Autumn, oicu, jdez, skyangel -- Thanks for the comment on the Blanco sticker. It does look like someone tried to remove it, and now it is warped :/ I would like it to stay on so as not to leave any residue or something, since it does look like it is meant to stay. Oicu, we have the same sink, but different colors. Ours is truffle. It was our original choice to match the faucet, but I went back and forth between that and metallic gray. Jdez, nice sink! That was another option I was looking at, but didn't get to see an actual sample. Musicgal-- Lovely home! Robynstamps -- Almost there! We are 2 weeks away from closing. The windows that are not in the center have yet to be corrected, but we have been told we are still on track. The deck is done. Yesterday they started on the wood floors and carpet. Appliances have been coming in (basement refrigerator has 2 big dents and needs to be replaced). Closets have been started as well. Lights need to go up, and plumbing fixtures are being installed here and there. We come at the end of the day and see 2 additional faucets in, it's crazy. Still waiting on more trim material (lots were not up to the trim carpenter's standards). Other things that need to get started: kitchen backsplash, wallpaper, window treatments. Hope we make it!! We are closing on our current house too. Lots of packing going on that is why I haven't been here much. Wish us luck!

My husband and I currently have a wooden deck. Like the last comment said, it has a short life span and we don't feel too safe on it anymore. We're looking to get it replaced with a vinyl deck as soon as possible. We hear that vinyl tends to be the more inexpensive option, but is still more sturdy than wood. A lot just depends on your situation, though. Good luck to you! http://www.victoriadeck.com/about-victoria-deck/

I have a Pella fiberglass entry door, installed 6 years ago. I would disagree that using gel stain is the best way to go, in fact I wouldn't recommend that at all. It looked beautiful when I finished but required varnish every 6 months. Even then it failed miserably this spring. Don't do that, there is a better way. Fortunately, or not, my door delaminated this past month. Fortunately because I was about to strip it and start over again. As it is, Pella provided me a free replacement slab since it is warranted for 10 year. This time I'm using Sikkens Cetol Door and Window stain which does not use a polyurethene varnish topcoat. I found out about it from my neighbor who had the same problems as I with a gel stained/varnished entry door - chipping and peeling varnish. He redid his four years ago with this Sikkens stain and it looks great even now, with no further attention. Sikkens does recommend reapplying one coat after 3 or 4 years but that beats varnishing every six months plus it doesn't chip away like spar varnish. Use Sikkens Door and Window stain instead of gel stain and varnish, seriously. It comes in four or five colors but you won't find it at HD or Lowes - go to their web site and find a paint dealer in your area. Here is a link that might be useful: Sikkens Door and Window stain

I am not sure that Fiberglass is "greener" or more efficient and that also depends on what you are comparing it to. Fiberglass with have better thermal numbers than even a thermally broken aluminum. I would not eliminate a Aluminum clad wood (I think that is what you Weathershield option is) window from your selection options if you decide you want to another option. All things considered, you are going to have a hard time matching the aesthetics or build quality of that Marvin Integrity. Biggest issue with that window is the stock size program. That is a moot point in a new construction application because you can build it to whatever you need it to fit. That would be my choice if I were building right now.