It's Easy to Be Green

Green Building is not just a catch phrase for us at Cabinetry & Construction. We have always believed that remodeling is inherently greener than building a new house. Moreover, the close-in Richmond neighborhoods in which we work are the opposite of sprawl.

And by incorporating the latest green building products and ecologically responsible construction practices, we are in the unique position of truly ushering the modern era into the historic beauty of the homes in the Richmond area.

Green products include those that may consume less energy during use, those that produce less waste or use recycled products in their manufacture, or those that contribute to a healthier living environment.

Certainly, some options for ecologically responsible construction are more expensive than others, but even small investments can have a great impact on the performance of your home, improve its efficiency, and reduce the lifetime operating cost of your home.

In the spirit of "going green," we'd like to share some information about our environmentally aware repertoire.

Read below for more information on the green innovations we use not only to enhance the aesthetics of your home renovation project, but also to improve its performance.

We welcome your questions and concerns about our green building products and ecologically responsible construction practices. We can tell how they will help improve your home's performance and how they work with historic renovations.

Let us help you help the environment and your pocket book. Give us a call or send us an email today about how you can "go green" by making your home more environmentally efficient.

***

Operating and maintaining a home correctly is the only way to make sure it "lives green," and Cabinetry & Construction can explain the hows and whys of green building and help you decide the aspects that are appropriate for your project -- from helping you choose the right products to advising you on how to ensure everything works the way it is designed. 

Some options for green building products that we like to provide our clients include:

• Energy star rated appliances
• Energy star windows
• WaterSense plumbing fixtures
• Richlite counters
• Concrete countertops utilizing recycled content
• James Hardie siding products
• Whole house ventilation
• Rinnai tankless water heaters
• Slant Fin high efficiency boilers
• NuTone ecoLogic high efficiency HVAC systems
• Cabinetry made with FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified wood
• Upgraded insulation packages
• Marmoleum flooring
• Recycled, natural floor products
• Paperless drywall
• Solar heating
• Geothermal heat pumps
• Low-VOC (volatile organic compound) paints
• Radiant heated floors

You can learn more about these products and our green practices on our website.

Certified Green

  

At CCI, we can help you help the environment and your pocket book.

Rob is certified as a  Certified Green Professional (CGP) through the National Association of Home Builders. This certification identifies builders and remodelers who are committed to making your home green and who are trained to incorporate energy, water and resource efficiency, improved indoor environmental quality and sustainable and locally sourced products into their projects. 

While everyone is interested in protecting the environment by utilizing technologies that are good for the planet, most people don't have the luxury of being able to pay top dollar to do so. The purpose of the CGP training is to help incorporate green building principles into our projects without driving up the costs of construction. CGPs understand that combining good, cost-effective building science with the right products and materials can help create a home that's healthier and more efficient-while being kind to the environment.

Rob has also trained to become a Green Certified Professional through the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI). This certification recognizes and identifies remodelers who apply green or sustainable principles to their remodeling projects.  These principles include indoor air quality, resource conservation, and renewable energy. 

Rob Wright is certified as a Lead-Safe contractor, as required by the US Environmental Protection Agency, for following appropriate practices to prevent lead contamination while performing renovation on structures built before 1978.

Give us a call or send us an email today about how you can "go green" by making your home more environmentally efficient.

National Fix-A-Leak Week

Fix a Leak Week is celebrated in March of each year as a time to remind Americans to check their household fixtures and irrigation systems for leaks.

If you suspect you have a leak and need a plumber, call Cabinetry & Construction. Rob is a licensed plumber and can help you address all of your plumbing needs.

The Facts on Leaks:

• The amount of water leaked from U.S. homes could exceed more than 1 trillion gallons per year. That's equivalent to the annual water use of Los Angeles, Chicago, and Miami combined.
• Ten percent of homes have leaks that waste 90 gallons or more per day.
• Common types of leaks found in the home include leaking toilet flappers, dripping faucets, and other leaking valves. All are easily correctable.
• Fixing easily corrected household water leaks can save homeowners more than 10 percent on their water bills.
• Keep your home leak-free by repairing dripping faucets, toilet valves, and showerheads. In most cases, fixture replacement parts don't require a major investment and can be installed by do-it-yourselfers.
• The vast majority of leaks can be eliminated after retrofitting a household with new WaterSense labeled fixtures and other high-efficiency appliances.

Leak Detection:

• A good method to check for leaks is to examine your winter water usage. It's likely that a family of four has a serious leak problem if its winter water use exceeds 12,000 gallons per month.
• Check your water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is being used. If the meter does not read exactly the same, you probably have a leak.
• One way to find out if you have a toilet leak is to place a drop of food coloring in the toilet tank. If the color shows up in the bowl within 15 minutes without flushing, you have a leak. Make sure to flush immediately after this experiment to avoid staining the tank.

Faucets and Showerheads:

• A leaky faucet that drips at the rate of one drip per second can waste more than 3,000 gallons per year. A home with WaterSense labeled toilets could use that water to flush for six months!
• Leaky faucets can be reduced by checking faucet washers and gaskets for wear and replacing them if necessary. 
• A showerhead leaking at 10 drips per minute wastes more than 500 gallons per year. That's enough water to wash 60 loads of dishes in your dishwasher.

Toilets:

• If your toilet is running constantly, you could be wasting 200 gallons of water or more every day.
• If your toilet is leaking, the cause is most often an old, faulty toilet flapper. Over time, this inexpensive rubber part decays, or minerals build up on it. 
• If you do need to replace the entire toilet, look for a WaterSense labeled model. If a family of four replaces its older, inefficient toilets with new WaterSense labeled ones, it could save more than 16,000 gallons per year. Retrofitting the house could save the family approximately $2,000 in water and wastewater bills over the lifetime of the toilets.

Outdoors:

• An irrigation system should be checked each spring before use to make sure it was not damaged by frost or freezing.
• An irrigation system with pressure set at 60 pounds per square inch that has a leak 1/32nd of an inch in diameter (about the thickness of a dime) can waste about 6,300 gallons of water per month.
• Check your garden hose for leaks at its connection to the spigot. If it leaks while you run your hose, replace the nylon or rubber hose washer and ensure a tight connection to the spigot using pipe tape and a wrench. 

Get more information on how to detect and repair leaks at: www.epa.gov/watersense

Is It Time to Repair or Replace Your HVAC?

According to Energy Star, certain telltale signs indicate it's time to consider replacing heating and cooling equipment, or improving the performance of your overall system. It may be time to call a professional contractor to help you make a change if:

Your heat pump or air conditioner is more than 10 years old.

Consider replacing it with a unit that has earned the ENERGY STAR label. Installed correctly, these high-efficiency units can save up to 20 percent on heating and cooling costs.

Your furnace or boiler is more than 15 years old.

Consider replacing with an ENERGY STAR qualified furnace, which is 15% more efficient than a conventional furnace. If you have a boiler, consider replacing with an ENERGY STAR qualified boiler that is 5% more efficient than a new, standard model.

Your equipment needs frequent repairs and your energy bills are going up.

Your cooling or heating equipment my have become less efficient.

Some rooms in your home are too hot or too cold.

Improper equipment operation, duct problems or inadequate insulation could be the cause.

No one is home for long periods of the day and you do not have a programmable thermostat.

Install a programmable thermostat or have a good contractor install one and instruct you on its use - to start saving energy and money while they're away or sleeping.

Your home has humidity problems.

Poor equipment operation, inadequate equipment, and leaky ductwork can cause the air to be too dry in the winter or too humid in the summer.

Your home has excessive dust.

Leaky ducts can pull particles and air from attics, crawl spaces and basements and distribute them throughout your house. Sealing your ducts may be a solution.

Your heating or cooling system is noisy.

You could have an undersized duct system or a problem with the indoor coil of your cooling equipment.

Your score on the Home Energy Yardstick is below five.

That means your energy use at home is above average and you're probably paying more than you need to on energy bills.

Green Heating Products We Love

Green products include those that use less energy, produce less waste, contain recycled materials, or contribute to a healthier environment. At CCI, we are committed to using these products whenever we can. We are proud to offer and install Slant/Fin high efficiency boilers. Slant/Fin makes its boilers, providing heating for water-based (as opposed to forced-air) home heating, here in the USA. Cabinetry & Construction is the only Slant/Fin Certified Hydro-Master in Central Virginia. Rinnai as certified CCI as a dealer and installer of Rinnai tankless water heaters. Conventional water tanks store hot water, heating and re-heating, and constantly losing energy up the vent and through the walls of the tank. Tankless water heaters run only when you use hot water, shutting off immediately when done, saving energy. NuTone has certified us as a dealer and installer of their heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning products. The NuTone ecoLogic product line includes split-system air conditioners, heat pumps, furnaces, self-contained air conditioners, and dual-fuel units. With NuTone products you can find total home comfort with accessories such as humidifiers, electronic air cleaners and filters, and ultraviolet lights. NuTone also makes control accessories, zoning products and programmable thermostats. See www.nutonehvac.com for more information about their product line, including the highest efficiency heat pump on the market, the NuTone iQ drive.

Are You Ready for Fall?

Now that we've celebrated Labor Day, it is time to start preparing for Fall. That includes getting your home prepared for cooler temperatures. 

If your HVAC (heating and air conditioning) system is at least 6 months old, schedule a tune up to ensure maximum efficiency for year-round savings. If your system is over 10 years old, you should consider an upgrade.

The benefits of either a tune-up or an upgrade include 

• lowering your energy bill, 
• increasing your home's energy efficiency, and 
• improving your comfort.  

As a licensed HVAC contractor, CCI is able to offer you several options to take advantage of this optimal time to invest in a quality heating and cooling system.

It is also time to be thinking about the house projects you want to finish before the hustle and bustle of the holiday season.

If there is a project that you are hoping to complete this year, now is the time to begin! As a design/build contractor, I will meet with you personally to provide a proposal and help you bring your vision to life.

Because we design and build, you can rest easy, knowing that the project plans and budget will be consistent with the final result and you will have a singular point of contact keeping you in the loop as things move along. Our complete, design/build custom contracting services focus on bathroom and kitchen remodeling; additions and whole house renovations; and historic restoration projects. 

CCI is the premier remodeling company for the distinct needs of home renovation projects in Richmond. Give us a call or send us an email today and we can provide a free estimate on the project that interests you.

May is National Remodeling Month

Spring is the time of year when many Americans make plans to remodel their homes. Increasing home value, completing needed maintenance, and improving energy-efficiency are just some of the reasons to remodel now.

May is National Home Remodeling Month, and the NAHB Remodelers reminds you to only trust your dreams for your home to a qualified professional remodeler.

A home is a big investment, so take the time to do the research. Working with the right remodeler can take a lot of the stress out of improving your home.

CCI is the premier remodeling company for the distinct needs of home renovation projects in Richmond. Give us a call or send us an email today and we can provide a free estimate on the project that interests you. 

Learn More about Ecologically Responsible Construction

Green Building is not just a catch phrase for us at Cabinetry & Construction. We have always believed that remodeling is inherently greener than building a new house. Moreover, the close-in Richmond neighborhoods in which we work are the opposite of sprawl.

And by incorporating the latest green building products and ecologically responsible construction practices, we are in the unique position of truly ushering the modern era into the historic beauty of the homes in the Richmond area.

Green products include those that may consume less energy during use, those that produce less waste or use recycled products in their manufacture, or those that contribute to a healthier living environment. Certainly, some options for ecologically responsible construction are more expensive than others, but even small investments can have a great impact on the performance of your home, improve its efficiency, and reduce the lifetime operating cost of your home.

We'd like to share some information about our environmentally aware repertoire. Read below for more information on the green innovations we use not only to enhance the aesthetics of your home renovation project, but also to improve its performance.

We welcome your questions and concerns about our green building products and ecologically responsible construction practices. We can tell how they will help improve your home's performance and how they work with historic renovations. 

Let us help you help the environment and your pocket book. Give us a call or send us an email today about how you can "go green" by making your home more environmentally efficient.

***** 

How You Can Go Green

Operating and maintaining a home correctly is the only way to make sure it "lives green," and Cabinetry & Construction can explain the hows and whys of green building and help you decide the aspects that are appropriate for your project -- from helping you choose the right products to advising you on how to ensure everything works the way it is designed.


Some options for green building products that we like to provide our clients include:             

• Energy star rated appliances
• Energy star windows
• WaterSense plumbing fixtures
• Richlite counters
• Concrete countertops utilizing recycled content
• James Hardie siding products
• Whole house ventilation
• Rinnai tankless water heaters
• Slant Fin high efficiency boilers
• NuTone ecoLogic high efficiency HVAC systems
• Cabinetry made with FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified wood
• Upgraded insulation packages
• Marmoleum flooring
• Recycled, natural floor products
• Paperless drywall
• Solar heating
• Geothermal heat pumps
• Low-VOC (volatile organic compound) paints
• Radiant heated floors

You can learn more about these products and our green practices on our website:
www.cabinetry-construction.com

Fix a Leak Week: March 17-23

Fix a Leak Week is celebrated in March of each year as a time to remind Americans to check their household fixtures and irrigation systems for leaks. 

If you suspect you have a leak and need a plumber, call Cabinetry & Construction. Rob is a licensed plumber and can help you address all of your plumbing needs.

The Facts on Leaks:

• The amount of water leaked from U.S. homes could exceed more than 1 trillion gallons per year. That's equivalent to the annual water use of Los Angeles, Chicago, and Miami combined.
• Ten percent of homes have leaks that waste 90 gallons or more per day.
• Common types of leaks found in the home include leaking toilet flappers, dripping faucets, and other leaking valves. All are easily correctable.
• Fixing easily corrected household water leaks can save homeowners more than 10 percent on their water bills.
• Keep your home leak-free by repairing dripping faucets, toilet valves, and showerheads. In most cases, fixture replacement parts don't require a major investment and can be installed by do-it-yourselfers.
• The vast majority of leaks can be eliminated after retrofitting a household with new WaterSense labeled fixtures and other high-efficiency appliances.

Leak Detection:

• A good method to check for leaks is to examine your winter water usage. It's likely that a family of four has a serious leak problem if its winter water use exceeds 12,000 gallons per month.
• Check your water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is being used. If the meter does not read exactly the same, you probably have a leak.
• One way to find out if you have a toilet leak is to place a drop of food coloring in the toilet tank. If the color shows up in the bowl within 15 minutes without flushing, you have a leak. Make sure to flush immediately after this experiment to avoid staining the tank.

Faucets and Showerheads:

• A leaky faucet that drips at the rate of one drip per second can waste more than 3,000 gallons per year. A home with WaterSense labeled toilets could use that water to flush for six months!
• Leaky faucets can be reduced by checking faucet washers and gaskets for wear and replacing them if necessary.
• A showerhead leaking at 10 drips per minute wastes more than 500 gallons per year. That's enough water to wash 60 loads of dishes in your dishwasher.

Toilets:

• If your toilet is running constantly, you could be wasting 200 gallons of water or more every day.
• If your toilet is leaking, the cause is most often an old, faulty toilet flapper. Over time, this inexpensive rubber part decays, or minerals build up on it.
• If you do need to replace the entire toilet, look for a WaterSense labeled model. If a family of four replaces its older, inefficient toilets with new WaterSense labeled ones, it could save more than 16,000 gallons per year. Retrofitting the house could save the family approximately $2,000 in water and wastewater bills over the lifetime of the toilets.

Outdoors:

• An irrigation system should be checked each spring before use to make sure it was not damaged by frost or freezing.
• An irrigation system with pressure set at 60 pounds per square inch that has a leak 1/32nd of an inch in diameter (about the thickness of a dime) can waste about 6,300 gallons of water per month.
• Check your garden hose for leaks at its connection to the spigot. If it leaks while you run your hose, replace the nylon or rubber hose washer and ensure a tight connection to the spigot using pipe tape and a wrench.

Get more information on how to detect and repair leaks at: www.epa.gov/watersense

How You Can Go Green at Home

Green Building is not just a catch phrase for us at Cabinetry & Construction. We have always believed that remodeling is inherently greener than building a new house. Moreover, the close-in Richmond neighborhoods in which we work are the opposite of sprawl.

And by incorporating the latest green building products and ecologically responsible construction practices, we are in the unique position of truly ushering the modern era into the historic beauty of the homes in the Richmond area.

Green products include those that may consume less energy during use, those that produce less waste or use recycled products in their manufacture, or those that contribute to a healthier living environment. Certainly, some options for ecologically responsible construction are more expensive than others, but even small investments can have a great impact on the performance of your home, improve its efficiency, and reduce the lifetime operating cost of your home.

In the spirit of "going green," we'd like to share some information about our environmentally aware repertoire.

Operating and maintaining a home correctly is the only way to make sure it "lives green," and Cabinetry & Construction can explain the hows and whys of green building and help you decide the aspects that are appropriate for your project -- from helping you choose the right products to advising you on how to ensure everything works the way it is designed.

Some options for green building products that we like to provide our clients include:             

• Energy star rated appliances
• Energy star windows
• WaterSense plumbing fixtures
• Richlite counters
• Concrete countertops utilizing recycled content
• James Hardie siding products
• Whole house ventilation
• Rinnai tankless water heaters
• Slant Fin high efficiency boilers
• NuTone ecoLogic high efficiency HVAC systems
• Cabinetry made with FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified wood
• Upgraded insulation packages
• Marmoleum flooring
• Recycled, natural floor products
• Paperless drywall
• Solar heating
• Geothermal heat pumps
• Low-VOC (volatile organic compound) paints
• Radiant heated floors

We welcome your questions and concerns about our green building products and ecologically responsible construction practices. We can tell how they will help improve your home's performance and how they work with historic renovations. 
 
Let us help you help the environment and your pocket book. Give us a call or send us an email today about you can "go green" by making your home more environmentally efficient.
How You Can Go Green

You can learn more about these products and our green practices on our website:
www.cabinetry-construction.com

Partner Profile: Slant/Fin

Founded in 1949 in the back of a bakery in Coney Island, NY, Slant/Fin is the largest U.S. manufacturer of baseboard heating equipment. They also manufacturer gas and oil boilers. 

CCI is proud to offer and install Slant/Fin high efficiency boilers. Slant/Fin boilers, providing heating for water-based (as opposed to forced-air) home heating systems, are made in the USA. CCI is the only Slant/Fin Certified Hydro-Master in Central Virginia.

If you have been considering upgrading or converting your heating system, now is the perfect time to take advantage of the tax credits made available for energy-efficient heat to your home. These tax credits are only valid for systems installed through December 2013. (You can read more on these tax credits here.)

The benefits of an upgrade include:

• lowering your energy bill,
• increasing your home's energy efficiency, and
• improving your comfort.

As a licensed HVAC contractor, CCI is able to offer you several options to take advantage of this optimal time to invest in a quality heating and cooling system.

Make Sure You're Ready for Winter

Winter has arrived in Richmond, and the time has come to make your home is ready. Here are some items to check on to make sure your house is prepared for the change in weather.

Inspect Your Home's Exterior
Walk around your home and visually inspect the exterior. You'll want to replace any missing roof tiles or fix any other damage. When checking your gutters and drains, you'll want to be sure these are free of leaves and other materials that might cause a clog as leaves and tree debris may have fallen into your gutters during autumn.

Examine Your Foundation
Inspect your property's foundation. Check for any holes where pests may be hiding as even very small holes can allow a tiny mouse to get inside. While performing this inspection, clear away any dead or dying vegetation from your foundation.

Check for Drafts
Check each of your home's windows and doors looking for any gaps that create drafts, as these will reduce your home's energy efficiency causing you to pay more each month for heating. You can use sealants, such as caulk and weather-stripping, to stop the drafts.
 
Service or Replace Your Heating System
By now you've probably turned on your heat to combat the wintry temperatures outside. You'll want to change your filters and have your heating system serviced to ensure it is operating efficiently. You'll also want to have your boiler serviced, which should be done once a year, to minimize the chance of a breakdown when you most need it.

If your system is over 10 years old, you should consider an upgrade. Now is the perfect time to take advantage of the tax credits made available for energy-efficient heat and cooling upgrades to your home. These tax credits are only valid for systems installed through December 2013. (You can read a description of these tax credits on the Energy Star website.)

If you have an outside air conditioner, you'll also want to winterize it by removing debris and dirt and covering it to protect it from collecting dead leaves. If you have a window unit, remove it and clean it before storing it for the winter months.
 
Insulate your attic and pipes
As you know, heat rises. This winter you'll want to make sure it doesn't escape from the top of your house by ensuring that your attic is insulated adequately. If your attic hasn't been insulated in a while, check the thickness of your insulation and replace or top it off if needed.

It's also important to insulate your water pipes to protect them from freezing in winter, ensuring you don't cut off your water supply and preventing pipes from bursting and damaging your home. Pipe insulation is easy to install and repair, especially for any pipes that are exposed. But even a water pipe that is close to an external wall can freeze in cold weather, so it may be sensible to check all of your pipes and insulate them.

Prepare Your Fireplace
These rainy, wintry days are great for a fire. Be sure the fireplace damper mechanism is working properly. If your fireplace has not been cleaned recently, hire cleaners to remove old soot in the chimney. Make sure the fireplace damper mechanism is working properly.

Clear Your Yard and Outdoor Living Spaces
Even though you won't spend much time outdoors this winter, you want to make sure your yard is prepared for the cold months too. Put away hoses, gardening tools, outdoor furniture and barbecues. If you notice that any trees are touching your house, trim them back to protect your property from breaking branches during windy storms. Also be sure to clear leaves from your patio and deck as they will become slimy and slippery as they disintegrate during the winter.  

CCI is the premier remodeling company for the distinct needs of home renovation projects in Richmond. We are a Class A licensed contractor for the complete renovation project, including plumbing, HVAC, and gas fitting, as well as building. Give us a call or send us an email today and we can provide a free estimate on the project that interests you.

Upgrade Your Heating and Air Conditioning

This summer we saw heat waves with the heat index registering over 100 degrees, as well as fall-like conditions.  Who knows what the weather will have in store for the Richmond area over the next few weeks and months.   

If your HVAC system is at least 6 months old, schedule a tune up to ensure maximum efficiency for year-round savings.

If your system is over 10 years old, you should consider an upgrade. Now is the perfect time to take advantage of the tax credits made available for energy-efficient heat and and cooling upgrades to your home. These tax credits are only valid for systems installed through December 2013. (You can read a description of these tax credits as described by the Air-Conditioning, Heating, & Refrigeration Institute here.)

The benefits of either a tune-up or an upgrade include:

• lowering your energy bill,
• increasing your home's energy efficiency, and
• improving your comfort.

As a licensed HVAC contractor, CCI is able to offer you several options to take advantage of this optimal time to invest in a quality heating and cooling system.

What bang for your buck can you expect on your home remodeling project?

For the first time in six years, the national overall average cost-value ratio for home improvement projects has increased, reaching 60.6% according to the Remodeling 2013 Cost vs. Value Report (www.costvsvalue.com). 

This means that homeowners are now expected to recoup over 60% of the cost of home improvement projects when they sell their home.

What is really nice about this study is that you can drill down to specific housing markets. When looking specifically at the Richmond region among the types of projects that CCI specializes in, the top cost-value projects are:

Basement Remodel - 81.1% cost-value in RVA
Want to finish the lower level of your house to create an entertaining area, home office, or bedroom suite? Click here to see an example of CCI's work in this area with our award-winning 2009 retro-modern basement remodel.
 
Kitchen Remodel - 77.8% (minor), 72.8% (major)
Thinking of renovating your kitchen? Whether you have a home simply in need of some updating, or if you live in a historic home and need to bring your kitchen into the modern era, we have the expertise to get it done. We can help you design a renovation that will keep the integrity of your historic home, while adding the high performance features and the latest green technologies to make your home more efficient. Check out our gallery of kitchen remodels on our website.

Attic Bedroom - 76.2%
Need an additional bedroom in your home? Convert unfinished attic space into a bedroom suite. Since I am a design/build contractor, you can show me what you want, and I will make recommendations that fit into your budget and will work effectively with the existing structure. Finished attics also make great home offices and playrooms.

Bathroom Remodel - 69.1%
CCI can provide complete full bathroom renovations, from the planning and design phase to laying the final tile in place. We are a Class A licensed contractor for the complete renovation project, including plumbing, HVAC, and gas fitting, as well as building. Click here to see our gallery of bathroom remodel projects.
 
Two-Story Addition - 68.0%
CCI has the capabilities to construct an addition for your home or help you execute a full house renovation. You'll see that we can design the project for seamless integration of old and new, and plan the project to exceed your expectations and meet your budget. You can see a gallery of our additions on our website.

CCI is the premier remodeling company for the distinct needs of home renovation projects in Richmond. Give us a call at (804) 497-3491 or send us an email today and we can provide a free estimate on the project that interests you.

Not Just Remodeling -- Think of us for Home Care & Repair

Over the years, many of you have called on us for minor home repairs, but we've never formally announced this aspect of our business. We have now officially launched our Home Care & Repair Division. We want to be your one-stop shop for repairs, maintenance, or improvements to your home.

You know Rob and Cabinetry & Construction as people you've entrusted with working on your home. Chances are you chose us to create a luxurious master suite, a gourmet kitchen, or a seamless addition, but we offer services beyond large-scope remodeling.

In fact, in these uncertain economic times, a major remodeling job may be the furthest thing from your mind. But, one thing is certain: you need to maintain the investment you've made in your home, and you need a company you can rely upon to help you to do so. Cabinetry & Construction, Inc., is licensed and insured, unlike many who advertise themselves as handymen. Besides being a Class A remodeling contractor, CCI holds licenses in the plumbing, gas fitting, and HVAC trades. So, if you need a repair, whether it be carpentry or installing a new water heater or A/C, CCI's Home Care and Repair Division has the skills and credentials to do the job right.

Autumn Home Maintenance

It's hard to believe it's already September. While it is hot and humid now, soon it will be Fall, which is the prime time to assess your home to determine if there are any maintenance needs before the onset of winter. Proper maintenance is the key to protect the investment you've made in your home.

In August or September, for example, we recommend you use a vacuum with a narrow nozzle to clean condenser coils on the back of or underneath your refrigerator. This is also a good time to check faucets for leaks and replace washers or make repairs. Finally, clean under your range hood and clean or replace the filter. We can help you with all of these chores.

Upgrade Your Heating and Air Conditioning

The heat of summer is here, and with it come the additional stresses upon your air conditioning equipment that translate into additional stresses on your pocketbook. Now is the perfect time to take advantage of the new tax credits made available for heating and cooling upgrades to your home. As a licensed HVAC contractor, we are able to offer you several options to take advantage of this optimal time to invest in a quality heating and cooling system.






Robert Wright, CR, CGBP, CAPS
804-497-3491

Our Greenest Option

If you are interested in a system with the the highest possible efficiency, we offer WaterFurnace geothermal heat pumps. Geothermal heat pumps use the consistent temperature of the earth rather than the ambient air temperature to heat and cool your home. The tax credit for a geothermal heat pump is 30% of the total cost, without a cap of $1,500. Please call us if you would like more information.

Tax Credits & You

The recently passed American Reinvestment and Recovery Act allows homeowners to claim tax credits for new high efficiency heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems. You can claim a tax credit of up to thirty percent of the cost to install a new system, not to exceed $1,500. We carry Amana and Goodman HVAC systems, which use 410-A refrigerant, which is chlorine-free and environmentally friendly. If you already have central air in your home, replacing your existing system typically takes two days. You'll be able to reap the benefits of an air conditioning system that is more economical to run this summer AND get a tax credit. There's never been a better time to upgrade your HVAC system than now.

Green Remodeling

As you may know, Rob is certified as a Certified Green Building Professional (GCBP) through the National Association of Home Builders. According to the NAHB, the "designation recognizes builders, remodelers and other industry professionals who incorporate green building principles into homes- without driving up the cost of construction."

We have decided to continue our commitment to environmental best practices by utilizing email for the majority of communications with clients and friends.

In the spirit of "going green," we'd also like to share some information about our environmentally aware repertoire:

• We are certified dealers and installers of Rinnai tankless water heaters. Conventional water tanks heat and store hot water around the clock, heating and re-heating water, and constantly losing energy up the vent and through the walls of the tank. A tankless water heater comes on only when hot water is used, and shuts off immediately when done, saving energy. All Rinnai tankless units are either LP or natural gas fired.
• We are certified dealers and installers of WaterFurnace geothermal heat systems. WaterFurnace is a natural heat pump system that taps in to the consistent underground temperature of the earth. WaterFurnace products are environmentally friendly, efficient systems that can reduce heating, cooling, and hot water costs by up to seventy percent. One of the best ways to get value for your home improvement project is to select products that have low usage costs.

Other "green" products we recommend include:

• Energy star rated appliances
• Energy star rated windows
• Watersense rated plumbing fixtures
• Upgraded insulation packages
• Richlite counters
• Marmoleum flooring
• Concrete counters
• Recycled, natural floor products
• James Hardie siding products
• Paperless drywall
• Whole house ventilation
• Solar heating
• Cabinetry made with FSC wood
• Low-VOC (volatile organic compound) paints

As you may be aware, Governor Kaine is proposing tax credits for those who install green energy systems such as solar heating and geothermal heating. Let us help you help the environment and your pocket book: give us a call today about making your home more environmentally efficient.