Where You Can Buy Made in America Building Products

Solar Farm Article

To read the entire article please visit US News Online.

Counsel to anticipate problems and to “be prepared” applies to all manner of life activities, from professional career to protecting our health and, yes, to home maintenance.

If one were to ask a stranger on the street an example of “home maintenance,” common responses might include “exterior paint,” “a new roof,” or “replace rotten siding.” While these answers are all correct, the question and the subject cover a much larger spectrum.

Home maintenance is one of those things frequently placed in the “out of sight – out of mind” category.  We tend to assume that if a roof is not leaking, then everything about the roof, including the interior ceiling and the attic, is fine.

While this may be true, in my 18 years of experience in the construction trades and as a contractor, I have seen many circumstance and situations.   Things looking good on the surface may actually be deceiving.

To read the full article click here.

BPI (Building Performance Institute) is an independent, not-for-profit organization that sets the national standards for residential energy efficiency and retrofit work. Individuals are trained, tested and certified to BPI’s nationally recognized standards in order to improve the health, safety, comfort and durability of existing homes.

BPI utilizes a house-as-a-system approach to evaluate the energy efficiency of existing homes and provide an overview of the house as a whole. A BPI certified professional would look at all of the systems in a home and how they relate and affect the occupants. The goal is to go beyond a traditional energy audit and provide specific solutions to permanently solve the problems instead of treating the symptoms. This can have a long-term effect on the energy use of a home and also an immediate one on the overall well-being of the people that currently live there.

To read more about BPI, their house-as-a-system approach, what to expect during an evaluation and how this approach can dramatically improve the energy efficiency of a home please visit their website at:

www.bpi.org

To read an article about Kevin's experience with the BPI certification course and a more in-depth explanation of the program, please click on the Blowing Rock News link below:

http://blowingrocknews.com/

For more information check out their website. There are opportunities to make donations or attend the event!

Dancing with the High Country Stars- link

Here in the High Country we can all identify with that pioneering spirit that involves self-sufficiency and self-reliance. So when we see a project such as this one, we get very excited about all the possibilities available for building an energy efficient home that can also become an integral part of our environment.

To see a model of the ASU project follow this link:

ASU Decathlon Project Model

And to learn more about ASU’s involvement and their concept for the project go to their website at:

The Solar Homestead

• Changing filters on your heating and air conditioning system. Consider hiring a company that will automatically come out twice a year to make sure everything is working properly.

• Keeping it clean! Now that Spring is on the way, why not start by getting the interior of the house dust and dirt-free.

• And while you are at it…. get outdoors and look at the exterior of the house. Things to think about are cleaning the gutters, pressure cleaning the exterior and removing any limbs of trees that might fall on your roof.

To get more information about how to maintain your house, please visit the NAHB website and read their article on how to do routine maintenance.

NAHB- Routine Maintenance

Keep a binder with all the warranty information about your house. If you want to take it a step further, make several binders for all the different components of your house (for example: appliances, HVAC or heating, furniture, electronics, etc). Also keep a file with all the receipts of work performed on your house. This makes it easy to look back and check on the name of the roofer you used to repair some shingles. It might save you some time and frustration down the road!

• Does the builder or remodeler have a permanent business location and a good reputation with local banks and suppliers?

• How long have they been in the building business? It usually takes three to five years to establish a financially sound business. Will they be around after the construction is complete to service any warranties?

• Have you called your local Better Business Bureau? They can alert you to any complaints.

• Does the builder/remodeler have sufficient workers compensation and general liability insurance? If not, you may be liable for any construction-related accidents on your premises.

To learn more about all the items on the checklist please visit their website at:

NAHB- Hiring a Builder/Remodeler

Remember that you always want to hire a builder that is an active long-standing member of the community, is interested not only in your project but also in building a relationship with you, and has a very good relationship with the local suppliers. It is highly recommended that you call a local building supply company and ask what it is like to do business with them.