Category Archives: Bath Remodeling

Two Trails Reaches for the Top of the LEED Platinum Point Scale with the Sarasota Power Haus.

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Sarasota, FL (PRWEB) August 27, 2011

Drew Smith from Two Trails has done it again. He has contributed his expertise in assisting in completing a home rated the greenest new house in the country in the Polo Club at Lakewood Ranch. Drew Smith and Josh Wynne collaborated in building this ultra green house. Drew has stated, Josh has raised the bar on this one.

In a nutshell, the Power Haus is an amazing accomplishment by scoring the lowest score conceivable on the Home Energy Rating System (HERS) as an index of (-) 22 in comparison to an excellent score being a (+) 40 on a scale of 0 to 100. As for the rating for the United States Green Building Councils Leadership Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) has scored 118 for the Power Haus with points awarded in a variety of green features including but not limited to energy producing PV panels, recycled building materials contents, and water efficiency materials. To place this score in perspective, a score of 95 is a good enough for a LEED Platinum certification. A person with no background in green building can see the magnitude of the scores for the Power Haus and why Drew Smith is the leader in green building consulting. He is a true genius and has already been recognized for various green building awards including NAHB CGP (Certified Green Professional) of 2010 & FGBC 2010 certifying agent of the year.

As if the LEED and HERS scores are not impressive enough, the Power Haus is at the top of the rating systems used by the Florida Green Building Coalition and Energy Star. With the installation of the PV system, Drew Smith has been reported as saying, The owners should never have to pay an electric bill. Unless they significantly increase their consumption, they should get a credit each month. An electric bill is something that anyone would love to eliminate as a monthly debt. The possibility of a credit seen as a negative consumption of electricity seen on an electric bill will be from the highly proficient PV system.

Some of the other amazing green features of the Sarasota Power Haus include concrete blocks filled with foam insulation, kitchen cabinets constructed with recyclable material, using programmable LEDs (light emitting diodes), flooring from polished concrete, and interior walls from troweled clay. A garage is not used in order to not waste material to house a car and instead use an overhanging roof for the owners to park their cars in the shade. Drew Smith is the leader in green building and has stated, We are working to find ways to get more points in the future. When going for such high point values it is important to look as far as possible into the future for your point decisions. One decision may affect another and cast points rather than gain them. Points or no points, either way everyone wins with a spectacular built home!

The Power Haus has been recognized for a long list of accomplishments. It is currently the highest scoring LEED Platinum home in the world and has a HERS index of a negative (-22). The Power Haus also took home 13 Aurora Awards held during the Southeast Builders Conference (SEBC). The awards are:

Project: Power Haus, Sarasota, FL

Energy Efficient Home

Best Energy Efficient Home-Grand Aurora Award

Residential Construction/Custom Home

(One of a Kind)-$ 1,000,001-$ 1,500,000-Grand Aurora Award

Solar Energy House

Best Solar Energy Efficient House-Grand Aurora Award

Green Construction

New Construction- $ 1,000,001- $ 2,000,000-Grand Aurora Award

Environmental Design/Water-Wise Home

Best Water-Wise Home-Grand Aurora Award

Residential Construction Custom Home

(One of a Kind) $ 1,000,001- $ 1,500,000-Auroa Award

Interior Merchandising/Design Kitchen

$ 1,000,001- $ 2,000,000-Aurora Award

Interior Merchandising/Design Bath

$ 1,000,001- $ 2,00,000-Aurora Award

Interior Merchandising/Design Interior

$ 1,000,001- $ 2,000,000-Aurora Award

Environmental Design Energy Efficient Home

Best Energy Efficient Home-Aurora Award

Environmental Design Solar Energy House

Best Solar Energy Efficient House-Aurora Award

Environmental Design Green Construction

New Construction- $ 1,000,001- $ 2,000,000-Aurora Award

Environmental Design Water-Wise Home

Best Water- Wise Home-Aurora Award

About Two Trails, Inc.

Two Trails, Inc. is a Green Building Consulting firm established in 2001. We provide green consulting services nationwide for commercial, residential, remodeling, and developments looking to obtain LEED (US Green Building Council) NAHB Green Home Standard, Energy Star, FGBC (Florida Green Building Coalition) certifications.

Our President, Drew M. Smith, LEED AP, was the founding President of the Florida Green Building Coalition and is the first Governor appointed Green Building Commissioner for the State of Florida. Two Trails, Inc. provides hands-on consulting making it easy to achieve certification.

Contact Information:

Tom Rupp

Two Trails, Inc.

Communications and Marketing Manager

tom at twotrails.com

941-776-8680

http://www.twotrails.com

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Stirn Contracting Celebrates Five Years As One of Cincinnatis Finest Kitchen and Bath Remodeling Specialists

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Cincinnati, OH (PRWEB) August 31, 2011

Stirn Contracting celebrates five years as one of Cincinnatis finest kitchen and bath remodelers. The company, originally started in 1971 by Robert Stirnkorb and his son Rick, went through major transformation during the housing downturn in the 1980s. Rick took over when Robert retired and focused on commercial work, the logical path at that time. After working with Cincinnati Building and Contracting for nearly 20 years, both of Ricks sons, Billy and Eric, wanted his experience and knowledge to add to their new family-owned company, Stirn Contracting. So Rick joined forces with his boys and quickly gained a presence as kitchen and bath specialists.

As the economy changes, companies need to do the same, said Rick Stirnkorb. We have taken different roads in the same industry and now we have found our place, once again, working with homeowners. It seems this is the right spot for our company.

When Billy Stirnkorb announced last year that he and his family were relocating to Florida to follow his wifes career, Rick and Eric had to take another look at what they were doing at the time and make some adjustments. Billy had handled the bulk of the sales for Stirn Contracting. But with some reallocation of resources, they have continued on their path and gained a great reputation of being one of Cincinnatis premier kitchen and bath remodelers.

People like the fact that we are a small company, and that the owner is on the job site, said Eric. With my fathers experience, we can do just about any job for a homeowner. Even though we have done a lot of kitchens, we can do, and have done, everything from roofing to basements and everything in-between.

When home prices deflate, as they have for the past couple of years, homeowners look at ways they can improve their property and stay put, rather than selling their home and taking a loss on them. By remodeling their kitchens and baths, even if they live there for several more years, those improvements generally increase the value of the home above homes without updated kitchens and baths.

With new countertops, cabinets, built-in appliances and decorative back splashes, a kitchen transformation makes a world of difference in a home. The variety of offerings to change what a kitchen looks like and how functional it can be, are innumerable. Cabinets have self-closing doors and drawers; countertops are made of dozens of materials; kitchen lighting adds mood and atmosphere; and tile or wood on the floors and walls can be personalized with the right colors and textures to please any dedicated chef. And all of that is before the expansive selection of kitchen appliances!

Stirn Contracting can help the homeowner from the beginning plans and recommend ways they can utilize their existing space or by adding on or removing walls to enhance their kitchens. Then the homeowners can work with designers, like those at Hyde Park Lumber and Design Center, to finalize their kitchen selections. Finally the appliances can be selected and the job begins. A typical kitchen remodel will take between four and six weeks, depending on the amount of work to be completed.

Stirn Contracting offers free estimates on all their work. They have a web site at http://www.stirncontracting.com and a photo gallery of kitchens and other jobs they have completed.

For more information, contact

Eric Stirnkorb

513-646-3909

Or

Rick Stirnkorb

513-497-3659

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Bath Simple LLC, the Complete Bathroom-in-a-Box Remodeling Service, Begins a Nationwide Expansion

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San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) September 06, 2011

Founded in January, 2010, Bath Simple, LLC (bathsimple.com), the revolutionary all-in-one bathroom design and remodeling service, has successfully launched in the San Francisco Bay Area, Portland, Seattle, Boston, and New York. Financing of the $ 1.05 million roll out has been led by Blueshift Partners, LLC, with additional investment from existing angel investors and industry partners. The company is now entering the first stages of Series B financing, with a goal of raising $ 2 million. The new funding will enable Bath Simple to continue the national expansion of its radically simplified, turnkey bathroom renovation business.

Co-founded by John Crowley, a systems and products developer and former Director of the Innovative Construction Technology Program at MIT, and Bill Hunscher, a former Wall Street financier turned entrepreneur with extensive experience in the hardware and recycling industries, Bath Simple has rethought the entire remodeling experience. By offering innovative and integrated products systems, easy-to-use online tools, an in-home design service, single-container delivery, and optional contractor services, Bath Simple is able to streamline the process of designing, ordering, and installing a custom bathroom, regardless of price.

The renovation process begins online at Bath Simples website, http://www.bathsimple.com, which features a gallery of bathrooms and associated products, together with design tips and ideas to assist the homeowner envision their ideal bathroom. Next, an interior designer from Bath Simples network provides complimentary in-home consultation to answer questions, provide product and materials samples, take measurements, and help make product selections. The designer and homeowner then use Bath Simples signature online design tool to create a virtual 3D representation of the new bathroom.

Once the design and product choices have been finalized, the entire bathroom is shipped to the site in a single box, ready for immediate installation by either a Bath Simple contractor partner or one of the homeowners choosing. This one bathroom in one box shipping system is highly efficient, saving time, money, energy, and materials. Whats more, the shipping container doubles as a waste receptacle for packaging materials, construction debris, and discarded bath fixtures, allowing for easy local recycling whenever possible.

Chief among its many benefits, Bath Simples fully integrated design, delivery, and installation model makes it unnecessary for homeowners to visit a myriad of showrooms, allowing them to complete the whole bathroom renovation process from the comfort of home. A joint venture with Custom Decorators, Inc., which has provided in-home design and decorating services for more than 20 years, gives Bath Simple access to professional representatives across the country. Through this partnership and new ones with builders and contractors in selected locations, Bath Simple will continue to expand its domestic market.

Bath Simple is poised for significant growth, says Hunscher. Our disruptive modelallowing customers to design and customize their bathrooms online, paired with free in-home design service and turnkey installationis being incredibly well received by the marketplace, he continues, noting that both consumer and business media have taken close interest in the company, including a video profile on Your Business on MSNBC. Additional funding will let us fully realize that potential.

For more information on Bath Simples products and services, please visit http://www.bathsimple.com or call 877-437-5927.

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ReBath to Attend Texas Home & Garden Show September 17 & 18 at Reliant Center

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Houston, TX (PRWEB) September 15, 2011

Every fall, the Texas Home and Garden Show gives Houston homeowners hundreds of home renovation and redecoration ideas. And once again, ReBath of Houston will participate in the event, showcasing their latest remodeling techniques and services.

Planting Roots at The Texas Home & Garden Show

This weekend will mark ReBaths fourth consecutive year at The Texas Home & Garden Show. And, as the company has grown, so has their booth.

Elena Moore, manager of ReBath, states that she wants to give show attendees a better sense of the craftsmanship that goes behind their services. So this year ReBaths booth will be larger than ever, featuring several full bathroom displays to browse through, and a new walk-in bathtub as an example of the modern fixtures they use in their installations. In addition, a crew of attendants will be on standby to answer any questions about the remodeling process and to take appointments for free in-home estimates.

I love the Texas Home & Garden Show, says Elena. Its one of those events where we can really flex our muscles and show off what we can do.

ReBath has taken bathroom remodeling to a high art form, offering specialized services ranging from custom wainscoting and ultra-modern fixture replacement to full-scale renovations.

Whatever the job requires, we can do it, continues Elena Moore. We can redesign the entire bathroom area, or just replace a specific fixture were completely flexible to what our customers want.

About The Texas Home & Garden Show

The Texas Home & Garden Show brings homeowners and businesses together to learn about and view innovative products and services in the home and garden market. This year marks their 16th show in Houston, and will be held at Reliant Center on September 17 and 18. For more information, or to purchase tickets, visit http://www.texashomeandgarden.com/

About ReBath of Houston

Since 1979, ReBath has provided bathroom remodeling services across the country. Rebath of Houston is a family-owned and operated full-service remodeling business, and a winner of the 2010 Better Business Bureau Award of Distinction. ReBath services the greater Houston area, and the showroom is located at 13722 Northwest Freeway. For more information about ReBath of Houston, visit http://www.rebathofhouston.com, or contact Elena Moore at 713-939-1744 or info(at)rebathofhouston.com.

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How to Remodel a Bathroom for Under $250

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(PRWEB) September 15, 2011

Remodeling a bathroom can be a challenge in and of itself, but remodeling a bathroom on a budget is even harder! Golden Lighting sponsored a bathroom makeover contest with the objective to see who could meet the challenge of redesigning a bathroom by getting the most for less. The contest restricted the redo budget to under $ 250, and contestants had to use at least one Golden Lighting light fixture.

The bathroom selected wasnt horrifyingly ugly, it was just very boring and outdated. Remodeling on a budget means that everything couldnt be done, and the priority was to focus on what would give the the biggest bang for the buck. This led to tackling a couple main areas: change out the vanity light, update the vanity, re-paint, and upgrade the faucet.

One of the most significant parts of the remodel was selecting and installing a new vanity light. The rest of the home features rustic lighting and spanish lighting. However, for this bathroom in particular, it was decided to complement the home while maintaining a certain uniqueness to the bath by using a pewter vanity light with warm wall color tones. Thus, It was decided to design the bathroom around Golden Lightings Brookfield 3 Light Vanity in the pewter finish. It was only $ 53.91 online plus $ 15 in shipping. The vanity light had a wonderful pewter finish that easily matched all of the brushed nickel and chrome bathroom accessories. Its classic style also provided a great focal point to choose all the other pieces for the bath. In combination with a dimmer switch for $ 40.00 online, it looked great. The dimmer switch adds extended life to the bulbs, can save energy, and provide ambient lighting to the bathroom.

The next step after selecting the lighting was to choose a new color for the wall. The drab blue walls needed to go. Painting was fairly pain-free, it was just a matter of choosing a new color that helped brighten up the bathroom space. The new color chosen was a yellow, tan-like color called Sunset Sand. The vanity mirror frame also needed repainting, so a black matte paint was selected. In total, paint was $ 35 with tax.

The final step was to buy a new faucet. Home Depot had a perfect faucet for $ 69.00. It was installed over the sink. Coordinating fabric was purchased at a craft store to be made into a skirt to hide the plumbing. It turned out well, was pretty inexpensive to make and best of all, it was easy. The sink skirt cost about $ 15 total.

That pretty much finished up the remodel. Add new towels and install the dimmer and the project was done. All in all $ 230 was spent! Not bad for a bathroom makeover!

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