All Posts in "Month: January 2020"

3 Things To Remember When Getting Home Improvement

3 Things To Remember When Getting Home Improvement

There are millions of people every year who look into fixing up their home or building a new home from the ground up. Whether you’re starting out from scratch, or are working on a home you’ve lived in for quite some time, a few universal tips can go a long way. This is especially true if you’re looking at hiring contractors for larger scale construction projects. The reason why you will want to do some preliminary thinking is because you will have to live with the results, and more than just living with them, you’ll have to pay for them. Even if you decide to do all the work on your own, you’ll have to invest heavily in the cost of updating, remodeling, or even starting construction projects. With that in mind, consider the following 3 things that will help you get things rolling and keep them going until the end.

Shop Around

The first tip for anyone that wants to get construction moving is simply shop around. Whether it’s supplies, or general contractors, make sure that you spend some time looking around and comparing all available options and resources. Do not simply go with the first option, as you might find out that there are a lot of other choices that may be better for your particular needs. The reason why you want to shop around is because it will give you a clearer definition of cost and ideas.

Estimates

Shopping around is great, but you really should remember to get written estimates. Without an estimate, you will not be able to understand the costs associated with any size construction project. Get estimates in writing and make sure that you get a fully itemized list of labor and supplies. Use that to make an educated decision on how you … Read the rest

Aiden Hayes by — January 31, 2020 in Wood Laminate
10 Cost-Saving Design Ideas for Your Next Home Building Project

10 Cost-Saving Design Ideas for Your Next Home Building Project

Planning to build a new home and want to get the most for your money? With labor and materials accounting for a large percentage of the cost for new home construction, it pays to take an in-depth look at the house plan design. Here are 10 ways to sharpen the pencil for construction savings and, at the same time, create a little pizazz.

SPACIAL RELATIONSHIPS

Utilize more open space. Open space areas can borrow space from one another and, therefore, require less overall square footage. The resulting effect is a greater sense of spaciousness without adding to the cost. Also, house plan designs that set rooms and access doors at 45 degree angles have a better feel to them and tend to be more accessible and open; appearing larger than their actual square footage. This can be an especially cost-effective technique when used for interior, non-bearing walls.

UNITS OF MEASURE

Think even numbers in home plan designs. Most building material dimensions are based on 2-foot increments. Your plan should use 2 foot multiples throughout the design to minimize waste, disposal expenses and to reduce cutting time.

PREFAB TRUSSES

For the appropriate home building project, prefabricated roof trusses are more economical than site-built ones, saving on labor and construction time. They also reduce the duration of time that interior framing members are exposed to the elements.

SIMPLE FRAMING

Stairs and other framed openings should be located in such a way as to minimize the interruption of floor joists. If the home plan design will permit, run stairwell openings parallel to the joists to reduce the need for long girder spans. Also, stairwell and other framed openings should not interrupt structural beams or bearing walls.

CUTTING CORNERS

Corners on the exterior walls, resulting from a given shape of the structure, add dollars … Read the rest

Aiden Hayes by — January 31, 2020 in Outside Wall Panels