New EPA Regulations

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a new Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting rule (RRP) last April. Under the rule, beginning in April 2010, contractors performing renovation, repair and painting projects that disturb lead-based paint in homes, child care facilities, and schools built before 1978 must be certified and must follow specific work practices to prevent lead contamination.

Callahan & Peters, Inc. is proud to be one of the first certified contractors in Illinois, and are ready to perform your next project under the new EPA guidelines. Please call us with any questions you might have.

2009-10 Cost vs. Value Report

Are you thinking or starting a remodeling project this year? Often times one of the most difficult parts of starting a remodeling project is determining what it might cost. Every year Remodeling Magazine helps with this problem by publishing the Cost vs. Value report. This report quantifies the cost of numerous remodeling projects around the country, and compares the costs to the cost recouped when you sell the home. So if you were wondering what you might budget for a mid-range kitchen remodel, this report might be a good place to start. You can visit the report here.

Marvin Windows Qualify for New Tax Credit

We are excited to note that one of our recently completed window projects qualifies for the high efficiency window tax credit available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Our client is now eligible to take more than a $1300 tax credit due to the efficiency of the windows. We were also excited to learn that this project was one of the first on the North Shore to qualify for the tax credit.  Give us a call to learn more about the products that qualify for the recent tax credits.

We used Azek trim for the moldings at the top of the window which needs little to no maintenance.

The Marvin bow window is actually made up of two individual double hung windows on the ends, and three picture windows in the center.

 

The finished product.

The Most Significant Home Improvement Project of 2009

Here is a link to a good article on the increasing demand for energy efficient home improvements, and how the government plans to help.  Give us a call to learn how you can benefit from the new stimulus plan, and how we can make your home more energy efficient and healthy.

Cherry Cabinet Sale!

From now until March 31st, all Bertch and Legacy cabinets are discounted 10%. If you are thinking about updating your kitchen or bathroom, and have always wanted Cherry cabinets, now is the best time to start your project.

Evanston Bathroom Transformation

Evanston Transformation

We recently had the opportunity to help an Evanston couple “take back” their bathroom after a year and a half of frustration.  When we first arrived at their home, the bathroom looked like it was halfway through demolition and was in complete disarray. The homeowners told us that another contractor had started the project, but after making an excessive amount of mistakes was fired.  The resulting frustration from that experience halted all work on the bathroom for the next year.

After speaking with the couple we realized our goal was not only to help them achieve their dream of having a bathroom that feels like a spa retreat, but also to restore their confidence and trust in a remodeling contractor.  Once we discussed the clients’ needs and wish list, we developed a design for a much more user-friendly bathroom with spa-like amenities. The final design included a large custom shower with body sprays and a hand-shower, a custom designed double vanity and linen closet, and an air-jet bath.  At the end of the project, the couple had not only regained their bathroom, but they also stated that “It was a pleasure working with you and your staff; so professional, easy and hassle free.”
 

Bathroom upon our first visit.

Custom built vanity with a glass mosaic tile wall. The counter is Caesarstone with two Kohler Memoirs undermount sinks and Purist faucets.

A view from the corner of the custom shower and the air bath.

A Bain Ultra Oragami air bath was used with a custom maple tub skirt.

Federal Tax Credits for Energy Efficiency

Have you been thinking of installing new windows, or upgrading the insulation in your attic, but thought it cost just a bit too much?  Well there might be some good news for you.  Hidden in the massive federal bailout in October of this year was the extension of tax credits for energy efficient home improvements that had expired in 2007.  The bill also included a number of other energy efficient building tax credits.  A full list and explanations can be found here.

The West Coast Green Conference!

We just got back from the sun of California after spending three days at the West Coast Green conference.  This was an amazing opportunity to attend the largest green building conference in the nation.  Its goal is to revolutionize the way people build and inhabit their homes by having the key players in sustainable building, business and design educate the building industry on the latest best practices and technologies.  In addition to the seminars, there were over 380 exhibitors showcasing the latest in resource-efficiency among a stunning array of green and healthy building products.  Our three days there were inspirational, offering a wealth of ideas on products and design that we look forward to incorporating into our future remodeling projects.  Call us if you have any questions on the green building movement, or if you want to know how you can incorporate green elements into your next project.

The Payback on Green Improvements: Is it worth it?

With the explosion of green awareness and products, many people wonder if investing in a green remodeling project makes financial sense.  Personal preferences and project specific variables affect cost, but many people would still prefer to generally quantify the payback period of potential green improvements.

A tool is available to help assess the financial costs and benefits of several green projects.  GreenandSave.com provides an ROI (return on investment) table that lists the added costs, annual savings, projected savings over 10 or 20 years, and the ROI for a given improvement.  Improvements include Tune-Ups (small projects or changes that can be made to green up a home or building), Remodeling, and Advanced (larger projects or decisions for a new building).

Hopefully this gives you one more tool to help make an educated decision on whether to upgrade to that new high efficiency furnace when building your new addition, or any other green improvement you might be considering.

The Rains have Ended!!!

I am sure if you are anything like us, many of you in the Chicagoland Area spent much of the last weekend monitoring your basements and making sure your sump-pumps were working properly.  We at Callahan & Peters hope your basements stayed dry this weekend, and there was no damage.  If, however, you did have some damage, we would be happy to review the damage, design a solution that will eliminate future flooding, and make all necessary repairs.  If you are thinking about finishing a basement in the future, we can design and build a basement that is integrated seemlessly into your home, but will not have any of the common moisture related problems. Please call to discuss any questions you might have.