An important factor in the home buying processes, especially when you have a family, is the school district where you would be living. The Daily Beast recently shared an article of the 25 Best High Schools in the Midwest, and Kirkwood High School was named number 13 on the list! They have a 100% graduation rate with 93% of students’ college bound. In lieu of moving, now is the perfect time to renovate your Kirkwood home!

We’ve been a proud part of Kirkwood since 1959 and this is a great honor for our community! We are excited to see our city receive this well deserved recognition.

Kirkwood is known for their historic buildings and houses, giving the community a beautiful, old school charm. As stunning as they historic homes may be, many of them are ready for some upgrades. Love your neighborhood and not looking to move? Renovating your home is a great option!

Kirkwood is a great location to raise a family with the close knit feel, great schooling and local community events. This year is the 54^th annual Greentree Festival, located at Kirkwood Park. The mission of the Greentree Festival is to provide an event for the Kirkwood residents that will enhance community spirits and showcase the volunteer involvement of the residents and non-profit organizations. Who wouldn’t want to live in such an entertaining and community involved city?

Looking to start a remodel project of your own? RIGGS is here to help! We offer superior design, planning and remodeling solutions that are truly second to none. Drop us a line or visit us 24/7 at www.riggscompanystl.com.

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As Certified Green Professionals, we truly understand the importance of creating an energy efficient home. While many green alternatives vary in price, you don’t have to break the bank in order to make your home more energy efficient.

The following are some simple steps you can take to keep you home cool this summer!

• Close the gaps – Be sure your windows and doors all have tight seals. If you feel a draft, apply caulk or replace seals, weather stripping and sweeps.
• Insulation – Cool air isn’t a premium in St. Louis—don’t let it escape! Take a look in your attic and make sure you have sufficient insulation installed, and that all areas are covered with no gaps. Energy Star recommends at least R-38 insulation in our area.
• Duct Work – Energy Star also recommends sealing your duct work joints with aluminum foil tape, where cool air can escape as it travels up through your vents.
• Close Vents – If you have any rooms in your home that are either unused or used sparingly, keep the vents and doors closed when they aren’t in use.
• Thermostat – While we realize the dog days of July in St. Louis can be quite brutal, we recommend keeping your thermostat at 78 degrees or higher. Try using ceiling fans to help offset spikes in temperature.
• Clean Air Filter – The more you’re A/C runs, the more dust and dirt you will find in your filter. During the hottest months, we recommend cleaning your air filter out every week, ensuing maximum performance and efficiency.

If you need help with any of these projects, or if you’ve got something bigger to tackle, contact RIGGS Company & Design today!

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While many homeowners have since ditched the shag in favor of tile or linoleum flooring, there are still many other problem areas that homeowners have put off addressing. These areas include: rickety kitchen cabinets, pink and blue toilets, tubs and sinks, wood paneling and our personal favorite… floral wallpaper!

With many Saint Louisians opting to forgo the purchase a retirement house in favor of Aging in Place, the St. Louis remodeling market has really taken off. In fact, Remodeling Magazine has recognized St. Louis the last two years as one of the Top 20 remodeling markets. To us, it is a true testament to our community and its willingness to commit and invest in the homes.

A home might be simply four walls and a roof on the surface, but the reality of the matter is… it is much, much more. It is a friend, a neighbor, a confidant… it is family. The memories you create in your home will last you a lifetime and will help serve as a foundation for your children and grandchildren as they continue to grow.

If you would like to know more about remodeling your St. Louis home, think RIGGS Company & Design! We offer superior design, planning and renovation solutions that are second to none. Drop us a line or visit us online 24/7 at www.riggscompanystl.com

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Below are the top 3 benefits a dual flush toilet could bring your home…

#1 Save Water & Money: Did you know most toilets use 3.5 gallons of water per flush? Not only is this costly for large families, but it is extremely wasteful as well. A dual flush toilet uses no more than 1.6 gallons of water per flush, thus reducing the water usage by nearly two gallons. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, a homeowner that uses these fixtures can save 4,000 gallons of water annually.

#2 Fewer Clogs: The flush pressure on these toilets is so powerful that they are capable of flushing 350 grams of waste at a time. Also, the trap ways are larger, reducing buildup and causing fewer clogs.

#3 Sleek Design: As you can see, these toilets offer a slew of different advantages; however, their sleek, stylish look may be the biggest attraction. Their clean lines and simple design allow them to fit perfectly into any bathroom regardless of the décor.

Want to know more about these innovative toilets? Give RIGGS a call today! We offer superior design, planning and remodeling solutions that are second to none. Drop us a line or visit us on line 24/7 at www.riggscompanystl.com

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We suggest going with Energy Star products. While the initial upfront cost is more, you will see a dip in your energy bills.  Washing machines, dishwashers, and hot water heaters that are over a decade old are often 75% less efficient than new Energy Star products. According to the Energy Star website, their appliances along with the implementation of other “green” practices saved Americans $17 billion on utility costs!

The money that you will save in utility costs will more than make up for the upfront cost of the Energy Star appliances. Also, because these products are of higher quality they will last longer, thus reducing the chances of having to repeat this process down the road.

If you would like to learn more about these appliances and how they can help you lower your energy bill, give RIGGS a call today! We offer superior design, planning and remodeling solutions that are second to none. Drop us a line or visit us on line 24/7 at www.riggscompanystl.com

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#1 Fans: Ceiling fans or box fans are an extremely easy and cost-efficient way to cut down on your energy costs.  Some ceiling fans can be purchased for as little as $70 bucks and can be installed without the assistance of a contractor. If the fan is well designed, it can lower your rooms’ temperature by 7 degrees, thus causing your air conditioner to run less.

#2 Light External Colors: It is no secret that light colors attract less heat, so why would you want to choose dark shingles or siding? If possible, choose a light color shingle or if you have a flat roof paint the surface white to reflect the sun’s rays.

#3 Install Shades: If you have an area of the home where the sun tends to shine more prominently, install shades or blinds on the windows. The less direct sunlight you have, the cooler your room will be!

#4 Energy Efficient AC: If you live in an older home, chances are your outdoor condenser is bulky and costing you a bundle in energy costs. When picking out a new unit, it is important you choose a condenser that has a seasonal energy efficiency ratio rating of about 12.

#5 Plant Trees: For long term cost savings, consider planting shade trees around your home. We understand that this is not a quick solution to your problem; however, in the long run it will serve not only as a great shield from the sun, but will make your home more desirable if you ever decide to move. For quick results, try planting soft wood trees such as a pin oak or a tulip tree.

If you would like to know more about how you can lower your cooling costs, please don’t hesitate to give RIGGS a call today.  We have a certified green professional on staff ready to help you get the most out of your home!

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#1 Storage: For many Americans the garage and basement serve as the abode for the unknown: a resting area for tools, Christmas decorations and trinkets from our past. These cabinets will not only help you better organize your space, but keep these items in quality condition.

#2 Summer House: While your old cabinets might feel outdated for your city home, they could be the perfect solution for your cabin or lake house. If you want to give them a fresh look you can do one of two things: splash on a new coat of paint or—if you have the itch to channel your inner Bob Vila—replace the face of the cabinets.

#3 Sell them: If your old cabinets are still in good, working condition you may want to think about selling them. We realize this might sound a bit strange, but it’s actually quite common across Europe. In Germany, for example, if you sell your home you never leave the kitchen items behind unless the prospective buyer intends to purchase them. When you leave you literally take everything—including the kitchen sink.

#4 Donate: Habitat for Humanity is always looking for quality, used home décor to sell in their ReStore outlets. Also, you may use the donation as a tax write off.

Thinking of remodeling your kitchen? Look no further than the experts at RIGGS Company & Design. We offer superior design, planning and remodeling solutions that are second to none. Drop us a line today!

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Let’s take a look at a few of the common misconceptions that are attached to the sustainable building industry.

#1 – It’s more expensive: Whenever something is new or different people automatically assume it will cost more. When it comes to building green, that is simply not the case.  When a home is better insulated and operating more efficiently it will cause your utility costs to drop, thus saving you money.

#2 – It’s too much work: For many Americans, when they hear “going green” they think: dirt roofs, rain water recycling and no heating or cooling systems. While those methods are practiced by some, there are other, less complex ways to make your home more eco-friendly. For example, installing new windows, siding, and faucets/showerheads are all simple, yet effective ways to make your home more efficient.

#3 – Lower quality: We aren’t really sure how this one got started, but for some reason many believe if a home is built using sustainable material, it is of lesser quality. All building material, both green and conventional, must pass building code. If it doesn’t pass code, it can’t be used: period.

#4 – Every bit counts: One of the biggest misconceptions about “going green” is that you have to be “all in” in order to make a difference. The truth of the matter is that even the smallest modifications such as replacing your windows or using LED light bulbs can reduce your carbon footprint.

If you would like to know more about sustainable building, please don’t hesitate to give RIGGS a call today.  We have a certified green professional on staff ready to help you get the most out of your home!

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While everyone is looking for the best deal on holiday gifts, they aren’t doing the same with their more expensive home utility bills. What many homeowners do not know is they are actually paying more for utilities than they should be, because of inefficiencies throughout the house. We tell homeowners our goal is to create a tight “envelope” within the home so that warm air cannot escape and cold air cannot infiltrate.

We suggest looking around your home and finding areas that could have the potential to leak warm air and let in cold air. Often it will be obvious where you are losing heat, which is evident by a draft or even frost. But it can also be much harder. To help save money this winter with energy efficiency, we have provided the below common areas where heat escapes:

• Cracks Around Chimney
• Improper working fireplace flue
• Poor Insulated Attic
• Electrical Outlets
• Ceiling Fixtures
• Windows
• Doors & Floors
• Walls
• Light Switch
• Non Insulated Perimeter Band Boards

When you do find an area that is allowing infiltration of cold air, sealing or insulation are the two greatest tools in your toolbox. By simply caulking around a window or blocking the passing of air under your front door you can save yourself some serious money.

This holiday season, instead of clipping coupons to save money, look into cutting your energy costs. At RIGGS, we can help make your home more energy efficient, whether that is through an exterior renovation or home improvements. We have acertified green professional on staff to help you get the most from your home!

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In the spirit of Christopher Columbus Day on October 10, we at RIGGS are going to bust another myth common today, the idea that green remodeling is a fad and expensive.  We understand how easy it is to be confused about green remodeling, as there are so many conflicting messages. The simple truth is green construction has been around for a long time, even before we builders began using the term. In its mort simple term, green remodeling is improving upon construction methods for better energy efficiency.

We are essentially helping you get the best energy performance out of your home. We use materials which help with energy efficiency and create a tight “envelope” in your house, sealing out outside air. And if you think a green home will look weird or ugly, it doesn’t. In fact, they’re indistinguishable. (Sorry Frank Lloyd Wright!)

Green remodeling offers a great return on investment for homeowners and is not an expensive or complicated process. If you are afraid that a green remodel will lead you off the side of the earth, give us a call at RIGGS. Our certified green remodeler on staff can talk to you about past remodels in the St. Louis area and answer any of your questions.

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