BUILDING A STRONG ROOF

Hot August summers pounding your roof. Old man Winter tapping at your window. Is your home construction using the right insulation to protect you from the heat and cold winter months? See what's needed at our home insulation page.

find ideas: home insulation | find a home insulation contractor

Central air-conditioning is a wonderful feature found in most new homes across the nation. Even in areas of the country where hot days are few and far between, many homeowners elect to include central air with their central heat as insurance for those occasional hot days.

For some homeowners, central air conditioning could be more costly than what it is worth. Especially in areas of the country where utility costs are high and the need to cool the entire house is low. In addition, central air conditioning units must be maintained regularly, another cost to be factored in.

There are two alternatives to central cooling which are worth considering: window units and portable units.

Window units are cheap, starting at about $125 for a unit capable of producing 5000 BTUs. A BTU is the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one pound (0.45 kg) of water 1 degree Fahrenheit (0.56 degrees Celsius). Specifically, 1 BTU equals 1,055 joules. In heating and cooling terms, 1 "ton" equals 12,000 BTU.

A portable unit is more expensive, but as the name implies it can be moved from room to room. In some homes, placing a unit in a window is dangerous or too difficult for one person to handle. With a portable air-conditioner, a room can be cooled as the unit works patiently from one corner of the room. The smallest portable units (with a BTU rating of 7000) start at around $325.

For assistance in choosing the right air conditioner for your home, the two articles in the Further Reading section which follows can help you find the type of unit right for your needs.

2008/05/08 Home Tips

Whether you're remodeling your current home or building a new house, the people who will be doing the work must be skilled and in most cases licensed to take on the job. A home contractor will oversee the entire project, but that doesn't mean that he has the qualifications to handle your project.

The person you hire has to be the right fit, a knowledgeable administrator as well as an effective communicator. Who hasn't worked with someone who really knew their stuff, but did a miserable job keeping everyone informed? You want to work with someone who keeps you in the loop and manages all aspects of the project.

Effective Steps To Finding The Right Home Contractor

There are three steps to take in order to find the right home contractor:

Laying the Foundation -- Planning your project in advance will help you determine which contractors to contact. If you're remodeling your home, you want to find someone familiar with handling improvements, including replacing a roof, expanding the upstairs, finishing a basement, ripping out a bathroom, etc. For a home contractor, an individual whose work is to build homes from the ground up will handle this job.

Tearing Down Walls -- You'll need to interview contractors to find the best person for the job. You'll want to secure detailed estimates from each one spelling out all costs including materials, labor, permits, taxes, etc. Allowing you to choose between different grades of lumber, flooring, tile, roofing materials, etc. and listing these choices on their estimates will give you a good idea of what your final costs will be for this project.

Completing the Home -- Finally, you'll want to confirm your contractor's abilities by checking references. With each supplied estimate, contractors should furnish references. Contact each person to determine what work the contractor did for them and if they were satisfied with the job. Ask the contractor to show you his license, proof of insurance, and ask him how he plans on paying his subcontractors. You don't want a disgruntled electrician or plumber contacting you later on asking for payment because the contractor didn't pay him.

Once you have a contractor in place, you'll want to receive regular updates from him as the project unfolds. In many cases you'll be required to pay 1/3 of the project up front, 1/3 half way through, and the remaining monies after the job has been completed to your satisfaction.  To pay for the project consider your home equity financing options.

2008/08/14 Home Construction

Unless you move on a fairly regular basis, at some point you'll have to replace your home's roof at least once. A roof that does its job well is important because it protects your home from everything that nature can throw at it. Rain, wind, sun, snow, hail, sleet, ice, debris, and much more must be repelled and only a roof that is in good shape can get the job done.

You have several options available when replacing your current roof, but not every choice may be feasible. Shingle roofs are the most widely used materials for new roofs, offering a good price and available in a number of different colors (black, gray, earth tones, even vibrant colors) and styles. Derived from asphalt and reinforced fiberglass matting, the cost of materials has risen sharply this past year as have all petroleum based products. If working with a contractor, get the price of the shingles to be used in writing.

Longer Lasting Roofs

Most roofs will last between 20-25 years, but some shingles have warranties which extend their usefulness to 40 years, even longer. You'll pay more for better quality shingles, but you'll have a roof that lasts longer and, if you plan on selling your home, a roof that will add value.

Beyond shingles, some homeowners prefer metal roofs because they are more durable and able to hold up against high wind and can resist fires. Businesses and factories favor steel and metal roofs, but homeowners are finding that they can provide superior protection for their homes too. Tip: Check with your insurance broker to find out if your metal roof would drop your homeowners premium too!

Contractor or DIY?

If you are searching for a roofing contractor, find someone who is licensed and can provide local references.  Check with the Better Business Bureau or your Chamber of Commerce for local roofers. Get your estimates in writing and insist that everyone who steps on your property is covered by the roofing company's insurance.

If you are planning to tackle the roofing job yourself, then shopping around for supplies can save you money.  To plan your project, you'll need to do the following:

• Measure the entire room, section by section. Width x length for each section and then add those numbers together to determine how much shingles you will need. Divide that number by 100 and then add 5-10% to your total to cover waste, mistakes, and eventual repairs.
• Follow the shingle manufacturer's guidance on the type of nails to be used and the recommended number of nails for each shingle. Multiply that amount by the square footage to determine the amount of nails needed.
• Purchase enough roofing felt to cover the entire roof.
• Roofing cement will be needed for ridges, flashes, and edges. Other roofing materials can be purchased as the same time as your shingles.

Most roofing jobs can be completed in about two days for an average sized home, by using a team of workers to strip and remove the old roof and lay down the new roof. Once done, you'll have a home that looks great, is more energy efficient, and ready to withstand whatever nature will be throwing at it over the next 20, 30 or 40 year.

2008/08/07

If you're considering have a home built to your specifications, then congratulations -- you're having a home built the way that you want it to look instead of settling for what a builder or previous owner has in mind for you.

Building a home to spec used to be a big hassle, as drawing your own plans, redoing them again and again, before finally getting it right takes a lot of concentration, patience, and endurance.

Fortunately, home design software has changed the way that homes are designed so much so that even the novice can help design a house. Best of all, if you make mistakes or need to make a change, you don't have to start from the beginning -- your design can be modified within minutes.

Taking A Peek Inside

Imagining what your home will look like once inside used to be difficult but quality house design software programs which include a three dimensional interface where you can see the home from the inside are available. Please know that not all software programs are the same, with some offering expanded uses. Shop for those which allow the following:

Realistic 3D modeling -- view rooms exactly as they'll be created. Sized and laid out proportionally with the ability to make changes on the go.

Comprehensive 2D planning -- draw rooms, design floors and ceilings, add text comments, and show room measurements.

Demonstrative room elements -- programs which allow you to add sample sized furniture can help you see if everyone you want in the room will fit and where you can place everything. More elaborate programs will allow you to choose furniture very specifically -- that 93" Ethan Allen Retreat Sofa could be placed right in the living room, giving you an exact look for that part of the house even before you begin to build.

Detailed utility inclusion -- Software programs which allow you to add electrical and plumbing conduits, even customized trim for walls, windows, and stairwells, will give you a remarkably close final design.

You'll Still Need Professional Assistance

No, designing your home won't remove the need for you to call upon the services of a qualified architect, but your design can help him understand what you want in the layout of your new home. Limitations of paper and pencil are no longer an issue with quality home design software, obstacles now removed thanks to the computer age!

2008/08/06

Assembling a Home Construction Specification Plan

Interior Decor

Who is the best judge of how a new home should look? Is it the builder? An interior decorator? Or would that be some other type of professional?

Although there isn't anything wrong with employing the services of a professional, the people who live in a home are often the best judges as to how it will look. After all, a house isn't a home until you have personally decorated it.

We've Come To An End In Our Series

In our ongoing home construction specification plan series, which comes to an end with this article, we've taken you through all of the steps needed to acquire property, lay a foundation, build your house, and turn that house into a home. The final step, your home's interior, isn't a requirement of your home specification sheet, but it does play an important role as to where a wall will be built, how a room is laid out, and more.

Fortunately For You, My Advice Is Limited

Although I have been comfortable detailing the entire home spec plan up to this point, I must tell you that I am not someone who is particularly adept at interior decorating. For that, I leave this task in the capable hands of my wife.

If I were tasked with decorating a home, it would probably have a distinct bohemian bachelor look -- a mix and clash of furniture, colors, and assorted knick knacks. It would be tidy, but not something that would appear in Architectural Digest or House Beautiful.

Get Informed!

Fortunately, there are some great resources out there for the person who wants to decorate their home. I mentioned two of the more popular interior decorating magazines, but there are some other places you can go for help:

Interior Decorating Stores: If you have a good store in your area, paying them a visit could be worth your while. Many of the larger stores offer seminars and classes to help you design your home's interior. Sure, they want your business, but the ideas offered can be used anywhere.

Take A Class: Many adult schools and some community colleges offer classes on decorating your home. You don't have to get a degree, but if that Window Treatment class costs you $50, you'll likely get that money back when you go out to shop for what you want.

Turn On The TV: If you have access to cable channels, then a channel like HGTV can help you lay out your kitchen, choose the right colors for your den, find the best bedding for your child's room, and much more.

Of course, a knowledge friend can also offer tips and advice, just the information you need to personalize your home.

On a final note, thank you for following our series which began in October 2007. If you are interested in a recap, most of our articles were posted on Tuesdays, so please go back to our Home Style For Every Homeowner article and start from there.

Enjoy your new home!

2008/03/04