Rebates, Second Round

The State has started a new rebate program - The Texas Appliance Mail-in Rebate Program.  At first glance, this updated program seems to be easier to navigate.  The big drawback for the rebate program in April was the required reservation via telephone or internet.  This caused the rebate site and phone lines to be overloaded.

For this rebate, just send in the application along with qualifying proof of purchase.  Funds are available on a first come, first serve basis.  For more information, please visit:

Winter is time to plan Spring projects

Your springtime project starts now!

That may sound crazy as we are enjoying the holiday season, but it is true.  A lot of work actually happens before the hammer starts hammering.

• The Design Phase: Whether you are choosing paint colors, tile, or windows, it takes a while to look at all the options and customize choices that are right for you and your home.  Often the design phase takes longer than any other phase of the project.

• Lead Time for Materials:  Cabinets, countertops, lighting, appliances - they all need lead time.  Custom cabinets can sometimes take 6 to 12 weeks for delivery.

• Permitting:  Whether you are building a new house or remodeling your current house, you will need permits.  These can include plumbing, electrical, demolition, and construction permits.  And when dealing with the city, always plan for unexpected delays.

• Scheduling: General contractors will typically schedule sub-contractors based on when materials are delivered.  Once those items arrive, they want those them installed as quickly as possible.  So the sooner the materials are ordered, the sooner sub-contractors can be scheduled. 

• Ahead of the Rush: Spring and summer are busy times in the construction world.  In order to be on the top of the list when it comes to your general contractor, suppliers, or even sub-contractors, it pays to get on their radar early.

Whether you are thinking about updating your kitchen, creating an outdoor living space, or building a custom home, the time to start planning is now.  Ready to get started on your spring project?  Give us a call at 512.275.6500.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Duarte Construction!

We have so much to be thankful for this year - Our suppliers, our sub-contractors, and of course, our amazing homeowners.  And we are especially thankful that we have been able to grow Duarte Construction through 100% referrals.  That makes us feel so proud and humbled with the work that we do.

Thank you for allowing Duarte Construction to be part of your team as you create your dream home.  I hope all of you are enjoying Thanksgiving surrounded by family, friends, and a house that you love.

A home to grow old in

One big trend that I am seeing over and over again is planning a custom home that takes into consideration the challenges that we face as we age.  Many baby boomers, especially retirees, want to plan a home that they can stay in as long as possible and maintain the comfortable lifestyle they are used to.  So whether they are in a wheelchair or worried about reduced eyesight or arthritis, navigating their home does not have to become a chore.

Here are some of the areas that people are customizing so that they can grow old gracefully in their home:

• Single story floor plans
• Stair free living - that includes eliminating steps leading into the front door or even the garage
• Wider doorways and hallways - these should be at least 32 inches wide
• Clothing rods that are located between 24 and 44 inches from the finished floor
• Lower light switches
• Higher electrical outlets
• Good lighting through out the home including closets and hallways
• Eliminating carpet in order to be more wheelchair friendly
• Showers with a sit-down bench

Thinking through these options has allowed many of our clients to not only build the home that they want to live in now, but also down the road.

Hello Mold!

When we were called out to Dripping Springs to talk about a potential remodeling project, we were told that the house had some mold.  Wow, the homeowner was not kidding.  This house was swimming in mold.

With mold this bad, we knew immediately that there was really only one option - tear the house down to the studs and start all over again.  So that is exactly what we are doing.

Stay tuned for more photos as we rip this house apart and build it back up to its former glory.

Building Trends

Even though we are in economic tough times, new homes are still being built, especially in Central Texas.  But with these new homes, it is interesting to note that people are approaching their custom homes in a different way than before.  Here are some of the trends that we are seeing.

• Smaller floor plans:  It seems that people are going more conservative when it comes to square footage.  Media rooms and 3-car garages are being replaced by bigger family rooms and 2-car garages.

• Quality products:  Homeowners are wanting high-quality products that last longer and are energy efficient, even if that means a higher up front cost.  That is because people are staying in their homes longer and want to have to deal with less ongoing maintenance.

• Outdoor living areas: The outdoor living trend continues to be strong.  This space is serving as family's second kitchen, family room, and dining room all rolled up in one.

• Increased storage: Another trend that is still going strong, but the shift is that homeowners want the storage to be smarter and better thought out for the space.  For example, laundry rooms are getting a lot more attention in how they are laid out and the additional storage space that they can bring.

The bottom line is that people are spending more time at home than before and they are also planning to stay in those homes longer.  So every detail and decision becomes more important when designing and building a home.

Kitchen Remodel - Andersen Mill

The kitchen at the Pena residence was our first kitchen remodel this past summer.   

The wish list included:

• Bring the kitchen "out of the 1970's"
• Open up the space
• Remove a double oven and adding more storage
• Install new cabinets and appliances

As you can see, the kitchen did need some updating.  In order to open up the space, we removed the upper cabinets separating the kitchen from the dining room.  Then we removed the light box at the kitchen ceiling.  This allowed us to "bump" up the ceiling 12 inches.  These two decisions opened up the kitchen.  What do you think?

We then added these great shaker-style, espresso-stained cabinets from KitchenCraft.  The cabinets are frameless, allowing for less wood to be used, as well as increasing storage capacity.  Combined with integrated storage solutions, the cabinets are much more efficient than the previous ones. 

We also installed a New Venetian Gold granite countertop from Rodeo Marble and a travertine backsplash to compliment the cabinets and granite.  

Overall, the kitchen looks cleaner, updated, and much more open.  Another kitchen remodeling success!

Looking to update your kitchen?  We would love to help. Contact us at info@duarteconstruct.com or 512.275.6500.  

Laundry Room Makeover

While many hours each week are spent in the laundry room, it may be one of the least thought-out rooms in the house.  It is all too common to focus your attention on the kitchen or master suite, but the laundry room is just an afterthought.

But when someone takes the time to think through the features and logistics of a laundry room, it can make the necessary chore of doing your laundry a much better experience.

Take this laundry room renovation that I tackled this summer.  My client had a typical laundry room that did the job, but was narrow and had limited storage.  And with two active kids, the laundry baskets often piled up.

So they decided to change things around a bit.  The wish list included:

• More storage
• Everything to have its place
• More open space  that would make it easier to move around in
• A room that could function like both a laundry room and a mud room

And with a design by Austin designer Jon Salinas AIA, we jumped into the project.  

We extended the laundry room by using some of the existing garage space.

Then we added much needed storage in the form of cabinets and an island from QSI Custom Cabinets.  The cabinets work well for all of those random items that end up in the laundry room: dog food, water bottles, etc.  The soapstone island countertop from Dorado Soapstone serves as a great work surface to sort and fold clothes.

And my favorite part of this renovation are the perfect-sized cubbies to hold those laundry baskets and the cloth bins that can hide the clutter.  Everything has its place.

The final touch was a fresh coat of paint. The mustard yellow warms up the space immensely.

When an overlooked laundry room gets the attention that it deserves, the results can be extraordinary.

Should you be your own general contractor?

This is a hard question to answer in my opinion. Bottom line is that it is like everything else. Yes, you will make rookie mistakes. Yes, you can do a lot of the work yourself. And yes, you can be successful in being your own general contractor.

But before you pull out the hammer and blueprints, let's look at some of the advantages of hiring a general contractor so that at least you are aware of what you are up against. General contractors have a few big advantages over a do-it-yourself home owner.

• They have relationships with sub-contractors that make it a lot easier to create a schedule and stick to it.  When a general contractor calls a plumber and asks him to start a job, that plumber will show up when expected and get the job done.  When a homeowner calls a plumber, that homeowner is at the mercy of the plumber's schedule and priority list.

• A general contractor most often knows where to get the best quality products for the least amount of money.  Because he often buys products in bulk and has a relationship with the supplier, he can get a better rate than the average person.  In addition, he knows from experience which products have the best quality.  It is better to spend a few more dollars on a sink that will hold up, than one that is cheaper but will require a warranty call in a matter of months.

• A general contractor can also save you time.  Knowing exactly what inspections need to happen when, the shipping time of a product, and the scheduling conflicts of the sub-contractors, a general contractor can anticipate problems before they happen.   A homeowner won't know all of this and probably has other full-time responsibilities that will draw out the timeline even more.

My advice... When planning a major renovation or new construction project, really sit down and evaluate your skills. Be honest with yourself. Do you have the time to dedicate to this project? How is your construction knowledge? Do you have connections in the construction industry? Are you on a strict schedule?

Depending on your answers to these questions, being your own general contractor might be a really wonderful, gratifying experience. However, if your answers to these questions cause some doubt, then it might be worth reaching out to a general contractor who can partner with you to make your project a success.

Rebate Date Changed

The SECO rebate reservation date has moved to April 7th!  More information can be found at:

Also, it appears that rebate programs in other states have either sold out rather quickly or the computer servers were having issues due to the amount of traffic to the sites.  So be sure to log on early and get your reservation number.

Tax Credits, Rebates, and More Rebates

As many people are well aware of the extended Federal Tax Credit for Consumer Energy Efficiency (tax credit is 30% of the total cost of the product up to $1500), few may be aware of great state and local rebates that are available in addition to the federal tax credit.  A couple are outlined below:

In Texas, the State Energy Conservation Office (SECO) offers the Texas Trade Up Appliance Rebate Program with rebates available for upgrading to appliances that improve the overall energy efficiency of a home.  This includes everything from refrigerators to water heaters to entire HVAC systems.  For example, if a qualifying water heater was purchased for $1500, the SECO rebate would be $330 (after recycling the old one) and the federal tax credit would be $450 (30% of $1500).

As funding for the program is limited, the SECO rebates are only available for a specified time and require a reservation.  Rebates can be reserved beginning April 5, 2010 and the qualifying product must be purchased between April 16 - April 25, and be installed within 60 days of the reservation.  For more information regarding SECO rebates, please visit: 

           

In Austin, Austin Energy offers the Home Performance with EnergyStar program that has rebates for upgrading the HVAC system, radiant barrier, and insulation to name a few.  The rebate is 20% of the total cost, up to $1575.  To qualify for the program, a Home Performance energy analysis would have to be completed by a participating partner.  For more information regarding Austin Energy rebates, and to see a full listing of current available rebates for residents in the Austin area, please visit:

For more information regarding your specific needs, please contact us at 512.275.6500 or at  info@duarteconstruct.com

Product: Hardie with ColorPlus

During a recent addition, we had the opportunity to work with James Hardie siding with ColorPlus Technology.  This is a fantastic product!  It is essentially pre-painted Hardie cement fiber boards.  Once installed, the nail holes and joints are caulked with a color-matched caulking and that's it.  Done!  The house has new siding and paint all in one day!

 

The cost of this product is about 25% more than using the conventional system of installing standard primed Hardie and painting it in the field.  However, there are some distinct advantages of using ColorPlus:

 - zero maintenance
 - color is guaranteed to not chip, peel, or warp for 15 years
 - 400% better paint adherence
 - 30% better fade resistance
 - installation labor also guaranteed for 15 years


For more information regarding your specific needs, please contact us at info@duarteconstruct.com or 512.275.6500.

8 Hot Kitchen Trends

From the 2010 International Builders' Show... 8 Hot New Kitchen Trends.  Some really good ideas.  Check them out:

Sears House, Update 2

The Sears house remodel project is coming to an end.  Here are several more before/after pictures:

(Before)

(After)

The roof was entirely demolished and the metal was sent to a reseller for reuse.  Once damaged roof rafters were replaced, a new galvalume metal roof was installed.  The original windows were kept on the front  elevation in order to keep the authenticity of the intital design.  Along with a cleaning and a fresh coat of paint, the Sears house has a second life well into its next century.



Before



After



These before and after pictures are taken from the living room while looking into the dining room.  The original light fixtures were kept, as they still work, and lend an additional charm to the Sears house.  The hardwood floors were repaired and refinished with a red oak stain and a water-based, semi-gloss polyurethane.

Before



After



After



The fireplace mantel had very interesting mouldings and ornate details that we definitely wanted to repair and preserve.  After repairing the mouldings, we removed all of the old caulking, sanded, re-caulked and painted the mantle.  As intended, it is now the focal point of the entire house.



Before



After

The exterior dining room wall had extensive termite damage and was completely rebuilt with new framing members, windows, sheetrock and trim.   The interior wall was painted a light blue to help balance the earth tones and to create a nice accent.  Again, we kept the original light fixture and the trim around the windows was designed to replicate the original window trim.

This was such an amazing project to see this transformation.

Tax Incentives Extended!

The Federal Tax Credit for Consumer Energy Efficiency has been extended into 2010!  What does this mean?  On an existing primary residence, a homeowner can upgrade several key elements contributing to the overall energy efficiency of the home and receive a tax credit.  This could include replacing windows, roofing, or even an HVAC system.  The tax credit is for 30% of the total cost of the product (excluding installation) up to $1500.  The credit expires December 31, 2010.


Also, a 30% federal tax credit for solar panels, geothermal heat pump systems, and small residential wind turbines is extended until December 31, 2016.  This credit applies for existing and new construction homes, primary and secondary residences, and has no max limit!

For more information regarding this tax credit program and the entire list of qualifying products, please visit:

For more information regarding your specific needs, please contact us at 512.275.6500 or at info@duarteconstruct.com.