If you've been floating your loan or have yet to apply for a refinance because it just didn't seem worth the hassle, congratulations, mortgage rates hit new lows today. If you've refinanced in the last 20 months, there is a darn good chance your refinance option is back in the money, again!... Some lenders will even go as low as 3.875%...Read the rest from Adam Quinones, Managing Editor, Mortgage News Daily.
Budget Kitchen Remodeling Tips
Kitchen remodeling is a great home improvement investment and can be done on a budget. Update kitchen light fixtures, cabinets and countertops with tips from a professional home repairman in this free video on home improvement.
Improving your home and your life only at Home Improvement Idea : http://home-improvement-idea.blogspot.com
Clean Gutters with the Onset of Fall Weather
By Mark J. Donovan
It is important to make sure to periodically clean your gutters with the approach of fall weather. With leaves falling off the trees and strong winds associated with hurricane season, gutters can often become clogged with leaves and debris. Clogged gutters can lead to water damage in the attic, home and basement. Clogged gutters can also lead to ice dams during the winter months. Ice dams can cause water damage in the attic and cause the gutters to pull away from the home.
To clean gutters you need a ladder, garden hose, and a pair of work gloves. Make sure when using a ladder that it is set properly on the ground to prevent accidental falls. Clean gutters by initially removing leaf and branch debris with your hands. Then use a garden hose to force residual debris and water down the length of the gutter and out the down spouts.
Also while cleaning the gutters, inspect for and repair any damaged gutter pieces. Also make sure the fascia trim boards adjacent to the gutters are not showing any sign of rot. You may also want to scrub the exposed fascia board to remove any mold or mildew that may have formed on them.
Update Your Seasonal Decor with the Colors of Fall
It's hard to believe that summer is almost over! School is now right around the corner which means fall is fast approaching. It's always sad to see another summer fade away into memories but fortunately there will always be more on the way.
If you're the kind of decorator who likes to change your decor with the seasons, now is the perfect time to start looking at fall decor for your home. One of the nice things about rotating decor with the seasons is that you can keep a fresh, updated look in your home.
In the bedroom, you can add a splash of autumn colors with these quilts and duvet sets:
Arabian Velvet Duvet Comforter Cover Set- Maroon, Rust, Beige
Cotton Blockprint Discount Duvet Cover Set - Beige
Indian Wildflower Trendy Hand-embroidered Bedspread – Maroon
Maharaja Vintage Panel Embroidered Duvet Cover - Chocolate Brown
Deer Forrest Quilt
Fandance Quilt with 2 Shams
Terra Rosa Quilt with 2 Shams
Next, add some natural fall color to your bathroom with some luxurious, plush, absorbent bamboo fiber bath linens:
Bamboo Bath Towel Set- Orange
Bamboo Bath Towel Set- Chocolate
Pure Collection Bamboo Bathrobe
Bamboo Blend Bath Rug
Add glowing autumn colors with beautiful stained glass Tiffany lamps.
23"H Mission Vine Leaf Crooked Tree Table Lamp
24"H Elan Table Lamp
Finally you can browse for fall holiday decor in my Seasonal Home Decor department. Here you can find more autumn lamps from Meyda Tiffany:
8.5"H X 5"W Jack-O-Lantern Accent Lamp
7"H X 6.5"W Jack-O-Lantern Accent Lamp
and these fun fall Halloween and Thanksgiving collectibles:
Halloween Black Cat On Pumpkin
Joseph's Studio Pumpkin with Carved Bless Scene
Pumpkin Train Jar Set/3
Harvest Pumpkin Candleholder - 'Be Thankful Always'
Jim Shore Witch on Cloud
See more seasonal home decor and enjoy the last days of summer while you can!
Grocery Store Design of Bristo Farms, a Department Store with Desert Style
A department store is a public place for shopping every thing, gifts, kitchen set and housewares, etc. The design of the store usually designed in a common design such as another shop interior design, I think that Bristo Farms store is different with another shop design, with a Dessert Style, this grocery store is designed with coloring theme like a dessert with warm color. The entrance door is designed such as a Mediterranean home design, but the interior design was different, the floor plans and the colors are beautiful, The first thing you DON'T see when you walk in is the check-out cashiers. In fact, they're nearly hidden off to the right side. It's NOT the typical warehouse look with several long isles of produce stacked on shelves.
It is a beautifully decorated and intricate amalgamation of sections and islands. Each department is it's own microcosm of allure and fascination.
The deli has a freshly baked pizza section where you can buy it by-the-slice or carry out whole, and next to that is a hand-carved meat sandwich bar. And it's all conveniently located next to the cafe, which offers even more choices of prepared foods. The cafe is just to the left of the deli area, but I couldn't get a picture because there were too many people in the way!
Even the cheese section is carefully thought out with presentation in mind. I don't know why, but I've always had a fascination with those big cheese wheels. The interiors
are designed specially for each section. Just visit desertsociety to get more information about the Bristo Famrs.
are designed specially for each section. Just visit desertsociety to get more information about the Bristo Famrs.
Plunging Home Sales is Clarion Call for Economic Change
By Mark J. Donovan
This week’s news reports about plunging existing and new home sales should not come as a big surprise. The unemployment rate still officially stands at 9.5% and the administration says it could get worse before it gets better. We are already seeing signs that their prediction is coming to fruition. Honestly, who’s going to buy a home when they are either unemployed or worried about becoming unemployed? To some it may appear incomprehensible that with recent rising profits businesses would not be hiring. However, if you put yourself in the shoes of either a large or small business owner you might be doing the same – preparing for a business profit ice-age.
With U.S. federal corporate tax rates at 35% they are already nearly twice as high as the international average. Then foist upon them major health care legislation costs and huge increases in tax rates as of January, 2010 and you can’t help but understand their hesitancy in hiring. Capital gains and interest and dividend tax rates, for example, are set to jump from 15% to 39.6% in January. That’s a 165% increase!! Those types of tax increases on business and investors generate a giant sucking sound in profits and market caps. Reduced profitability and lower market capitalizations hurt businesses ability to retain employees let alone hire them.
So no one should be surprised with the latest dismal home sales reports, and quite frankly no one should be surprised to see this trend continue. Until there is a change in direction on federal corporate and personal tax policy, and until there is clarity on health care cost impacts, large and small business alike will continue to be slow in hiring if they hire at all. Simply calling for the federal government to print more fiat money for more make-work “state” jobs won’t cut it. No truly objective observer really believes the trillions that have already been spent in the past couple of years on banks, unions, and poorly run state bailout programs has done anything appreciably positive for the United States. Based on the falling value of the US dollar and U.S. Stock Exchanges, it’s obvious the world doesn’t believe the spending has worked, so why should we.
To conclude, if the administration and congress continue on their current reckless spending, power grab, and corporate regulation course, future United States homebuyers may soon be doing what other citizens have done in other federally run government centralized countries, standing in line for state owned housing and awaiting government issued food and furnishing handouts. So much for the American dream. If change is not imminent, get ready to put a fork in it as we are done as our forefathers new us.
Crawl Space Ventilation is Important
Carl,
We have been in our new home 14 months and currently have a problem with crawlspace condensation.
We live in North Carolina and it has been extremely hot and humid (more than normal) this summer.
We are gathering information on conditioning our crawlspace and wondered if you had an opinion on homeowners doing this themselves.
Also, if you have any reputable product links... they would be greatly appreciated.
We have been amazed at what these businesses are charging for their services and thought we may be in the wrong line of work.
Thanks ahead for any input you can offer!
Sincerely,
Ann & Jason
Hi Ann & Jason,
Crawl space condensation is a common problem…and a serious one
I have seen crawl spaces where I lived in North Carolina (non coastal) that are solid mold and mildew due to humidity after just a short time. This is not only a health hazard but a structural problem too (rot). It is also a magnet for termites.
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| Click here for product link |
Other than the wiring, a homeowner should be able to handle the job of adding a crawl space power vent and the expense should not be too great.
Read my article from the National Association of Home Builders on crawl space ventilation.
If your problem persists, please let me know.
Good luck,
Carl
How to Change a Ballast in a Fluorescent Light
Change a ballast in a fluorescent light using an electrical tester to check for safety, and by twisting it 30 degrees to loosen the light fixture. Find out how to change a ballast with tips from a handyman in this free video on home repair and maintenance.
Improving your home and your life only at Home Improvement Idea : http://home-improvement-idea.blogspot.com
New Home-Book
Dear Readers,
Every once in awhile someone takes the time to say something nice and make your job worth all the work.
Carl, I just came to find out about your book on building a new home and I have to tell you that this is the BEST book I have ever seen.
I have not stopped reading it. I am glued to it.
I have a passion for designing and building homes. I would like to share that with you if you are OK with it. I also have couple of questions that I will ask on my next email.
Thank you so much for the book. It's simple but at the same time covers everything one needs to know about construction. Just the way I would do it.
Thank you so much and God bless you and your family.
Reggie A., Texas.
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| Read More about this Book |
It means a lot.
Carl
Visited Montreal, Canada This Weekend
By Mark J. Donovan
I had a chance to spend the weekend up in Canada this weekend. I based myself in Montreal, but spent much of Saturday up at Mont Tremblant Ski Resort area checking out homes and the scenery. What a beautiful place. It was like being in the European Alps.
I also had a chance to spend two evenings in old Montreal and see the Notre Dame Cathederal and other tourist attractions.
Suffice it to say, what a beautiful city and great people. I was shocked when a Metro worker came out from behind his glass window information office to spend 10 minutes talking with us. He gave us detailed directions and made recommendations on what to see in Montreal.
Above is a picture looking over at the ski resort of Mont Tremlant in Quebec, Canada.
How to Hire a Builder
Hi Carl,
Finding your website was very helpful.
I'm relocating to Wisconsin next year, and have begun to look at planned neighborhoods in Waukesha County.
Do you have any advice or reading material for someone working with a developer/builder of an already-planned neighborhood?
This would be my first experience with new construction though I'm not able to manage the whole process myself.
Thanks very much,
Laura
Hi Laura,
You pose a very good question, one that I have not addressed.
Having a good home builder and good communications with that builder can make building a new home an exciting and wonderful experience.
The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) has a checklist called “Checklist for Hiring a Builder or Remodeler.”
It’s a pretty good list, one that should get you started.
I plan to write an article expanding, modifying, and adding to this check list as well as changing the perspective a bit for your benefit as well as the benefit of others who will be buying a new home from a builder or builder/developer.
For now, I will just add my favorite caveat to the NAHB list:
“Get everything in writing, and I mean everything! Trust no one's memory, not even your own.”
So, thanks for writing and asking a very important question.
Best of luck in your new home,
Carl
Build Your Dream Home – Part 3 of 3
by: Mark J. Donovan
Exterior Framing Continues
With the home’s sub-floor down and the exterior walls framed and up, the framing crew was on to the roof. Though the roof was rather simple in structure with just a 12/12 pitch and no valleys it was a significant framing undertaking due to just the size and height of it. The house was 32 feet wide by 44 feet in length, and the exterior side walls stood 11 feet tall in the great room. This exterior wall height of 11 feet translated into a roof ridge that was 27 feet off the floor of the great room. Consequently staging was required to install the ridge pole and roof rafters. In addition, since the span from the top of the walls to the ridge was so long, heavy 2x12s were required for the roof rafters. Within a week, however, the team had completed the installation of the roof rafters and the house began to take on real shape.
I should comment briefly about the sub-floor and exterior walls before I move on.
I decided on using ¾” tongue and groove plywood for the sub-flooring rather than OSB/particle board as I was concerned that the OSB was too sensitive to moisture. I was concerned about this, both from the construction phase and from normal home use. I was concerned that during the construction phase that snow and ice could potentially lead to damage such as warping. I have seen this before when OSB was used on sub-flooring. I was also concerned that during the life of the home, that there could be water incidents, e.g. a leaking dishwasher or washer machine that also could also lead to water damage to the floor. I also believe that plywood is stronger and that it would provide for a more solid and rigid floor.
Regarding the exterior wall framing I used 2x6 construction. This is typical in New England as the additional wall depth allows for higher insulation factors; a must in colder climates.
Sheathing the Outside of the Home
In order to get plumbing and electric contractors onto a site typically they want the home “buttoned up”. This includes the roof shingled and the doors and windows on. Thus my framing crew moved onto the exterior sheathing once the walls and roof framing were complete.
As with the sub-floor, I again chose plywood for the exterior sheathing for the same reasons mentioned earlier. On the exterior walls ½” exterior grade plywood was used. On the roof 5/8” exterior grade plywood was used. I know many builders today use OSB for both the walls and roof, however, I still believe for stronger construction plywood is the way to go.
The sheathing effort took about a week to complete. During this time exterior doors and windows showed up on the site. Staging the delivery of material reduces theft and insurance risk as well as keeps a less cluttered construction site. However, as I have indicated earlier, communication is critical when you are doing “Just-in-Time” material delivery.
Installing Exterior Doors and Windows
The installation of the doors and windows was a major undertaking for this project as the lake side view of the home was literally a wall of windows; 32 feet in width and 27 feet in height. A great deal of engineering had gone into the window design so that the 10 large custom windows would fit together like a jig saw puzzle. This said, when the windows arrived on site and were inspected, it was determined that some of them were not built correctly to the dimensions specified. After much debate with the framing crew, the window vendor and me we reached a compromise on sharing the cost of fixing the windows. The window vendor took back the improperly sized windows and the framing crew began the installation of the doors and what windows they could install. Fortunately the window vendor was able to return to the site with the properly sized windows within a few days and the construction phase did not miss a beat.
Completing the Interior Framing
With the doors and windows installed, the framing crew proceeded to complete the Interior Framing. This was an exciting time, as the rooms began to take real shape. You could now walk down hallways and into bedrooms and closet areas. Within just a few days the interior walls were complete and the framing crew proceeded onto the roof for the shingling.
I should note that 2x4 construction was used on the interior walls as insulation was not required on the interior walls.
Shingling the Roof
The last task to complete before the house could be classified as “Buttoned Up” was to install the shingles on the roof. Fortunately my framing crew was also able to do this task, thus eliminating the need for yet another subcontractor.
I chose a 30 year architectural shingle due to the quality and look I was trying to achieve on the home.
Though relatively a simple roof, it was quite large and the weather was less than hospitable. Consequently it took nearly 2 weeks to complete this task. However, with the roof complete, my electric and plumbing contractors were now able to begin their work.
Also, with the main house now structurally complete, the framing crew moved onto the garage framing and construction phase. As a result of staging the garage behind the main home construction phase, I was able to have subcontractors work in parallel without getting in each others way.
Rough Electric and Plumbing
With the house “Buttoned-Up”, my Electric and Plumber subcontractors showed up to begin the roughing in phase of their respective tasks.
Rough Electric
I had met a few days before on site with the Electric subcontractor to discuss the placement of all the wall outlets and switches, as well as where the light fixtures would be situated. During our discussion he marked the wall studs for the placements of the electric wiring boxes so that we could visualize the entire electric wiring scheme. We also marked where the telephone and cable boxes would reside.
During the electrical rough in wiring phase, the electrician installed all the wiring boxes and ran wire from the boxes to where the main circuit panel box would reside.
Rough Plumbing
As with the Electrical Subcontractor, I had met several weeks earlier with the Plumbing Contractor. During this meeting we discussed the form of heat for the home, as well as where the bathrooms and kitchen were to reside in the home. We also discussed types of bathroom fixtures including tubs, sinks and toilets. Consequently, when he showed up on site he new exactly where to run main drain and supply pipes and vent stacks. He also roughed in all of the plumbing for each bathroom and kitchen plumbing fixture.
Within a week both the Electrical and Rough Plumbing contractors had completed their tasks and had successfully passed their respective inspections.
About The Author
Over the past 20+ years Mark Donovan has been involved with building homes and additions to homes. His projects have included: building a vacation home, building additions and garages on to existing homes, and finishing unfinished homes. For more home improvement information visit http://www.homeadditionplus.com and http://www.homeaddition.blogspot.com.
Improving your home and your life only at Home Improvement Idea : http://home-improvement-idea.blogspot.com
9 Reasons to Choose a New Home Over a Resale
To help consumers better understand the advantages of new home buying, U.S. News spoke with a handful of experts and compiled a list of "9 Reasons to Choose a New Home Over a Resale."
Also included in the article, are "9 Smart Ways to Come Up with Down-Payment Cash."
Both articles are well worth reading.
When you're finished, you may want to read my very short article "Build or Buy a House."
Enjoy,
Carl
Cost to Build a Home-Square Foot Estimates
Hi Carl. Thanks for you book and for the great website. I've had the book for a while but just got to the website.
I have a couple of questions about square footage cost...maybe you can help. In your book you talk about adding up the heated space to come up with your square footage. So just to be clear, when I see a plan for say, 2000sq ft on the internet, the cost of the garage is just factored in to your $80-$100 estimate, right?
Also, the lot I plan to buy does not have sewer, so I will have to get a tank and drain field (which I expect will run in the 8-10,000 range. Can I safely assume that to be an additional expense that is not factored in to the $80-$100 sq ft costs?
Thanks in advance for the help.
Earl
Hi Earl,
On my blog post of Saturday, September 27, 2008 "Is The Garage Included?" I answer that question pretty thoroughly.
As to whether or not it is safe to assume that additional expense for a septic drain field is not factored in the median average cost to build a house, it is best to assume nothing
That said, since all homes have to have some sort of sewer system one would hope it is.
In rural construction, the septic and well are considered part of the cost to build the house.
In metro areas, where water and sewer are available and paid for by the local government or developer and are part of the land cost, only the utility tap in fees (usually part of the permit fees) are considered part of the cost of building the house.
To paraphrase what I said at the end of my above mentioned blog post;
The median average cost to build a home may or may not include a garage or septic field.
That is why preliminary estimates are only good for getting you to a point where a semi-educated decision can be made to go with a particular house plan or not, based on your budget.
One should never make a final “build or don’t build” decision until actual bids and estimates are completed as spelled out in my article "Cost Estimating Explained."
This is, I realize, a tedious job. It is the most important job the General Contractor has. Nothing else even comes close.
Good Luck,
Carl
How to Replace Cracked Tile
Replace cracked tile floor tiles using a grout scraper, pry bar, hammer and safety glasses. Learn how to replace cracked floor tile using the home repair tips in this free video.
Improving your home and your life only at Home Improvement Idea : http://home-improvement-idea.blogspot.com
Home Design and Trees
Carl, do you have any ideas for building a house with an eastern oak tree in the
middle of the property…like a U shaped house?
The Oak Tree towers over a 1 story house right now and, because it’s only an 820 sq. ft home and I want to add on, I think a U shape house can be built around the tree.
Do you have any other suggestions? (I do not want to cut the tree down.)
Nazly
Hi Nazly
As much as I love trees, I would never (again) design a house around a tree!
Sooner or later the tree will die, or become a hazard.
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| Home Design |
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Consult with a landscape architect for advice on how to utilize the beauty of your tree without creating a future problem.
Then, hire a local home designer to implement your scheme.
A local home designer can and should visit your property to properly envision this scheme.
A U shaped home is just one of many ways to utilize the beauty of the oak tree while the tree is still alive.
My motto is, “It doesn’t cost much more to do it right”.
Remember, I learned everything the hard way so that you (all of you) would not have to.
Carl
Radiant Heat and Wood Floors
Carl,
I am in the planning stage of building a new house and would like to install radiant heat in the floors.
The lot is a very steep slope (about 25 degrees) and a large portion of the house will be
cantilevered over the ground level.
The floor trusses are two feet tall and spaced on two foot centers.
I have just four questions:
1. What type of insulation is appropriate? (For Albuquerque, a few fairly cold months but not severe).
2. Would a hardwood floor allow the system to heat the house efficiently?
3. At what stage of the building process is the system installed? And,
4. What trade installs it? (Some of the Internet purveyors claim my teenage daughter could install a radiant heat system).
I have enjoyed perusing your web site…very interesting.
Thanks,
Carl
Hi Carl,
4 questions = 4 answers
1. R-25 see chart
2. It’s important for installers to understand how radiant heating works with hardwood flooring installations. One of the most comprehensive articles I have seen on installing hardwood floors when radiant heat will be used says, “The most important factor in a successful wood flooring installation over radiant heat is a dry slab and a dry subfloor…read the rest here.
3. The piping is installed at the rough-in plumbing stage.
4. If your daughter is a skilled professional plumber sure, otherwise a plumber or the company selling the system should install and guarantee the system.
Good luck,
Carl
Cost Approach to the Appraised Value of Homes
Hi Carl,
I am a certified appraiser in VA.
We as appraisers reference the Marshall Swift Cost Handbook for information when completing the cost approach to value on our reports.
How accurate do you feel this method is? I feel personally there is no better judge than the local contractor that is in the field and making the purchases for the materials.
Thanks,
Janet
Hi Janet,
The cost approach to value provides a much needed reality check in both strong and weak markets, establishing a trustworthy benchmark of value.
In theory you are correct in saying that local contractors are the best judge of the current cost of construction, but in reality having local builders play a part in determining real estate values is sort of like having the fox guard the hen house.
Builders want everyone to think it costs more to build than it really does.
An impartial trustworthy party to the appraisal process is the key and Marshall Swift does an admirable job.
Carl
Build Your Dream Home – Part 2 of 3
by: Mark J. Donovan
Razing the Cottage
With new house plans and permits in hand, subcontractors hired and a Septic Design in process, it was now time to raze the existing cottage. I considered employing the local fire department to burn it down, however I chose the demolition route instead. Though I did not contact the Fire Department, I was convinced that this route would have led to multiple delays and pitfalls, as I would have been at the whim of several town employees and weather conditions. The demolition route required only the excavator subcontractor and had less weather related schedule risks. In addition, the demolition cost and effort was very reasonable. Within two days, it was as if the cottage never existed on the land. It is important to note, however, that the cottage was relatively small. It was 22’ x 30’. If the cottage had been significantly larger, then the Fire Department route may have made more financial sense.
The demolition effort itself basically consisted of three parts. First, all of the furniture and appliances needed to be removed. Most of these items were old and musty and were not worth saving. Next, the excavator used a large backhoe and tore apart and crushed the building into small pieces. Finally, the excavator loaded the debris into several 20 cubic yard dumpsters, which were then hauled away by a dumpster company. Finding the appropriate dumpster company was a little bit of a challenge, as there are strict regulations on the disposing of certain home construction material. In addition, the dumpster costs can dramatically increase depending on how far away their facilities are from the construction/destruction site.
Breaking Ground
After the cottage was razed, and the stakes were placed outlining the boundary of the new home, it was time to break ground. This was a very exciting time as my dream was about to begin to take shape. I was building a large contemporary home with a wall of windows facing the lake front. Admittedly it was only a hole in the ground, but this hole represented the rough footprint of my future house. Seeing the hole, I could begin to more easily visualize my future home.
Digging out the hole and preparing the site for a foundation is one of the most critical aspects of building a new home. As a result, I spent several occasions with both the Excavator and Foundation subcontractors reviewing the house plans and the site prior to, and during the excavation. It was imperative that all of us were on the same page to ensure that the foundation walls, with all its jogs and step ups/downs would be located and installed per the plans. During these meetings a few adjustments were necessary to the foundation plans, however with all the team members involved the changes were minor and absolutely necessary. The changes helped prevent more serious problems later on and ensured that the outside aesthetics of the home were maintained.
As I already indicated, the foundation is extremely important to any quality home. If the foundation is not built upon a solid footing, nor constructed of the appropriate concrete strength, the foundation walls will crack in short order. These cracks can lead to water in the basement, settling in the framing, and eventually cracks in the finished walls and ceilings. Consequently, it is imperative that the excavation site not only be properly dug out, but also backfilled with crushed stone and sand to provide for a stable base and to enable proper drainage underneath and around the home. In my case I had the excavator dig out sufficiently to enable 18” of crushed stone to be backfilled into the hole and still meet my foundation plan requirements.
Once the site was prepared for concrete, the foundation crew installed concrete footings 18” wide and 12” deep. In addition they installed several cement footings in the middle of the house footprint for lally columns. The footings represent the base of the home and support the concrete foundation walls and the home itself. Due to the fact that it was winter, Calcium Chloride was used as an accelerator to speed the curing time of the concrete. In addition water had pooled in a portion of the hole, so constant pumping was necessary during the curing time.
After a couple of days, the foundation crew installed forms for the concrete walls. A day later the foundation walls were poured. Three days later the forms were removed and the foundation walls were in. I then had my excavator subcontractor return. After tarring the outer walls, just up to the level of where the finished grade would be, he installed a perimeter drain around the foundation and then backfilled the foundation with clean sand and fill. It is important that boulders and clay not be used as backfill material. Boulders can crack the foundation walls while being pushed into place, and clay can lead to improper drainage around the home.
With the foundation in and backfilled I was ready for framers.
The Framing Stage
The framing stage is probably the most exciting part of building a home. In a relatively short period of time, literally days, a house begins to take real form. Within less than a week knee walls were up, floor joists were installed and a plywood sub-floor was down. After a couple of weeks, the first floor walls were up and ceiling joists were being installed. I was so impressed I was convinced my new home was a month ahead of schedule. Boy was I wrong.
Before I elaborate on my misconception I should jump back for a minute. While the excavation work went on, I was also engaged with the Framing subcontractor. The Framing subcontractor needed to order framing material including lumber, doors and windows, shingles and siding. Inevitably there were issues with the availability of material and delivery dates, and as a result, we spent a fair amount of time resolving these issues. Fortunately, due to constant communication and quick problem solving we were able to have the initial delivery of lumber arrive on the site within a day after the backfilling of the foundation.
It is important to note, that it is at this time of the project that the large outlays of money begin to occur. Lumber costs for a home construction are quite large, and final payments are due to the Excavator and Foundation subcontractors. Excavation/Sitework and Foundation installations are a significant portion of the cost of building a home. In addition, the Framing subcontractor requires a portion of his labor to be paid in advance.
Also, it is very important that Homeowner Construction Insurance be obtained prior to the construction phase. This insurance protects the Homeowner/Builder against material theft and job injuries. All of your subcontractors and their employees should be insured but don’t count on it. During any building project, subcontractors are bound to hire extra help for short stints and I would be surprised if these temporary employees were added to the subcontractor’s insurance policy. The homeowner/builder insurance policy is small change compared to the risk of theft or the threat of injury lawsuits.
As I indicated earlier, I was in for a surprise with the framing phase of my home. As mentioned, the initial framing moved quickly. However it was still winter and frequent snow storms and extremely cold weather began to hit. This dramatically slowed progress. In addition, with the fresh supply of snow it quickly became apparent that my framing crew had an affinity to snowmobiling. So even on the sunny days my framing crew was frequently absent. No matter my level of complaining or prodding I was unable to control my framing subcontractor’s work ethic.
Consequently, I had to contact my plumbing, electric, and fireplace subcontractors to inform them of the delay. This was extremely painful to have to do, as I had no definitive date on when I would actually need them and each of them had very full calendars. As a result, to be able to call them at the last minute and expect for them to drop what they were doing to come to work on my project was highly unlikely. Again, through regular communication with these other subcontractors I was able to mitigate some of this problem, however my project did experience significant schedule slips due to my framing crews shenanigans.
In retrospect, I am not sure what I could have done to have prevented this problem. Reference checks on the Framing subcontractor had been positive. I guess I should have asked what his hobbies were and made sure they did not correspond to the season I wanted the work done. It is also a fact that unexpected things do happen on any project and one should expect it and plan accordingly. For example, put some contingency dollars and schedule into your project for events such as mine. Also, I can not stress enough to establish a rapport and regular communication channel with all of your subcontractors. Do not assume anything during a project of this size.
To Be Continued ….
In Part 3 of “Build Your Dream House”, the Framing continues and Rough Electric and Plumbing begin. Stay tuned next week……………
About The Author
Over the past 20+ years Mark Donovan has been involved with building homes and additions to homes. His projects have included: building a vacation home, building additions and garages on to existing homes, and finishing unfinished homes. For more home improvement information visit http://www.homeadditionplus.com and http://www.homeaddition.blogspot.com.
Improving your home and your life only at Home Improvement Idea : http://home-improvement-idea.blogspot.com
Leading Indicator of Home Remodeling Activity Shows Hope - Maybe
The American Dream of Owning a Home, and Caring for it, Appears to be Fading
Mark J. Donovan
Last month Harvard’s “Remodeling Futures Program at the Joint center for Housing Studies” reported that home remodeling spending is expected to accelerate in early 2011. This is based on its “Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity”, also known as LIRA. However the report is quick to state “absent a reversal of recent economic progress”.
I’m not so sure that there has been any real economic progress, at least at the homeowner and consumer level. Certainly corporations showed some positive quarterly reports earlier this year, but the ability for them to sustain those positive earnings are now coming into question. But in terms of unemployment, at 9.5% officially and 20% unofficially, homeowners and consumers have yet to see any economic bullish times.
Reviewing the LIRA historical data table linked in the report (Home Remodeling Spending Report) it is astounding to see that homeowner improvement spending has declined from 3Q2007 through 1Q2010 in every quarter, and is expected to continue to fall until 4Q2010. Based on new economic data since this July report, it may be even longer before there is finally an uptick in homeowner improvement spending.
The data further suggests that homeowner improvement spending peaked at $146.2B in 2Q2007, and is expected to fall to $107.7B by 3Q2010. That represents a 36% decline in homeowner improvement spending. This fact is both shocking and not surprising. Not surprising that homeowner spending dropped, but shocking by how much. The home has been historically the quintessential American dream. Based on a combination of economic conditions and possibly a new view of owning a home, it appears that the home is no longer a special commodity in the hearts of Americans.
Managing Home Remodeling Costs
By Mark J. Donovan
When managing a major home remodeling project, trying to keep track of multiple contractor material lists can be nearly impossible. In addition, trying to use multiple paper copy cost breakdown lists to manage overal home remodeling project costs is impossible.
By organizing all of the material and labor costs in one home construction Excel spreadsheet file you can more easily manage your home remodeling costs. Check out my home remodeling bid sheets and their associated material / labor Excel spreadsheet forms to learn how you can more accuratlely manage your home remodeling construction costs.
Best Cafe Design with Green Themes
I love very much on green theme in a public place such as a cafe, here I collect several picture of green theme cafe from several places, just feel free to enjoy this green looks cafe design.The first cafe is Akasha Richmond's uber-green restaurant in Culver City. A green cafe withan eco-friendly uniforms, great space, lighting is just right, noise level is "spirited but manageable," there's a pizza she's ordered more than once, her friend got all "dreamy-eyed" over a vegetarian bowl with Punjab beans, desserts are delcious.
This is the Lettus cafe, a green restaurant, a natural cafe that made of natural fabrics and a unique stone-like floor, The fabric is 100 percent natural and will not off-gas toxic chemicals into the air—an environmental complement to Weiss’s organic food. The floor is covered with all-natural tiles from Royal Mosa, a company that recaptures and recycles all of its waste, from pigments to gas particulates.
source: http://la.eater.com, http://www.treehugger.com
Easy Drywall Repair a typical home improvement
An easy way to repair holes in drywall. With this method of repair no nails/screws wood required!do it youself and save dollars!
Improving your home and your life only at Home Improvement Idea : http://home-improvement-idea.blogspot.com
Build Your Dream Home - Part 1 of 3
For most of my adult life I had thought about someday building my Dream Home. Several years ago I finally got the chance. I had purchased a lake front lot with a small cottage on it. My initial intention was to use the property “as is”, and someday raze the old cottage and build a new home in its place. After a couple of weekends in the musty old camp I came to the conclusion that I needed to speed up my timetable.
Part of the dream in building my own home was to act as the General Contractor and to personally supply a great deal of sweat equity. I accomplished both of these goals, however it was not easy. There were many roadblocks and bends in the road along the way. In the subsequent parts of this chronology, I will review my experiences in hopes that others may gain from my experiences.
Determining the Home Style and Size
After making the decision to raze the cottage and build a new home, I had to first determine what type and size of home to build. My lot was limited in size and required careful planning to ensure that I would meet all of the setbacks governed by the town I lived in. Although I had these concerns, I decided to forgo the Architect route. I deemed it too expensive and probably not necessary for the style of home I wanted to build. Instead I picked up a handful of Home Plan magazines and surfed the internet for home designs. I also picked up an inexpensive software package for designing homes and floorplans. After a week of reviewing home plans, I found one that met most of my requirements in terms of a floorplan. The footprint was smaller than I wanted, but I concluded that I could redraw the floor plan accordingly using my newly purchased
Home Design Software Package.
The Home Design Software package was not as simple to use as the instruction manual implied, however after a couple of weeks I had a floorplan with all the dimensional information.
Assuming the role as the General Contractor
As I had indicated earlier, one of my goals was to assume the role as General Contractor on this project. I quickly learned that banks frown upon lending construction mortgages to everyday homeowners and to folks who have little professional building experience. I got around this issue by deciding not to use the banks for financing. However, from what I learned later, it may have been possible for me to assume a construction mortgage if I had quit my day job and applied for the loan as a “full time General Contractor”. Indeed, I would have needed to complete a full proposal to the bank with all costs and subcontractors identified, but this is necessary anyways.
As the General Contractor I developed a build schedule and task list. Some of the top items included: Identifying subcontractors, pulling permits, and having a septic design approved.
Carefully Pick your Sub-Contractors
Identifying the right subcontractors is the most important task a General Contractor performs. Poor selection of subcontractors can lead to delays in schedules, cost overruns, poor workmanship and strife between the various subcontractors on the job. Prior to hiring subcontractors, it is important to visit their current jobsites. Review their work on existing jobsites and mingle with the other subs to judge the working relationship. In addition get two or three reference checks on the subcontractors. If there are poor workmanship, personality issues, or references move on. Do not settle for second rate subs, even if it means slipping your schedule or costs goals, as you will more than likely suffer even larger schedule slips or higher costs by hiring the wrong people.
Pulling Permits
Once you have selected and hired your excavator, chief framer, and foundation company, review with them your plans. Make sure you walk the site with them, and carefully stake out the house footprint, paying careful attention to lot setbacks, septic tanks, leach fields and well location. Once all are agreed upon with the house plans and the location of the home, contact the building inspector and review with him/her your plans. You will need to submit a very thorough package to the building inspector prior to getting approval. There are frequently town and state forms that need to be filled out regarding wetlands, and home thermal analysis. In addition, detailed engineering drawings of the proposed home may be required. In my case the Framer was able to assist in developing additional sketches of the house plan to ensure structural compliance to local, state and federal building codes. If I had used the initial home plans I had obtained, those would have been sufficient. I also could have contacted an architect with my selected plans to provide additional details, however it was not necessary in my case.
After about a week and several hundred dollars later I had the permit to build a new home.
Septic Design
My home required its own septic system on site. As a result, I required a septic design and an associated permit for the new home. I recommend pursuing this as early as possible in any new home project as this can take up to 2-3 months to complete as both town and state approvals are required, not to mention site and engineering work.
Without knowing exactly where the septic system and tank will reside, it may be difficult to locate the exact position of the home and in many cases the building inspector may not approve the building permit until the septic design permit has been obtained. I was fortunate in that the property already had a small septic system on the lot, so the building inspector gave me approval. I was at financial risk, however, in the event the new septic design was not approved or needed to be repositioned from the proposed location. Fortunately that was not the case and I was able to move forward on razing the cottage and beginning site work.
To Be Continued ….
In Part 2 of “Build Your Dream House”, I will cover razing an existing building, performing site prep work, and pouring foundation walls. Stay tuned next week
About The Author
Over the past 20+ years Mark Donovan has been involved with building homes and additions to homes. His projects have included: building a vacation home, building additions and garages on to existing homes, and finishing unfinished homes. For more home improvement information visit http://www.homeadditionplus.com and http://www.homeaddition.blogspot.com.
Improving your home and your life only at Home Improvement Idea : http://home-improvement-idea.blogspot.com
Wood Flooring Installation Checklist
By Mark J. Donovan
I just released my lastest new bid sheet / checklist, the "Wood Flooring Installation Bid Sheet". The Wood flooring installation Bid Sheet provides a 100 question "Request for Quote" section for soliciting wood flooring installation contractor bids. It also includes information on wood flooring material and labor costs and time intervals for completing work. Lastly, it includes a homeowners section on how to interpret hardwood floor installation contractor responses to the "Request for Quote" section, so that the right wood flooring installation professional is hired.
Learn how to find the real wood flooring installation professionals who know all the trade secrets in achieving a beautiful wood floor installation and finish that will hold up for decades to come. Steer clear of an expensive learning lesson and disappointment. Order my Wood Flooring Installation Checklist / Bid Sheet today and learn how to avoid wood flooring installation disasters.
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