at home in berks, june 2016

5 Trends in Hardwood Flooring

6 A Boomer for Business: Growing Senior Population

Offers Builders, Remodelers New Opportunity

10 12 Home Design Trends to Watch in 2016

14 2016 Parade of Homes Preview the quality construction

& superb designs Built by Berks!

24 Five Home Comfort Upgrades Homeowners Should Consider

{…and builders should recommend }

28 No Ductwork? No Problem!

32 Justice Department Increases Criminal Enforcement of Worker Safety Violations

33 Member Spotlight: Folino Homes, Inc.

34 Ready to Buy a Home?

JUNE 2016

For Advertising Opportunities: call 610.685.0914 Ext. 1Read At Home In Berks Magazine Online at HBAberks.org

The written and visual contents of this magazine are protected by copyright. Reproduction of print or digital articles without written permission from Hoffmann Publishing Group, Inc., and/or the Home Builders Association of Berks County is forbidden. The placement of paid advertisements does not imply endorsement by HBA of Berks County.

Publisher: Hoffmann Publishing Group, Inc. 610.685.09142921 Windmill Road, Suite 4, Sinking Spring, PA 19608

Graphic Designer: Brittany Fry

Contents

2016 HBA BerksBoard of Directors

OFFICERS:

PresidentJames E. Gavin, Esquire

Masano Bradley, Attorneys At Law (Wyomissing)

1st Vice PresidentCathy Sloan, CGR, CAPS, CGP

Hartman’s Home Improvements (Temple)

2nd Vice PresidentLarry Kehres

L A Kehres Building & Remodeling (Leesport)

Secretary/TreasurerEvan L. Hand, IIIBB&T (Wyomissing)

Immediate Past PresidentEdward F. Anewalt IV, CLP

Anewalt’s Landscape Contracting (Bernville)

BUILDER/REMODELER DIRECTORS

Brian BogertAdvanced Construction Solutions, LLC

(Newmanstown)

David HallowellHeffleger Kitchen Center (Reading)

Diane SalksRiverview Tree & Landscaping, Inc.

(Temple)

Tom WattsMiddle Creek Roofing, LLC

(Newmanstown)

ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS

Sherrie HallowellTompkins VIST Bank (Wyomissing)

Jason JenkinsBursich Associates, Inc. (Pottstown)

John SchmoyerFulton Mortgage Company (Wyomissing)

Jim McCarthyMcCarthy Engineering Associates, Inc.

(Wyomissing)

HBA STAFFJanet Campis

Executive Officer & At Home in Berks Editor-in-Chief

Features:

Angles:

Departments:

13 Harvard Study Confirms Remodeling Growth

is Anticipated

23 What Has PBA Done Lately for Members of HBA of Berks County?

27 Building a New Home Without Wrecking Your

Relationship with Your Spouse

4 From the President HBA of Berks County President Jim Gavin.

36 Membership Pages New and returning members, member to member discount programs, and an overview of all Association-related events for June–July 2016.

Cover Photo: Martin's Flooring, Inc. (Photo courtesy of Don Carrick, Studio 413 Photography)

4 AT HOME IN BERKs JUNE 2016

HBAberks.org I 610.777.8889

FROM THE PRESIDENT

James E. Gavin, EsquireMasano Bradley, Attorneys At Law, 2016 HBA of Berks County President

s we approach the Annual Parade of Homes of the Home Builders Association of Berks

County, a simple thought crossed my mind. What is the definition of a “parade”? I did a bit of looking and the definition I liked the best was “a public procession, especially one celebrating a special day or event and including marching bands and floats.” Well maybe we don’t have the marching bands and floats, but I certainly think the Parade of Homes celebrates something very special indeed.

In Berks County, we are lucky to have many incredibly talented and gifted builders, land-scapers, and remodelers. Importantly, they are honest and work with pride and integrity. The Annual Parade of Homes in Berks County allows the Home Builders Association to celebrate all that is good in the local building industry.

The Parade of Homes is literally a showcase of what has recently been built in Berks County. It

is a self-guided tour offering an opportunity for established or prospective residents, buyers and visitors to see what is new and innovative in the home building industry. At each location, you will find information about the builder, remodeler or landscaper involved. Visitors get to see first-hand talent of our members.

Each year the Parade is somewhat different from the prior year, but the basic concept remains the same. Various builders, landscapers and remodel-ers put some cutting edge work on display for all to see. The entries can include new construction or remodeled construction. The one constant is that the participants are so proud of their work, they want to share it with others.

At the Home Builders Association, we are extremely lucky to have W. David Wallace, President of East Penn Energy Solutions, chair the Parade of Homes Committee. Dave works tirelessly

to bring about the best parade possible. He has been doing this for the last several years and his help has been tremendous.

To the members of the public, please take some time to look at these projects. I promise they are

impressive. To the participants, congratulations on your very awe-some work. To Dave Wallace and his committee, thank you for all you do. It is greatly appreciated.

I am thinking, though, maybe marching bands and floats would be a really nice touch.

JUNE 2016 AT HOME IN BERKs 5


FEATURES

While carpet may still be the flooring of choice in a lot of homes, the amount of homes that are installing hardwood floors has risen over the last 5-10 years and

continues to grow today. If you are looking to add genuine resale value and even more importantly, beauty to your home, installing hardwood flooring is the answer.

The hardwood installed in most homes until the last few years have been 2 ¼ inch solid hardwood, usually oak. That is changing. Today, the size, species and color palette for today’s homeowner has grown dramatically.

Here are some of the latest trends.

Wide PlankHomeowners are definitely moving away from the traditional 2 ¼ inch hardwoods. 3

¼ inch, 5 inch, even 7 inch wide planks are rapidly gaining in popularity. If you want to make your living space more modern, go with a wider plank, even consider doing your floors with wood of varied widths. Wide planks add depth to a room, making it feel larger, rustic and contemporary.

Dark HardwoodAnd when we say dark, we mean dark. Ebony and jacobean are popular stains along

with espresso. The deep color is a contemporary and classic look that offsets light decor beautifully. The dark color can be more difficult to clean and maintain since it shows scratches more easily, but on the other hand, it camouflages imperfections better.

Gray HardwoodGray has been popping up all over interior design trends, in magazine ads and in

showrooms. It is the “new neutral,” but it is so different and unexpected that it is having a harder time gaining a foothold especially in the flooring market in our region. People want to see it, but usually will turn back to more traditional wood colors.

WhitewashedWhitewashed finishes are not the same as the whitewashed fences and buildings you

remember from your childhood. These are very elegant high-end floors that are a great addition to any home, but like gray hardwood have not really caught on in Southeastern Pennsylvania. For those who own a summer beach cottage, it is a very popular choice.

Engineered vs. SolidThe advancements in the construction of engineered woods are making engineered

woods a popular choice for many homeowners, especially when comparing it with lam-inates; however, in our area, solid hardwoods are still the first choice for the majority of homeowners.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Hank Stenson is the Wyomissing Store Manager. Martin’s Flooring has provided flooring and window treatments for residential, commercial and builder customers since 1985. Now with 4 retail locations, Martin’s serves an even broader market. Martin’s Flooring Wyomissing opened November 2014, and is located at 350 North Park Road, next to A to Z Vacuum. For more information, call 610-376-7799 or visit them online at www.martinsflooring.com.

Hardwood FlooringTrends in

Hank Stenson


FEATURES

he U.S. is getting older, and accord-ing to the U.S. Department of Health

Administration on Aging, the number of Americans ages 65 and older will more than double to 88.5 million by 2050. Of course, along with an aging population come the questions of how to care for them and where they’re going to live.

Although the group often has several options for where to live when they start

experiencing mobility issues—including active adult communities, nursing homes and assisted living facilities—a significant portion of seniors want to stay in their cur-rent homes as they age.

“Of people 55 and older, the reality is 90% of them want to stay where they are,” Construction Manager Mike Shina, of Atlanta homebuilder and developer Windsong Properties, told Construction Dive.

Building New Space for Downsizing Seniors

Despite the fact that many seniors want to remain in their current homes, part of the demographic is able to downsize and look for a new home designed specifically for them. Shina said a significant por-tion of Windsong’s customers are empty nesters downsizing from local homes or moving to the Atlanta area to be closer to their children.

He said that although the location of a community, or, as he put it, “proximity to healthcare and grandchildren,” is paramount for these customers, when it comes to choos-ing a home in which to age comfortably, it’s all about flexibility of design. Shina said Windsong’s open plan homes have stan-dard features like wider doorways, stepless entries, 32-inch clear minimum openings and lower shower thresholds, but many are constructed without interior bearing points to make future renovations easier.

“We like to think that we’ve designed into the home what they would need to stay independent, and that’s why we really call it active adult housing,” he said.

Shina said the company’s home designs have even taken into consideration the needs of “the sandwich generation,” and many of their floor plans have separate suite areas if an adult child or older parents move in. In addition, Shina noted, most of their homes with a third bedroom end up with that space turned into a study or home office.

Renovations for Existing Homes

Not everyone, though, is able or wants to move into a new home in preparation for the golden years. For those people, cre-ativity is the key to making a home as safe and livable for as long as possible.

According to Harvard’s Joint Center for Housing Studies, 5.5 million older households include someone with mobil-ity difficulty but are without accessibility modifications, such as no-step entryways and ramps. Researchers have concluded that there is at least a $13 billion oppor-

A BoomerFOR BUSINESS:

Kim Slowey

Growing Senior Population Offers Builders, Remodelers

New Opportunity


HBAberks.org I 610.777.8889 HBAberks.org I 610.777.8889

tunity for the remodeling industry just by installing these features.

Architect Kimberly Bunn, of Bunn Architecture, said existing aging-in-place home renovations are a special challenge because the homeowner is often dealing with limited space at a time when more space is needed to deal with mobility issues.

“It’s easier to plan for (aging in place) with new homes and even renovations if you’re adding on,” she told Construction Dive.

“But I go into a lot of projects where they’re in the home they’ve been in for 15 to 20 years. They’ve raised their kids there, and they don’t want to leave, so a lot of times it takes a little bit more (creativity) because you’re working with existing space.”

Bunn said the lack of space necessitates, for example, things like finding a way to create a bathroom out of existing closet space on the first floor if the bathrooms are

“If everything is on the second level, can we get a person who’s aging up the stairs easily? It might be a matter of making the stairs more graceful with landings so that they can stop more frequently,” she said.

“If your house is raised off of the ground, are there steps that come up? How do we get that person up the steps, whether it’s a ramp or shorter runs of steps with landings and good handrails for them to hold onto?”

Bunn said that during the renovation process, factoring in flexibility for the future is critical because not every special accom-modation needs to be made right away.

“You don’t want to put a grab bar in the bathroom when you’re 40,” she said, “but we put in the future capacity to add grab bars.”

Bunn added that postponing some chang-es is sometimes a matter of morale.

Continued on page 8

currently on the second floor. Stairs, indoor or outdoor, are another challenge, she said, as balance, or lack thereof, becomes an important consideration.



“I’ve had clients who are not wheel-chair-bound yet, but they have a debilitating disease so they know in five to eight years the likelihood is that they’re going to be, but they don’t necessarily want to have those (home modifications) there as a constant reminder,” she said. “So we’re sensitive in the design so that we can do things that can be modified and easily changed to give them a better quality of life all the way up to that point.”

Small Changes with a Big Impact

Not all aging in place accommodations need an architect or contractor, though. Jeff Salter, CEO of Caring Senior Service, said in-home safety and fall risk assessments often result in small, superficial changes that make a huge impact on the daily life of someone with limited mobility.

I think the mindset, regardless of age, is on efficiency, but also quality with artis-tic elements.

(The assessment) takes into account

their current ability to sit and walk and also

their balance,” Salter told Construction Dive.

“That assessment really guides us to what steps we have to take next—

what things they’re going to need.

Salter said the typical modifications his company performs are centered around the senior’s day-to-day activities and include changes like grab bars in the bathroom and kitchen or rails in long hallways. Salter said that as people age, reflexes slow down, so recovery from a slip is increas-ingly challenging.

Shina said the option for fixtures like grab bars are much more plentiful than they were just 10 to 15 years ago.

“Trying to find a grab bar that matched the plumbing fixtures was ridiculous. Nobody did it. Now you can get a toilet paper holder that you can use to lift yourself up on,” he said.

In bathrooms—a common area of slip-and-fall accidents—Salter said maneuvering in and out of the shower can be risky for many of his clients, and tile is the worst flooring option for someone who is at risk for falling.

“While the tile looks beautiful, and it fits with modern design, it may not be the right design for someone that’s at an advanced age,” he said.


Lighting is another small change that can make a big impact, according to Salter.

“That’s an easy modification if you use a light meter to determine what the total amount of light is. Sometimes it’s as simple as changing a bulb,” he said. “Sometimes we’ll need more bulbs or maybe an addi-tional fixture or even have to paint a wall. If you change the color on a dark wall, that really provides a lot more reflectivity and somebody would be able to see better in those areas.”

A Broader Trend Not Limited to Boomers

While the aging in place movement meets an important need, Shina sees it as part of a larger trend toward the use of universal design, not only for baby boomers but for millen-nials as well.

“The old way that we did things seems to be wasteful, and I think

the mindset, regardless of age, is on efficien-cy, but also quality with artistic elements,” Shina said.

He added that as Windsong joins the trend of urban redevelopment, their homes will evolve into more of a universal design as opposed to strictly active adults.

“If you want to save resources and talk green building, an aging-in-place-designed house is about as good as you can get,” Shina said, “because if that’s the house they buy, that’s the house that serves them for their entire lives.”


FEATURES

Melanie Wise, PBA Staff

in 2016to WatchHome Design Trends

he National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) recently announced

the winners of the Best in American Living Awards (BALA)—a prestigious awards program recognizing excellence in designs that will influence the entire residential building industry.

Award recipients are lauded as the nation’s most creative and inventive builders, remod-elers, architects, developers, land planners and interior designers.

Below are some of the newest trends in home design that buyers through-

out Pennsylvania will see in the coming months and years, based on submissions from this year’s BALA winners. Some of these elements are sure to inspire your next design project.



Intimate Outdoor Spaces.Many single-family custom and production homes include intimate outdoor gathering spaces, complete with outdoor fireplaces or fire pits and cozy seating. These spaces are geared toward smaller gath-erings, instead of the extended family-size backyards of the past.

Mid-Century Modern Detailing.Mid-century modern is now 21st century chic in furniture, ele-vation design and detailing. Particularly in the western United States, this style has become increasingly popular.

Indoor-Outdoor Convergence.What was once a distinct line between two living areas—indoor and outdoor—has been replaced by floor-to-ceiling retractable glass walls and screens. Families can both visually and physically move between these areas.

Troughs & Spouts.Outdoor tables with open, trough-like water channels add interest, often culminating in a delicate waterfall off the edge of the table into a pool or water feature below.

Interior Board & Batten.More often used as exterior cladding, board and batten is now being featured inside a large number of homes as well. This technique adds a three-dimensional layer to interior finishes and provides an interesting alternative to paint and wallpaper.

Copper Bathtubs.These are a popular bathroom feature in several award-winning homes. Copper tubs are a striking addition in any home, from rustic to modern to traditional.

Continued on page 12



White with Exotic or Repurposed Wood Accents.Many winning interiors feature stark, modern white paired with rich wood accents, a striking combination in flooring, ceilings and cabinets.

Modern Industrial Accents.Making its strongest appearance in multifamily projects, this trend combines sleek lighting and furniture with the brick, glass and steel elements of a building’s shell and skel-eton. Vibrant pops of color offset the cooler color palette of metals and whites.

Barn Doors.Barn doors are appearing everywhere, from kitchens to mudrooms to closets. These offer an alternative to traditional left- or right-hung doors and become a design feature of the home, unlike pocket doors that tuck away.

Intricate Stairways.Stairways have become more prominent and sophisticated. Designers increasingly feature curving glass railings, detailed iron newel posts, unique stair accent walls, glass treads and intricate tile work.

Low-Impact Design.Many BALA winners and entrants included sustainable and green features in their designs, including permeable pavers, rain gardens and landscaping with native species.

Waterfall Islands.Still trending are waterfall-edged islands, in which the kitchen bar is inset into the cabinetry rather than extended beyond it. These islands—whether made of wood, granite or marble—emphasize clean, modern lines.



ANGLES

Harvard Study Confirms Remodeling Growth is Anticipated

James E. Gavin, Esq., Masano Bradley

he Home Builders Association of Berks County is pleased to announce that research performed by Harvard University

indicates remodeling is on the rise.

Strongly accelerating growth in home improvement and repair spending is expected heading into 2017, according to the newly re-benchmarked Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity (LIRA) released April 21, 2016 by the Remodeling Futures Program at the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University. The new and improved LIRA projects that home remodeling spending will increase 8.6% by the end of 2016 and then further accelerate to 9.7% by the first quarter of next year.

“Ongoing gains in home prices and sales are encouraging more homeowners to pursue larger-scale improvement projects this year compared to last with permitted projects climbing at a good pace,” says Chris Herbert, Managing Director of the Joint Center.

“On the strength of these gains, the level of annual spending for remodeling and repairs is expected to reach nearly $325 billion nationally by early next year.”

“Our freshly recalibrated indicator now forecasts a broader seg-ment of the national residential remodeling market that includes both improvement and repair activity to the owner-occupied hous-ing stock,” says Abbe Will, a research analyst in the Remodeling Futures Program at the Joint Center. “With this re-benchmarking, the LIRA now more accurately sizes the remodeling market and continues to anticipate major turning points in the spending cycle.”

The Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity (LIRA) provides a short-term outlook of national home improvement and repair spending to owner-occupied homes. The indicator, measured as an annual rate-of-change of its components, is designed to project the annual rate of change in spending for the current quarter and subsequent four quarters, and is intended to help identify future turning points in the business cycle of the home improvement and repair industry. Originally developed in 2007, the LIRA was re-benchmarked in April 2016 to a broader market measure based on the biennial American Housing Survey.

The Remodeling Futures Program, initiated by the Joint Center for Housing Studies in 1995, is a comprehensive study of the factors influencing the growth and changing characteristics of housing renovation and repair activity in the United States. The Program seeks to produce a better understanding of the home improvement industry and its relationship to the broader resi-dential construction industry.

Within the Home Builders Association there is a strong Remodelers Council consisting of many professionals who have ded-icated their businesses to home remodeling. If it is time to remodel, we encourage you to explore our list of competent remodelers.



2016 PARADE OF HOMES

he Home Builders Association of Berks County (HBA) is proud to sponsor the lineup for the 2016 Parade of Homes. The Parade will run over two Saturday – Sunday periods: beginning on

Saturday, June 4th through Sunday, June 5th, and again from Saturday, June 11th through Sunday, June 12th. Homes are open on Saturdays 10 am – 7 pm and on Sundays 12 pm – 5 pm.

It worked so well last year that we’re bringing it back! This year’s Parade will again feature REMODELED HOME ENTRIES along with NEW HOME ENTRIES. Both our exceptional new homebuilders and our incomparable remodelers rose to the occasion with some spectacular creations you will not want to miss.

Come preview the quality construction and superb designs. Take the time to see as many as you can fit into your schedule. Use this Guide to get a brief description of each of the projects. Then, use your GPS or follow the directions to see and touch for yourself the craftsmanship our builders and remodelers have put into each Parade entry.

A special thank you to the corporate sponsors of this year’s Parade—their commitment to the entrants and the HBA has once again made this a FREE event for you to enjoy with your family and friends.

PS: Feel free to sing I LOVE A PARADE! as loud and as often as you would like.

ADDRESS: 17 Castle Drive, Royersford, PA 19468

MARKETING STATEMENT: We have designed and created a classic-vintage period style kitchen with a modern contemporary flair; using a combination of blending different textures, colors and patterns to create “a classic elegance” throughout the kitchen and 1st floor of the home. Materials used were carrera marble countertops, mid-continent cottage style cabinetry, glass herringbone patterned backsplash tile, stained glass pendant lights, brushed nickel hardware and accents, bruce hardwood flooring throughout the 1st floor and custom curtains, valences and roman shades. The colors throughout range from grays and creams to yellows and light blues.

DIRECTIONS: From US-422 East, merge onto US-422 E toward Pottstown. Take the exit toward Limerick. Turn left onto N Lewis Rd. Turn right onto Crown Point Drive (Crown Pointe Drive is 0.1 miles past E Cherry Lane. If you reach Knight Drive, you’ve gone about 0.1 miles too far.) Take the 3rd left onto Castle Drive. The home is on the right.

REMODELED HOME ENTRY

1




ADDRESS: 102 Pennsylvania Avenue, Sinking Spring, PA 19608

MARKETING STATEMENT: A contemporary-vintage classic design that uses nat-ural materials, textures & light colored palettes from pewter grays, whites, & creams to enhance the natu-ral graining within the carrara marble that was used throughout the space from the walls, floors, shower stall, and vanity countertop. Other features include: a Barkley acrylic free-standing pedestal soaking tub displayed under a simonton window, tempered glass shower doors, brushed nickel hardware, a custom made mid-continent 60” x 21” double ceramic bowl vanity cabinet & matching mirrors in pewter gray.

ADDRESS: 2 Beecham Road, Reading, PA 19606(Subdivision – Lakeview at Glen Oley Farms)

MARKETING STATEMENT: This two-story Craftsman Style Home built by Brookside Builders, LLC., boasts 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths. The first floor features a vaulted master suite with large walk-in closets and a spacious master bath with a custom tiled shower; coffered ceiling and hardwood floors in the dining room and vaulted ceiling in the great room! The finished bonus room is a great addition for a growing family and the cus-tom kitchen is a cook’s dream come true! The rear deck features a covered deck with vaulted ceilings.

DIRECTIONS: From Penn Ave/US-422 West/US-422: Turn right onto Penn Ave/US 422 West. Turn right onto Green Valley Road (0.1 miles past Aspen Ave. Citizens Bank is on the corner (If you reach Gaul Rd you’ve gone about 0.1 miles too far). Turn right onto Vermont Avenue, just past Grande Blvd. Turn left onto New York Avenue. New York becomes Pennsylvania Ave. 102 Pennsylvania Avenue is on the left.

DIRECTIONS: From Reading, take Route 422 East, turn left onto Shelbourne Road. Slight right turn onto Oley Turnpike Rd., then right onto Beecham Road. First house on the right.


NEW HOME ENTRY

3

2




ADDRESS: 267 Faust Road, Sinking Spring, PA 19608

MARKETING STATEMENT: Beautiful two-story traditional craftsman-style home with gorgeous accenting front façades and a spacious, yet aesthetically complementing, courtyard garage! Inside you’ll find a spectacular two-toned custom kitchen with fully-integrated appliances and an over-sized vintage pine island. The brushed suede kitchen perimeter was partly designed around the arched integrated panels used to hide the entrance into the walk-in pantry. This house offers 4,000 square feet of very functional space including 4 bedrooms, 31/2 baths, two studies/offices, built-in and eat-in break-fast bar, sunroom, sunk-in family room with stone fireplace and coffered ceiling, and it even has a dog room with bathing arrangements!

DIRECTIONS: From US-222N / US-422E/Conrad Weiser Parkway / Benjamin Franklin Hwy E / Warren St Bypass E via the ramp on the left toward Reading / Allentown. Merge onto US-222N toward Allentown. Take Spring Ridge Drive exit. Turn left onto Spring Ridge Drive. Spring Ridge Drive becomes Van Reed Road. Turn right onto State Hill Road.Take 2nd right onto Faust Road. 267 Faust Road is on the right.

NEW HOME ENTRY

ADDRESS: 1787 Reading Boulevard, Wyomissing, PA 19610

MARKETING STATEMENT: This custom two-story traditional home with Craftsman features is located on Reading Boulevard in the heart of Wyomissing. Beginning with the fully renovated exterior, then taking you inside to a beau-tifully renovated kitchen. The home has a renovated front façade showing off two large reverse gables with full front porch and tapered craftsman columns accented by vertical siding, open cornice soffit sup-ports, board-n-batten shutters, and you can’t miss the carriage style garage door! Inside, the full kitchen includes new custom cabinetry, appliances, flooring, backsplash and countertops. A mixture of material and textures with fully integrated appliances created the functional transitional concept the homeowner was envisioning.

DIRECTIONS: From US-222S merge onto US-422 Bus E / Penn Avenue. Turn right onto Clayton Avenue. Turn right onto Reading Boulevard. 1787 Reading Boulevard is on the right.


4

5




ADDRESS: 125 Blackwood Lane, Douglassville, PA 19518(Blackwood Estates)

MARKETING STATEMENT:Welcome to another home by award winning builder, Hearthstone Homes. Although no award can replace a satisfied customer, we are honored to be a part of the parade for 25 years.This plan is a collaboration of our experience and the client’s ideas. This decorated home captures curb appeal; masonry exterior, unique floor plan, natural light, oversized kitchen, attention to detail.

LET’S BUILD BERKS COUNTY! Visit HearthstoneHomesInc.com or 610.378.4851

ADDRESS: 41 Rino Drive, Fleetwood, PA 19522(Willow Crest Development)

MARKETING STATEMENT:Our beautiful, custom built Arlington Model in our Willow Crest Community contains many upscale features inside as well as on the outside to reveal the ultimate curb appeal. When walking through the front door for the first time, you will be swept away with the porcelain hardwood-looking tile, rounded bullnose, custom arches, upgraded kitchen appliances/cabinets and extended sunroom; these are just a few of the luxurious upgrades this home has to offer. Venturing to the second floor from the dual staircase, the master bedroom/bath offers a little piece of spa paradise so you can unwind and relax after a long day. If Building a New Home is Your Dream, Don’t Dream Big, Dream GRANDE!!!

DIRECTIONS: Rte. 724 East through Birdsboro, 4.1 miles to right on Red Corner Road; left on Hallman Road; right onto Blackwood Lane.

DIRECTIONS: Take US 222 Business S exit toward Larueldale. Keep left at the fork in the ramp. Stay straight onto Park Rd. Turn left onto Pleasant Hill Rd. Take the 1st right onto Crisscross Road. Willow Creek Elementary School is on the left, 41 Rino Drive, Fleetwood, PA is across from the school.

NEW HOME ENTRY

NEW HOME ENTRY

6

7




ADDRESS: 630 Fairmont Avenue, Wernersville, PA 19565

MARKETING STATEMENT: Imperial Contracting Group welcomes you to the peaceful two-story custom home in an atypical private setting of Wernersville. The first floor features hardwood flooring with a unique open floor plan, custom kitchen cabinets with a barn wood toe kick under the breakfast bar, granite countertops, a half bath, and a custom raised panel trim throughout the mudroom. A featured staircase railing leads up to the second floor which hosts 3 bedrooms; a hallway bathroom, and a large spacious laundry room. The Owner’s Suite features a private country bath with dual shower heads and a rain shower. Enjoy the added character of this home from the refurbished front porch beams that came from the abandoned 1800’s log home.

DIRECTIONS: From Reading: Follow US-222 Bus So/US-422 Bus W. Merge onto US-422 W/Conrad WeiserPkwy/Benjamin Franklin Hwy W toward Lebanon. Merge onto US-222 W via the exit on the left toward Allentown. Take the Spring Ridge Drive exit. Turn left onto Spring Ridge Drive. Turn right onto Papermill Rd. Turn left to stay on Papermill Rd. At .20 miles, turn left to stay on Papermill Rd. Turn left onto Rebers Bridge Rd. Rebers Ridge Road becomes Brownville Rd. Turn left onto N. Church Rd. Turn left to stay on N. Church Rd. Take the 3rd right onto Fairmont Ave. 630 Fairmont Avenue is on the right.

NEW HOME ENTRY

8




ADDRESS: 313 Applewood Drive, Douglassville, PA 19518(Glenwood Estates)

MARKETING STATEMENT: The Glenwood Estates community, starting in the $250s, is home to the beautiful Ethan model home. With a stunning English Cottage elevation, this home is ready to impress. When you walk into the home, the private study and formal dining room flank either side of the spacious foyer. Past the center stairs is the large family room with Kennedy gas fire place and the impressive kitchen. The chef inspired Gourmet Kitchen includes stainless steel appliances, granite countertops, tile backsplash and a walk in pantry. Off the Kitchen is a spacious deck, perfect for entertain-ing. Upstairs you will find the Owner’s Suite with the spectacular Venetian bath package which includes a tiled walk in shower, and dual vanities. The second floor also has 3 additional bedrooms, all walk-in closets, a hall bath and convenient laundry room.

DIRECTIONS: From Rte. 422 W, turn right onto Old Airport Rd. From Rte 422 E, make a left onto Old Airport Rd. Follow for approximately 1 mile and make a right on Russell Ave. Make a left on Glenwood Drive and then right on Fair Meadow Drive. Home is on the corner of Fair Meadow Drive and Applewood Drive.

NEW HOME ENTRY

9

ADDRESS: 39 Sweet Birch Lane, Womelsdorf, PA 19567(Stonecroft Village – 55+)

MARKETING STATEMENT:This home offers all the best of one-story living, and is complete with attractive craftsman style exterior details, a security system, and central vac. Lofty 10’ ceilings, hardwood flooring, elegant trim detail, and designer upgrades are featured throughout. The Owner’s Suite boasts a tray ceiling, transom windows, craftsman style wainscoting detail, and a private bathroom with DuraCeramic flooring.

DIRECTIONS: From Reading: US 422 West to Womelsdorf. Turn left on North 3rd St/Rte. 419, turn right onto W. High Street; continue on William Penn Blvd., turn left onto Stonecroft Drive. At traffic circle take first exit onto Sweet Birch Lane. Home is on the left.

NEW HOME ENTRY

10




ADDRESS: 208 Woods Edge Drive, Douglassville, PA 19518

MARKETING STATEMENT: This grand 2-story home with stone, shingle, and siding exterior includes a 2-car side entry garage, welcoming from porch. Lofty ceilings, hardwood flooring, and elegant ceiling and trim detail are featured throughout. The luxurious Owner’s Suite includes a fireplace, walk-in closet, and a private bathroom with a 5' tile shower, double vanity with granite top, and DuraCeramic flooring.

DIRECTIONS: From Reading: Pa-562 East to right on Blacksmith Road, left on Timberline Drive, Right onto Woods Edge Drive.

NEW HOME ENTRY

11




ADDRESS: 126 Reading Boulevard, Wyomissing, PA 19610

MARKETING STATEMENT:For over 30 years, Sal’s Landscaping has provided Berks County and surrounding areas with quality service and customer satisfaction. We provide res-idential and commercial landscaping services and base our designs on your individual needs. We’re proud to be a 2014 Berks County Parade of Homes Winner! Hoping to make 2016 our best year yet. So come out and view our work at this year’s Berks County Parade of Homes.

DIRECTIONS: Take 422 to State Hill Road exit. Head towards Penn Ave. Left on Penn Avenue travel towards Reading. Right turn onto Reading Blvd. House is on the right, one block up.


12



ANGLES

ver the course of my time with the HBA, I’ve learned that there has been a disconnect between the local

Home Builders Association of Berks County, the Reading-Berks Association of Realtors and other like organizations. When did this happen? More importantly, why?

I wish that I had the answers, but I don’t. However, I will say this; I met with the Education Committee at our local Realtors Association. I spoke about PBA and all that they do. During my “presentation” (if we can call it that), I asked if they were interested in having a joint meeting with the HBA of Berks County. After hearing what I had to say, they all agreed that there is a discon-nect and that members would benefit from having a joint meeting.

The HBA of Berks County recently invited Sarah Miller, PBA’s Manager of Public Policy, to come out and speak with our mem-bers and members of the Reading Berks Association of Realtors. Without hesitation, Sarah accepted the invitation. All she asked was that we tell her when and where.

The meeting was a success; it was well-received by all who attended. If a report card were to be issued, Sarah would definitely get an A+. She discussed a variety of topics affecting the building industry. Sarah made the attendees aware that PBA is not taking any of these matters lightly. Both PBA staff and its many volun-teers are hard at work every day fighting for the survival of our members’ bread and butter: the Building Industry.

Members have FREE Access to Industry Professionals! The HBA staff picks the time and place and all members have to do is show up. We don’t need to fill an entire room; we just need a handful of interested members. These members will be quite sur-prised to hear all that PBA is currently working on, in turn, they will spread the word, and they will come back for more.

This is an industry where KNOWLEDGE IS POWER. The more your members know, the better they can protect their businesses.

Isn’t it good to know that someone out there is fighting the battles so your members don’t have to? Someone who has the members’ best interest in mind? Members should be made aware of all the efforts made by PBA staff and PBA’s many volunteers.

I highly recommend that each and every one of you, who haven’t done so already, contact PBA and schedule some time for your members to meet with someone from PBA. Some say, that they don’t see VALUE. Well, here’s one for you, and it’s a FREEBIE!

And that, folks, is my final answer!

Janet Campis, Executive Officer, HBA of Berks County

Please Note: Participation by PBA staff and leadership is dependent upon sched-ule availability and travel commitments. In order to maximize the probability for PBA staff participation, please try to make any request as far in advance as possible. Contact us for more details (717) 730-4380.

What Has PBA Done Lately for Members of HBA of Berks County?

A Message for Other Local Associations Written by HBA Staff


FEATURES

When we hear the term “home comfort,” we primarily think about staying warm in the win-

ter and cool in the summer. But there’s much more to home comfort than indoor air temperature. Several upgrades can create a better living environment for homeown-ers—and enable builders and remodelers to provide more value to their customers.

PROPANE TANKLESS WATER HEATER

A traditional water heater spends ener-gy keeping 40, 50 or even 80 gallons of water hot and ready to use. There’s a more efficient way that costs far less to operate

—and delivers an endless flow of hot water. A propane-powered tankless water heater works only when water is needed. That means there’s no standby heat loss from storing heated water. Other key advantages:

O Energy savings…year after year. Spend less on heating costs every year—almost $200 when compared with an electric hot water heater.

O Delivers far more hot water. Propane-powered tankless water heaters can typically achieve a hot water flow rate that is three times that of the flow rate from electric storage or heat pump water heaters.

O A greener choice. Using a propane tankless water heater cuts CO2 emis-sions in half, compared to standard water tank storage systems powered by electricity or heating oil.

O A space saver. Tankless hot water systems are far more compact than traditional systems, saving roughly 12 square feet of your home’s floor space.

Don’t have propane? No problem. An experienced local provider like E.G. Smith Inc. or Boyertown Oil & Propane can provide hassle-free on-site propane—and explain the advantages of tankless hot water.

WHOLE-HOUSE HUMIDIFIERMost homeowners are familiar with the

benefits of a humidifier—a device that delivers water vapor into a room, reducing static electricity and preventing health problems associated with dry air—like dry nose, itchy eyes or a sore throat. But what homeowners may not realize: they can install a whole-house humidifier that delivers those advantages to every corner of their home.

According to BobVila.com, over time, dry air can damage wood floors, furni-ture; plaster walls…even electronics and musical instruments. With a whole-house humidifier, you deliver the proper amount of humidity evenly throughout your indoor environment, which can help prevent dam-age related to dry air.

That whole house humidifier offers another key advantage. Some viruses thrive in low-humidity environments, which can increase your likelihood of catching the flu, colds, and other respiratory ailments. By

Five Home Comfort Upgrades Homeowners

Should Consider{…and builders should recommend }

Michael DeBerdine, III



maintaining a proper level of moisture in the air, you help prevent these problems from affecting your family.

WHOLE HOUSE AIR CLEANING DEVICES

Our installation teams at E.G. Smith Inc. and Boyertown Oil & Propane have noticed an increase in families in our region inter-ested in improving their indoor air quality. According to the EPA, indoor air pollution (including dust, smoke, gasses from paint and varnish, and more) is among the top five environmental health risks in the United States. In fact, the EPA notes that this type of pollution creates health issues in 8 out of ten American homes. One valuable way to address this risk: control or eliminate the sources of pollutants.

Whole House Filtration Whole house air cleaners are designed to

remove pollutants from indoor air via cap-ture of pollutants, and are often installed in the ductwork of a home’s central heating,

ventilating and air-conditioning (HVAC) system to clean the air in the whole house. Some of the benefits of an air cleaning system include:

Filtration of up to 98% of pollutants

Peak performance all year long

Basic maintenance; usually just an annual filter replacement

Another consideration: a whole-house air cleaner can increase a home’s value by improving air quality, much the same way central air conditioning improves air comfort.

UV LightIndoor air cleaners like the ones described

above are designed to capture or absorb indoor pollutants. Whole-house ultravi-olet (UV) light devices clean indoor air by destroying or neutralizing indoor air pollutant particles. The EPA recommends using UV air cleaning devices in addition to filtration systems.

Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) cleaners use ultraviolet radiation from UV lamps that may destroy biological pollutants such as viruses, bacteria, aller-gens and molds.

Photocatalytic oxidation (PCO) clean-ers use a UV lamp along with a substance called a catalyst that reacts with the light. They are intended to destroy gaseous pol-lutants by converting them into harmless products, but are not designed to remove particulate pollutants.

In addition to the reduction of airborne germs, bacteria, viruses, mold and fungi, the neutralization of pollutants on HVAC equipment helps extend the life of that equipment and maintain its efficiency.

Installing a UV cleaner adds another layout of indoor air protection onto other filtration systems.




OUTDOOR LIVING OPTIONSWhile there are clearly better

ways to deliver comfort indoors, there are also affordable upgrades that enhance a home’s outdoor environment. In fact, outdoor living remains a huge growth category: homeowners want to spend more time—and do more entertaining—out-side. Two of the hottest trends, according to Hardware Retailer magazine: outdoor cooking and fire features.

Beyond the Grill The propane grill has been a patio main-

stay for decades. But today’s homeowners have more choices, including full outdoor kitchens with options like large grilling surfaces, professional grade cooktops, ovens, rotisseries and more. The popularity of outdoor cooking has been fueled—lit-erally—by propane. Propane providers can quickly and easily add propane tanks to any property, and the current cost of propane remains historically low. With an outdoor cooking area, homeown-

ers reduce indoor heat gain during the summer

months and create an inviting space for entertaining.

OUTDOOR HEATING ELEMENTSWith the right heating elements,

homeowners are stretching their out-door living timeframe well into the late fall. Today, they have several options. Floor-standing propane heaters (like those you see at outdoor bistros) can deliver a circle of radiant heat up to 20 feet in diameter. And propane fireplac-es and fire pits can raise the outdoor

air temperature by between 10 and 30 degrees Fahrenheit.

INTERESTED? GET A PROThese home comfort upgrades

offer key advantages for home-owners: greater energy efficiency, improved health, more comfort

and an expanded living environment. But, it should be noted that these projects require professional installation for all but the most accomplished do-it-yourselfer.

If you’re a homeowner, learn more online or get information from a local pro. And, if you’re a builder or contractor, consider adding these upgrades to your repertoire. Demand for these and similar projects will continue for the foreseeable future.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:Michael DeBerdine, III, is president and CEO of the The Rhoads Energy Family of Companies, including Boyertown Oil & Propane and E.G. Smith Inc., in Berks County. Additional information is available at www.boyertownoil.com and www.egsmithinc.com.



ANGLES

Without Wrecking Your Relationship with Your Spouse

John Holohan, Member of the Poconos Builders Association, HBA of Berks Staff

When you’re building a new home in Berks County, a lot of your atten-tion will be focused on the house itself. That’s good, because there

are a lot of details that demand your attention. However, the homebuilding process can also add a little stress to your interpersonal relationships. Some people find that building a home can actually cause a few stress fractures in their relationships.

In fact, it’s a common enough occurrence that it inspired a recent Houzz survey of homeowners in 10 countries (Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Russia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom and the United States) to see if they could identify some of the issues and offer help to relieve stress.

One of the main stress triggers among couples is running into unfulfilled expectations during the homebuilding process. Sometimes that comes about when you and your spouse have differing expectations that have never been expressed.

Here’s something that can help in that situation. Before you even begin looking at floor plans or finishes, each of you should write down your expec-tations: what’s really important to you. To make it specific enough to be helpful, you might want to organize your thoughts by rooms of the house. What are the things that are really important to you for each room? (By the way, you could include areas such as the yard and the garage as well.) Then

prioritize those items under categories such as “Must-Have,” “Nice-to-Have” and “Splurge.” You could create a kind of chart that looks something like this:

Each person should do this independently, then come together and talk about what you have written down. Be as specific as possible about what you want or need. Discuss the budget implications.

After you’ve discussed things adequately, create a new chart that sum-marizes the things you’ve agreed on. Then you can start looking at floor plans to see which ones offer you the basic design that will accomplish your objectives. Then you can sit down with your builder to hammer out the details for making those things happen. More than likely, you’ll want to make changes to the original floor plan. Members of the Home Builders Association of Berks County want to create your perfect home! If you don't like something or would like it to be different, they can fix, adjust or redesign your home floor plan to suit your needs! It’s part of what makes working with a reputable builder worthwhile.

Getting your expectations out in the open—and down on paper—can go a long way in reducing some of the stress of the homebuilding process. Don’t let building a new home take a wrecking ball to your relationship. Work together (and with your builder) to build the home of your dreams!

Room/Area Must-Have Nice-to-Have Splurge

Kitchen

Master Bedroom

Master Bath

Family Room

Laundry

Patio/Deck

Garage

BUILDING A NEW HOME BUILDING A NEW HOME


FEATURES

erks County is full of them—beautiful, old brick homes, stone farmhouses, historical inns, and even renovated barns.

Home owners and contractors alike are lovingly restoring these structures to their historical grandeur, while adding the modern amenities we’ve all come to consider necessities—dishwashers, en suite luxury bathrooms and even media rooms.

But, one modern luxury (or is it a necessity?) is often missing: central air conditioning. The reason: no duct work.

It may be impractical, or even impossible, to retrofit duct work into an old home or building, especially when trying to preserve the original architecture. This often leaves home owners with the impression that central air is simply not an option for them. So, instead, we play the twice-a-year game of lugging big, inefficient and—let’s face it—ugly, window air conditioners down from the attic in the early summer and back up to the attic again in the fall. Otherwise, we will spend all summer roasting in our own homes and doing everything to avoid going to the upper floors for about 4 months each year.

It’s time to stop this madness. It’s time to do what Europe and Asia have been doing for decades. It’s time to go ductless.

Central Air without DuctsDuctless mini-split systems, like the Mitsubishi Intertek, now

allow you to cool your home without any ductwork. They are energy efficient—EnergyStar estimates that these systems can save 30% on your home’s heating and cooling costs.

Oh yeah…did we forget to mention that they will also heat your home? More on that later.

Ductless options range from one-room to multi-room to multi-floor. They offer much more flexibility than a traditional HVAC system, allowing you to heat or cool only certain areas without the complexity of ductwork to contend with; so, they are gener-ally easier to install. For these reasons, ductless systems have been the primary way of providing indoor climate control throughout Europe and Asia for decades now.

While the cost of a ductless mini-split system may seem high-er than a traditional central air system, the cost may actually run about 25% less when considering the additional cost of retrofitting ductwork into an existing system. Your investment really depends on what you are looking to accomplish. A reputable HVAC con-tractor will visit your home or building to get a good feel for the

No Duct Work?

Angela DeLong

No Problem!



exact details of the proposed job. They will be able to provide you with several options to meet your goals and fit your budget.

Heating with Ductless SystemsOwners of older homes are also likely to have an inefficient

heating system—usually an oil burning furnace—and are quite often outside of the natural gas utility’s footprint, making con-versions to alternative fuels difficult. For these folks, the ductless system can provide relief in the winter months, too. Just turn it on for instantly warm air—no more waiting for radiators to warm up.

You can choose to heat your whole home or building with the mini-splits, which are powered by electricity. If you are interest-ed in this option, make sure you inform your HVAC contractor, so that you can purchase a system that will adequately heat the whole building.

Another option is simply to use the ductless system as auxiliary heat—turning it on only in the rooms that are in use to provide a little extra warmth. Then, you can turn down the main system’s thermostat to keep your heating costs down. And, when you are running low on oil and want to conserve those last few gallons until your next delivery, you can always rely on the ductless system.

Ductless as a Solution to Other ProblemsDuctless systems have a wide range of other applications. Many

consumers have chosen mini-split systems to heat or cool that oddball section of their home or building—a sunroom, attic, or garage—or a new addition to the building that cannot easily be tied into the existing HVAC system. Sometimes, a one-room mini-split system is the perfect solution for that one area of the building that always seems to be too hot or too cool.

Ductless systems can also be the perfect solution for homes that simply do not have the space for a traditional central heating and air conditioning system. Homes without basements, such as mobile or modular homes, can benefit greatly from this technology. Recent trends have shown many people looking to install these systems in their shore homes.

Many businesses are also choosing a ductless solution for multi-room living spaces. In these instances, business owners, churches, or non-profits often have rooms that are used at irregular intervals

—maybe only on weekends during church services, or in dorms that are used only during special events. If those circumstances dictate that just some of the rooms will need to be heated or cooled just some of the time, a ductless solution may make the most sense. It




CASE STUDY:

Mariawald Renewal Center

When Dave Strick at TradeMasters Contracting was considering HVAC solutions for the Mariawald Renewal Center in Shillington, PA, he had many factors to consider. This 40-year-old, ductless building was being renovated for spiritual retreats for up to 48 guests at a time. But, most of the dormitory rooms would be vacant a good portion of the time, with the exception of just a few offices on the first floor.

The center is a non-profit, run by the Sisters of the Precious Blood Convent on the same property. As such, it was imperative that any new system would help to control heating and cooling costs for years to come.

Dave and his son, David Jr., did some research and contacted UGI Heating, Cooling & Plumbing to determine the best solution for the facility. The team decided that a mini-split option was the way to go. This choice not only pre-vented the costly installation of ductwork, but the high efficiency ratings would mean lower monthly utility bills, too. Plus, the ability to adjust the thermo-stats in each individual room not only added convenience for the guests, but additional savings on the electric bill. All of these cost-saving measures were exactly what the non-profit needed. UGI is now working with the Convent to determine if there are any additional utility rebates for which they can apply.

Over the course of the 6-week project, TradeMasters and UGI Heating, Cooling & Plumbing installed 16 Mitsubishi Intertek outdoor units, connect-ing to 34 indoor heads. All refrigerant and electrical lines were hidden within outdoor conduits color-matched to the existing siding. Each interior room was fitted with a wall mounted head unit connected to its own wireless thermostat.

For this facility, the ductless mini-split was the best solution, providing cost-savings on both the installation and the monthly maintenance.

If your home or business is looking for an alternative to retrofitting ductwork, a way to save space, an alternative heat source, or added efficiency and savings, it may be worth your time to look into a mini-split option. Contact a reputable HVAC contractor and ask for a free, in-home consultation to discuss the many options available for your unique situation.

allows for the heat or air to be turned on only when needed, and only where needed. The mini-split system also allows each room’s occupant to set the temperature to his or her own preference.

How Does It Work?So how, exactly, does a ductless mini-split system work? Each

system has a condensing unit on the outside of the building. The compressor—the heart of the condenser—uses inverter technol-ogy. The compressor adjusts to the load on the inside of the home to run at whatever speed is needed to keep the area comfortable

—that is where the real energy savings come in.

Each outdoor unit then connects to up to eight indoor units. The most common residential installation would have one out-door unit connected to one to three indoor heads. Each of these indoor units then can be controlled by a conventional thermostat or a remote handheld unit, allowing for separate climate control in each of the individual zones.

The indoor selections can be wall mounted, floor mounted, or recessed for drop ceiling applications. There are also air handler options for retrofitting conventional heat pump installations.



Rebates for High EfficiencySince these systems have no duct work, there is

zero duct loss, making mini-split systems extremely efficient with ratings as high as 26 SEER. Not only does this add up to big savings on your energy bills; but, because of these high ratings, most mini-split installations qualify for rebates offered by the local electric utility companies. An experienced HVAC installer or general contractor should be able to assist you with choosing qualifying models and obtaining these rebates.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:Angela DeLong is Marketing Manager for UGI Heating, Cooling and Plumbing and for UGI Energy Services, both headquartered in Wyomissing, PA. UGI offers sales, service, and installation of many HVAC systems, including duct-less solutions. For more information visit www.UGIHVAC.com. Contact Angela at [email protected] or by phone at (610) 743-7008.


FEATURES

he Departments of Justice and Labor recently announced a plan to increase criminal prosecutions of safety violations that affect workers.

Under the Worker Endangerment Initiative, the Justice Department and the U.S. Attorneys’ Office will work more closely with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and other federal agencies to investigate and prosecute worker safety violations.

JUSTICE DEPARTMENT INCREASES CRIMINAL ENFORCMENT OF WORKER SAFETY VIOLATIONS

Per a Memorandum of Understanding between the agencies, criminal violations under the Occupational Safety and Health Act will be combined with environmental crimes (e.g., asbestos violations) or other federal offenses (e.g., making false statements) that occur during the course of an OSHA investigation.

According to legal experts, bundling the violations allows the federal government greater opportunity to more effectively punish and deter workplace safety offenses.

Currently, criminal penalties under the OSH Act are relative-ly limited with imprisonment capped at six months and fines at $10,000. However, a number of environmental crimes and other federal offenses are considered felonies; being prosecuted for these, in addition to an OSHA criminal penalty, could mean hefty jail time and millions of dollars in fines.

Also, usually in OSHA criminal cases, it’s the corporation not the individual managers or supervisors who are being prosecut-ed for OSHA criminal offenses. The Worker Endangerment Initiative makes it easier for the government to charge individu-als for specific crimes.

Legal experts have said that whether or not the new initiative actually leads to increased criminal enforcement for safety viola-tions is still up in the air. Some predict that criminal prosecutions will continue to be reserved for the worst safety cases.

Either way, employers should be mindful that criminal prosecu-tion is a possibility whenever serious safety and health violations are being investigated by OSHA.

What Employers Can DoThese simple, proactive steps could help improve the health and

safety of your workplace, and prevent you and your employees from facing millions in fines and possible jail time. Reevaluate safety and health programs and

correct any issues and inadequacies.

Develop and strengthen employee safety training programs.

Consider doing a health and safety audit of your job sites.

Filed in Labor, Safety & Health in March 2016Provided to you by the National Association of Home Builders



MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

Second to none in their quest for perfection, Folino Homes, Inc. pride themselves on their dedication

to maintaining the high standards of excellence that have earned them the reputation as one of the area’s premier home builders. Our president, Marco Folino,

began his building career more than 10 years ago while working with his father Rodolfo Folino and Folino and

Sons Construction, enabling him to learn how to build a quality home at a young age. Mr. Folino has had a hand in some of Reading’s most noted developments, such as Exeter Golf Course Estates, Longvue Estates, Muhlenberg

Park, Wellington Down, Ridgecrest Estates, Overlook Woods and Valley View Estates, just to name a few.

Contact Folino Homes, Inc. (484) 575-8352


FEATURES

Home buying season has officially begun! With that in mind, here is some insight to starting the process of purchasing a home.

Renting vs. BuyingDid you know, in many cases your mortgage payment could be

cheaper than paying rent? Today many people, especially of the younger generation, do not realize they could be in a position to purchase a home—so they become renters. Why? There is a lack of knowledge and education around home buying.

Consulting with a mortgage representative will help answer questions and provide guidance. In fact, many potential buyers are able to make monthly mortgage payments, however, they fear not having enough money for a down payment. This is discour-aging for a potential homebuyer, preventing them from looking into their options. Contact a mortgage representative and see if buying a home is right for you.

First-time Home BuyersContrary to what you may have heard, the mortgage industry

has many options available for first-time home buyers. There are products that allow for little or no money down, which could include a reduced monthly mortgage insurance premium. The buying process can be daunting, so make sure you consult with a mortgage representative.

Choosing the Right LenderThe first step in the home buying process is choosing a repu-

table lender to navigate this complex process. Be sure to choose a lender who is communicative and willing to work with you to find the right product/program that fits your needs.

This is an exciting time for you and your family; the right lender will help to alleviate the stress associated with the home buying process. After you have selected your lender and prior to shopping for your new home, they will discuss product options and begin the qualification process.

Product OptionsThere are many options available to help you purchase a home.

For example, products such as USDA, FHA, VA, and PHFA allow a buyer to put little or no money down. They may also allow for the seller to pay all or a portion of the closing costs.

Each transaction is different, so make sure you have a capable lender whom will outline the options for rate, terms, qualification, cost and cash needed.

Your Part in the ProcessWhile your lender carries the bulk of the work, you will be asked

for a wealth of information and need to be prepared to follow the instructions regarding information requested by your mortgage lender. Your cooperation as the home buyer will aid in making the process a smooth one.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:Kathleen A. Godio is the Director of Sales & Marketing for BB&T Home Mortgage, an Equal Housing Lender. She has been in the mortgage industry for 35 years and brings her wealth of knowledge to her staff. She provides product training, marketing, insight on planning and implementing sales strategies. To contact Kathleen you can email her at [email protected].

Ready to Buy

a Home?Kathleen A. Godio, SVP



WHAT PROOF DO YOU NEED?

You should begin locating, assembling, and either copying or scanning information that many lenders ask to see during the loan approval process. You MAY need to provide:

Personal Federal Income Taxes (and Business, if self-employed) for the last 3 years

Checking and/or Savings Account Statements for the last 6 months

Proof of other sources of income

Fully Executed Sales Agreement with all addenda for home you choose

W-2 Wage and Tax Statements for all jobs of all applicants

Most Recent two Pay Stubs for all jobs of all applicants

Current Mortgage/Home Equity Statements on all loans

Statements for all assets listed on application (checking, savings, stocks, IRA, 401(k))

Home Owner’s Insurance Policy Declarations Page

Condo/ Home Owners Association documents (if applicable)

Most Recent Property Tax Bill



2016 Upcoming Events…

Membership happenings

JUN2

JUN4-5

JUN9

JUl12-16

JUN15

JUl20

JUN22

JUl21-23

welcome new members

Parade of Homes GalaFolino Estate Vineyard & Winery, Kutztown6:00 pm – 10:00 pm

2016 Parade of Homes Berks County (also held June 11-12)Sat: 10:00 am – 7:00 pm Sun: 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm

FREE Networking Event Sponsored by Kieffer’s Appliances (All Members are Welcome)Kieffer’s Appliance, Landsdale5:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Association Leadership InstituteSan Antonio, TexasAll Day

RHF Candidate AnnouncementTBD6:00 pm

Lobsterfest (All Members are Welcome)Fish Pond West, Reading5:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Southeast Regional Meeting(All Members are Welcome)HBA of Bucks & Montgomery, Fort Washington3:00 pm – 4:30 pm

PBA Summer Regional Meeting(All Members are Welcome)Nittany Lion Inn, State CollegeAll Day

Verizon WirelessDavid Becker 968 Postal Road, Allentown, PA 18109PH: (716) 544-5080

Sponsor: James E. Gavin, Esquire

Weinstein SupplyChelsea Jordon440 North 3rd Street, Reading, PA 19601PH: (610) 376-7116Sponsor: D&B Elite, Brennan Reichenbach

Pella Window & Door CompanyShawn Overley896 H Plaza Boulevard, Lancaster, PA 17601PH: (717) 391-0106Sponsor: James E. Gavin, Esquire

JM Contracting, LLC.Joe Moise6083 Old Route 22, Bernville, PA 19506PH: (610) 763-5725

Sponsor: James E. Gavin, Esquire

Quality Plumbing Solutions, LLC.Amandon Carles449 Ziegler Road, Leesport, PA 19533PH: (610) 926-0614Sponsor: Larry Kehres



Geoff Penske Buick GMC Contact: Victor Popescu 610.777.1300GM AFFINITY PROGRAM & PARTNERSHIP WITH HBA (Call Victor for more details on how you can save)

Berks TransferContact: Joan Campbell 610.926.7626 x 305$50 OFF 1ST CAN ORDER TO NEW CUSTOMERS

Aluminum Associates / Sloan CorporationContact: Kert E. Sloan 610.921.22015% DISCOUNT ON ALL SERVICES

Martin’s Flooring, Inc.Contact: Richie Zook 877.445.7799FREE INTERIOR DESIGN & SPECIAL HBA CONTRACTOR PRICING(Ask about our contractor referral program)

Member 2 Member Discount ProgramAs one of the many benefits of membership in the Home Builders

Association of Berks County (HBA), the following members are offering the discounts listed to HBA members only.

If you would like to join the HBA or offer a Member 2 Member Discount, contact the HBA office: 610.777.8889.

Thank You to these Renewing Members of the HBA of Berks County!

26-30 Years

Holt’s Remodeling Reading Box Co., Inc.

21-25 Years

Aluminum Building Products Tompkins VIST Bank Omega Builders, LTD.

16-20 Years UGI Utilities, Inc. Reading Muhlenberg Career

& Technical Center Roland Stock, LLC. Grande Construction Reading Eagle Company GMI First, Inc. Stackhouse Bensinger, Inc.

11-15 Years Bursich Associates Kolakowaski Quality Painting Landmark Homes

6-10 Years Zee Medical Service Company Turnberry Custom Homes Stoney Creek Rentals Folino Homes, Inc. James A. Turner Co. Morgan Enterprises Telco, Inc.

2-5 Years Down to Earth Landscaping Fleetwood Bank Mohn’s Drywall East Penn Energy Solutions Hoffmann Publishing Group, Inc. Henry R. Sharman, Inc. All Green Lawn & Tree Care, Inc. ReMax of Reading – Kent Wrobel D& B Construction Group Lehigh Valley Contractors Association UGI HAC Enterprises, Inc. Sal’s Landscaping & Lawn Care, Inc.

Membership happenings

2016 Foundation Club Members:

These members understand the important role legislation plays in their businesses and the importance of electing and sup-

porting legislators who are sensitive to the issues affecting the building industry.

Call the HBA office at 610.777.8889 to learn how to become a member

of the FOUNDATION CLUB.

Bruce RadarBerks Surveying & Engineering

James E. Gavin, EsquireMasano Bradley

Larry KehresL A Kehres Building & Remodeling

Brad KehresL A Kehres Building & Remodeling

Kert SloanAluminum Associates/Sloan Corp.

Cathy SloanHartman’s Home Improvement

Deborah KearseKohl Building Products

Tom KearseKohl Building Products

Bryan MollB&G Glass

Bob HoltHolt’s Remodeling

Joseph J. Witkowski, Jr.Herbein & Company

Walter GrethGreth Homes

Steve BrightEJB Paving & Materials Co.

Gregory R. EshbachMalsnee Tile & Stone

Patrick J. DolanDolan Construction, Inc.

John NewtonGreth Homes

Kevin KozoTurnberry Custom Homes

John & Julie SchmoyerFulton Mortgage Company

Thank you for the continued support of the HBA of Berks County legislative efforts!


ANGLES

he decision to repair or replace an air-conditioning system is not always an easy one to make. Even if your system has stopped working, it may not mean it is beyond repair. If you are on the fence about what to do, take time to consider your responses to the following questions:

How old is your system? Most experts in the heating and cooling industry agree that an air-conditioning system reaches the end of its life somewhere between 12 and 15 years. Many advanc-es in cooling technology have occurred during the last 12 years, so replacing an older unit will likely result in important benefits, among them lower energy bills as the result of improved efficiencies.

Have your energy bills increased in recent years? An aging system tends to be less efficient and draw more power than a new system, making it more expensive to operate. You can check the efficiency of your air conditioner by knowing its seasonal energy efficiency rating (SEER). Generally speaking, a higher SEER means increased efficiency and reduced operating costs. Today’s new air-conditioning systems are more than 50 percent more efficient than systems manufactured 10 years ago.

How frequently are you calling a technician to repair your unit? If repairs are required more frequently and cost more, maybe it’s time to consider a new cooling system. The money you save in repairs will help offset the cost of a new system, as will improved operating efficiencies.

What types of repairs are you facing? Sometimes it’s not the frequency of the repair that matters as much as the magnitude of the repair. If the cost of repairing your system is more than half the installed price of a new system, it’s usually more cost effective to go with a replacement. It’s also important to note that replacing some of the components in your system may result in a mismatched system, which can decrease system efficiency, compromise your comfort and shorten the life span of the compressor. In any case, a cooling professional can tell you

whether replacing a part will solve a problem, or if it makes sense to replace the entire system.

Does your system turn on and off frequently? A system that turns on and off frequently or one that seems to be running all the time may not be properly sized for your home. In either case, the consequences could be costly, in terms of discomfort, high energy bills and humidity problems, and difficult to correct. By conducting a load analysis of your home, an air-conditioning professional can determine the size you need and recommend replacing your system if it is significantly over- or under-sized.

Is your system especially noisy? Excessive noise could signal your system is working too hard to keep up with the cooling demands of your home. Loud noises accompanied by a reduction in the amount of cooling may indicate a problem with the com-pressor, while a grinding sound might be the result of bearings in the fan motor that need to be replaced or lubricated.

Are you experiencing inconsistent temperatures throughout your home? Hot and cold spots in your home may indicate you need to upgrade your cooling system with a new unit. However, be sure to check your ductwork and insulation, as these, too, may result in temperature inconsistencies.

How long do you plan to stay in your home? If you are planning to move, your real estate agent can advise you as to whether it makes sense to repair or replace your system.

In addition to considering these questions, it’s also a good idea to invite a comfort consultant to assess your system in terms of performance, efficiency and comfort. He or she can explain the benefits of a new system as you make a decision regarding repairing or replacing your current system. And if you decide to replace it, your comfort consultant can also conduct a load calculation and use those findings to help you select the system that best meets your needs.

Should You

Submitted by Johnson Controls Unitary Products

or

Your Air-Conditioning System?

Repair Replace

at home in berks, june 2016

Documents