4 Reasons to Hire a Professional Painter

Paint is the easiest way to give a room new life. It’s more affordable than a full-fledged renovation, and sometimes more effective. Just adding color to the walls, or changing the existing color, can totally change the way the room looks and feels. It’s cheaper than a full-fledged renovation, simpler, and often more effective. Because of this, it is often considered a DIY project. While painting the room yourself might be cheaper, there are still a few reasons to hire a professional painting team for the job.

The Benefits of Expertise

Professional painters do this work every day, and they know it inside and out. They know what safety equipment they need, how much prep needs to be done, and how long the work will take. And because they have years of experience and hours each day to devote to the job, they can finish the work more efficiently than a homeowner who has a job and schedule of their own. A professional painter can even suggest sample swatches to help you choose the best color for your room.

Quality Work

Painting is more complicated than it might first appear. You have to prep, sometimes prime, and protect the floor and furniture from any mess. It’s easy to make a mistake, whether by missing a spot or getting paint where it shouldn’t be. With a professional painter, you can be sure that you’re getting quality work and service, from the beginning of the prep work until the room is finished. When a professional has their reputation on the line, their goal is to make sure you have no complaints, so you know you can expect excellence.

Added Security

As with any renovation, accidents happen. Hiring a professional painter isn’t just safer for the painters, who will have all the equipment to protect themselves as they work; it’s also safer for your home. Licensed, insured professional painters will cover any damage done to the home in the midst of their work. It’s important to note, however, that not all painters are insured and not all insurances work the same way. Make sure to discuss insurance with a painting professional before hiring them.

You Can Relax

Painting takes time, precaution and detailed, sometimes tedious work. Although it seems like a simple job on the outset, painting is often more stress-inducing than most homeowners anticipate. Hiring a professional to paint your room saves you time and stress because they’ll take care of everything. All you have to do is sit back and watch the results.

If you need remodeling done as well as painting in Brazos Valley, it’s an especially good idea to hire Windham Construction. Whether you need a new coat of paint on your walls, fences, trim, or a whole remodel for your kitchen, bathroom, or deck, get it all from the same source. Contact Windham Construction today for an estimate.

What Kind of Windows Should You Use In Your Remodel?

Most of us don’t think about the kind of windows we have until we need to. We just look through them. Then a window breaks, or we add a room to our house, and suddenly we’re shopping for new windows. With all the options available, it’s easy to wonder, “Does it matter?”

The answer is yes. The right windows will help insulate and protect your home, even in the coldest and hottest times of year or the biggest storms. The right window will add value to your home, while a poor window will make you pay in utilities to make up for the poor insulation. Here are some ways to ensure your windows are airtight and prepared for everything.

Choose Double-Hung Windows

Double-hung windows have two sashes that are both movable. The top sash moves down while the bottom sash moves up. Double-hung windows are known for their airtight quality. The limited latches allow you to open the window just enough to enjoy the breeze on a nice day without any danger of small children getting out or unwanted guests coming in. The double sashes and full screen strengthen the insulation of these windows, keeping cold air out in chilly or windy weather.

Go Vinyl For Your Frames

Vinyl is a great option for your window frames for several reasons, the first being that it’s more affordable than most other window frames. Vinyl window frames also include UV stabilizers to protect them from the most harmful rays of the sun. They have better moisture resistance than wood frames and don’t conduct heat in the way aluminium frames do. There’s also room in the cavities of vinyl frames to include additional insulation.

Keep Your Windows Low-E

With so many attempts to be “energy efficient,” the fact that technology has given us energy efficient windows shouldn’t be a surprise, but it’s certainly a welcome advancement. Energy efficient windows will help your carbon footprint and help you save money on your utilities. Look for advanced low-E insulating glass to keep your home cool in the summer, warm in the winter, and avoid any annoying drafts.

 
If you’re installing new windows, make sure to talk to a local professional construction group first. They can give you all the best tips for windows that will add value to your home rather than discomfort and a higher utility bill. Windham Construction has served the Brazos Valley area for over twenty years and they’re committed to excellence. Contact them today for a free quote.

An Energy Efficient Roof to Cool Down Your House

Common Mistakes When Building a GazeboSeptember may be upon us, but if you’ve lived in Texas for very long, you know that the hot temperatures aren’t quite finished with us yet. How has your utilities bill looked this summer? Was it higher than you were comfortable with? Did it feel like you had to crank up the air conditioning just to feel comfortable in your own home on the hottest days of the year? Believe it or not, the problem (or the solution) could be your roof. The type of roof you have over your home can determine how much heat is conducted into your home and, subsequently, how much air conditioning you’ll need to keep the place cool. Here are some tips for keeping your home cool from the top down.

Insulation

As with anything else, having proper insulation will help solve the problem by about 10-15%. Make sure that the ceiling beneath your roof is insulated and that the insulation is still in good shape and doesn’t need replacement. Insulation will help solve the problem and save you a bit on energy costs, but it won’t completely solve the problem. For that, you’ll need to focus on remodeling your roof, starting with a new color.

Color

You probably already know to wear lighter colors during the summer rather than darker colors to keep yourself cool. You might have learned this in school, or it might just be years of practice. Sunlight reflects off of lighter colors like white and yellow and is absorbed into black and dark blues. The more sunlight your outfit absorbs, the hotter and stuffier you’ll feel. The same goes for the color of your roof. A dark-colored roof will absorb heat, which will seep into your house, making it feel stuffy. A light roof color, such as a light gray, will reflect the sunlight and stay only a few degrees hotter than it is outside. If you have a dark roof, you can use a cool roof coating, a thick paint used to reflect sunlight and protect the roof from harmful UV rays, to cool it down.

Roofing Materials

You’ve no doubt felt at some point how hot an asphalt road can feel in the heat of summer. The asphalt on a shingled roof is similar. Asphalt roofs will absorb the sunlight that hits the roof and significantly raise the temperature of your home. On the other hand, consider using an energy efficient metal that conducts sunlight back into the atmosphere, keeping your home cool and your utilities bill low. The light color and reflective surface of the metal work to reflect sunlight rather than absorb it as asphalt will.

 

If you feel you need a more energy efficient, cool roof for your home, talk to an experienced contractor about the next steps to take.  With 20 years of experience serving Brazos Valley, Windham Construction can give you the best advice to keep your roof cool and your energy bill low.

11 myths about home renovations

11 myths about home renovationsWhile cruising around remodeling blogs, a wonderful article popped out at me. Not only does it provide some useful helpful tips for home remodeling, it also offers some great advice on how to view projects before they are tackled. Topics covered in this article on Curbed.com include:

 
 

  1. Remodeling is Easy
  2. Remodeling is Inexpensive
  3. You Can Do It Yourself
  4. The Low Bid is the Best Value
  5. Products That Look the Same, Are the Same
  6. Remodels Always Take Longer Then Planned
  7. Remodels Always Cost More Than Bid
  8. Good Planning Can Outwit Surprise
  9. You Can Make It Up As You Go Along
  10. Fancy Trappings Make a Good Contractor
  11. You Will Be Bitter When It’s Over

The author of the original article, Mary Joe Bowling, does a great job explaining important items to consider for your home remodeling and DIY projects.  Click here to read the full article.

 
 

Where To Find Home Renovation Ideas

Where To Find Home Renovation IdeasFor many people, their home is more than simply the place where they live. It is the place where they raise their families, celebrate special occasions and get through difficult times. Renovation can be the perfect way to make your home the right place for any occasion.

Home renovations in College Station, TX can take many forms. Some people may simply want to repaint a room or two while other families may want to completely redesign their bedroom, bathrooms and kitchen. No matter what type of project you have in mind, the remodelling options are limitless. How can you decide which renovation idea is right for you when there are so many choices available? If you are feeling a lack of inspiration, here are some resources that you can use to find fresh, new ideas for your home renovation goals.

Neighbors, Friends and Families

The people in your life are one of your most valuable resources. Chances are that you have friends or family members who have undergone a renovation project in their home. If you like some of the changes that they have made, take the time to ask them some questions about their experiences with home renovation projects.

Their projects may give you some ideas and inspiration for remodelling concepts that you can incorporate into your own home. Even if their renovations follow a different style or layout than your own living space, you can still ask them some questions to gain valuable insights into the remodeling process. If you know some of your neighbors, ask them if they would like to share some of their renovation tips and ideas with you. The more ideas you have, the more inspiration you can find!

Websites And Forums

There are dozens, if not hundreds, of websites and home remodelling forums available to you to provide inspiration and ideas. Simply navigate to your preferred search engine and enter search terms like “home renovation projects” or “renovation ideas” to get links to websites with pictures and additional info.

The amount of information that you can find is simply amazing. You’ll be able to find out about different design choices, tips and advice and even price estimates for all kinds of projects. You can search for more specific ideas for kitchen remodelling, bathroom fixture replacements and even comparisons of different types of floor tiles. You may be able to find all of the information that you need without ever leaving your home.

Local Professionals

To find in-depth, personalized information about remodelling projects in your area, there’s just no substitute for getting a quote from home renovation professionals in College Station, TX. Calling the professionals out to your home is the best way to find out about all of the renovation options available to you. Local professionals can take a look at your living space to give you ideas and price quotes on the type of work that you would like to have done in your home.

In just a few minutes, you’ll be able to find out about the types of fixtures, appliances and materials that you can use to turn your home into the perfect living space that you have been dreaming of.

When you make the decision to remodel your home, there’s no limit to the changes you can make so don’t be afraid to seek out information on the projects you have in mind.