortgage Commitment - A formal written communication by a lender, agreeing to make a mortgage loan on a specific property, specifying the loan amount, length of time and conditions.
Mortgage Company (Mortgage Banker) - A company that borrows money from a bank, lends it to consumers who want to buy homes, then sells the loans to investors.
Mortgagee - The lender who makes a mortgage loan.
Mortgage Loan - A contract in which the borrower’s property is pledged a s collateral and which can be repaid in installments over a long period. The mortgagor (buyer) promises to repay principal and interest, to keep the home insured, to pay all taxes, and to keep the property in good condition.
Mortgage Origination Fee - A charge by a lender for the work involved in preparing and servicing a mortgage application (usually 1 percent of the loan amount).
PITI - Principal, interest, taxes, and insurance (the 4 major components of monthly housing payments).
Point - A charge of 1 percent of the mortgage amount. Points are a one-time charge assessed by the lender at closing to increase the interest yield on a mortgage loan.
Principal - The amount borrowed in a loan, excluding interest and other charges
R-Value - The resistance of insulation material (including windows) to heat passing through it. The higher the number, the greater the insulating value.
Sales Contract - A contract between a buyer and seller which should explain, in detail, exactly what the purchase includes, what guarantees there are, when the buyer can move in, what the closing costs are, and what recourse the parties have if the contract is not fulfilled or if the buyer cannot get a mortgage commitment at the agreed-upon terms.
Title - Evidence (usually in the form of a certificate or deed) of a person’s legal right to ownership of a property.
Transfer Taxes - Taxes levied on the transfer of property or on real estate loans by state and/or local jurisdictions
Walk-Through - A final inspection of a home before settlement to search for problems that need to be corrected before ownership changes hands.
Warranty - A promise, either written or implied, that the material and workmanship of a product is defect-free or will meet a specified level of performance over a specified period of time. Written warranties on new homes are either backed by insurance companies or by the builders themselves.
Zoning - Regulations established by local governments regarding the location, height, and use for any given piece of property within a specific area.

So much to learn!

We just want to take time to thank everyone that joined us at the Green Expo we hosted over the weekend. We also owe a special to our vendors that helped make it all possible. We hope you learned a lot and enjoyed yourself. Let us know if there are other topics you would like to learn about in regards to building or renovating.

Want to get free stuff?

On Saturday, January 17th from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. we will be hosting a GREEN expo at our showcase home in Riverside. We will have several vendors available to discuss green options for your home (new or existing). Plus you have a chance to enter drawings to win prizes such as a green commode (not in the color, but in the environmental conscience way), paint, Knoebels tickets and lots of other things. Who doesn't love a chance to learn and get some free stuff while you're at it? We'll keep you updated with more information, as the time gets closer.

It's been too long

We know its been awhile since we've updated you and we're sorry! We hope you had an excellent holiday season! We took our holiday decorations down today and we're looking forward to a new year. We'll be making some changes to the layout soon, so make sure to check back!