Basement insulation may help keep your first floor warmer. Is insulation added to basement ceilings between the floor joists worthwhile? Insulation slows heat transfer, but choosing to insulate your basement ceiling is not the most efficient. Basement wall insulation may be the answer.
Masonry walls made from stone, concrete block, brick or a combination of the materials can look fine, but wind-driven rain can really cause waterproofing problems. Massive amounts of water can enter through invisible passageways.
Concrete homes have many benefits, including a maintenance-free exterior. Concrete is very durable, but can come with a large price tag. Concrete forms, concrete blocks, precast concrete walls and cement stucco are some other options to use in building your home in place of cast in place concrete. They will provide the sound practicality of concrete, but be more financially forgiving.
Create a new look in your home. Openings between rooms can be arched and plastered to give a whole new look. Follow my tips.
Architectural services are not all the same. Some architects are full service and offer all sorts of assistance while others just like to pump out plans. If you are building for the first time, the extra services a good architect offers may be worth their weight in gold.
Matching brick for a room addition may be close to impossible. Look for color over texture if your brick is discontinued. From a distance no one will notice a different brick texture but color differences will be seen a mile off.
The gravel or sand base beneath concrete, flagstone, blacktop, or any other finish material must often be very accurate. If you have too much base material in place, the finish material can be too thin. If you have too little base material in, you can waste expensive concrete or worse yet, come up short! You can learn quickly how to install and level sand or gravel by reading this column.
A power washer is a great tool in the right hands. Damage from improper use is inevitable. Some surfaces can be ruined by a pressure washer.
Photos can help you track home building or remodeling projects and help find hidden structures in walls or underground. A photo can help you if the relationship between you and your builder starts to sour. Photographs can help you avoid or settle a dispute.
Quality construction seems to be, in some cases, what the customer is willing to accept. Not all contractors do quality work. Some are not as skillful as others. And some building materials will not withstand poor workmanship. New home construction customers should work hard to find a contractor that will perform quality work.
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