CAT | Quality Check
Your Home Addition: Avoid the Words…”Tear it Down”
0 Comments | Posted by armchairbuilder in Home Addition, Quality Check
There are a couple phrases we never want to hear as an owner-builder after our new project is complete. The first is…you need a variance. The second is…tear it down. So how do we deal with the “V” word and how do we avoid ever having to take down a project we just built? If you […]
Range Hood Fans Can Be Dangerous
1 Comment | Posted by armchairbuilder in Owner-Builder, Quality Check
Recently one of my customers asked if he could supply his own commercial grade fan over his range. After all, he does own his own restaurant and they will be cooking up some big meals in the new home. I asked him to get me the specifications for the fan so I could determine what […]
Insulating Your Finished Basement Project
0 Comments | Posted by armchairbuilder in Basement Finish, Quality Check
By insulating your new finished basement you will create a cozy space that will actually improve the energy efficiency of your home. Believe it or not, most new homes didn’t get basement insulation until recently. This is crazy since up to 30% of your home’s energy loss is through the basement walls. So in this […]
Frame Quality Issues, Finished Basement
0 Comments | Posted by armchairbuilder in Basement Finish, Quality Check
The most important element in creating a quality finished basement is the framing. All of the finishes you see when the project is complete are affected by the rough carpentry quality. So what kinds of things can go wrong if the rough carpentry in your finished basement is done in an inferior fashion? Ugly Tile […]
Checklist: Keep Moisture Out of Your Finished Basement
0 Comments | Posted by armchairbuilder in Basement Finish, Quality Check
If we are going to put time, effort and money into finishing our basement, we need to make sure we take steps to keep the moisture out. There is nothing worse than having to remove new carpet, drywall, and insulation because water made its way into your home. Here is a checklist I use whenever […]
There is a good article in Fine Homebuilding this month regarding water leaks from ice dams. In case you are new to the term, ice dams are a build-up of ice on a roof that prevents water runoff from getting off the roof. The resulting water at the dam eventually makes its way back under […]
With today’s economy, people are looking for ways to save money. What if you could save $40-50 a month on your utility bills just by making a few adjustments to your home? For the average American family, heating and cooling typically account for the largest portion of the utility bill. By making a few simple […]
When hiring a tile subcontractor, certain items are a must to ensure a quality finished product that will last for years. These are fresh in my mind as I just finished a kitchen renovation. We installed a gorgeous 18″ square limestone with coral. Here is my checklist for a quality installation… Underlayment – Make certain […]
Granite Overhang Limit
5 Comments | Posted by armchairbuilder in Great Products, Kitchen Remodel, Quality Check
We are installing a granite bar top in our new kitchen remodel and the question came up…how far can the granite overhang before it needs support? We have a 2×6 wall below the bar top. The bar top is 18″ wide and we plan on having a 1.5″ overhang on the short side. Attention all […]
Kitchen Remodel Checklist, Part II
1 Comment | Posted by armchairbuilder in Kitchen Remodel, Owner-Builder, Quality Check
In the last post (Kitchen Remodel Checklist, Part I) we talked about all the necessary steps to tackle before you start demolition/construction of your new kitchen remodel. Here we will discuss demolition, construction, scheduling, and how to minimize the affects of construction on the rest of your home. Demolition: Once we have our materials, we […]
