CAT | Build Your Own Home
Draft Stop Your New Home
0 Comments | Posted by armchairbuilder in Build Your Own Home, Owner-Builder
How to Build a Home, Step 38 Did you know there is an actual building activity we call draft stop? Also called draftstopping or air seal, the draft stop activity is important for creating a comfortable, efficient living space. By sealing up all the nooks and crannies in your new home, we effectively keep the […]
How to Build a Home, Step 37 The electrical rough-in for your new home comes after the plumbing and ductwork are installed. Wiring can easily be run around these items…but not the other way around. Here we will show you the major items to review to make sure your electrician did a quality job. If […]
HVAC Rough-in
0 Comments | Posted by armchairbuilder in Build Your Own Home, Owner-Builder, Quality Check
How to Build a Home, Step 36 For those who choose a forced air heating and cooling system for their new dream home, the installation begins with the ductwork. It’s important to get the HVAC installation right to maximize energy efficiency and comfort. Here in step 36 of our How to Build a Home series […]
Building Material Prices Continue to Rise
0 Comments | Posted by armchairbuilder in Build Your Own Home, Owner-Builder, Save Money
. Building material prices continue to rise because of reduced manufacturing capacity and increased demand from new housing starts. Anyone thinking of building or remodeling needs to carefully consider their material choices as prices have gone up…dramatically in some cases. Here we’ll share with you some of the increases and discuss some possible ways to […]
How to Build a Home, Step 35 After framing your new dream home, it’s time to start the plumbing rough-in. This step in our how to build a home series of articles covers the schedule, preparation, and quality checks for the plumbing. There are some key items that professional builders use to get a quality […]
House Cost Per Square Foot
0 Comments | Posted by armchairbuilder in Build Your Own Home, Owner-Builder
Most builders try and stay away from using house cost per square foot estimates. There are some serious flaws to this type of cost estimating that can create false expectations. These estimates do however have a place in the new home planning process. Here we take a look at the good and bad elements of […]
Roof Installation with Asphalt Shingles
0 Comments | Posted by armchairbuilder in Build Your Own Home, Owner-Builder
How to Build a Home, Step 34 Once your carpenter is finished framing your home, it’s time for the roof installation. This is step 34 in our blog series on how to build a home. If you are interested in seeing the previous steps, type how to build a home into the search box in […]
How to Install a Prehung Door
0 Comments | Posted by armchairbuilder in Build Your Own Home, Owner-Builder, Quality Check
Once you’ve reached the frame stage when building your new dream home, it’s important to know how to install a prehung door. In our last post in our how to build a home blog series, we covered the framing activity. Most professional home builders have their rough carpenter install the exterior doors while framing the […]
Install New Windows: Tips for Owner Builders
0 Comments | Posted by armchairbuilder in Build Your Own Home, Owner-Builder, Quality Check
You typically install new windows in your dream home project at the end of the framing activity. There are so many things that can go wrong with the installation, so we’ve decided to give you some professional general contractor tips for getting it done right. Don’t assume this is an easy process…every window and home […]
Build My Home and Save Big
0 Comments | Posted by armchairbuilder in Build Your Own Home, Owner-Builder, Save Money
Can I really build my home as the general contractor and save money? Don’t professional builders have an edge over the guy that builds just one home? With the downturn in the real estate market, can owner builders still save? Here we share with you an insider’s look at what kind of money you can […]
