Going For High-Impact
Eager homeowners are pacing themselves and undertaking just one remodeling project at a time

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. May 30, 2007 — Location, location, location is still the top criteria for most of today’s homebuyers. According to many real estate experts, buyers generally select town first, neighborhood second and house third – meaning a good number of buyers opt for homes that are in their desired neighborhoods, but don’t necessarily include everything on their wish lists.

These buyers, who love the neighborhood but hate the house, ultimately embark on remodeling projects that transform their houses to meet their needs over time.

By all accounts, remodeling is expected to boom in 2007. Given that 2005 was a record year for existing home sales according to the National Association of Realtors, and that remodeling projects usually fall 12 to 18 months after the purchase of a house, homeowners are anxious to start making their new home their own.

However, changing economic factors such as higher interest rates and rising consumer goods prices, are expected to curb consumers’ appetites for multiple home improvement projects. According to results of “The Perfect Home” survey, a new study by an independent research firm commissioned by JELD-WEN, the largest percentage of respondents indicated they are planning just one remodeling project in the next few years.

As a result, companies like JELD-WEN, the world’s leading manufacturer of reliable windows and doors, are seeing a move toward “impact remodeling,” when homeowners undertake one project at a time that makes a dramatic difference.

“With today’s current economy, homeowners are pacing themselves when planning their remodeling activity and selecting one project at a time,” said Teri Cline, JELD-WEN corporate communications manager. “The biggest decision we see homeowners facing is choosing a project to take on first that offers the best value.”

Here are a few “impact” remodeling projects JELD-WEN sees homeowners leaning toward for the coming year.

Starting with curb appeal

The housing inventory in the United States is more than 32 years old on average, according to Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies. This means many homes transitioning to new owners are in dire need of makeovers to boost curb appeal and keep up with the rest of the neighborhood.

A welcoming front entry is a popular place to start a curb appeal update, as most homeowners are not attached to the current selection. According to results of “The Perfect Home” survey, only 34 percent of respondents selected their own front door, and 58 percent said they would have chosen a different style given the chance. Today, front door choices are endless and range from the high style of real wood to alternative products, like fiberglass, that mimic the look of wood and offer low maintenance and energy efficiency benefits.

“By starting with a front door entry makeover as their impact remodeling project for 2007, homeowners can easily add complementary features such as door hardware, matching shutters and other decorative elements that together make a dramatic change in appearance,” said Shane Meisel, a door expert with JELD-WEN.

JELD-WEN has seen an increased demand for its award-winning IWP®  Aurora™   Custom Fiberglass front doors from homeowners who want the look of real wood without the required maintenance. Available in four collections and 19 prefinished color choices, IWP Aurora doors are patterned after actual wood doors and even duplicate fine wood features such as knots and grain. In addition, they are durable, energy efficient, and offer elegant beauty and curb appeal for years to come. Homeowners can further customize their doors with decorative glass, grilles, straps, clavos, speakeasies, a traditional Craftsman shelf, and distressed or antique finishes.

Bringing the outside in

To add more functional living space, an increasing number of homeowners are looking toward their backyard patios to find new and exciting places to entertain.

This growing movement toward outdoor living and bringing the outside in is the inspiration behind the JELD-WEN®  IWP®  Exterior Folding Door System, which is becoming increasingly popular with homeowners who are interested in creating outdoor living spaces and want a direct connection to their yards and gardens.

The door system operates “accordion-style” – the door sections slide on an overhead track and neatly fold away to allow full access to the indoors or outdoors. With available heights of up to 10 feet in wood and eight feet in fiberglass, this door system provides tremendous light and outdoor viewing opportunities, even when closed.

The IWP folding door system is different than anything else on the market, given the fact that it is available in both wood and JELD-WEN’s award-winning IWP® AuroraTM Custom Fiberglass.

It is virtually impossible to tell IWP Aurora from a real wood door, yet because these doors are made from fiberglass, they are exceptionally low-maintenance. Both wood and fiberglass options are available in a wide variety of finishes and styles.

“This beautiful door is perfect for any style home – anywhere you want free-flowing access from inside to out,” said Meisel. “It’s a bold style that makes a dramatic statement, yet it is also highly functional.”

Energy efficiency ranks high

With energy costs on the rise, energy efficiency is high on the impact list for a growing number of homeowners. “The Perfect Home” study revealed that only 38 percent of homeowners think their windows are energy efficient, and the biggest complaint about doors was they were too drafty. In addition to improving the appearance of a house, changing out old windows and doors can help homeowners save money on monthly energy bills. According to the Department of Energy, replacing single-pane glass windows in a 2,000 sq. ft. home with ENERGY STAR® qualified products can save owners $125 to $340 on energy costs each year.

When it comes to remodeling, vinyl products make up more than half of all replacement windows in residential projects. That’s why JELD-WEN has steadily expanded its vinyl window offerings to include more design options available in combination with energy efficient Low-E glass and virtually maintenance-free, durable frames.

“Vinyl windows offer homeowners not only stylish appearance but also high performance when it comes to reducing energy expenses,” said Brian Hedlund, windows product marketing manager for JELD-WEN. “If they replace their original windows, they will see and feel an immediate impact.”