Archives: Design & Planning

Window Blinds On A Budget

By Todd Fratzel on Interior Decorating, Windows

We still need window blinds in several rooms on the second floor and I’ve been looking around for a place to buy them on a fixed budget. We’ve been searching for some pleated blinds for the kids play room. I found the pleated blinds in the photo for a great price from a website called…

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Recommended Insulation Levels

By Todd Fratzel on Energy Conservation, Insulation

Insulation Saves Money We’ve been having another record winter here in New Hampshire and quite a few people are asking me if they have enough insulation in their homes. The expensive cost of fuel and rough economy has forced folks to re-evaluate their current insulation levels. By making sure you have the proper levels of…

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Harvey Tribute Window Review

By Todd Fratzel on Energy Conservation, Product Reviews, Windows

I’ve written several articles about an Energy Star House we’re building right now for a customer at work. The house features the new Harvey Tribute Windows with high performance package. Harvey Tribute Windows The Harvey Tribute Windows with the High Performance Package is an upgraded window line from Harvey that offers customers a superior energy…

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Refinance A Construction Loan

By Todd Fratzel on Home Improvement Cost Savings

Interest rates are at all time lows right now and we’re considering refinancing our original construction loan. When we built the house four years ago we used a construction loan to help finance the construction. The construction loan was a adjustable rate mortgage with the first 7 years fixed. The rate was 5.875% and it…

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How To Remove Dust Mites – Allergies

By Todd Fratzel on Maintanence, Safety

Dust Mites & Allergies Recently our oldest child was diagnosed with severe allergies including many kinds of foods and dust mites. We knew about the food allergies from a very young age but we were extremely surprised to learn about his allergy to dust mites. So we’ve been learning how to remove dust mites from…

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Refinishing A Flood Damaged Basement

By Todd Fratzel on Basements, Design

Another homeowner has emailed me with questions about insulating a finished basement. This situation is a bit different and I wanted to share it with you. The homeowner recently had their basement flooded with over 4 feet of standing water. The house is located in a flood plain but has never been flooded before. The…

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Some CFL Bulbs Are Too Bright

By Todd Fratzel on Electrical, Energy Conservation

We’ve been replacing most of our regular light bulbs with Compact Fluorescent Bulbs (CFL’s). Last weekend I purchased a box of six 19 watt CFL’s (I didn’t actually pay attention to the box and had no idea they were equivalent to 75W regular bulbs). I wanted to replace the five regular bulbs in our dining…

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NTI Trinity On-Demand High Efficiency Boiler

By Todd Fratzel on Air Conditioning, Energy Conservation

On-Demand High Efficiency Boilers The new Energy Star certified home that we’re building at work for a client includes a NTI Trinity on-demand high efficiency gas (propane) boiler. This amazing on-demand high efficiency boiler provides all of the domestic hot water and hot water for the heating system. The heating system includes a combination of…

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