Recent House Remodel in Londonderry, NH

 Here are some pictures of a recent house remodel we did in Londonderry, NH 

Stair Ideas

We are looking at potentially doing a stair project in our own home and already having one set of oak stairs, I wanted to look at alternatives to standard white risers -- I came across some pretty great ideas that I would like to do at some point and wanted to share .....

Painted Risers

   Wallpapered Risers

 Pebbled Tiles

Mosaic Tiles

I can't wait to do our stairs after seeing these great options -- and not having to paint risers every year to keep them fresh looking.


Lisa

Recent Kitchen Remodel, Windham, NH - Before and After

DECKING OPTIONS – PART 2 – PVC OPTIONS:

 

AZEK – Is made with Procell® Technology which means AZEK Deck is unlike any other

deck board.  AZEK Deck is built to withstand a houseful of spills and objects, so homeowners can actually live on their AZEK Deck. Spilled wine, fruit punch, even hamburger grease are no match for AZEK Deck's stain resistance. Since AZEK Deck is scratch resistant, you won't have to worry about scuffs during installation and your AZEK Deck will continue to look great for years to come.

- Stain resistant
- Scratch resistant
- Split resistant
- Mold and mildew resistant
- Durable and long lasting
- Impervious to moisture and insects

- Limited lifetime warranty

AZEK products are designed to provide consumers with lasting durability thanks to expected life spans in excess of 25 years as compared to the traditional materials they are replacing.  AZEK products require little maintenance or cleaning with harsh chemicals which ultimately limits VOC emissions.  AZEK products are versatile and adaptable to meet modern and future design needs, and are recyclable at the end of their useful lives. 

Check it out at www.azek.com

TIMBERTECH – Is capped with a fully protected poly shell that features TimberTech's exclusive HyrdoLock™ technology, the plank is practically impervious to the elements and everyday accidents endured by most decks.  Timbertech is guaranteed against termites, checking, splitting, decay, rot and splintering.  TimberTech’s warranty offers 25-years of coverage.  And our warranty can be transferred to a second homeowner – a great selling feature when you’re ready to relocate.

TimberTech products add beauty to homes, businesses and resorts. What's more, TimberTech is low maintenance, safe, durable, and can even increase the value of your home.

TimberTech decking is manufactured with an average of 51% recycled content.  All TimberTech products are urea formaldehyde-free and our product cartons are made with 43% recycled material fibers which meet SFI sourcing requirements and are 100% recyclable.

Check it out at www.timbertech.com

TREX – The exclusive Trex^® composite formula brings together the best qualities
of wood and plastic to create a superior alternative to wood:

·         Plastic shields the wood from moisture and insect damage,
preventing rotting and splintering.

·         Wood protects the plastic from UV damage while providng a
natural, attractive look and feel.

The result is decking that requires only periodic cleaning to stay beautiful for years to come - no need for sanding, staining or painting, ever.

·         Trex is smoother than wood and every other composite.

·         Trex is soft-to-the-touch for unmatched barefoot comfort.

·         Trex will not splinter, so bare feet and hands are always safe.

·         Trex has excellent traction, so those bare feet stay put.

No trees are cut down for the purpose of making Trex.    The wood comes from reclaimed wood
from wood working operations, sawdust (200 million lbs.per year) and used pallets. Our manufacturing process is as green as our final product. Trex trailers used to transport wood dust utilize vegetable-based oil hydraulics. Our proprietary processing method eliminates smokestacks. Factory run-off/refuse is recycled back into the manufacturing line.

Trex is one of the largest plastic bag recyclers in the U.S. with 3.1 billion recycled grocery bags were collected for use to manufacture Trex products in 2010.

Because of its wood content, natural color shifts do occur in Trex products. Twelve to sixteen weeks of exposure to sunlight and rain are typically required for Trex to achieve its faded color. This process is completely harmless to Trex products and does not affect the durability.

The "after weathering" color of Trex may be different from the colors shown in the Trex Color Palette guide. There may also be color variation between boards. This is normal and gives Trex its distinctive look and character. The weathering process may be accelerated in dry areas by periodically wetting down the deck using a garden hose. Areas in heavy shade, or vertical components such as posts and balusters, may take considerably longer to fade.

Check it out at www.trex.com

DECKING OPTIONS – PART 1 – WOOD OPTIONS

IPE - An extremely dense, tight grained wood. Generally a deep rich brown with some pieces displaying red and amber hues.  Ipe decking offers benefits such as low maintence decking material, durable, scratch resistant surface,  all natural, chemical free decking.    Ipe has a high rating for insect and decay resistance and a 40+ year lifespan.  Sealers are not necessary! Ipe deck treatment is only needed if you desire to keep the rich brown colours that exist in a new installation. Ipe lumber will age to a natural silver gray patina, and outlast most woods with no chemical coating.

Check out Ipe lumber at www.ipedepot.com

TIGERWOOD - Light golden brown to reddish brown with irregular black and brown streaks.  Tigerwood is naturallly mold and decay resistant and is so dense that it holds together over many years of use. This kind of strength means that you won’t have to worry about splinters. Also, because Tigerwood dries fast, it’s also slip resistant.  Tigerwood offers a 20+ year lifespan.  A tigerwood deck will age well – it will slowly undergo a color shift if left untreated and attain a distinguished silvery-gray shade over time. 

If you want to keep the deck looking new all you’ll have to do is use a deck oil with a U.V. inhibitor twice the first two years, then once every other year after that. That’s it.

Check out Tigerwood at www.tigerwooddecking.com

PRESSURE TREATED WOOD - Very pronounced grain. Dusty yellow-green palor due to chemical treatment of the wood.  A chemical preservative, chromated copper arsenate is forced into the wood.  Offering resistance to decay, but also potential health concerns.  Amine Copper Quat (ACQ) and Copper Azone (CA) – Since 2003 these two chemical combinations have been the two most popular choices for pressure treated lumber deemed for residential use. Not much at all is known of the health risks of these chemicals. On paper these chemicals sound better than ARSENIC but at this point in time whether these new chemicals will turn out to be less hazardous than CCA in the long term is anyone's guess.

The effects of the elements on pressure-treated wood are no different than with ordinary wood. So a preservative is a must, and should be applied as soon as possible after your project is completed.  Pressure-treated lumber is shipped to the lumberyard in stacks that are tightly bundled and damp... sometimes even wet. If you go and pick through a bin of pressure-treated lumber, you will see some pieces are straight, and others moderately to wildly warped. The warped pieces are invariably the pieces that were on the outside of the bundle... exposed to the sun and air and dried on one side.  Once installed in your project and subjected to freely moving air and the sun, the same effect occurs. Shrinkage of deck boards can be excessive, in both length and width, and twisting can loosen railings and floor boards. Railings can become cracked and splintery, making them uncomfortable to use.

CHECK BACK IN NEXT WEEK AND WE’LL LOOK AT SOME MAINTANENCE FREE PVC DECKING OPTIONS.

Lenny & Lisa

Summer Maintenance To Do List:

•  Wash the exterior of windows and siding. 
• Apply a fresh coat of paint to the house or replace any damaged siding.
• Dust your ceiling fans. 
• Check windows and doors for air leaks and seal with weather stripping or caulking. 
• Repair broken fencing.  If you are thinking of replacing your fence take a look at the maintenance free options. 
• Check decks and railings for safety.  If you are thinking of replacing them there are many maintenance free options to consider.
•   Great storage options for all those summertime supplies are adding a shed or enclosing the bottom of a high deck. 
• Repair any driveway cracks and apply sealer. 
• Check your front and storm door for winter damages.  Now is a great time to paint or replace your doors.

Lenny & Lisa