Restoration Millwork Trimboards with J-Pockets photo courtesy of CertainTeed
Usually, High Quality Contracting, Inc. does not write product reviews. However, we decided that doing so would help educate our customer base on why we work with some products and not others. Today we are going to review CertainTeed Restoration Millwork PVC Exterior Trim. A product we are very comfortable installing. We find it to be an excellent alternative to wood trim.
PVC Vinyl Trim
Made of PVC (vinyl), CertainTeed Restoration Millwork PVC Exterior Trim can be cut, routed, shaped, and milled with ordinary wood-working tools. The product forms beautiful designs. Restoration Millwork is also relatively simple to maintain.
Wood trim tends to rot over time. Even treated, the elements will eventually take root, and the trim will need upkeep and possible replacement. While working with the CertainTeed Restoration Millwork PVC Exterior Trim, we have found that the product does not rot, mold, absorb moisture, warp, or bow. It is practically maintenance-free. This is excellent news for homeowners who would rather not replace and repaint their trim every couple of years.
Restoration Millwork is available in several varieties of wood grain looks, including smooth and TrueTexture™ woodgrain finishes. The array makes matching the right trim style to your home a breeze.
Restoration Millwork Trimboard With Cut-Out: photo courtesy of CertainTeed
Benefits Of Use
There are other benefits we have found are:
“PVC exterior trim is self-extinguishing, which earns it a Class A (Class 1) Flame Spread Classification. ” as stated the CertainTeed Company.
Restoration Millwork is wood-boring insect resistant. The trim might look and feel like wood, but bugs such as termites and carpenter ants are not interested in it.
Restoration Millwork is code compliant (ICC Evaluation Services, Inc. (ICC-ES) ESR-2922). It meets the criteria for exterior trim used in residential construction.
The product resists freezing during the winter months. The cold will not normally crack the trim.
Restoration Millwork comes ready to install in a natural white color. It also can be painted following the manufacturer’s instructions.
Bendable with heat forming for geometric window surrounds and architectural shapes.
It comes in a range of thicknesses and lengths.
UV ray resistant.
Salt spray resistant ( Hello Wisconsin Winters).
The CertainTeed Restoration Millwork PVC Exterior Trim is durable and flexible. This modern siding product is one that we recommend. When deciding to use this product for your home’s new siding, ask your High Quality Contracting, Inc. design representative for the current warranty information. Because warranty information varies by product we did not include it in our review CertainTeed Restoration Millwork Trim.
If you are interested in learning more about how High Quality Contracting, Inc., uses this product or if you are interested in scheduling your home for a siding consultation, please contact us today.
Covid-19 took the business world by surprise in 2020, and many companies now allow their staff to work from home. As the world continues to adjust to the pandemic, homeowners are flocking to build home offices. Here are High Quality Contracting, Inc.’s 2021 home office design tips:
1) Lighting Matters-
We spoke to a local author Jillian Ochoa, who said, ” I need an office with a lot of light. It is challenging to write in a dark or depressing office space.” Inputting high-efficiency LED lighting in the ceiling and walls can improve the space taking it from drab to fab. Our design experts also suggest that homeowners install plenty of natural light when building a new home office. Installing beautiful paned windows and skylights increases the natural light in the room. Natural light is not only better for our eyes, but, increases the serotonin in our bodies improving our mood.
2) Storage Wars-
Don’t go to war with storage issues when building your office. Built-in cabinets, custom closets, and hidden storage create ample room to store files, supplies and other essentials for the job. When coupling the storage with counter space, a home office encourages a higher level of productivity, allowing you to work freely. Our expert design staff utilizes all of the free space in creative ways that help you get the most use of the space. New cabinet systems with unique hardware and pull-out drawers effectively bring the best technology into the room.
3) Color Psychology –
That dark purple color in your daughter’s old bedroom worked for her, but it probably will not work for you in your home office. When building a home office, consideration for the mood and the psychology that color plays in that mood is essential. According to ScienceOfPeople.com (https://www.scienceofpeople.com/color-psychology/), research shows that colors affect our mood, heart rate, blood pressure, and respiration. Home office spaces that choose colors like blues and greens will have a calming feel to them. A home office with yellows, reds, and oranges will probably have a more lively sense. These colors tend to increase productivity and action. Darker colors like black and deep purple should be saved for when you get the 1970’s black light out of the garage.
4) Room Location-
Where you put your home office is extremely important. We have seen homeowners who have attempted to put their office in the corner of a kitchen or another busy area. We suggest finding a room that is as far away from distractions as possible. Homeowners who choose to build an addition to their home or convert an attached garage into a home office have the most privacy for their business.
5) Furniture-
Prudent homeowners reflect on the furniture and equipment they will need to do their jobs. Will you need a desk? What kind of desk? A large one? A standing Desk? Would a long counter work better? DO you want lamps, or would you rather have receding lights? Do you need file cabinets, and would it benefit you to build them into a cabinet system? All of these things and more need consideration before making your home office.
When building your office, there are a lot of considerations. We hope these home office design tips help you create the space you need to be successful and productive in your business. If you would like one of our master designers to walk you through the design process for your home office, contact High Quality Contracting, Inc., today to schedule your appointment.
Whether you are accenting it, covering an entire wall, or just adding that splash of color, choosing the right paint for your room is paramount in achieving the overall results you want. So when it comes to advising High Quality Contracting, Inc. remodeling clients on which paint to choose, we always follow these guidelines.
1) Be mindful of the purpose of the room.
Each room has a different meaning for its existence. For example, a bedroom is for resting, a kitchen for eating, a home office is for working. You want the colors and products you choose to reflect that room’s purpose. In rooms such as a bath or an addition that is a greenhouse, those rooms may retain more moisture than others, so a homeowner will want to choose a paint that is mold resistant. Whereas in a bedroom, this is not necessary but perhaps easily washable wall paint is. When looking at colors, a calming color for a bedroom is logical, but in a home office, getting too comfortable may lead to some pretty unproductive days.
2) Consider the furniture when choosing your color pallets.
Designers often recommend focusing your color scheme on a piece of furniture or a painting that you like. They further suggest taking photos or, even better, part of the object with you to the paint store. You can’t take a whole sofa, but you can take a pillow! When at the paint store, choose three colors that go well with your object. You will now have a wide range of hues from those three colors to choose your wall color. For example, you decide that blue, green, and off-white go with your sofa pillow, so now you get to choose between all of the different shades of those colors to find what fits your needs best.
3) Create visual effects with the paint finish.
Professional painters and home designers will confirm that the finish of paint plays a vital role in the outcome of the room. There are several types of finishes, including flat, semi-gloss, high-gloss, and satin. Each creates a different feel and has another purpose. The rule of thumb used to be to use a flat or satin on the walls and semi-gloss and gloss paints for the accents. However, today’s designers are using finishes to create visual effects using lighting in a room. For instance, if you paint the walls with flat paint and use semi-gloss on the ceiling, it creates a contrast in the light, making the ceilings appear higher.
4) The psychology of color is a fantastic thing.
Web developers, artists, and designers use it to create the feelings generated by the colors. For instance, focus on the color blue. There are so many different hues of blue and varients that have varying effects on people. Sky blue and pale blue colors welcome a calming feeling, while a bright blue stimulates the mind. According to VeryWellMind.com colors can ignite a range of emotions and feelings such as Red, Orange, and Yellow are attention-grabbing and suitable for use in a homework room or study area. In contrast, pale blues, greens, and neutrals work well for calming the mind in a bedroom.
When choosing your color pallets for your home remodeling project, always seek the help of experts and take your time to select the color that fits your needs.
A deck can change the entire look and feel as well as the function of the space in your yard. Modern decking materials allow for creative design option as well as durability. Here are six innovative deck ideas that are game changers:
Deck Shapes-
When most people think of decks, they think of a square wooden platform attached to your backyard. However, decks have come a long way in the past several years. They are now being designed in fun ways with great new shapes and designs. Round decks are a hit for a fun look around a pond or a pool. A rectangular deck can pop by adding zing with angles, and alternating patterns. Go for a larger deck that offers several connected shapes, starting with a rectangular space then adding a circled pergola with bench seating. The shapes are limitless.
Built-Ins-
Built-ins are the little extra fun spaces that are now being built into modern decks. Sick of hauling out a cooler every time you want to have refreshments on the deck? Have one built-in. Are you an avid reader and enjoy sitting on your deck reading? Consider a small built-in library space with a door that closes to keep the elements off of your books. Nowadays you can build in just about anything into your deck, including fireplaces, firepits, outdoor kitchens, seating, storage and more.
Railings that Roar-
Don’t think that a deck railing has to be boring to work. Today’s decks have some pretty impressive railing ideas such as wrought iron, wood, composite, steel, and carved wood posts. Depending on your budget you can go as simple or as elaborate as you would like with the deck railings. Stairs also can have a great flare with products out by companies like SalterSpiralStair. We can install some very creative ideas- galvanized steel, sunburst style, cable, and even wrought iron designs.
Dependable Easy Care Materials-
Materials have changed in the last several years to become stronger, more dependable and easier to maintain. These scientific changes can make owning a deck a lot easier to keep up. No constant staining and repairs. Stylish composite decking products resist fading, staining, scratching and mold, and won’t rot, crack or warp. Wood decks are now pressure treated with special chemicals to help prevent decay and termite damage. Stains last longer and clean up easier than ever before.
Overheads and Planters-
Don’t forget to look up when you are building a new deck for your home. Overheads and custom planters are a great way to add texture and style to any yard experience. Retractable roofing, awnings, overhead lighting systems and more can be added to your deck to create a multifunctional space for both rain or shine.
Decks do not need to be boring and are limited only by the creativity of the designers creating them. High Quality Contracting Inc has been building decks for decades and can help make your backyard oasis.
Building a new home will either be the fulfillment of a dream or the beginning of a nightmare, depending on how you prepare yourself for the experience. Homeowners save for years, build their credit, and apply for the perfect home loan, putting in all the effort needed to make sure their credit and loan are ready to go. Then, as if reaching the 5-yard line, they drop the ball and fail to finish the planning that they needed to do for successful project completion. It is sad to watch.
However, if you follow a few simple rules, your new home construction project can go forward with very few bumps and a lot of smiles. Our goal at High Quality Contracting is always to see our customers smile when they step into their completed home for the first time.
So, how do you plan for the perfect new home construction project? Here are a few simple rules that we like to live by when advising our customers on planning for their new home construction.
#1 Start with Confidence.
Many contractors will say that ratings and reviews by such organizations as The Wisconsin Better Business Bureau, The National Association of the Remodeling Industry, and Angie’s List, to name a few, really do not mean anything. Well, they are lying.
A home building contractor who is sincere in their business is not only willing to join these organizations but to follow their guidelines to ensure that their customers receive fair and honest pricing and work. The ratings indicate our adherence to organizational standards. The reviews reflect a candid glimpse of our past work. By joining these groups, we are standing up and stating our commitment to honesty, integrity, and quality.
The problems start when you choose to hire a contractor who does not stand by these principles. What does that say about your future endeavors with them? Why are they providing you with a low ball bid? What are they not telling you? Be honest with yourself and think about the possible reasons and then run the other way. Always hire someone who has a solid ethical contracting background to build your new home. This is not a simple set of deck stairs, this is a new home, and you want that experience and history backing up the work they do for you.
#2 Identify & Budget For The Total Project
The second-most-important rule that any new home builder needs to follow is to budget correctly for the project. Budgeting for such important projects includes factoring in a lot of variables. It is always best to sit down and talk seriously about your budget for the project with your contractor. We found that homeowners sometimes forget to consider the following items in their budget:
Site Preparation- clearing and grade work on the property before the start of the build.
Landscaping- the cost for grass, hay, trees, etc.
Building Permits- Municipalities and counties usually require a variety of permits for a new home build. Each license is a separate cost and can run as high as 1% of the total construction cost.
Utility Access- such utilities as water, sewer, gas, cable all may have a fee to access the lines.
Driveway Materials- The price for the concrete, pavers, bricks, and stone are all additional costs.
#3 Factoring in Time and Conditions for the Build-
Many homeowners fail to consider how long the lending process can take, which will delay the construction and purchase of materials. Since the 2008 home crisis, lenders are requiring more paperwork and are taking longer to release funds. If you want to start your project in spring, it is best to start your financing in the fall to allow time for all the paperwork.
Another thing to consider is the weather. Depending on the phase of the project, the weather can delay a home build for weeks to months.
Delays in obtaining materials are another example of something that can cause your home to fall behind in the timeline. Although High Quality Contracting Inc. uses only the best companies for their materials, sometimes obtaining a popular material can cause a delay because of supply and demand.
Building a new home is a lot of work, as well as rewarding. High Quality Contracting, Inc. pledges to be with you every step of the way to assure your best possible experience. Working with your High Quality Contracting, Inc new home specialist will help prevent a nightmare and help make your dream home a reality.
When High Quality Contracting, Inc. first got the call regarding this garage, we were not sure what we were in for. The garage was in bad shape. It was ready to fall down with any good storm. However, all was not lost for our customers. They trusted us to repair, remodel, and stabilize the garage into a useful steady structure.
We first began by removing any existing parts that were rotted and damaged. We installed temporary systems to stabilize the garage until we finished the demolition part of the project.
Once that was finished, we moved on to jacking up the ceiling 5″ in the middle to make the roof level again. We installed new LVL headers. We strengthened the walls and rebuilt the soffits. Our crew also rebuilt the roof. The roof received new 2×4’s, plywood, and shingles. The crew replaced the old windows with new double-hung windows from Jeldwin Windows.
As the project took shape, we continued by adding a service door and siding. The amount of craftsmanship put into the project is evident by viewing the before photo and the after photos.
The final photo is before we finished up with a new coat of paint.
However, you can see the beauty of this garage and how sound it is now compared to before. The new walls, roof, and doors have made this garage built to last for years to come.
We left this project with happy customers and their garage is now strong and steady and ready for the Wisconsin elements.
