[New Post] Why Using Green Building Materials Can Save You Green

It’s often assumed that buying green building materials can cost an arm and a leg. However, this simply isn’t true. In fact, many construction companies and custom home builders are beginning to discover the benefits of using recycled or natural materials in all of their custom home building projects in Arizona. And the benefits can also help homeowners save money each month as they live in their new homes.

Eco-Friendly Materials And Its Benefits

Whether it’s natural flooring materials, recycled or natural paints and even insulation made out of recycled newspaper, using green building materials is becoming extremely popular.

Benefits of Green Flooring Materials

We’re not suggesting that you paint your floors inside your new custom home green per-say, but, using eco-friendly materials like bamboo, cork, salvaged wood planks and even carpeting manufactured from recycled products can spice up your home – and save money down the road.

• First, it’s amazing what you can do with salvaged wood. However, did you know that some custom homebuilders specialize in installing hardwood flooring out of recycled materials? And by using up recycled flooring, a custom homebuilder can pass the savings along to the customer.


• Recycled carpeting can also be advantageous for homeowners that move into a newly built custom home. But, many of today’s leading manufacturers of recycled carpeting also claim that their products are softer, hold up longer and even are more aesthetically pleasing than new materials. Plus, just like the above example, they tend to be less costly.

Benefits of Using Eco-Friendly Paint

Although using recycled materials like newspaper for insulation is a great way to protect your home, the use of eco-friendly paints is becoming rampant, especially in Arizona where we have to worry about heat and its impact on how paint dries and wears within our homes. Here are just a few of the benefits of using ‘green’ paint inside your new custom home.

Much Fewer VOC’s

VOC’s or Volatile Organic Compounds are emitted when chemicals are introduced into paint in factories. They also tend to spread when you apply them on walls. However, eco-friendly paints contain zero to very little traces of VOC’s, which is a positive attribute for any home owner.

Health Benefits Of Eco-Friendly Paints

There are several people who have allergic reactions to VOC’s. Most traditional paints also give off fumes that can cause COPD flair ups and other breathing problems. However, eco-friendly paints produce very little odors, which are caused by formaldehyde and ammonia in most common paints. Since natural paints don’t include these harmful substances, you’ll breathe much better inside a home with eco-friendly paint.

Most Green Building Materials Can Be Cost Efficient

A common rule of thumb for manufacturers is that customer demand often dictates pricing. However, green building materials are an exception to this rule. The US Federal Government has begun to impose better standards to the materials used daily to construct new homes. When the materials used are recycled, the Federal Government also provides tax incentives to many manufacturers for offering this vital option. As such, their cost of goods is lower and often passed along to the consumer.

When constructing your new custom home, using green building is not only better for the environment, but it can also help reduce costs. When you are getting ready to build a new home, contact a professional custom contractor and ask them about using green building materials.

Ready to invest in a new construction or a custom home? We can assist with our green building experts, call us at (480) 378-0611 for a free consult.

Read the full story at: http://peakonebuilders.com/why-using-green-building-materials-can-save-you-green/

[New Post] Where to Start on a Home Renovation Project in Phoenix

It’s common for homeowners in Phoenix to find affordable ways to spice up their homes – and increase property value. And one of the quickest growing trends in Arizona is the addition of several home renovation projects both in the city limits and suburbs. One question that many homeowners often ask is where to start on a home renovation project?

A Priority List Of Items Needed For Any Home Renovation Project

First – Always Begin With Setting A Budget

Whether you’re going to simply paint the house or take on a complete restoration project, the first and probably biggest step is to create a very strong budget. It’s often said that money doesn’t grow on trees. Well, in the construction industry, money is often the primary hurdle to overcome. This is why the best thing any homeowner can do is to create a solid budget of what they can afford to spend on any home renovation project.

Second – Create A Needs List And Wish List

It’s also important for homeowners to look at the big picture of their potential home renovation project. The best way to accomplish this step is to create two, independent lists.

• The first list will be items that you need to include in your renovation project. For example, if you’re planning on increasing the overall square footage of your home by adding a casita, another bedroom or finishing a basement, the actual project of adding those spaces is a needed feature in order to accomplish your goal.


• Once you have a good idea as to what you’re trying to accomplish with your renovation project, the next thing to consider is what material items you need to make the addition ‘livable’. Let’s look at the basement project for an example. If you’re going to finish a basement, you’ll most likely need a few critical items including air conditioning/heating duct work installed (if not already complete), electrical and plumbing installed (again, if it’s not already finished), drywall hung, walls built, filled with insulation and textured and several other common elements. If you’re going to have living spaces in the basement, you’ll most likely need at least one full bath finished as well.

After you’ve created the needed items for your home renovation project in Phoenix, the next step is to think of wants and compare them to your budget. For example:

• Perhaps you’d want a bar installed in a loft, or outside on your backyard patio?


• Maybe you want to install decorative lighting, install surround sound speakers inside the walls or other upgraded items?


• It might be a desire of yours to add custom molding, textured walls or vaulted ceilings.

The point here is that it’s very important for you to separate items you need to have completed, vs those that are more of a want – where if you have extra room in your budget, you can afford to install.

As you can see, there are several actions that can keep you busy when you’re asking where to start on a home renovation project in Phoenix. The best advice we can give is to contact a professional general contractor for a free consultation so they can answer any questions and help you plan that perfect home renovation project.

Renovations, remodeling, new construction, etc; we have the Professional answers – call us today at (480) 378-0611!

Read the full story at: http://peakonebuilders.com/where-to-start-on-a-home-renovation-project-in-phoenix/

[New Post] Home Improvement Trends Reflects Changing Dynamics published on

It’s no secret that the demographics of the United States are rapidly changing. Gone are the days of 2.5 kids, a white picket fence and one dog. Today’s collective country is aging – and with more large family homes quickly evolving to fewer full-time occupants, several homeowners are taking proactive measures to remodel a home to suit their current needs. It is for this reason and many more that many of today’s popular home improvement trends are focused on comfort as opposed to expansion.

Home Improvement Trends Focused On American Current Needs

Here are a few growing home improvement trends based on the evolving landscape of the United States:

Increase in Energy Efficiency

One of the most popular attributes that homeowners seek in any home improvement project is to increase the energy efficiency of their older homes. They can accomplish this through several different home improvement projects including:

• Replacing older major appliances with new, Energy Star® rated units


• Installing new windows or window seals in order to reduce the amount of lost air inside the house


• Upgrading the homes ductwork, sealing the ductwork or repairing it to keep cold and warm air from escaping the house

Each of these individual steps has been shown to significantly improve the overall energy efficiency of virtually any home. The bottom line is that when the kids are leaving home, parents are looking for ways to reduce their monthly expenses in order to save up for retirement or permit them to have more disposable income, especially in times of economic uncertainty.

Remodeling To Suit Medical Needs

Another reality of life is that our baby boomer generation is getting older. And as we age, our bodies tend to wear down or we become more prone to injuries that can and often do impact our daily lives. It’s due to this fact that another growing trend in home remodeling is making improvements to a home that allow us to live safer lifestyles or accommodate injuries or medical conditions. Some of these improvements include:

• Adding hand rails or upgrading bathrooms to non-slip flooring to ensure safety


• Installing wheel chair access ramps inside homes


• Upgrading kitchens with easier to access and operate appliances, cabinets and safer flooring

Converting Bedrooms to Entertainment or Storage Rooms

As our children leave home for college or to start their own lives, another growing home improvement trend is to convert their bedrooms into entertainment, guest or storage rooms. This type of home remodeling project is rather simple to complete as the majority of the time it requires very little construction – just addition or subtraction of certain furniture products. As current home ownership average age increases in the next few years, we will see more of these types of home improvement projects.

On the flip side, some homeowners are looking to increase livable space inside their current homes. This is why another popular home improvement trends for existing homeowners is adding a new bedroom or bathroom for guests (especially grandchildren). This type of home improvement project tends to add value to a home, which is another reason why several homeowners in Arizona are choosing to expand their homes as they get older.

The key to making any home improvement is to consider the needs of you and your family for the long term. Adding safer home additions, upgrading or adding storage or livable space and increasing the energy efficiency of any property are smart ways to provide more equity to your home, reduce your monthly costs and save more money each month.

 

Read the full story at: http://peakonebuilders.com/home-improvement-trends-reflects-changing-dynamics/

[New Post] Green Home Remodeling Gaining Traction in Scottsdale For 2014 published on

Trends in the marketplace often come and go. But as 2014 begins, green home remodeling is showing signs of expansion. And for home owners in Scottsdale, AZ making the decision to ‘go green’ with all of their home remodeling projects can save time, money, natural resources and spark some creative juices to use eco-friendly materials and procedures to enhance the overall look and feel of their homes.

Three Steps To Complete Your Green Home Remodeling Project

Here are a few things to consider that will make any green home remodeling project easier to achieve this year.

Step #1 – Have an Energy Audit Completed

A great idea to get you started for any home improvement project is to begin with an Energy Audit completed. This will help you the home owner identify some of the areas inside your current space that could use improvement to increase the energy efficiency of the home. Many HVAC specialists can perform an energy audit, but the key is to factor in the results of this audit and incorporate them into any green home remodeling project you intend to undertake. It is estimated that a good energy audit can lead to up to a 50% reduction in monthly energy bills.

Another positive attribute of having an energy audit is that it will help you reduce carbon emissions from the existing house. This will help make your home much easier to maintain and healthier to live in for everybody.

Step #2 – Invest in Quality Materials for your Green Home Remodeling Project

It’s said that you get what you pay for. And this definitely applies to the materials that are used for any home remodeling project. However, when you’re secondary objective is to be environmentally friendly with your remodel a primary concern of yours should be to purchase quality-built materials for this project. Just like in the food industry, many people get hung up on buzz terms when making purchases. For example, if they are looking for healthier beverages they might only buy ‘organic’ or ‘All-Natural’ products. The end result is manufacturers and retailers will make you pay for those ‘buzz words’, while the product may not always be better for you.

The key in home remodeling is not to fall into that trap. Just because a material might say its ‘eco-friendly’ or made from recycled materials does not mean that it needs to be used for a green home remodeling project. The most important element of any responsible home improvement project is to limit the total amount of materials needed. So if you have to replace that ‘All-Natural’ cabinet in two years because it’s warped, you’re really not accomplishing anything ‘environmentally friendly’. Always make sure that any materials you buy will last a long time – that will ensure your project is ‘green’.

Step #3 – Enhance your Home Improvement Project with Sparkling Colors

The final step when planning to take on a green home remodeling project is to consider the roll that color will play. In this regard, think about using dynamic colors that will naturally brighten up a room  and will require less electrical power and fewer lights. This will also determine what type of window treatments you use, or even whether to add a skylight for natural sunlight to enter a room. Remember – the key to any green remodeling project is to conserve natural resources during and after your home improvement project is completed.

Green home remodeling is going to be a growing trend well beyond 2014 as many homeowners in Scottsdale, Arizona realize the several ancillary benefits that responsible remodeling can provide. Make sure to contact a reliable and experienced general contractor that has experience in working on green home remodeling projects to ensure your job is done right, on time and within your budget.

 

Read the full story at: http://peakonebuilders.com/green-home-remodeling-scottsdale-2014/