Hawaii Renovation 10 April 2011 by Oahu Publications, Inc

HAWAII

APRIL 10, 2011

Take a walk on the vinyl side Armstrong has a wide selection of luxurious vinyl floors to keep your feet warm and comfortable. See page 3 INSIDE: SELECTING THE RIGHT PLANTS FOR YOUR HOME â&#x20AC;˘ THE CURE FOR AIRFLOW CONGESTION AN ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT PUBLISHED BY OAHU PUBLICATIONS, INC.

Serving Hawaii Since 1981

Kokua for Japan Hawaii Home Expo will donate 10% of profit on all TOTO products for the month of April to American Red Cross to aid Japan in their recent earthquake and tsunami relief efforts. In addition, we will offer a 15% discount on in stock TOTO products, excluding Washlets and Neorests. Safety Tubs, Sauna, Photovoltaic Solar Panels, Pre-Fab Countertops, Slabs, Marble, Granite, Sealants. LED Lighting

HAWAIIRENOVATION ing anytime is fine.

Turning a

New Leaf

lants are always used to create a feng shui positive environment because they not only add vibrancy, oxygen and life force, they symbolize growth and support us energetically. Much of feng shui is about creating an environment that gives us energy versus one that drains us of our if an energy and life force. artificial plant Plant Selection looks real, it is doing its job. The most “feng shui pos- Your subconscious will see itive” plants are full, lush it as symbolic of a real plant, and vibrant. When choos- and it will have the same ing plants, select rounded effect. Live plant energy is leaves over spiky, thorny, favorable and it’s good to or pointy leaves. Having have some around; howevtoo many pointy-leaved er, it is better to have an artiplants sends out a prickly ficial plant that looks alive energy, which your sub- and real, than to have a real conscious reads as “stay plant that is sickly or dead. away.” This is not an invit- Silk plants are excellent and ing energy. are made so well these days they are hard to visually tell The artificial vs. real plant them apart from real ones! debate Grandmaster Lin Yun, Dead and dried plants the founder of the Black Dead flowers and dead Sect school of feng shui, or sick plants emit dead said, “If you have to touch a energy into the environplant to determine whether ment. Even dried flowers it is real or not, it holds symbolize death to the subeven more power than a conscious mind. I suggest live plant.” This means that

that you replace dead or dying plants with live ones for an immediate boost of energy. Many people feel bad about throwing away plants that still have a bit of life in them, but are beyond reviving. I tell my clients that the best time to “recycle” almost-dead plants back into the universal flow is during the three days prior to a new moon because it represents new

GOASK

ALICE by Alice Inoue beginnings. This timing gives the plants an opportunity to “begin anew”, and many of us feel better when we know we are getting rid of them at an optimal time. If the plant is already dead, then discard-

Dried flower leis and plants with meaning If you have dried flower leis or other types of dried flowers in your home that hold significant meaning or special memories, then one of my basic rules apply: “Have things you love around you.” If it is something you love, even though it is “dead”, it has a good energy and it’s fine to have around. If, however, it has begun to disintegrate and you can’t remember why you kept it in the first place, it has lost its positive personal energy and it’s time to get rid of it. Potpourri is often brought up because it is commonly used in homes and some are curious about it from a feng shui perspective. Although potpourri is made of “dead” plant parts, it does have life in it in the form of its added fragrance.

However, once the fragrance dissipates, the dust settles, and cobwebs start forming, it is time to discard it. As long as it is kept “fresh”, it does not take away from the positive feng shui. Here are a few useful plant tips: • Move existing plants around to change up the energy of the environment. • Fill empty corners with plants to create curves, fullness, and balance in a room. • Use plants at the entrance to “entrance” the energy. • Buy a plant when you need a boost and desire support.

Feng shui expert and life guide Alice Inoue offers books, DVDs, workshops and private consultations. For more information, visit www.aliceinoue.com.

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ou have to see and feel the luxury vinyl floors at Wayne’s Flooring to appreciate them. Alterna vinyl tile is soft and warm underfoot, and offers the most natural and realistic ceramic or stone looks you’ll find anywhere. Luxe Plank luxury

HAWAIIRENOVATION

Why People Adore these

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vinyl floors also offer highly realistic looks — but do so in hardwood colors and textures. Luxe Plank even comes in authentic plank lengths and widths, with beveled edges and ends. Alterna luxury vinyl can be installed with or without grout, for a true stone or

ceramic look. Consider hiring an Armstrong-certified, professional installer for Alterna since gluing and grouting are usually skills beyond the average DIY-er. Alterna comes in the large format (16 inches-by-16 inches) tiles. If you want a luxury vinyl floor that’s DIY-friendly, take a closer look at Luxe Plank. Lynx Technology, with its exclusive pressuresensitive adhesive, makes Luxe Plank incredibly versatile and simple to install. Because each plank attaches to the planks beside it (not the floor beneath it)

you can install it quickly without affecting the rest of and easily over practically the floor. To trim, simply score a any surface in your home or business. All it takes are 3 plane with a utility knife and straight edge and snap simple steps: it apart. Step 1: Start with a clean Armstrong’s luxury dry surface. No preperavinyl floors are made to tion or glue is necessary. last, and its vinyl tiles are Step 2: Peel off the paper easy to maintain and can liner to expose the Lynx be installed in any room, technology adhesive and including bathrooms. Both Luxe Plank and Alterna place plank on the floor. are made up of three priStep 3: Place additional mary layers. The top layer planks, overlapping the adhe- is a protective wear layer sive strips to attach each plank that provides resistance to to the planks beside and above stains, scratches and it. To secure, press down on scuffs. This wear layer is edges. If you make a mistake, simply pull up the flexible Luxe Plank and reposition it within the set time

combined with a clear film layer that adds more durability and helps protect the luxury vinyl floor against rips, tears and gouges. The second layer is the printed design layer that offers realistic ceramic, stone or wood visuals. The bottom layer is the tile backing, which adds structural strength and durability. Find Armstrong Luxe and Alterna at one of four Wayne’s Flooring locations (Sand Island, Kaimuki, Kaneohe or Salt Lake). For more information, visit www.armstrong.com.

APRIL 10, 2011 | HAWAII RENOVATION | 3

HAWAIIRENOVATION BIA-Hawaii Remodelers

Homeownership Can Bring

Big Savings

Tax Time

at BY KAREN NAKAMURA

As the April 18 federal income tax filing deadline approaches, millions of Americans are sitting down and sorting through dozens of forms to determine how much money they owe Uncle Sam — or, how much of a refund they will get this year. One of those forms, the Mortgage Interest Statement Form 1098, can mean big savings for home-

owners at tax time. Form 1098, which homeowners receive from their lenders, shows the total amount of home mortgage interest paid during the year. Homeowners who itemize their federal income tax deductions can deduct 100 percent of their mortgage interest payments on a first or second home for up to $1 million of mortgage debt. They can also deduct the interest paid on up to $100,000

of home equity loans. For most homeowners, this means they can deduct all of the mortgage interest they’ve paid on their home each year. The ability to deduct home mortgage and home equity loan interest isn’t the only tax benefit for homeowners. The three most important sources of tax savings for homeowners are:

interest • Deductions for real estate taxes • The capital gains exclusion for the sale of a principal residence

Buying a home offers tax savings that can add up to tens of thousands of dollars over several years. Homeowners rely on the mortgage interest deduction each year to help offset the • Deductions for mortgage costs of homeownership,

and prospective buyers take the deduction into consideration when choosing homeownership over renting. But the mortgage interest deduction, which has been included in the tax code for about 100 years, is in danger. A national deficit commission has proposed reducing or eliminating the deduction as part of a restructuring of the tax code. Find out more about the threat to the mortgage interest

deduction, and read “The Tax Benefits of Homeownership,” a study from economists at the National Association of Home Builders, that provides specific examples of savings for a variety of income levels and ownership situations, at www.SaveMyMortgage InterestDeduction.com.

Karen Nakamura is executive vice president / CEO of Building Industry Association of Hawaii.

APRIL

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APRIL 10, 2011 | HAWAII RENOVATION | 5

HAWAIIRENOVATION

More Solar Savvy: Hot tips from the PV pros at Alternate Energy

hinking about investing in a solar PV system for your home? Congratulations! You’ll be one of the growing number of Hawaii families who look forward to receiving their HECO statement, just to see that “amount due” below $20 every month! With Hawaii’s record-breaking electricity rates, year-round sun and substantial tax credits, installing a PV system in the 50th state makes more sense than ever. It can cost as little as $5,000 after government credits, and the savings on your electric bill lets that investment pay for itself in 5 1/2 years. But the red-hot solar energy market also means there are dozens of new solar companies jumping on the bandwagon, and our kamaaina families can be faced with a lot of choices. Homeowners who educate themselves before investing will enjoy reliable energy savings for generations to come. A few weeks ago, Alternate Energy reported on some of the most important things homeowners should ask before investing in a solar PV system. The response was so positive, we put together a second round of insider tips from compa-

ALTERNATE ENERGY

ny pros at Alternate Energy, Hawaii’s locally owned, family-operated solar energy provider since 1993. • Ask if the provider employs its installers. If something goes wrong two years down the road, you don’t want your provider passing the buck to a sub-contractor.

wary of sales gimmicks like cash rebates or free trips. Because of the tax credits involved, the government frowns upon these kinds of incentives. You don’t want to open yourself up to an audit.

•Insist on a reputable solar panel manufacturer. There are literally dozens of new brands on the market. You are making an investment that should last decades. Will the manufacturer be around to honor its warranty? Alternate Energy is a certified Mitsubishi installer. •Hot-water heating can account for up to 40 percent of a family’s energy bill. No one should consider PV without first investing in a solar hotwater heater. Otherwise, you’ll find yourself buying more panels than

•Hire a full-service, licensed solar company with a C-60 Solar Power Systems Contractor license. This means the provider has passed rigorous testing and has the necessary experience with solar, roof work, hook-ups and permitting to do a top-notch job.

you need.

• With so many new solar companies For more information about entering the market, many will do Alternate Energy, call 842-5853. almost anything to get your business. Be

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with Shirley Pai Hilton, Pres. & CEO, PII Do you already have a wood or laminate floor that is looking a bit tired but not to the point of refinishing or replacing? Well, your solution could be Bona’s Refresher. Available for both wood and other hard surfaces, it offers you a quick do-it-yourself way of putting a fresh coat of gloss on your existing floors. And guys, it’s as easy as putting on nail polish! Please send your questions to shilton@piiwood.com. ALOHA!

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HAWAIIRENOVATION

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ome and experience the “ohana” style of service provided at Ohana Building Supply. Among the color and style selections of cabinets, granite, flooring and stainless steel sinks, you will also find the Milzen Cabinetry line exclusive in Hawaii only at Ohana Building Supply. These face-framed, flat-slab, panel-style cabinets are made

of ½-inch plywood boxes, ¾inch solid wood face-frame with ¾-inch wood-trimmed engineered wood doors and drawer faces. Milzen cabinets are constructed with solid wood dove-tailed drawers and built standard with under mount soft closing drawer slides and soft closing door features. Elegantly colored in Espresso Oak and White Oak,

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standard with Blum hardware for the under mount soft closing drawer slides and soft closing door features. Ohana Building Supply is located at 2815 Kaihikapu St. in Mapunapuna. Showroom hours are Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call 833-8338 for directions and more information.

line is being offered at 35 percent off of retail pricing. Ohana Building Supply’s newest promotion is on the Dark Cherry Flat Panel and Raised Panel cabinets, which is being offered at 50 percent off retail. These frameless-style cabinets are constructed of ¾inch solid wood doors, drawer faces and ¾-inch plywood boxes. These cabinets come

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TROPICAL WHOLESALE INC. 6175 May Way, Honolulu, HI 96821 e-mail: tropicalwholesale@hawaii.rr.com ph: 456-4892 • 263-1252 • www.twoahu.com CONTR. LIC. BC-27653

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APRIL 10, 2011 | HAWAII RENOVATION | 7

HAWAIIRENOVATION

Solar Energy for your Home W

ith electricity costs continuing to rise, more and more Hawaii homeowners are turning to solar to reduce their electricity bill and to lessen their impact on the environment. But solar energy can be confusing, with all the different technology, and myriad of tax incentives, not to mention financing options. “One of the biggest challenges to going solar for many Hawaii home-

REVOLUSUN

choosing the right solar system, and the right partner to design and install the system. The owners is that there is so RevoluSun solar educamuch to learn,” says Eric tion seminar helps homeCarlson, RevoluSun part- owners understand the ner. “RevoluSun wants process and what they everyone to truly under- should be on the lookout stand how solar energy for, while our open house works, what goes into program provides people

a chance to talk story with other local homeowners like themselves, to hear about the solar experience firsthand.” Installing more residential and commercial solar systems than any other company in 2010, RevoluSun is Hawaii’s SEE PAGE 12

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HAWAIIRENOVATION

Opening Doors for Hawaii’s Homeowners

urb appeal, safety and quality. What do these words mean to you? As a homeowner you realize your home is probably your greatest asset — not only providing you shelter, but also providing you equity on your investment. Therefore it is important to take care of your investment as you would your own health. Curb appeal is the most noticeable asset of your home. The wrong garage door will spoil the entire look of your home, and an inferior door just won’t hold up. Martin Garage Doors are built to be the last door you’ll ever need for your home. Our experienced staff help you select the right door for your home, one that will complement the look of your home and add value. One of our customers on Maui selected a Martin Door system because he wanted a special look for their home. In addition to the garage door, Martin Garage Doors Hawaii was able to provide matching entry doors for the breezeway and matching gates. Needless to say, the wow factor was noticed by all who drove by. Safety has always been priority No. 1 at Martin Door Manufacturing. Our door systems come equipped with the most safety features of any garage

MARTIN

GARAGE DOORS door system on the market. Among them is our exclusive soft touch reverse technology ™, which reverses a descending door with just a soft touch, eliminating the need for photo eyes. When opening, the door and opener system will stop with just a soft touch — eliminating the appeal for children to ride the door while it opens. Martin Garage Doors Hawaii also takes pride in the quality of our product and service. “It’s no accident we build our doors to a higher standard,” states David Martin, owner of Martin Door Manufacturing, “That means our customers can count on a door which provides safety, and long lasting curb appeal.” We encourage all of our customers to compare the quality of our doors to others on the market. They soon find out that our doors give them better value for their dollar. To learn more, visit www.martin garagedoorshawaii.com or stop by the company showroom at 2839 Kilihau St. in Honolulu.

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APRIL 10, 2011 | HAWAII RENOVATION | 9

HAWAIIRENOVATION

The curefor stuffy airflow congestion RMA

SALES

liders and single-hung windows look great. But are they practical for your home and area? To relieve your hot, stuffy home, RMA Sales’ Tradewind louver jalousie windows can bring you relief. Try this simple exercise to see if you’ll be able to tolerate a window style other

than louver jalousies: cover half of your current window with plastic sheeting for a day or two. If it happens to rain, close the exposed part of the window that was not covered with plastic sheeting. How is your airflow now? Are you still comfortable? If you are, then by all means switch to sliders or single-hung

windows if that is your desire (and we can help you there, too). But if you feel hot and uncomfortable, the Tradewind louver jalousie window system may be the best remedy for your home. All Tradewind windows are custom-built right here in Hawaii. Think of your home like the human body. It needs clean, naturally fresh air to remain healthy. A hot, uncomfortable home with window systems that restrict airflow is like congestion. RMA Sales’ Tradewind louver jalousie system is the “decongestant.” The Tradewind louver jalousie

system is unlike the old aluminum louver jalousie windows from the 20th century. This system features corrosionresistant hardware components, attractive louver blade options (size as well as materials), low maintenance vinyl frames and an optional, attractive retrofit exterior trim profile. With the cost of electricity rising, the luxury and expense of using air conditioners is fast becoming prohibitive. Be cool.

Feel good. Save money. So, to relieve home air congestion, call RMA Sales at 486-8894 for a Tradewind window dealer near you. Tradewind windows are a product of RMA Sales, locally owned and operated since 1961.

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HAWAIIRENOVATION

A Company that has

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hat is the best roof out there? Some will tell you that the answer is simple: It is the roof that costs the least over its life. To those people, it really does not matter what material is used or how the roof is attached. When most homeowners look at roofing, they look at the materials and the systems, and the only part of the cost they consider is the initial cost. But the cost to install a roof is only a portion of the total cost of owning a roof. The practice of examining the cost of owning a roof over its entire life is called life-cycle cost analysis. This is the best

MURAKAMI ROOFING

way to truly compare the cost/value of roofing systems. Homeowners should ask themselves, “How long do I expect to own the home?” If the answer is indefinitely, then the analysis should be run for at least 20 years. Some people will use 30 years. The standard depreciation for roofing is 39 years. There are very few systems that are functional at the end of this life expectancy. In a basic life-cycle cost analysis, there are several factors that need to be considered.

The study period has already been mentioned. The next consideration is the changing value of a dollar over time. One common method for relating future expenses to today’s costs is to use the t-bill rate, minus the inflation rate. A time value of approximately 5 percent is a reasonable number for use in our analysis. There are costs associated with other aspects of roofing,

such as installation inspections, semi-annual inspections, the cost of leak-related repairs, costs associated with making the warrantor live up to the warranty, and so forth. There also are routine maintenance expenses to consider, such as cleaning the drains, recaulking the flashings and performing general housekeeping. The last item that needs to be known is the relative life

expectancy of the roofs in question. There are sources for this information. The most conservative approach is to use the warranty life as the service life. This is generally shorter than the real life, except where there is no routine maintenance done. Then the life may well be shorter than the warranty. To learn more about roofing or to receive an estimate, call Murakami Roofing at 348-8270.

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APRIL 10, 2011 | HAWAII RENOVATION | 11

HAWAIIRENOVATION

Solar Energy for your Home â&#x20AC;˘ how to determine which system is best for your needs, including your sun zone and orientation, â&#x20AC;˘ how to navigate and capitalize on the numerous tax credits available, â&#x20AC;˘ how to save money with solar.

FROM PAGE 8

leader in residential solar energy systems. RevoluSun Solar Education Seminars RevoluSun presents free, family-friendly Solar Education Seminars in locations around Oahu, Maui and the Big

Island in the evening and on weekends so Hawaii homeowners can learn the A-B-Câ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s of solar. Attendees will find out: â&#x20AC;˘ how solar works, â&#x20AC;˘ what solar systems and panels are available,

Upcoming RevoluSun Solar Education Seminars are scheduled on Oahu for Tuesday, April 19 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Castle High School; Saturday, May 21 from 9:30 to 11 a.m. at Kaiser High School; and Tuesday, June 21 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the BIA Training Center in Waipahu. New seminar dates and locations are added often, so be sure to check www.Revolu Sun.com or call 748-8888 to find a free Solar Education Seminar in your neighborhood or to reserve your seat. Children are welcome

to these events, which are free and open to the public. Space is limited, and reservations are requested. RevoluSun Solar Open Houses RevoluSun also offers free solar open houses around the Island every weekend and sometimes on weekdays. Get comfortable with the technology and the installation process by visiting a solar open house, where other Hawaii â&#x20AC;&#x153;RevoluSunariesâ&#x20AC;? invite the public to see their solar system in action, and talk story about design, the installation process, and how the experience affected them. This month RevoluSun is hosting the following solar open houses: â&#x20AC;˘ April 10 in Manoa â&#x20AC;˘ April 17 in Aiea and in Kailua â&#x20AC;˘ April 23 in Honolulu

New open houses are added every day, so visit www.RevoluSun.com or call 748-8888 for a complete listing of locations and times. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Solar energy is the best way to lower your electricity bill while taking care of the aina,â&#x20AC;? Carlson says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The more people know and under-

stand about solar, the easier it is for them to take the step to become a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;RevoluSunary.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re so pleased to be providing this education, so Hawaii can become a leader in solar energy in the United States.â&#x20AC;?

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Your most powerful decorating tool: the

edecorating used to be most fun for those who had the time to spend poring through interior design magazines, waiting for samples to arrive in the mail, and driving to specialty stores looking for exactly the right item for their redesign. Today, remodeling ideas and items that would once have taken hours — or even weeks — to obtain are now easily available, thanks to the magic of the Internet. Where once you would have had to locate and drive to a specialty store for items like custom blinds, slipcovers or lighting, you can now browse and purchase a staggering variety of options all from

the comfort of your home PC. Do-it-yourselfers will find plenty of inspiand ration i n v e n t o r y online. Here are three interior decorating ideas that you can easily bring to life with the help of some Internet shopping: 1. Buying blinds Perhaps you remember your mother or grandmother driving from store to store in search of the perfect window treatment. While most department stores have always offered window treatments, in the past the selection has been

limited and often pricey. Online resources solve the inventory and pricing problem and spare you a trip to the home improvement store. Websites like Blinds.com offer thousands of cost-effective options, from wood, aluminum and vertical blinds to cell shades, shutters and draperies.

Changing window treatments is a great way to update the look of a room for a modest investment of cash. And replacing window treatments is one of the easiest DIY projects you can tackle. Online shopping also makes it easy to update your window treatments according to the season. 2. Lovely linens Sure you can find a big selection in terms of style at big box linen stores, but the variety of brands might be lacking. Need especially deep-pocketed sheets for your plush pil-

Internet

when “slipcover” mostly referred to that awful clear plastic covering your grandmother put on the couch to keep the kids and pets from staining it. Slipcovers aren’t just for sofas anymore, according to HGTV.com. You can find slipcovers for ottomans, armchairs, recliners, dining chairs and more — all online. Modern slipcovers are a great way to change the look of a piece of furniture and the room in which it sits. Cheaper than reupholstering or buying new furniture, adding a slipcover can resurrect a treasured piece that may have worn upholstery but 3. Simplifying slipcovers is still in good shape othLong gone are the days erwise.

low-top mattress? You’ll probably find them in stores, but at a cost that may make you wish you’d bought an air mattress instead. Online, you can find options in every style, color and thread count imaginable — and often at prices that retailers can't match. A Google search for “linens” yields nearly 40 million results. Your biggest challenge will be deciding which online merchant to check out first. Some websites specialize in luxury linens, while others offer more basic and practically priced options.

CertainTeed’s EnerGen: A Different Kind of Solar Roofing System CertainTeed’s photovoltaic roofing system generates power similar to solar panels but lies flush with your roofing shingles, maintaining your existing roofline.

Features & Benefits • Ultra thin PV film laminates for a sleek and seamless look • Flexible sizing to fit your roof precisely • Requires no roof penetrations • Lightweight, with no need for added reinforcement • Produces energy in low or diffused light and partial shade • Full system warranty backed by CertainTeed

Call our Solar office at 1-877-596-0471 for a list of CertainTeed Qualified Installers in Hawaii or log onto www.certainteed.com to learn more. 800-233-8990 • certainteed.com • http://blog.certainteed.com ROOFING • SIDING • TRIM • DECKING • RAILING • FENCE • FOUNDATIONS GYPSUM • CEILINGS • INSULATION • PIPE APRIL 10, 2011 | HAWAII RENOVATION | 13

HAWAIIRENOVATION

How to Start Investing in

Wood Flooring W

hen customers visit Shirley Pai Hilton at Pacific Imports International, one of the key points she tries to impress on her customers is that wood flooring is an excellent way to invest your remodeling dollars. Not only are you and your family able to enjoy its beauty every day of the year, but the value that it adds will remain for the life of your home. Unlike the majority of floor coverings, the right wood floor can be something that lasts a lifetime and beyond. So let’s start by asking what are the basic types of wood flooring most commonly used in Hawaii? The most traditional form of wood flooring is called unfinished solid. This is a solid piece of

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wood that’s been milled into the flooring, which is sanded and coated in your home after it’s been nailed down. It’s generally considered the most “high-end” of wood floors because of the ability to customize the end product, as well as the higher installation cost. Next on the scene, we have prefinished solids. This is again a solid piece of flooring, but the sanding and coating are done at the factory using sophisticated methods, such as UV curing, and the only work done in your home is to nail or glue the flooring down. Your floor is ready to live on almost the minute it goes down.

And most recently, there is engineered wood flooring, such as the Kahala Floors line. Engineered flooring involves taking a precisely cut slice of the flooring wood and pre-installing it onto plywood. Contrary to popular assumption, this is not done to be stingy on the wood. Rather, it is done to provide a more versatile, stable form of wood flooring. Engineered woods can be installed below grade (where solids cannot) and they also can be floated (where solid must be nailed or glued

down). Most engineered flooring is sanded and prefinished in a factory, and with the right brand of engineered flooring, you are looking at a lifetime product that can be refinished several times, just like a solid.

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Enhance pride in your house with these curb appeal projects

ith spring here, it's a great time to take a look out your windows and see what the view of your home is offering your neighbors. Are there any areas of your landscaping or home's exterior that could use a bit of an upgrade to help boost your home's curb appeal? Whether you intend to live in your home for several years, or have plans to list your house on the real estate market soon, enhancing your home's curb appeal can boost your enjoyment of the property and attract potential buyers. Plenty of projects can improve the look of your home without requiring you to spend a fortune on remodeling, changing the siding or landscaping the entire front yard. Here are a few ideas you can try on your house:

start to look dingy and rusted from being out in the elements. Building a permanent brick or stone structure to hold a mailbox can add appeal to your yard, and also help protect the metal mailbox from rusting.

• Add or update the lights by your front door or along the driveway. A beautiful glow in the evenings welcomes visitors (and buyers) to your home, at the same • Upgrade the mailbox. time providing you with Mailboxes over time can additional security. Many

your money.

out windows with new replacement windows. According to Remodeling magazine's 2010-2011 Cost vs. Value report, installing low-maintenance replacement windows is ranked as one of the best home • Replace your old, worn- improvement projects for

way through the front yard, consider lining it with a small and attractive fence. Or add a few pots of pretty flowers next to the garage doors to splash around a little color.

Updating and enhancing the look of your house can do a lot for the pride you have in your home and for drawing prospective buyers if you decide to put your house on the market.

wall, overhead, post and hanging lights are designed to work outdoors to add panache to your home and landscaping. • Brighten up your landscaping and decorate your house with flowers and maybe even some new shrubbery. If you can, add window boxes of vine plants mixed in with colorful blooms. Decorate along the driveway or around the mailbox with small green bushes. If you have a walk-

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BACKPAGECOVERSTORY

t would be difficult to find a custom builder who offers the type of client-to-customer attention that comes from working with Hua Xia Construction LLC. Owner Xiang Feng Cao and his son, Andy, have built and maintained an outstanding reputation for quality construction that spans 20 years. This father-son team is known for its dedicated, handson approach — from simple renovations to multimillion dollar, ground-up development of custom projects. Clients are consistently impressed with the personal attention paid to the smallest details. The company sticks by its motto, “Quality only happens when you care enough to do your very best.” Hua Xia Construction ensures that each and every client is given as much time as needed to deliver an outstanding custom-built product, and it’s no surprise that much of the company’s business comes from referrals. In fact, Hua Xia Construction prides itself on the fact that most of its business comes through

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CONSTRUCTION personal relationships. Hua Xia Construction workers bring their knowledge and master

16 | HAWAII RENOVATION | APRIL 10, 2011

craftsmanship to each project to ensure that it is a success. Whether you are planning to build a

retail store or private residence, you can be certain of receiving the highest quality for your investment. Your Residential Home Builder At Hua Xia Construction,

clients are always asked questions, including, “How do you envision your completed project?” By asking the right questions and working through the details, company workers help clients realize their vision. Hua Xia Construction’s staff is dedicated to building homes from the ground up or the inside out. From single family homes to condominiums, no project is too big or too small. Your Commercial Building Solution The company is dedicated to building your commercial projects as well. Commercial building solutions range from store buildouts in Makiki, to restaurants and retail stores developed on Maui. For more information, contact Hua Xia Construction at 636-1888 or visit the company website at huaxiaconstruc tion.com.