Red Apple Renovations

Why Construction Details Are Important

2010-01-18T10:44:00.002-05:00

One of the things that people shopping for a remodeling company may not realize is that the level of care that is put into the work is very important. This is truly a case where the devil is in the details.

In many cases, we've been called in to repair work done by another contractor. Some of the items we've seen include:

Improperly installed shower tile causing water to leak into the basement.
Improperly installed gutter that cause water to flow into the corner of the house. Over time this cause the entire corner of the house to rot. In this case, the entire framing structure of this area of the house had to be replaced.
Improperly installed plumbing. In this case, the drain lines from a bathroom were not properly pitched. This meant that the waste water did not properly drain.
In the same bathroom, the plumbing had been installed without regard to the structural stability of the floor framing. The plumber had used a sawzall to cut through the floor joists in many locations. Over time, the floor had started to sag and the tile floor had started to crack. This required extensive repair of the floor framing.
Improperly installed attic venting causing severe ice dams. This allows water to build up and drain down the inside of the house walls.

As a homeowner, you can't be expected to know all the ins and outs of residential construction. It's not your profession and not what you do with your time. Because of that, it's important to find a contractor who is up to date on the current building code. Also, it's important to find a contractor who cares about their work. Look for pride in the details as well as a records of happy customers. Ask about occasions when there was a problem with a project and how they handled it.

A New Year!

2010-01-05T16:02:00.002-05:00

Okay - if you're following this blog you'll see that there hasn't been a posting for quite a while now. One of my resolutions for the new year is to post much more frequently.

A few notes on what 2010 holds for Red Apple Renovations

We're in the process of finalizing the changes to our new website. There will be much more content as well as an improved portfolio and periodic video posts. We'll let you know when it goes live but we hope you'll check it out.

The good news is that we continue to see strong activity in the remodeling market in the Boston area. Some of the most common project we're seeing are kitchen and bathroom remodels as well as finishing unused basement space. These are all projects that have a great return on investment and add to your quality of life as well.

Anyway, the first post of the year is done and out there. Stay tuned for more.

Warren Project Update: Boston Area Green Home Remodeling

2009-07-24T17:50:00.003-04:00

The first few weeks of our green home project have been very productive. We’ve completed excavation, poured the foundation, started the framing for the addition and completed demolition on the main part of the house. We have some pictures with this post so you can see the progress.

At this point in the project you can really see the “bones” of the house. It’s also not surprising at this stage to see a few items that can’t be seen until the walls are down. In this case we’ve found a few areas that are not insulated properly along with a few framing surprises. The good news is that there is nothing that will keep the project from moving forward.

The next few weeks of a project like this show a lot of visible progress. Walls go up, windows get installed and the roof goes on. These are very apparent signs of progress that are easily seen by contractor and homeowner alike. Once these phases are done, progress continues but it’s not as apparent. The rough plumbing, wiring and HVAC work are as crucial to the house as the new roof or windows. However, more wires in the walls or new plumbing pipes don’t give the same feeling of progress as new walls.

When you’re doing a project of any size, don’t be surprised if sometimes things seem to be rocking forward and sometimes crawling. A good contractor keeps the project moving at all stages. Some are just easier to see than others.

Questions? Or just want to chat about an upcoming project that you're considering? Email owner Chris Matey. We specialize in Boston area kitchen remodeling and bath renovation. Ask us about eco green home remodeling and renovations.
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We service Boston, North Shore, North of Boston, including but no limited to Andover, Belmont, Beverly, Boston (Back Bay, South End), Brookline, Cambridge, Haverhill, Lexington, Lowell, Marblehead, Natick, Newton, Newburyport, Somerville, Swampscott, Weston, Winchester, Woburn. As well as southern New Hampshire, including Nashua, Londonderry, and Merrimack. Check out our portfolio for Boston kitchen remodeling, Boston bathroom remodeling, and more.

Building Green, Building LEED: What Does It Mean?

2009-06-17T14:30:00.003-04:00

So you've been hearing the LEED word around quite a bit lately, right? It is an acronym associated with green building and eco-friendly building. LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. As you may know, support for green buildings has increased rapidly each year over the last five years.

There are two LEED certifications. There is LEED (for buildings), and then there is LEED AP (Accredited Professional) - two distinct certifications administered by the U.S. Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI).

LEED certification is the recognized standard for measuring building sustainability. The Green Building Council is a Washington D.C.-based, nonprofit coalition of building industry leaders. It was designed to promote design and construction practices that increase profitability while reducing the negative environmental impacts of buildings and improving occupant health and well-being.

The LEED Green Building Rating System is a voluntary, consensus-based national rating system for developing high-performance, sustainable buildings. LEED addresses all building types and emphasizes state-of-the-art strategies in five areas: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials and resources selection, and indoor environmental quality.

LEED AP professional is a credentialing program was developed to encourage green building professionals to maintain and advance their knowledge and expertise. LEED-accredited professionals range from architects, consultants, engineers, product marketers and environmentalists to other building industry professionals around the country.

The LEED rating system offers four certification levels for new construction -- Certified, Silver, Gold and Platinum -- and divides building into five categories:

Sustainable Sites

Water Conservation

Energy & Atmosphere

Materials & Resources

Indoor Environmental Quality

Many cities and states either provide tax credits or grants for green buildings, or require green building certification for public buildings. The U.S. government is adopting LEED or similar green building standards for the General Services Administration (which owns or leases over 8300 buildings), the U.S. Army, the Department of State, the Department of Energy (DOE), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Eight states including California, New York, Oregon, and Washington have adopted LEED for public buildings. Many agencies are requiring LEED silver certification as a minimum.

Thirteen countries have expressed interest in LEED including China and India; these countries have exceptionally high levels of new building construction.

Questions? Or just want to chat about an upcoming project that you're considering? Email owner Chris Matey.
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We service Boston, North Shore, North of Boston, including but no limited to Andover, Belmont, Beverly, Boston (Back Bay, South End), Brookline, Cambridge, Haverhill, Lexington, Lowell, Marblehead, Natick, Newton, Newburyport, Somerville, Swampscott, Weston, Winchester, Woburn. As well as southern New Hampshire, including Nashua, Londonderry, and Merrimack. Check out our portfolio for Boston kitchen remodeling, Boston bathroom remodeling, and more.

Follow Us On A Whole House Remodel with Green Features

2009-06-06T17:55:00.000-04:00

We’ve just kicked off an exciting project at Red Apple Renovations. It’s a whole house remodel with the addition of an existing home. The interesting thing about this project is that is has some very “green” features. I’ll talk about all the green aspects of this project in the next several weeks, but for this post I’d like to tell you about the progress on the geothermal heating and cooling system.

For those of you who don’t know about geothermal heating and cooling systems, see this blog post. What we’ve done so far on this project is installation of wells that provide energy for the system. On the practical side, well drilling is a interesting activity. We contracted with a well driller to dig two wells for the system. What we didn’t know until we got started was if we would hit granite ledge or ground water. We also didn’t know if the wells would provide adequate energy to the system at the planned depth.

We started once we had our DigSafe inspection and pulled the well permits. The actual well drilling went on for several days. The good news was that everything proceeded as planned and we didn’t have any surprises.

The well drilling itself is a loud activity, but once it’s underway, you barely notice. The wells were completed and grouted last week. This week we dug trenches and brought the well lines into the basement. Later in the project we’ll connect the well lines to the HVAC unit.

Check back soon as I'll post more about this project.

Questions? Or just want to chat about an upcoming project that you're considering? Email owner Chris Matey.
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We service Boston, North Shore, North of Boston, including but not limited to Andover, Belmont, Beverly, Boston (Back Bay, South End), Brookline, Cambridge, Haverhill, Lexington, Lowell, Marblehead, Natick, Newton, Newburyport, Somerville, Swampscott, Weston, Winchester, Woburn. As well as southern New Hampshire, including Nashua, Londonderry, and Merrimack.

Check out our portfolio for Boston kitchen remodeling, Boston bathroom remodeling, and more.

No VOCs, High Air-Quality Just A Few Advantages of Soy-based Insulation

2009-06-02T14:55:00.000-04:00

For decades, the soybean has been in the spotlight of the U.S. agricultural economy. Now the renewable resource (a.k.a. "bean") is attracting attention as a green construction and green building material, especially in projects for clients with chemical sensitivities, allergies or who want better indoor air quality.

Soybean-based products do not contain urea/formaldehyde. When processed with chemicals they do not release volatile chemicals (VOCs) or other toxic emissions. Some of the soy-based products on the market include adhesives, roofing, carpet backings, wood and concrete coatings and stains and structural membrane coatings. Now it is available as an insulating material.

Soy insulation is available as a spray-on foam, as well as in panels. The product expands like similar products. An added benefit is that it resists mold and mildew. According to the United Soybean Board (USB), soy insulation provides insulation characteristics that are as good as or better in four-inch walls as traditional batting insulations with six-inch stud construction. Soy-based insulation may also reduce building costs by decreasing the amount of lumber used.

Other advantages of soy-based insulation include expanding up to 100 times its volume to create a barrier and thermal seal. It also is not affected by insects or rodents. It reduces demand and dependence on non-renewable petroleum reserves.

In addition, since soy-based insulation will help reduce your energy usage each month, you'll be using less electricity and/or natural gas which is another positive benefit for the environment. Soy-based insulation can help homeowners save up to 50 percent on their heating and cooling costs.

Emega Technologies, based in Lancaster, Ohio, is one of many producers of soy-based polyurethane foams and panels. Its owner, Don Duffy, says it's a natural for remodelers to offer soy-based insulation to customers, who increasingly request healthy homes. "It does not emit gases and chemicals, long or short term, like those present in many other different types of building materials. It's easy to form into shapes and lightweight."

Check these sources for more information on soy-based insulation:

United Soybean Board

American Soybean Association

BioBased Systems (spray foam insulation)

Soy Systems (SoyOyl® and rigid foam insulation)

Emega Technologies (soy-based insulated concrete form manufacturing system)

Questions? Or just want to chat about an upcoming project that you're considering? Email owner Chris Matey.
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We service Boston, North Shore, North of Boston, including but no limited to Andover, Belmont, Beverly, Boston (Back Bay, South End), Brookline, Cambridge, Haverhill, Lexington, Lowell, Marblehead, Natick, Newton, Newburyport, Somerville, Swampscott, Weston, Winchester, Woburn. As well as southern New Hampshire, including Nashua, Londonderry, and Merrimack.

Check out our portfolio for Boston kitchen remodeling, Boston bathroom remodeling, and more.

Vetrazzo's Recycled Glass Countertops Are A Beautiful and Eco-Friendly Option

2009-05-26T10:00:00.000-04:00

There are many choices for beautiful kitchen and bath countertops, floors or backsplashes. One eco-friendly choice is recycled glass tiles called Vetrazzo. The California-based company takes recycled glass from sources such as decommissioned traffic lights, windshields, used bottles and plate glass windows and transforms them into a surface that is durable and heat resistant.

Nearly 85% of each tile’s surface is glass, and 100% of the glass used is recycled. All materials are from the U.S., and the product is also made in the U.S. The glass is combined with a cement-based, resin-free binder. It is as durable as granite and less porous than marble.
Available in various shades. Shown here: blue sourced from Skyy Vodka and other blue glass sources.

Terrazzo releases few, if any, emissions into the indoor environment, and its hard surface allows it to be thoroughly cleaned with just soap and water. Terrazzo floors and tiles are among the best-tolerated by people with chemical sensitivities or chronic respiratory ailments. Terrazzo is extremely durable, comparable to concrete and stone.

Vetrazzo surfaces give an alternative to using non-renewable resources (like virgin granite, for example), and provides a new market for recycled glass, including glass that cannot be recycled elsewhere.

According to former software executive and now Vetrazzo CEO James Shepard, the company’s manufacturing plant is also green -- from utilizing daylight, to a negative-pressure dust booth to minimize air pollution, to a state-of-the-art system that recycles the water they use. If you are in the San Francisco Bay Area, you can take a tour of the company’s manufacturing plant, based in a recycled Ford auto plant.

The company recently unveiled four new earth-tone colors, which join their line of 15 other colored tiles that include green, red and blue hues.

Questions? Or just want to chat about an upcoming project that you're considering? Email owner Chris Matey.
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We service Boston, North Shore, North of Boston, including but no limited to Andover, Belmont, Beverly, Boston (Back Bay, South End), Brookline, Cambridge, Haverhill, Lexington, Lowell, Marblehead, Natick, Newton, Newburyport, Somerville, Swampscott, Weston, Winchester, Woburn. As well as southern New Hampshire, including Nashua, Londonderry, and Merrimack. Check out our portfolio for Boston kitchen remodeling, Boston bathroom remodeling, and more.

Marmoleum: Good Choice for Non-Toxic, Multi-purpose Natural Flooring

2009-05-03T19:38:00.024-04:00

Most people haven't heard of Marmoleum - yet. Yes, it is linoleum, but not the kind you may have grown up walking on. Marmoleum is all natural and sustainable. It is available in a variety of beautiful colors. Best of all, Marmoleum doesn't have any adverse health issues; it doesn't off-gas into your home.

Marmoleum is made with natural ingredients without any harmful VOCs or other toxic chemicals. It is installed with solvent-free adhesives. It creates a warm, comfortable floor that is easy to clean and will make your room come alive with color.

This flooring solution is a great choice for those with severe allergies and sensitivities. The natural bactericidal properties of this product prevent micro-organisms including Salmonella Typhimurium and Staphylococcus Aureus from multiplying. For these reasons, Marmoleum is the floor covering of choice in many hospitals, as well as being recommended by medical professionals for people with respiratory disorders.

One of the primary ingredients in Marmoleum is linseed oil, which is obtained by pressing the seeds of the flax plant. Linseed oil is used for many purposes, ranging from cooking to providing quick relief to people suffering from a cold. In addition to linseed oil, other ingredients in Marmoleum include rosins, wood flour, jute and ecologically responsible pigments.

With this sheet tile you can design your own floors. Marmoleum offers is available in more than 150 colors, insets and borders.

Since Marmoleum is a natural organic product, its performance is enhanced by time, as exposure to air serves to harden and increase its durability. Although the flooring continues to harden over time, the floor remains quiet and comfortable under foot.

Questions? Or just want to chat about an upcoming project that you're considering? Email owner Chris Matey.
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We service Boston, North Shore, North of Boston, including but no limited to Andover, Belmont, Beverly, Boston (Back Bay, South End), Brookline, Cambridge, Haverhill, Lexington, Lowell, Marblehead, Natick, Newton, Newburyport, Somerville, Swampscott, Weston, Winchester, Woburn. As well as southern New Hampshire, including Nashua, Londonderry, and Merrimack.

Check out our portfolio for Boston kitchen remodeling, Boston bathroom remodeling, and more.

Bamboo Flooring Provides Beautiful, Green Option for Boston Renovation Projects

2009-04-24T13:00:00.010-04:00

Sustainable flooring options have become another popular area for eco-renovations in the Boston remodeling market. There are several options available. The most popular choices include: bamboo, cork, natural linoleum, and wood. In our last blog post we covered cork floors. Let’s take a look at bamboo.

Photo Credit: EcoTimber

Bamboo has the look and feel of wood but is actually a grass. It is beautiful, it holds up as well as hardwood, and it is reasonably priced. Bamboo is considered eco friendly because it is a sustainable. Unlike trees, bamboo is fast growing and can be harvested every three to five years.
Most bamboo for flooring comes from the Hunan province of China. It's not a food source for pandas, which generally live at higher elevations. The transport of bamboo to the U.S. does leave a carbon footprint, however, its durability, hardness, and sustainability make it a sound eco alternative over conventionally harvested wood. Most bamboo is processed without preservatives. For those of you looking for low-toxic solution, make sure that your bamboo flooring is glued together with a non urea-formaldehyde (UF) binder.

Most bamboo flooring uses a urea-formaldehyde (UF) adhesive in the lamination process. There are bamboo flooring products that avoid formaldehyde use. The UF resins emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and are harmful to indoor air quality. However, it is important to note that bamboo flooring uses a relatively small amount compared with other materials, such as particleboards.

Bamboo flooring manufacturers including:
EcoTimber
Natural Cork
Hanlite

Bamboo flooring is becoming increasingly popular in Boston area kitchens and living rooms. It is easy to clean, wears well and shows beautifully.

It should be swept or dry or damp mopped (never soaked). Since the flooring is extremely sturdy, it usually has an extensive warranty. Some manufacturers offer a life-time warranty.

Bamboo flooring comes in two shades: light natural or a darker amber. It is sold in planks 72 or 36 inches long that install the same as other tongue and groove flooring.

Questions? Or just want to chat about an upcoming project that you're considering? Email owner Chris Matey.
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We service Boston, North Shore, North of Boston, including but not limited to Andover, Belmont, Beverly, Boston (Back Bay, South End), Brookline, Cambridge, Haverhill, Lexington, Lowell, Marblehead, Natick, Newton, Newburyport, Somerville, Swampscott, Weston, Winchester, Woburn. As well as southern New Hampshire, including Nashua, Londonderry, and Merrimack.

Check out our portfolio for Boston kitchen remodeling, Boston bathroom remodeling, and more.

Cork Flooring Gaining Popularity as Sustainable Flooring for Eco-friendly Homes

2009-04-17T09:30:00.000-04:00

This is the third part of our Green Home Remodeling series in honor of Earth Day next week. Today let's take a look at one sustainable flooring option: cork.

Over the past couple of years the options for flooring were only hardwoods, vinyl or ceramic tiles. There are several newer eco-friendly options on the market that are becoming more competitively priced and more widely available.

What makes a floor green? If you're buying new flooring, one way is to confirm that the flooring you buy comes from a rapidly renewable source. Other considerations to make include making sure that the flooring is long lasting and gives off zero or low emissions.

One of the best eco-friendly choices is cork flooring. Cork is harvested from the outer bark of the cork oak trees. The tree regenerates its bark and can be reharvested every nine years. The conditions that favor commercial is in Western Europe and Northern Africa along the Mediterranean coast.

Photo credit: Natural Cork

Like bamboo, cork is gaining popularity among homeowners looking for an alternative to hardwood floors. If you haven't checked out cork flooring you may be pleasantly surprised that it is available in dozens of very rich colors. Its cost is comparable to hardwood flooring.

Cork flooring comes in a wide range of patterns and, with either simple tongue and groove panels or 12" x 12" tiles. It is durable; stands up well to high traffic and resists scuffs and stains. It's provides warmth and cushioning. As a natural insulator it also reduces noise.

Some of the major cork flooring manufacturers include:
American Cork Products
Duro Design
Globus Cork
Natural Cork
Qu-Cork
WE Cork

When looking for alternatives to traditional wood flooring, cork offer many benefits. For eco-savvy homeowners looking for ways to tread lightly on the planet, going green at home is a great place to start.

Questions? Or just want to chat about an upcoming project that you're considering? Email owner Chris Matey.
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We service Boston, North Shore, North of Boston, including but not limited to Andover, Belmont, Beverly, Boston (Back Bay, South End), Brookline, Cambridge, Haverhill, Lexington, Lowell, Marblehead, Natick, Newton, Newburyport, Somerville, Swampscott, Weston, Winchester, Woburn. As well as southern New Hampshire, including Nashua, Londonderry, and Merrimack.

Check out our portfolio for Boston kitchen remodeling, Boston bathroom remodeling, and more.

Green Options for Your Kitchen Including Low and No-VOC Cabinetry

2009-04-10T10:06:00.008-04:00

This post is second in a series of green home remodeling blogs in celebration of Earth Day, April 22. Low or no-VOC (volatile organic compounds) finishes is a topic with high interest in the Boston area home renovation market. Products available with low or no VOCs include paints and wood (cabinets, furniture, etc.). In this post we'll focus solely on wood.

If you are interested in formaldehyde free kitchen cabinets there are several choices available to you. Stainless steel kitchen cabinets or any other metal cabinet are going free of toxic chemicals. But if you have your heart set on wood there are several green kitchen cabinet options available to you.

The most common material for green kitchen cabinets is bamboo. Bamboo is beautiful and also durable. It is a rapidly renewable resource. Bamboo can mature in less than half the time it takes hardwood trees to reach market size making it a popular choice for environmentalists.

When choosing a cabinet manufacturer who claims to have 'green cabinets' ask for certification. This will confirm that their products are formaldehyde free and created with no or low VOCs. Wheat board is the remnants of straw waste left over from wheat crops. The plant stems of the wheat are finely milled and bound with sustainable binders which are formaldehyde free. This is also a by-product of a sustainable resource that would otherwise be disposed of if not used in cabinetry. Wheat board exceeds the set standards for particle board in the U.S.

As you may already know, particle board is the base material used in most manufactured kitchen cabinets. For consumers with cabinets made of particle board, there are a couple of ways to limit the danger of further outgassing of VOCs in your kitchen. First, you could replace the existing cabinets with 'green' cabinets. A second option is to remove the face of the cabinets and purchase a no-VOC, water-based sealant to thoroughly cover them. If purchasing a sealant, completely cover every square inch of surface as well as all cracks.

Also, some type of plywood used by cabinet manufacturers are also free of VOCs. This varies by manufacturer so make sure you check on the specific cabinet you are considering.

Another green option is to use recycled wood. Older kitchen cabinets made from solid wood can be sanded, stained and refinished with a no or low-VOC finish. This is a good choice for those who aren't able to afford green kitchen cabinets.

Questions? Or just want to chat about an upcoming project that you're considering? Email owner Chris Matey.
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We service Boston, North Shore, North of Boston, including but no limited to Andover, Belmont, Beverly, Boston (Back Bay, South End), Brookline, Cambridge, Haverhill, Lexington, Lowell, Marblehead, Natick, Newton, Newburyport, Somerville, Swampscott, Weston, Winchester, Woburn. As well as southern New Hampshire, including Nashua, Londonderry, and Merrimack.Check out our portfolio for Boston kitchen remodeling, Boston bathroom remodeling, and more.

Boston Green Kitchen Remodeling Trends: Low and No VOC Finishes

2009-04-06T10:00:00.009-04:00

This kicks off a series of green home remodeling blogs in celebration of Earth Day, April 22. Low or no-VOC (volatile organic compounds) finishes is a topic with high interest in the Boston area home renovation market. Products available with low or no VOCs include paints and wood (cabinets, furniture, etc.). In this post we'll focus solely on paints.

The need for hypoallergenic building materials such as low or no-VOCs is on the rise for a number of reasons. Environmental allergies and chemical sensitivities are on the rise, and there is a growing base of consumers who are demanding greener building materials. In addition, an increased awareness of possible health risks and overall air quality from traditional paints has led to a demand for products lower in VOCs. Manufacturers have risen to the challenge by developing high-quality, latex-based coatings and adhesives for a wide variety of uses.

In addition to "green" consumers, a growing number of expecting parents want no VOC paints. They are discovering that here’s no need to paint their baby's nursery with toxic paints. Instead, they are finding plenty of nice green, earth-friendly, non-toxic paints to use. The Environmental Protection Agency reports that using low or no-VOC paints will improve indoor air quality and eliminate toxins.

Many conventional paints and finishes contain high levels of VOCs that produce potentially harmful gasses when applied. The VOCs diminish air quality. The important difference between traditional paints and low or no-VOCs is that the latter provides low-toxicity finishes and surfaces; they do not contain synthetic formaldehyde resins. Also, they contain water-based adhesives. No-VOC paint is generally a little more expensive than conventional paint, while low VOC paint is about the same price.

Most major paint companies have a line of low and no-VOC paints. Here is a list of a few we know:

Aglaia Natural Paints
Auro
Anna Sova
Benjamin Moore
Ceramic Coat by O’Leary Paint
Green Fusion Design
Sherwin Williams
The Old Fashioned Milk Paint Co
Yolo Paint

Today, low and no-VOC paints are available almost anywhere. Note that not every latex-based coating is low in VOCs. Check the label before you buy. VOC levels are expressed in pounds per gallon (lbs/gal) or grams per liter (g/l). Interior paint is given a Green Seal if it has a VOC content less than 50 g/l (for flat sheen) or 150 g/l (non-flat sheen).

Questions? Or just want to chat about an upcoming project that you're considering? Email owner Chris Matey.
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We service Boston, North Shore, North of Boston, including but no limited to Andover, Belmont, Beverly, Boston (Back Bay, South End), Brookline, Cambridge, Haverhill, Lexington, Lowell, Marblehead, Natick, Newton, Newburyport, Somerville, Swampscott, Weston, Winchester, Woburn. As well as southern New Hampshire, including Nashua, Londonderry, and Merrimack.Check out our portfolio for Boston kitchen remodeling, Boston bathroom remodeling, and more.

Precast Porch Footings – A Better Way from Red Apple

2009-04-03T09:00:00.001-04:00

Okay, so this isn’t the most exciting topic, but at Red Apple Renovations we’re always looking for a more efficient and cost effective way to do things, and precast footings are one of those ways.

For those who aren’t construction geeks, a footing is a concrete “tube” in the ground that is use to support a post. That post can be used to support a deck, porch or an addition. In Massachusetts, all footings must extend at least 48 inches below grade.

Now the typical way this is done is the following:
1) Dig a hole
2) Insert form for footings
3) Pour concrete
4) Wait for concrete to harden
5) Install post

By the time this is all done, it takes 2-3 days to get this done. It requires coordinating a concrete delivery as well as ensuring that the footings stay where you want them during the pour.

The better way is to use precast footings. These are concrete pillars that have been formed in advance. They come in 4 and 5 foot heights. Once you have excavated the hole and put the precast footing in place, you are ready for construction. No more waiting for the concrete truck or waiting for the concrete to harden. You can start building as soon as the hole is filled.

Like I said earlier, this isn’t the most interesting area of construction. But what we do at Red Apple is continually look for better and faster ways to finish your project because there is no such thing as a project that’s too short.

Questions? Or just want to chat about an upcoming project that you're considering? Email owner Chris Matey.
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We service Boston, North Shore, North of Boston, including but no limited to Andover, Belmont, Beverly, Boston (Back Bay, South End), Brookline, Cambridge, Haverhill, Lexington, Lowell, Marblehead, Natick, Newton, Newburyport, Somerville, Swampscott, Weston, Winchester, Woburn. As well as southern New Hampshire, including Nashua, Londonderry, and Merrimack.

Check out our portfolio for Boston kitchen remodeling, Boston bathroom remodeling, and more.

Green Alert: Interest on the Rise in Massachusetts for Geothermal HVAC Systems

2009-04-01T10:00:00.000-04:00

Within the past several weeks, here at Red Apple Renovations we are noticing increased interest in geothermal HVAC systems in the Boston area. This is a "green" approach to heating and cooling, and can be installed with equal ease in new construction and remodeling projects.

The increased interest is due mostly to new tax credits put in effect by the stimulus bill passed earlier this month. Any new geothermal HVAC installed between 2009 and December 31, 2016 is eligible for a 30% tax credit for the cost of the geothermal system. The great thing about this tax credit is that is has no cap. Unlike previous tax credits, which were capped at $2,000, you get a direct tax benefit of 30% of the cost of the new system regardless of the cost.

Here is an example of how it works:

Geothermal retail (sample) $30,000
Fed tax credit 30% of cost $9,000
Net cost to consumer $21,000

(The initial cost of a geothermal heat pump system varies nationally according to influences such as labor rates, type of system and equipment, and geographical location.)

Geothermal heat pumps (GHPs) are a relatively new technology. Over time they can save homeowners and commercial customers money. (It is important to note that GHPs are not related to air-source heat pumps that rely on heated air.) The ground-sourced heating pumps use the natural heating storage capacity of the earth or ground water to provide energy efficient heating and cooling year round.

Expect to pay between $4,000 and $11,000 more for a 3-ton GHP system than for an air source heat pump system. Many consumers justify this initial investment with the tax credit combined with the savings they expect to realize on their heating and cooling bills over years of use.

The benefits to GHPs are that they offer high efficiency and low operating cost. According to the EPA, GHPs can save homeowners 30 to 70 percent on heating and 20 to 50 percent on cooling costs over conventional systems. Reported heating and cooling savings can range between $358 and $1,475 annually.

A GHP system consists of indoor heat pump equipment, a ground loop, and a flow center to connect the indoor and outdoor equipment. The heat pump equipment works by removing heat from one location and depositing it in another location. The ground loop, which is invisible after installation, allows the exchange of heat between the earth and the heat pump.

Ground source heat pump systems are among the most energy-efficient and environmentally-friendly heating, cooling, and water heating systems available, according to the US Department of Energy (DOE) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Major benefits include:

Lower cooling and heating costs
Lower maintenance
Natural and safe
No chimney or flue, no combustion
Investment recouped in approximately five years

GHPs can be open- or closed-loop. Open-loop systems draw well water for use as the heat source or heat sink, and after use, return the well water to a drainage field or another well. Closed-loop or earth-coupled systems use a water and antifreeze solution, circulated in a ground loop of pipe to extract heat from the earth.

Ground loops can be installed in a vertical well or a horizontal loop. Vertical wells are usually more expensive and used where space is limited. The length of loop pipe required will vary with soil type, loop configuration, and system capacity. Loop length can range from 250 to 1,000 feet per ton of capacity.

IRS Form 5695: Residential Energy Efficient Property Credit

More information on the "Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit"

Questions? Or just want to chat about an upcoming project that you're considering? Email owner Chris Matey.
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We service Boston, North Shore, North of Boston, including but not limited to Andover, Belmont, Beverly, Boston (Back Bay, South End), Brookline, Cambridge, Haverhill, Lexington, Lowell, Marblehead, Natick, Newton, Newburyport, Somerville, Swampscott, Weston, Winchester, Woburn. As well as southern New Hampshire, including Nashua, Londonderry, and Merrimack.

Check out our portfolio for Boston kitchen remodeling, Boston bathroom remodeling, and more.

Kohler's Dual-Flush Toilets Top Must-Have List for Latest Bathroom Remodeling

2009-03-26T09:45:00.001-04:00

Kohler's dual-flush toilets are becoming very popular - at least in our bathroom renovations in the Boston area. Just recently we've had three clients request it in their bathroom remodeling projects.

In addition to exceptional water savings and contemporary styling, Kohler's Dual Flush has a user-friendly, two-button actuator allows you to choose either a 1.6- or .8-gallon flush option. The company says on average, this toilet utilizes 20 percent less water than models that only flush 1.6 gallons.

Source: www.Kohler.com

Kohler has three models in its Dual-Flush family. The least expensive is around $370 for the Persuade two-piece elongated toilet, model K-3654. The Saile elongated one-piece toilet K-3564 jumps in around $680. Lastly, the K-3588 Escale two-piece elongated toilet is about $1076. Want to see how they work? You can watch a video here on Kohler's site.

Over a one year period, Kohler says a typical family of four can save up to 5,000 gallons of water using the dual-flush feature. The toilet seats are made of thermo set plastic, a very durable and scratch resistant material, and features Quiet-Close functionality to prevent the lid from slamming.

If there's any challenge with these toilets it's the installation. The water supply for the toilet coming out of the wall must be in a specific location in relation for the toilet for the installation to work. If it's not in that location, the installation is difficult, if not impossible.

What we've found is that if you are going to replace an existing toilet with one of the dual-flush models, you need to be prepared to relocate the water supply. The typical water supply for most toilets won't won't for the dual-flush models. Relocating the water supply is a very easy thing to do if you're doing a complete bathroom remodel that involves taking down all the drywall. If you're taking down the walls, be prepared for a little wall patching and painting after the plumber moves the water line.

Lastly, be sure that your plumber has installed this type of toilet. The installation itself is more time-consuming than a typical toilet installation and if your plumber has not installed one before, it can create some problems.

The Escale Suite (shown above) takes its its inspiration from Japanese ceramic tableware design and has a wide range of coordinating products that enable homeowners to create a refined, modern feel that reflects their individual tastes and space circumstances. If you have a bathroom that works for this type of look, it's a very attractive item.

Questions? Or just want to chat about an upcoming project that you're considering? Email owner Chris Matey.
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We cover Boston, North Shore, North of Boston, including but not limited to Andover, Belmont, Beverly, Boston (Back Bay, South End), Brookline, Cambridge, Haverhill, Lexington, Lowell, Marblehead, Natick, Newton, Newburyport, Somerville, Swampscott, Weston, Winchester, Woburn. As well as southern New Hampshire, including Nashua, Londonderry, and Merrimack. Check out our portfolio for Boston kitchen remodeling, Boston bathroom remodeling, and more.

Top 10 Renovation Ideas by Resale Value

2009-03-22T11:30:00.000-04:00

One of the things we want to share is what we’re seeing in terms of residential remodeling demand. We’ve seen a continued strong demand from home remodeling for the end of 2008 into the first quarter of 2009. While people are definitely more budget conscious than they were five years ago, people in the Boston area are still investing in their homes.

If you’ve kept up with our blog posts, you might have seen some of the reasons for why remodeling has stayed strong in the Boston area while it has dramatically dropped off in other parts of the country. Some of the reasons New England’s housing remodeling and housing market have done well compared to other areas include a much smaller housing price bubble; fewer excess homes to be absorbed and a diverse economy in the Boston area.

Thinking about renovating, here are ten of the top projects based on ROI (return on investment), which are specific to the Boston area.

Top 10 Renovation Ideas by Resale Value:
1. Major Kitchen Remodel
2. Minor Kitchen Remodel
3. Bathroom Remodel
4. Two-story addition
5. Deck Addition
6. Attic Bedroom Addition
7. Master Suite Addition
8. Family Room Addition
9. Garage Addition
10. Basement Remodel

Source: Remodeling Magazine, February 2009

We wanted to share this information to help you feel like you’re not alone or crazy if you’re thinking about a remodeling project and also just to help do what we can to lessen your overall economic anxiety.

Questions? Or just want to chat about an upcoming project that you're considering? Email owner Chris Matey at chris@redapplerenovations.com
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We cover Boston, North Shore, North of Boston, including but not limited to Andover, Belmont, Beverly, Boston (Back Bay, South End), Brookline, Cambridge, Haverhill, Lexington, Lowell, Marblehead, Natick, Newton, Newburyport, Somerville, Swampscott, Weston, Winchester, Woburn. As well as southern New Hampshire, including Nashua, Londonderry, and Merrimack.

Check out our portfolio for Boston kitchen remodeling, Boston bathroom remodeling, and more.

Spending Your Stimulus Money on Qualifying Home Renovations and Improvements

2009-03-20T09:30:00.000-04:00

Under the new federal stimulus plan, homeowners can receive a 30 percent tax credit up to $1,500 for the cost of windows, doors, insulation, roofing and other energy-efficient items. The credit applies to purchases make in 2009 and 2010.

In addition, residents who are building a home can get tax credits if they install energy-efficient systems such as solar water heaters and geothermal heat pumps.

There are several elegibility requirements, including:

Installations placed in service from January 1, 2009 through December 31, 2010.

The improvements must be for taxpayer’s principal residence.

The maximum total amount that can be claimed for all products placed in service in 2009 and 2010 is $1,500.
Geothermal heat pumps, solar water heaters, solar panels, fuel cells and windmills are not subject to this cap and are in effect through 2016.
Must have Manufacturer Certification Statement to qualify.
Taxpayer must save receipt and Manufactuerer Certification Statement.

Improvements made in 2009 will be claimed on 2009 taxes. IRS Form 5695 will be available late 2009 or early 2010.

New England Spring Renovation Projects: Green Your Home With Porches and Decks

2009-03-19T20:26:00.006-04:00

Spring is finally here! Are you anticipating entertaining and relaxing at home this summer? Then it’s time to start planning your outdoor space to enjoy for the next three seasons...and for years to come. Whether you’re spending more time at home due to a new baby in your family, anticipating summer barbeques or just want to enhance your special place, here are some ideas to get you started. And while we’re full of fresh ideas, we are also very good at listening to your dreams and making them come true.

When it comes to remodeling your home, porches, decks and patios are one of the greenest projects you can choose. Red Apple can incorporate green building practices to create a low-maintenance, long-lasting and environmentally friendly outdoor living space.

Porches
Here in New England, porches are a popular way to enjoy the outdoors and spend time throughout the day with family or entertaining with friends. As other parts of your home, porches can be renovated and expanded.

We’ve performed makeovers on porches by adding custom mouldings and detailed woodworking as well as replacing columns. Adding a wrap-around is also a beautiful enhancement.

We also specialize in updating a porch while ensuring that it matches the style of your house. Whether you have a historic or a contemporary home,we can help you create an outdoor living space that is beautiful and functional.

Porch remodels and porch additions are a great way to enhance the look and feel of your home. Besides offering a cool respite from the summer sun, they add character and charm.

Decks
When it comes to renovating or adding a deck, we’ve built multi-level decks, wrap-around decks, converted decks into sunrooms and more.

Going green with new deck construction involves choosing composite decking made from recycled material. It doesn’t require sealing, treatment or painting like its wood deck counterpart. This means it will save you money since it naturally lasts longer than wood. A nice redwood or cedar makes it to the top of our recommended list for natural outdoor wood flooring.

Aside from wood, there are several green options such as recycled composite wood, plastic or decking materials that include recycled content.

Already have a deck? If space is not an issue, consider adding a three-season porch or better yet a sunroom for year-round enjoyment.

Are you interested in what custom outdoor space we can create? Then let us show you what we can do for you, your family, and the whole outdoors. Email chris@redapplerenovations.com for more information.

The Luxury of Radiant Floor Heating; Warm Bathroom Tile Floors & Toasty Toes!

2009-03-06T21:46:00.007-05:00

Many people are aware of radiant floor heating. This is when the floor is heated to create a warm temperature. Most people think of radiant floor heating as being driven by a boiler in the basement pumping water through a system of pipes under the floor. This is one type of radiant floor heating that works very well. The problem is that it is best used in new house construction or a complete home remodel. It’s very difficult and expensive to install in one or two rooms in a house.

But all is not lost. The great thing about radiant floor heating is that it feels more comfortable than almost any other kind of heat. I can’t cite the source, but a study showed that if two people are in identical rooms with the same air temperature, but one room has radiant heat, the person in the radiant heated room will feel warmer. There’s a physiological relationship between you feeling warm and your body feeling warm.

What works in many projects is to install radiant floor heat under a tile floor. Instead of being powered by piping and a boiler, these systems are electrically powered and consist of a network of wires and a thermostat. The wires are installed underneath the tile. Once the tile is installed and grouted, the system is activated and the wires warm up the floor. This makes the floor and room feel fantastic. Also, the systems use very little power and can be set using the programmable thermostat.

This is a great option to consider when installing a new tile floor.

Do you have radiant heat? Leave a comment and let us know what you love about it. Interested in more information? Contact chris@redapplerenovations.com.

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We cover Boston, North Shore, North of Boston, including but not limited to Andover, Belmont, Beverly, Boston (Back Bay, South End), Brookline, Cambridge, Haverhill, Lexington, Lowell, Marblehead, Natick, Newton, Newburyport, Somerville, Swampscott, Weston, Winchester, Woburn. As well as southern New Hampshire, including Nashua, Londonderry, and Merrimack.

Check out our portfolio for Boston kitchen remodeling, Boston bathroom remodeling, and more.

Tips for Choosing Drywall (Sheetrock) vs. Blueboard in Your Remodeling Projects

2009-03-06T15:45:00.000-05:00

We get many questions on the difference between drywall (also known as sheetrock in some parts of the country) and blueboard. Here a quick primer.

Drywall is a product used to complete the interior walls. It typically comes in 4 x 8 or 4 x 12 sheets, in a variety of thicknesses and is covered with light grey or green paper. It’s applied to the walls or the ceiling with drywall screws.

In addition to standard drywall, moisture-resistant drywall is commonly available. This is most often used in bathrooms or basements where the moisture content is high. The moisture-resistant drywall has a treated surface that helps limit the growth of mold. We've also used moisture-resistant drywall in kitchens, but that is not as common.

Once it is hung, the seams are taped with mesh or paper tape. Then the screw holes and seams are coated with a thin layer of joint compound. This is left to dry and then lightly sanded to take off rough spots. A second layer is applied and again sanded. The third layer, the finish coat, is applied and sanded carefully to create a smooth surface. The wall is then primed and painted.

Blueboard is similar to drywall on the outside but the paper covering is blue. It is hung on the walls in the same manner as drywall. The difference comes in how it is finished.

The seams of the blueboard sheets are taped, but then instead of joint compound being installed over the seams and screw holes, a thin layer of plaster is applied over the entire wall surface. This layer is typicall called a "skim coat" or "veneer plaster." The plaster-based material creates a harder surface that is similar to plaster walls in an older house. Once the plaster dries, the walls are primed and painted. It takes a great deal of skill to apply skim coat plaster so that the walls come out smooth. That’s why a skim coat finish is more expensive than a typical drywall finish.

However, the advantages to blueboard and plaster go beyond a harder surface. A typical drywall installation required three coats of joint compound. Between each coat the compound is sanded to make a smooth surface. This creates a ton of fine dust which is very difficult to contain.

Blueboard and plaster typically get finished in one day. The plaster goes on and is troweled to a smooth finish. There is no dust at all. In addition, once the plaster work is done, construction can continue. Usually the plaster needs to dry for a few days before priming and painting, but other work can continue. This shortens the overall schedule of the project.

Both drywall and blueboard are gypsum-based products that are made in factories and shipped to the local area. Some drywall comes from as far away as China. Because of that, both products have a good-sized carbon footprint and neither is particularly "green." There are alternatives, but drywall and blueboard and plaster have the vast majority of the market.

Sales of New Residential Homes in New England Increases from 12/08 to 1/09

2009-02-27T09:00:00.008-05:00

Earlier this week we reported that metro-Boston's housing prices are close to holding their value, especially compared to the rest of the country. Now there's even more good news. The U.S. Commerce Department just released figures for sales of new one family homes in January 2009. Nationwide, the figures were abysmal as expected. The total number of homes sold in the U.S. dropped from 344,000 in December 2008 to 309,000 in January 2009, an overall drop of 10.2 percent.

The New England region was a single bright spot in this sea of gray. The total number of homes sold in New England increased from 24,000 in December 2008 to 27,000 in January 2009 , an increase of 12.5 percent.

Unfortunately, the Commerce Department information doesn’t specifically list the Boston metro area, only New England as a whole.

However, it is encouraging to see that housing sales in New England are stronger than the rest of the nation. This corresponds to what we’ve been hearing anecdotally from local real estate agents.

Just recently one local real estate agent told me that she has sold one home a week so far this year. All of this is encouraging news for New England.

Good News for Housing Prices in Metro Boston

2009-02-24T13:50:00.000-05:00

The New York Times featured a front page cover story today entitled "Sharp Drop in Home Prices at End of Year." As with many of the recent gloom and doom stories about home prices, this one starts with “Home prices in the United States plunged at the fastest pace on record in December, a sign that housing is likely to continue declining in the months ahead as the economy sinks deeper into recession.”

The story goes on to say that prices in 20 markets dropped 18.5 percent during the past year with all markets showing decline.

That’s enough to give one pause. But as always, the story is more complicated. The story comes complete with a graph that lets you look at the decline in housing prices over the last 12 months for various metro areas. Some places are truly grim with markets like Las Vegas showing a 33% decline year over year.

However, if all politics is local (to quote Tip O’Neill) then all real estate is too. When you look at how Boston is doing, the graph shows that the price drop has been only 7% over the last 12 months. That’s great news for people in Boston and explains why our economy is doing much better than other areas. It also explains why at Red Apple, we’re still seeing strong demand for remodeling and renovations.

Covering Your Ceiling – Repairing Work Done The Wrong Way

2009-02-20T14:00:00.000-05:00

In my previous blog post I discussed two ways to deal with an old or cracking plaster ceiling – remove and replace or cover with new drywall.

Both have pros and cons, but this post is about what happens when you cover the plaster with drywall the wrong way.

Red Apple Renovations was called in to look at a ceiling in a master bedroom in Andover, Massachusetts that was cracking. Further investigation showed that the ceiling was a horsehair plaster ceiling that had been covered with a single layer of drywall. A large ominous crack had develop across the ceiling and it was visibly sagging.

The client hired us to take down the ceiling, drywall and plaster and install a new drywall ceiling.

When we came back to start the project, a second large crack had developed in the ceiling. It also was visibly sagging in the middle. Once we removed the layer of drywall we saw that it was indeed sagging down approximately six inches in the center.

Once we started removing the ceiling we saw that the plaster had pulled away from the wood that was holding it. All of the nails were hanging in space. The only thing that was holding the ceiling up was the connection between the plaster, lathe and corners of the walls.

What is scary is that this ceiling was very close to catastrophically failing. If it had fallen while the homeowners were sleeping, it could have meant a trip to the hospital, as well as serious damage to the furniture.

This happened because drywall covering the plaster had been installed improperly. What needs to be done in this case is use long drywall screws and make sure they connect to solid wood underneath the plaster. This wasn’t done and the drywall screws only connected to the wooden lathe intertwined with the plaster. This turned the new layer of drywall into a dead weight that started to pull the ceiling down.

The moral of this story is that if you are going to cover over a drywall ceiling, make sure your drywall screws connect to solid wood. You can make sure this happens by poking holes in the ceiling to see where the framing is located and place your screws accordingly.

Sometimes the easier way isn’t the best way. If you undertake this project make sure you or your contractor knows what they are doing.

Covering Existing Plaster Ceilings – Tricky, Tricky, Tricky

2009-02-17T07:06:00.005-05:00

In many of the older homes in the Boston area, plaster and lathe (thin pieces of wood) was the preferred method to put up walls and ceilings. If you’ve ever seen this in place you know how it works.

A series of lathe was nailed to the wall studs and ceiling joists. On top of that went a scratch coat of plaster. This was often reinforced with horse hair – hence the name “horse hair plaster.” This layer of plaster stayed attached to the walls by oozing through the spaces between the lathe strips and hardening. The final coat bonded to the scratch coat and – voila – you have a wall.

Fast forward 100 years. In many cases the plaster that holds on to the lathe has become weakened. Age, vibration, and previous construction can all be the cause. Where this happens the plaster starts to loosen from the lathe. On walls, this is a relatively minor problem. On ceilings it can become a big concern.

When this happens you have two options:

1) Tear down the plaster and lathe and put up a new drywall ceiling, or
2) Go over the existing ceiling with a new layer of drywall.

Both methods have their pluses and minuses.

Tearing down the existing ceiling is messy and dusty. The room has to be cleared, the mess cleaned up and new drywall installed. The good thing is that once the ceiling is in place, you'll know what it’s connected to and you won't have to worry about it again.

Going over the existing ceiling is easier and quicker. It is less messy and can lead to good looking results. The bad news is that if you do it wrong, the new drywall isn’t properly connected to the framing and can start to pull the ceiling down.

Next post – what happens when covering the ceiling goes wrong.

Are You Wasting Precious Heating Money? Top 6 Do-It-Yourself Energy Efficiency List

2009-02-16T07:46:00.000-05:00

How comfortable are you in your home this winter? Are you feeling drafts? Or are you turning your heat control up higher to stay warm? How "green" is your home when it comes to using gas, oil or electricity?

New England has some of the coldest winters around. Many classic homes in New England were not originally well-insulated (if insulated at all!). On the other hand, newer homes possess hidden “energy drains” that can rob you of your energy dollars.

It’s actually easy to make an impact on your monthly energy bills. The potential energy savings ranges from 5% to 30% per year. The home is generally much more comfortable afterward.

When corrected, changes to these areas can yield you the greatest return in energy savings and efficiency.

The following is a list of areas to assess and fix. We recommend carrying a clipboard to make notes so you can plan your repairs in order of priority based on what you find from these results.
Here are the top spots in your home to examine:

1. Check all doors and windows to determine if they are tight or if they rattle. You can use a lighter flame to see if air is moving around door or window frames. Make sure they are sealed tightly, as this is a big energy drain.

2. Head to the basement to check for cracks in the foundation. Remember to check windows here as well. Have a cellar bulkhead, slider or door? Make sure they are sealed. This is also a good time to check for leaks around dryer and furnace vents. Don't forget the insulation in the floors too.

3. Before you leave the basement, check the switchplates and electrical outlets there. Using the flat part of your hand you will be able to feel any drafts around them. Continue checking the rest of the house for drafts around switchplates and electrical outlets.

4. Easy-to-forget places include: fireplace dampers, chimney, vents, attic doors, wall-mounted cabinets, mail slots and pet doors.

5. In regards to the attic, check the insulation thickness there. The current standard in New England is R-30, but you can never have too much insulation in your attic. There should be a vapor barrier under the attic insulation.

6. Finish up by taking a walk around your home and noticing cracked or broken siding, foundation or other parts of your home's surface. Also examine areas where cable or phone lines enter the home.

So you've checked out every square inch of your home by now. You'll want to make a list and prioritize based on the biggest jobs that will save you the most money. If you cannot afford to complete these jobs all at once, break them down into stages. Armor yourself with a modest investment of spray foam insulation, caulking guns and weather stripping. You'll start to see your savings adding up soon.

Insulating Heating Pipes – The Easiest Way to Lower Your Heating Bill

2009-02-10T12:27:00.005-05:00

I just returned from visiting a customer in Andover, MA. They were concerned about their heating bills being too high. This is something we hear universally from all of our clients. In the Boston area, many of the homes are heating with fuel oil, which has been very expensive. But whether you use fuel oil, natural gas or propane, what I'm about to share could apply to you.

In this area you see two common types of heating that involve heating liquid for heat. In a steam system, the water is heated to become steam, which then rises to the radiators in each room. The radiators heat up and heat the room. Once the steam cools down, it turns back into water and flows back to the boiler. This process is repeated over and over whenever the house needs heat.

A second common type of heat is a hot water system .This is similar to the steam system, but the liquid (often water) is heated to a level where it is hot, but does not turn into steam. That water is then pumped through the house to heat up radiant floors or hot water baseboard radiators. When the water returns to the boiler, it is cooler and is reheated and pumped around again.

The common thread between these two systems is that the use a system of pipes in the basement to distribute the heat. These pipes take the steam or hot water to the various radiators around the house. What we see in many houses are homeowners complaining that the basement is too warm and the rest of the house is too cold. We’ve even seen houses where the main house doesn’t get over 60 degrees when the thermostat is turned up to 80 degrees.

The main culprit here is uninsulated heating pipes. If you go up to a hot water or steam pipe in the basement when the heat is running, you can feel the heat coming off the pipe. This is heat that you are paying for, but is never making it to the main area of your house. All it is doing is making your basement nice and toasty.

The good news is that there is a very easy fix. You can go to a local Home Depot or Lowes and buy pipe insulation. It comes in different diameters to fit different sizes of pipes. Once this is installed on the pipes, your basement will cool down, the rest of your house will heat up and your heating bill will go down. This is the best money you can spend to lower your heating bills and make your house more comfortable.

Cutting Your Heating Costs This Winter, Part 2: How To Air Seal

2009-02-06T15:30:00.005-05:00

Hopefully you found "Heating Your New England Home on a Budget, Part 1: Air Sealing" useful as an overall description of how air leaks from your house. Remember, in addition to cutting your heating costs, air sealing will also save you money in the summer by keeping cool air in your home.

Okay now that you have a good idea of the problem let’s talk about how to fix it.

The idea is simple: block all the holes where the air is escaping. The challenge is that your house is a large and complex structure with many different levels, walls, opening, etc. Finding all the air leaks is not going to be easy.

But let’s start with the major culprits and the easiest to fix. It makes sense to start with the ones that will give you the biggest bang for your buck. These are typically found in the attic or basement.

A quick note, it’s important to wear the proper safety equipment. You’ll be dealing with insulation and spray foam as well as crawling around in dusty areas. At a minimum you’ll want eye protection, a properly rated dust mask, and gloves. Wearing a hat as well as a set of coveralls is also a good idea.

Let’s start with the attic. If you go up into your attic or crawl space and pull back the insulation, you can see where the ceiling below has been opened up when your house was built or remodeled. Many of the standard penetrations include:

Recessed lights

Light boxes

HVAC duct work

Also, around attic edges is the “top plate” of outside walls. This is where the top of wall framing meets ceiling framing. Through the top plate you’ll see holes where electrical wiring and plumbing piping is coming into the attic. You’ll want to close these holes by spraying canned foam insulation (available at any local hardware store). This can take some time to work all the way around the attic. Once you’ve done that, locate where any interior walls come against the ceiling framing and fill in those holes too.

Look around any chimneys or flue pipes that come into the attic. When you seal around these items use only non-flammable materials. You don’t want to solve one problem (air leakage) only to create another (potential fire damage).

Lastly, be careful around recessed lights. They generate lots of heat and can’t be sealed using the standard approaches. Typically you can either replace the lights with air sealed units or build a box around them with foam board to prevent air escaping. If you do build a box, be sure that it’s large enough to allow all heat produced by the light to dissipate.

By the time you've finished this project you’re dirty and sore. It probably took longer than you anticipated. However, the best news is that you just saved yourself money in heating and cooling bills while helping to save the planet.

Heating Your New England Home on a Budget, Part 1: Air Sealing

2009-02-03T12:40:00.001-05:00

Okay, you’ve heard it a thousand times, insulating your home is the best investment you can make. It’s (relatively) cheap, lowers your heating and cooling bills and is good for the environment. This is all true.

What I’d like to talk about today is insulation's little-known cousin – air sealing.

Everybody is familiar with the idea behind insulation. It keeps the temperature inside your house from changing by making the walls, floors and ceilings pass less heat.

This reduces the loss of radiant heat from the inside to the outside.

Think of it as a nice warm jacket that your house is wearing. I’m going to talk more about insulation in the future, but now let’s move on to air leakage.

If the insulated walls of your house are part of the jacket that keeps your house warm, then air leaks are the holes in that jacket that keep you from being as comfortable as you could. For purposes of this blog, I’m going to refer to a cold weather environment where you are trying to keep the heat in. But the same applies in a hot weather environment, you just are trying to keep your house cool instead of warm.

These air leaks can occur in hundreds of places. Literally any place that there is a penetration in the wall, floor or ceiling of your house can be letting in cold air, or letting out warm air. Some of the common places we see air leakage are:

1) Around recessed lights
2) Around bathroom fans
3) Where water pipes come up from the basement
4) Where heating or cooling ducts or pipes come up from the
basement or down from the attic
5) Where light fixtures or outlets attach to an exterior wall
6) Around doors and windows

You get the idea, they are everywhere. Now that you’re aware of the problem, start looking around your house for potential problem areas.

The bad news: there are going to be a bunch.

The good news: they are very inexpensive to fix.

We’ll address the fixes in our next post.

Photo credit: Energy Star

Why I Named My Kitchen & Bath Remodeling Company Red Apple Renovations

2009-01-29T20:58:00.001-05:00

It's a bit different. Definitely not your average kitchen and bath remodeling company name. I get asked occasionally why I chose "Red Apple" so I'll share my story with you.

When I started my remodeling company, I wanted a professional name from which I could build a brand. In the Boston metro area, the vast majority of construction companies are named after their owners. This leads to a bunch of “Murphy Construction” or “Fitzgerald Builders.” Most of these names are not particularly memorable. I considered "Matey Renovations" but it just didn't evoke a lasting image.

So I pondered a name that was about the company, not just about me. Building and growing a company, like completing a successful remodeling project, is a team effort. It requires input and excellence for everybody to make things work. I didn’t want the name of the company to be a reflection of my ego, but rather a name that all employees could embrace.

What would convey a strong New England feeling? In addition to being the quintessential gift for a favorite teacher, there is nothing that conveys a stronger feeling of New England than a crisp red apple.

Here is some "food" for thought:

Did you know that "apple" is one of the oldest English words? It used to refer to "fruit" in general. Our renovations are the fruit of our labor, so "Apple" is a natural fit.
Red is associated with energy, strength, power, determination as well as passion. It is a color that is emotionally intense. Consider its high visibility attribute: it is used on stop signs, stoplights, and fire equipment. In heraldry, red is used to indicate courage. In addition, it is a color found in many national flags.

The combination of Red + Apple results in a perfect image of what my company brings to its customers: we are passionate about our renovation projects. Next time you see a red apple, think of us.

New Recycling Construction Debris Program Helps Turn Red Apple Renovations...Green

2009-01-24T16:40:00.001-05:00

I’m a person who is concerned about nature and the future of our planet. I do what I can to make sure that I'm leaving it in better shape for future generations.

This being my point of view, it’s been very disheartening to see hundreds of dumpsters leave our Red Apple Renovation job sites over the years. It's very disheartening because I knew that the contents of those dumpsters was destined for a landfill.

The dumpsters we've sent to landfills in the past have contained every type of construction debris. A typical kitchen renovation or bath remodeling project will generate between 15 and 30 cubic yards of debris that can weigh between 2 and 4 tons.

The debris itself includes framing lumber, plywood, insulation, plaster, wallboard, wiring, tile, wood flooring, cardboard, appliances, dust, plastic, siding, shingles, etc. As you can image, it can be a mess.

I've looked for a cost-effective solution for awhile. We needed something that worked for us and our customers. Ultimately our customers pay for debris disposal as a cost of the project and whatever solution we found had to work financially for them as well. We didn't want to find an expensive alternative that no one would use.

This month, we finally found a great solution. We’ve partnered with a Massachusetts-based disposal company who takes all our construction debris and recycles it. They separate all material and recycle it appropriately. Any material that can’t be recycled is burned to generate electricity. The waste product from the burning is much smaller than a traditional generator and is disposed of properly. The process meets the stringent standards for the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System.

The good news it that this process is the same price as standard disposal. It's a win-win for everyone. The reaction from our customers has been universally positive. They are happy that their project is not going to send debris to a landfill. They're also happy that it doesn't cost more.

Recycling our construction debris has literally helped me sleep better at night. Knowing that we’re helping the planet as part of our business is a very good thing.

Economic News – The Real and Imagined

2009-01-21T10:48:00.005-05:00

I received a Twitter message yesterday with the note that New York and Boston will be leading the rest of the nation, but not in a good way.

I followed the link which took me to this story.

The headline is certainly grim “Forecast: Boston Near Top in Job Losses.” That’s enough to make you want to crawl under a rock and start eating beans and weenies.

Now I’m a remodeling contractor in the Boston area with an acute interest in the economic situation in this area. The overall economic health of the area drives my business. Based on that I wanted to understand the article in a deeper fashion.

When I got to the second sentence, the article tells me “The Boston area’s unemployment rate is forecast to rise to 6 percent by the end of the year. . .”

Now this is a very different story. All you’ve been hearing around the news is that the unemployment rate is 8 percent and headed higher. Now that I’ve read the second line of the story, I get a much better picture. Compared to the overall average, 6 percent unemployment in the Boston area doesn’t sound bad. In fact, it doesn’t sound bad at all.

Now I’m no Pollyanna and don’t pretend that we don’t face significant economic hurdles, but it’s a little wearing to find that all the economic data is being reported with the most negative spin. The real problems are serious enough without spinning things even more negative.

Too Few Address These Common Fears and Concerns In Remodeling

2009-01-16T18:28:00.000-05:00

Remodeling. It’s simple work but full of hidden meaning for some people. When people think about remodeling, they often get very nervous. Some of the questions I’ve heard include:

“How much money will it cost?”

“How do I find a good contractor?”

“How do I make sure I’m not ripped off?”

“How can I make sure that once the job is started, it’s finished in a reasonable amount of time?”

“What’s this remodeling project going to do to my schedule?”

“How will this project affect my children’s nap times?”

And these are just the questions that people have asked. Many times when I’m talking to a potential client, you can tell that they are very scared about a remodeling project, but they don’t want to talk about it. Well, let’s talk about it here.

No single blog post can cover this entire subject, but I’ll hit some of the main points.

One of the most common articles you’ll see in any home improvement magazine or web site involves how to find a good contractor. The articles all pretty much say the same thing: get references on your contractor, see a previous project, check the Better Business Bureau, etc. These are all good ideas and should be done by any homeowner who is talking to contractors. The problem is that this is only the beginning of the process.

Once you have found a contractor who gets over the basic hurdles, start asking deeper questions:

“How do they communicate during a project?”

“Are they comfortable using e-mail?”

“How do the handle unforeseen problems?”

“How do they handle billing and payment?”

Once you’ve started to ask these questions you’ll get a better feeling for the contractor and how they operate. Also, unlike many other types of work, the remodeling process is a personal one. Depending on the scope of the project, the remodeling team could be working in your house for weeks or months. Don’t be afraid to ask to meet the lead carpenter who will be on your project. Also, don’t be afraid to ask the contractor “personal” questions. Asking why they are in this business and how they got started will often give you some valuable data to decide if they are the right contractor for you.

Now let’s talk about the biggest fear of all during a remodeling project - money.

Many people are concerned about spending money. Hopefully if you’ve found a contractor who is reputable and trustworthy, your fears about having the contractor leave with your deposit money have gone away. But still there is the fear that the costs of the project will spiral out of control. We’ll deal with the overall cost of projects in a separate blog post, but here are some ways you can lessen your anxiety.

First of all insist on detailed plans and specifications. Any good contractor will want to have these as well. These make sure that everybody is on the same page. Beware of the contractor who says “We’ll work that out when we get there.” That is often an indication that they have no idea how it’s going to work and you are going to pay more later, you just don’t know it yet. The plans and specifications take the guesswork out of the project and serve to lessen the chance of any confusion later on.

As the homeowner, you should be part of the process. Your contractor will ask you to make selections at certain times and need information from you on a schedule to keep things moving smoothly. If you do your best to get the information back to the contractor, the process will be much smoother. This will help you feel like you’re participating as well as to make sure that the contractor is looking ahead on your project.

Last and most important – ask questions. The second corollary is – there is no question too stupid or silly.

If you have any concern about how a project is progressing, ask your contractor. If it’s causing you concern, ask right away. I’d rather be asked 100 questions to help the client feel at ease than have them hold back that one question that is causing them anxiety. Whether it’s the location of the light switch, why the water is shut off or what is that pink stuff in my walls (insulation). A good contractor will welcome the chance to allay your fears and make you feel more comfortable. Also, it’s your home, you are invested in this project more than any other person on the planet. You may have noticed something important so don’t be afraid to ask.

Remodeling Overhead Garage Space Creates New Laundry Room for Client

2009-01-13T12:00:00.000-05:00

We recently had an unusual remodeling request from a new client in the Boston area. They needed to build a laundry room on the second floor of their house. The existing laundry on the first floor was small, cramped and also acted as a hallway. They considered several options on the second floor and decided no existing room worked.

However, there was unfinished space above their garage which abutted the master bedroom. Unfortunately, this space was filled with trusses and that was a problem. These trusses were specifically engineered to support the roof. You can see from this picture that they took up the entire space.

Before

Our clients had talked to several remodeling contractors prior to calling us and they were told the space couldn’t be renovated.

We viewed the space and analyzed the project. We also consulted with a structural engineer. Ultimately, we determined that the project could be accomplished. We consulted with the client and determined a plan to remove the trusses, reinforce the framing where needed and build a laundry room.

Also, we were able to do most of the work using access from the garage below. We didn’t even have to go through their house until the very end of the project.

The final result was a laundry room that was a perfect fit for our client. You can see that in the picture here.

After

What was satisfying about this project was that we were able to help a client after they had been told by several contractors that it wasn’t possible. Not only did we build them a laundry room that they wanted, but it came in on budget and on schedule. I spoke with the client since the project was completed. They’ve started using the old laundry room as a mudroom, which has worked really well with their young son.

One rewarding part of this business is that we are able to help people find home solutions in one way or another. When we can help people improve their home in a way that also improves their life, it’s a really good feeling.

Are Boston Area Homeowners Anxious To Sell And "Trade Up" Their Homes?

2009-01-05T16:00:00.000-05:00

There's one common concern we’re hearing over and over from prospective and current Boston-area clients. Given the economic situation over the past year, customers are asking “Should I go ahead with this project?" They are understandably nervous about investing money into their home.

From speaking with remodelers across the country and looking at economic statistics, we’ve learned a few things. Compared to many regions of the U.S., the Boston metropolitan area is doing very well in terms of housing prices. One reason we're holding onto market value is because we didn’t see the same explosion in new housing that happened in California, Florida, Nevada and Arizona over the past several years.

The New York Times recently published an article entitled “Home Sales in November Fell at Faster Pace Than Expected." It painted a very grim picture of the current housing market. To get a better picture about what’s happening in our area, I downloaded the detailed data from the Nationals Association of Realtors. This data shows that from November 2007 to November 2008, the median price of a home sold in the Northeast dropped from $257,900 to $257,700. This is a decrease of 0.1%. It is in sharp contrast to some other areas of the country. In the West the average price drop was 25.5%.

The good news for homeowners in the Boston area is that this information indicates that while the sky maybe falling for housing in some parts of the country, overall prices are being maintained in this area. The reason for this is relatively simple – in most of those markets it was pretty easy to clear 1,000 acres and build 2,500 new homes during the late 1990s and into 2007. This drastically increased the number of houses and when prices were going up, builders made a lot of money.

In the Boston area, that didn’t happen. Given our geographical limitations (i.e., we border the ocean) and overall age of the area, there aren’t large tracts of land where you can build new houses. The typical new development in Massachusetts is 10 or 20 houses, not 2,000.

As a result, we don’t have a huge inventory of houses that need to be sold. So compared to other areas, most of the towns in Massachusetts have seen single digit percentage drops in value. In California, the typical drop in price has been more than 20 percent, with more to come.

However, we’re seeing that most people aren’t anxious to sell their house and “trade up." Instead, we’re seeing many clients deciding to renovate. These are homeowners who don't want to leave their neighborhood, schools or charm of their house. They are deciding that the costs and hassles of moving don't make sense for them. Five years ago they might have sold their house and traded up, but today, they are staying put and investing in their current house. A common comment I’ve heard is “If I’m going to be in this house for another 5 years, I need to upgrade the bathroom, kitchen or basement”.

This fits perfectly with Red Apple’s overall approach. We’re focused on helping people create the home of their dreams starting with the home they have instead of trying to find a new house that might be a better fit.

Focusing on projects in your existing home instead of moving can also add value to your home and your way of life. Many of the projects we’re seeing include small additions, basement finishing as well as kitchen and bath remodeling. These are also the areas that tend to offer the best return on investment over time.

Boston Area Kitchen and Bath Renovations; From Big to Small...We Cover It All

2008-12-30T11:00:00.001-05:00

Welcome to Red Apple Renovations. We are Boston-area, kitchen and bath remodeling experts located in Andover, Massachusetts.

Our jobs range from small repairs to a multi-story additions. No job is too small. Many customers hesitate to inquire about a small project. Yes, we are kitchen and bath renovation experts, but we enjoy working on small jobs too. It's a win-win for both of us. You get your project completed and we get the chance to show you the quality of our craftmanship and the professionalism of our experts. Simply give us a call and we'll be glad to discuss your project with you.

Regardless of your project's size, we'll handle your house with care.

Our specialty is home renovation - far different than new construction. Existing homes have their own quirks that make it more tricky. Walls are never perfectly plumb or straight and sometimes you never know what you’re going to find when you open up walls.

Successful remodeling in existing homes requires the ability to seemlessly blend the new project with the rest of the house. It requires us to be flexible and offer solutions to you, the homeowner to make changes to the overall plan if we agree this is needed. This is what we do best, thanks to our years of experience.

The same skills that apply to a large remodeling project apply to a small one. With a smaller project, such as a water damage repair or a single room remodel, we still need the ability to think on our feet and adapt the plan once the project is rolling to make it work with the existing house.

We’re glad to bring that same expertise to projects of all sizes. It allows us to work with a variety of homeowners to help them improve their home, whether it’s a multi-story addition or a simple repair.

We'd love to hear from you! Email us at info@redapplerenovations.com, visit our website at http://www.redapplerenovations.com/, or give us a call at 978-409-1293.

Questions? Or just want to chat about an upcoming project that you're considering? Email owner Chris Matey at chris@redapplerenovations.com

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We cover Boston, North Shore, North of Boston, including but not limited to Andover, Belmont, Beverly, Boston (Back Bay, South End), Brookline, Cambridge, Haverhill, Lexington, Lowell, Marblehead, Natick, Newton, Newburyport, Somerville, Swampscott, Weston, Winchester, Woburn. As well as southern New Hampshire, including Nashua, Londonderry, and Merrimack.

Check out our portfolio for Boston kitchen remodeling, Boston bathroom remodeling, and more.