Renovations in RVA - A Young Perspective

(photo courtesy of Wikimedia, VCU)

Have you been downtown lately? It's the middle of the summer so you'd expect the city to be quiet with all the students on summer break. When you visit downtown though, even in the middle of the day, the city is vibrant with city life. 

A quick drive through the VCU Campus, Carytown and even Shockoe Slip will prove that there is a lot happening downtown. There are buildings being constructed left and right, spaces that have been previously unnoccupied are running as busy commercial spaces, and even the those streets that were considered as some of the less desirables areas are now being occupied with restaurants and small businesses. MCV keeps expanding adding the need for more student and resident housing close to Shockoe Bottom. VCU has created the demand for more restaurants and retail shoppes. Carytown has attracted more business in the past couple of years than they ever have with places like: Carytown Cupcakes, Mellow Mushroom, The Daily and a couple of Froyo places. 

Downtown is making a comeback and as homeowner or investor you should take advantage of an emerging housing market. As a homeowner you have the opportunity to make improvements on your existing property, don't let it detiorate in value because this area keeps growing and you need to grow with it. When it is time to sell, there is a good potential for a great return, especially if you're home is up to par with the modern architecture of the renovated warehouse spaces turned into apartments. You'll even have the upper hand because your home will be more in line with Richmond's traditional architecture. 

As an investor, it is time to look at downtown with the respect that it deserves, so many people have been turned off by the idea of living in a home that needs a lot of renovations. This challenge should be accepted as an opportunity to see the potential down the line. With the economy of downtown growing as exponentially as it has, this is a great time to invest in a property that is of a good value and bring it up to date. There will be interested parties that are willing to purchase a home that is ready to move in at an alarming rising rate.  

There is a lot of a lot of value in Downtown Richmond, you just need to have the vision for it. 

Outdoor Decks Explained

It's no secret that we're big fans of the outdoors, here in Richmond we get at least six to nine months of weather that can be spent outdoors. Some months might be hotter than others, and some are chillier. Either way, we think Virginia homes that have outdoor spaces are very enjoyable. Our customers will sometimes come to us asking questions about what is the best way to go when building an outdoor deck. We are partial to natural materials but we'd like to explain the different kinds that you can get your deck made out of.

Timber
This is by far the most popular option. We really like it because it tends to blend with the outdoors well and it is naturally water resistant. If you decide to use timber as your primary material make sure that it is treated against termites, ants and other unwanted pests. Timber also tends to last for a long time and because it does need to be put together in sections, it can be easily replaced if part of your deck becomes damaged. You can get this material in different colors and finishes so you can configure it to match the rest of your home and furniture. This is the option that we would recommend most.

Polyethylene
This is a bit of a toss up, literally. It's a mixture of both natural materials and synthetic ones, so it is a blend. The blend consists of recycled plastic and wood components. This is a cost effective option as an alternative from timber, it is slip resistant and will endure against the elements. The only downside is that it tends to fade overtime, so what you see in the store is not what you will get as a final product. It is also fairly environmentally friendly since it does used recycled plastics as a source material.

Aluminum
This is by far the most cost effective option but it's longevity is questionable. The look of aluminum is not the most attractive and you have limited color options. Aluminum is easy to install since it typically comes in interlocking pieces that can be easily assembled. It does not expand and contract like it's other counterparts so it might get damaged easier. New Earth recommends to use this type of material as your last option.

So there you have it, when building an outside deck or patio keep in mind that you have different options for materials. Your first option should be timber, which is long lasting and looks the best. Polyethylene should be your second because it is still friendly to the environment and preserves a natural look. We'd tell you hold off on building a deck if you're thinking of using aluminum until you can afford one of the latter options.

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Pros and Cons: Wooden Floors

As a Class-A contractor, New Earth gets often asked to install wooden floors in all types of homes. We have realized that people usually have quite a few questions about the process, the cost and some of the benefits and disadvantages of wooden floors. We've put together a list of things to consider when purchasing a new home or updating an old one to wooden floors. Let's start with the positive first:

Pro's

• Easy Clean Up - What makes this particularly important is that you can easily recognize dirt or dust and clean it up. There are plenty of ways to clean a wooden floor, from: items you can pick up at your local grocery store to steam mops that disinfect.
• Cost Effective Repairs - If a section of your wooden floor happens to be damaged, it is very easy to target the replacement of the floor. You don't need to replace the entire thing. 
• Environmentally Friendly - Wooden floors come from natural materials which means they are biodegradable and it is a resource that can be replanted. 
• Hypoallergenic - Suffering from allergies is no joke, wooden floors allow to measure the amount of dust and allergens that live on the surface. Other flooring options like carpet don't give you that level of control since carpeting is often considered a breeding ground for allergens. 

Con's

• Cost - It usually costs more money upfront to install wooden floors, although in the long run you might see the value because it is a low maintenance option. 
• Durability - Even though wooden floor tend to last for a long time, it can scratch easily especially if you have pets or kids in the house.

Although the our Con's list is not very extensive, price is something to consider that can be a major factor in your decision. Keep in mind that this is a long term investment and that you'll probably end up saving money in the long run. 

For more great tips and info visit our website www.NewEarthVA.com

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