We have all heard that this summer’s drought is likely to cause price increases at the supermarket, although no one seems able to say exactly how much. You hear everything from “minimal” to “substantial” increases, depending on who is talking. But, will the drought have an impact on home improvement prices? My sources tell me this is a very likely scenario.

Think about it: Wildfires destroyed millions of acres of timber, used in everything from framing to decking to windows and doors. What may surprise you is that there are a number of products used in the home improvement industry that rely on corn production. Did you know that corn is one of the major ingredients in fiberglass, used to make, among other things, insulation, bathtubs, and windows and doors? So, between the loss of all that wood and the reduced supply of corn, consumers are in all likelihood facing increased prices on a wide variety of remodeling materials.

So, what’s a consumer to do if he is thinking about a home improvement project? My recommendation is to think faster. If you can find a way to schedule your project before the end of 2012, it would probably be in your best interest if you are looking for a lower price, and who isn’t looking to save money these days? Based on communications Evergreen Door & Window has received from major manufacturers and suppliers, odds are high that there will price increases coming by the first of the year. Granted, not all of these increases are caused purely because of the drought and wildfires this past summer, but they are certainly the deciding factor. Most manufacturers have been swallowing price increases for fuel and materials, knowing that everyone is in a tough financial situation these days, and trying very hard not to pass on every cost increase they have, instead maintaining lower margins to keep their companies running, hoping for an economic turnaround. However, with this final straw of another increase to cost of goods, many manufacturers can no longer afford to hold off on price increases and still maintain their workforce at current levels. They are facing the decision of having to increase their prices to contractors in order to keep their heads above water.

Since most remodeling companies operate on low margins as it is, they cannot afford to absorb these prices increases without either passing them on to their customers or laying off some of their own staff. It’s a vicious cycle that ends, unfortunately, with more having to come out of the homeowner’s pocket sometime in the near future.

So, take my advice – schedule that home improvement project now, before the inevitable jump in prices. Look at it this way; you’ll get to spend the winter enjoying your improved home, and you’ll save money in the long run! What could be bad about that?

Remodel on!

Rae the Renovator

With more than 8,000 window and door manufacturers in the United States, each offering perhaps hundreds of product options, how can you as a homeowner possibly know where to begin to find the right product for your remodeling needs? The golden rule in renovation is to find a contractor that has a lot to lose by not taking good care of their customers, and who has a reputation to uphold, and they will bring you their best products and services for your project. The key is that they have done the shopping for you with years of experience and a trained eye.

The best remodelers will have certain criteria that have to be met when choosing a product to offer their customers: The best and latest design and technology, strong after the sale support, and a commitment to the right vein of distribution so their product is handled properly.

1.)  First, the product itself must be of the latest technology and design which will ultimately perform best over time. This is where the trained eye and years of experience of your remodeler of choice plays an important role in product selection. They will have feedback from their installation crews; know the reputation of the manufacturer and how their products typically perform over time.  The cost of these products is typically higher, but over the long run is the best value for the consumer.

2.)  Second, after the sale support and warranties: Does the manufacturer or fabricator, have an in house service technician? How a supplier performs when there is an issue with a product, after it has been in service, plays a great part in product selection. Have they made an investment in supporting the product in the field? This is remodeling, and things happen, especially when you’re dealing with items that contain glass and moving parts like windows and doors. The best remodelers rely on referral business and cannot afford to be working with a product that is not well supported by the company that makes it. Their future depends on it.

3.)  Where is the product sold? If the supply chain includes anyone with a hammer and a pickup truck, than the supplier can lose control over the satisfaction of the end user, you the customer. Manufacturers and distributors who focus their business on supplying the professional remodelers then the odds are much higher that their product will be handled and installed correctly for the greatest customer satisfaction, and future growth for the supplier. They will also be looking for their brand to be identified with happy customers, which helps build a good reputation and repeat business, which is what they need to survive.

So, unless you spend your time installing windows and doors, and know the ins and outs of the business, tread lightly and seek out the right company with a strong service record in your area that has been around longer than 5 years, the normal survival rate of a contractor in our industry, and you will get the best results for your investment.

Rae the Renovator

with Kevin Sullivan, Operations Manager

Evergreen Door & Window

If you’ve ever talked to anyone about a less than successful renovation project, you probably heard all about what the sales person promised that didn’t come about, how messy the installer was, that nobody made it clear what would happen and when… And, there are indisputably companies out there who do not come close to delivering on their promises.

However, as a party to any contract, it is also your responsibility to be certain you understand all the details, and that your contractor knows your expectations and is able to meet your requirements on a renovation project. In an effort to alleviate some of the potential conflicts that come as a result of misunderstandings in a contract situation, I would like to put forth some responsibilities of each party to the contract.

Customer’s Responsibilities

1. Define your expectations before you meet with any contractor. Know exactly what you are seeking to accomplish. A contractor cannot meet your needs if you don’t know what they are.
2. When you make an appointment with a contractor to discuss you project, make sure you are on time and able to give them your undivided attention throughout the meeting. This might include getting a sitter for the kids, asking someone to watch the dog for an hour or two, and turning off your cell phone and turning on your answering machine so that you are not constantly interrupted by phone calls.
3. Before signing any contract, make sure that all of the details are included – colors, sizes, schedule, and what is not a part of the scope of work.
   1. A special note when selecting anything that involves natural products (wood, stone, etc.) – don’t just look at a small sample and assume that you are going to be satisfied with a larger project. For instance, natural stone or granite has huge variances in veining and color. If you are having a large countertop done (such as an island in your kitchen), be sure to see the full slab of stone that will be used so that you will know what to expect from the finished project. The same when working with wood – graining varies from board to board, and each piece responds differently to sanding and staining, so never assume that your new wood cabinets are going to look exactly like the small block of wood that the contractor shows you.
   2. If you are asking for a stain match to existing wood, it is your responsibility to provide all of the pertinent details – manufacturer and color of original stain, type of material the stain has been applied to, etc., to the best of your ability.  And remember, even if your contractor uses the exact materials that you specify, the match may not be PERFECT (in your opinion) due to variations in manufacturing processes, environmental conditions, and even age of the original project. You cannot expect to get an exact match to an antique cabinet when the same finish is applied to new wood. Your contract should specify that any matching will be done “to reasonable standards” or “as closely as possible” or words to that effect. And, before the project is begun, it would be in your best interest to ask to see a sample of the finish using the same materials that will be used on the final project.
   3. Bear in mind that many contractors will not even offer to stain match or color match on a project, because they do not have access to someone with the necessary skills. In this case, your contract should specify that the customer is responsible for all staining or painting upon completion of the contract.
   4. If you are replacing windows, it is your responsibility to remove any window treatments, and to reinstall them on completion of the project. Remodeling contractors are not trained for this type of installation, generally, and you will be much more satisfied if you do it yourself or have a professional window treatment installation done. In the rare event that this is included in the scope of work, make sure it is specified in the contract.
   5. Never accept verbal changes to a contract. If you are promised something by a sales person, make sure it is spelled out in the contract. If it is not in writing, it is almost legally impossible to prove it was ever a part of the contract. Review all the details of the contract and be certain that everyone is in complete agreement as to expectations before you sign anything.
   6. Understand the payment schedule for your project, and honor it. Depending on the type of work being done, you will be expected to pay 1/3 to ½ of the contract value prior to start of work (to pay for materials), then, depending on the timeframe, may need to make an interim payment at a specific completion point, with final payment due when final work is completed. In the case of a short time frame project (such as windows and doors), a first payment and final payment will generally be the rule of thumb. Have your check ready on the day of completion to give to the installer, unless the contract specifies otherwise. (Obviously, if you are financing your project, the payment schedule will have been established at the time the financing paperwork is signed).

Contractor’s Responsibilities

1. Start with the basics – be sure that all customer contact information (name, address, telephone number – including alternate phone – best time to contact) is completely accurate. It doesn’t do anyone any good if you have the customer’s home phone number if everyone works and no one is there to answer – if mobile phone is the best way to communicate, be sure that is included, and prominently, on the contract.
2. Make sure everyone is on the same page – before you sell something, you have to be certain this is what the customer wants. If you are selling granite and they want marble, but everyone simply says “stone”, what is going to happen when the material arrives and the customer says that it is not what the ordered?
3. Double and triple check the details – count windows, recalculate square footage for flooring, identify color and style selections – with customer sign-off for each detail, to assure that everyone agrees.
4. Make sure all promises are in writing – extra touches that are not part of a normal installation (such as pre-staining, color matching, reinstallation of window treatments), and that the contract spells out what must be done in the event of a change to the scope of work (change order signed by customer and contractor – no verbal changes without written confirmation)
5. Specify who is responsible for providing any work permits required for the project – and that they must be posted from beginning of project through final completion. Be sure any necessary inspections are scheduled with local governing bodies – there’s nothing like holding up your renovation because you forgot to schedule the electrical or plumbing inspection prior to planning drywall installation.
6. Explain payment schedules, terms and conditions (such as cancellation fees, etc.), and all labor and material warranties, whether provided by the manufacturer or the contractor.
7. With the broad range of cultures and languages in our area, it is particularly important to be sure that nothing gets “lost in the translation” – be positive that the customer understands all aspects of the contract exactly as they are intended. If in doubt, review and ask for assistance.

If you as a homeowner are diligent in assuring that you meet all of your responsibilities, and that you are familiar with the contractor’s responsibilities to be certain that they also honor these duties, your remodeling project should go much more smoothly from the outset, and everyone will end up much happier. That isn’t to say everything will be perfect every time – the number one rule in remodeling is that there is no such thing as perfect, if you are a homeowner – but it is much simpler to identify real issues if you know what to expect from the beginning.

Rae the Renovator

Before

If you own a traditional home such as a ranch, colonial, or split level with standard double hung or casement windows and “normal” entry doors, you can be exceedingly confident that Evergreen Door & Window will be able to expertly install your vinyl replacement windows or fiberglass entry doors. And we love traditional homes. These belong to our friends and neighbors, the lifeblood of our company and the heart of our business.

But, what if your home is more distinctive, with complex window configurations, arched entry doors, or historic elements that you wish to preserve? In that case, you need a contractor who is a cut above, a team with the knowledge to provide the exact product to meet your needs and the extensive training needed to install these products to exacting factory specifications to ensure your satisfaction and the integrity of the manufacturer’s warranty.

With more than 50 years of experience in the remodeling industry, Evergreen Door & Window has seen more than its share of unique projects: an upper level lakefront condo with “old school” glass that the owner wished to reproduce while meeting current building codes (bearing in mind that the winds off of Lake Michigan can reach the equivalent of hurricane speeds at this height!) – an extraordinary mansion with massive double hung windows with an exceedingly specialized grid pattern requiring approval of a historic preservation team before any contract could be finalized – and the conversion of dual French doors to an oversized triple patio door, allowing the homeowners to expand their entertainment area from the inside out (check out these before and after pics). To meet the exacting standards of these complicated projects, everyone from the sales representative to the ordering manager to the installation crew must be at the top of their game every step of the way. Each member of our team undergoes extensive, ongoing training to maintain our high standards, and yours.

After

So, whether your home falls into the more “traditional” category or is a one of a kind dream come true; Evergreen Door & Window brings their best minds and skills to meet your remodeling needs. You can count on us to be a cut above!

We’ve all seen ads on television, in the newspaper, and in those flyers that constantly show up at our front door or in our mailbox. But, have you ever stopped to read the fine print on these “special offers”? If you have, you probably recognize that once you get past all of exceptions and disclaimers, they aren’t really all that special after all.

For instance, I’m sure you’re familiar with a large local flooring company that advertises something like “buy one room of flooring, get the rest free” and other such “offers”. When we were planning to replace the carpet in our basement, which includes a large family room and a bedroom, with a hallway between, we decided to check out this company. Funny thing is, the offer was only good on very specific products, none of which came close to what we wanted. We went ahead and got a quote for the carpet we wanted, including a thicker pad (because it’s over a concrete floor), plus installation. Then we went to another local flooring company – small, family owned, been around for years. Imagine our surprise, given all the hype, that the total price the smaller company offered was considerable less than the big guys with their “special”. In addition, they were able to deliver and install within our timeframe, rather than making us wait for special order material. Needless to say, we went with the smaller company, and we couldn’t have been happier!

If a contractor is going out of their way to trick you into calling them for a quote, if they are hiding the true facts of their business from their initial contact with you, what makes you think they are going to be honest and up front in any of their dealings with you? Once again, I will refer you to the Better Business Bureau and even the Federal Trade Commission regarding misleading advertising. There are a number of major companies out there that have hundreds of complaints filed against them because they make “offers” that have so many exceptions to them that they are impossible to qualify for.

That isn’t to say that there are not legitimate offers out there. Many contractors do have true discounts, particularly in a tough market. They may offer special pricing on certain products, or free upgrades (such as better glass options), but they are able to do this because they have made a special arrangement with a vendor, and for a limited period of time. They do not have a series of “free” offers that they are constantly advertising. If they offer it all the time, it’s not a special!

You used to see “going out of business” signs on the same business over and over, and they never really went out of business. It was a scam, and the laws were finally changed to put a stop to it. Personally, I think it’s time to crack down on these “special” offers that some companies run all the time. If there are not laws in place now, they need to be enacted. And, if the laws are already there, they need to be enforced. But, the only way that can happen is if you report false claims when you see them. Call your State’s Attorney, report them to the Better Business Bureau, whatever it takes to get action.

In the meantime, “Caveat Emptor” (that’s “let the buyer beware” in Latin, which tells you this problem has been around for a long time!). If an offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is. After all, you get what you pay for, and it’s certainly no deal if you have to jump through hoops to qualify!

Over the past few months, we have concentrated on sharing information that will help you make decisions about potential remodeling projects in your home. Today we want to focus on answering some of the questions we receive from homeowners following a renovation. We hope you will find these answers helpful in deciding if you need to call your contractor with your concerns after they complete a remodeling project. These are in no particular order as far as how often we hear them. For the sake of consistency, we will start at the roof and work our way to the ground.

1. Q: We just had a new asphalt shingle roof installed, and, after the first rain, we noticed a lot of sand or grit on the ground around the gutters. Are my shingles defective? – A: No, there is no material defect or installation error involved in this situation. The grit you may find soon after an asphalt shingle installation is merely excess texturing material that was knocked loose in the course of handling. There is nothing wrong with your shingles, and the roofers did not mishandle your installation.
2. Q: I recently upgraded my old, 4” wide gutters to 5”, and noticed much more noise when it rains. I did not expect this. What causes this? A: Adding an inch (in some applications, even 2”) to the width of your gutter allows more surface area for the rain to contact. Additionally, newer gutters may be made of heavier gauge aluminum, which gives a different sound when struck by raindrops. Therefore, you may notice the sound initially, not because it is necessarily louder, but because it is “different”. You might also notice a different sound if you switch from aluminum to vinyl gutters (or vice versa), or even from seamed to seamless. This is just the nature of the beast. Again, it isn’t a manufacturing or installation defect, and there is really nothing that can be done to correct the situation. You will eventually become accustomed to the new tune your gutters play, and you will certainly be pleased with the results – fewer drips and leaks, less clogging, and reduced maintenance.
3. Q: I have detected moisture on the inside or outside of my new windows. Is this normal? A: Moisture on the inside of your windows is the result of the humidity level in your home. You may not have noticed it before because your old windows were leaky, allowing moisture to escape. The cure for this is to reduce the humidity levels in your home by using a dehumidifier. Many newer heating systems even have built in systems to adjust the humidity. Not only will lowering the humidity level reduce condensation inside your home, it will also help you avoid more serious issues such as mold growth I damp areas. As for moisture on the outside of the glass, this is dew, just like you notice on windshields, lawns, and streets in the morning. On your windows, this occurs when the glass temperature is below the dew point of the air. This happens most often when cool nights follow warm days, and is nothing to be concerned about. One note, however: if you notice moisture between the panes of glass on your windows, you should call your contractor. This is caused by a seal failure (the material that joins the two sheets of glass has developed a leak), and should be addressed by a professional. Many manufacturers warranty against seal failure for a specific period. Check your warranty for details.
4. Q: I have noticed a substantial heat buildup between my new entry and storm doors. What can I do? A: Your new entry and storm doors are probably extremely energy efficient compared to your old ones, meaning the weather-stripping around the doors seals tightly. If your entry is exposed to direct sunlight, this may cause heat to build up between the doors. The simple solution is to install the screen in your storm door, which will allow the excess heat to escape.

We hope this has answered some of your basic questions about your renovation. If you have other specific questions, please contact us, and we will do our best to provide an accurate response.

Rae the Renovator