Knoxville News Sentinel – NARI Knoxville Remodeling Seminars
August 29, 2008 by Shawn Van Dyke · Leave a Comment
From the Knoxville News Sentinel:
Get home remodeling tips at seminars
The Knoxville Area chapter of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry hosts home remodeling seminars at the Knoxville Fall Home Remodeling and Log-Home Show. The show at the Knoxville Convention Center is 4-7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 5; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 6; and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 7. Admission is $5.75 for adults, $4.75 for senior citizens 62 and older; $3.75 for children 6-12; free children younger than 6. The seminars are hourly beginning at 11 a.m. Saturday and continuing through Sunday. The Knoxville chapter of NARI is part of a national not-for-profit trade association with nearly 8,000 member companies nationwide.
NARI Knoxville Seminar Schedule
August 29, 2008 by Shawn Van Dyke · Leave a Comment
Knoxville Fall Remodeling & Log Home Show
Sept. 5, 6, 7
NARI Knoxville will be hosting a series of seminars during this exciting 3 day remodeling show.
Here is the schedule of Seminars.
REDBUD Construction Services will be leading the “How to Choose a Remodeling Professional” seminar 11am-12pm on Saturday September 6th and partaking in the “Q and A Session” at 4pm.
Come by the NARI Knoxville booth and meet the professionals that will be constructing your next project.
Event Info
Knoxville Convention Center
701 Henley Street
Knoxville TN
Adults $5.75
Seniors [[62+] $4.75
Kids [6-12] $375
For more information call
865-622-7686
Water Heater: Tank or Tankless?
August 27, 2008 by Shawn Van Dyke · Leave a Comment
This article, posted on the NKBA website, summarizes the differences between the standard tank and tankless water heaters. The article is authored by the folks at Rheem. In the article, Rheem is unveiling a new website “to provide straight talk on tankless vs. tank water heaters, aimed at helping construction professionals advise their customers which system is best for different circumstances.”
Also from the article:
Rheem summarizes some of the differences:
* Product Cost: Tank water heaters typically range in cost from $350 to $550, while tankless water heaters are roughly double that amount.
* Operating Cost: Average annual operating costs for tank water heaters are in the $230 to $285 range. Average annual operating costs for tankless water heaters are about half of that, at $165 to $170.
* Installation Cost: In new construction, installing any type of water heater includes running fuel lines or electrical connections and allowing for adequate venting, so there is little difference in costs between a tankless water and a tank water heater. In remodeling, however, it will cost more to replace a tank water heater with a tankless unit. Installed costs to replace a tank water heater with a tankless unit are typically between $1,200 and $3,000, compared with a range of $500 to $800 to replace a tank with another tank.
* Size: Tank water heaters are typically four to six feet in height, and up to two and a half feet in diameter. Because of their size, tank water heaters are usually located in the garage or basement, which sometimes places the hot water far from the point of use. Tankless water heaters, about the size of a medicine cabinet, can be wall-mounted indoors or even outdoors.
* Experience: Tankless water heaters never run out of hot water. A properly sized unit allows for use of multiple fixtures and appliances at the same time. Tankless is especially ideal for luxury spa bathrooms, where one large whirlpool tub can empty a 40-gallon tank-type water heater before the tub is even filled.
While the site is open for all, including homeowners, Rheem offers a white paper and bi-monthly newsletter that is strictly limited to professionals. For more information, visit www.smarterhotwater.com.
Is a tankless water heater right for your project? Contact REDBUD CONSTRCUTION SERVICES at 865.250.9172 and we would be happy to discuss the possibilities for your project.
NARI Knoxville Fall Home Show Scheduled Events
August 26, 2008 by Shawn Van Dyke · Leave a Comment
Knoxville Fall Remodeling & Log Home Show
Sept. 5, 6, 7
NARI Knoxville will be hosting a series of seminars during this exciting 3 day remodeling show
Saturday, September 6
11:00 How To Choose A Professional Remodeler
12:00 N Green Remodeling 101
1:30 Remodeling As Your Needs Change With Age
2:30 What To Prepare For When Remodeling
4:00 Sustainability In Concrete
5:00 Consumers Question The Remodelers – A Q&A Session (Shawn Van Dyke with REDBUD Construction Services will be participating in this seminar.)
Sunday
12:00 How To Choose Floor Covers
1:00 Energy Efficient Appliances
2:30 How To Choose A Professional Remodeler
Event Info
Knoxville Convention Center
701 Henley Street
Knoxville TN
Adults $5.75
Seniors [[62+] $4.75
Kids [6-12] $375
For more information call
865-622-7686
Be Your Own Contractor – Read This First
August 24, 2008 by Shawn Van Dyke · Leave a Comment
[This post originally appeared on the Redbud Construction Services Construction Managment blog...]
You may have a garage full of tools, a truck with empty Mt. Dew bottles in the bed, and your Saturday afternoon free for This Old House, but, a General Contractor, these do not make.
Everybody says that you can save money by being your own General Contractor, but what no one says is how much time it will take out of your normal daily life and the value of that time. Yes, you may save money, but like any complicated process, it may not be worth it.
You may want to consider the following items before embarking on this new adventure: Read more
Tips on Kitchen Lighting Design
August 23, 2008 by Shawn Van Dyke · Leave a Comment
How to Properly Illuminate the Kitchen:
Pendants are often used in addition to recessed and under cabinet lighting to add character and ambience to a kitchen. The recent trend toward open floor plans has also pushed the mini pendant into prominence since they leave more open space than traditional island fixtures.
- High style pendants provide functional task lighting for kitchen work spaces. They do double duty as a designer look and a practical necessity.
- The ideal hanging height for a pendant varies with the environment and the height of the home owners but make sure to position the pendants low enough to avoid glare.
- Add a dimmer switch to increase the versatility of the pendant lights. They can provide either task or mood lighting.
- Top designer brands that offer kitchen pendants are Tech Lighting, Murray Feiss, and Kichler.
- Maintain design continuity by matching pendant finishes with the kitchen hardware and other surface materials.
Call REDBUD Construction Services and speak with our designers about how to incorporate these lighting ideas into your project…865-250-9172.
ICESTONE – Concrete and Glass Surfaces
August 22, 2008 by Shawn Van Dyke · Leave a Comment
Are you looking for that unique surface top for your kitchen or bath, or do you want to have a stylish and durable ‘GREEN’ product…then look no further than IceStone. This product has appeared in This Old House, The New York Post, and Building Design + Construction.
From their website:
IceStone durable surfaces are made from 100% recycled glass and concrete. IceStone® products are the ideal choice for green kitchen countertops. They’re also a great option for backsplashes, bathrooms, vanities, bathroom dividers, tabletops, interior walls, and commercial flooring applications. Beautiful shower surrounds and bathtubs could be made with IceStone durable surface material. It can be shaped, cut water jet, inlaid, mounted vertically or horizontally. While there are 27 standard colors available, the color palette is infinite….IceStone durable surfaces are strong like granite, not as porous as marble and heat-resistant like stone. The chemical composition is benign and 99.5% inorganic making it a very safe material from the standpoint of toxicity and fire resistance. The fabrication, installation and maintenance of IceStone surfaces follow essentially the same process as used with natural stone. Due to its high recycled content and Cradle to Cradle Certification, IceStone materials can be used towards LEED points.
The cost of IceStone surfaces is dependent on the color selection, size and scope of project and it is available only to distributors and fabricators. You can find showrooms for this product at their website.
If in the Knoxville area: G & L Marble carries the IceStone product line.
Call REDBUD Construction Services and speak with our designers about how to incorporate these and other GREEN products into your project…865-250-9172.
Latest Trends in Kitchen Design
August 21, 2008 by Shawn Van Dyke · Leave a Comment
From MarketWatch:
When it comes to kitchen design today, cherry and maple cabinets are hot, as are quartzite countertops and custom paneled appliances. So says a recent national survey of kitchen designers conducted by the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) and luxury appliance manufacturer Thermador. With 206 participants – all of whom are NKBA certified designers – the online survey identifies several trends influencing today’s kitchen design – from popular colors and finishes used in designs, to new materials, and even new technologies being incorporated by designers.
And here’s a summary of the Survey:
Kitchen Type (design): Traditional
Cabinetry Finishes: Cherry and Maple
Color Scheme: Stainless Steel followed by beiges/bones
Appliances: Stainless steel and custom paneling/modular refrigeration
Countertops and Backsplashes: Granite and quartzite/tile, granite, or glass backsplashes
Functionality and Layout: multiple cooking stations and prep sinks
These trends have well established themselves and will continue to be used in kitchens for years to come.
Read the full article here.
When Do You Hire A Professional
August 21, 2008 by Shawn Van Dyke · Leave a Comment
This recent article from the NARI website discusses when is the right time to hire a professional for your remodeling or construction project. Here are a few great points:
A kitchen designer or interior designer can create a functional and attractive layout for your kitchen cabinets and appliances. But if you want to start knocking down walls to increase floor space or change the traffic flow, it’s best to have the advice of someone who understands the ramifications of doing so.
Even seemingly innocuous projects can lead to unforeseen consequences. Creating an extra bedroom in a basement is a great way to maximize the space within your home. But if it doesn’t have an appropriate escape route, you could be building what amounts to a death trap.
If you’re uncertain whether your remodeling project requires professional advice, one way to be sure is to ask. …After all, not every project is as easy to manage as HGTV might have you believe.
REDBUD Construction Services does not give out free estimates, but we do offer a one hour consultation to determine the scope of your project and the level of design that would be required to price your project. To schedule a consultation, call 865-250-9172.
REDBUD Construction Services is a member of NARI and active in the Knoxville chapter.
NARI Knoxville Gets Coverage in KNS
August 20, 2008 by Shawn Van Dyke · Leave a Comment
The Knoxville News Sentinel posted on Monday an article about the new NARI chapter in Knoxville. Kate Groover, president of NARI Knoxville stated:
[The first meeting, held July 31,] was a great success. We had about 40 people – it was standing-room-only! We worked so hard to get the word out and get this started, and we were thrilled with the turnout.
Redbud Construction Services was in attendance at the meeting and is an active member in NARI Knoxville. We look forward to meeting you at the upcoming Knoxville Fall Remodeling and Log Home Show, which will be held Sept. 5, 6 and 7 in the Knoxville Convention Center.
Come by the NARI booth and tell us about your latest project.