CAT | Owner-Builder
Installing Tile with Bondera
0 Comments | Posted by armchairbuilder in Great Products, Owner-Builder
It’s been over a year now since we completed our tile project with the Bondera product. In case you don’t know, Grace Construction Products…the makers of the popular roof underlayment Ice and Water Shield, sell a product called Bondera that takes the place of traditional mortar for tile installation. We decided to use the product […]
Energy Saving Ideas for Your Home
0 Comments | Posted by armchairbuilder in Owner-Builder, Save Money
Creating a home that’s energy efficient helps the environment as well as your wallet. Whether you’re looking to improve the efficiency of your existing home or want to build an energy efficient new home, there are so many options available. Here’s a look at the best Armchair Builder articles covering energy saving ideas for your […]
Cold weather is just around the corner for much of North America. So before you break ground on your dream project, you will want to carefully look at the requirements for building a quality home in freezing temperatures. Here we give you some cold weather construction considerations that can impact your budget and quality. Feasibility […]
Material Deliveries: Avoiding Damage, Delays & Theft
0 Comments | Posted by armchairbuilder in Build Your Own Home, Owner-Builder
In many parts of our lives, getting things done early is a good thing. However, when we are building a home, this is just not the case. Having materials for your new home arrive on the job site early can lead to all sorts of problems. Let’s take a look at some of the […]
Buying Land: Minimize Cost Overruns
0 Comments | Posted by armchairbuilder in Build Your Own Home, Owner-Builder, Save Money
When you’re buying land to build your future dream home on, it’s extremely important to do some due diligence prior to finalizing the deal. From zoning to soil checks, a little extra work performed upfront can save you tens of thousands of dollars and a bunch of headaches. I drove by a new custom home […]
Leveling the Playing Field for Owner Builders
0 Comments | Posted by armchairbuilder in Build Your Own Home, Owner-Builder
Is it really possible for owner builders to compete with professional home builders when it comes to price and quality? The short answer is…Yes. There are some great resources available to help those wanting to build their own new dream home. From professional builder management tools, to builder consultants, to house plan packages, these resources […]
Permit Previously Built Project: A Reader Question
0 Comments | Posted by armchairbuilder in Build Your Own Home, Owner-Builder, Quality Check
Here’s a reader question that came in to Armchair Builder last week… My wife and I bought our house back in 1996. At that time there was an unfinished room above the garage. HVAC and electrical were already in place. With the help of a contractor friend of ours we finished the room (sheet rock, […]
Add Living Space to Your Existing Home
0 Comments | Posted by armchairbuilder in Build Your Own Home, Owner-Builder
Are you looking for cost effective ways to add living space to your existing property? There are several different ways to add space without going through the hassle of moving. Some of the methods to add living space are more cost effective than others. Let’s take a look at some of the more popular options […]
In our last post, Kitchen Update, Part I, we talked about all the necessary steps to go through prior to construction of your new kitchen update. Here we will discuss demolition, scheduling, and construction. We will also share some tips for minimizing the impact of construction on the rest of your existing house. Demolition Once […]
Would you like a new kitchen update in your home? Anyone can take charge of their own kitchen remodel as an owner builder. All you need to do is be thorough in your planning and follow the Armchair Builder checklist below. Rough Layout This includes the overall design including location of walls, windows, appliances, islands, […]
