Improving Insulation - Photos & Ideas

This recently purchased home in Baltimore near Morgan State University had original wood siding, which was rotting in some places, and had single pane wood windows that were leaking air and provided no insulation value. Capital provided and installed custom vinyl insulated replacement windows that are highly energy efficient with 12 layers of Low-e and argon, along with additional luxury features and benefits such as Tru-v beveled colonial grid pattern. In addition to the windows, Capital provided and installed Mastic Quest 4’’ siding in Pebblestone Clay with Rugged Canyon trim as a beautiful accent while capping all windows and doors in white.

home remodelers la verne

RMA Home Remodeling La Verne

Zen staircase photo in Los Angeles

Master Bath Remodel

Lori May Interiors

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Cellular Window Shades

Budget Blinds of Newburyport

Cellular window shades are a modern window treatment solution constructed of multiple, small honeycomb cells within the shades. Cellular shades offer excellent insulation and improve a room's energy efficiency. Our luxurious cellular window shades are designed with innovative honeycomb-shaped cells, available in three cell sizes and four light control levels. Budget Blinds of Newburyport offers cellular window shades in a variety of styles and colors.

Old Farmhouse becomes Modern Day Residence.

Professional Home Improvement, Inc.

Total Upgrade with Beautiful Portico. Metal Forever Roof
Mid-sized traditional white two-story vinyl gable roof idea in Chicago with a metal roof

Cellular Window Shades

Budget Blinds of Newburyport

Basement finish

PLF Design & Remodeling

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New Albany, OH

NME Builders LLC2 Reviews

Remodeling Company in New Albany, Ohio

Historic Home Renovation

Greenview Renovation

Project Objectives: Enhance spatial dynamics to support modern living standards. Integrate cutting-edge fixtures and smart home technologies for enhanced convenience. Boost the home’s energy efficiency with advanced insulation and HVAC solutions. Revitalize the exterior façade and landscaping to improve outdoor enjoyment and aesthetic value. Execute the renovation in compliance with the latest building codes, within budget and on schedule.

Cellular Window Shades

Budget Blinds of Newburyport

Cellular Window Shades

Budget Blinds of Newburyport

SouthEnd RowHome - Rear Facade

ZeroEnergy Design

This renovated brick rowhome in Boston’s South End offers a modern aesthetic within a historic structure, creative use of space, exceptional thermal comfort, a reduced carbon footprint, and a passive stream of income. DESIGN PRIORITIES. The goals for the project were clear - design the primary unit to accommodate the family’s modern lifestyle, rework the layout to create a desirable rental unit, improve thermal comfort and introduce a modern aesthetic. We designed the street-level entry as a shared entrance for both the primary and rental unit. The family uses it as their everyday entrance - we planned for bike storage and an open mudroom with bench and shoe storage to facilitate the change from shoes to slippers or bare feet as they enter their home. On the main level, we expanded the kitchen into the dining room to create an eat-in space with generous counter space and storage, as well as a comfortable connection to the living space. The second floor serves as master suite for the couple - a bedroom with a walk-in-closet and ensuite bathroom, and an adjacent study, with refinished original pumpkin pine floors. The upper floor, aside from a guest bedroom, is the child's domain with interconnected spaces for sleeping, work and play. In the play space, which can be separated from the work space with new translucent sliding doors, we incorporated recreational features inspired by adventurous and competitive television shows, at their son’s request. MODERN MEETS TRADITIONAL. We left the historic front facade of the building largely unchanged - the security bars were removed from the windows and the single pane windows were replaced with higher performing historic replicas. We designed the interior and rear facade with a vision of warm modernism, weaving in the notable period features. Each element was either restored or reinterpreted to blend with the modern aesthetic. The detailed ceiling in the living space, for example, has a new matte monochromatic finish, and the wood stairs are covered in a dark grey floor paint, whereas the mahogany doors were simply refinished. New wide plank wood flooring with a neutral finish, floor-to-ceiling casework, and bold splashes of color in wall paint and tile, and oversized high-performance windows (on the rear facade) round out the modern aesthetic. RENTAL INCOME. The existing rowhome was zoned for a 2-family dwelling but included an undesirable, single-floor studio apartment at the garden level with low ceiling heights and questionable emergency egress. In order to increase the quality and quantity of space in the rental unit, we reimagined it as a two-floor, 1 or 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment with a modern aesthetic, increased ceiling height on the lowest level and provided an in-unit washer/dryer. The apartment was listed with Jackie O'Connor Real Estate and rented immediately, providing the owners with a source of passive income. ENCLOSURE WITH BENEFITS. The homeowners sought a minimal carbon footprint, enabled by their urban location and lifestyle decisions, paired with the benefits of a high-performance home. The extent of the renovation allowed us to implement a deep energy retrofit (DER) to address air tightness, insulation, and high-performance windows. The historic front facade is insulated from the interior, while the rear facade is insulated on the exterior. Together with these building enclosure improvements, we designed an HVAC system comprised of continuous fresh air ventilation, and an efficient, all-electric heating and cooling system to decouple the house from natural gas. This strategy provides optimal thermal comfort and indoor air quality, improved acoustic isolation from street noise and neighbors, as well as a further reduced carbon footprint. We also took measures to prepare the roof for future solar panels, for when the South End neighborhood’s aging electrical infrastructure is upgraded to allow them. URBAN LIVING. The desirable neighborhood location allows the both the homeowners and tenant to walk, bike, and use public transportation to access the city, while each charging their respective plug-in electric cars behind the building to travel greater distances. OVERALL. The understated rowhouse is now ready for another century of urban living, offering the owners comfort and convenience as they live life as an expression of their values. Eric Roth Photo