Replacement Windows Are An Investment

May 16, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Vinyl Replacement Windows MarylandIf you’re considering selling your home in Maryland, you’re most likely in the process of looking for ways to increase your resale value while getting your home off the market as quickly as possible. For the home buyer, one of the things they look at is the major elements of a house and their condition. If you haven’t hired a contractor in Maryland to at least take a look at the condition of your home, you could be missing out on valuable resources that allow you to up the selling price of your home while still being appealing to the home shoppers in your area.

Even Windows Have Technology

Over the last several decades product research and development has allowed manufacturers to make quite the updates to windows. Today, windows protect the temperature of your home from the outside elements in Maryland that can often do a number on your heating or cooling bill. With replacement windows, you’ll find that you’ll be saving on your energy bill month after month.

An Investment for Resale

Your home isn’t just a place to live, but an investment that you make for several years. When it comes time to sell, the more that your home has that doesn’t need to be replaced, the more that you’re going to get from the buyer. If your windows are old and dilapidated, you need to consider hiring a contractor in Maryland to get replacement windows for a price that matches the quality. You’ll often find that you’ll get the investment back and then some when it comes time to sell.

The Design Element
Even your windows have a look to them that adds to the appeal of your house. Older style, wooden frame windows are easily recognizable, and should never be in a house on the market today. This can often be the one thing that detracts buyers. Replacement windows in Maryland make your home more visually appealing, giving you more selling power.

Filed Under: Replacement Windows

Replacement Windows from a Maryland Contactor

May 8, 2013 by Leave a Comment

In the time that you own a home, you’re more than likely to come across the need to get replacement windows. For those in Maryland, you have lots of options when it comes time to replace your windows. Clearly, the investment isn’t a small one. However, if you’re an educated consumer, you can make smart choices that give you the most bang for your buck. Here are some tips when choosing the types of replacement windows in Maryland that you actually purchase.

Premium-Grade Vinyl

Premium grade vinyl is going to give you your money’s worth on your replacement windows. With frames and sashes completely made of vinyl, you essentially keep the weather out and your heating or cooling in, making it a wise investment for energy efficiency through your entire home.

Custom Made

When it comes to your home, chances are your windows aren’t standard sized. With custom made replacement windows in Maryland, you’ll find that you’re purchasing a faster installation that requires literally no cosmic work to be done to the home.

Look Matters

Obviously, how your home looks on the outside is going to be important to you, especially if you ever decide to sell your home. Windows are available in a variety of shapes and sizes, and even if you need a bit of cosmetic work, it could be a valuable investment to consider some new shapes for the front or back of your home.

Look for the Energy Star

There are plenty of Energy Star qualified replacement windows in Maryland that are available for purchase. This star is actually a regulation that assures that the build and quality of the window is going to save you as much money as possible.

Choose a Good Manufacturer

Look for name brand manufacturer windows rather than second hand manufactures. When it comes to your investment of replacement windows in Maryland, there are lots of options. You want to make sure that you get the most out of your money, and a reliable manufacturer is the only way to do that. It’s why we use Simonton windows. We know they’ll last and be beautiful!

Filed Under: Replacement Windows

Need A Quality Contractor For Your Maryland Roof?

May 7, 2013 by Leave a Comment

There’s a lot to be said about a home that has new roofing. For those looking to sell, a new roof can add more value than you actually pay for it when it comes to closing day. Roofing in Maryland give you a much larger return on your original investment than you might think. If you’ve never replaced a roof before, you may not understand just how valuable the work is after it’s completed. Here are just a few reasons to replace your roof before you sell.

Buyer Hate Repairs

On Top - Before MD homeThe last thing a home buyer wants to do is any major construction. Historically, homes with new roofs can generally sell for 10-20% more than their value with a roof that’s 15 years old. Since you’re out to sell the home, hiring a roofing contractor in Maryland before you post your listing is going to insure that you can raise the price of your home even more.

It Adds Protection

Home buyers also love to know that they and their family will be protected by a home. With roofing in Maryland, the weather can take a beating on a house, which can ultimately cause problems like major leaks, resulting in even further damage. Getting the roof on your home replaced is going to add years to the life of the interior construction of the home, ultimately making it a better investment for the buyer.

It Adds Visual Appeal

The days of wallpaper seem to have all but disappeared, and for those that are considering roofing in Maryland, the same law applies. The design of your roof is a visual appeal for the house. If you have an older style roof, you’ll find that the value of the home can deteriorate significantly, especially if it’s out of style.

Filed Under: Roofing

Home Ventilation Systems From A Maryland Contractor

May 6, 2013 by Leave a Comment

ventilation diagram

Good ventilation – air drawn in from soffit vent and exiting through ridge vent or fan

Your home, as protected as it may be, is exposed to the elements both inside and out. While we always work to assure that our family is safe and our home keeps the cold and moisture out, inevitably, it seems to creep in. Ventilation is designed to not only help keep our homes cool in the summer and warm in the winter, but to protect the home’s interior from being destroyed by outside elements. There are several different types of ventilation in Maryland that are available to make sure that you’ve got the best set up for your home interior.

Bathroom Ventilation
The bathroom is the one room in your home that is exposed to moisture more than any other room. If left unaddressed, you’ll find that the humidity from showers and sinks can create an issue of mold and mildew on your walls, and even inside them. With bathroom ventilation in Maryland, you’ll be able to make sure that your bathroom is moisture-free, letting you enjoy years of a beautiful bathroom. In fact, without it, you could find yourself having to remodel your bathroom quite often, costing you thousands of dollars that you wouldn’t otherwise have to spend.

Kitchen Ventilation

While your cooking might smell delicious, the moisture and ingredients that turn into vapors often result in something that’s going to stick to your walls. Left unattended, this buildup can cause damage and attract uninvited critters to your home. With kitchen ventilation in Maryland, you can be sure that those vapors are pushed elsewhere, again saving you thousands of dollars on remodeling costs while adding to the life of your kitchen decoration.

Garage Ventilation

If you’re a mechanic, or simply spend a lot of time working in your garage, you know that the winter months in Maryland get quite chilly. Unfortunately, if you don’t have a ventilation system, you’re stuck having to leave the garage door open, ultimately making it an uncomfortable place to work in both the summer and winter. With garage ventilation installed by a contractor in Maryland, you can rest assured that the fumes from your work are filtered outside, while allowing you to keep the extreme hot and cold out from your garage, making it a much more comfortable place to work.

Filed Under: Home Improvement

Vinyl Siding From A Maryland Contractor You Can Trust

May 3, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Home collageThe old days of painting your house are long gone. For those that are looking to preserve the beauty of their home and protect its value, vinyl siding has become the optimal, more affordable alternative. The weather in Maryland is constantly changing with the seasons, and you need material that’s going to stand the test of time. With vinyl siding in Maryland, you can rest assured that the look of your home will be preserved for several years before it’s time to do a makeover. Here are just a few options of vinyl siding that you have.

Flat Plank

The most basic vinyl siding is called flat plank. This no-frills siding has no texture, and just consists of long planks that make it easier to clean. For those that want to have a classic look to their home with a little bit of a modern touch, this is the ideal style. This type of vinyl siding in Maryland is still readily available in a variety of colors.

Shingles

For those that truly loved the look of wooden siding that they always had to paint, shingles are the optimal choice for vinyl siding in Maryland. These are obviously much easier to clean than wood siding, last much longer, and certainly require less care. While it does have a closer look to wood than any other option, it’s still going to give you a more contemporary look.

Textured

When you want to make your siding a little more appealing and modern, textured vinyl siding in Maryland is the way to go. With a variety of options like brick and wood, the vinyl panels actually copy the look of another surface. It certainly doesn’t look exactly the same, but it can add to the appeal of any home, especially if you’re thinking of putting your house on the market.

All we use is Certainteed

Rest assured, your Maryland home will have the very best siding, installed professionally and courteously all at the best price around!

Filed Under: Siding

Getting a roof in Maryland from a Contractor you can trust

May 2, 2013 by Leave a Comment

As homes age, there always comes a time that people need to replace the roof. The job is obviously something that you don’t want to tackle yourself, and it’s always ideal to hire out. But since people don’t always get the job done on a regular basis, knowing who to hire can be a little bit tricky. Here are a few tips to help you find the right contractor for roofing in Maryland.

It’s Not Always Price That Matters

Looking for the cheapest offer is going to leave you with the cheapest work. Your roof protects your family and protects the value of your home. If you shortchange yourself with low quality roofing work, you’ll find yourself with a lot more problems than you initially bargained for. Look for middle of the road pricing to get the job done. Roofing in Maryland certainly isn’t cheap, but it shouldn’t be the low bidder that always wins for the sake of your home.

Ask for References

Asking for references is one way of determining just how credible a roofing company can be. If you don’t know about their past work, you’ll never know what they’re going to do on your home. Once you get the references, make sure you follow up with at least three or four of them. Consistent answers are the key to the questions you ask. There are lots of opportunities for a contractor to do roofing in Maryland, and you should find the one with experience.

Ask Questions

One of the most important things you can do is ask questions. Even if they aren’t important to you and you just want the job done, asking questions lets you know just how much a roofer knows about the job they’re doing. Companies that do roofing in Maryland have the experience to back it up and aren’t afraid to answer your questions.

Filed Under: Roofing

Gutters for Maryland Homes From A Contractor You Trust

May 1, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Copper seamless gutter

Gutters For Maryland

Choosing the right gutters in Maryland is no easy task. Homeowners have several options when it comes to what they want and how much they want to invest in their home gutters. For those in Maryland, the decision becomes even more difficult as the weather can have a severe impact on your investment. Finding the right quality means finding something that can withstand the great outdoors, as well as something that’s not going to require a lot of maintenance. Here are just a few tips for choosing the right gutters in Maryland for your home.

Leaf Guards

As the seasons change and the leaves fall, homeowners with older style gutters often face the problem of clogged gutters. This can often result in not only water pouring from random parts of your roof, the mere weight of the water could do significant damage on the stability of your gutter system. The right gutters in Maryland come complete with leaf guards, designed to help keep the natural solid elements of mother nature out of your gutters, where they don’t belong in the first place.

Go Vinyl

Old gutters in Maryland used to be made of metal. The problem with these gutters (besides being extremely expensive) is that they would rust quite easily. With the weather changing consistently and in some cases to major extremes, it’s vinyl gutters are often the perfect solution to make sure you get maximum life out of your investment.

Spend More

While it’s not something you like to hear, it’s a hard fact that the bigger investments are going to land you with a higher quality, longer lasting gutter system. Gutters in Maryland vary greatly in pricing, and if you short yourself on your investment, you’re going to end up paying for it in the long run. Any part of your home construction should be considered as investing for future sale of your home.

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On Top Home Improvements Featured On Small Business CEO Radio

April 6, 2013 by Leave a Comment

On Top Home Improvements owners Kim and Dan Cox were featured guests recently on Small Business CEO Radio with host Glenn Garnes.

Here are the details from their site and the audio to listen in:

“Join us today for the inspiring story of Dan and Kim Cox, owners of On Top Home, a successful home improvement company in Damascus, Maryland.  We’ll be talking with Dan and Kim about what it takes to create and nurture your dream to reality and all the things that happen along the way.

Small Business CEO Radio features a free flowing discussion of issues affecting entrepreneurship and small business. Join host Glenn Garnes and our show guests for an entertaining,  informational exploration of the world of small business.”

Listen to internet radio with Small Business CEO Radio on Blog Talk Radio
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Are You Ready for the “Frankenstorm”?

October 28, 2012 by Leave a Comment

OnTop Home Improvements Storm Alert

According to The Weather Channel, Hurricane Sandy is expected to have a huge impact on the Northeastern United States starting tonight and it’s not just the coastal areas. Experts have said that “there is now a 90 percent chance that we will be pounded beginning on Sunday and lasting through at least Halloween on Wednesday.” Hurricane Specialist Bryan Norcross has even said that the storm “will be like a nor’easter with a hurricane embedded in it.”

Sandy is expected to bombard the Northeast with high winds, heavy rain, extremely high tides and it could even cause snow in some areas. Some are already drawing comparisons to the “Perfect Storm” of 1991 but as of now, Sandy is expected to do more damage because she will be hitting more densely populated areas.

Though we aren’t on the coast, we are still expecting severe weather with notices from the National Weather Service activating High Wind Warnings and saying that residents in our area should be prepared for extended power and communications outages and damage to homes.

We want to let the entire Baltimore area know that we are ready for Hurricane Sandy and are prepared to help in case of any damage to your home. We have stocked up on tarps and will be on-call for you 24/7 to help cover your roof and lessen damage to your home in the event of a leak. Just call us if you’re in need of a tarp and we’ll have a crew out as soon as it is safe to do so!

Call Us if You Need a Tarp or Suffer Damage!
301-368-3551

Also, to ensure that you’re ready for the storm, we are including a Hurricane Preparation Guide from Realtor, Jack Cotton in Cape Cod. He’s faced many such storms and has updated his guide to make sure we’re all ready for Sandy. Just click on the button below to download and don’t forget to call us if we can help in any way!

Filed Under: Uncategorized

SEVERE Weather Alert

June 1, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Dear MD Homeowners,

Don’t panic! Sometimes driving rain (that which we are expecting here later today!) can bring water into your home. Most likely (if you aren’t currently experiencing a problem) the water will be coming in through windows, siding, chimney, pipe collars or even the Severe weatherground. This doesn’t mean you have a problem with your roof or your siding or your windows. Your roof, siding and windows all have ventilation built into them for air flow and when you get a driving rain, the water could find it’s way in through these ventilation areas that normal rain would not.

If you get water into your house today, clean it up as soon as possible and dry the area thoroughly. If you experience this problem after the next “normal” rain, give us a call and we will come check it out for you and give you a no obligation estimate. As always, we are here to serve you so don’t hesitate to call on us.

Kim & Dan Cox
On Top Home Improvements, Inc.
301-368-3551
contact@OnTopHome.com

Filed Under: Blog, Gutters, Home Improvement, Replacement Windows, Roofing, Siding, Skylights, Vinyl Replacement Windows Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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