Before we dive into finding a reputable contractor, we wanted to update you on an upcoming event. On January 25, 2012 Larry Parrish, the owner of Parrish Construction, will be speaking at a seminar called Trade Secrets: For Success In a Tough Environment, sponsored by the HBA. The seminar will start at 11 AM. Ticket [...]
Continue Reading »A: Window frames come in metal, wood, vinyl and fiberglass. Wood is pretty, but needs refinishing and will eventually need replacing. Vinyl is inexpensive, needs almost no maintenance, but can have problems such as changing shape in hot climates. A nice compromise is metal clad windows – wood on the inside of the home, where [...]
Continue Reading »A: Energy Star Acronym Guide for Windows, Doors and Skylights. In the EnergyStar standards set by the DOE and EPA for windows, doors and skylights, requirements change with the latitude. In the northern areas of the U.S., energy concerns are to keep warm; in the southern areas, it’s all about staying cool. Energy Star gauges [...]
Continue Reading »A: The salesman says the windows he’s selling are energy efficient. Probably true, but the question you should be asking is: are they the right kind of energy efficiency for the climate where you live and your particular home and layout? You most likely already know a single pane window in an aluminum frame is bad. [...]
Continue Reading »Conserve and Protect: that’s what winterizing is about. Homes can take a beating in our cold Colorado winters, and so can your heating bill. After some education and practice, winterizing will become as natural a rhythm to a homeowner as is flying south to a goose…
Continue Reading »The average American home has had electric light fixtures for about 90 years. The simple act of turning on the lights is becoming more complex. Now we have to consider the choice of LED, fluorescent or (for a little while longer) incandescent.
Technology has changed and that has caused standards to change as well. Our good ol’ standard 60 watt incandescent bulb is being ordered out of existence (by 2012) and replaced with more energy-efficient bulbs. For someone remodeling or building a new home, there are regulations. The city currently requires a certain number of energy-efficient lights to be installed at the time of completion of certain projects.
With CFLs and LEDs replacing incandescent lights, you are more likely to hear the term “lumen” or “lux” than “watts” when evaluating the new light bulbs. But what does it all mean?
Continue Reading »We’ve all seen the infomercials and heard the warnings about toxic environmental hazards like asbestos and lead paint. Staying educated about green building materials can protect not only the environment outside, but it can also create a more healthy environment for you and your family inside your home.
Continue Reading »A- It’s true that green houses can, but not always, cost more. Going green means several things, looking at products that are low in toxicity, products that are created with minimal impact, and sustainably produced, and with a responsible disposal. Because more people are buying green, the prices have come down in the last decade…
Continue Reading »There’s almost nothing more frightening to a homeowner than the threat of fire. This fall’s Fourmile and other fires were not caused by the individual homeowners they affected, but they’ve got us thinking about what we can do to secure our homes. There are many things you can do to prevent fire in your home. [...]
Continue Reading »A- No. You can file a permit application yourself and you may be allowed to work on your building within certain limitations, but you may still be required to hire a licensed contractor or subcontractors. You should check with the city or county in your municipality for their requirements. Many construction companies, such as Parrish, [...]
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