Build new or remodel what you have now

Builders and clients deal with uncertain economy, By Jerry Goldberg MATAMORAS — Reflecting the economy, attendance this past weekend at the Pike County Builders Association Home Show was lighter than in the past, said Ed Nikles Sr. Nikles, who is president of Ed Nikles Custom Builders of Milford and nationally recognized builder of custom homes, wasn’t surprised. Nikles said he expected a smaller turnout given the weak economic times we are in. “More people were interested in remodeling their current homes rather than in building a new home. Families are more cautious about taking on the large increased debt associated with new home construction. They can better justify the cost of remodeling alterations to increase their livable space,” he said. Anticipating that interest, the association scheduled a seminar during the home show to explain the Pennsylvania’s newly enacted Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act which will take effect July 1, 2009 and another on How To Choose A Contractor. The Act will require remodeling and alteration contractors to register with the Bureau of Consumer Protection of the Pennsylvania Attorney General. The registration requirement is for any home improvement contractor doing more than $5,000 annually or more than $500 for any one individual homeowner in the state. “This is a law which will protect senior homeowners who often fall prey to unscrupulous contractors as well as offering protection to all homeowners,” said Nikles. Contractors will be required to file lengthy and detailed registration forms. Applicants will need to reveal names, home addresses, telephone numbers, driver’s license numbers, social security numbers, and all prior business names and addresses of the home improvement businesses operated by the individual or each partner. They will also be required to carry liability insurance and reveal any convictions of frauds or deception. Registrations must be renewed every two years and registration numbers must be on their business cards, stationery and in all advertising. “This will make contractors do a better job and the ones that don’t will fall by the wayside. If they are fly-by-night contractors who don’t have a registration number technically the home owner doesn’t have to pay for the work performed,” Nikles said. For details on the new law, check out the attorney general’s Web site: http://www.attorneygeneral.gov/hic.aspx?id=4340. Going for the stars With cost a primary issue, alternatives also are found in the attractive long term home savings found in new energy-saving and environmentally friendly “green” construction. Nikles said these new types of home construction methods will be the future for home building contractors. Energy Star rated homes get a certification as such after inspection by an Energy Star verifier. Energy Star is endorsed by the U.S. Energy Department and the Environmental Protection Agency and is related to the Energy Star rating attached to many new home appliances. “We have just finished building a new home in Birchwood Lakes and it received the highest Energy Star rating which is 5+,” reported Nikles. Energy Star homes are built to a significantly higher insulation factor than required by state building codes. State requirements call for wall insulation to be rated at R19 and ceiling insulation to be at least R38. An Energy Star home has R21 insulation in the walls and R50 insulation in the ceilings. They are 52 percent more efficient than standards set by the state. If a home receives a rating which makes it at least 50 percent better than code the homeowner qualifies for a $2,000 state tax credit. “Homeowners will see the extra building costs pay for itself in a matter of a few years through reduced energy bills,” said Nikles. An independent verifyer/determiner, contracted by the EPA, is required to run tests on any home seeking an Energy Star rating. One of the tests used to determine whether it is Energy Star rated is to remove the front door and replace it with an exhaust fan unit. This device has measuring instruments which read the air flow and determine the amount of air leakage in cubic feet that comes in through walls, windows and doors. Tighter construction will reduce the amount of outside air seeping in the higher the Energy Star rating. Green is even better Green Homes are a step above Energy Star rated homes. Green home must incorporate Energy Star verification and rating. Green Homes have to be built with energy efficient products such as bathroom toilets that only use 1.1 to 1.2 gallons of water per flush as opposed to conventional toilets that use 1.6 gallons of water per flush. There must also be water saving faucets and shower heads as well as an air circulation system that uses stale home exhaust air to heat fresh air being drawn into the home. There are a number of new home products on the market such as vinyl roof shingles manufactured to resemble slate shingles and carry a 50 year warranty. “Although they are guaranteed for 50 years they will probably last far longer than 50 years,” said Nikles. “Economic times are tough and good home construction contractors that stand behind their work, as we do, will remain in business even though we are in a recession,” he said. For more information on Energy Star or Green Home construction as well as remodeling, contact Ed Nikles Sr. of Ed Nikles Custom Builders, at 570 296-9200. Who decides what is energy efficient? Peter Vargo, for one, who is a third party independent Energy Star verifier certified by the EPA. To qualify, Vargo needed college environmental training, needs to take continuing education courses to stay current, and to pass Environmental Protection Agency tests. The verifier comes in on the design stage of homes to make sure the plans will meet Energy Star specs. He consults with builders and heating/ventilation/air conditioning contractors. He visits the building site as the home is being built. The final Energy Star rating is given just before the home owner moves in. He conducts a series of technical tests and then he certifies it as a percentage rating. Ratings are based on a negative scale of 0 to 100 with 100 being a poorly built for energy efficient home. The lower the number, the higher the rating. An Energy Star home must achieve a rating of 85 or less. A totally self sufficient home with solar power, etc could rate a 1. Vargo said most of the homes Ed Nikles builds have a 50 or lower rating.