Pre-Planning for Finishing Your Basement, Part I
3 Comments | Posted by armchairbuilder in Basement Finish
On a previous post, we talked about different ways to add space to your home. In this post titled What Does it Cost to Add Living Space, we talked about how finishing your basement was one of the least expensive avenues to add square footage. If you have decided to finish your basement as an […]
Over the weekend, hurricane Irene brought with her 100+ mile per hour winds, storm surge, and extremely high levels of rainfall. This type of weather can create all kinds of problems for homeowners. So what kinds of things should you be looking for around your home to keep things safe? Don’t Go Into Flooded Areas: […]
It’s usually about this time of year that we get customer questions about leaking basement pipes. Of course we always go out to investigate but most of the time this isn’t a plumbing problem at all. It’s hot and humid outside and cool in your basement. Your basement plumbing pipes can be quite cool/cold. When […]
We have all been talking about reducing our energy needs though better design and construction techniques. After all, who wouldn’t want to save on utility bills while contributing to the overall well being of the environment? So, when I saw this article describing the first energy positive office building in the world…I had to share […]
Floor Joists: Use Manufactured or 2x’s?
12 Comments | Posted by armchairbuilder in Great Products, Save Money
I had an owner-builder recently ask, “what are the best floor joists to use on my new addition and why?” First, let’s get the options out there. You can go the traditional method with dimensional lumber, otherwise known as 2×10 or 2×12 floor joists. Or, you can use a manufactured floor truss, that is typically […]
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 […]
What Does it Cost to Add Living Space?
4 Comments | Posted by armchairbuilder in Basement Finish, Home Addition, Owner-Builder
With the economy as it is today, people are looking for ways to save money. Many families have moved in together to share costs. So, how can you add space to accommodate the extra occupants comfortably? The truth is, there are some very affordable ways to add living space to an existing home and some, […]
Successful Owner-Builder Story
0 Comments | Posted by armchairbuilder in Build Your Own Home, Owner-Builder
I saw this owner-builder story, How I Built My Own House – Without a Mortgage, and couldn’t help but share it with you. Ian’s example of an owner taking charge and building his own home is somewhat extreme but successful nonetheless. He actually completed a good portion of the work himself which compounded his savings. Ian […]
Owner-Builders Around the World
1 Comment | Posted by armchairbuilder in Build Your Own Home, Owner-Builder
Believe it or not, 80% of the homes built in Austria are built by owner-builders. Ireland is at the 50% mark. In fact, most of Europe is at or above 50%. So where does the U.S. stand? Approximately 30% of the homes built here are by owner-builders. So why is there such a big difference […]
Charlotte Builder Offering Assistance to Owner Builders
4 Comments | Posted by armchairbuilder in Owner-Builder
A builder in North Carolina is offering several different packages for owner builders to choose from when building their new home. Hester Homes has a division called “Build a Little” that allows customers to take on some of the general contractor tasks. Essentially, each customer can choose a level of involvement based on their experience […]
