Jeff's Renovation Resources Blog

I'm not trying to talk myself out of a job here but do you really need that? It's a question that you should ask yourself. I know it's exciting to think about adding space to your home. Many have dreams of a breakfast room that projects into the backyard sanctuary that they love so much or a home...

A few weeks ago, I connected with author and activist April Langschied. She writes under the pen name of A Brewster Smythe and is the Founder of the Waynedale Green Alliance. The WGA, like the Irvington Green Initiative that I work with, is a grassroots organization that seeks to better our commu...

I recently did an interview with a journalist that asked me what the difference between "greening" a historic home versus "greening" any other existing home was. Interesting question. What do you think the answer is? I thought I accurately summed up the answer by saying "nothing and everything." ...

Regular visitors to Renovation Resources know that the posts here are about renovating your home. They're about products, best practices and the process of building, upgrading or expanding your home. They often revolve around Green or Sustainable issues. Some are even meant to guide you through t...

It happened last night. I was listening to homeowners who had volunteered to be test cases for the Irvington Green Initiative's "Recognition Program." We were holding a forum designed to produce honest feedback after two months of working within our guidelines and criteria. This was it; the big t...

That's right, Green is a fad. Hear me now all you Eco-Brokers, LEED AP's, CGP's and the like. Green is a fad. In fact, some industry experts predict that the marketable, life expectancy of all of your fancy titles and certifications is a mere 5 years. And it's a good thing too!"How can this be," ...

If you live within one of the fifteen Historic or Conservation Districts in Marion County and plan on Renovating your home or property, there are a number of resources and requirements that you need to be aware of. This information may be of particular interest to homeowners in the Chatham Arch, ...

There are a number of reasons for embarking on a Renovation project; a growing family, changing tastes, budding hobbies and entrepreneurial explorations are among them. With many of these reasons a secondary question usually looms in the back of most homeowner's minds. Will I be able to get my in...

In many areas of Indiana (and many other states around the country) homeowners recently experienced exponential increases in their property tax bills. Regardless of your own particular situation or politics, there are a few key pieces of advice to keep in mind in light of these recent development...

A movement abounds where homes and buildings are recognized, even rewarded for being energy and resource efficient; for being healthy for their inhabitants and friendly to their environment. Products are being developed to add comfort and value to your home. What's not to like?I'm guessing that g...