5 Questions You Should Always Ask Before Hiring a Chicago Remodeling Contractor

So you have decided that the time is right to remodel your home. Maybe you are planning to revamp your kitchen to bring in the modern feel of granite countertops and new appliances. Or redo your bathrooms so they feel fresh again. You might even want to renovate your entire house, making changes to both the interior and exterior. No matter what type of project you are looking to have done on your home, there’s one major thing you need to be sure you have… a top-level Chicago remodeling contractor. But how do you know that you are hiring the right company for the job? You can start by asking them these 5 important questions:

Renovating Historic Homes in Chicago

Arete Renovators approaches the renovation of historic properties with the same attention to detail and quality that it has become known for, and with the firm belief that the architectural heritage of the structure is paramount.

We initiate an extensive collaborative design, value engineering, and scheduling analysis prior to undertaking the construction process. These initial steps are an important part of our process, and help insure that all work is harmonious with the historic elements of the renovation, and most importantly, meet our client's specifications.


When renovating a historic home, a connection must be built between the past and the present. The home becomes transformed by integrating a balance of space with contemporary mechanical upgrades and quality of finish while accommodating modern life. This means that the renovation process must adhere to contemporary building codes required by law while maintaining the integrity and historic value of the home.


Arete Renovators, together with a highly skilled group of sub-contractors, enjoys the creative and professional challenge of historic home renovation. See photos of a recently completed historic renovation on our website.

Energy Incentives for Home Improvements

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) is designed to inject more then $780 billion into the economy over the next several years. Homeowners who make qualified energy-related home improvements could receive tax credits.
Areté Renovators is summarizing for you some provisions of the ARRA below.

Windows and Doors

Heat loss through windows can account for anywhere from 10% to 25% of a homeowners’ heating bill (source U.S. Department of Energy).
To qualify for “energy efficient” under ARRA window or door must meet U-factor and solar heat gain coefficient standards. It is estimated that only 15% to 20% products on the market meet those standards.
Check the label of the product your buying or go to directory of certified products:
www.nfrc.org

U-factor measures resistance to heat flow on a 0 to 1.2 scale. To qualify for tax credit, a window or door’s U-factor must be 0.30 or less.
Solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) measures how well the window blocks heat from the sun. To qualify for the credits, the SHGC must be 0.30 or less.

If you are considering replacing windows or doors on your primary dwelling you could save up to $1500 by consulting with your remodeling contractor and tax advisor.

Insulation

Insulation provision of the ARRA is simply 30% of the cost of the materials only, up to $1500 per household for work performed this year and next. Since labor is excluded, your invoice needs to separate materials and labor. Materials used for insulation must be expected to remain in use for at least five years or have a minimum two-year warranty.

HVAC

An average house needs a 70,000 BTU furnace and a 2.5-ton air conditioner, which cost around $5,000. A qualifying air conditioner or furnace might cost an additional $2,600. However, the tax credit applies to both the materials and installation of HVAC systems up to $1,500 maximum. If the homeowner accounts for energy savings per month, he or she can clearly see the long-term benefit. For a directory of products you can visit the Air-Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute at http://www.ahrinet.org/


For more information about other remodeling projects that could qualify for tax credit you can visit the Energy Star web page:http://www.energystar.gov