Kelly Homes & Electric is serving a growing number of seniors with an array of products and services that permit them to stay in their homes as they age.
By Susan E. Campbell
Stephen M. Kelly, an electrician by trade, has been building custom homes for more than 30 years.
It may have been the economy that first impelled Kelly to change emphasis from new houses to retrofits. Whatever the motivation, the company he owns, Kelly Homes and Electric out of Queensbury, is now helping a growing market of seniors who want to stay in their homes live more comfortably and safely.
“What’s new about our business is our focus on bathroom renovations for the aging population and the handicapped,” said Kelly.
Most new homes are now built with 36-inch doorways to accommodate wheelchairs and at least one walk-in shower. Older homes provide more challenges for seniors, which is why Kelly said he is specializing in affordable renovations that enable homeowners to better navigate the houses they raised their families in or retired to.
The largest expense might ordinarily be the bathtub replacement, Kelly said. But there is no need to remove it altogether. For as little as $800, Kelly can install the Safeway Safe Tub, which converts an existing tub with a leak-proof door. The bathtub can still function as such, or be used as a shower.
“No more stepping over the side of the tub,” he said. “There is a moveable seat we add to the tub area, plus handrails and fixtures designed with an older or handicapped person’s limitations in mind.”
The bathroom build-out might also include a pedestal sink that a wheelchair can fit under, a higher-sitting toilet, and high-end faucet levers that are easier to use than knobs.
Some homeowners on constant oxygen worry about what they would do if there were a power outage for a protracted period of time. For these, or for that matter any family that wants peace of mind, Kelly is offering affordable back-up generation.
“We can supply an outlet to a panel that controls up to six circuits for the heat, refrigerator and lighting,” said Kelly. “This is a 4,500-watt portable unit with an electric start battery for only $1,500, fully installed.”
The generator runs for eight hours on four gallons of gasoline. At the current price per gallon, that’s about 16 dollars for peace of mind.
The capacity of this unit is such that an average family in the average-sized home can be comfortable – and they won’t have to forego their electronics while power is being restored, Kelly said.
Another focus for Kelly Home and Electric’s recent rebranding is retrofitting commercial spaces with high-efficiency lighting. National Grid offers different programs from time to time that provide incentives to office building owners who want to go green and convert to Energy Star products, he said.
“The higher efficiency lighting can save 75 percent on electricity costs,” he said. “We perform an energy audit on the space, change out the ballasts and install the new CFL fluorescent bulbs.”
The rebate programs can be so generous that the retrofit practically pays for itself, especially if the client chooses to install LED bulbs. These are the most expensive but also save the most energy, and there is no hazard because LED products contain no trace of mercury.
For the past 15 years Kelly Homes and Electric has renovated many HUD homes in Glens Falls, Hudson Falls and Argyle as part of their community development efforts. Work performed includes roofing, siding and window replacement. The company is EPA-approved to remove or encapsulate lead paint if found in older buildings.
Some of Kelly’s projects include Summit Heights housing development in Schenectady; Solomon Heights in Queensbury; and La Rose Gardens apartment complex in Glens Falls.
Kelly also provides commercial building property maintenance.
Learn more at www.kellyhomesandelectric.com or contact Steve Kelly directly at 793-3022.