All Phase Maintenance

Register to win a Rain Bird irrigation system or a pair of Wolverine work boots in BobVila.com’s Kick Off Spring Giveaway. Three lucky winners will receive Rain Bird irrigation systems with a approximate retail value of $750 and five winners will receive Wolverine work boots valued between $110 and $160. Read more about the prizes here. Enter today!



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With Americans looking to cut their electrical bill, many are looking into energy-monitoring devices such as Kill-A-Watt. These devices display how much electricity the device consumes and how much it is costing you to run. But do they work? Consumer Reports investigated.



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Here’s some good news on the housing front for a change: According to Builder magazine, housing starts jumped 22 percent from the previous month to 583,000. The number of building permits for single-family homes also rose 11 percent to 373,000. This was “unexpected good news” according to one analyst who also warned against “irrational exuberance.” The inventory of unsold homes is still high.



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For a limited time only, FLOR, the manufacturer of carpet tiles, is offering free shipping on all their products. You may recognize FLOR from our video on installing carpet tiles. As you can see in the video, these modular flooring/carpet tiles install quickly and easily. Give them a try if you are in the market for a new flooring solution.



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In response to the increasing emphasis on understanding the fragility of our environment, The American Bar Association will host a three-day Forum on the Construction Industry in New Orleans (the land of blues and a fragile ecosystem) on construction industry challenges affecting energy, sustainability and green building. From April 16 to 18, 400 attendees including lawyers, builders and other legal and industry experts will learn about green building fundamentals from green standards to …



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The new stimulus bill has some good news for contractors: Changes in the tax credit system to encourage green renovation projects are expected to generate $6 billion in remodeling work by the end of 2010. Energy Star has a complete list of credits available for homeowners. The maximum that can be claimed for energy0efficient improvements is $1,500, which does not include geothermal heat pumps, solar water heaters, solar panels, fuel cells and windmills that are not subject to this cap and …



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As any of you who regularly read this blog know, I am interested in greener living and, in particular, healthy homes for residents. To that end, I attended a session called “Healthy Homes, Healthy Families: A Summit for Municipal Leaders” held in Fitchburg, Mass., last week. Held at Fitchburg State College, the main speakers included Rebecca Morley, the executive director of the National Center for Healthy Housing (NCHH); Michael Berry from the Massachusetts New Homes with Energy Star …



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What home improvement project gives the greatest dollar value return in today’s market? The “2008-2009 Cost vs. Value Report” compiled by Remodeling and REALTOR® magazines shows assorted projects with the estimated job cost and expected resale value. It also outlines the top 10 projects with the greatest payback. Looking over the list, exterior jobs that boost curb appeal lead the pack.



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Quick quiz: How long would your home stand if you walked away from it tomorrow? According to Alan Weisman, author of The World Without Us, a wood-framed home will stand approximately 125 years before it did not exist anymore. This animation presents how the home would be destroyed by time, the elements and insects.



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There’s never been a better time to install energy-efficient windows. Due to changes in tax law with the passage of the new stimulus bill, energy-efficient windows purchased in 2009 and 2010 are eligible for a tax credit equal to 30 percent of the cost, capped at $1,500. This is five times more tax credit than before. The law has some specific restrictions, which you can read at this page from Simonton Windows.



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