Archive for: April 2009

Low interest rates increase home improvement opportunities

In a recent article in the Boston Globe newspaper, Kermit Baker who is director of Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies said, “Lower financing costs are beginning to stabilize the downturn in existing home sales, as they also are reducing …

Federal Tax Credit

As part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, a Federal Tax Credit of up to 30% of the purchase price is offered for qualifying home improvements.  There is a maximun credit of $1,500.

By now we ALL know …

Buyer Beware!

It sounds simple, but how many of you actually ask for references?  A lot of consumers don’t for whatever reason.  Maybe you don’t want to “insult” the company representative.  Maybe you don’t want to look foolish because you’ve heard of …

50 Year Home Security Guarantee

date 14 Apr 2009 | category Replacement Windows

Blue Ridge Exteriors is so sure that our replacement windows provide unmatched safety that we offer a 50 Year Home Security Guarantee.  In the event of a proven forced entry/burglary through a properly locked VinylMax replacement window, Blue Ridge Exteriors …

FAQ’s

I receive a lot of emailed questions and wanted to address some of them here for you.  What I’ll try to do is put a few on this blog from time to time.  Maybe you’ll see an answer to a …

Replacement windows and the stimulus tax credit

Did you know that not all windows qualify for the stimulus tax credit?  A window must have a U-Value of .30 or less and a SHGC (Solar Heat Gain Coefficient) of .30 or less to qualify for any tax credit. 

Did …

HardiePlank cost vs. Vinyl cost

According to a publication called Side By Side on the website of the Vinyl Siding Institute “the initial purchase price <of fiber cement siding> (including labor and finish costs) is over 49% higher than vinyl siding”. (page 10 of 12)

REALLY???

Tell …