Go Green: How to Make a Home Addition More Environment-Friendly
When it comes to extending your residential space, a home addition can be a good option unlike purchasing a new home. For one thing, you can be able to customize a home addition according to your housing needs. A good home addition design can provide you with the right living space that won’t supposedly break your budget. You should hire a professional home additions builder if you want to expand your current living space. More and more people nowadays are getting aware of the negative effects of climate change. From scorching summers to the unusually freezing winters, it has created a negative impact on the world we are living in. One of the major causes of climate change is the improper and irresponsible use of our natural resources. While we are benefiting from various technological advances, our environment is suffering. However, it might not be too late to do something for the environment. One way that you can help is by building an eco-friendly home addition design. Building a green home addition It can be exciting to start a home addition project. For one, you can customize the house extension according to your residential needs. Whether you want a sunroom or an additional bedroom, it is important to plan carefully in building a home addition. Better yet, you can make your home addition an eco-friendly one. Speaking of which, it can be exciting and even fulfilling to build an environment-friendly home addition. From the building materials down to the fixtures, it is possible to create an eco-friendly home addition. In fact, the concept of green buildings is getting more and more popular these days. Having a green home can provide several benefits not only for the environment but also for the homeowner. For example, a green home can help in reducing energy consumption, hence provide a lot of savings for the household. Green homes are also more affordable to maintain and promote a high quality of the living environment. What to consider in building a green home addition When you say green home additions, it means considering “green” items to be used. This includes the roof, foundation, down to the furniture and fixture. However, there are also some things to consider before hiring a home additions builder to build a green addition. Consider your budget. For one thing, using “green” materials doesn’t mean your budget has to suffer. In fact, green building materials may be on par with the usual building materials in terms of cost. On the upside, structures made from green materials can promise faster build times, hence lower labor costs. Consider your ventilation. If you want to achieve a green home, install a house fan instead of an air conditioning system. The former is a great option for those living in warmer climates. Also, home remodeling architects also recommend installing windows in strategic areas of the house to let natural light in, hence lessening the use of artificial lights. Consider your lighting systems. Use LED or compact fluorescent light bulbs instead of incandescent. The latter not only produces additional heat but also consumes more energy than the […]
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When Is the Best Time for a Home Addition?
There is something about having your own house that makes you feel proud and accomplished. It is as if you are doing what the younger millennials call “adulting” the right way. Buying a house is not cheap either – you either have to get a housing loan or pay for it in full cash. Owning a house is one thing, planning for a home remodel is another thing. A home addition design may be necessary depending on your home living needs. You would also have to contact a professional home addition builder to achieve your home improvement objectives. Likewise, it requires careful planning and you need to invest time and money in a home addition project. When to start a home addition project As the popular adage goes, “there is always the best time for everything”. The same applies in a home addition. It can be exciting to plan for a home addition project. But the question is, do you really need one right now? There are some important factors you can consider whether it is the right time to have a home addition. Here are some things you need to think about first before giving a professional home additions builder a call. Season In many countries, summer is the best season to do outdoor remodeling. For one thing, it is better to do any home improvement if the sun is up with no threats of project delays due to rain or any bad weather. Material costs On the downside, prices of raw materials may shoot up in peak seasons especially during summer. Having said that, it may be a good idea to plan your home addition project ahead of time. In other words, you may consider purchasing building materials in advance before summer arrives. Contractor’s availability You should also include your contractor’s availability in your home addition plans. Like building materials, the contractor’s availability may also be compromised if they are busy juggling other building projects. That said, it is important to determine which times of the year are their busiest seasons. Planning for a home addition You may get inspired by home addition ideas you see on the internet or glossy magazines. But there are times that it may not be applicable to your own home for some reason. However, you can consider these questions if you are planning for a home addition. What kind of home addition do you need? There are different kinds of home addition that will suit every homeowner’s needs. It is like creating an entirely new home for your growing family. How much will it cost? For one thing, a home addition can be expensive depending on how big the additional room will be. It will also depend on the materials that will be used and labor costs, among a few. Are there building and zoning restrictions to consider? In most places, you may have to find out any restrictions when it comes to building another structure in your property. This includes restriction in a structure’s height and materials to be used, among a few. Do you even need a home addition? As […]
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What You Need to Know Before Renovating Your Attic
There may come a time that you will need additional living space for your growing family. Your child may already be growing up and want to have their own bedroom. Or perhaps you want to have a small office area where you can work at peace. You might consider a home addition design to accommodate an extra living space in your home. Some may opt to call home addition companies to build a separate building that will serve as a small bedroom, playroom, or office area. But you may not realize that the space you are looking for may be literally right above you all this time – the attic. Your attic may have been a dusty storage area ever since, but it can be the additional space you are looking for. Getting started Instead of hiring home additions builder companies and spending additional money to build a new living space outside your house, you can consider remodeling your attic instead. Not only it can save space within your property, but you can also customize your attic according to your needs. Taking on an attic renovation project can be fun. You can even involve your whole family for this home improvement project. Better yet, you can hire home remodeling architects and make the most out of your attic space. Before you know it, you already have a fresh-looking attic area that you, your family, and even your guests will love. What to consider before renovating your attic Before proceeding to your attic renovation project, there are many things you have to consider first. Whether you will use the attic as an office, playroom, or bedroom area, there may be some certain restrictions you need to know. Among these include the following. Check the local building code. Before doing any renovation in your property, it is important that it complies with your local building code. Also, check whether you will need a permit to renovate your attic. Usually, permits may be necessary if you will add ventilation or wiring in your attic area, or if the entire attic area will be changed. Among common building code qualifications in most states may include: There should be at least 7 feet height between the floor and the attic ceiling. If your attic has less than 7 feet in height, you can hire a home addition builder to adjust the ceiling height. The attic room should have at least 70 square feet of available space. The attic should also be at least 7 feet wide and can be accessed via permanent stairs. If the attic is accessible via a ladder or pull-down stairs, you may have to build a full staircase. It should also have a window that can be opened for exit in case of emergencies. Check for ventilation and heating requirements. Your attic may not have ample ventilation and heating, for now, so you should add one during the renovation project. Architects builders can help you and check whether the attic can accommodate a cooling and heating system. This is also to ensure that the attic will be conducive enough to be […]
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Renovate or Remodel: What’s The Difference?
A home remodel needs some tedious planning. For one, you need to consider your budget for the project. In addition, you need to plan for other things that will be affected by the renovation. This includes: Relocating your furniture and appliances Waste disposal and safety plan Checking the water lines and electrical lines that can possibly be affected Temporary shelter for your family in case the entire house will be renovated Before implementing the remodeling project, you should consult a reliable home addition builder first. Home addition companies should offer affordable home additions and other services for their clients. The company should also have good feedback from previous customers. That way, you can ensure that the remodeling project will be in good hands. Home renovation vs. home remodeling Home renovation and home remodeling are often interchanged. After all, they sound as if they are pertaining to the same thing. For one thing, they both refer to making improvements in an existing home, apartment, or any property. However, they slightly vary on some factors. On one hand, renovation refers to the repair of a damaged property into a better state. However, it depends on the extent of the repair needed. If it only needs a minor repair, it’s considered a renovation. But if it needs a major overhaul which can totally change its original look, it’s already considered remodeling. Speaking of remodeling, it refers to changing or transforming the form of a certain thing. When you are planning to remodel – say, your kitchen – it means the look will totally change and will look different once the project is done. Distinguishing the difference between the two is crucial. You need to communicate with the builder about what you want to do to your property. When you say you want to renovate your home, it means making repairs but not necessarily changing it into a different and unrecognizable one. For your home remodeling requirements, you should find the best home remodeling architects near your area. Preparing your home for remodeling One of the things you need to consider when planning remodeling or renovation is the timing. Experts suggest implementing the home makeover during the summer season. Here are some things you need to do in preparation for the home renovation or remodel project: Ensure clear and constant communication with the contractor or home additions builder especially before and during the project. Create a detailed timeline. It should include the estimated date and time of the renovation project. Instruct children and other family members to keep away from the construction area. Relocate your furniture, appliances, and other home décor elsewhere away from the construction area. Plan on keeping dust and debris from flying throughout your home. Things to consider before remodeling your home The thought of renovating or remodeling your home can make you feel giddy. It can be an exciting milestone as a homeowner. However, make sure to follow these reminders before deciding to overhaul your home. Ask yourself what you really want. It’s easy to say that you want to renovate your bathroom. But what part of the bathroom? Do […]
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Fireplace Remodeling Project
Looking at your fireplace area gives you the feeling that you need to call your home remodeling architects. It’s like giving you a message that it needs a refashioning, but you just don’t know where to start. Especially this winter season, fireplaces are the best source of heat within the household. It is also where you mostly spend time with your cup of tea or coffee while relaxing. If you happen to have a big space by your fireplace it is also where you gather around with family or friends and share some good laughs, chats and sometimes fun games. There are also other homeowners who also add an outdoor fireplace either by the patio or at the poolside area. With a lot of fireplace designs coming out its flexibility is can already give you the assurance that there is no “right” place for it for as long as it can serve its purpose. Now, with the need of your fireside to be remodeled, you have to find inspiration from the following ideas that will guide you on how you can give a new look to your common-looking fireplace. SOME FIREPLACE DESIGN IDEAS – Use An Attention Seeking Mantle. Every plain-looking fireplaces need an element that can draw the crowd’s attention. An antique or vintage-looking wooden mantle can set a warm tone within the area and can transform your living room into a focal point. By doing that it will not only be your furnaces that will be a head-turner but the fireplace most especially. – Try A Stylish Hearth Screen. You may not notice it at first, but a fireplace screen can really add a statement to the area where it is standing. It creates a scenario where it is being protective of the people that will be gathering close to the hearth while at the same time shows how attractive it become. – The Contrasting Color Approach. Painting the surrounding area of your fireplace can compliment the fireside and furniture around it. Like if your fireplace is black, you can paint the walls with the shades of gray while everything else in the room is wearing blue and white tones. – Surround It With Artworks And Paintings. If you’re a lover of the arts and everything else about this craft, then placing some abstract paintings over your fireplace can instantly draw attention. Anyone who enters the room can have their attention fixated on the attractive colors and design of the artwork itself. Prices of an artwork vary so you really have to be a wise spender if you wanted to keep your makeover on the less costly side. – Make Use Of Rustic Wood. Using reclaimed wood can transform any place or furniture into a vintage piece that tells so much story. And if you use it to remodel your fireplace it will definitely bring out a different character and drama. Keep the entire room in style and your fireplace can already take care of itself. GIVE IT A DIFFERENT CHARACTER – Stick To Black And White. Modern homes never set aside the B&W color scheme and […]
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Home Additions: Office Space Ideas
Having an extra space as a working area is a common home addition or renovation every household owners got it listed on their remodeling checklist. But when it comes to home addition design for an office space, you do not need the whole room to be your working area, not unless you’re running a studio or into designing or you’re not a minimalist fan, an ideal workspace should be something that allows you to breathe, is a space that you can call your “own” when you’re working or is an area that can inspire you to work well and should not, in any way, distract you. Additional Space For Your Ideal Office Area Make use of your Laundry Room Laundry room? For real? Yup, and it really works, especially if you are into crafts and needs a station for wrapping and creating small things. A team of designers has spotted an unused space in the laundry area and converted it into a craft and art station. They make use of pull-out storage cabinets and sliding drawers to give room for more storage. While a wall-table was installed to make it look like an office space at the same time. You can also make use of the paper towel holder as well as hooks for all your supplies at least it will not consume much of your space. An awkward Basement Area Many homes have unused spaces or awkward areas that can be converted into an office or study area. You can place an office table perfect for adults or kids to use, but if it will be your personal space for work, then utilize the entire room to make you and your work more manageable and relaxing at the same time. Install hanging shelves and storage compartments to keep your things organized. If the area is big enough, take advantage of it, but if it’s just like an alcove, you can still expand your limited space into something. Try placing an overhead shelf that you can expand from one to the other depending on your space preference. Connect it to a Living Room If your career requires you to have an at-home office extension just to get your work done, it’s best to have your home office addition near your receiving or living room area. Why? Because it’s a great venue for client meetings or staff brainstorming during weekends. You can have a long table set up facing the wall where you can place two desktop computer monitors or it can also be a perfect spot for all of your paperwork. Placing a coffee table for two is also a great idea if you wanted to take a short breather or a short meeting with a business partner over a cup of tea or coffee. Create A Productive Working Zone Within Your Home Make use of a Tiny Space into something Big Office spaces depend on the kind of career and requirement that your job needs. However, not all extra home spaces have that kind of zone that you wanted. But it does not mean that you cannot make use of […]
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Interior Home Remodeling: Bathroom Remodeling Advices
Looking for a house in order to make it a home is a little bit tricky. It will take time for us to decide on where it is located and how it looks like. There are a lot of people who often buy a ready-made house. And all they have to do is hire home remodeling architects. This way, they will be able to redecorate and reconstruct the way their house looks to the way they wanted it to be. It usually takes a lot of work so that it will look exactly the way they wanted it to look. Every part of your home should be cozy and must have that homey feeling. From the front door up to the attic, everything must be well constructed and well- done. One of the most important parts of our home is the bathroom. It is one of the places aside from your bedroom where you get to have your own time. You get to spend your time there before you get ready for the day. A well-constructed bathroom will make you feel comfortable whenever you are using it. This is a place where you get to pamper yourself with a warm bath, do your beauty routines and as well as abiding by the call of nature. Below are some areas of your bathroom that you can add or renovate. You can even install different kinds of bathroom accessories to fully make your bathroom experience great. Showers and Bathtubs Showers Shower area comes in different designs. There are those that have small and there are those that are spacious. When it comes to renovating your bathroom, the shower area is one of the most important parts. The design of your shower area should correspond to your preference and so with the size of your bathroom. There are a lot of things you need to consider when it comes to renovating your shower area. You have to decide which shower head you are going to use, the kind of division you want, whether it is a simple shower curtain or a glass door. Bathtubs If you are the kind of a person who likes to have long and relaxing baths, bathtubs will always be your best friend. There are a lot of bathroom ideas that show different kinds of bathtubs. There are tubs that are detachable, there are also those that are mounted on the wall. Bathtubs come in different shapes and sizes. All you have to do is to make sure that it will fit inside your bathroom and will give you enough space for the other bathroom necessities. Countertops and Flooring Both countertops and flooring matters in your bathroom. It is responsible for its striking look because of its color and built. Choosing the right color combination of both countertops and flooring will make the most of your bathroom. There are a lot of things that you need to consider. Like the shade of the color you want, the kind of tiles you will be using for the floor and the design of your countertop. There are a lot of countertops that you […]
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