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 When hiring a remodeling company, builder, window or door replacement contractor, painter, handyman, or anyone who will work on your pre-1978 home, you better look for this logo with the firm’s Lead Safe EPA certification number:
Lead based paint has been an environmental hazard in many U.S. homes and public buildings for a long time contributing to the lead poisoning of many thousands of children and adults. Federal regulations were passed prohibiting the use of lead in paint (and solder) in 1978. So homes built after 1978 are not likely to have lead based paint in them. However, there are many pre-1978 homes and historical homes that are in the U.S. housing stock that can still create a hazard. When the lead paint is in bad condition (peeling or flaking) or disturbed (i.e. by dry scraping, sanding, peeling, or removal of lead painted components) the risk of poisoning can go up. Based on further federal legislation, the Environmental Protection Agency has implemented additional regulations affecting the construction industry to contain lead based paint hazards when renovating, repairing, or painting a home. The new regulations went into effect on April 22, 2010.
So if you live in a pre-1978 home and want to hire a professional remodeler to remodel, for example, your master bathroom – how will the new lead based paint regulations affect you?
- You could hire an independent EPA certified lead based paint inspector/risk assessor to inspect your home for the presence of lead based paint. If there is no lead paint present, your remodeler will need a copy of the inspection report and can proceed with your bathroom remodel as normal (without any extra lead precautions). If lead is present in one part of your home, but none is present in your master bathroom or near your master bathroom, the remodeler again will need a copy of the inspection report and will likely not need to implement any lead paint precautions. If lead paint is found in the master bathroom, your remodeler will need to implement all of the lead based paint regulations.
- You could save the money needed for the lead pain inspection and have your remodeler assume that lead paint is present and take all the precautions to contain the lead paint and paint dust.
So let’s go worst case scenario and you either know or assume you have lead based paint. What extra measures will the remodeler need to take to contain the paint and paint dust? The remodeler will have to set up plastic sheeting barriers to contain the lead paint dust, wear protective clothing, provide respirator masks for the workers, and require that you and your family stay out of the construction area – at all times – until special clean-up procedures are taken and the area is once again safe for occupancy. So if the bathroom is your only bathroom in the house, you cannot enter the construction zone to use the toilet in the evening after the workers have stopped for the day. You will also be responsible for keeping children and pets out of the construction zone until it is safe for occupancy.
The good news is that Summit Design Remodeling is fully EPA certfied as a lead safe firm and has the know how to remodel your home safely. We also know how to quickly clear the construction zone of the construction related lead paint hazards so you don’t need to be inconvenienced and can re-use crucial parts of your home as soon as possible. Does it cost more to implement the lead paint hazards? Yes, but we believe in doing the job right and minimizing lead paint hazards during construction is the right thing to do. Are there other contractors out there who aren’t EPA certified and ignore the lead paint regulations? Of course, and they may give you a cheaper price too. Are you willing to take the risk of lead poisoning your children or your family to save a few bucks? We hope not.
For more information about the lead paint regulations or any home issue, contact Summit Design Remodeling at 703-537-0930. Summit Design Remodeling is based in Fairfax, Virginia and serves all of Northern Virginia.
Laurie Crum, EPA certified lead paint renovator – Summit Design Remodeling
 Don’t miss this incredible event. The community of South Riding is putting on their annual Spring Business Expo & Yard Sale on Saturday, May 1st from 8:00AM to 1:00PM at the South Riding Center and Summit Design Remodeling will be there. I clicked on the South Riding website ( http://www.southriding.net/index.php?option=com_extcalendar&Itemid=666&task=one&id=176 ) and read that this event is already sold-out for both the yard sale side and the business expo side. So what that means for you is that you will be able to see a multitude of businesses and browse through one of the biggest yard sales you can imagine. This is a wonderful opportunity to come and see us about your home remodeling project, see other community businesses and maybe find a treasure at the yard sale. We would love to talk to you about your remodeling project and schedule an appointment to meet with you at your home after the expo for a no-obligation in home consultation. Admission to the expo is free and parking is free – so it doesn’t get much better than that!
The address for the event is: 42420 Unicorn Drive, South Riding, VA 20152
If you can’t make the event, but still want to contact us about your home remodeling project, please visit our website at: http://www.SummitDesignRemodeling.com. On our site you can find helpful information about remodeling, learn about our company and see many photos of various remodeling projects to get some ideas.
Hope to see you at the expo.
Laurie Crum, Summit Design Remodeling
 This Saturday, April 10th Summit Design Remodeling will be exhibiting at the Arlington Home Show and Expo. The home show is being held at the Walter Reed Community Center on 2909 South 16th Street, Arlington, Virginia from 10AM to 4PM. This event will have approximatley 65 vendors in the home industry in one place. This event is a great opportunity to see us and find out about having your home remodeled. And the great news is that admission is free and parking is free. It doesn’t get much better than that! For more information about the show: www.arlingtonhomeshow.org
See you at the show!
Laurie Crum, Summit Design Remodeling
We sometimes get asked by homeowners how they can have a bathroom that is more water resistant and less maintenance when it comes to mold and mildew control for a tile application. Then there is the common question of whether to seal the grout or not.
The water resistance can be mediated during the tile installation and is usually more appropriately applied in high water areas such as showers, around bathtubs, and sometimes on bathroom floors. There are several different types of products on the market that provide water proofing. One is made by Schluter Systems called Ditra (www.schluter.com). Ditra is a polyethylene mat that gets embedded in thinset mortar and the edges taped with Schluter’s Kerdi Band (see photo below). This mat prevents the water from getting beyond it and into the cement backer board below it. Thus, you don’t have to worry about water causing decay beneath the tile.
 For more information go to www.schluter.com
There is also a product called RedGard manufactured by Custom Building Products ( http://www.custombuildingproducts.com/ProductCatalog/SurfacePrep/WaterproofingAntiFractureMembranes/RedGard.aspx ). RedGard is a ready-to-use, elastomeric, waterproofing and anti-fracture membrane that is applied with a roller or trowel on the cement backer board before the thinset is applied. RedGard also has some mold/mildew resistance properties. Our tilesetter, Victor, recently used RedGard in a shower in Alexandria, VA that needed extra protection due to several Kohler body sprays and a Kohler overhead rain tile. As you can see in the picture below, RedGard is aptly named in that it is bright red when it has dried. The bright red color helps you to make sure that the coverage is good. These two products help to prevent water intrusion into the wall behind the tile.
 Victor Applying Thinset Over Red Gard
Now there’s the question of whether you should seal your grout or not. The short answer is: it’s a matter of preference. Let’s talk about the grout itself first. Grout is the stuff that is packed in between the tiles. Grout used in residential applications is a porous cementitous product that protects the underlayment and needs air for any moisture to dry out of it. There are two types, sanded and unsanded. Typically the sanded type (which has sand particles in it) is used when the grout joints are 1/8 of an inch or greater. Grout eventually can have staining from mold or mildew and generally get dirty. If you are having your tile re-done, one choice you have is to purchase a grout additive that helps to block the formation of mold and mildew. These additives are usually latex or acrylic which helps to stop the mold and mildew formation. This additive gets mixed into the grout as it is mixed for installation. Grout sealers are an option that some homeowners like for added protection from mildew and dirt. They can generally help with keeping the grout clean. There are two types of sealants – membrane sealants and penetrating sealants. The membrane kind applies a protective layer on the surface of the grout while the penetrating type soaks into the tiny pores of the grout to seal it.
Here are some considerations if you want to apply a grout sealer:
- The membrane type can leave a shiny look and will commonly need re-application about every 2 years. Certain ammonia based cleaning products can also wear this type of sealant off sooner and should not be used.
- The penetrating kind soaks into the tiny pores of the grout and leaves more of a matte finish on the grout. Some sealants can alter the color of the grout or make it look darker and some are used to purposefully re-color the grout
- The grout must be entirely dry and cured before applying a sealant so you don’t trap moisture in the grout. Follow the directions of the grout sealant, but many want the grout to cure for 48 to 72 hours before applying the sealant
- Some sealants are intended to be applied on porous tiles like slate and stone and come in spray cans. Some sealants come with a small brush applicator so the sealant can be painted on the grout joints only.
- When applying the sealant to the grout only, it is important to keep the sealant off the tile. If you get any on the tile, it is important to clean it off right away before it dries because once it is dry it is almost impossible to remove and looks awful.
Hopefully this article will help you to know some of the options to achieve the best tile installation. Summit Design Remodeling can help with tile or any home improvement you need. See our website at www.SummitDesignRemodeling.com Laurie Crum, Summit Design Remodeling
 It is our pleasure to announce and welcome Cary Holland as the Director of Sales for Summit Design Remodeling. Cary comes to Summit with a wealth of experience with his most recent position as a Remodeling Consultant with Case Design Remodeling. Cary decided to join Summit for the opportunity to further develop our sales team and influence the growth of the company. Cary has over 25 years of consultative selling experience and more than 20 years of residential remodeling experience. He also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Virginia.
In addition to being a top-notch remodeling professional, Cary and his family have been residents of Northern Virginia for over 30 years. Cary is married and has three grown sons. Cary’s wife, Lane Palmisano, is an accomplished local artist and entrepreneur. Lane has an art studio and gallery at the Torpedo Factory Art Center in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia. Over the years, Cary has served his community in several volunteer positions including being President of the Arlington Little League and as a youth baseball coach.
The passion that Cary has for home remodeling is evident. When asked what drives him to do home remodeling, Cary said, “This is a second career for me, but it’s the first job I’ve had that doesn’t seem like “work”. I truly like the creativity that comes with home design and being a part of helping people to improve their lives. I guess when you get right down to it, home remodeling keeps me challenged, creative, and focused by helping people change their environment.” When asked why he decided to join Summit Design Remodeling, Cary stated “I wanted to be a part of a company of peers where I could influence change and positive growth. I’ve found Summit’s leaders to be open, down to earth and committed to using the talents of each team member to their fullest.” He said “At Summit I have the sublime pleasure of working with great clients to design innovative solutions that, in the end, you are proud to claim as one of your own.”
To learn more about Summit Design Remodeling please visit our website at: www.SummitDesignRemodeling.com
Laurie Crum, Vice President, Summit Design Remodeling
How Summit Design Remodeling Can Simplify Construction Planning Did you know that most professional designers, architects and design/build contractors are now equipped to generate home and commercial remodeling plans in three dimensions? Industry professionals are using exceedingly sophisticated computer aided design “CAD” software to show cabinetry, roofs, wallpaper, paint colors, flooring, lighting and many other building elements very accurately, with such detail, and in such a realistic way, that the finished drawing is often interpreted by the novice as a fine sketch or even a photograph. Additionally, most CAD drawing programs allow the user to rotate drawings 360 degrees on both their horizontal and vertical axis thus allowing the novice to preview every nook and cranny of a project inside and out as if the project has already been built. CAD drawings were in their infancy less than two decades ago. Yet, today these programs are much more sophisticated and easier to use than ever before.
It’s important to know that CAD systems are readily available to builders, designers and architects. When you decide to choose one of these professionals you should ask how long they have been doing CAD drawings and ask them if you will be able to review your project inside and out in 3D before you are asked to approve the final plans. Building plan reviewers from your local jurisdiction require drawings in 2D, but will not turn away plans where details are amplified with the use of 3D views.
The highly skilled carpenters and designers that paved the way for the home remodeling business as we know it today never would have imagined how precise planning a project would become. Having said that, please remember that the most significant variable in construction is the human element. No matter how good the plan is make sure that you select an experienced design/construction team with a top notch reputation.
The principals of Summit Design Remodeling have been using professional CAD programs to generate drawings since the early 90’s. Recently, however, we took this process to another level when we incorporated Chief Architect® into our design arsenal. Chief Architect® allows the designers at Summit Design to virtually walk our Northern Virginia clients through their kitchen or bathroom remodeling project before the first cabinet is purchased or before the first board is nailed. On a recent project in Alexandria, Virginia our designer was able to show the clients exactly what their 1930’s row house would look like if they took out the wall between their living room and kitchen and incorporated a peninsula into their kitchen design.
Here are a few examples of how photo realistic a Chief Architect® 3D drawing can be:
 Chief Architect Bathroom 3D Rendering
Save The Dates !! Summit Design Remodeling will be exhibiting at the Capital Home & Garden Show from February 25th to the 28th at the Dulles Expo Center. This is a big home event for the Greater Washington D.C. area with many vendors and remodelers in attendance. You can get face to face information from us and others about ways to improve your home. John Gidding of HGTV’s Designed to Sell and Curb Appeal will be in attendance as well as Mike McGrath who hosts the weekly, nationally syndicated Public Radio show You Bet Your Garden. But best of all, Summit Design Remodeling will be there. We would love to speak with you at our booth about your home remodeling projects and schedule a no obligation consultation at your home after the show. Information about the show and a discount for online ticket purchases can be found at this link: http://www.capitalhomeshow.com/ME2/Sites/ See you at the show !!!
Laurie Crum, Design Consultant, Summit Design Remodeling
Let’s first dispel an old wives tale that you should cover up your roof vents in the winter to keep the cold out of the attic and the warm air in. An attic must be well ventilated year round. Just like you and me – an attic needs to breathe. NEVER cover a roof or eave vent, no matter how cold it gets. The trick to keeping your home warm is to have a thick layer of ceiling insulation. Covering the vents when it gets cold will cause reduced air flow in the attic which in turn will promote excessive condensation. This can result in mildew growth and other types of moisture damage. The condensation can get so bad as to trickle down the rafters and into the house giving the illusion of a roof leak. Constant air flow in the attic will reduce condensation year round.
Insulation does have its limits. Regardless of the R-value, the greater the difference between inside and outside temperatures, the greater the heat loss or heat gain will be. Hot air always travels toward cold air (another old wives tale dispelled, hot air doesn’t always rise). So, in the winter warm air escapes to the outside. And in the summer warm air travels to the inside. For better year around comfort and reduced energy bills, make sure that your home is well insulated, and that the air cannot pass through holes between the ceiling and the attic, or vice versa.
Attic venting is always included as a standard feature of construction when a new home is built. Codes require a specific amount of ventilation. But the building department doesn’t necessarily specify what is best – only that the minimums must be met. In the case of attic ventilation, the general rule-of-thumb is the more the merrier.
Vents should be positioned to allow air into the attic at its lowest point – the underside of the roof overhang (the eave or soffit). Since warm air travels to cold air, exhaust vents are mounted high on the roof, at its ridge, near the ridge or near the peak of a gable wall. These are known respectively as roof vents, ridge vents, cupola vents and gable vents (see diagram). The gable vent is the only type that is not actually mounted somewhere on the roof surface itself.
So why are gable vents used, you may ask? Number one – there is less risk of leaks. This is because the gable vent is separate from the watershed configuration of the roof covering. And, installation is cheaper because it doesn’t have to be woven into the shingles. But even with gable vents, at Summit Design Remodeling, we like the idea of seeing vents mounted on the roof as well. Also, the ridge-vent system is effective, reasonably easy to retrofit and less expensive than other alternatives. Adding a ridge vent to an existing home is more user friendly than other alternatives. By the way, the cupola is not an addition that will necessarily work well with every home’s architecture. Study such an alteration thoroughly. Even though the cupola is located at the highest point on the roof, costs could easily cause this good-looking alternative to be scrapped for a more practical retrofit.
The higher the exhaust venting is located on the roof the more effective it will be. Convection air currents are created between the upper and lower vents. As the hot air moves through the attic and leaves, cooler air is drawn in from the vents below. The siphoning action that results can cause air to move in an unusually rapid cycle. This is called passive ventilation. After you provide the inlets and outlets, Mother Nature will do the work. Sometimes though, Mother Nature needs a jump start. This is when active methods should be employed, such as turbine vents and electric thermostatically controlled attic fans. Since these are sometimes difficult to use in our Northern Virginia colder climate, it is a good idea to consider their use during spring, summer, and autumn months only.
By: Michael Crum, GMB, CGB, CGR
Summit Design Remodeling, LLC
It’s that time again. We are coming upon a new year. At the New Year most of us tend to reflect on 2009 and think about what went well (and not so well) and what we need to accomplish in 2010. With the economy still lagging and some signs that the economy is making a slow recovery, now is a great time to look at your home and decide how you can improve it. Then when the economy is better and housing prices recover, your home should appraise for even more. Doing even a small remodel can help improve the value of your home and give you a fresh look that you can be proud of.
Many people think that a home remodeling project has to cost a lot of money and require a home equity loan. Yet many projects can cost less than $20,000 and some less than $10,000. For a kitchen remodel, instead to gutting everything and starting over, you can update the flooring and the countertop. Adding a granite countertop or a solid surface countertop (i.e. Corian, Zodiaq, or Silestone) can greatly enhance the beauty of your kitchen. Adding a very decorative tile backsplash or floor can make a beautiful improvement. Because the backsplash is a smaller area, you can sometimes choose the more expensive tiles and decorative pieces without breaking the bank.
 This kitchen may not have the latest stainless steel appliances, yet it still looks very stylish with granite countertops, updated faucets, a nice tile backsplash and some new lighting. Updating a powder room or bathroom is also a nice way to improve your home and give yourself a mini home makeover. Updating the shower door to a frameless model, adding a nice tile design, and changing out the faucets and plumbing fixtures can really give the bathroom a new updated look. And of course, adding green items in your design like a tankless water heater can help you save on your utility bills too.
So instead of making that same old New Year’s resolution to lose 20 pounds, make a resolution that you can keep – remodel your home. Summit Design Remodeling can help you with your resolution. See our website at: SummitDesignRemodeling.com
Laurie Crum, Design Consultant – Summit Design Remodeling
This past September (Sept. 25th to 27th), Summit Design Remodeling had the opportunity to exhibit and meet some very nice folks who came out to see us at the Dulles Expo Center in Chantilly, VA. This home expo is one of the largest and most widely attended in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area for anything related to the home. We displayed a sample of some nice built-in cabinetry at our booth. In collaboration with Contemporary Woodcrafters, these cabinets are custom built at our millwork shop and showroom in Chantilly, VA. Summit Design Remodeling offers many options for enhancing your home whether it is a custom closet system, mud room, entertainment center, home office systems, built-in bookcases, and of course, kitchens and baths. If you missed us at this past show, we will be exhibiting again in the Spring at the Capital Area Home Show from February 25th to the 28th at the Dulles Expo Center.
 Michael & Laurie Crum of Summit Design Remodeling exhibit at the Capital Area Home Show
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