Posts Tagged ‘ replacement windows ’

Caledonia Branding Story- in search of a better way

February 9, 2013
By

Our Story
Caledonia Construction was formed in 2002 as a general contracting Home Improvement company with a focus on small home remodeling projects, and the property management sector, as an apartment turnover specialist. We excelled and became the go to vender for a number of property management companies in Boston, including Winn Residential and Maloney Properties.

In 2004, we decided to go after larger contracts and won our first $300,000 whole-house remodeling contract the same year. This experience paved the way for a joint venture partnership with a competitor, Woodland Construction. Along the way, we built new multifamily properties, constructed additions and remodeled homes for clients in Metro Boston, resulting in a $10 Million dollar revenue operation by 2007.

How this all started: A message from David Allen, Founder of Caledonia Construction Company: I came to the United States in 1990 in search of a better life. On entering the country I joined the construction trade as a laborer in a residential remodeling company operated by two of my cousins. In 1993, at one of the low points of the housing market, the three of us pooled our resources and bought a distressed property for three thousand dollars cash. We rehabbed the property completely, rented it for a time, and sold it in 1995.

This exposure quickly taught me many things about the construction and real estate business including the fact that the management skills in my cousins operation were inadequate to effectively grow their business. And, with my interest in the home improvement business now high I decided to educate myself about the business. Subsequently, in the Fall of 1993 I enrolled in the Business Management Program at the University of Massachusetts, Boston with a goal to learn how to operate a business. Over the ensuing four years I worked a full time job while studying full time, graduating in 1997 with a Business degree.The experiences proved invaluable in further developing my understanding of business systems, business development and customer relations, and have contributed directly to my decision to become a business owner.

So, in 2002 I acquired my Construction Supervisor License and formed Caledonia Construction. I have since developed Caledonia into a recognized brand in building exterior improvement and home performance improvement services in the Boston market.

Why are we in it? For 22 yearn now, I have been in and around home improvement projects. I have seen many businesses failed mainly because they did not value enough the customer satisfaction aspect of the home improvement business. Caledonia has come to appreciate the importance of keeping the home improvement customer satisfied. After all, we are in her home pulling things apart while she and her family is trying to live a normal life. In truth, this is very different from the customer interaction that is spoken of in the retail business space, where often as a formality one is merely asked, “Can I help you?”

Our vision is that homeowners everywhere enjoy a comfortable living home environment from the largest investment most will ever make in their life time. I firmly believe that the more satisfied our clients are the more opportunity we will have to realize our vision.

I am proud to say here that we operate under the knowledge that satisfying the customer is the life blood of our business. Therefore, even though the market places us in the home improvement business. We have taken it a step further to demonstrate a better way, our Home Performance Improvement Model. The distinction? A whole- house approach to helping you solve your home improvement problems. We have made “Improving Your Home Performance” our mission by providing the siding, window and weatherizing services that you have come to know and trust.

Thank you for the opportunity to help you create the comfortable, durable, safe, healthy living home environment you deserve.

Visit our www.caledoniaconstruction.com for more detail on our company.

 

Think Sustainable and Green

January 20, 2011
By

Over the past couple of years I have attended many seminars mostly on topics relating to green building and the environment. In truth, I was determined to make good use of the construction down time, in this economy, with a goal to learning as much as I could about home performance improvement. One such seminar taught me that the terms sustainable building and green construction have become more than simple buzz words, they have become policies promoted by the government. Policies which at their roots are designed to change the way we think about and use energy in the construction and operation of buildings. The ‘sustainable building,’ concept dictates the integration of efficiency strategies and processes that are adapted during the design, construction and operation of a building project. Green construction is the use of building materials in these processes that offer environmental benefits to the building owners (homeowners) and the wider society in specific ways. Some Advantages of Sustainable Building:

Better Design
Reduced cost of maintenance over life span of structure
Improved effect on environment and occupants
Improved interior comfort
Improved energy conservation and efficiency

Overall, the Impact of adapting Green Construction has far-reaching implications considering that Constructing buildings worldwide consumes almost 3 billion tons of raw materials annually (this, I learn at one of the seminars). When contractors, architects and professionals in the building industry adapted green construction strategies they are helping to reduce the impact on the environment. Green building projects improve the adverse effects on the environment of extraction, fabrication, transportation, installation and disposal of building source material. Additionally, green building material is first biodegradable or created with renewable resources. This ensures that they have positive impacts on the environment throughout the life of the building. While there may be hundreds of different material available, most material are selected by these builders on the basis of:
Energy and resource efficiency: Materials with measurable recycled content, natural and renewable, efficient manufacturing process, minimizing waste, available locally, easily salvaged and refurbished plus durable.

Indoor air quality: The use materials that are non-carcinogenic, non-irritants, non toxic to the reproductive process and have no adverse effect on human and animal occupants. Materials used indoors would also be easily maintained and moisture resistant to inhibit growth of toxic mold and other contaminants.

Water conservation: Systems and materials that help to reduce the consumption of water.

Affordability: Using materials that have a longer life cycle and are easily obtained geographically and are within the project defined budgeted amount.

All in all, if you have already been exposed to the terms sustainable building and green construction, then adding energy efficiency improvement, home performance improvement, renewable energy (to list just a few more) to the group will only serve to dramatize the movement afoot to change the way we think about and use energy in our buildings.

Retrofitboston.com is produced by Caledonia Construction Co., Inc

Energy Efficient Replacement Windows

October 11, 2010
By

As a homeowner, have you ever asks why you should replace your current windows for more energy efficient replacement windows. It is a legitimate question. Replacing windows can cost the homeowner a large sum of money. However, if the homeowner does install energy efficient windows in his home, he could end up recouping his investment within a few of years. Your windows may offer the best view of the neighborhood but the fact is, they are also some of the prime locations for energy loss in your home. Energy efficient windows can lower the cost of your energy bills by almost 30 percent!

Do your research: In order to make sure that you have the best quality windows installed for your money, make sure you do your research. If you check with the NFRC [National Fenestration Rating Council] or Energy Star you will get an unbiased breakdown of your options. These organizations offer a rating system that will help you, as the homeowners determine, the energy-efficient window, perfect for your  needs.
Rating Information: The rating system has been created on the basis of the following three main factors-
  • U-Factor represents conductive heat loss
  • Solar Heat Gain Coefficient is the amount of direct solar radiant heat that gets in through the window
  • Visible Transmittance is the measure of how much visible light gets through
The way it works:

Double Glazing:
Double glazing is two class combined to create a sash, currently the basic replacement window.  It improves the performance of the windows by reducing the loss of energy through increase insulating.
Air space:
Again, replacement windows that are double glazed have  air space between the two panes of glass. This provides a form of insulation, however, any space more than an inch thick can decrease the energy efficiency. So look for air spaces that are between ¼ to 1/2” thick.
Gas for Low Conductivity:
To further decrease the energy loss manufacturers filled the space between the two panes of glass with dense odorless gases called Argon or Krypton which reduces the conductivity of heat through the glass.
Glass Coats with a Tint:
In order to limit the penetration of UV rays the manufacturers tint the glass in a very subtle way, this increased the efficiency of energy by limiting the penetration of the sun light.
Low-E- Coatings:
Another way to reduce heat loss is by adding a coat of a low emissive [Low-E] compound like silver or tin oxide. Placed on the inside of the glass, this coating is so thin it is not visible to the naked eye but reduces the heat loss by reflecting the heat back into the room.
So, what energy efficient replacement window does your home need?
Depending on where you as the homeowner are located, you would require some or all of the above factors. As a result, replacement window manufacturers create products for all climates and regions.
For best results, opt to have a home performance improvement contractor help you select and install the windows. This will ensure that energy efficient replacement windows are installed for optimum performance.

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