On The Beam Remodeling Newsletter

February 2011   

In This Issue
Living Walls for the Future
Want to Go Tankless?

  Are you looking for a contractor that you can trust?  Look no further.  25 years of designing and building recommends us.  So do our happy clients throughout the Bay Area.  Contact us for their glowing references!

otbeam@sbcglobal.net
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WEBSITE

 
ABGSL team 2009

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You can estimate your own remodeling project using our Website "Remodeling Calculator"! 

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Lisa's Blog: Read about getting the lowest bid and how it turned out:

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We recommend Joey Brite of The Color Effect for all your color consulting needs.
Go to:  The Color Effect  


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Welcome to our e-newsletter.  For added knowledge be sure to click on the links to informative websites.  Also, take a ride to our own website or read Lisa's latest blog.  And have a wonderful February.

Steve and Lisa Schliff
General Contractor, Owners
rail and garden 2Ipe Brazilian hardwood fence borders a lovely garden in the Oakland hills

Living Walls are Futuristic

Imagine lush vegetation cascading down and across the walls of your house.  Imagine no more.  They're here, and they're called "Living Walls".

Consisting of modular planted panels, they hold soil and plants in place while maximizing greenery, which adds more oxygen to the atmosphere as well as beauty to the eye.  The four- inch deep panels mount directly to an existing wall or onto a stand-alone frame.   The design allows water to saturate every inch of each panel to keep the greens growing.

To view a living wall and read more, click here: Living Walls 

    

    
   
Bedrick Bath 1
 

    Bathroom remodel in Berkeley Hills: countertop finished

    with green celadon tiles; custom maple cabinets 

 

 
  
 Tankless May Be Thankless

Do you know the differences between a tankless 'on demand' hot water heater and the traditional storage hot water heater?  The primary difference is that the tankless heater doesn't have gallons of hot water standing available in a tank around the clock, which should translate to energy savings.  But does it?

A tankless heater should save between $100 and $150 per month compared to an Energy Star storage unit, according to the Department of Energy.  But if family members are taking long hot showers, the savings is insignificant.  Add to that the fact that tankless units cost two or three times more than a conventional storage tank, and you may want to rethink this choice.

The bottom line is that tankless hot water heaters are good for some, not all, situations and families or housemates.  If you can all keep hot water usage brief, it will be worth the expensive outlay to purchase the unit.  Besides, with water shortages looming, now is a good time to inculcate those water-saving habits.

To educate yourself more on this subject, go to:
Storage Vs. Tankless Heaters    
 
     Brewster Martinez Kitchen 1
Stainless steel refrigerator, custom cabinets, and black
granite countertops grace this kitchen remodel in Oakland
Photo by Architect Steve Hinderberger of San Jose 
 
ON THE BEAM REMODELING
855 MARINA BAY PARKWAY, SUITE 28
RICHMOND, CA  94804

Visit us in the beautiful Richmond Marina!

Contact us for your remodeling needs at:

(510) 412-9964
 or otbeam@sbcglobal.net

Taking care of homes in the Bay Area for 25 years.

We are proud members of NARI
(National Association of the Remodeling Industry)
since 1996