Media Advisory
For immediate release:
April 14, 2015
Use Tax Day to Give Your Home a Face-Lift
Stretch the value of your tax refund by investing in home improvement
While filing income taxes can be viewed as a mundane, dreadful process to some, for others Tax
Day is an opportunity for extra money and the chance to engage in important purchases that have
been put off. According to the National Foundation for Credit Counseling, 68 percent of
Americans will use their tax refund on the same thing – debt repayment. While it’s a good idea
to relinquish outstanding dues, there are other smart ways to spend a tax reimbursement.
One way is to invest in home improvements. Home updates and renovations not only increase
the appearance and curb appeal of a house, it also increases the value. CertainTeed, a leading
provider of innovative and sustainable building products, offers a few home improvement tips:
Clear the air – Did you know the average American spends about 90 percent of time indoors?
While most people are aware that outdoor pollution can damage health, many do not know that
indoor air pollutants contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that can just as damaging. For
example, VOCs are often introduced into the home by the off-gassing of new furniture, paint,
carpeting and even air fresheners. AirRenew® Essential is a unique drywall that proactively
absorbs formaldehyde and converts it into safe, inert compounds. Made from recycled material,
AirRenew is good for the environment and home.
Mind the roof over your head – John F. Kennedy said it best; “The time to replace the roof is
when the sun is shining.” Avoid running into problems before it’s too late by having your roof
inspected by a CertainTeed credentialed roofing contractor. If replacing your roof is in your
future, CertainTeed’s Integrity Roof System™ is designed to provide optimum roofing
performance. Installing a quality roofing system for your house makes for a durable, healthy
home.
Batt an insulation homerun – Moisture is inevitable in the home, but if it’s not properly
managed it can increase susceptibility to mold and mildew growth. SMARTBATT™ insulation
with MoistureSense™ Technology is a revolutionary way to manage moisture within a home’s
walls and ensure complete indoor comfort. Furthermore, the North American Insulation
Manufacturers Association says spending $1 on insulation will save $12 in energy costs. Now,
that’s an investment that pays for itself.
Buff up your façade – CertainTeed CedarBoards™ custom-insulated vinyl siding contoured
foam increases the home’s energy efficiency, providing an extra measure of comfort to interior
spaces. With the perfect balance of performance and beauty, a homeowner gets to appreciate the
authentic look of natural wood, while also enjoying the benefits of added strength, thermal
Tax Day Home Improvement – Page 2 of 2
Media Advisory
performance and exterior noise infiltration. You’ll enjoy warmth, quiet, durability and beauty –
and the knowledge that you achieved it all with a sustainable product choice.
Surround with beauty – Home renovations expand way beyond the walls of a residence.
Bufftech® vinyl fence is nearly maintenance-free, comes in natural woodgrain colors and can
withstand the elements. That means more time for enjoyment without the hassle of continuous
repair.
Money Magic – Sometimes home improvements can be so rewarding, it might make money
already spent, reappear. Often, the IRS offers tax credit opportunities to compensate those who
take extra the initiative to make their home or business energy efficient. Check available
opportunities for 2015 by visiting www.irs.gov.
For more information, visit www.certainteed.com.
Images, product samples and industry comments are available upon request. To speak to an
expert, contact Vicky Gallagher of CertainTeed Corporation at Victoria.M.Gallagher@SaintGobain.com or 610-341-7944.
About CertainTeed
Through the responsible development of innovative and sustainable building products,
CertainTeed, headquartered in Valley Forge, Pa., has helped shape the building products industry
for more than 110 years. Founded in 1904 as General Roofing Manufacturing Company, the
firm's slogan "Quality Made Certain, Satisfaction Guaranteed," quickly inspired the name
CertainTeed. Today, CertainTeed® is North America’s leading brand of exterior and interior
building products, including roofing, siding, fence, decking, railing, trim, insulation, gypsum and
ceilings.
A subsidiary of Saint-Gobain, one of the world’s largest and oldest building products companies,
and celebrating its 350th anniversary, CertainTeed and its affiliates have more than 5,700
employees and more than 60 manufacturing facilities throughout the United States and Canada.
For six consecutive years, the company has received top honors from the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency for its contributions in protecting the environment and was most recently the
recipient of the 2014 ENERGY STAR Sustained Excellence Award. The group had total sales of
approximately $3.3 billion in 2014. www.certainteed.com
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