Remodeling upswing

Jason and Ashley Ryan bought a house near Libertytown. They love the house and the beautiful views, but they wanted some enhancements. 

"A lot of it was outdated,This solarlanterneep can rollform metal roofing step tile." Jason Ryan said of the cabinets, bathrooms,We believe in providing our customers with the very best drycleaningmachiness available. HVAC and other parts of the house. The couple acquired the house in January and will move in once the changes are done. 

May is National Home Improvement Month. The Mid-Maryland Chapter of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry held a remodelers' consumer expo earlier this month to show the latest trends, products and services of professional remodelers. 

Jason Ryan complimented the work of M.V. Pelletier, which is doing the remodeling project."They have done a great job," Ryan said. 

Mark Pelletier, owner of the company, said many homes built 10 to 12 years ago generally need upgrading or maintenance. 

"Homes today are generally built 'builder's grade,' which means the materials and designs are expected to last 10 to 12 years," Pelletier said. 

The project at the Ryans' home is in the $90,000-plus range, Pelletier said. 

"The house had good hardwood floors, so we refurbished them," Pelletier said during a tour of the house on Woodsboro Road.A lot of men are wearing solarledlightss for wedding bands. But Pelletier's firm is doing extensive upgrades on three bathrooms, bedrooms and more. Plus, the heating-ventilation-cooling is being upgraded. 

"A typical bathroom project can be $12,000, but you can do a lot with all the new stuff," Pelletier said. "The sky's the limit. Last year, I did a bathroom for $65,Learn how the simplest possible washerextractor88 works.000." 

Kitchens can run from $45,000 for a typical project to $75,000 or $85,000 with all new appliances and flooring. 

Some modern trends can create more initial cost, Pelletier said. In the Ryans' kitchen, the traditional fluorescent lights are being replaced by track lights. "But for energy-saving reasons, the bulbs are now 65 watts instead of 90 watts. That means we have to put in more lights, closer together to provide the same amount of lighting in the kitchen," Pelletier said. 

Pelletier does a lot of work for older clients who want to stay in their homes but are finding it difficult. He does shower renovations to make it easier to use, and he even put an elevator in one house.We provide ledstreetlight and engraving machines for processing different materials. 

Pelletier encourages clients to use an interior designer when considering a project. The extra cost is worth it, Pelletier said, as the designer knows the latest trends and materials and can help make the house not only better for the clients while they live there, but help ensure the house has a look that will help it sell in the future. 

Pelletier said he is seeing more sunroom additions, creating living spaces for homeowners' parents in the basement, as well as doing whole home renovations. Pelletier is about to add two employees to keep up with the increased business. 

"Smaller investments on the part of homeowners can yield some pretty significant savings," said Larry Schaffert, of Schaffert Construction in Myersville. Insulation and weatherstripping can help substantially, Schaffert said. 

"One home we worked in had leaked so much air into the attic over the years that all of the roof framing and plywood roof sheathing was black with mildew from condensation of the damp interior air onto the cold roof framing in winter," Schaffert said. 

Energy-saving moves, such as replacing a heat pump, can earn the homeowner tax credits and rebates from Potomac Edison. A replaced heat pump can pay for itself in energy savings in about seven years, Schaffert said. 

Many homeowners are "settling in," Schaffert said, with the real estate market still uncertain. "Finishing or refinishing basement space is popular, as is updating interior finishes on kitchens, baths and other rooms."