We found this article in Qualified Remodeler and found it to be very interesting.Kohler is of course a leader in bathroom and kitchen hardware…so we thought it fitting to pass this article along!!

“The biggest thing in most bathrooms is undoubtedly the bath/shower unit – literally!. Being such a large piece, it often is the focal point of a bathroom space and can sometimes make or break a remodeling project – both in terms of budget and aesthetics.
The STERLING Accord seated shower offers a well-designed, functional and affordable option for a shower remodel.
Both homeowners and professional alike are happy at how thoughtfully the Accord was designed to meet their needs:

• Movable and removable seat, offering safety and flexibility in the shower as well as offering a place to relax, bathe a child or even shave legs.
• Four-piece unit made of lightweight, durable, Sterling-exclusive Vikrell – easy to carry around a job site and looks great for years!
• Arched back wall gives the shower an open, airy feeling.
• Spacious and partially hidden shelving keeps the unit looking clean and uncluttered.
• Great for homeowners looking to “age in place” with functional seat and optional grab bars that mirror the arch of the back wall.
• Single pivot point installation system easily interlocks walls with base with a satisfying “click.”
• Installs from the front, fits snug with no caulk needed in the seams and is watertight; solid Vikrell material is chip-, crack- and peel-resistant.
• Comes in three popular colors: White, KOHLER® Almond and KOHLER Biscuit and has a clean, geometric design that works with most décors and lifestyles.”

For more information visit this link

Sterling Plumbing <

We came across another great article from MSN Real-estate…this one is about green roofs. For those who don’t know what they are, a green roof is a rooftop garden, or rooftop green space. The concept is really good, and it is a sustainable practice that has been used for thousands of years. It is now gaining popularity in bigger cities, but can be used anywhere you have a flat roof (apartments, business buildings etc.)

Here is a little piece of the article (by Damon Vanderlinde and Steven Peck of the Daily Green).

What is a green roof?

• A green roof is an extension of a new or existing roof that has:
• A high-quality waterproofing and root-repellant system
• A drainage system
• Filter cloth
• A lightweight growing medium
• Plants

Green-roof systems may be modular, with drainage layers, filter cloth, growing media and plants already prepared in movable, interlocking grids. Or each component may be installed separately.
Green-roof development involves the creation of “contained” green space atop a human-made structure. This green space could be below, at or above grade. But in all cases, the plants are not placed in the ground.

Check out the entire article here…and as always, let us know what you think!!

13 amazing facts about green roofs

We ran across another great article (this time from a magazine we subscribe to called Qualified Remodeler). This article discusses the fact that there are fewer jobs out there right now, but those customers who are doing remodeling work are feeling a greater sense of satisfaction with the work being done!

Here is a snippet from the article by Patrick O’Toole

“About 18 months ago, when the financial crisis sidelined the American consumer, phones stopped ringing for many, if not most, remodeling firms. This was true across the board, even those well-established firms with sterling reputations. So it is hard to imagine that the impact on newer companies and those with questionable reputations was anything but harsh.

When the dust settles and we begin to assess the impact of this recession on remodeling firms, a good analogy is likely to be that of a fire in an old-growth forest — only the strongest will have survived while much of the underbrush (less established firms and those with poor reputations) were swept away. Ironically, the numerical loss of firms will ultimately make the surviving firms stronger. Now, with the results of Qualified Remodeler magazine’s sixth annual Remodeling Customer Satisfaction Survey, we are beginning to see those effects.

By asking remodeling customers about their experiences, post-remodel, over the past six years, we’ve been able to develop a time series of data that demonstrates three conclusions. 1.) Remodelers in the aggregate tend to get low to mediocre grades from their customers. 2.) Remodelers who are seen as exhibiting a certain set of positive behaviors (timeliness, etc.) tend to get much higher customer satisfaction scores. 3.) Remodeling firms tend to satisfy their customers at higher rates when market activity is lower as it was in 2009.

The first two points have been well established over each of the past six years, but the lessons learned are no less critical now as they were then. The third conclusion, that remodelers do a better job at satisfying customers during recessionary times, stands to reason. With fewer jobs to go around, established firms, with better systems and processes, are getting the jobs. It also suggests that each customer is getting more time and attention focused on their needs. Our goal with this analysis is to examine the underlying reasons and to see if reproducible patterns emerge and with those patterns offer constructive ideas on how to incorporate them in your remodeling and/or home improvement business…….”

Please click on the link below to read the entire article, and please let us know what you think!

Fewer Jobs, Greater Satisfaction

I came across this article on MSN Money….it is suggesting that we may actually be heading for a housing shortage!!!

Here is an excerpt from the article by; Smart Money

“With all the talk of excess inventory and a flood of foreclosures, the idea of a looming housing shortage sounds unrealistic, if not downright fanciful.
After all, data from the National Association of Realtors showed a 5.1% decline in existing-home sales in June. Meanwhile, total housing inventory increased 2.5%, to 4 million homes available for sale — an 8.9-month supply, up from an 8.3-month supply in May.

Foreclosures, too, are an issue, with a vast backlog of distressed properties and “underwater” loans sitting just below the surface, according to RealtyTrac, an online foreclosure marketplace. The company forecasts that more than 3 million properties will get hit with foreclosure filings by the end of the year.
But if you step back from the doom and gloom of foreclosures and declining sales and focus on the low construction levels of the past few years, some economists say a housing shortage might be in the offing. A 2009 report by Massachusetts Institute of Technology economics professor William Wheaton says that despite the glut of existing homes, with current depressed levels of construction, there might be “excess demand” for new homes.”

Click the link below to read the full story, and as always let us know what you think!

Believe it or not, a housing shortage

This article comes from one of our partners Homstyl Interior Design…… If you are in the market for great interior design work follow the link to their site.

Here is a quote from thier article, “Many times I am asked this simple question: Should I paint a room a different color? The answer is “YES!” Little else can impact a room with as much drama for such little cost as a can of paint.

“What color?” I am inevitably asked next. That answer depends on you. The sky is the limit.. Do you want the room to be relaxing? Energetic? Dramatic? Serene? The color you choose will do a lot to set the tone of a room. As a rule, brighter colors are more energetic. Subdued colors are considered serene and relaxing.

“Light or dark?” Contrary to popular opinion, dark colors do not always make a room feel closed in.. They can lend a cozy feeling or add subtle drama. Lighter colors do not always expand a room either. I like to consider how the room is used, how much light is available and the general ambience I am shooting for in selecting the intensity of the color.

Most importantly, get out there and paint!”

Check out their website here!
Homstyl Interior Designers

This article comes from MSN-Realestate and it talks about energy efficient upgrades to your existing home. It also talks about how making these changes in your attic can help local business as well.

Here is an excerpt, “The most effective investments a homeowner can make to lower his utility bills occur in the attics and crawl spaces, with homegrown labor and homegrown goods: insulation and caulking. Nearly every dime stays close to home.”

“Employing local workers. The work is hardly glamorous (when’s the last time a TV show featured an air-duct remodel or a trendy attic insulation?) nor does it need to use the sexy house-wares that big companies promote in ads and on Capitol Hill. Often the results are even hidden from the view of the homeowner himself (aside from the smaller number on the electric bill).”

We found this to be a very good article. Please take a few minutes to read it, and let us know what you think.

MSN Realestate; Energy Efficiency