GIENOW RENOVATIONS BY PLY GEM HELPS HOMEOWNER MAKE GREAT FIRST IMPRESSION
By Heather Ryan MAKING A GREAT first impression is what Ben Zadow wanted when he hired Gienow Renovations by Ply Gem to help update his 1914 Heritage home in Elboya. Zadow, who is studying to be an architect, purchased the historic home two years ago with his wife after falling in love with the blend of classic Heritage character and modern upgrades. The home had undergone several renovations over the years including an addition to the rear of the home in the 1960s and the creation of a contemporary, high-end kitchen in recent years.
Zadow also created a fabulous media/family room on the third floor, but the biggest project he faced was the exterior, which was in dire need of repair and upgrading to make the home more energy efficient. “We had water pouring down the side of the house when it rained and air leaking in so we redid the exterior,” Zadow says. Exterior renovations included spray foam insulation and the installation of new cladding and roofing. However, the biggest issue was the windows – they were all single-pane with storm windows so they were drafty and not at all energy efficient. “The original window design really
18 CUSTOM RENOVATIONS & SPECIAL PROJECTS
Before makes the home, giving it a kind of Cape Cod look with the smaller diamond shaped windows above the large ones,” Zadow says. “They definitely add character and it was important to us to keep that look – it makes a great first impression when people see the home.” In order to maintain the historic look of the windows and increase energy efficiency, Zadow turned to