Category: Uncategorized

Does September get you thinking about autumn, the holidays, and cooler temps? Wise homeowners take care of their homes as seasons change. The items you address now can make your life more comfortable later.

Here are some ways to get your home ready for winter:

• Check gutters & downspouts: Standing water in debris-filled gutters can affect roofs and siding, causing rot and leaks. Clean them yourself if you can do so safely or call Triangle Exterior Solutions (252 885 2575) for help.

• Replace furnace filters: Clean filters can help your heating system run more efficiently and make the air you breathe cleaner, too.

• Inspect your chimney: A clean chimney makes those fireside chats safe by reducing chances of soot build-up from catching fire and spreading to other parts of your home.

• Carbon monoxide detector: Before you have that first fire in the fireplace, make sure your carbon monoxide detector is working correctly and has fresh batteries.

• Check for leaks around doors and windows: Keep your family more comfortable by eliminating drafts. Seal up leaks or replace old doors and windows as needed. Call Wood Wise for referrals.

• Declutter: Ok, this doesn’t really help to make your home warmer or drier but it will definitely help you enjoy your life more and get your home ready for holiday entertaining. Clean out that closet, junk drawer, or garage. Clear off that bookcase or shelf and put back only select items for a fresher look. Throw out old magazines and clear off the front of your refrigerator. Less clutter is pleasing to the eye and spirit.

Small houses, even tiny houses, are gaining support. This older home had too many walls and a terrible floor plan so it was small but desperate for a fresh look and a smarter layout. Wood Wise was called in by the homeowners to do the design and remodel. Long sight lines and new doors now allow the home to feel larger than it is. These homeowners are enjoying an award-winning home that has been recognized by the Remodeling Council as the Best Whole House Renovation $100,000-$200,000.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What a great night at the 2017 STAR Awards last night! Similar to the Academy Awards, the STAR awards presents winning local professionals with Gold in various categories. The competition is tough. Wood Wise walked away with three gold winners: Best Porch, Best Room Renovation, and Best Whole House Renovation. We’re excited! Thanks to all our great homeowners for trusting Wood Wise with their home renovations.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Like many Raleigh homes this home had a rarely used front office/living room which became part of the enlarged living room. Walls to the oversized foyer were taken down so the entire lower level left side is new and open. Custom cabinetry accommodates the big TV and this room offers ample seating for a family with three boys.

                                      

 

A bad kitchen makes life difficult. The traffic patterns were awkward and kid’s backpacks and shoes were strewn along the long hallway with no convenient storage place. The small island was inadequate for cooking and storage. This project added 8 feet across the rear, both to increase the kitchen’s size and also to bring in natural light with a skylight.

Now the kitchen has a generous pantry, large island, nice lighting, smart floor plan and great storage. Shoes and backpacks are out of sight and all together. Improved lighting with dimmers plus a new skylight make cooking, dining and all the family activities more enjoyable.

Well thought-out details make the difference on this recently finished Wood Wise porch. The homeowners collected ideas for years before turning to Wood Wise to bring it all together in a winning design. The paneled stained ceiling, stone wall, and new stationary and working French doors are just some of the elements that give this screened porch a feeling of royalty.

Storage is always near the top of the wish list for our homeowners. Having a nice closet with designated places for specific items makes organizing easy. This closet features drawers, cabinets, and shelves that keep clothing, shoes, and jewelry neat and orderly, which makes coordinating outfits for the day a breeze.

 

When updating your kitchen, the question of what flooring to use comes up. Most people want hardwoods in the rest of the house but the kitchen poses a dilemma. Hardwood or tile? Here are some characteristics of both materials to consider:

Tile:	Hardwood:
Pros: • Durable • Easy to clean • Light color options Cons: • Hard on legs/feet • Cold in winter • Subject to cracking Laminate:: • Not recommended despite the lower cost	Pros: • Elegant and authentic • Warm in sock feet • Comfortable for standing • Polyurethane finish is water-resistant Cons: • Water leaks can damage floors. (Spills shoulld be cleaned up quickly) • Subject to dents from dropped skillets, etc.

Many Wood Wise clients choose hardwoods for their kitchens because of the beautiful look and warmth. With non-slip area rugs in strategic places such as in front of the sink, the daily wear and tear to the floor is kept to a minimum.

If you like both wood and tile, there is porcelain tile that looks like natural wood. It comes in all kinds of colors and finishes (check out Byrd Tile’s selections at: http://byrdtile.com/2016/08/). It is so real looking that the first time our design team saw it, we had to actually reach down and touch it to make sure. Porcelain wood-look tile can also be a great look in bathrooms and laundry rooms where water can be a bigger issue.

We love working with our homeowners to improve their homes. Three beautiful kitchens and a spa-worthy bathroom are among our latest projects. Check them out in these photos taken by Stuart Jones Photography. (Click on photos to enlarge)

Wood Wise uses Byrd Tile http://byrdtile.com/. Here is what they say about improvements in today’s grout:

“Grout is basically made up of portland cement with color pigments added. Due to the porous nature of cement, grout was, until recently, very prone to staining. Recent enhancements in the production of grout and its raw materials have made grout a much denser product. The addition of latex additives in the mixing of the product will also increase the density of the grout. There are also a large variety of penetrating sealers that can be applied to the grout as soon as 72 hours after installation. Though the initial cost for epoxy and urethane grout is more, these products provide a stain-proof and color-consistent grout joint.”

Wood Wise uses grout with a sealer built in since it increases stain resistance. There are several companies who make it such as Bostic “Vivid” and Tec Powergrout. Our clients have been pleased with the results.