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• Beauty and
  The Budget

• Maintenance Tip

• Pass It On!


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Winn Design
& Remodeling

100 W. Jefferson St.
Falls Church, VA 22046


Ph: 703-876-9696

WinnDesign.com

 

March 2013  

Beauty and The Budget...
Increase Curb Appeal and Comfort; Reduce Energy Bills

Whether you live in a newer home or an older home, chances are it is not as energy-efficient as you would like. You might sense this when you receive another high energy bill, each time you reach for a sweater to fend off the chills, or when you crank up the air conditioning because one room just doesn't get as cool as the others. Many homeowners don't realize how surprisingly easy it is to make your home more energy-efficient at the same time you're remodeling your home to make it more beautiful.

Exterior remodeling

Curb Appeal That Will Curb Your Energy Usage

Homeowners win when exterior remodeling not only improves curb appeal, it saves money too. If your renovation plans include updating the exterior of your home, you have the perfect opportunity to upgrade energy performance by adding rigid-foam sheathing under replacement siding, installing insulated siding, or installing an air barrier to reduce leakage.

Rigid-foam sheathing creates a continuous membrane around the house. Once installed, the sheathing should significantly restrict the flow of air in and out of the building envelope, improving the efficiency of heating and cooling systems. Insulated siding has rigid foam insulation fused behind the exterior surface of the siding panel. Not only does it reduce energy costs year-round, but it can be visually appealing in each of its many maintenance-free forms, many of which have the look and texture of real wood.

Wrap Your Home in Comfort

With a more involved exterior remodel, we might also discuss adding a "wrap" to your home. Home wraps are made from specially engineered polymers and help protect your home from the elements, keeping outside air where it belongs so you enjoy more comfort and lower energy bills

Windows and Doors: Your Opening to Energy Savings

Exterior remodelingIf you're replacing windows and doors as part of your remodel, you have a wonderful opportunity to choose the latest energy-saving products. High-performance windows provide warmer interior surfaces during the winter and cooler interior surfaces during the summer, so your home always feels just right. Today's exterior doors and frames often fit better and are better insulated, particularly compared to older style conventional doors or sliding glass patio doors.

The best part of all is that remodeling affords you the perfect opportunity to have your windows and doors installed properly. We will employ energy-saving knowledge and techniques that not only tackle heat loss around frames, but address the energy efficiency of the exterior walls surrounding the windows and doors.

Interior Sealing and Insulation Also Make for a Cozy Home

If your energy bills are high, chances are your home could use some additional interior insulation and sealing. Typical culprits that rob you of energy are under-insulated attics, leaky windows and doors, or drafty basements. But don't forget that your remodel may give you important access to difficult-to-reach areas between floors, inside walls, or under floors. This can also include the air-losing ducts that run throughout your home. So it's the perfect time to make your home as energy-efficient as it can be. Energy Star estimates that a homeowner can save up to 20% on heating and cooling costs (or up to 10% on total annual energy bill) by sealing and insulating. We can show you numerous ways to make you feel more comfortable in your home.

So just don't make your home beautiful – make it beautifully efficient! Think about remodeling as a welcome opportunity to increase your home's comfort and put money back in your pocket. And that's when you'll really love your home.

Maintenance Tip: Have Your A/C Inspected Before the Summer Heat

Your air conditioner should be inspected once a year. By getting it inspected early, you can catch minor problems that could potentially become major ones in the hot summer. Not only that, but proper maintenance adds years to your unit's life and helps it run more efficiently.

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See you next month!

Mike Winn

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