Sloan Valve Aqus Greywater System

Greywater systems are becoming a vital option for conserving precious fresh water, but for many consumers, it’s a scary concept – or a complete unknown. That’s why Sloan’s Aqus system shines for its simplicity and accessibility. Situated under the bathroom sink, Aqus transfers lavatory drain water to the toilet for reuse. The drainage water is sanitized and filtered, then collects in a storage reservoir; upon flushing, the water is pumped to the flush tank. According to the company, a two-person bathroom can save up to 5,000 gallons of fresh water a year. The system is compatible with a range of two-piece toilet models. 800-982-5839 www.sloanvalve.com

Cabinetry Basics #3

Planning guideless
Okay – you’ve now decided which way to go – stock or custom – or have you?!
Traffic patterns – I’m sure you’ve heard about the kitchen triangle – right? Well, you really shouldn’t let anything impede that triangle – however – some of the kitchens we’ve seen recently have an island in the middle of that triangle and for what? To say it has an island? We typically hear that all you end up doing is running around the island! Another thought to keep in mind – according to code and basic good design – you should always have a minimum 36” of clearance between work surfaces or walkways. Again – many kitchens do not have this clearance.
Work aisle – according to many guidelines – you need to have a minimum of 42” for one cook and 48” for multiple cooks. This would definitely get rid of the islands in many homes!
Storage – what about those lazy susan’s? Not our favorite, but there are many options out there now for those blind corners – some more expensive than others. Storage over the frig – does the cabinet above the frig come out all the way, or do you just have that lovely frig top with all the “decorations” sitting on top? Are you a baker? Then what about lowering one of your counters so they are more ergonomically correct? And what about the great cabinetry for those heavy KitchenAid mixers? Cookie sheet cabinets? And please don’t tell me that you still have one of the walk-in pantry’s? Custom pantry cabinets will provide you better storage by far!
Professional design – if you’re planning on investing the money to update your cabinets – make sure you bring in a professional that can help you with the many options now available – I guarantee it will make the world of difference and you’ll end up having cabinetry that you’ll love for years to come!

Cabinetry Basics #2

Stock vs Custom

Okay – some will probably disagree with me on some of the specifics, but at least you’ve got some information to go on! Stock Cabinetry Stock implies that it is premade – what you would see if you went into Lowe’s or Home Depot and bought them off the shelf. Many manufacturers offer stock cabinetry – this keeps the cost low and if you want to customize the cabinets, it costs quite a bit. In stock cabinetry you normally have to buy the cabinets in 3” increments – meaning you’ll have a lot of filler in your cabinet design or blank spaces. Not a good thing in my opinion. Some will say that manufacturers of stock cabinets are competing on price – which is very true because the cabinets are cheap; however, you typically get what you pay for also. With stock cabinetry you are typically only getting wood on the doors and possibly face frame – most of the time you will see particle board interiors (it is called sponge board for a reason!) and many times laminated end panels and insides. Custom Cabinetry Many cabinet shops call themselves custom – however after having our own cabinet shop – I can tell you that the local cabinet makers simply cannot compete on price or design offerings from the big manufacturers. There are many manufacturers out in the market that do not build cabinets until they are ordered – so therefore your cabinetry is also custom! Many manufacturers use the big C&C machines to cut out the pieces used to put the cabinetry together – but from there on in the manufacturing process, it is hands on! True, the people building the cabinets are using some high tech tools, but real live humans build the cabinets. There are many cabinet manufacturers that are located here in the US – so you’re not buying cabinets made overseas! Many custom cabinet manufacturers can also match your existing stain – just like many of your local cabinetmakers. What we’ve seen makes the difference between the local guy and a national manufacturer is the options: doors, drawers, stains, trim, and the interior accessories for the cabinetry. Many of the higher end custom cabinet shops can also offer all woods at the same price – I know first hand that your local cabinet maker cannot do this. Many custom manufacturers also include soft close door and drawer hinges, undermount drawer glides, dovetail drawers, stainless steel drawers – AS STANDARD offerings! The local guy just cannot compete on this level – they’re not buying the quantity that the national manufacturers are buying. Also, the local guy typically can’t offer the same warranties that most of the big manufacturers offer – 8, 10, 12 years on the stain and limited lifetime on the cabinet construction! Yes – you will pay more for “custom” cabinetry – but if you’re updating, isn’t it worth it?

Cabinetry Basics #1

Previously having our own cabinet shop and now being a dealer for a worldwide cabinet company, we have become intimate with how cabinets are built. Cabinets may look good on the outside, but once you closely inspect them, the differences are quickly noted. But do you know the difference between cabinet styles? European Style This construction was originally developed in Europe. The cabinet is constructed using panels to build the box. Better construction uses ¾” marine grade plywood. The cabinet door is hinged to the interior side of the panel and the better cabinets include slow close doors and drawers. The drawers for the European style are typically bigger because there are no face frames to deal with. Also, better cabinets will have full extension under mount hardware and offer wood and stainless steel drawer box construction. The cabinet door and drawer fronts fully overlay the box with a very small reveal between the doors and drawers. The installation is easy – but the installer does have to know what they’re doing since it is very different from face-frame and inset cabinetry. Faceframe style: This is what we typically have in our homes here in Texas. With faceframe cabinetry, you have solid wood stock that is used to build the front or faceframe of the cabinetry. The manufacturer attaches the sides and back of the cabinet to the faceframe. The cabinet door is hinged on the faceframe – this is called an overlay. Again, depending on the manufacturer, European style hinges are typically standard, but some manufacturers will also offer the slow close hinges as standard or charge for these types of hinges. The actual door/drawer fronts will vary in size depending on how much or how little it overlays the face frame. This style is also the least expensive in cabinetry construction. Inset style: This type of cabinet looks much like furniture you probably have in your home. The doors are actually inset in the frame. Your manufacturer has to be very good at how they build these cabinets because the reveal is miniscule. If you are in an area with high humidity – say the coast – you probably want to consider either a very stable wood or going with the overlay faceframe style. These hinges are also set on the style of the frame – but your manufacturer will either expose the hinges, or they will be concealed – most often as slow close or European hinges. The drawers in this style are typically the smallest.

Critters

We just started a new kitchen remodel and the first day our crew finds that a critter has been up to bigtime chewing!  The hungry critter is now dead, they found that too!  Please make sure that you inspect your attic periodically (especially during cooler months since it is easier for you to be up there and they look for a “new home” since it gets cooler outside!) to make sure you don’t have any critters in your home!

Clean Lines & Classic Styles Define Kitchen Cabinets

Clean and classic styling is the hottest trend in kitchen cabinetry right now, as value-conscious consumers seek simple yet elegant designs that will stand the test of time. Eco-friendly wood species are garnering attention, while custom options become increasingly available at multiple price points. Additionally, cabinet interior design is moving to the forefront as aging baby boomers seek greater accessibility and a more efficient use of space.

Below are some of the dominant trends in kitchen cabinetry:
• Clean lines and classic styles dominate today’s kitchen cabinet choices, with value, sustainability and organization key priorities among consumers.
• Maple and alder are popular wood choices, while bamboo and lyptus appeal to environmentally conscious consumers. For the more budget-minded shopper, laminates in wood grain patterns offer an appealing option.
• Interior storage accessories are more relevant than ever as they maximize cabinet space and accessibility – particularly critical as consumers increasingly decide to remodel within their kitchen’s existing footprint rather than expanding the space.
• Custom components are becoming more affordable, allowing consumers at all price points to create a more personalized look for their cabinetry. However, excessive ornamentation has fallen out of vogue, with cleaner styles that minimize clutter reflecting the new consumer mindset.
• Painted finishes are gaining in popularity, while contrasting paint and stained finishes in one kitchen is a great way to add visual interest and character.
• Consumers are showing greater awareness of green issues as the Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association’s Environmental Stewardship Program grows in scope, yet the added cost to “going green” presents an obstacle that is difficult to overcome in a challenging economy.

Leaky Ducts

Ducts with built-in gaskets solve one of the most common energy loss issues in homes-improperly sealed ducts.

Did you know that HVAC ducts can cost you a loss of 30% of household heating and cooling energy? One way to combat this problem is during your mechanical rough-in. One of the problems is that there are many shortcuts such as running them through unconditioned spaces such as attics and crawl spaces.

So, even if your ducts have been tightly sealed they combat against outdoor temperatures and here in Texas our attics can get to temperatures exceeding 120 degrees if not properly insulated.

Studies have shown that as much as 95% of homes have ducts that leak.

New products on the market include low-VOC or water based mastic and they have even come out with “no mastic” products.

These are all good ideas to keep in mind when upgrading, building or remodeling a home.

Tom Reich

I am sad to say that Tom Reich passed away yesterday evening.  Tom was an awesome man, husband, father and friend.  I’ve known Tom and his wife Fran for 20 years!  Tom also worked with Curb Appeal Renovations providing his expertise in the appraisal area – Tom was a very honest appraiser and really told you like it was!

Our thoughts are with the Reich family, especially his wife Fran who will really miss her best friend…

Metrocon 2009

I attended Metrocon 2009 today – the ASID Texas Chapter and IIDA industry conference held every year in Dallas.  It is a great opportunity to take classes (ASID members must have continuing ed), network – meet new friends and see old, and see what is new in the industry.

Today I only had the opportunity to attend two classes…one was filled with lots of information, some of which I’ll share with you now.

First of all…many people love the look of slate and want to use it inside, outside, in the shower, etc.  However…did you know that because of the iron in slate that it will rust when exposed continuously to water?! 

Many homeowners in Texas love natural travertine – I have to admit it is beautiful, but after today, I’m going to make doubly sure that all our clients know about the maintenance!  Any filled and honed travertine of the floor will take CONSTANT maintenance!  Those little filled pieces will pop out…are you willing to keep up the maintenance and fill them with grout?

Fissures are in natural stone – no way to get around it…just realize that no two of the same stones are going to look alike.

I’ll cover steam showers in a later posting…along with glass tile!  Stay tuned…

Congratulations Maureen & Jerry!

One of our clients from last year – Maureen and Jerry recently tied the knot on April 25th!  Please join us in wishing them both many happy years together!  Maureen moved here from California and is loving Texas, but is having to adjust to our “Texas weather”…but when I had lunch with her last week and saw the wedding pictures, got caught up with her and got to see the house after she moved all her “stuff” in…I’d say she’s officially a transplant!

Congratulations Maureen and Jerry!