ARA Homeowners renovate for two basic reasons: money and fun. Or, more precisely, they undertake home improvements to improve their home's resale value or their enjoyment of their house. The best home improvements, however, are ones that deliver on both objectives.

Americans will spend nearly $141 billion on remodeling in the first half of this year, according to Harvard's Joint Center for Housing Studies. If you'll be among the many homeowners opting to improve, rather than move, you may be wondering what renovations are likely to give you the best balance of enhanced resale value and immediate enjoyment.

Here are five home improvements - from budget-friendly to big budget - that provide noteworthy return on investment (ROI) in terms of increased value and improved enjoyment:

1. Skylights

You can lower your electric bill by installing skylights that will reduce dependency on artificial light and fill your home with natural light. You can obtain quality, energy-efficient, "No Leak Skylights" from Velux for around $800 per unit for a standard fixed skylight with flashing kit. You can find a local installer to provide a customized cost estimate at http://www.veluxusa.com. In terms of positive energy, the mental and physical health effects of exposure to natural light are well documented. They're also an effective privacy preserver for bathrooms where you might not want a wall window. Skylight and sun tunnels (skylights that use reflective tubes to bring sunlight into rooms without direct roof access) not only enhance the energy efficiency of your home, they just may make you feel better about living there.

2. Decks

Whether you go for wood or composite, adding a deck is a great way to boost resale value, expand your living space and up your enjoyment of your home environment. On average, homeowners who add a wood deck can expect to recoup more than 80 percent of its cost when it comes time to sell, according to Remodeling Magazine's 2009-2010 Cost vs. Value Report. Composite deck additions return about 71 percent at the time of resale.

3. Kitchens

It makes sense that the room where most families spend the bulk of their time would be a popular remodel - and one that pays off big in terms of value and comfort. Even a minor kitchen remodel - costing about $21,000 - will return about 78 percent of its value on resale, according to Remodeling Magazine. A major kitchen job, costing around $57,200, will recoup about $41,200, or 72 percent.

4. Baths

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Best home improvements for your renovation dollars for your renovation dollars

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The Clackamas County Sheriff's Office and Portland Police on Sunday recovered a stolen truck and roofing shingles linked to a burglary from a roofing company on Northeast Columbia Boulevard.

Sheriff's office deputies met with an employee from ABC Supply, located at 1835 N.E. Columbia Blvd., about 8:15 a.m. Sunday. The employee had located a 2007 International semi-truck and trailer that had been stolen from ABC Supply.

The employee used a GPS tracker system to track and locate the vehicle, which had been moved to the Fred Meyer parking lot at 8955 S.E. 82nd Ave. But the employee also reported that roofing shingles had been stolen from the truck.

After the GPS tracking system revealed the truck had been parked in the 8200 block of S.E. Sherrett St. before being moved to the Fred Meyer, deputies went to investigate the area. They found tire tracks in the gravel that led to a home on S.E. Sherrett Street.

Deputies tracked down the homeowners, who gave consent for a search. There, they found the six pallets of roofing shingles that had been stolen from the truck.

No arrests have been made in the case, and deputies are still investigating.

Portland Police Bureau helped the sheriff's office, and worked together to load the shingles back onto the trailer.

--Nicole Dungca Follow @ndungca

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Stolen truck and roofing shingles recovered after NE Portland burglary

A $213,000 capital contribution from the state coffers was granted to the local school district last week.

The funding will cover 40 percent of the cost of window and exterior door replacements at West Milfords Apshawa and Marshall Hill elementary schools.

"Its good for the district that were getting money for the upgrades," board member James Foody said. "I just want what were getting back to be used for a good purpose and that purpose is tax relief."

According to Foody, the grant from the New Jersey Schools Development Authority (SDA) is essentially long-awaited reimbursement for improvements budgeted by the school board and funded by the taxpayers in 2011. Last April, the district approved a base bid of $363,600 for window replacement projects at Apshawa, Marshall Hill, and Paradise Knoll schools, encompassing some of the grant-funded work, he said.

The $213,396 grant to offset $533,491 in total upgrades at Apshawa and Marshall Hill is the minimum that could be granted according to SDA guidelines, which ensure eligible projects are granted at least 40 percent of their cost. Since the SDAs Regular Operating District (ROD) grant program resumed in May 2010, the state has distributed more than $271 million in grants to school districts.

The 863 grants executed by the SDA in the last 27 months have funded more than $630 million in projects designed to address "health and safety issues, student overcrowding and other critical needs," according to a SDA press release. The state funding originates from $500 million in bonds sold by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority.

The district has previously used ROD grants to fund the replacement of cafeteria tables in three of its six elementary schools. A $17,900 grant was awarded to the Maple Road Elementary School, nearly $20,900 was granted to the Marshall Hill Elementary School, and more than $26,800 went to Upper Greenwood Lake Elementary School. The three separate efforts were completed in October 2010 and January 2011, according to state SDA records.

In September 2009, the district used a nearly $97,000 ROD grant to fund a $242,000 boiler replacement program for Maple Road Elementary School.

David M. Zimmer

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West Milford school district gets grant for previously-budgeted project

Lanham, MD (PRWEB) June 17, 2014

Ernst & Young named Thompson Creek Window Company President and CEO Rick Wuest a winner in the Family Business category of the Entrepreneur of The Year Maryland Awards. The award recognizes outstanding entrepreneurs who demonstrate excellence and extraordinary success in such areas as innovation, financial performance, and personal commitment to their businesses and communities. Wuest was selected by an independent panel of judges, and the award was presented at a special gala event on Thursday, June 12, 2014 at the Hilton Baltimore Hotel.

It is an honor to be included among Maryland business leaders who have worked hard to build their dream companies, said Wuest. Weve all taken risks to innovate and expand our businesses and its nice to be recognized for it.

As a Maryland award winner, Wuest is now eligible for consideration for the Entrepreneur Of The Year 2014 national program. Award winners in several national categories, as well as the Entrepreneur Of The Year National Overall Award winner, will be announced at the annual awards gala in Palm Springs, California, on November 15, 2014.

Thompson Creek is a family owned company that Wuest took over from his father in 2000, simultaneously taking the companys products directly to the consumer for the first time. Success quickly followed and today Thompson Creek Window Company is the largest, most successful replacement window company in the mid-Atlantic region.

About Thompson Creek Window Company

The Thompson Creek Window Company is a privately owned and family-operated manufacturer and installer of energy-efficient home improvement replacement products. Founded in 1980, Thompson Creek Window Company began as a manufacturer of energy-efficient, maintenance-free vinyl windows. Since that time, Thompson Creek Window Company has evolved into one of the leading specialty home improvement contracting companies in the nation. The companys product mix includes replacement windows and doors and a clog-free gutter system.

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Rick Wuest of Thompson Creek Window Company is An Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award Winner in Maryland

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