MARK IV BUILDERS

2011-06-29T07:11:00.000-07:00

Storm Water Management

What is it and how does it affect you?

For thousands of years, the idea has been to channel the rain away from our sleeping areas as quickly and efficiently as possible. We started with ditches and then graduated to an elaborate storm drain system of pipes, grates and catch basins (that have all done a good job of keeping of our homes dry). But what happens to rain once it hits your roof, is channeled through your own personal storm drain system (gutters & downspouts), dumps onto your lawn, fills the swale between your house and your neighbor's, flows to the curb and finally reaches the storm sewer?

Largely, that concentrated flow of rain water dumps into our rivers and streams all at one time. That surge of storm water swells streams and rivers and dramatically increases the scouring of the soil and sediment, which in turn clouds our estuary system. It's the way storm water management been done for many of years.

Too much water - Too Fast!

The issue has become the concentration of people, the hard surfaces and the "stuff" we use to live (categorized by some as pollutants-like battery acid and heavy metals from electric cars). Increasingly, our local governments have come to the conclusion that is it better to capture rain water at the initial point (our homes) and allow the rain water to slowly filter into the soil, thereby reducing the surge waters into our streams and rivers and it's collateral damage.

Current methods include:

Rain barrels - (the Takoma Park method) they work fairly well. They require some attention from the homeowners to actually use the water and so on. (I'm not one of those homeowners)
Rain gardens - (another Takoma Park method) is a planted depression that allows rainwater runoff from impervious urban areas like roofs, driveways, walkways, parking lots, and compacted lawn areas the opportunity to be absorbed.

Underground storage tanks - (the Bethesda method) the choice of many due to low maintenance and relative invisibility(and this system allows for the slow percolation of the storm water into the soil).

Tank in place, then Tank buried

All new construction and additions now have to address storm water management in some fashion. The concern is that if we replace our housing stock at a rate of about 1% per year, it will take about 75 years to implement this plan. You'd be surprised at how much area is required to actually hold the storm water that falls on your property. But by creating any of these rain water holding systems on your property now, YOU can make a difference and improve the quality of the crabs we harvest each year.

Basement Apartment --

A good way to bring in some extra cash
(if you don't live in the People's Republic of Montgomery County)

I've gotten some calls regarding adding a basement apartment recently. Enough so, that I finally drove up to Rockville to find out what is required. It would appear that our local government doesn't want it to be too easy.

In order to create and rent an Accessory Apartment in your home,
you must;

Own a single family dwelling (no townhouses or mobile homes)
Be owner occupied
Have at least two off-street parking spaces (driveway, not front yard) (or proof of adequate on-street parking**??**)
A separate entrance so the appearance of a one-family home is preserved
Must apply and be granted a Special Exception through the MoCo Board of Appeals. The Board of Appeals says this process takes about 10 months.
Get a license from the Department of Housing and Community Affairs

See how easy it is to make ends meet here in Montgomery County!

The Google Art Project

Birth of Venus

Google is adding more and more to our lives. One of the interesting sites created by Google is the Google Art Project, a collection of art museums (currently 17). Most of the art is contained in such museums as the Uffizi Gallery in Florence and the Met in New York. Make sure you click on the "Learn More" button to get an idea of this impressive resource.

http://www.googleartproject.com/

Even better, if you work downtown, take in one of the museums during your lunch hour. One summer, I spent the entire season wandering the museum halls rather than fighting traffic every evening. There is a serene circular room to the right side of the National Gallery with a fountain and a huge round domed skylight where I would sit and read rather than fight the traffic and heat.

I know this is a remodeling company blog that doesn't have much to do about remodeling. My purpose is to put out useful information about your home and to keep MARK IV Builders on your mind.

If you know of someone that would like the information in our blog, please pass it on.

The greatest compliment that someone can give us is the referral of their family and friends.

Enjoy your summer!

Thank you,
Mark Scott
MARK IV Builders, Inc.
(240) 395-0400
www.markivbuilders.com

May 2011

2011-05-13T09:41:00.000-07:00

To Remodel or Not to Remodel

I started my first draft of this month's newsletter being grumpy about having to replace my HVAC system. Imagine that a top of the line HVAC system just crapped out after only 23 years!!! Replacing the system is expensive, and I'll stay grumpy about it for a little while longer, but the DC area is still a great place to live.

The DC area is ranked as one of the top remodeling spots in the country.

Industry is growing in our region. Life sciences, health care, professional services (read attorneys) and the ubiquitous "federal contractors," SAIC, Hilton Worldwide, Volkswagen of America and CSC are all moving their headquarters here.

Whatever the decline in defense spending may be, it will be replaced with new spending on new agencies like Cyber Defense, NSA, DHS, DHHS, SEC. Uncle Sam is good for this economy!

More fun facts:

10% of adults between the ages of 18 and 34 said the poor economy has forced them to move back in with parents.

12% more have had to find a roommate to scale down living expenses.

15% of adults younger than 35 years old say they have postponed getting married because of the recession.

14% of young adults say they have put off having a baby.

Single buyers will be the fastest-growing household type over the next decade, according to recent demographic projections from the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University.

The survey shows that nearly 50% of singles are considering a move because of a life-changing event, such as a divorce, a new job, or the death of a spouse. "After job growth, divorce may be the biggest driver of new-home demand."

Of these fun facts, to me, two are the most telling: 10% have moved back home and 14% have put off having a baby. Hmm, can a new housing boom be very far away?

Saturday, May 21 from 10 am to 3 pm
Bring Your Pooch

Come on down to downtown Bethesda, Woodmont Avenue in front of the Barnes ahttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifnd Noble on the 21st for the 5th annual Strut Your Mutt Extravaganza. There will be a phttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
uppy parade, a beauty contest and lots of vendors that will sell you dumb stuff for your dogie.

It's fun! It's always a sunny day! Besides, how often do you walk around Bethesda with your dog?

For more info click HERE

Home Repairs

If you still have an antennae attached to your chimney, you probably need some work on your chimney. If you look closely at the chimney photo, you'll see places where the face of the brick has popped off. In this case, the chimney cap has cracked and allowed water to seep in. During the winter those water soaked bricks froze and then expanded and broke off the face of the brick. If you could back far enough away, you'd see the roof littered with pieces of brick. The only way to fix it, is to replace the concrete chimney cap. Cost around $1,200

I know this is a remodeling company newsletter that doesn't have much about remodeling, but if you're getting this blog, you have some connection to us. My purpose is to put out useful information about your home and to keep MARK IV Builders on your mind.

If you know of someone that would like the information in our blog, please pass it on.

The greatest compliment that someone can give us is the referral of their family and friends.

April 2011

2011-04-14T07:46:00.000-07:00

Spring Stink Bugs!

What a wonderful opening for a Spring blog!

Unfortunately, we're all going to be talking about this little invader more and more. It seems the noxious little stink bug landed in the Port of Philadelphia 8 or 9 years ago where it found the land of plenty and no predators. The stink bug population has been building ever since. It is presumed that the population won't peak for another 2 to 3 years which means you are going to get significantly more annoyed with these little "buggers."

What to do?

When you find them in your home, don't squash them. That's how they earned their name. Pick them up with a wad of tissue and flush them or throw them outside. They don't bite or do much of anything in your home beyond annoyance. Another method is to vacuum them up and dispose of the critters.

The stink bug population has grown to the point that they are causing crop damage, particularly fruits and noticeably to your backyard tomatoes. This damage has garnered the notice of the US Agricultural Department who are experimenting with various chemical and biological deterrents. One promising biological threat is an Asian parasitic wasp, no bigger than a comma, that has an uncommon taste for the stink bug eggs. Unfortunately, this killer will take years to develop.

So what do you do NOW?

There are a number of avenues more effective than others. Many of these insecticides and repellents have the added benefit of working on ants, roaches silverfish and so on.

BAYGON- a spray insecticide that's been around since 1975. The active ingredient is from the Pyrethroid family. It's effective but there is some toxicity to humans and pets.
ECO Sprays - Eco EXEMPT KO and various other "ECO" products- most contain some sort of "botanical Blend" which usually means they are a mixture of various "essential oils". Essential oils are distillations of aromatic plants, like clove, wintergreen, eucalyptus and so on. Personally, if I go to the trouble to get out a spray, I want to see the little bas***ds die faster than they will from clove oil.
So, how about repellants?
My all-time favorite is good old Boric Acid. It can be used as a powder and puff duster; it can be mixed with water and sprayed along cracks and such, it can be mixed with propylene glycol (non-toxic version of anti-freeze) to spray wood, decks etc. It's a fire retarder and has roughly the same toxicity as table salt. Boric acid is the "Secret Ingredient" found in more than 200 commercial insecticides. As a side note, the State of California has classified borax as a hazardous waste. That fact makes it all the more attractive to me!
And finally, another repellent/insecticide is food grade Diatomaceous Earth. Food grade DE is safe around your house, kids and pets. It won't harm earthworms. It doesn't kill insects via poison but does so through microscopic sharp edges that cut the insects exoskeleton and they dry out. I buy it in a giant shaker can and shakes it around my house foundation or you can mix it with water and spray it on your lawn.
.
A fun Fact: Remember Death Valley Days sponsored by 20 Mule Team Borax, it still exists. Click on the link to download a booklet on the great uses of Borax.
http://www.20muleteamlaundry.com/pdf/TMTBooklet.pdf

Carpenter Bees

Another sign of Spring is the emergence of Carpenter Bees. These large bees look like bumble bees but are actually relatively harmless to you, but they sure can tear up some wood on your house.

Structurally, the damage is superficial but it is unsightly. If you have one Carpenter Bee nest last year, you can expect 3 or 4 more of her daughters to join the clan this year! Additionally, if you are near groups of trees, like our house, woodpeckers know there's a tasty treat around those 1/2' holes and can really go to town on the surrounding wood

To get rid of these critters, you need a duster and some Drione. Drione dust is a Pyrethrins desiccant dust with a residual of over 6 months. Puff a bit into the hole and then repair the hole with and exterior grade filler and repaint.
Energy Saving Programmable T-stats?

Those of you that know me understand the I believe and promote home energy efficiency but "green Eco-Bling" drives me crazy.

In the pre-Green days, most of us used this simple round thermostat.

You turned the temperature up when you got home and then you turned the setting down when you went to bed or left for the day. It always seemed to work pretty well.

Now the ECO-Bling Brigade tell us we need the Programmable Thermostat.

This relatively expensive piece of equipment will do all of those mundane temperature adjustments automatically! And the Earth is saved!

But, According to Daily5Remodel.com, the majority of programmable thermostat owners simply operate them manually! They never program them! Consumers aren't interested enough to learn how to program these things. Most of us find these miniature computers too confusing and baffling to learn how to operate. Most people simply leave the t-stat on "hold"

So, what's the next action coming down the pike? The "Smart Grid" soon your government and the power company will have the control to turn off your air conditioner at their discretion (not yours).

Maybe it is time to pay a little more attention to your energy consumption. It will make a difference.

Do you use a digital Camera?

Do you know what information is contained in that photo file when you post it to Facebook or anywhere on line?

Click on the URL below and watch this short video from ABC 7 News.

I think this information just might surprise you.

Digital photo information link

I know this is a remodeling company blog that doesn't have much about remodeling. If you're getting this newsletter, you have some connection to us. My purpose is to put out useful information about your home and to keep MARK IV Builders in your mind.

If you know of someone that would like the information in our blog, please
pass it on.

The greatest compliment that someone can give us is the referral of their family and friends.

March 2011

2011-03-08T07:39:00.000-08:00

It's interesting watching what's going on in our local building and remodeling world. I do think the local economy is getting better; and maybe more important, people's perceptions of an improving economy are building (pun intended).

I don't see huge changes from past remodeling markets. Materials and some techniques will be more energy conscious. Our projects are dramatically more energy efficient since Ray and I took the BPI Energy Efficiency training, and I bought the blower door and infrared camera. And I believe that projects will be less extravagant, at least for a while.

With all this in mind, I'm in the throes of re-casting our marketing and website. I'd like to get feedback from you. Can you email me with what you think we do well and, just as important, what we don't do so well. And please, don't worry about hurting my feelings. Honest feedback is far more important to me than frou-frou comments.

I appreciate and value your comments and suggestions.

2011 Color of the Year - Honeysuckle

My friend, Leah Thayer, produces a daily remodeling feed: www.daily5remodel.com/

Leah writes that Pantone has selected Honeysuckle as the color of the year.

Honeysuckle!?!
Note to my daughters- I really do not want a "Honeysuckle" golf shirt!

Leah has a written an article Reality Check: These Designers, on Those Colors
Use this line to read what these Interior Designers have to say about house colors this year: http://www.daily5remodel.com/index.php?action=article&rowid=505

HOME SHOW

TW Perry is holding a HOME SHOW on Saturday, April 2 at the Montgomery County Fair Grounds. MARK IV will be there. And I'll be speaking on Home Energy Savings Tips - things you can do in your home that will save you money and make you more comfortable.

I'm scheduled to speak right around lunch time. We hope to see you there.

Here's a $2 off coupon for the show.

Anti-virus Programs
My friend Joel is a computer geek. Joel sent me a link to an extensive list of anti-virus programs. Most of them are free. This website lists, reviews and rates pretty much all of the anti-virus programs.

Use this link to learn about these programs:
http://download.cnet.com/windows/antivirus-software/?tag=page%3bpage

January 2011

2011-03-04T09:39:00.000-08:00

I'm often addressed as Mr Scott. My stock answer has been "that's my father." Well, my Dad died of old age several years ago and, as I approach 58 years old, I've grown into the "Mr. Scott" title whether I've wanted to or not.

Some of you are older than I am and some younger. Many of us also have parents for whom we are taking more responsibility. Most of us don't like talking about "Aging In Place" stuff, so the industry has invented the term "Universal Design." It sounds less stodgy.

There are lots of websites on aging in place. I pulled some information from OregonLive.com

FEATURES FOR AGING IN PLACE

·Taller toilet for easier transfer from wheelchair

·Adjustable heights for kitchen sink

·Barrier-free entries

·Casement windows with easy-to-use crank-style mechanisms

·Contrasting trim color on countertops for sight-impaired users

·Curb-free shower

HC Shower
Marv Bondarowicz/The Oregonian Curb free shower

·Elevated exterior landscape faucet

·Elevated refrigerator

·Front-loading washer, dryer and dishwasher

·Hand-held shower head with slide rail

·Lever handles on doors and faucets

·Doorways 32 inches wide

·Movable kitchen cabinets

·Open floor plan to allow for wheelchair entry and turning

·Open space under kitchen and bathroom sinks as well as slide-out cutting boards to accommodate a seated person

·Pocket door to bathroom

·Reinforced grab bars in bathroom

·Slide-out kitchen drawers instead of hard-to-reach cupboards

·Wall electrical plugs at least 15 inches above floor

My 82 year old Mom refers to "the old people" in Florida as those outside of her group. Those "old people" may be candidates for adjustable height kitchen sinks, movable kitchen cabinets and grab bars; but not me or you! We're not that old!

Many of the things on this list are quite "acceptable" to me and many of my clients. "Comfort height" toilets have gained popularity. Elevated exterior hose faucets....that sounds like a pretty good idea. Refrigerators with the freezer on the bottom are growing. Almost all new washer and dryers are front loading now. We replaced the showerheads in out baths a couple of years ago with handheld heads on sliding bars. (They make it easier to clean the dogs and wash the shower.)

Lever or old fashioned cross handle shower and sink handles have become almost "universally" accepted. Door levers aren't as accepted as the sink faucets. But, we used levers in my house 23 years ago. If you consider lever hardware, look into Gainsborough hardware http://www.gainsboroughhardware.com.au/default.aspx They are better quality than Kwickset and even Schlage, and half the price of Baldwin. I particularly like opening a door with my elbow.

Many folks now enlarge a 1st floor bath by widening doors to 32" for the walker or wheelchair. It sure makes life easier for that parent or when you have to recover from that surgery.

And if you don't have roll-out shelves/drawers in your kitchen cabinets, there's stuff in the back of those cabinets that you haven't seen since you moved in. Roll-out shelves are a very worthwhile investment.

All this said, many of you are going to stay in your homes for a while waiting for the market to return. If you think you're going to make some of these improvements in order to make your house more saleable in a couple of years, doesn't it make sense to do them now so you can get some enjoyment from them?

A Home Energy Talk

I presented a "Green Living" talk to the Bethesda Chevy Chase Chamber of Commerce on Feb 11--a seminar discussing some of the simple and inexpensive ways to be more comfortable and efficient in your home.

Kitchen Cabinet Tune Up

I'm as bad as everyone else at maintaining things, like my house. It was cold outside, and I couldn't think of anything else to do. So I did some maintenance on my kitchen today. I tightened all of the screws and lubricated the moving parts.

The tools: a Philips head screw driver, a flashlight, and a can of WD40 or spray silicone

Time: a couple of hours, depending upon what game is on TV

For the most part, kitchen cabinets and kitchen hardware rarely break. What happens is the things get loose, and then get progressively looser, until something actually does break. It's pretty simple to maintain these things; a little squirt of lubricant and the tightening of a screw or two.

We built our house 23 years ago, and this is possibly the second time I've "tuned up" our kitchen cabinets. Our kitchen contains lots of drawers and roll out shelves.

It's best to clear the counters and cover the counters with newspaper etc. It reduces those "hairy eyeball" stares that we're all so familiar with from our spouse. Then pull out the roll-out shelves or drawers. To remove them, you'll have to release the slides somehow. Some will release simply by lifting up; others will have a release lever on the side or on the bottom.

Once you've cleared a cabinet, start tightening things. Most screws will be fine; some will require an 1/8 or ¼ turn to tighten, but occasionally you'll run across a screw that has significantly backed out. That's what causes the little "bump" when you slide that drawer.

Loose screws like this are what cause cabinets to fail. It's usually a simple matter of tightening the screw. Occasionally, the wobbly screw will wear the hole too big to tighten the screw. The solution then, is to push a toothpick into the hole and snap it off. That little wooden wedge is sufficient tighten the screw. I had to use 6 or 7 toothpicks in my kitchen.

You're almost done. A little shot of a lubricant makes things roll more smoothly again.

I prefer silicone spray. Andy likes WD40. Either one works. The key to remember is that a tiny shot of lubricant is much better than too much. So, use the little red straw that one normally loses immediately after purchase and just give the rollers and hinges a split second shot of lube. The bigger shot just makes a mess and tends to attract dirt over time.

Before you know it, the cabinet tune up is done and you still have time to watch the last 2 minutes of the game.

Household hints from Mark

About once a year, I put a ballpoint pen in my pocket with the point extended. Normally, I do this with brand new Nordstrom dress shirts. Somewhere along the line, someone told me to spray it with hairspray and the ink stain will come out. Damned if it doesn't work! The cheaper the hairspray, the better it works. Aqua Net seems to work the best.

After washing, the stain is gone!

December 2010

2011-03-04T08:43:00.000-08:00

Winterizing your outside hose faucets 101

Hose Step 1: Disconnect your hoses, drain the water out of the hoses and put them away for the winter.

Step 2: Shut-off the interior valve to the hose bibs. The valve will either have a round handle or a lever. Turn the valve to the off position.

Lever shut off and Round shut off

Step 3: Go back outside and turn on (open) the hose bib (outside faucet). You're not done yet.

Drain Cap

Step 4: Grab a container (cup, coffee can or whatever).

There's a little cap on the side of the interior water shut-off valve. You have to open that cap in order to break the vacuum and drain the water from the faucet pipe.

You'll probably need a pair of pliers. Remember "Righty Tighty, Lefty Loosey!" As you loosen the cap, the trapped water will either drain out the outside faucet or out the cap, so be ready with your coffee can. Once the water has drained, tighten the cap or you'll feel kind of dumb in the spring when you turn the water back on.

Smoke Detectors

Remember those batteries your didn't get around to changing? Go to the local hardware store (buy local!) and get some 9-volt batteries and go ahead and change ALL of them.

Carbon monoxide detectors: If you use gas appliances (heat, etc) a carbon monoxide detector near the sleeping area isn't a bad idea.

gas logs

Something I hadn't thought of: Replace the batteries in the gas log igniter. Some gas log sets have battery powered igniters. If PEPCO hasn't done their job and you lose power, that gas log might be your only source of heat.

Speaking of fireplaces: It's not a bad idea to get your chimney flue cleaned. Chimney flue fires can be very scary, very dangerous!

Simple Energy Control

While you're at the local hardware store, pick up a couple of tubes of cheap caulk and caulk the tops of the window and door trim. It's an impressive source of energy loss in almost every house regardless of the price paid for the house.
window IR

dark areas are cold air

Christmas Lights

For grins, I calculated the payback on buying LED Christmas lights instead of the incandescent ones we all use.

* Incandescent Christmas Lights come in strings of 100 and reg Christmas Lights cost $9.00 at Strosnider's.
* LED Christmas Lights LED Christmas Lights come in strings of 70 to make it hard to compare to standard light costs. So comparatively, a string of 100 LED lights costs you $30.

Incandescent Lights use 40 watts per hour and LED lights use 2.6 watts. If we assume burning the lights for 6 hours/day, for 24 days and that we pay PEPCO 11¢ per kwhr:

* The incandescent uses 5.76 kwhr of electricity @ a cost of 63¢

* The LED lights uses just .37 kwhr of electricity @ a cost of 04¢

Big Savings, right? When you add in the extra $21.00 in purchase price, you will break even in just 35 years!!!! I know I'm a cynic and a Grinch, but these ain't ready for prime time!

Humidifiers

If your humidifiers are more than two years old, based upon my experience, they aren't working well. Optimally, you want your humidity levels to be between 40% and 50%. Realistically, if you can maintain 35%, things are doing very well and your furniture isn't getting the life sucked out of it. There are two ways to test for low humidity. First is the lightning bolt test. Reach for a door on a cold, dry day. You'll understand. Second, is to buy a cheap thermometer/humidity meter ($10 at Strosnider's). If the humidity levels aren't what you'd like, give the folks at BMC Clower a call (301-562-9002).

Finally, Your Car

When was the last time you changed the oil?

In the trunk, you should have:

· A working flashlight

· Some flares

· A set of jumper cables

· Ice scraper

· A large bag of sand or kitty litter

· Some fuses

· A small first aid kit

Energy Audits
So, if you never got around to it over the past year, give either me or Ray Willaims a call at 240-395-0400. We'll come out and measure the energy effectiveness of your house and make recommendations on how to make your home more comfortable and save money at the same time.

October 2010

2011-03-04T08:03:00.000-08:00

October is when all remodelers are supposed to send you a guilt-ridden list of all the home maintenance items you didn't do over the summer. So, here it is.

1. Here's one free pass: If you haven't scheduled a painter, let it go. It ain't happening this year.

2. Stink bugs are going to be the irritant this Fall. They have no predators and insecticides seem to be ineffective. They don't bite, but they do really earn their name if you smash them. It's best to vacuum the little suckers and discard them. Actions good for energy conservation will aid in your battle against the bug. Eliminate points of entry around your foundation, windows, fascia boards, attic vents and eves by screening, caulking and repair. Stink bugs tend to concentrate on the north side of light colored houses.

3. The majority of maintenance issues in your home revolve around moisture. Basically, wet is bad and dry is good!

Clogged Gutters - BAD! overflowing gutter

o Clean your gutters. Clogged gutters are BAD! AND if you haven't cleared the downspouts, you're not done.

o We've been getting lots of rain lately - walk around your house after a rain and if you see standing water against your house, that's bad. Do something about it.

4. Check the caulking you can reach - squirt a little caulk where necessary.

water heater

5. Flush your water heater - This is a simple operation that can dramatically lengthen the life of your heater. It involves:

o Turning off your water heater,

Water heater sediment - Really! water heater sediment

o Connecting a hose to the water heater drain,

o Place the other end of the hose in a drain (Einstein!),

o Open the drain valve for a couple of minutes,

o Close the drain,

o Disconnect the hose (and put the hose away, Dear!),

o Restart the water heater and you're done!

Drain that sediment

Continuing the list of home maintenance items you don't want to do:

6. Change the various filters, HVAC filters in particular.

7. It isn't a bad idea to have the furnace serviced. John Clower at BMC Clower (301- 562-9002) has maintained our HVAC system for many years. While you're at it, have the humidifier serviced and cleaned. It's surprising how many humidifiers don't work because they aren't cleaned and serviced.

8. Test the Ground Fault Interrupter Circuits. They are the ones with the "test - reset" buttons. If the "test" or the "reset" buttons don't work (i.e. click); it's time to replace them.

9. Clean:
o The range hood filters - Most can be put in the dishwasher.

o The refrigerator coils -Vacuum with extension.

o The drier vent -Really should be cleaned with every wash!

10. Change the smoke detector batteries (or at least buy the batteries).

11. Preserve the doorknobs and maybe your counters with a coat of auto wax.

Rainscapes, FICO scores

2011-03-03T13:43:00.000-08:00

In a recent conversation I had with a realtor, she related how the home owner said, "How dare you bring me an offer like this?" To which she replied, "And how many other offers do you have?"

Welcome to the "New Normal" the era of realistic house pricing. If it was $2.4M (in the seller's mind), it's now worth $1.9M. If it was worth $1.5M; it's now worth $1.3. And so on . . . 30 years ago, you didn't consider even looking at houses until you had saved at least 20% of the price for the down payment. Well, those times are back.

If the new era of down payments is the bad news, the good news is that mortgage interest rates are at a record low (in the mid 4% range.) In order to qualify for these outstanding rates, you've got to have a good credit rating or FICO score. "Good" is generally defined as over 700.

FICO or Fair Isaac Corporation. The FICO score indicates the likelihood of a person to default a loan. Basically, FICO rating is separated into a few statistical components where these components are made up of:

· 35% - punctuality of payment in the past.

· 30% - amount of debt, expressed as the ratio of current revolving debt to total available revolving credit.

· 15% - length of credit history.

· 10% - types of credit used (installment, revolving, etc.).

· 10% - recent search for credit and/or amount of credit obtained recently.

The best first step to a good credit report is to actually check your credit record. Annual free credit reports are available to you. The best place I've found is the federal government's site, http://www.ftc.gov/freereports. It is recommended that you check your reports annually, because if something is wrong in the report it's best to get them corrected as soon as possible. It can take up to months to get a proper correction and do you really want to fix it when you're applying for a credit purchase?

How do you improve your FICO score?
1. Don't be late on any payments, especially mortgages(mortgage late has a huge impact on the credit score). Do you push the 30-day grace period? Not a good idea! The punctuality of your payment takes up 35% of your score and it is important to know that paying your debt on time now outweighs the fact that you paid your debt on time 3 years ago.
2. Maintain a good "utilization rating." Lenders prefer a large gap between a credit card balance and the credit limit, approximately to a ratio of 40% between balance/limit. Paying off any excess credit card debt would definitely increase the FICO score as it takes up 30% of the FICO score. If you have any serious credit card debt, pay it down as soon as you can.

3. Have at least three credit accounts open. Fewer than 3 lines seems to raise questions as to why so few.

4. Never close your oldest credit card. You don't have to use it, but lenders like to see long term credit accounts. Even if you score a relatively high score, if you credit history is just 5 years as compared to an average rating with a credit history of 30 years, the person with the longer credit history would possibly acquire a larger amount of loan or a lower repayable interest rate.

5. Payoff any collections/judgments immediately.

6. Keep all your paper asset records: New regulations make creditBlown Celulose application information more stringent. Lenders can ask for two years of records on assets, pay stubs, bank statements, etc. Many of the internet statements don't have all of the account information that is now required. The minimal underwriting (creditworthiness) standards of the past decade are gone. Lenders are required to obtain more information under the new rules.

Now that your credit is taken care, give me a call and let's get your next remodeling project underway.

Energy NEWS

Did you receive your PEPCO bill for the last month? Do I need to pick you up off the floor yet? Needless to say, I am researching alternative sources of electricity. This is a good place to start:
http://www.mdelectricrates.com/

Advice for Evaluating Offers from Electricity Suppliers

Take your time to check out offers. You may receive offers from electricity suppliers through direct mail, telemarketing, advertising, and over the Internet. Read offers carefully and ask the supplier questions. You may have to commit to a fixed-term contract when you sign up with an electricity supplier. Therefore, be sure you like the terms of the offer. Questions to ask a supplier:

* Is the energy price fixed or can it fluctuate month to month? Does it vary by amount used or time of use?
* What is the length of the contract? Is there an early termination fee or a switching fee if you switch to another supplier before the contract period is over? How much notice is required to switch suppliers?
* Will the contract automatically renew at the end of the term? How much notice must you give if you don't wish to renew?
* How is the electricity generated - coal, gas, nuclear, hydro, etc.? What percentage of the fuel source is renewable, and what are the emissions levels?
* Is there a deposit or sign-on fee? A fee for late payments? Any other fees?
* Will you be billed by the supplier or by the electric company? Will you receive two separate bills or one combined bill?

RainScapes

For your yard...
your watershed...
your community.

Rainscape
We usually focus on issues concerning remodeling,
but we'd like to remind you there are many ways to
decrease your "carbon footprint" besides adding insulation or new windows.

* Using rain barrels to catch your roof runoff can dramatically affect a change in the polution of our own Potomac River.
* Installing permeable pavers instead of paving your driveway with concrete or asphalt can give you the benefit of a solid driveway eliminating the maintenance and unappealing look of gravel.
* Plant shade trees to reduce erosion and environmentally cool your home in the summer. Be sure to plant your trees at least 15 to 20 feet away from any structures and to make the most impact, plant on your home's southern exposure.

"Think Outside The Box"

Unemployment is at an all time high. As a small business owner, we empathize with those who are still out of work. We'd love to have your feedback on how we can all "Think Outside The Box" to continue our recovery. Please contact us to voice your ideas: send us an email. Mark@markivbuilders.com

July 2010

2011-03-03T13:26:00.000-08:00

There sure have been some "water" events this year. We've been through huge snow storms and now powerful rain (and wind) storms. A couple of weeks ago, I got a call about a flooded basement on a house that was sheduled for settlement the next day. Leaves had covered the 4" drain at the bottom of the basement stairwell.

If you've lived here very long, you've probably experienced a basement flood. I've seen lots of solutions to this issue, roofs of various sorts, etc., but the solution we like best is a trench drain. Basically, the concrete at the bottom of the stairwell is broken up, the original cast iron drain grate is replaced with a long trench drain and the concrete floor is re-poured. The advantage is that instead of 2-3 leaves clogging up the drain, the trench drain will still flow despite the leaves blocking part of the drain.

Excess water into stairwells and basements can come from lots of sources. Almost all of them come from maintenance issues. Many of the homes we work on were built in the 40's and early 50's. That's 60 years ago. Housing developments weren't as dense as they are now and in fact, there may not have even been a house next door back then.

This photo was taken on a "house lot" built 75 years ago in Bethesda. The trench is about 30" deep and the "top soil" is somewhere around 15 inches deep. Look closely and you will see some old buried bricks. Those were brick edging around a tree that was planted, lived and died many years ago. Do you think the drainage of this lot has changed over the past 75 years?
The point is that, like our bodies, our houses and the lots they sit on need attention from time to time. I have little doubt that the drainage away from the house was fine when it was built. Over the years trees have grown and spred their roots 10, 20 or 30 feet generally raising the soil level. Adding mulch beds around the trees increases the soil level even more.

Critical areas where we see most problems are the planting beds around the house. Like the mulch beds around the trees, we add layer upon layer of mulch each year. And why do we do this? Because Tom and Mary did it next door. We also do it to keep down the weeds and hold the moisture in the soil. Wait a minute, we want to hold the moisture right next to our basement walls?!? Do you think we might be creating a problem here?

The bottom line is:

* Use a trench drain at exterior drain locations to insure they don't clog up with leaves and debris.
* Direct water away from your foundation by making sure the ground noticeably slopes away from your house. If you can't get positive slope away from your foundation, it's time to hire a landscaper and do the job properly.
* Make sure your mulch isn't higher than the parged and tarred areas on the exterior walls of your home.

The severe weather will always be with us. Just remember to plan accordingly so your home won't be the one that floods.

June 2010

2011-03-03T13:03:00.000-08:00

The BP Oil Spill is certainly a disaster, but will this monstrous ecological tragedy cause any meaningful changes in our energy use? Similar disasters in the past haven't affected much change.
I invite you to watch this clip from the Rachel Maddow show:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHmhxpQEGPo&feature=player_embedded#!

Her story is bothersome and true. Also true and bothersome are the points raised by Robert Bryce, author of Power Hungry: The Myths of 'Green' Energy. "Nine out of 10 units of power that we consume are produced by hydrocarbons -- coal, oil and natural gas. Any transition away from those sources is going to be a decades-long, maybe even a century-long process...."

"The problem is very simple," Bryce said. "It's not political will. It's simple physics. Gasoline has 80 times the energy density of the best lithium ion batteries."

It seems that little will change with energy, except the cost. It'sBP Building bound to continue to rise. With that in mind, improving the energy efficiency of your home is the only realistic thing that you can affect to change your energy profile (and bills).

Energy NEWS

Reducing the air leakage through your home will have the greatest affect on your comfort in your home and reducing your energy use. So how do you do that?

1. Caulk the trim to drywall at your windows and door tops. I've written about this in the past, go to: http://markivbuilders.blogspot.com/

good windows bad installation

2. Replace the weather-stripping at your doors. The door weather-stripping should be replaced every few years, NOT decades! If you can't (or don't want to) do it; give us a call (240-395-0400) and we'll take care of it.

3. Take a look at PEPCO's Energy Wise program Energywiserewards.pepco.com/ or call 866-353-5798. There are all sorts of energy rebates and rewards available including a $100 rebate for Blown Celulosetuning up your AC, a credit for adding insulation to your attic, and they will even install a programmable thermostat for free!

4. Get an energy audit. An Energy Audit places your house under pressure to find the energy pathways that can be plugged to improve the energy efficiency of your home. We also test the combustion safety of your furnace and water heater. It costs $400.

5. Most of the houses we audit end up having their attic airsealed and insulation added. Attic airsealing involves moving through the attic on your hands and knees push aside the existing insulation to find and seal (with foam) all the little cracks and crevices that allow the unconditioned attic air to flow into your home. We have found this to be the most cost effective energy improvement you can make. It costs between $800 and $1,500 and only takes 1 day. Blown CeluloseBy the way, if you do the work yourself, it's kind of nasty work and you'll notice the diameter of the hole in the ceiling matches the diameter of ME!

6. After airsealing the attic, many clients opt to add insulation. The typical attic we see has anywhere from 1" to 6" of Blown Celulose fiberglass. We will often add blown insulation (fiberglass or cellulose) to a total depth of 14" to 18". The added insulation typically costs between $1,000 and $2,000.

7. It's also time to consider replacing that 20 years old HVAC system. Mine is 22 years old and I expect it to shudder and die anytime now. When it does, I'm going to replace it with a 19 SEER Carrier Infinity system. The system is completely variable to meet the house's needs most efficiently. It's seems to be one of the best overall values available today. I'll use BMC/Clower to do the work (301-562-9002). Talk to John Clower.

Your opinion is important, so send us an email and we'll include your feedback next month.
Maryland's CASH for Appliances

Beginning April 22, 2010, rebate applications will be available from your electric utility provider and are offered for qualified products on a first-come, first-serve basis until funds from the $5.4 million in federal stimulus money runs out.
Energy Star Maryland Appliance Rebates are available for select models of the following three appliances:

* ENERGY STAR Clothes Washers ($100) ~ Please note that ONLY clothes washers with a Modified Energy Factor of at least 2.0 and Water Factor no greater than 6.0 qualify for the Maryland rebate.
* ENERGY STAR Refrigerators ($50) ~ Please note that for qualifying refrigerators, the annual kWh usage must beat least 25% more efficient than the federal standard. Look for this specification when shopping for qualifying models.
* Electric Heat Pump Water Heater ($300) ~ All ENERGY STAR electric heat pump water heaters qualify.

These rebates are in addition to existing utility rebate programs that are made possible by the EmPOWER Maryland Energy Efficiency Act. Rebates vary by electric utility provider. Check out the Maryland Energy website at: Appliance Rebate Program for more details as well as state rebate applications for customers of Maryland municipal utilities and electric cooperatives.

"Think Outside The Box"

There Are Many Ways You Can Save Money by Reducing, Reusing and Recycling. All It Takes Is Determination and Imagination.

April 2010

2011-02-17T11:54:00.000-08:00

One thing we can depend on in the coming years is a continuous rise in utility costs. The WSSC is projecting required rate increases between of 6% to 13.6% each year for the coming decade. This means a $100 water bill today will cost you $201.97 in 2020. I would assume a similar rate of increase for electricity and gas.

So, what can you do about it? Well, I guess you can buy solar panels from China and India, or you can start improving the energy efficiency of your home. It's not that hard and it's not that expensive. You can do highly visible upgrades like new windows. New windows are expensive and make you feel really good, but they don't save you a lot in energy costs. Or you can do something very simple, like caulk your door and window trim tops. It's almost free, even a lawyer can do it and it does make a difference in the comfort and energy efficiency of your home.

A simple crack above a window can result in lots of cold air!

We've just finished a project for Peter Murtha and Mary Andrews in Silver Spring. We added about 650sf and renovated about twice that amount. The original house was built in 1926 and built to the energy specifications of that era (i.e. NONE!). We airsealed the house and added insulation wherever we could. We were able to reduce the air infiltration into the house by 32% even though we added about 20% to the house size. The Murthas wanted all of the window and door trim to be stained. This allowed us to leave the trim uncaulked. After all was done, I had Ray finely caulk the trim to the walls using a fine bead and clear caulk. Then we retested the air infiltration. Just caulking the interior trim was able to reduce the air infiltration of this house by an additional 12%!! A much bigger improvement than we had expected!

So,go to your local hardware store and buy a couple of tubes of cheap BP Buildingpainter's caulk. And the next slow, rainy weekend, work your way around the house and caulk the window and door trim tops to the drywall, you will notice a difference.

Sincerely,
Mark Scott
MARK IV Builders

Solar Energy NEWS

Remember that big building in Frederick with all the solar panels near the highway? BP Solar closed the last Photo Voltaic Panel manufacturing plant in the United States on March 28. It's astounding that given all the political noise about "green" jobs and weaning ourselves from foreign oil that we would allow the only manufacturer of solar electric panels in the WHOLE UNITED STATES to leave! What does this say about our energy policy on the County, State or even Federal level?

Your opinion is important, so send us an email and we'll include your feedback next month.

Download This Handy Guide

Hazardous chemicals: The mere mention alarms us. Yet, we keep them under our sinks, in our medicine cabinets and in our garages. In fact, we use them almost every day. Almost all products can be misused in ways that make them dangerous. But some consumer products pose risks to human health and the environment even when used as intended because they contain hazardous chemicals. These products include cleaners, pesticides, home improvement products and personal care items AND they contain the same strictly regulated chemicals that are present in industrial products and waste.

Want to avoid these harsh chemicals?
Visit: www.MontgomeryCountyMD.gov/GoGreen
Click on "Green ways to do dirty jobs"

"NEW" Lead-Safe Practices Rule

In addition to the economic slow-down in residential remodeling, starting in April, the EPA has instigated their Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) rules. The practices they will be enforcing seem simple enough--inform the homeowner, seal off the work area, keep the dust down and clean up thoroughly. However, these singularly easy to follow rules mean upfront expenditures for the remodeler--training fees, new equipment (HEPA filtered vacuum cleaners, lead testing strips, masks, etc.), reduced productivity on the jobsite and various materials to seal up the construction area.

But the bottom line is, these are GOOD changes for everyone involved. This will produce a safer workplace environment for all remodeling "field" employees and for the homeowner too!

Seat Belts for EVERYONE
Someone sent me this video from England. I've got to admit that it's one of the best public safety videos I've seen in a long time.
It's not spam and it's not long: Less than two minutes. It's worth a watch. http://www.embracethis.co.uk/
I'm better at wearing my seat belt now.

Just FYI: If you have something you would like to add or suggestions as to how we might make this better and more useful, please send us an email.

MARK IV is an award-winning, EPA certified remodeler, ready to:

* Walk you through the Design/Build process.
* Conduct an Energy Audit & perform the remediation.
* Provide you with a Home Maintenance Plan.
* Repair everything on your "Honey-Do" list.

MARK IV Builders
5161 River Road, Building #2
Bethesda, Maryland 20816
(240) 395-0400

View our website at: www.markivbuilders.com

March 2010

2011-02-17T08:51:00.000-08:00

We're always looking for ways to connect with our clients and friends. Many people liked the Ice Dams emails that I sent out during the snows and suggested I keep it up.
From time to time, I'll send out notes and ideas of green building, action items, maintenance tips etc. of things I hope you'll find of value.
In addition, I'll include notices of things happening in the greater Bethesda area, like the "Turkey Time" notes supporting the BCC Rotary's Turkey Chase on Thanksgiving morning. If you have something you would like to add or suggestions as to how I might make this better and more useful, please send me an email.
We're doing this through "constant contact" which allows for easy email updates or "opt out."

Sincerely,
Mark Scott
MARK IV Builders

Simple Energy Savings

Since we've been performing Home Energy Audits, I've noticed a consistent energy leak in the homes we've inspected.

The blue shows the cold air blowing between the trim and the drywall.

It appears that regardless of the size or quality of the home, most painters caulk up one side of the doors and windows and down the other and the top almost always gets missed. I've learned that the cold air from the attic finds it's way down through the inside of your walls and exits into your family room and bedroom creating drafts and making things generally colder.

It's simple to fix. Buy a couple of tubes of cheap painters caulk. Then one rainy weekend caulk the tops of the doors and windows. Don't stop at the exterior doors and windows. The interior doors suffer from the same air leak issues.

While you've got the step ladder and caulk gun out, check your bathroom medicine cabinets. You'll be surprised how few are caulked to the walls. It's another reason you're always cold in your bathroom. One client, Gay, has seen a $50 monthly savings from caulking.

More Cold Air coming in around your medicine cabinets.

QUALITY REIGNS
EVEN IN A RECESSION

Members of The National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) Metro DC Chapter, proved once again that their commitment to creativity, craftsmanship and sustainable remodeling and design is worth recognizing. This coveted recognition was celebrated during NARI's Capital COTY Awards ceremony on January 30, 2010. The National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) awarded MARK IV Builders a 2009 Capital COTY for Best Kitchen.

Malech Kitchen Before and After

MARK IV is an award-winning, EPA certified remodeler, ready to:

* Walk you through the Design/Build process.
* Conduct an Energy Audit & perform the remediation.
* Provide you with a Home Maintenance Plan.
* Repair everything on your "Honey-Do" list.

MARK IV Builders
5161 River Road, Building #2
Bethesda, Maryland 20816
(240) 395-0400

View our website at: www.markivbuilders.com

2010-03-05T13:28:00.001-08:00

Ice Dams part 3
I know that everyone is getting frustrated with the ice dams and the dripping. And the best thing to do is punch a hole in the ceiling to relive the water and catch it in a bucket.
If you watched last night’s news, you learned that using blow torches to melt the ice will work, but then your wife and the insurance company is really PO’d because you burned down the house!
It may be worth it to some of you to go on line and search under “Roof Broom” or “Roof
Rake”. They are basically “VERY” long handled brooms or rake the allow you to pull the snow off the roof. The question is how long will delivery take.
Another interesting idea is to take 2 or 3 pounds of ice melter and put it in the leg of a panty hose. And then VERY, VERY CAREFULLY lean out your window and flip the snow melt laden sock up onto the ice dam. In theory, the concentration of ice melt will melt a hole in the ice dam and relieve the water built up behind. I haven’t tried it but it sounds interesting. If anyone is successful, please let me know.
Another STUPID idea is to pry or knock the gutter off of your house. While it may or may not alleviate the ice dams, an ice filled gutter can easily weigh hundreds of pounds. Hundreds of pound falling one, two or three stories can cause lots of damage. Also remember that you really were NOT fast enough to get out of the way even 20 years ago.
Finally, the ice dams are caused by the heat in your house migrating up through your attic to your roof and melting the thick snow from underneath. When the water flows to the unheated overhangs, the water refreezes and refreezes and refreezes building up a dam of ice that holds the unfrozen water behind it. It is a rare (about every 10 years) occurrence. The only cost effective solution is to glue down sheet rubber 3 to 6 feet up the roof when you re-roof your home. Surprisingly, added insulation only slows the initial start of an ice dam, it WILL NOT eliminate an ice dam or stop the drips when the conditions are right. There are lots of reasons to airseal and add insulation to your house (It’s the least expensive way to lower your utility bills while making your house more comfortable). But, it will not stop an Ice Dam.
Before too long the ice and snow will melt and warm sunny weather will be here soon and you’ll be ready to repair the damage caused by the storms. I hope you consider MARK IV Builders when it comes time for those repairs.
Mark Scott
MARK IV Builders

2010-03-05T13:27:00.001-08:00

Part 2
Now, we are getting calls about water leaking around windows. This is still the result of ice damming.
Andy Hannan, our Production Manager, has come up with the following solution.
Thumbtack a towel across the window sash. The water will drip onto the towel. Put the end of the towel into a bucket. The water will follow the towel into the bucket. Alternatively, duck tape the towel to the glass. Remember to empty the bucket every couple of hours.
For ceiling leaks, use a screwdriver to punch one or two holes where the water shows up or you find a water bubble forming. Catch the water in a bucket, pan or trashcan and empty the buckets regularly.
This is a rare condition in the DC area. But as long as there is significant snow on the roof, ice damming is likely. Catch and empty the water coming into your house. As frightening and frustrating as this dripping water is, the damage isn’t anywhere near as bad as you might think. Once snow melts, the water will stop. The dampness will dry out and the damage can be repaired and repainted relatively easily.
And in 2 or 3 years, you’ll be able to look back at this and laugh!
Again feel free to call me at 240-395-0400 or email me at mark@markivbuilders.com
Stay warm, stay dry, and stay off the roof!

2010-03-05T13:22:00.000-08:00

ICE DAMS

Part 1

With all the recent and coming snows, the Washington area is entering prime Ice Dam conditions. Ice Dams are created by heat rising through the roof of your home (regardless of the amount of insulation) and melting the snow from underneath. The melted water flows down the roof and under the snow until it passes beyond the heat source (your home) and freezes as it reaches your unheated eaves and overhangs. Icicles are a good indicator of this melting-refreezing action.

As the Ice Dam builds, the water builds up behind the dam. Your shingles are water shedding devices, not water proof. If the dams build high enough, water will find its way inside and either stain the drywall or show up as leaks.

If you can SAFELY remove the snow or open channels in the ice dams to drain, you’ve eliminated the source of water. Please use common sense in trying to clear your roof, particularly if it’s more than one story.

If you experience ceiling leaks, most often they appear at drywall edges. Use a tool like a screw driver, punch a small hole and collect the water in a bucket. As horrendous as it may seem, this simple procedure will contain almost all of the damage. Once the snow is gone, the leaks will stop. The dampness will dry out in a week or so. And the drywall can be repaired and repainted quickly and inexpensively. Falls off your roof can be very expensive and very slow healing, so be smart.

For more information on Ice Dams, go to http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/housingandclothing/DK1068.html

Remember that snow weighs anywhere from 7 to 20 pounds per cubic foot. Most of the roofs in the area are built to withstand these loads. But remember how much weight you could pull down on yourself before trying to clear your roof.

If you have questions, feel free to call me at 240-395-0400.

Mark Scott