M.V. Pelletier, Inc. Awarded Big 50 Award

Mark Pelletier Honored With Big50 Award

Frederick, Maryland – May 16 – Mark V. Pelletier, CGR, CAPS, CGP, owner of M. V. Pelletier, Inc., has been selected by Remodeling magazine to join the Remodeling Big50. The Big50 awards were presented at a gala dinner at the Remodeling Leadership Conference in Alexandria, Va., on May 15, 2010. The 2010 Big50 winners are featured in the May issue of Remodeling, a national trade publication read by more than 80,000 professional remodeling contractors.

Each year since 1986, the Remodeling Big50 inducts the owners of 50 remodeling companies that have set exceptionally high standards for professionalism and integrity through exemplary business practices, craftsmanship, and impact in their community or the industry at large. Big50 remodelers run successful, often growing, companies of various sizes that have taken the lead in raising industry standards.

The Big50 selection process has become increasingly rigorous in recent years, and the result is one of the strongest classes to date. All 2010 inductees stood up to detailed examinations of their businesses and their books, and they all demonstrated an admirably deft ability to restructure, retrench, and hustle to remain viable in a challenging economic climate.

"We are very honored to receive this distinction," says Mark, president of M. V. Pelletier, Inc. "The award recognizes excellence and leadership, and we are privileged to be named to this select group of remodelers."

Remodeling editors, columnists, industry leaders, and the companies themselves make the nominations each year. Following a lengthy evaluation and interview process, the editors select the owners of 50 companies that exemplify the best of the industry that year. Winners are selected in these categories: business savvy, fine design, market wise, movers & shakers, niches, sales & marketing, and teamwork. M. V. Pelletier, Inc. was selected for the category of Market Wise.

Remodeling magazine, published by Hanley Wood Business Media, is the leading publication in the home improvement industry. Designed to address the specific concerns of residential remodeling pros, the magazine is both a business tool and an industry leader for a market that topped $300 billion in 2008. See the magazine online at http://www.remodelingmag.com/.

Grand Winner, Residential Interior

NARI Mid-Maryland Chapter, CotY Award

The kitchen, powder room, laundry room and family room had the original builders' grade sheet vinyl, carpeting, lighting, appliances, and laminate countertops. The kitchen's layout was functional, but the multi-level island did not function well when entertaining and the lack of storage at the front of the island was wasted space, the electric stove was not suited for the type of cooking the homeowners performed, lighting was inadequate and the brass door pulls and basic layout lacked style. The homeowners were happy with the style, finish and quality of the cabinets and very sensitive to the "green " movement and the conservation of our resources, so it was decided to reuse the cabinets and add cabinets as required to accomplish the upgrades.

The renovated kitchen area incorporates new Verde Rio Gold granite countertops, new energy efficient stainless steel GE appliances with gas cooktop, new lighting plan with Seagull low voltage halogen under the cabinet lighting and recessed and pendant lighting at the ceiling, new 16" x 16" natural stone flooring in the kitchen, powder room and laundry room and hardwood flooring in the family room, natural stone backsplash at the kitchen cabinets and natural stone wainscoting at the bar area, new hardware for the cabinets, new undermount sink and faucet. The laundry room was expanded by removing the closet and adding cabinets, sink base, recessed fold out ironing board. The powder room was updated by adding 2" beaded wainscoting to the walls, new light fixtures, wood framed mirror and brushed Nichol faucet. Keeping with the "green" theme the original vanity cabinet and cultured marble top were reused.

The original layout of the kitchen included an eat-in area in front of the exterior door, which is where the kitchen table was placed, it created a real problem with the flow into the screened in porch outside of the door. The Homeowners were also wanting to be able to watch the television in the family room from time to time while they ate. The decision was made to create a bar area with an arched opening into the family room, The design challenge was to support the span of the arched front granite top from the sides so that the seating would not have additional supports in the center. Engineered wood beams were incorporated into the box support system cleverly hidden behind the wood apron on the bar countertop. The beautiful natural stone wainscoting and pendant lights complete the area.

The original pantry walls had to be relocated to create the space required for the relocation of the microwave to the area next to the refrigerator and the reconfiguration of the cabinets, producing the desired built-in refrigerator look. The decorative hood was also added above the stove for increased lighting, ventilation and of course, looks. All of the cabinets were lifted to allow for added clearance for the installation of the dishwasher with the added thickness of the natural stone floor and backer board. The open storage at the front of the island created a perfect space for a wine bottle rack and the display of decorative features.

The laundry room was increased in size by removing the existing closet and adding concealed storage with cabinets and folding table with an area above to hang clothing, (not pictured). Room was also created by adding a recessed fold out ironing board, which even has it's own light and outlet incorporated into the unit. The laundry tub was replaced with a cabinet with much needed storage underneath. Recessed lights were added to help with the lighting.

Senior Living: Design for Life

Home Improvements Make Aging in Place a Reality for Seniors.

by Carla Firey Shives + photos by Ellen Baker
Published in Hagerstown Magazine
• • •

Luxury bathrooms, updated kitchens and remodeled entryways are popular home improvements. But for the growing senior population, the new elements in these modernized renovations are designed to be more than just aesthetically pleasing. "As the Baby Boomers hit retirement age, they're looking for ways to modify their houses so they can stay in their homes rather than move to a nursing facility," says Mark V. Pelletier, CGR, CGP, Certified Aging in Place Specialist and owner of MV Pelletier Inc. in Frederick.

"I've noticed a trend in seniors choosing to age in place," agrees Katie Bowersox, senior designer with Frederick's JB Interiors, Inc., who suggests that the desire to live comfortably in familiar surroundings is a driving force behind this trend, in addition to the need to offset the increasingly expensive cost of care in a retirement facility.

Aspects of Aging
Aging can create a variety of physical challenges as seniors navigate their homes. Arthritis and joint problems, for example, can affect the ability to open drawers, reach into cabinets, or turn doorknobs. Even a basic task like showering can be a trial for seniors who have difficulty climbing in and out of a standard tub. Flooring can also present a problem, since "falling in the home is one of the major sources of injury for people over the age of 65," says Katie.

Decreased mobility — requiring the use of either a wheelchair or walker — is another major challenge for seniors who want to age in place. "Wheelchairs and walkers sometimes will not fit through doorways, and many times bathrooms are not large enough to accommodate a wheelchair," says Vickie Hrabal, owner of Oak Hill Interior Design LLC in Hagerstown. Fortunately, there are many ways to redesign a home to make it more convenient for aging adults.

Modified for Convenience
Many elements of a house can be remodeled to create a safe environment for seniors who choose to age in place. In the bathroom, adults who find it difficult to climb in and out of a standard tub may opt to replace it with a walk-in shower. "You can also hire experts to cut open your tub to create a walk-in shower," says Natasha Arnall-Edmands, owner of Interiors of Maryland LLC in Funkstown. Adding non-slip stickers or a mat can help prevent slips and falls.

The kitchen is another room that typically needs renovating when seniors decide to age in place. "Levered faucets make it easier for folks who have arthritis," says Mark. Multiple counter heights can help accommodate homeowners in wheelchairs. Raised dishwashers and lowered cooking surfaces also can make life more convenient for aging adults.

Modifications in other rooms include adjusting doorway width, installing night-lights to prevent disorientation at night and adding wheelchair ramps to entryways. If arthritis is a challenge, light switches can be widened and doorknobs can be replaced with levered handles. Hard floors are often covered with carpet to reduce the risk of slipping.

Beauty Meets Function
Many seniors worry that the necessary modifications to their homes will be obtrusive and unattractive, "but I try to design the elements into the project without anyone knowing," says Mark. He's installed bathroom grab bars that simply appear to be decorative towel bars, as well as a front entrance wheelchair ramp that seamlessly blends into the house and surrounding landscape.

When Middletown resident Phyllis Thompson discovered that her husband, Bill, needed a wheelchair, she started looking for builders to redesign some aspects of her house. "I wanted him to come home and be able to live a full life in his own home," explains Phyllis. Her primary focus was the bathroom, because it needed major adjustments to accommodate Bill's new circumstances. With Mark's assistance, the Thompsons created a plan that helped transform their bathroom into a space that's practical for husband and wife, as well as extremely attractive. Many of the changes added both functionality and beauty. "There's a glass door on the shower that swings open for easy entry," explains Phyllis, "and a shower head that slides up and down a pole so it can be used whether you're seated or standing. It's just beautiful."

Even though Phyllis chose many products that are ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliant, they're hidden in plain sight since they're cleverly disguised as elements of the home. "You'd never know from appearances that the house is handicap accessible," says Phyllis. In fact, everyone who is currently involved with a building or remodeling project may want to consider adding a few of these components to their homes. "I'm very active," says Phyllis, "so I don't really need these modifications. But I've found that they make my life much more convenient, too."

State of the Remodeling Industry Address

In today's environment, it is tough to get financing for adding a huge family room addition on the back of your house. However, an addition to bring aging parents home, rather than them moving into a nursing home, is a great idea. There are usually funds made available after the sale of your parents' home to help the financial aspect of the project.

The remodeling market has changed over the last year, and homeowners are now realizing that they need to keep their homes "alive," which means keeping up with items that need to be replaced due to age, such as; rotting wood, windows, doors, shingles, and HVAC systems.

Our clients know that keeping kitchens and bathrooms up to date is also a good idea. It is always nice to do the work so your family can start enjoying the new spaces sooner rather than later. Plus, much like your car and other things, wiating to perform the work will end up costing you more.

Studies show that 90% of falls happen in the bathroom. There are many new products available to make bathrooms safer and update their looks. Homeowners are alos concerned about saving water and updating the lighting, so we have performed quite a few bathroom renovations.

Many clients are performing what we call, "Green kitchen facelifts," where the existing cabinets remain, or are painted, and energy efficient appliances, lighting solid surface countertops, sink and faucet are added. Our clients are delighted with the updated look and feel good about the energy efficient appliances and reducing water consumption.

Everyone is trying to be smart with their money and we are seeing a big increase in clients concerned about the energy efficiency of their home and having MVP come in and perform a home energy performance audit and then having our company add the insulation in the attic, seal the holes in the walls and make the repairs that make your house more energy efficient. We are also hearing that a "Cash for Caulkers" program is in the works, this would increase the tax credits available.

Kitchen Facelifts

Many clients have come to us with cabinets that are in decent shape but want to update the looks of their kitchen and take advantage of the more energy efficient appliances and switch to solid surface countertops.

So, we have seen plenty of kitchens with natural oak cabinets with contact paper veneer sides that have had the finish on the cabinets yellow over time while the veneer sides stay the same. This causes the sides to not match the rest of the kitchen. We install 1/4” luan over the existing veneer sides, ready for priming and painting.

The kitchen shown here has had the cabinets degreased, sanded, primed and painted, cabinet hardware updated, Granite countertops installed with stainless steel undermount sink and sink fixture, tile backsplash, light fixtures replaced, stainless steel appliances and a fresh coat of paint on the walls.

This particular kitchen had the hardwood floor installed after the cabinets, so a decorative ¾” spacer was installed prior to the new countertops so the dishwasher would have the required clearance.

Importance of Designations

Remodelers that have gone the extra distance by earning designations have been educated by industry leaders on how to perform building and remodeling projects and run their companies with the highest level of professionalism. The fellow remodelers and other professionals attending these classes share their experiences and the knowledge gained goes way beyond the textbook information provided in the curriculum.

I have found the information learned to be very helpful to my clients, and they benefit from the different designations in many ways. The Certified Graduate Remodeler Designation requires the applicant to complete a PREP test, which determines the strengths and weaknesses in performing remodeling, from accounting to marketing and advertising to client relations to job scheduling. The results of the test determine which classes the remodeler must complete and once the designation is earned the CGR must keep taking classes to maintain the designation.

The Certified Aging-In-Place Designation has been very helpful in designing projects for people with disabilities and age related limitations and how to work with them best. But the beauty of Universal Design is that it is not only for people with challenges, but it makes a home safer and easier for everyone, and the latest products don’t look like they belong in a hospital, they are stylish and compliment any homes décor. As a CAPS professional I am always looking for ways to plan for my clients future, whether it is installing blocking behind the walls in the bathroom for future grab bars or making sure door openings are large enough or can be made larger in the future with minimum cost. Proper planning for the future makes any project’s value much higher.

The Certified Green Professional Designation teaches construction methods and materials that are the most energy efficient and treats the home as an envelope and the best methods for controlling moisture, insulating and removing unwanted gases. The basis for the CGP Designation was how to “Go Green” without increasing the costs to the homeowner. A few examples would be the orientation of the home on the lot, location of windows, overhangs, etc. A lot of the specialized green products do have higher price tags than their non-green equivalents, but can make up for it in energy savings and the thought of lessoning our impact on the planet makes them well worth it to many homeowners. The products our company uses are now checked to make sure they are safe for our clients and care is taken to recycle whenever possible, minimizing the amount of materials brought to the landfill.

Just like in any profession, the top people in remodeling are constantly trying to gain knowledge of the newest products and procedures and share their knowledge with fellow professionals. Earning and maintaining all of these designations show a remodelers’ commitment to be one of the best in their field.