Spend a Little Today, Save A lot Tomorrow| Just SCV’s Best

Just SCV’s Best recognizes that we can all admit that the past three years have seen some harsh economic times, but difficult times also bring with them opportunity. This is especially true if you are a home owner who would like to have some home improvements done. There has not been a better time than now to take advantage of the recession while building value to your home for less. There has never been this level of competition between home improvement professionals for jobs and projects. Right now is when you can spend less, save more and gain a lot of value in your home.

Kitchens, painting, lighting, windows and coverings, floors and fixtures are all available today at far less than what they would cost in a good economy. The return on investment on these types of improvements is as much as 85% in a good economy and if you’re not in a hurry to sell – even higher.

Home loans are at their lowest in almost forty years. If you can qualify and you have equity in your home – not only will your rate be lower but you will be able to get money for those home improvements at a low interest rate. What you end up spending on your home today will result in a great return on investment and greater equity once the home market bounces back.

Another opportunity is that right now you can get the best companies to do the work. In a stronger economy they require long waits before they can start. In this economy – not only are they available but their prices are much more competitive, which means more saving while getting the best quality of work and craftsmanship. Some of the best companies in the Santa Clarita Valley, such as A.Allbright, Elite Flooring, Preferred Glass and Windows, Brodie Electric, Ceramic Tile Consulting, Shutter World, Homecraft Cabinets and Fine Faucets are all finding the need to offer specials such as $500 for a painter all day, or as much as 35% off labor and savings on materials of 10% to 25%. These are companies who usually work on high-end homes and are booked year round. So it’s clear that if you want to spend a little today – you will not only save a lot tomorrow but you will gain a lot too.

For more information about Just SCV’s Best or from any of its members log on to its web site at http://justscvsbest.com

Tips for Holiday Home Improvement|Just SCV’s Best|Remodel

Home Improvement Can Be Your Gift To You FOR THE HOLIDAYS!

If you’re planning to entertain family and friends over the holidays, you’re undoubtedly  going to be cleaning your home from top to bottom. So why not give yourself a home makeover or remodel that will impress your guests and give you a warm – fuzzy feeling.

Believe it or not, the holiday season is just around the corner and it’s not too soon to start your home improvement gift to yourself now to make sure it’s done in time.
 
Start now by making your plans and you will have it done by the time your guests begin to arrive! If you wait until the last minute to take on a home improvement project it will take away all those good feelings that come with improving your home. Instead of warm and fuzzy, it will drive you crazy with stress and madness. Something that is so positive will quickly begin to feel more like pain than the pleasure it should bring.

So get started now. Procrastination never pays off even if it doesn’t stop you. Take the time to design and make decisions about what you want for your home. It’s definitely better to  get started now and avoid any undue stress going into the holiday season. It’s bad enough preparing for meals and gifts don’t include your homd being a mess. Now’s the time to have it all.
 
Once you make your plans, here are some important tips to think about when it comes to reviewing and accepting bids from home improvement professionals. You want to select a team of home improvement professionals who have worked together in past years and who ideally live in your community. Try to hire skilled professionals that are artists in their trade. Men and women who care about the work they do. It is always the best way to assure your peace of mind from start to finish to find the best. You might want to consider a group like “Just SCV’s Best”. They are a home improvement co-operative group committed to ensuring that anyone allowed into their group have the qualifications and provide the highest quality of work and professionalism. They have a committment to the group to do just that or they are made to leave. So by hiring a company that is a member of Just SCV’s Best it offers you a double guarantee for satisfaction for your project.
 
Just SCV’s Best is a group of companies for all your home improvements needs.  They have a combined 300 plus years of experience serving the Santa Clarita community. You don’t have to  look any further, if you decide to call one of these companies. They offer you trust and dependability to get the job done. So call them and get your project started today!!
 
For more information you can visit their website at www.justscvsbest.com

Home Improvement SCV|Double Guarantee|Just SCV’s Best

When you’re seeking a professional to build, renovate or enhance your dream home or commercial property, you are always going to want a highly qualified company – one known

for delivering impeccable workmanship, service and results. But how can you be sure that you are hiring a reputable contractor or craftsman who will perform to the level you want? That’s where Just SCV’s Best can help. 

Just SCV’s Best is Santa Clarita’s premier alliance of specialty contractors, material suppliers and expert service providers for residential and commercial construction. Our group has over 300 years of combined experience serving the Santa Clarita community. 
 
The members of Just SCV’s Best can offer whatever your needs may be, from a single enhancement to an extensive new construction or renovation. Just SCV’s Best members are an incomparable group of professionals that will ensure that you receive the finest results. What is best of all, is that a relationship with any member in our group will take the guess work out of finding qualified companies, ultimately saving you time and money.

When you hire a company that is part of Just SCV’s Best – you are essentially getting a double guarantee for the work that they do. You get one guarantee from the Company you hire and another guarantee from the group who make it their business to only allow companies into the group who have the strongest reputations for the work they do. Any member of Just SCV’s Best comes with the professional endorsement of the entire group.

 For more information please go to www.justscvsbest.com

    

A Free Ticket for Water Conservation

Water conservation is our duty and the city of Santa Clarita has started a very promising and aggressive program to make it easy for us all to conserve. The conservation program offers every home owner and business a state of art irrigation technology for free. That’s right!  A computer controlled water conservation and irrigation technology that is FREE.  

 

We all have a responsibility to save water and all of the Santa Clarita Valley Water Districts are offering a program to make it easy for you to upgrade your irrigation system which will not only save water for us all but it will save you money. It’s believed it can save as much as 15% on your water bill. That adds up over the year but it also adds up quite considerably for our community. Water is precious and we need to be aware that it is not unlimited. We need to save however we can and this new technology being offered is a tremendous step in the right direction. After all not only will it save water without anyone feeling any of its effects but it will also make your lawn and landscape better because the technology regulates how you water your plants according to the landscape and the weather. So you won’t over water on rainy or wet days and you won’t underwater when it is hot and dry. You conserve and enrich your lawn and plants and it’s free so it’s an undeniable win-win for us all.

 

The Water District for your area offers an easy to install technology that enhances your existing sprinkler system by automatically monitoring the weather. It allows you to apply your specific landscape conditions into a program to take into consideration the size of your landscape – the various types of plants, soil and slope conditions in your yard.

These new Smart Controllers are then able to automatically read the solar radiation, rainfall and humidity at the specific times of day and based on all of these factors – it actually adjusts the amount of water that your sprinkles disperse. The unit is fully digital and solid state so there are no moving parts to replace.

 

NV Landscape a member of Just SCV’s Best Home Improvement Professionals is working closely with the Water Districts and has trained technicians who come to your home or business and will evaluate your irrigation system and landscape – do all the set up and programming for the weather station and install the Smart Controller. They offer this service for only $125.00. That’s it and they will make sure that the system is running to its full benefit and you don’t have to worry about anything.

 

It’s time all of us do our part to conserve our precious water and a simple phone call to the Water District or call NV Landscaping and they will provide you with all the guidance and understanding you need and will help you to get started. They are experts in water conservation and have won many awards for their applications and understanding of how to maximize the land, types of vegetation, landscape and the perfect irrigation systems to provide the right amounts of water. They know the right mix to maximize the beauty of your landscape while also conserving your time for maintenance and most importantly all of our water. You really should call them today. You have a duty to conserve; especially when it’s free.

 

NV Landscape is a proud member of Just SCV’s Best, the Home Improvement Professionals You Can Trust. You can learn more about NV Landscape at their web site at http://www.nvlandscape.com and at the Just SCV’s Best Home Professionals web site at http://www.justscvsbest.com

Energy Saving Tips From Brodie Electric

You might not be aware of it, but almost all appliances use electricity while they are plugged in – even if they are turned “off. This is what is known as a “vampire load.” According to the U.S. Department of Energy, vampire loads are responsible for sucking up to 20% of the energy used in most homes. Appliances like HDTVs even on “standby” mode still drain a lot of electricity. Lots of other appliances drain energy just by being plugged in. Special “Green Outlets” can detect appliances that are draining power and cut off the flow to them, greatly reducing the energy. Some advanced models can detect how much power is being used and display the readings on a small screen to read and adjust accordingly.

Cell phones chargers are a major vampire of electricity. They continue to suck electricity simply by being plugged into the wall. They continue to drain quite a bit of power even when your phone is not plugged into them.

When possible keep appliances unplugged when not in use. The easiest way to do this is to use surge strips to keep appliances plugged in while allowing you to “unplug” by flicking off the switch. 

Turn Your Lights Off. It does take some energy to power up your bulb, but it is still worth turning off your lights. As a general rule, if the light will remain on for over two minutes, it will save money by turning it off.

Electric heaters are a a huge waste of energy. They are an inefficient way to heat a house and can be a fire hazard. However, If you have a large house and are usually just in one or two rooms (like a living room or an office), it is better to just heat those rooms than the entire vacant house. Another place is the bathroom. Though you may like to keep your house slightly chilly to save electricity and money, a space heater can keep your bathroom toasty so you don’t have to step shivering out of the shower.

Timers are a good idea in many places in your home. Timers are not only great for saving energy but also for security. Lights turning off and on when you are on vacation are an effective deterrent against break-ins as they fool criminals into thinking someone is at home.

Brodie Electric is a proud member of Just SCV’s Best to learn more about them go to http://www.justscvsbest.com or to http://www.brodieelectric.com

A Double Guarantee For Your Home Improvement

As a homeowner when looking for a company to do work on your home, you should look at any group or association that a company you’re considering is member. Companies that are members of a group or association offer you a second tier of scrutiny that is helpful in making the right decision for your home improvement.

There are thousands of associations, but when looking to have work done on your home, it’s best to examine the local groups that a company is a part.  Local groups are easier to access for information about their members. You can either ask the group directly or simply examine its other members. Even the size of the group can tell you something. The smaller – the greater the difficulty is to be a member.

Groups serve as an open endorsement for a company so the smaller it is – the more likely a member has gone through a tighter – thorough scrutiny since any problems in its past will reflect on the entire group’s reputation.  When a Company is allowed to join a group – they are in essence receiving the group’s confidence.  Professionals know their business and know whether a company meets the standards.  

 A company that is allowed into a group means its members know that it is responsible and their reputations are consistent with theirs. Their endorsement means the member meets their standards of performance and professionalism.  

 So, when you hire a company that is part of a group you get a double guarantee. The company offers its guarantee for their work and the group offers you its professional guarantee.

Companies in groups know that it’s important to perform professionally to stay in good standing.  The last thing a professional in any industry wants is to not be respected by its peers.  

Companies join professional groups because they recognize the many benefits they derive. They learn, gain ideas, referrals, make contacts and receive support. They accept being closely scrutinized because they gain by it. Their reputation as a business is reflected in their association with the group. Their work goes beyond their word to include the word of the group. They gain the respect and confidence from their customers and the customers of those in the group.

 Just SCV’s Best is a very exclusive group of home improvement professionals that limit their membership to one company in each field of home improvement.  For more information please go to www.justscvsbest.com

Carpet Vs. Hardwood Floors

Elite Flooring provides  Santa Clarita with all types of flooring from the top flooring brands.

One of the most frequently asked questions we receive here at Elite Flooring’s showroom, is what type of flooring is best; carpet or hardwood floors?

There is not one clear answer but what is certain is that one of the major home improvements that you can make to your home is to change or upgrade the floors. It is without question a fact that a good looking floor can add a lot of value to your home. While on the other hand, an old, stained, grubby outdated floor can do a lot to bring down your home’s value.

Carpets and hardwoods are among the most popular choices for homeowners.  But which is better?

Carpet can offer more versatility, comfort, ease of maintenance and health benefits than other flooring options. It is also more “budget-friendly” than most other flooring choices and there are styles to coordinate with every décor.  Depending on the fiber and quality, carpet may be substantially less or nearly as expensive as hardwood.  Inexpensive polyester carpets can fit just about any budget, but they lack the durability of nylon or wool carpets.  High performance nylon 6, 6 carpet fiber will provide a combination of resilience, durability and stain resistance. 

Carpet is very family friendly.  It is comfortable to stand, lay or fall on.  It absorbs sound and provides insulation on cold days. Studies have shown that properly maintained carpets can provide a superior environment for containing allergens.

Today’s hardwood floors are available in a wide range of domestic and exotic imported hardwoods, with smooth, distressed and hewn surfaces.  Most new hardwood floors are factory finished with a very durable aluminum oxide finish that will last for years in most conditions.  Today’s hardwood floors are usually engineered, meaning they are made of layers of wood, laminated together.  These laminated floors are less susceptible to warping than older solid wood floors. 

If you are living in an older home you may have hardwood underneath your existing carpet and not even know it. Tearing up old carpet and refinishing existing wood floors may be less expensive than buying and installing new flooring.

You could also consider cork. It’s much more resilient, insulating and absorbing than wood but less durable.

These are the Pros and Cons between Carpeting and Hardwood Floors.

Carpets are very quiet, absorb sound from many sources such as walking, TV and radio.
Hardwood floors do not absorb sound at all and are extremely noisy. However, the noise can be lessened by strategically placing area rugs.

Carpets are warm to walk on, especially comfortable in colder climates.

Hardwood floors in those same climates, are extremely cold. As with the noise problem though, the impact of cold hardwood floors can also be lessened by the use of strategically placed area rugs.

Liquid spills may stain carpets, although Stainmaster carpets are highly resistant to stains and come with the strongest warranty in the industry. Water spills should be absorbed immediately with towels, and the residue will dry over time. Wood floor spills should also be removed immediately. While wood is very resistant to stains and absorption, prolonged exposure to moisture may cause discoloration, expansion and warping.  Although modern wood finishes are extremely durable, they are more difficult to refinish than older hardwood floors.

Carpets should be vacuumed regularly and should be professionally steam cleaned at least every other year.

Hardwood floors can be thoroughly cleaned by vacuum and a hard surface cleaner such as Bona hardwood cleaner.

In both cases, your vacuum should be exhausted outside to avoid the redistribution of microscopic contamination into the air of your home. 

Whether carpet or hardwood, Elite Flooring has products that can meet just about any budget.  Our experienced design staff can help you select the products that will give you the style and performance that you seek at a price you can afford.

Elite Flooring, (www.eliteflooring.net) is the only authorized Stainmaster Flooring Center in the Santa Clarita Valley offering carpet, hardwood, tile, stone, laminate, vinyl and cork flooring.    The store features flooring products from Shaw, Tuftex, Royalty, Camelot, Moda, Fabrica, Masland, Dixie Home, Gulistan, Philadelphia, Mannington, Quick Step, Anderson, Lauzon, Garrison, Tarkett, Wicander, iFloor, Torley, Dal, Z-Lex and Bona.

Elite Flooring is a member of Just SCV’s Best. Please visit our web site at www.eliteflooring.net or visit our group at www.justscvsbest.com

Light Up Your Interior Design

Brodie Electric, Inc. is one of the finest electrical companies in all of California and they’re based right here in the Santa Clarita Valley. They do any electrical job from residential, commercial to industrial and pride themselves on being lighting design and installation experts.

When considering lighting for your home or office there are bascially two categories of lighting; natural and artificial.

Natural light comes from the sun or from combustion sources, such as a fireplace or candles. Daylight should be considered when designing your room, since there may be a need for window treatments such as blinds or drapes to control the light. Also, the soft light generated by candles and hearths add a
welcoming glow to any living and dining room.

Almost all interior lighting designs will involve the of artificial illumination, which is Brodie Electric’s expertise. These are the electrically-powered fixtures that produce light through incandescent bulbs, fluorescents, or LEDs (light emitting diodes) and what have become very popular of late,the compact fluorescent bulbs. The reason is that they offer an easy way to save on energy consumption and costs, since they install just like traditional
light bulbs.

The other area of experties is installation and different types of lighting applications which include, ceiling-mounted fixtures – such as chandeliers, recessed can lights, track lights, and pendant lights. There are also portable lights – such as table lamps, torchieres, and floor lamps and wall-mounted fixtures – such as sconces and cove lights.

Everyone will agree that lighting plays a big part in the usefulness and mood of a room. An interior design lighting tip for a space that really shines is to ensure that all three lighting levels are covered. Illumination which is classified as one of the following: accent lighting which are lights that are mostly for a dramatic touch, such as up-lights or spot-lights.  They are generally used to highlight art pieces and leafy plants. Then there is general ambient lighting which is a room’s main light and comes from recessed lights, chandeliers, floor lamps, or other ceiling fixtures and task lighting, which is targeted light for reading or working and these include table lamps and under cabinet lights in the kitchen.

Every room in a home has a mixture of lighting needs. Kitchens and utility areas call for bright general lighting along with task lighting for countertops and prep areas.

Living rooms, dens, and family rooms require lamps for reading as well as low level lighting for glare-free television viewing.  Bathrooms are best lit with fixtures mounted above or on each side of the mirror, so that shadows are minimized.

A general rule of thumb is to use a triangle pattern when lighting a space. In a living room, lamps can be placed on a console table behind a sofa and on an end table near a loveseat, while a floor lamp is placed by a reading chair.

Then there are dimmer switches which add versatility to any light fixture. They are one of the top inexpensive interior design lighting tips that you can apply. Dimmers allow you to fine-tune the level of brightness while also helping to conserve energy and extend bulb life. Another versatile lighting element is track lighting with multiple lamps that can be directed for accent, task, or general use.

Recessed can lights are a great solution for almost every room. One reason is because these lights are low-profile and become integrated into the ceiling for a clean look. Also, if your attic space permits, recessed lights can be added anywhere for full room coverage. Another benefit is their flexibility to be used with dimmer switches and as general or accent lighting.

If your room is in need of more natural light, think about installing an economical tubular skylight such as the Solatube. Another way to boost daylight is to hang a mirror opposite a window, so that the natural glow is automatically amplified all day long.

Brodie Electric is part of the Just SCV’s Best group and rightly so. They are the best. You can learn more about them at their web site at www.brodieelectric.com or at the Just SCV’s Best web site at www.justscvsbest.com

Contemplating Kitchen Countertops

There are many different types of countertops for the kitchen available in today’s retail market.  There are countertops made of stone, laminate, even wood and concrete available for homeowners to purchase.

Surfaces USA in Santa Clarita – is operated by Burke Pinto. He has installed thousands of kitchen countertops over the years, so we asked him to give us some thoughts about what someone should consider when determining the best countertop for their kitchen. We all agree that we spend a lot of our time at home in the kitchen so making it the most beautiful and useful is very important.

The best countertop for your kitchen depends on your type of use, your sense of decorum and budget limits.  There are many different types of kitchen countertops and they all possess different qualities, which may or may not be desired or offer the values that meet your ideas.  The best countertop according to Burke – for your home will possess all of  the qualities that fit your needs at a price that you can afford.  The goal is to obtain the best possible product at the most affordable price.  The price for custom countertops for an average sized family home can be quite expensive, so it is best to have a budgeted amount in mind before you begin to shop for a countertop. Surfaces USA has one of the best showrooms in Santa Clarita and Burke welcomes you to visit his showroom at 30629 N. The Old Road Castaic, CA 91384. He said to just ask for him and we will be happy to show you some of the many examples of countertops that are offered in the marketplace. An little time at the showroom will surely give you a good idea of what’s available and he’s sure that he will be able to help you to decide what is the best type of counterpart for you.

 

Here are some points to keep in mind. The most inexpensive option for kitchen countertops is a laminate countertop.  These countertops are made of a plastic based synthetic material and right now, are some of the most popular countertops in the United States.  It is not the price alone that makes these countertops popular, but the fact that they can be purchased in a wide variety of designs, colors, and styles making it easy to find the one that matches your existing or
desired decor.  We install a lot of these countertops and they can be installed comparatively inexpensively.  Laminate countertops are easy to maintain and come clean easily with a damp sponge and some mild soap.  Although laminate countertops are very durable, they are not heat resistant and can burn easily if they come into contact with a hot object.  Many homeowners consider a laminate countertop to be the best countertop for their home because of the price
and their ease of maintenance.

Another inexpensive option in kitchen countertops is the ceramic tile countertop.  These countertops also come in a wide variety of colors and designs and can be styled to match the décor of any home.  Many homeowners choose a ceramic tile countertop as the best countertop for their home because they are heat resistant, easy to clean, and comparable in price to a laminate countertop.  The main drawbacks to obtaining a ceramic tile countertop for the home are that the tiles can crack under heavy usage and the surface of the countertop is uneven, resulting in spills and broken items if the homeowner is not careful.

Wooden countertops add a certain charm to the kitchen when they are installed. The colors are warm and inviting and they can be finished to match almost any décor.  Homeowners choose wooden countertops as the best countertop because any nicks or scratches that appear in the wood can easily be sanded and sealed, resulting in a product that will look new for many years to come with the proper maintenance.  Keep in mind that any nick or cut in the surface of a wooden countertop must be sanded and sealed quickly to avoid staining the wood or allowing water to be absorbed by the wood which may cause the wood to rot.

If you’re more concerned about decor and maintenance and less about money, the best of all countertops to choose is a stone countertop. Even though a stone countertop may be expensive, the beauty of the stone cannot be denied. There are several different types of stone that are commonly used to create a custom kitchen countertop.  These include granite, soapstone, concrete, marble, and engineered stone.  Concrete is technically not a stone but because it possesses many of the properties of stone in its finished state, it is often placed in the same category as other stone products.  Also, concrete countertops cost about the same amount as stone countertops.  Stone countertops are strong, heat resistant, and water resistant, but some types have a tendency to crack under pressure
or heavy use. We do offer guarantees to overcome this problem, but it varies from stone product so be sure to ask.

The needs of the homeowner will determine the best countertop for their home.  With the many different types to choose.  The homeowner is sure to find the one that suits them the best at Surfaces USA showroom so make sure to go by before making your final decision. They will be sure to help you to carefully assess your needs for your home and to research the qualities of each type of countertop and determine what is best suited for your home. It’s important to make an informed decision about which type of countertop to purchase and they are proud to help you do find the best countertop for your home.  You can check out some samples at their web site too at www.surfacesusa.com As a proud member of Just SCV’s Best they represent the qualities that the group espouses, which starts with integrity and trust. Check them out at www.justscvsbest.com

Fine Faucets offers the Art of the Toilet

American Standard Brands is one of many brands that are carried by Fine Faucets conveniently located at 28323 Kelly Johnson Parkway in Valencia California.

American Standard is a leading U.S. manufacturer of a wide range of high quality kitchen and bath products including faucets, fixtures, furniture, vitreous china fixtures, cast iron sinks, whirlpool tubs and other related products.

Among all of their products - they offer one of the finest toilets in the marketplace for your home.

It is a sign of the times when you can shop for a toilet that will enhance your bathroom’s decor not to mention how far toilets have come mechanically and technically. American Standard is one of those brands that is redefining the architecture of toilets with unique new shapes and profiles supported by the best clog-free performance in the industry.

The designs of their toilets are inspired by furniture, which is really going full circle to a time when chamber pots were often disguised as furniture
during the Renaissance.

American Standard has restyled popular profiles in five designs incorporating concealed trapways and furniture styling such as flat-top tanks and decorative edging.   They offer you the ability to add to the design of your bathroom with compact, contemporary profiles in fixtures without sacrificing performance.

Porcher one-piece models include the beautifully tailored Chapeau EL one-piece with a trip lever that matches Jado illume faucets; the contemporary Veneto EL one-piece toilet with a slow close toilet seat; and the classically detailed Archive.

American Standard luxury one-piece styles are the traditional Town Square® Right Height EL one-piece toilet and the stately Boulevard one-piece toilet. Both are available as FloWiseTM high efficiency toilets (HETs) that uses as little as 1.0 gallons of water to flush and both coordinate with American Standard faucet collections.

Todays toilets can offer you luxurious style and luxurious performance and remember we’re not talking about an automobile. The performance on these new toilets is anything but medieval and in some sense can be analogus to a finely-tuned luxury car. The new furniture-inspired toilets from American Standard feature the best engineered flushing systems available to prevent clogs and overflows. Jetted action under the rim of the toilet strengthens the siphon that powerfully scours the sides of the bowl to remove every last trace of paper and waste.  The new toilets have been independently rated to flush as much as 1,000 grams of solid waste, including the high efficiency.

You can also expect to start living plunger free with these new toilets. They can actually handle anything that comes their way. American Standard’s full line high performing, high styled toilets can be viewed on the Fine Faucets web site and at their showroom.

Toilets like the Champion 4 with the industry’s widest outlet, largest flush valve and EverClean surface can also be viewed and tested. The new toilets from American Standard are virtually clog free and keeps itself clean. There’s nothing that compares.

The Porcher luxury toilets are available in White and Biscuit and have suggested retail prices between $895 and $975. American Standard’s luxury toilets are available in White, Bone and Linen and retail for between $600 and $1,119. To learn more about American Standard  visit Fine Faucets Kitchen and Bath Showcase online at www.finefaucets.com