Kelly Builders Helena, Montana www.kellybuildersmt.com

Massage Therapy Office Renovation--Light Construction

2011-03-08T09:16:00.000-08:00

Many of you who have lived in Helena for some time are familiar with Rose's Cantina. The former location of this restaurant, now
known as The Lion Building, has been remodeled into an indoor walking mall. This has opened up several remodel to suit spaces.

The first business to make its' home in the walking mall was a local massage therapist. She needed a floor plan that included a waiting area, a separate therapy space to ensured client privacy, storage areas and a desk.

First, separate waiting and work areas
were accomplished by constructing a
full height wall.

Next, the work area needed to be further divided into separate therapy space and office space. This was achieved by adding custom designed and built shelving units. The shelves serve several purposes including room division, storage for business supplies and linens, a closet space for client belongings as well as a built in desk.

2010-11-23T17:02:00.000-08:00

This home features Certainteed Fiber Cement siding in Granite Grey, Norwegian Wood soffit and fascia with custom stained, rough cut cedar board and batten accents.

Upper West Side Deck Rebuild

2010-10-05T16:45:00.000-07:00

Original deck, tear off and new concrete pad.

Upper West Side Deck Rebuild-The Finished Product

2010-10-05T15:51:00.000-07:00

Greenfield Loop Framing

2010-08-05T11:41:00.000-07:00

Grasslands Finished Home

2010-06-05T16:16:00.000-07:00

The finished home turned out beautiful.

Grasslands Siding

2010-04-19T08:57:00.000-07:00

Save Energy Now, Maximize Your Window of Opportunity

2010-04-13T08:01:00.000-07:00

Tax credits and new products make this a great time for improving your home's energy efficiency. Here are five things you should know about upgrading for energy savings.

1. The government will help you pay for specific energy upgrades--but only until the end of this year.
Through 2010, you can claim a federal tax credit of 30 percent of the cost--up to $1,500--for new qualified windows, doors, roofs, insulation, water heaters, and heating and cooling systems. So, if you spend $5,000 (whether on one qualified product or total on several projects), you can claim the full amount of the $1,500 credit on you 2010 income tax form. (Tax credits for alternative equipment, such as solar panels, solar water heaters, and geothermal heat pumps, are available through 2016 and have no cap.)
Here are some tax-break scenarios.

INSULATION: Covering 1,000 square feet of attic space with R-19 fiberglass batt at 46 cents per square foot would cost $460; your tax credit would be $138.
GAS, OIL, OR PROPANE WATER HEATER: The tax credit covers both product and installation. If you pay $900 total, 30 percent of that is $270.
GAS, OIL,OR PROPANE FURNACE OR BOILER: You'll likely spend more than $5,000 to replace your old furnace or boiler. You can include installation when figuring the tax credit, so you could receive the total $1,500 credit on this project alone.
WINDOWS: If each window costs $375, you could buy 14 windows to get back the maximum $1,500. Note: The tax credit doesn't cover installation.

Consult a tax expert before making major purchases, save all receipts and get a Manufacturer's Certification Statement as proof of qualification for products you buy for tax credit purposes. Products installed in 2009 may be allowable, but specifications have become more stringent, so check models. Manufacturer Web sites and retailers are your best bets for identifying qualified products; look for the phrase "$1,500 tax credit."

2. Start with a complete picture of the energy your home is using.

Your best whole-house solution is an energy audit--an evalution of your home's current energy performance and list of recommendations for improving it. Think of it this way: If you've got more than the sniffles, you go to the doctor for a diagnosis. The pain of your illness pushes you to get help. It's the same way with your house. When the pain of paying high utility bills and living in drafty room hurts enough, it's time for a diagnosis and prescription.

A professional energy auditor (also known as a home energy rater) will evaluate the ductwork, insulation levels, and other aspects that affect home performance. The report not only pin points the source of the "pain" but also prioritizes recommended home energy upgrades to maximize the return on investment.

"We take a holistic approach to a house, looking not only at the individual components, but whether together they perform as they should," says Mark Cannella, principal partner of Pro Energy Consultants, a nationally franchised home energy auditing company (proenergyconsultants.com).

Some professional energy audits are simple visual inspections that identify costs and savings for upgrades appropriate for your home, and may be offered at a low cost by your local utility company or state energy office.

A comprehensive energy audit, which can cost about $500, includes the use of diagnostic tools. A blowere door tests a home's airtightness, for example, and an infrared camera detects insulation gaps and other inefficiencies. To find an energy auditor in your area, start with Energy Star (energystar.gov; click on Home Performance with Energy Star) or Building Performance Institute Inc. (bpi.org; click on Find a BPI Resource).

The most complete information will come from a pro, but you can also do your own evaluations. A basic home energy review uses an Internet-based tool or software program; your input produces generalized results that give some sense of your upgrade options. These organizations offer free surveys: Energy Star (energystar.gov/yardstick), Department of Energy (http://hes.lbl.gov; start by entering your zip code), and Alliance to Save Energy (ase.org; search for"home energy checkup"). You can also do your own walk-through to locate air leaks, evaluate heat loss through ceilings and walls, inspect heating and cooling equipment, and measure energy use. See energysavers.gov; click on "how to conduct your own audit."

3. Payback isn't the only indicator or whether you should upgrade.

Be realistic about the money you'll get back by making an energy upgrade. Though you're eligible for a tax credit by replacing your current windows or furnace, for example, the credit likely won't be enough of an incentive on its own. You may not recoup all your costs in energy savings either. However, investing in good-quality, energy-smart products offers other benefits, with personal comfort topping the list. And if you were already considering a replacement product, the tax credit may provide an opportunity you don't want to pass up.

4. The most effective upgrades aren't always obvious.

Kevin Waldron couldn't keep his three-bedroom home in Macedonia, Ohio, warm, and his monthly heating bill would peak at $250. "I was ready to spend $10,000 on new windows, as I was sure they were the source of all my heat loss," he says. An energy audit found the biggest heat loss was actually due to poorly installed attic insulation. Now, Kevin will pay about $2,000 to redo it. "Since this improvement is a whole lot less than what I was planning on spending, it's going to get done a lot quicker," Kevin says. "If I had spent the $10,000 on new windows, my house would still have the same energy-efficiency problems because 90 percent of my problems are in the attic."

5. Energy upgrades don't have to be expensive.

Tax credits aside, a few simple upgrades can help you save energy, starting with insulationg the attic hatch, if you have one. "An attic hatch is just quarter-inch plywood. It needs to be insulated," says Cannella.

Other suggestions:

Use caulk and weatherstripping around windows and doors.
Replace your furnace filter.
Install a programmable thermostat.
Insulate your water heater with a special water heater blanket.
Insulate electrical outlets and light switches with precut foam seals.

In addition:

You may be eligible for a federal tax credit on certain insulating window shades, like this one. The Duette Architella shade from Hunter Douglas (hunterdouglas.com features a honeycomb-within-a-honeycomb design.

Caulk that shrinks or cracks over time will allow air leaks and require repair work. Unlike acrylic caulk, GE Silicone caulk is flexible and waterproof (caulkyourhome.com).

Better Homes And Gardens, April, 2010

Why Buy Now, Cash For Appliances

2010-03-23T11:38:00.000-07:00

You may be able to trade in your old-but-still-running refrigerator or dishwasher and buy a new Energy Star-qualified model to get $50 to $250 from a new state appliance rebate program. The money funnels to individual consumers from the federal government's American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 through state energy offices. Like last year's Cash for Clunkers rebates, this program will last only as long as the money holds out. Each state has its own rules for what type of products qualify and its own purchasing time frame. For state-by-state details, visit the Department of Energy's Web site, energysavers.gov, and search for "Energy Star rebates."

In addition, you may be eligible for rebates offered by manufactureers, local utilities, and retailers. Home Depot, Lowe's, and Sears are all planing special promotions in certain states to coincide with the federal rebate program, reducing prices even further and making 2010 a prime time to buy an Energy Star-qualified appliance.

Do your research before you hit the stores. To see special offers and rebates currently offered by Energy Star partners, go to energystar.gov and search for "rebate finder." To find a list of retailers of Energy Star-qualified products i your area and the categories of products they carry, use energystar.gov/storelocator.

March 2010 Better Homes and Gardens

Home Show 2010

2010-03-21T19:11:00.000-07:00

Thank you for visiting us at this year's Home Show. It was great meeting everyone who stopped by and visiting about upcoming projects.

Grasslands Framing Project

2010-03-17T19:17:00.001-07:00

2010-03-16T10:58:00.000-07:00

Lower Westside Remodel

2010-03-16T10:44:00.000-07:00

2010-03-16T09:50:00.000-07:00

2010-03-16T09:49:00.000-07:00

2010-03-16T09:40:00.000-07:00

Great Resource For Remodeling

2010-03-16T09:07:00.000-07:00

http://www.remodelingcenter.com/

Trex Deck Rebuild

2010-03-16T09:00:00.000-07:00

Deck Tear Down and Rebuild

2009-12-13T07:48:00.000-08:00

Removal of existing deck.

Framing Project--Lake Helena

2009-12-01T07:41:00.000-08:00

West Side Renovation

2009-11-14T12:56:00.000-08:00

The first photo is a before picture. You can see that the front door is eclipsed by a large tree. You will notice in the in future posts that extensive landscaping has taken place. The front door is no longer obscured.

After tearing off the old siding, we added foam insulation to help make the home more energy efficient. After insulating, we installed housewrap. You can see the foam insulation through the wrap.

During the siding installation.

2009-11-13T07:27:00.000-08:00

Removed existing ceiling/roof. Removed existing stairs and rebuilt to allow for more storage. New stairs will be finished with oak tread, oak balusters and custom metal hand rail.

Reframed to add vaulted ceiling and window. Existing 2x4 side walls have 3-1/4" Cor-Bond spray foam insulation.

Newly vaulted ceiling has received a custom plaster finish by Art & Faux.

2009-10-12T20:18:00.000-07:00

Framing & Siding

2009-09-05T12:38:00.000-07:00

This is project we worked on in August. We did both the framing and the siding on this home.

Metal Siding Update

2009-07-28T15:41:00.000-07:00

This is a common home in the Helena area.
The home is small with metal siding and corners. The siding is in good condition but looks dated.

A few simple changes give the home a whole new look. The metal siding was removed from the gable and replaced with shake, a custom made gable vent was added as well as pickets to the lower third of the home. Corner trim, window/door trim and a "belly band" (the trim below the shake) were added to give the home an updated look. The renovation is completed with a modern paint scheme.

Detail of the metal siding update

2009-07-28T15:40:00.000-07:00

Hollins Exterior Renovation

2009-07-24T21:53:00.000-07:00

This project wrapped up in Mid-July. As you can see, the before and after is dramatic.
Previously the home had a simple black and white color scheme with rock facade detailing, giving it a dated look.
The homeowners chose warm tones that soften the look of the home. The siding is Certainteed Fiber Cement, Northwest Factory Finish in Rock Creek. Though you cannot see it in photos, this finish has the look of stained wood. The new gable shakes and doors were painted khaki while the window trim was changed to chocolate brown.
The front posts were wrapped and painted. Pillars were added to the bottoms giving a more substantial appearance. This simple addition turns boring posts into a nice feature that add a lot to the overall appearance of the home.
The homeowner's have chosen to use a portion of their Shop Helena! rebate to have a decorative finish added to their cement patio. Art & Faux by Janet will be providing the finish. Photos will be posted later.

For more photos of this project, information on the siding products and details of the Shop Helena! program, visit our website at http://www.kellybuildersmt.com/

Lower West Side Update

2009-07-15T07:34:00.000-07:00

This is a volunteer project we helped our friends with. It demonstrates well how relatively small changes can make a huge difference. In the before picture you can see that the house is black and gray with a stucco base and T1-11 siding. There is no trim detail and the awning is old fashioned.
The after picture shows the pre-existing siding painted with a modern color scheme, broken up by new trim detail to balance the house. A larger, custom built awning adds size to the door that previously had been dwarfed by the upper portion of the home.

Re-Side In The Valley

2009-06-15T11:13:00.000-07:00

This ranch style with detached garage is located in the Helena Valley. Formerly it was sided with vinyl siding. The homeowners chose to reside with Certainteed Fiber Cement in Khaki.
The before and after on this job isn't overly drastic as the color scheme remained very similar. However, the crisp lines of the fiber cement and the new corners create a nice finished look.

Cost vs. Value Reports

2009-04-12T21:35:00.000-07:00

Cost vs. Value reports are a great resource for consumers. They show the average of a home project and then the recoup value of the project at time of sale. For example, in 2008 the national average cost of siding replacement was $10,256 with a resale value of $8,274 for an 80.7% cost recoup. Cost/Value reports list all sorts of projects from attic bedroom remodels and garage additions to window replacement. The statistics can help you decide which projects will bring you the most bang for your buck.
The Kelly Builders website now offers links to two different versions of the 2008 reports. One of the reports lets you see the figures for your region and if you want to get even more specific, you can download information for select cities within your state.
Click on the link below.
http://www.kellybuildersmt.com/Helpful_Articles

"Helpful Articles" Added To KellyBuildersMT.com

2009-04-12T18:08:00.000-07:00

As our website continues to evolve, we hope to make it a resource to help you plan your projects. With that in mind, we've added a new page to our site, "Helpful Articles." Here you will find articles and links to help your project run smoothly.
Other links that you may find helpful are found on the "Siding" page. http://www.kellybuildersmt.com/Helpful_Articles

The Coffee Spot Joins Shop Helena!

2009-04-07T18:42:00.000-07:00

We would like to welcome The Coffee Spot to our Shop Helena! program. The Coffee Spot is a great little coffee shop located in the Great Northern Town Center right across from Silver Star. They offer full espresso service, treats from Park Avenue Bakery, gelato and light lunches. One of my favorite menu items is Green Tea Chai. It can be a little hard to come by so I'm happy to see it offered. If you haven't stopped by already, swing in and give them a try. You won't be disappointed. And once again, welcome to Shop Helena!

2009 Home Builders Show

2009-03-31T12:40:00.000-07:00

The 2009 Helena Building Industry Association Home Show was held March 28 and 29. Thanks for stopping by our booth. We enjoyed meeting everyone and learning about your upcoming home improvement projects.
We are looking forward to working with you soon.

Congratulations to Ken Abrahamson! He signed up and won our Shop Vac give away.

Shop Helena! Welcomes Capital Sports and CrossCurrents

2009-03-26T19:36:00.000-07:00

We would like to welcome Capital Sports & Western Wear and CrossCurrents to the Shop Helena! program.
Capital Sports has everything you could need to enjoy an outdoor lifestyle; camping, kayaking, skiing, hunting, biking and plenty more.
CrossCurrents is Helena's flyfishing headquarters. Those of you who enjoy flyfishing or are interested in learning will find their website very informative.
You can learn more about both businesses by clicking on the links on our website's Shop Helena! page.

Shop Helena!

2009-03-19T12:59:00.000-07:00

What is it?
Shop Helena is a construction rewards program designed by Kelly Builders to benefit the Helena Community. Our goal is to draw attention to some of the great locally owned businesses we have right here in Helena.

How does it work?
When a you choose Kelly Builders, 3% of the total cost of your renovations will be returned to you in the form of gift certificates to locally owned businesses. When your project is complete, you may choose from our list of participating businesses and we will purchase a gift certificate from the business of your choice.

We have some great local businesses involved. We will also be running a special at the Home Builders Show. Learn more http://www.kellybuildersmt.com/Shop_Helena_

Gearing up for the Home Builders Show

2009-03-19T12:42:00.000-07:00

The 2009 Helena Home Builders Show will be held March 28 & 29 at the Lewis & Clark County Fairgrounds. We are excited to be a part of it.
This year we will be featuring a variety of siding options, fiber cement and vinyl. We will also be displaying some beautiful options for interior renovations.
We have also been busy getting our Shop Helena! Program up and running.

Hoback Project

2009-03-18T19:39:00.000-07:00

Las Vegas NAHB Convention

2009-02-01T14:34:00.000-08:00

In January Kelly Builders attended the National Association of Home Builders annual convention. All of the latest in the construction industry is on display. This year we were particularly focused on seeing the latest in exterior renovations, specifically more durable, greener siding products. We weren't disappointed. Great strides are being made in this area of construction. We were also happy to discover very attractive, reasonable priced products for interior remodels.

Old World Kitchen

2009-01-05T14:31:00.000-08:00

Custom wall texture and distessed trim contribute to the "Old World" feel

West Side Kitchen Before & After Part 2

2009-01-01T20:02:00.000-08:00

Tile backsplash and simple light fixture brighten the sink. Tile floor with new trim.

West Side Kitchen Before & After Part 1

2009-01-01T19:50:00.000-08:00

New tile countertop and backsplash with mosaic. New cabinet detail and hardware.

Upper West Side: Before & After

2008-12-31T07:44:00.000-08:00