5 Tips On Remodeling Your New Midcentury House
If you are new to your old house. Here are some tips to consider before jumping into those projects!
- Environmental and safety issues come first. Vintage houses can contain vintage nastiness such as lead, asbestos, and more. Get informed and be aware about the environmental & safety hazards in old homes, materials and products. #1 RULE: Consult with your own properly licensed professionals.
- “Test” contractors on small projects first. It may take a few smallish projects to find a contractor that you can work with very effectively on the most costly projects.
- Get a subscription to Consumer Reports. When you are in spending cash like this, your head will spin. Consumer Reports is known to be an unbiased resource out there to do testing to try and really triangulate to “value” delivered by available products. They are a not-for-profit entity, and they don’t take products from manufacturers – they buy their test products in the store.
- If you are new to your old house — go slow. Before you proceed thinking you need to gut remodel the kitchen or bathroom(s), for instance, get to know these rooms super well. Live in your house to get to know its flow and how it works for you and your family. This includes getting a rich, deep understanding of whether there is a real need to alter the architecture. During this time, you’ll also be able to study up on your home’s original style and features. By waiting and exploring (rather than quickly changing) you’ll also have time to explore your “Retro Style” — because there’s way more than one way to retro.
- Focus first on the functional fundamentals. Figure out what should be done all at once – plumbing, electrical, and insulation – for the whole house and what can wait. Get qualified and licensed professionals to look over your infrastructure (plumbing, electrical, etc.) to alert you of hazards as well as things that will need to be brought up to code. Those things can affect the changes you make (and the cost) and you should know those things can affect your remodeling plans, particularly if you do need to go ahead and fix something.
Outstanding job
Reviewed on Customer Lobby
“I rate Worldgate Plaster & Stucco Co. as outstanding. They gave me a call a few days before they were coming, turned up on time, and just got on with the job. Their workmen were excellent and worked hard, and everything that was on the invoice was done. They cleaned and patched the stucco, and also did painting–and the finished product is excellent. We had a very positive experience with the company. What impressed me the most were the professional results that are extremely good.”
Henry S.
Reston, VA
07/21/2016
Did You Know… EIFS Is Not Wasteful of Natural Resources
The common pitfall that may seem to fall into is the fact that because the insulation board used in EIFS is derived from fossil fuels, it should be exempt from being specified. The truth of the matter is that EPS production accounts for only .002 percent of the world’s production of oil.
And it has been determined that one pound of EPS used as insulation will actually save 48 gallons of oil in a 50 year period of time. This significant in terms of preserving those resources.
Another little known fact about EPS is that it uses 30 percent less energy to make tan paper products. Think about that the next time you throw away your junk mail or run out to get the Sunday paper.
Tell Us About Your Experience
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Timely, good quality of work
Reviewed on Customer Lobby
“What I liked most about the guys over at Worldgate Plaster & Stucco was that they were very timely. The guys were always right on time with every appointment and they did their work very quickly and efficiently. When they were working they were very courteous and they made sure to not cut corners which I thought was great. When they were finished they cleaned up very well after themselves and I had no issues with how everything turned out. The final product was very good and I would definitely recommend their services to anyone and everyone!”
Rick C.
Springfield, VA
05/25/2016
EIFS Provides Leadership
In August 2007, the United States Green Building Council updated the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) scoring system criteria. The new criterion calls for all LEED projects to achieve a minimum of two “Optimizing Energy Performance” points. The effect of the change is to reduce energy in new LEED buildings by a minimum of 14% above ASHRAE Standard 90.1 and 7% for existing building renovations.
The criteria also gives up to 8 points for buildings that can show even better energy performance than the minimum. Conceivable a new building showing a 35% better energy performance can get all 8 points.
What makes this significant is that 35% better energy performance may be achieved simply with and EIFS liquid applied air and water-resistive barrier. And any shortcomings to that goal may be made up with the insulation value that can be put over the water-resistive barrier.
Very satisfied with our new stucco exterior
Reviewed on Customer Lobby
“We hired Worldgate Plaster & Stucco Co. to apply stucco on the back of our house and it looks really nice. We had to wait a few extra weeks for them to finish the job because of the weather, but they were very friendly and professional, we enjoyed having them in our home.
We had been wanting to get this done for awhile so we’re satisfied with the results and would recommend them if you’re looking to get a stucco wall placed inside or outside of your home.”
Anthony R.
Ashburn, VA
04/20/2016
Effective Air Barrier Installation Can Potentially Net 40% Better Energy Efficiency
What’s really cool about the second generation of EIFS (with drainage) is that the liquid applied water-resistive barrier that is included as part of a moisture management strategy is also a very effective air barrier.
In no time is there any worry for reverse overlaps, tears, or fastener punctures commonly associated with sheet applied house wraps or building papers. This is because the WRB is completely monolithic and the EIFS is installed with adhesive. This is important because it has been demonstrated by the National Institute of Standards that an effective air barrier on a typical 24,000 square foot office building in Minneapolis can reduce gas consumption for heating by 43% and reduce electric use by as much as 33%.
EIFS Fits Well Into The 2030 Challenge
In 2003, Santa Fe Architect Ed Mazria authored a ground shaking assessment of the construction industry, when he reasoned that 48% of our energy is consumed by our buildings. Taking this a step further, Mazria correlated this reasoning to global warming and determined that construction was also responsible for 46% of our nation’s carbon emissions output.
In 2006, Mazria challenged the construction industry and, in particular, architects to design new buildings to use 50% less energy than the regional average for that building type. Subsequently, that energy efficiency standard would be increased exponentially over the years so that by 2030 all buildings are essentially carbon-neutral.
How do we get to the 50% target? Mazria has suggested a number of strategies: The first relies on no cost or low cost savings, such as how the building is orientated, passive heating and cooling, natural ventilation, glazing, choice of equipment and site shading. The second includes photovoltaic arrays to encompass heating and hot water needs, ground source heat pumps, triple glazing and super-insulation. The third strategy is to buy clean power, generated by wind or solar generated supply sources.
Focusing in on the second strategy, EIFS can make a strong case for its superlative insulation value. Graph 1 illustrates a couple of examples of some thermally challenged wall assemblies. What is demonstrated is that the actual thermal resistance (whole wall) is altered because of the thermal bridges created by the framing and the interfaces between windows, floors, ceilings, etc. Adding EIFS to these walls, some distinct properties evolve: Much like a thermal blanket it covers and eliminates the thermal bridging, while the R-value remains a constant 3.85/inch of thickness. Another added benefit is that it has been estimated that the effective application of EPS insulation could cut carbon dioxide emissions in buildings by up to 50%.
Chimney Stucco Repair
Take a look at this awesome before and after of a recent chimney repair. Over time, the stucco can begin to peel and break away from the structure; a stucco repair is the way to go.
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Our Service Area
Worldgate Plaster & Stucco proudly services Northern VA and the surrounding area.
- Fairfax County, VA
- Loudoun County, VA
- Prince William County, VA
- Montgomery County, MD