Chad's Carpentry Remodeling Kitchens Bathrooms Basements Madison Wisconsin

At Chad’s Carpentry, we take remodeling very seriously. The reasoning is simple: Modern houses are complex systems. Overlooking even the smallest detail can lead to serious problems. For us, a successful project is one that meets the customer’s needs, delivering intelligent design, durability, energy-efficiency, and a healthy living space. We understand the importance of every aspect of the project, and consistently implement these details to achieve outstanding results.

Recently, we improved our services by partnering with Home Performance with ENERGY STAR and Green Built Remodeled Homes. These programs share our goals and philosophy and help us to provide one of the finest remodeling experiences in the Madison area. Both programs serve as a guide to us, as well as to our clients; enabling us to make the most well informed choices ‘ahead of time.’

The Home Performance with ENERGY STAR program adds the necessary scientific testing and oversight that modern buildings require. Before your project begins, we hire a Home Performance evaluator to assess the current safety and efficiency of your home. With a “whole house approach” in mind, the evaluator utilizes sophisticated thermal imaging systems, blower door testing equipment, and an array of other equipment to “determine the cause of any problem” and “gauge your home’s energy efficiency and durability.” Specifically, our evaluator will measure air-flow on existing exhaust fan equipment and test for poor chimney drafting and carbon monoxide problems.

A complete report is mailed to the homeowner and to our staff, which allows us to discuss and budget for any additional problems or opportunities that the homeowner wishes to include in the project. The evaluator remains available throughout the project to offer advice and oversight and, in conclusion, conducts a post-test to measure our improvements and test our workmanship. Currently, we incorporate this higher level of service into nearly every project.

The Green Built Remodeled Home program helps us create a healthier home, with the added benefit of reducing waste and utilizing more sustainable products in our projects. Whether we want to admit it or not, many of the buildings we live in diminish our health, even if they do not make us sick. Formaldehyde, as well as hundreds of other toxins, routinely outgas from the materials and products installed in new or remodeled homes. Our goal as a company is to avoid these problems whenever possible. The Green Built Remodeled Home program helps us to make better choices by educating our staff and our clients at each step of the project.

Green Built has developed a six-page checklist, which allocates points for choices that favor healthier products, more energy-efficient designs and technologies, and waste-reducing practices and choices. Therefore, a remodeler, or home-owner, can obtain a “grade” and “certification” as a “Green Built” project, which adds market-value to the home, and peace-of-mind to the occupants. We look forward to fully implementing this program in 2006.

A: A Solatube is a tubular skylight that allows sunlight to illuminate your room without having to worry about leaks. A Solatube uses highly reflective tubing and special diffusers to maximize the light output into your rooms. A traditional skylight absorbs much of that light in its drywall shaft. The Solatubes are compact in design as well (as little as 10” in diameter) and they are able to go around most attic obstructions. The Solatubes are also less expensive than traditional skylights. It takes only two hours to brighten up your room, where with a traditional skylight, it may take more than a day because of the drywall and painting involved. Solatubes provide excellent light diffusion. Instead of lighting only the space directly below the skylight, Solatubes are capable of filling an entire room with natural light. Solatubes have also received the Energy Star of Approval. This means that the Solatube doesn’t lose heat, or gain it. Solatubes are manufactured in the USA using recycled materials.

Chad’s Carpentry is pleased to invite you to the Remodeling Showcase and Exposition presented by the Madison Chapter of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI). This is the only show in the area dedicated solely to remodeling, and showcases the latest in home improvement products, methods, and services in the Madison Area. While you’re there, visit our booth to see our latest projects and ideas!

This wonderful event will educate you on numerous aspects of remodeling. Choose from a long list of free seminars on home improvement products, processes and services. Seminars in previous years have included: “Water Damage and Restoration,” “The Beauty of Landscape Lighting,” “Planning for Optimal Closet Space,” and “Window Replacement Questions and Answers.” These seminars, as well as many more, are included in the $5 admission price.

For a complete list of seminars and vendors, or for directions to the show, please go to the NARI web site at http://www.remodelingmadison.org. If you would prefer to call our office, we would be happy to fill you in on complete event details or answer any questions you may have.

Again, we’ll be in our exhibit booth all weekend, and would love to see you, so please stop by and chat.

Lack of sufficient project management can cause un-due stress on remodeling clients. Thanks to our well-trained staff, we are able to provide superior project management. Not only do our staff members receive training from Home Performance with ENERGY STAR and Green Built Remodeled Home, the majority have also earned NARI (National Association of the Remodeling Industry) Certification. NARI is the only association dedicated exclusively to the remodeling industry. Certification training fulfills NARI’s primary mission of promoting education, ethics, and professionalism within the remodeling industry. We are proud of the accomplishments of our staff in these programs.

Chad Speight has been a Certified Remodeler (CR) since 2002. This credential reflects mastery of a wide range of topics; including construction techniques, building codes, project management, accounting and business ethics. Of the hundreds of remodeling contractors in the Madison area, there are fewer than 25 Certified Remodelers. Starting in 2005, NARI began requiring all Certified Remodelers to attend 8 hours of training each year in order to renew their credential. Chad welcomes this new requirement. Every year for two days in January, he attends the Better Building, Better Business Conference and looks forward to seeing more Madison area remodelers at these and other training opportunities. Chad is proud to be a leader in the movement to improve building standards in Wisconsin.

Three of our four lead carpenters, as well as our production manager, all have earned the NARI Certified Lead Carpenter credential. This certification is earned by passing a rigorous six-hour exam, which evaluates knowledge of building techniques, mechanical systems, safety, project management, and customer service.

Local NARI chapters administer the test nationally, and only 68% pass the first time. As with the CR credential, additional training and education is required every year to maintain the Certified Lead Carpenter credential. Our lead carpenters who are currently certified include Dave Foley, Les Tasker, and Steve Grenier. We are proud of them all! Our certified staff, and a few who are not yet certified, will be attending the Better Building, Better Business Conference for 2 days of training this Month.

While only half of our staff is officially certified by NARI, all are involved in ongoing training and enrichment, which makes us one of the best educated remodeling companies in the country. We are proud of our commitment to quality and to improving our skills and knowledge so that we can continue to be a model for excellence in the remodeling industry.

Many homeowners call us for a window replacement quote. The convenience, warmth, peace of mind and beauty that comes with new windows is truly a benefit. But the questions about energy savings and financial payback are also important to many of our clients. With that in mind, we pride ourselves on giving an honest assessment of the value of replacing windows, and occasionally, we convince a homeowner to put their money into other improvements if saving money is the primary goal. Some homeowners aren’t concerned about these factors; they simply want to “get rid of” their battered old single pane windows. If you aren’t as certain about the decision, but have been mulling it over, here are a few things to consider.

Windows can be replaced for a variety of reasons: Many old windows are drafty, lack good seals, and are not easy to operate. A single pane of glass does not offer much insulation from the heat or cold. A new, properly installed window will eliminate these problems. If your old windows are painted they may have harmful lead residue, which can accumulate in the sill as the window is opened and closed. A simple test kit purchased at the hardware store can detect this problem. If lead paint is present, special measures need to be taken during the removal process, and a thorough cleanup is necessary to protect the residents from any additional exposure. Make sure your remodeler or installer is educated in lead paint removal before you begin the project.

Newer windows use insulated glass units (IGU's) or "thermopanes," which have multiple layers of glass separated by a sealed air space. The air space reduces conduction through the window. The sealed space is filled with an inert gas—usually argon, which provides additional insulation by reducing the amount of convection between the glass panes. This air pocket also acts as a sound barrier, reducing noise transmission. A standard (double) thermopane has twice the insulating performance of a single-pane, and is required by current building codes as a minimum glazing for heated buildings. (Glass is typically referred to as the “glazing” in a window.) This marks a significant improvement over the old single pane of glass, which is a technology dating back to medieval times. Triple pane windows are also available, but are usually not worth the added expense.

We also recommend additional glazing features such as Low-E (low-emissivity) coatings, which often come standard with IGUs. Low-E (or Low-E2) windows incorporate a microscopically thin layer of a metal oxide, which reduces the amount of heat transferred through the glass without reducing the amount of light. These delicate coatings are applied to the inside of the IGU; therefore, can only be used with double or triple-pane windows. The coatings do add a slight tint to the glass, altering the natural color. Other than that, these features offer significant benefits, which justify the small, added cost.

Depending on window choice, the cost of window replacement varies significantly. At one end of the spectrum, there are inexpensive vinyl pocket windows. At the other end, there are full tear-out replacements and custom wood windows with simulated divided lite bars. Given the options, replacing a single window that measures 3’ x 5’ can cost as little as $500, or as much as $1800. If the goal of replacing your windows is to obtain energy-savings, then you can expect a long-term payback. Depending on the cost of the window, and the cost of energy, the payback time ranges from 20 to 40 years. If you want to know actual payback statistics for your home, our Home Performance analyst can crunch the numbers by doing an Energy Rating, to help us all evaluate the payback of different window improvements. If energy savings payback is your main goal, there are generally better ways to reduce your heating bill and improve your comfort, such as insulating and air sealing, but we’ll save that a future issue!