Garden Remodeling

Because so many of our clients have expressed an interest in Green Remodeling, Bob has successfully completed NARI’s Green Remodeling education program. Our approach is to first understand your goals for sustainability and then educate you on the complete range of products and technologies that are currently available. We have experience with a variety of green technologies and design approaches including:

Healthy Material Selections

Today, there is a range of materials used in construction that have less impact on the environment and create more healthy indoor spaces, all without sacrificing quality. From reclaimed to formaldehyde-free engineered wood, to hypo-allergenic HVAC systems, to low or no VOC paints, we can help you create a model green home.

Flooring

Look at renewable flooring such as bamboo or cork, or use reclaimed wood flooring for an authentic, warm look. Consider stained or polished concrete that creates a durable hard surface that' easy to clean and comprised of environmentally friendly materials like sand and rock.

Lighting

Install lighting fixtures that use less power with Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFLs) or Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) rather than incandescent light bulbs.

Windows

Consider high-efficiency windows that are right for our climate: using low-emissivity (low-E) coatings, today's high performance window lets the right spectrum of light in, but keeps cold or heat from transferring in or out. We will help you pick attractive, long-lasting windows that increase indoor comfort while reducing energy costs.

Water and Energy Conserving Devices

Tankless water heaters, solar water heaters, high efficiency toilets and low flow faucets and showerheads can provide utility savings without sacrificing comfort or performance. Many high efficiency devices are also eligible for Federal Tax Credits and some local utility rebates.

Insulation

Any remodeling project that requires tearing down walls, raising a ceiling or expanding or adding rooms gives you a great chance to add insulation to your home or building's envelope and control your indoor environment while using less energy. And today, you have a variety of choices in addition to fiberglass insulation. Cellulose, Spray Polyurethane Foam and Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) are all great options for going green when it comes to making your home more energy-efficient.

Construction Waste Minimization & Recycling

By thinking green right from the beginning of the design phase, we can use fewer materials during construction. Ask us about:

Design choices like right sizing decks and room sizes to match traditional lumber sizes
Material selections like finger-jointed studs that help us get maximum use from every piece of wood

Source: www.rakrendelcontracting.com

Landscaping Tips

Though your home is your castle, there is no necessity to surround it with a moat. Here are 5 tips that will help you to make your landscaping feel more warm, welcoming and cozy.

1. Put some flowers nearby your entrance. Flowers make any area look more welcoming and attractive, so greeting your guests with Petunia, Snapdragon, Lily-of-the-Nile or some other garden flowers is always a great thing to do. What is more, to add some space between your house and the entrance, you can consider adding a little white fence. It will create an illusion that your front yard is bigger than it actually is. What is more, adding fence will create a great space for planting flowers to add some color and coziness.

2. Add rambling vines to make your yard look absolutely lovely. You can not deny that rambling vines always create romantic and even magical atmosphere. So why not to use this tip while decorating your yard?

3. To hide the unattractive driveway, consider adding some color, texture, and height. You can easily do it by adding various sorts of flowers. To start, create an island of green lawn right in the hub of a drive. Then add a couple of low boxwood hedges with flowers toward the back of your island.

4. If you want your yard to blossom and flourish bust still do not have enough time to maintain it, consider planting low-fuss lilies. Such flowers look absolutely gorgeous and come in the variety of rainbow hues, so you can pick the one you love most. What is more, low-fuss lilies do not care about the sort of soil, they love the sun and welcome hot, they do not afraid of drought. In other words, Crinums is an ideal flower for all those who are looking for low-maintenance solutions.

5. The last tip also touches the low-maintenance aspect. To make your life easier, group plantings into beds and islands. This will help you to avoid mowing and trimming around each individual plant, save a lot of time and even money.