"The city of Grand Rapids in Michigan is among the nation's leaders in energy conservation. The city's initiatives to use alternative and sustainable energy dates back to 1987. The culture of saving energy has thus been passed down to individual households. Today, many households are engaging in simple energy conservation efforts, including choosing energy-efficient windows in Grand Rapids, MI. Despite their small size, windows play a major role in balancing the flow of energy into a building. They are generally designed to keep heat and cold from entering or leaving a structure. Excessive amounts of either temperature means more energy will be needed to run the heating or cooling system. Johnson provides helpful ideas on choosing windows based on their capability to prevent this from happening."
http://vanderlaanhomeimprovement.com/what-you-can-seek-out-in-energy-efficient-windows-from-grand-rapids/Wednesday, December 18, 2013
Monday, December 16, 2013
Solid Holland Roofing and Home Improvements— Why You Should Avoid DIY
"Online magazine Celebrity Angels discusses the cost of disasters associated with do-it-yourself home repair or improvement projects. According to the author, surveys reveal that UK homeowners spend around £2.1 billion on repair or rehabilitation of damaged property every year. An interview with a home repair company manager reveals that many of those who end up worsening damage to their homes thought they were doing the right thing. DIY disasters are not unique to England; homes that suffered from DIY attempts to fix a damaged roof or wall also abound in the United States. Even exquisite homes in Holland, Michigan might collapse if homeowners recklessly dismantle and install materials. To avoid experiencing the same troubles that Britons experience annually, Hollanders should hire Holland roofing experts to do the job."
http://vanderlaanhomeimprovement.com/solid-holland-roofing-and-home-improvements-why-you-should-avoid-diy/Saturday, December 14, 2013
On Asking the Experts When Choosing Grand Rapids Roofing Materials
"There are several factors to consider when choosing the right roofing material. For one, the roof's aesthetics and practical purposes have to be combined to achieve the best possible outcome. Residents of Grand Rapids, MI need to consider the kind of weather the area gets and choose the right kind of roofing for Grand Rapids climate. As with the rest of Michigan state, Grand Rapids gets more snowfall in a year than many other places in the country, plus some heavy rainfall during non-winter months. Not only should roofs be able to withstand the onslaught of snow and rain, they should also be designed to minimize the accumulation of melted snow and rainwater. Anyone planning to construct or replace a roof should use a roofing material that can address these needs."
http://vanderlaanhomeimprovement.com/on-asking-the-experts-when-choosing-grand-rapids-roofing-materials/Thursday, December 12, 2013
Choosing Elegant and Energy-efficient Windows in Grand Rapids, MI
"One of the best reasons for a homeowner to go for window replacement is to benefit from new window models that are more energy-efficient than their older counterparts. In a feature article on diynetwork.com, John Riha mentions recent incentives in the form of federal tax credits given by the government to homeowners who use energy-efficient windows. This has made window replacement an attractive home improvement project in recent times. However, Mr. Riha points out that not all windows said to be energy-efficient are as reliable as advertised. To ensure you get the right quality for your money, Mr. Riha suggests you go for windows with the Energy Star label. Grand Rapids, Michigan homeowners may find these from reputable Grand Rapids, MI windows and home improvement contractors, such as Vander Laan Home Improvement."
http://vanderlaanhomeimprovement.com/choosing-elegant-and-energy-efficient-windows-in-grand-rapids-mi/Friday, November 8, 2013
Understanding Window Parts to Find the Right Grand Rapids, MI Windows
New window models come in various frame materials, including fiberglass, vinyl, metal, and composite. While all window frame materials have their own advantages and disadvantages, these four have been cited by the US Department of Energy to be the most energy-efficient. The right frames for your Grand Rapids, MI windows will depend on many factors, including your budget and your home's architecture.
http://vanderlaanhomeimprovement.com/understanding-window-parts-to-find-the-right-grand-rapids-mi-windows/Thursday, November 7, 2013
Let Reliable Holland Roofing Experts Handle Your Home's Gutter System
The function of gutters is to collect water or melted ice from the roof's surface and convey it to the ground drainage system to prevent it from damaging other vital structural components below. It's crucial for homes located in cities like Holland, Michigan, where significant volumes of precipitation fall at this time of year. When clogs or damage call for repair, you should trust only a reliable Holland roofing company to handle the job.
http://vanderlaanhomeimprovement.com/let-reliable-holland-roofing-experts-handle-your-homes-gutter-system/Wednesday, November 6, 2013
Efficient Insulation for Your Grand Rapids Roofing Means Warm Winter
Winter is on the horizon, meaning you and other homeowners living in cities like Grand Rapids, Michigan─ where winter can get really cold─ should start reinsulating your homes. In the process, the Department of Energy suggests that Grand Rapids roofing insulation should meet the required R-value for each area of the house to be installed with the material and make sure the insualting material is properly installed. R-value refers to a material's thermal resistance.
http://vanderlaanhomeimprovement.com/efficient-insulation-for-your-grand-rapids-roofing-means-warm-winter/Tuesday, November 5, 2013
Possibly More Energy Savings from Grand Rapids Replacement Windows
For now, homeowners can do their part by taking “baby steps” like minimizing the use of electrical appliances and buying from retailers of energy-efficient windows in Grand Rapids, MI. Contractors such as Vanderlaan Home Improvement also contribute by employing only the best Energy Star-rated construction materials for their clients. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which created the Energy Star program, estimated that Michigan homeowners can save about $78-377 a year from energy-efficient replacement windows alone.
http://vanderlaanhomeimprovement.com/possibly-more-energy-savings-from-grand-rapids-replacement-windows/Monday, October 21, 2013
It’s Wise to Buy New Windows for Grand Rapids, MI Homes, Especially if You Want to Sell Your House
"Homeowners who are planning to buy replacement windows in Grand Rapids, MI or start other renovation projects down the line sometimes second-guess themselves, thinking that their plans might not have a sizable return on investment. This is especially true of homeowners who plan to remodel then sell their homes because they want to recoup as much as they can from what they've spent. Interestingly, Remodeling Magazine says that this year is actually a good time to have home renovation projects, since sellers can recover a great deal of cash from them. According to their 2013 Cost vs. Value Report: The biggest gainers this year were mostly replacement projects, which have always outperformed discretionary remodeling projects, more so in recent years as the economic recession brought price to the forefront for homeowners making remodeling decisions."
http://vanderlaanhomeimprovement.com/its-wise-to-buy-new-windows-for-grand-rapids-mi-homes-especially-if-you-want-to-sell-your-house/Sunday, October 20, 2013
Insulation is the Best Way to Prep Your Holland Roofing System for the Michigan Winter
"Homeowners prepping for winter can stop the energy waste cycle by taking a closer look at their insulation. As one of the fastest and most cost-efficient ways to reduce energy waste and lower bills, insulation traps warm air inside a home’s walls -- similar to how a fleece sweater does for the body – to regulate a home’s temperature. With forecasts suggesting an early and cold winter coming, those who live in Michigan can definitely benefit from reliable insulation in their homes. Effective home insulation can be achieved in various ways, although the most common ones involve modifying the roofing system to absorb and reflect heat more efficiently. One Holland roofing company, VanderLaan Home Improvement, even specializes in installing high-quality insulation materials on shingle and metal roofing systems. "
http://vanderlaanhomeimprovement.com/insulation-is-the-best-way-to-prep-your-holland-roofing-system-for-the-michigan-winter/Saturday, October 19, 2013
Why Cool Roofing in Grand Rapids, Michigan Can Also Become Necessary
"Grand Rapids, MI is famous for its cold winters and copious amounts of snowfall. Logic would then dictate that property owners would probably not need cool roof systems for their houses or buildings. This is a misguided notion, however, as cool roofs are beneficial regardless of the climate conditions where they are installed. This is because their value is derived from their year-long usefulness; they are not useful for only a few months. Though winters in the city can become particularly harsh, making quality roofing in Grand Rapids come to focus during this season more than any other time of year, it is a fact that temperatures in the city can still approach very warm levels during months such as July and August. This temporary spike in temperature, no matter how short, is usually what leads homeowners to rack up exceedingly high energy bills. Having cool roofs helps cut down the soaring costs that accumulate during these months and enables homeowners to garner greater savings a
http://vanderlaanhomeimprovement.com/why-cool-roofing-in-grand-rapids-michigan-can-also-become-necessary/Friday, October 18, 2013
The Importance of Energy Star Ratings for Windows in Grand Rapids, MI
"Homeowners and construction companies alike have relied on Energy Star ratings to determine which products they want to install in houses. The rating itself is an indicator of energy transfer in many forms, making its assignment to a particular product a practical aid, and even a necessity, in areas such as Grand Rapids, MI where heat can become a scarce commodity. With the city experiencing days of abundant snowfall, it is a priority for residents to seek out only windows that have acquired the Energy Star rating. Windows in Grand Rapids, MI are expected to perform more efficiently when it comes to preserving heat within a building because of the local climate. As ideal as it would be to have a home that features the most creatively designed windows, these would all be worthless if they are woefully incapable of keeping heat where it should be."
http://vanderlaanhomeimprovement.com/the-importance-of-energy-star-ratings-for-windows-in-grand-rapids-mi/