The National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) named Renewal Design-Build a 2012 Southeast Regional Contractor of the Year (CotY) in two residential kitchen and bath categories of its annual awards competition.

Contractors from seven regions around the country vie for CotY Awards on an annual basis, and all regional winners will now be eligible for the National CotY Awards. National winners will be announced at NARI’s Evening of Excellence^SM on Saturday, April 21, 2012 at the Gaylord Texan Hotel and Conference Center, located in Grapevine (Dallas), Texas.

About NARI: The National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) is the only trade association dedicated solely to the remodeling industry.  The Association, which represents member companies nationwide—comprised of 63,000 remodeling contractors— is “The Voice of the Remodeling Industry.”™

View the award-winning kitchen and bath.

Although you can certainly use savings or short-term credit, there may be other ways to fund your kitchen remodel, addition, or master suite.

Cash-out refinancing – If your interest rate is higher than the current rate, consider refinancing. With an appraisal of your home’s existing value, you have the option to cash out your equity and enjoy the benefits of a lower interest rate.

Construction loans – If you plan to add significant square footage or make major changes to your home, a construction loan could be the solution. This loan takes into account your home’s After Repair Value (ARV), determined by a home appraisal based on your project’s construction drawings. The loan is then applied to your current mortgage.

Home equity loans – If refinancing isn’t an option, a home equity loan is comparable to a second mortgage. You can use your home’s current equity to make improvements, and you receive the entire borrowed sum upfront. Continue reading

It’s an all too common story. You found the perfect home in the perfect location, but it’s lacking that modern kitchen you’ve always wanted or that extra bathroom your family desperately needs. Some helpful tips for purchasing and renovating your next home:

Know Your Budget -First, look at your monthly budget. Make sure you can afford the home, including property taxes and homeowner’s insurance. Next, start thinking about how you would finance any renovations. Do you have the cash to fund your kitchen remodel? Or, will you have to finance your project? This could affect your monthly budget drastically.

Timing is Everything – When submitting your offer, request a long due diligence period – the timeframe given to you to evaluate your future asset. During due diligence, you’ll want to: get the home inspected, consider renovation changes, obtain estimates, and get bank approval on all loans. A good time span is 60 days, and for very extensive renovations, you may want to ask for 90 days.

Choose Your Team – As you’re looking at homes, have your team in place. This might include: an architect, a licensed general contractor, a design-build firm, mortgage loan officer, and of course, your realtor. The earlier your trusted team is at hand, the easier the process will be. Continue reading

High energy bills got you down? Many homeowners think that adding more insulation or upgrading to high efficiency windows will shrink their energy usage. Actually, home performance is much more complicated. It’s a science, and just like people, each house has its own DNA. So, before you dive into your ductwork, consider taking a whole-house approach to energy efficiency.

A holistic approach to your home means identifying and correcting problems, rather than just treating the symptoms. It ensures you’re making the right improvements toward better comfort, air quality, and energy efficiency.

The most important step is determining where your home is losing energy – and your dollars – by getting it tested. A comprehensive home assessment administered through Georgia Power’s Home Energy Improvement Program is a day-long set of evaluations, diagnostics and safety testing that identifies problem areas in your home using state-of-the-art equipment. The test pinpoints exactly where your home is leaking energy – saving you time and money. Continue reading

The National Association of the Remodeling Industry’s Atlanta Chapter recently hosted its 19^th annual Gala Awards, and Renewal took home a CotY (Contractor of the Year) award – our third in three years!  View the project here.

What is NARI? The National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) is the only national association designed, organized and dedicated specifically for service to professional remodelers. The Atlanta Chapter has over 350 members. Every year, contractors from all over Atlanta vie for CotY Awards. An impartial panel judges entries based on problem solving, functionality, aesthetics, craftsmanship, innovation, degree of difficulty, and entry presentation.

Choosing the right materials for your new kitchen can be stressful, and perhaps, one of the biggest decisions made is the choice of countertop. You’re probably already familiar with the traditional granite, but if you’re looking for an alternative to this popular material, consider:

Other Forms of Natural Stone – Other stone options do exist (marble, soapstone, limestone), and all can give your kitchen a luxurious and organic feel. Most stone is heat resistant; however, it can be susceptible to stains and scratches and may need to be sealed every year, depending on use. And, because each piece is different, there is a large price variation.

Concrete – Concrete is a unique alternative; however, direct heat is not recommended. Concrete may also age and weather over time, so tiny cracks may develop and corners can chip, giving it a rougher edge.

Quartz – Quartz is a very popular countertop choice. Extremely durable, it won’t scratch or scorch. Unlike granite, the quartz countertop has a very uniform color and design (no significant variations with each piece), nor does it require sealing. Certified as a green building material, it also contains antimicrobial properties. Cost is comparable to a mid-range marble and granite material. The most popular brands are Silestone, Cambria and CaesarStone. Continue reading

If you’re thinking about remodeling in 2012 – maybe you have a baby on the way or a family member is coming to live with you – don’t wait to start your project. The remodeling process starts long before any work is performed on your home. Depending on your project, it can take two to four months to fully prepare the design and plans and to choose selections like countertops, cabinetry, and fixtures.

If you have a project in mind for 2012, now is the time to get started. Your project is also guaranteed to be done on time with our Guaranteed Renovation.

Renewal Design-Build has just won two Professional Remodeler Design awards in the Additions and Historic Renovation categories. In this annual awards program, entries are judged on criteria including construction quality, creativity, design, problem solving, effective space planning and functionality.

The Professional Remodeler Design Awards recognize the nation’s best remodeling projects in more than 20 categories.

See the award-winning project here.

Kitchen and Bath Design Trends
Thursday, October 6, 6:30 pm, Buckhead Library

If you’re thinking of remodeling your kitchen or bathroom, this is your chance to learn about kitchen and bath design basics, product selections, all the latest trends, and return on investment.

Renovation Solutions for a Lifetime
Wednesday, November 2, 6:30 pm, Buckhead Library
Learn how to make your home accessible for life.

Will you or a family member be living in your home long-term or throughout retirement? Adapt your home to meet the immediate and long-term needs of your active lifestyle and maintain your independence comfortably, without sacrificing modern style and design.

Both seminars will be held at the Buckhead Library, 269 Buckhead Avenue NE.

***RSVP online, or call 404.378.6962.***

When most homeowners think of improving their homes, they consider remodeling their kitchen, a bathroom, or perhaps adding an extra bedroom. But, replacing old windows and doors is one of the best upgrades you can do for your home. For example – “entry door replacements, which typically cost $1,000-$10,000, can recoup anywhere from 63 percent to 135 percent of the cost upon resale. Window replacement, which typically costs $450 to $2,000 per window, can recoup 73 percent to 77 percent of the cost when sold.” (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

This kind of home improvement can also lower your energy bills, and qualify you for tax credits if you replace standard windows and doors with Energy Star ones by December 31st.

For more information on window and door replacement, continue reading.

If you’re struggling to keep cool and can’t even look at your power bill, you know why it’s important to have an energy efficient home. And, now is the time to do something about it!

The first step is a whole-house assessment to thoroughly evaluate your home and pinpoint problems like energy loss and safety hazards. Your home’s results are then compiled, along with a diagnosis and cost-effective improvement plan following the standards of the Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® Program. Improvements can include replacing HVAC units, sealing ductwork, adding insulation, or replacing windows. There are numerous ways to improve the comfort level of your home and lower your energy bills.

And, with the number of tax incentives and rebates for energy efficiency improvements, some homeowners have gotten back as much as 50% of their improvement costs!

For more information on home performance and rebates (including those available to Georgia Power customers, City of Decatur homeowners and City of Atlanta homeowners), visit RenewalSystemSolutions.com.

Atlanta, GA, July 2011 – Renewal System Solutions, sister company of Renewal Design-Build, is partnering with Southface Energy Institute and Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) to help homeowners achieve significant energy savings through home efficiency improvements.  As part of a nationwide study, Southface and ORNL are developing extensive retrofit case studies on 10 metro Atlanta homes. Renewal was chosen to make the energy efficiency improvements to 6 of these homes, 5 of which are owned by Agnes Scott College.

The goal of these retrofits is a 30 to 50 percent increase in energy savings. Buildings currently consume 40 percent of the nation’s total primary energy and are responsible for half of all greenhouses gases emitted by the U.S.

“We are excited to work with Renewal System Solutions on this important project,” says Dr. Roderick Jackson, buildings researcher in the ORNL’s Buildings Technologies Research and Integration Center. Continue reading.

If new wood flooring is part of your renovation, consider:

Sustainability: Cork and bamboo are considered eco-friendly, because they are very renewable. Both materials grow fast and are readily available. If you’re considering hardwood floors, the best eco-friendly option is to find salvaged material that can be reused. Finding good quality salvaged material can be expensive, but the most eco-friendly product is always one that is high quality and made to last as long as possible without the need for refinishing. A sturdy, heavy wood floor properly sealed and installed on a solid foundation, whether it is wood, cork or bamboo, is always the best option.

Comfort: Generally, cork is the best wood material for greater comfort under foot. It has a softer feel that is less taxing on the back.

Options: Bamboo is typically available pre-stained and finished; however, this minimizes the number of  finish/style options. Hardwood is the most readily available unfinished, so you can develop a custom stain or paint to your liking. A huge variety of wood types and plank sizes are available as well. Overall, cork and bamboo have fewer options.

Style: Cork can have a retro vibe and is often a great solution for basement spaces. Bamboo is often seen in more modern spaces; it’s not commonly used in homes built before the 1950s. Hardwood floors typically fit in anywhere, unless you are considering below grade. If you wish to put hardwoods below grade, significant investment needs to made at the subfloor, or consider an engineered hardwood product.

In bathroom remodels, subway tile and glass mosaics continue to be popular choices among homeowners. But there are many new options now available – specifically, those that include texture and unusual shapes. The Barbara Barry Collection from Ann Sacks has a modern flair but with universal appeal.

Hand crafted materials, like Heath ceramic tiles, are also becoming popular. These pieces show subtle variation from tile to tile, giving your project a warm, personal look. Tiles can even be made to order, meaning you can choose the exact color, shape and finish.

Finally, there are new natural stone options available. Travertine tiles from Walker Zanger provide a solution for homeowners looking for natural beauty with a modern, contemporary feel.

You approved the design, signed the contract, and are about to break ground on your highly anticipated remodeling project. But before the demo crew arrives, make sure to:

1. Discuss the entire process with your family. Construction can be stressful, so it’s important to have all lines of communication open.

2. Create a list of questions for your contractor before breaking ground. For example, will your parking situation change? When will daily work begin and end? What is the estimated project timeline?

3. Remove valuable items like paintings, wall decorations, rugs, and furniture. Take hanging objects outside of the work zone, as vibrations from construction can carry throughout your home.

4. If you are doing a kitchen remodel, set up a temporary one with your coffeepot, microwave, refrigerator, and hot plate. Your contractor may even do this for you.

5. Dust is always a problem during construction, so make sure your contractor will be using vacuums, room dividers, and floor protectors as much as possible.

3d rendering by Renewal

If you’re like a lot of homeowners, you may have a hard time imagining a new remodeled space by just looking at typical plans and drawings.

There is a better way! Cutting edge design software programs now enable you to see your future home renovation in photo-realistic 3D and color. These programs enable designers to present detailed perspective drawings that are easily understood and can be seen from every angle. You can even view a virtual walking tour of your new space! By seeing your future kitchen, bathroom, or entire addition before construction even begins, you and your designer can find the best solutions that fit your lifestyle and budget.

If you’re thinking of renovating or building a deck or porch, one of the most important things to consider is flooring. And, there are a multitude of options to choose from:

Pressure Treated Wood is typically low-cost and can be re-finished. However, watch out for splintering, warping, and splitting. This wood does require regular maintenance.

Cedar has a natural look and feel some homeowners love. It’s also resistant to rot, bugs and can be refinished like pressure treated wood; however, it does cost more and requires the same amount of maintenance.

Composite decks are made with 50% sawdust and 50% plastic. Many homeowners enjoy their low-maintenance and “green” qualities. But, they’re prone to fading, staining and tend to get hot.

PVC/Vinyl decking has many of the same positive characteristics as composite – it’s low-maintenance and “green” – and it’s also stain and scratch resistant. Some homeowners may not like its plastic look and feel, as well as the higher cost.

The next time you’re considering stone for a patio, a walkway, or even a driveway, consider concrete. A much less expensive option, stamping and staining concrete can look like stone but without the high price tag.

Can you tell that these aren’t stone? For more designs and ideas, go to ConcreteNetwork.com.

From over 400 entries, Renewal Design-Build is proud to take home an award for Best Kitchen in the south region. Entries were judged on overall design, the creative use of space and materials, and the degree to which the project enhanced the original structure.

The Chrysalis Awards program, begun in 1994, recognizes the nation’s best work in sixteen general categories of residential and commercial remodeling. The Awards are open to any professional remodeler and design professional in the U.S.

See the award-winning kitchen here.