Posted By Craig on March 29, 2012 Mahogany grain door I have recently previewed the new entry doors for 2012 that the leading manufactures have created.  The big growth area for entry doors is in fiberglass construction.  Homeowners are really starting to understand and want the many advantages of fiberglass doors over wood or metal.  With the demand for fiberglass doors the manufactures are giving us more options and styles to choose from.  The advantage of fiberglass doors is their durability and the stunning looks that are available. Wood doors have always been the best looking doors and have had the most design options but they can be expensive and require maintenance.  Now fiberglass doors look just like wood doors are more durable and cost less.  The new styles available this year increase the appeal of the doors as they give you more wood grain options and more glass styles.  Fir has always been one of the most popular wood doors and now the fiberglass doors have the look and grain pattern of fir.  Mahogany is also a classic door style and there are new mahogany looking doors available. The demand for fiberglass front doors has increased the glass design options.  Decorative glass comes in many styles that are Fir grain door new and unique.  The new glass styles include a silkscreen look, contemporary design or a modern look with sleek lines.  Privacy glass has new styles that give you a custom look allow light in but give you privacy and security. With all the styles available it can be a daunting effort to pick the style that is right for you.  With this in mind, the leading manufactures have on their websites design tools.  The tools allow you to pick any of their doors and then pick from their selection of glass and shows you what it will look like in several colors.  You can even import a picture of your house and view your house with the new door in place. The leading door manufacturer that I recommend are Therma Tru and Masonite.  They both have what seems as an endless variety of doors and  offer a good value.  They will also make doors to fit your custom size opening.  For entry doors in fiberglass or metal I would start my search either one off them.  They are both available all over the country and have great warranties. Craftsman door Privacy glasscontemporary glass Category: Doors Tags: via apexcarpentryinc.com

Decks are a versatile outdoor space are used for many functions.  It is very common to have a gas grill on your deck but how about a fire pit?  Having wood or charcoal fire on a wood or composite deck can be a fire danger and can make a mess out of your deck.

 A new product on the market solves this problem.  It is called Deck Stones and they are slate or granite tiles than can be set into your deck.  They create a fireproof  and stain free area on your deck.  Even if you do not want a fire pit on your deck the tiles give your deck a unique look and feel.  Putting them under your grill or furniture is a good way to protect your deck from scratches and stains.   The deck tiles can be put into an existing or new deck without mortar or grout and are maintenance free and allow water to drain.

 

Posted By Craig on March 7, 2011

Craftsman style entry door

Your choices in exterior doors used to be simple, you had one type of door, wood.  Wood doors are very attractive and come in an unlimited array of styles and wood types.  In spite of all the advantages of wood doors, for many people the disadvantages are to great.  The biggest disadvantage of wood doors is the maintenance required to keeping them looking good.  The weather and sun can take  its toll on wood doors.  Here in Utah our climate goes from hot to cold and the sun shines brightly.  This results in wood doors needing repainting or sealing to protect them.  Wood also will expand with humidity and can warp, so you do not always get a perfect fitting door. Wood doors are still very popular because homeowners do not want to give up the style and feel of real wood doors.

 

A cheaper type of exterior door is hollow metal doors.  Metal doors are very durable and need less maintenance that wood doors.  They come in many styles and give you a tighter seal than wood doors, making them more energy efficient.  The disadvantage of metal doors is they do not look like wood and they dent easily. For the last few decades metal doors were the only alternative to wood. Metal doors are the most popular doors on newer houses, especially on lower priced homes.

 

The last few years door manufactures have made advancements in a new type of door.  The new modern doors are made out of fiberglass. Fiberglass doors have many advantages over other doors. They are more durable than wood or metal doors and come with longer warranties. . They are more energy efficient, five times the insulation value of wood, and do not expand with changes in the weather. They do not dent like metal or split and warp like wood.  They come in an increasing amount of styles and can be made to look like wood.  Fiberglass doors come in textures that have the look and feel of wood.  They can be painted or stained to resemble many types of wood.  The downside to fiberglass doors has been their price.  In the last few years the supply of fiberglass doors has brought their price down.  Now fiberglass doors are priced close to metal doors removing the one advantage metal doors have.  If you have not looked at a fiberglass door lately you will be surprised at how attractive they are.  Fiberglass doors can fit any budget as they come in numerous styles and prices.  Just like metal and wood doors they come with several window and sidelight options.  Given the longer warranties, durability, efficiency and looks of fiberglass doors, for many homeowners they are the perfect door.  A properly installed fiberglass front door will be the last door you will ever need and will enhance the value of your home.

Therma Tru entry door

 

 

Therma Tru fiberglass door

Mahogany entry door

Share|

Category: Doors
Tags:

Posted By Craig on February 18, 2011

Stain and fade resistant deck

composite and metal railing

The last few years have brought big changes to outdoor decks.  With the slowing economy and people staying in their homes longer it has changed the deck market.   The size of the average deck is getting smaller and homeowners are focusing on value and a good design that meets their needs . Decks are still split among wood and composite in the same ratios as the last several years but the type of composite decking they use is changing.  With less new houses being built, the houses are getting older and many homeowner have put of repairing their old decks.  This means that there are more old and unsafe decks on houses than ever before.  People are staying home more and looking for ways to make their homes more inviting and useful to them.

Analysts who follow the construction industry and have analyzed  the housing data predict that the market will stay slower than the heated market of the past but it will grow from the low levels of the last

Horizon composite deck with metal railing

couple of years.  There will be more deck renovations and repair of older decks . Homeowners are also looking more to low maintanence decks and focusing on the long term use of their decks.   As homeowners are staying in their homes longer they are looking for the little things that will make their deck unique and more useful to them.

Deck lighting

The decking industry has responded to the needs of home owners and designed deck and railing products that meet their needs.  The composite deck market has changed significantly in the last few years and 2011 continues that trend.   The appearance of composite decking is changing and looking more like wood with a deeper richer look.  Most good decking is now made with a hidden fastener system so that you do not see the fasteners.  They have also greatly improved the durability and stain and fade resistance of decking.   The top brands are now producing deck boards that the wood core is covered with plastic to improve the looks and durability of the boards.  The boards have the look of domestic wood and even exotic tropical woods.  The warranties are also improved as they now offer stain and fade guarantees.  If you have not seen what a modern composite deck can look like you are in for a surprise.

Deck and stair railing are also changing . There are more options and styles than ever before.  Deck owners are discovering that the design of the railing can add real personality to their deck and give it character.  No longer does the railing have to look the same as the deck.  Different materials and colors can be used to fit your own style and budget.  Metal railings are still popular and offer more varieties and options than ever.  Composite railings come in many colors and cane be mixed with metal giving you a custom look.  Wood railings can also be mixed with metal for a unique look.  Post caps come in many different styles and give your deck the finished look. One leading company make a gate that can be used with your railing or stairway to increase the safety of your deck.

Another change is in the use of lighting on your deck.  People find that deck lighting allows them to use their deck longer and it creates a relaxed and comfortable mood.  Deck lighting will also increase the

Solar post cap

safety of your deck, especially by using lights on the stairs . LED lights are coming out in many unique looks and offer a tremendous energy savings.  They are small and can be put almost anywhere on your deck or railing.  Solar lights are also more popular than ever and are very easy to install.

With all the new products and design trends in decking, it is important that you consult with an experienced deck builder, before you build your deck.  You will enjoy your deck for many years to come if it is built properely and designed to fit your lifestyle.  The weather conditions in the Utah area are extreme and your deck needs to be able to handle what the weather throws at it.  Safety is also important as deck failures are one of the leading cause of injury around homes.  An experienced licensed contractor is more important than ever before to help you design and build your deck and railing.

LED deck lighting

Deck gate

Share|

Category: Stairs, decks
Tags:

Posted By Craig on December 24, 2010

The last year I have worked with many clients and have been able to transform their homes. I want to thank all of you that have had me work on you homes. I gain pleasure in helping people improve their homes and make them more livable. Your home is your biggest investment and a place where your family spends the most time together. I am thankful that I have been able to work with many families this past year and help them enjoy their homes more. I wish you the best for the next year and hope you enjoy your homes.
I hope you take the time during the holidays to be with your families and enjoy what is the most important to you. If we all think of what is the most important to us, and live our lives with those ideas in mind, the world will be a much greater place.

Share|

Category: Home Improvement
Tags: thank you

Posted By Craig on December 10, 2010

Bedroom window seat with built in shelving

It seems that you can never have to much space  to organize and store items in a room. You want the room to be attractive and it also has to be functional. There are many ways to increase the storage in a room. If the room has a closet, you can add more shelving to better utilize the space. The shelving can be fixed in place or you can use adjustable shelves that mount on a track. Many bedroom closets are setup with one closet rod with a shelf above it. Most people do not need that much storage for tall clothing. A good way to increase the storage area is to divide the closet with part of it being for  long hanging and the other half divided with two closet rods for shorter clothes.

Along the walls of a room built in shelving can be installed, giving  you an area to store things and act as a display case.  The shelving can be designed to fit any size and need. Doors can be put on the built in shelving to hide the storage area or

Built in shelving

you can leave the shelves open. The shelving can also tie in with the design of the room by using trim work, such as bead board, in the shelving and along the walls of the room. Crown and base molding can continue across the shelving to give it a nice built in look.  Another idea is to install a small ledge above wainscoting or board and baton wall treatments for a place to set picture frames or other decorations. A popular and simple idea is to mount a shelf on a wall with crown molding under it, hiding the fasteners and dressing it up.

Custom shelving unit

crown molding shelf

Share|

Category: Carpentery, Home Improvement
Tags: cabinets, shelving, storage ideas

Posted By Craig on December 3, 2010

Aluminum porch railing

With the coming of winter weather, I have had a few clients want to add a stair railing to their front porch.  They are concerned about people slipping on their steps when the snow flies. This got me looking around at houses and I am surprised at how many houses do not have a hand rail on their front porch steps. Slipping on stairs is one of the most common residential injuries. With the aging population it is more important than ever to ensure that stairs are safe and easy to climb.

Vinyl railing

Fortunately it is fairly simple and affordable to add a stair rail to a set of steps. There are more choices then ever before of low maintenance materials to build the railing with. Vinyl is the lowest cost option and can be a good choice. It comes in white and off white colors. With a quality manufacturer it will be very durable and strong. Composite railings will give you more design options than vinyl, comes in more colors and has a more secure feel. With composite railings you can use composite or metal balusters, giving you a custom look. It is more expensive than vinyl and better products come with a 25 year warranty. Metal railings are a very good choice and come in either aluminum or iron. Aluminum railings come in several colors and are the lowest priced metal railings. Iron railings are stronger than aluminum and you have more color options and styles to choose from. The better metal railings are galvanized so they will not rust and have a baked on powder coated finish for durability.

iron stair rail

Which ever type of railing you use it needs to be properly installed to meet building codes, for your safety. It needs to be installed securley so that it will have a solid feel and withstand years of use. For a professional stair builder the stair rail will go in quickly and give your home the peace of mind that your stairs are safe to climb.

Share|

Category: Home Improvement, Stairs
Tags: front porch, stair safety

Posted By Craig on September 30, 2010

Old Stair Rail

I recently finished a stair project in a home in the Salt Lake valley. The home has some very nice details in it and it is in a great neighborhood. The stair rail is is the focal point of the entry wall and it was not making the statement that the home owners wanted. Instead of tearing everything out and starting over, we saved the stair parts that the owners liked and replaced everything else. This saved money and made the remodeling project go faster. We replaced the white wood balusters with new wrought iron balusters. The new balusters

New Stair Rail

have an oil rubbed copper finish that matches the hardware in the home. The simple procedure of exchanging the balusters completely changed the look and feel of the stairway. It updated  the home and gave it a contemporary look. The entire remodeling project was completed in a few days.

Category: Stairs
Tags: stair rail remodel