1st Choice Home Improvements had the pleasure of custom building an Azek composite deck in Dorchester, MA. Please view the photos below:

If you are looking for a custom deck builder in Massachusetts, then please call one of our owners, Richard Russell at 508.801.3482 or Paul Nee at 508.801.3725 or complete our online request form and someone will call you back.

1st Choice Home Improvements is pleased to be providing the best in remodeling and home improvement projects in Marshfield, Massachusetts. We service the entire area, including the following zip codes.

Our years of experience in providing remodeling in Marshfield, has afforded us the opportunity to personally know most of the building inspectors in Massachusetts. Your project won’t get stalled by not passing inspection, We know how to work with building inspectors and what they look for and provide only the best products and customer service.

If you are looking for a Marshfield remodeling contractor, then please call one of our owners, Richard Russell at 508.801.3482 or Paul Nee at 508.801.3725 or complete our online request form and someone will call you back.

When making the decision to purchase vinyl or non-vinyl replacement windows, Massachusetts homeowners can be faced with quite the tough decision. This is because there are several factors that go into making such a major purchase for your South Shore area home. You have to take things such as color, efficiency, design, and your budget into consideration. You must find the right style and the right material so that your needs and the needs of your Massachusetts home are met.

Benefits of Vinyl Replacement Windows

There are quite a few benefits of vinyl replacement windows. Those benefits are:

Vinyl windows in MA are made primarily from polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a product that offers many advantages. Unfortunately, it often looks chunkier than wood or metal windows because vinyl isn’t strong enough to be made into ultra-thin parts. The other problem is that the texture is unmistakably plastic. On the other hand, except for washing the glass, vinyl windows are virtually maintenance free. You can’t paint them, but you can get them in a number of different colors. What’s more, the color goes all the way through the material, so dings and scratches are nearly impossible to see.

If you are looking for vinyl replacement windows in Massachusetts, then please call one of our owners, Richard Russell at 508.801.3482 or Paul Nee at 508.801.3725 or complete our online request form and someone will call you back.

FHA 203k LOANS FOR HOME REMODELING IN MASSACHUSETTS

The Federal Housing Administration (FHA), which is part of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), administers various single family mortgage insurance programs. The Section 203(k) program is the Department’s primary program for the rehabilitation and repair of single family properties.

What is different about this loan?

Most mortgage financing plans provide only permanent financing. That is, the lender will not usually close the loan and release the mortgage proceeds unless the condition and value of the property provide adequate loan security. When rehabilitation is involved, this means that a lender typically requires the improvements to be finished before a long-term mortgage is made.

When a homebuyer wants to purchase a house in need of repair or modernization, the homebuyer usually has to obtain financing first to purchase the dwelling; additional financing to do the rehabilitation construction; and a permanent mortgage when the work is completed to pay off the interim loans with a permanent mortgage. Often the interim financing (the acquisition and construction loans) involves relatively high interest rates and short amortization periods. The Section 203(k) program was designed to address this situation. The borrower can get just one mortgage loan, at a long-term fixed (or adjustable) rate, to finance both the acquisition and the rehabilitation of the property. To provide funds for the rehabilitation, the mortgage amount is based on the projected value of the property with the work completed, taking into account the cost of the work. To minimize the risk to the mortgage lender, the mortgage loan (the maximum allowable amount) is eligible for endorsement by HUD as soon as the mortgage proceeds are disbursed and a rehabilitation escrow account is established. At this point the lender has a fully-insured mortgage loan.

What properties are eligible?

To be eligible, the property must be a one- to four-family dwelling that has been completed for at least one year. The number of units on the site must be acceptable according to the provisions of local zoning requirements. All newly constructed units must be attached to the existing dwelling. Cooperative units are not eligible.

Homes that have been demolished, or will be razed as part of the rehabilitation work, are eligible provided some of the existing foundation system remains in place.

In addition to typical home rehabilitation projects, this program can be used to convert a one-family dwelling to a two-, three-, or four-family dwelling. An existing multi-unit dwelling could be decreased to a one- to four-family unit.

An existing house (or modular unit) on another site can be moved onto the mortgaged property; however, release of loan proceeds for the existing structure on the non-mortgaged property is not allowed until the new foundation has been properly inspected and the dwelling has been properly placed and secured to the new foundation.

A 203(k) mortgage may be originated on a “mixed use” residential property provided: (1) The property has no greater than 25 percent (for a one story building); 33 percent (for a three story building); and 49 percent (for a two story building) of its floor area used for commercial (storefront) purposes; (2) the commercial use will not affect the health and safety of the occupants of the residential property; and (3) the rehabilitation funds will only be used for the residential functions of the dwelling and areas used to access the residential part of the property.

The Department also permits Section 203(k) mortgages to be used for individual units in condominium projects that have been approved by FHA, the Department of Veterans Affairs, or are acceptable to FNMA under the guidelines listed below.

The 203(k) program was not intended to be a project mortgage insurance program, as large scale development has considerably more risk than individual single-family mortgage insurance. Therefore, condominium rehabilitation is subject to the following conditions:

• Owner/occupant and qualified non-profit borrowers only; no investors
• Rehabilitation is limited only to the interior of the unit. Mortgage proceeds are not to be used for the rehabilitation of exteriors or other areas which are the responsibility of the condominium association, except for the installation of firewalls in the attic for the unit
• Only the lesser of five units per condominium association, or 25 percent of the total number of units, can be undergoing rehabilitation at any one time
• The maximum mortgage amount cannot exceed 100 percent of after-improved value.

After rehabilitation is complete, the individual buildings within the condominium must not contain more than four units. By law, Section 203(k) can only be used to rehabilitate units in one-to-four unit structures. However, this does not mean that the condominium project, as a whole, can only have four units or that all individual structures must be detached.

Example: A project might consist of six buildings each containing four units, for a total of 24 units in the project and, thus, be eligible for Section 203(k). Likewise, a project could contain a row of more than four attached townhouses and be eligible for Section 203(k) because HUD considers each townhouse as one structure, provided each unit is separated by a 1 1/2 hour firewall (from foundation up to the roof).

Similar to a project with a condominium unit with a mortgage insured under Section 234(c) of the National Housing Act, the condominium project must be approved by HUD prior to the closing of any individual mortgages on the condominium units.

*The information on this page has been taken from the HUD website. We recommend you visit this site for additional information.

1st Choice Home Improvement Associates is an Approved EnergyLoan Contractor Dealer. Homeowners can now save on replacement windows at the same time lowering their energy bills

Our EnergyLoan financing is available to Massachusetts homeowners for improvements that are recognized as energy efficient. Some of the features of the Special EnergyLoan are:

High-Returns with Low-Interest Energy Loans from Keystone HELP

Keystone Home Energy Loan Program (HELP) is offering low-interest energy loans through AFC First Financial for most EnergyStar & other energy-efficient home improvements. 1st Choice Home Improvement Associates was selected as an approved AFC First Financial Energy Loan Contractor because of our high quality work, commitment to customer service, our company’s stability and our personal integrity.

Adding a den to your Foxboro, Massachusetts home can add value to your Massachusetts home and provide very versatile living space for your family. A den can offer a cozy family space or a quiet retreat. No matter how your family chooses to use the space, it will be a welcome addition to your house.

The first decision you will need to make is how and where you will add the den. Will you convert existing space, finish unused space, or build an addition? You can convert an unused room to a den fairly easily and quickly. You can also finish attic space or space in the basement. Finishing these spaces offers both challenges and opportunities you will want to consider carefully.

Building an addition to your Foxboro area home, you will also need to consider building and zoning laws and codes. You will need to check on required setback from the property line. The most important consideration is how and where the new addition will join the existing structure and what kind of changes in the existing floor plan will be needed.

One very popular way to add a den is to extend the end of the kitchen. If you plan to use the den as a family gathering place, this can be a great choice because it makes the kitchen the point of access to the den. Whether you make the den completely open to the kitchen or you only use a standard door to connect the rooms, you will also need to think about how you will build the den in this particular location.

Wherever you add to your home, there are some important considerations:
• What is the grade of the land?
• What kind of foundation will you build?
• Can you match the exterior material with the rest of the house?
• How will the roof of the addition connect with the rest of the roof?
• How will you connect to the heating and cooling system?
• Will you include a fireplace?

From these basic questions and considerations you will have great latitude in planning the design aspects of your new room. You will be able to create a room that sets a mood for any type of use.

If you are looking for a professional Foxboro remodeling contractor, please please call us today at 508-801-3482 or complete our online request form

SAVE UP TO 40% ON HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING BILLS – Whether you are just looking to replace your existing windows or if you are looking for that exclusive and beautiful appearance and a change of pace that you have been thinking about for sometime. NOW is the right time. Replacement windows availability and PRICES have never been better.

Features of our Harvey® Replacement Window line include:

If you are looking for replacement windows in Massachusetts, then please call one of our owners, Richard Russell at 508.801.3482 or Paul Nee at 508.801.3725 or complete our online request form and someone will call you back.

Decks are no longer simple rectangles located at the rear of a home. Homeowners are utilizing three basic deck design elements in creating outdoor living spaces that will meet the needs and tastes of their occupants.

The ideal deck should not blend completely in with the house but at the same time it should not be shockingly different. Three elements to consider when designing a deck to match with a house and yard are mass, shape and color.

A deck’s visual mass is not just a function of its actual size. Constructing a deck low to the ground or utilizing railings that are low or not too heavy looking will enable the deck to recede and appear smaller. Allowing large beams to be visible, using thicker or more ornate railings as well as using wide facing boards will work to make the deck appear more massive.

In order to make the house to which the deck is attached seem less massive, plant trees or tall shrubs beside it. To increase the area of the deck without causing it to look too large for the home, plan it in such a way as to hug the house rather than just project out into the yard. The wraparound deck is an excellent choice for wrapping the deck around one or more corners making the deck seem to be an intregal part of the house rather than a solitary structure.

The shape that is chosen for the deck should be in harmony with the lines of the home. The deck alignment should be more horizontal than vertical.

Consider the overall shape of the house. An L-shaped deck can mirror that of the home. A plain looking home can be enhanced with a boldly shaped deck while a house with a confusing shape can benefit from a more simple deck shape.

Perhaps it’s time to consider a deck that is uniquely different such as one that incorporates a tree, is an island deck or even a peninsula deck.

In terms of color the traditional approach is to stain a deck to a redwood or cedar color or allow the deck to weather to its natural grey. However it might be more meaningful to consider applying a semitransparent or solid opaque stain to the deck. The advantage is twofold. The pigments in the stain will help to protect the wood from the sun’s damaging utraviolet rays. But more importantly it is possible to obtain the desired color and look that will go best with the house.

In the end, the application of these three basic deck design elements will go a long way to assisting Massachusetts homeowners with the creation of deck designs that will fulfill their desires and tastes.

If you are looking for a South Shore deck contractor, please call us today at 508-801-3482 or complete our online request form

When it comes to replacement windows and home remodeling for your Massachusetts home, some say to expect the best but prepare for the worst. At 1st Choice Home Improvement Associates, we believe you can insure your remodeling process will run as smoothly as possible.

Every year, we successfully perform numerous remodeling projects for homeowners in the South Shore area. That’s why our owners are experienced and know how to get it done right. Your first step is to schedule a free consultation. We specialize in any remodeling needs you may have.

When you engage us, you can rest assured that you are working with an established, local remodeling company that is licensed and insured, and that has earned the remodeling industry’s respect and community recognition.

From groundwork to the finish work, 1st Choice Home Improvement Associates will customize your home remodeling project to fit your needs. Our owner works closely with you to ensure that from conception to completion a homeowners dreams become reality.

If you are looking for a South Shore remodeling contractor, then please call one of our owners, Richard Russell at 508.801.3482 or Paul Nee at 508.801.3725 or complete our online request form and someone will call you back.

Harvey vinyl replacement windows are known for their beauty, energy efficiency, reliability, unsurpassed performance and numerous design options. Engineered to last, Harvey vinyl replacement windows feature multi-chamber construction, 100% virgin vinyl for a true white color, top-of-the-line block and tackle balances which never need adjustment, and the convenience of tilt-in sashes.

TRIBUTE WINDOW

You want a great looking window that reflects all the care, style and pride you put into your home. You also want a window designed to fit your needs. Only Harvey, with a 45+ year heritage of crafting high quality, innovative windows for the Northeast, could bring you a vinyl window that gives you both – Tribute: superior engineering and stunning good looks.

The Tribute window incorporates all the valuable qualities of Harvey vinyl windows and adds enhancements like standard double Low-E/Argon for outstanding thermal performance, a revolutionary dual-acting lock/tilt latch for increased convenience, and an easy-cleaning glass system that makes it virtually maintenance free. For the ultimate in energy-efficiency, add our optional High Performance Package with triple glazing and enhanced UV protection.

Tribute windows are available in a variety of window styles, including: double hung, casement, awning, picture, hopper, rolling and designer shape windows.

If you are looking for a harvey vinyl window in Massachusetts, then please call one of our owners, Richard Russell at 508.801.3482 or Paul Nee at 508.801.3725 or complete our online request form and someone will call you back.