Tag Archives: Home

Curb Appeal in Atlanta- (for your home)

Posted on June 2, 2011 by Greenlanta

If your home needs lots of attention and you have a limited budget, an exterior makeover might be the fastest way to give you house a new look for much less than most interior renovations.

For 2 seasons of “Curb Appeal- the Block,” SawHorse was the preferred contractor in Atlanta.  The lead designer on the show- John Gidding had to take houses that looked awful and work miracles on a budget.  He did a great job on all of the ones that we worked on.

The formula was pretty much the same of each show:

  • We would add a structural feature to the front of the house- usually some type of porch
  • The house would get painted
  • We would add some hardscapes and landscaping

Sounds simple, but if your house needs all three and you leave one of them out, you will not get the full benefit of the exterior makeover.  OR, if your design if not what it could be, you might be spending money on things that do not give you the desired look you are going for.

If you are looking for help with the front of your house, the SawHorse team has partnered with Curb Appeal star- John Gidding to offer you a design/ build solutions for your home.  Even if you are considering a DIY solution, we can still give you a plan that you can do yourself.  Contact us to set up your curb appeal appointment.

 

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Q. What do you recommend for weatherstripping around a side entry door in Atlanta?

Posted on January 19, 2011 by Greenlanta

Just got a good question from one of our potential clients that I would like to share with you.  The questions was- “What do you recommend for weatherstripping around a side entry door?”

Overall the amount of energy loss is not as great as the amount lost through your attic or crawlspace, however the drafts that you feel can affect your comfort.

The type of weatherstripping you will need depends on the on the style of door and if it was designed already to accept it as part of the jamb.  Here is a picture of a door that has weatherstripping designed as part of the door jamb.  As the assembly ages and gets used the weatherstripping can wear out, crack there for loosing the seam necessary to keep the weather out.  The first picture shows the weatherstripping fully installed.  The second picture demonstrates  how it can be removed so it can be replaced.

If you have an older door that does not a jamb designed for weatherstripping you still have several options.  You can install a metal strip inside the jamb so when the door closes it forms a little better seal.  This is the type that you see on older homes and on front doors since it not seen from the inside or outside when the door is closed.  A more effective solution if a metal strip with a rubber/ foam seal that is fasted to the jamb on the outside of the door.  While it is not ideal for a front door since it is not as aesthetically pleasing as the kind that is hidden, it does perform better.

The best way to see which ones are right now you visit your local hardware store.   Most big box hardware stores have half an isle dedicated to insulation and weather-sealing.

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Curb Appeal: The Block : HGTV-Recycled retaining wall

Posted on January 11, 2011 by Greenlanta

SawHorse was invited to participate on the hit show Curb Appeal.  This was our first episode with them and it turned out to be one of the more popular episodes of the season.  My favorite part is where we recycled the chunks of driveway and created a retaining with them.  This saved in landfill costs and materials needed for the retaining wall.

From HGTV’s Curb Appeal page:

Errin Haines recently bought her first house, but unfortunately it is the eyesore of the block. She works around the clock and doesn’t have time to devote to fixing up the front yard. Fortunately, the Curb Appeal team is stepping in and turning the sticks and weeds in her front yard into a gorgeous landscape. In fact, even the mailbox is getting an overhaul. Designer John Gidding’s design plan includes adding a stone patio with seating as well as white washing the existing brick to unify the property. The plan doesn’t end there as John and his team also give smaller makeovers to two of Errin’s neighbors as well. Not only will this unify and inspire the block, but property values will be raised as well, benefiting everyone.

via A First Time Homeowner Gets Much Needed Curb Appeal and the Neighbors Also Benefit : Curb Appeal: The Block : Home & Garden Television.

About the author

Matt Hoots is President of SawHorse, Atlanta’s cutting edge design build firm since 1978.  He also chairs the Green Building Council for the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association to help grow better building practices in Georgia.

My profiles: Facebook LinkedIn Twitter YouTube

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Green Curb Appeal Project

Posted on April 21, 2010 by Greenlanta

This was the first Curb Appeal (the block) Project that we did for HTGV.  We had a lot of fun trying to come up with cost effective ways to get the whole project completed for the budget.  Our green touch ended up being the component that got us on budget and made the Curb Appeal fans happy.  We ended up using the concrete chunks from the old driveway to build a retaining wall for the front yard.  This saved us on  waste disposal costs and allowed for us to save on the material costs for a new retaining wall.

Find out more about us here, check out our videos, and become a fan of us on Facebook!

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Green Ink

Posted on February 8, 2010 by Greenlanta

Here is a plug for one of our clients. We made their home more comfortable and energy efficient.

I’m Randy Merrill, the owner of Cartridge World Atlanta and I’d like to share with you an idea to help save you money, help the community and save the planet with no inconvenience to you. We are currently saving Mount Vernon Presbyterian, Pace Academy and The Lovett School thousands of dollars a year on their ink and toner and we would like to do the same for you.

Our business is simple and successful. We take the empty casings of ink and toner cartridges and completely remanufacture them in our Vinings workshop. Through this process, we have a higher success rate vs. original manufacturer for a new cartridge or toner off the shelf. As a result, we are able to provide a savings of 25%-40% on each piece. Importantly, the dollars spent by you and your school go directly into our local economy, not overseas, which helps our community.

Finally, we recycle to reduce landfill waste. One toner casing requires 1 gallon of oil to make, produces 3.5 pounds of waste and remains in the landfill for 450 years. Our remanufacturing process reuses your casing and reduces waste.

We also offer free delivery for orders over $100.

We can save you money, put your printing dollars back into your community, help save the planet and our delivery (orders > $100) is free.

It would be our pleasure to provide you with a quote and you can compare the savings for you and the benefits for our community and planet.

Find out more about us here, check out our videos, and become a fan of us on Facebook!

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