Home Improvement Construction

The roofing over a home or business is comprised of many different components. Though some are familiar to most, there are other components that only professionals tend to be familiar with. Those components are just as important to the equation as anything else even though they may not get the same level of conversation.

Planning a major home improvement project is exciting, but it is also stressful and expensive. There are lots of moving parts to consider, which is why it is so important to hire a great and trustworthy contractor. Once you find a good contractor, you are hopefully a little less stressed. But when this contractor asks you for a whopping 30% up front, you might start second-guessing your decision.

The soil around the foundation of your home needs to have the correct grade for drainage. You may also need to improve the soil so that you can grow plants. We’ve put together this quick guide for you if you need to know how to build up the soil around a house foundation.

After binge-watching real estate shows, you might think you need to fix everything in your house before you can list it. But the truth is, you can overdo it. Some things just aren’t worth repairing or upgrading before you sell. However, there are undoubtedly home fixes you must complete before selling. 

Are you building a new structure and have some questions about I-joists and joist bridging? We’ve put together this quick guide to show you how joist bridging works and whether or not I-I-joists need bridging.

The foundation of a building is important for a lot of reasons. Without it, the house cannot safely remain upright, especially in the face of severe weather or slight shifts in the ground. That is why having a solid foundation in place is so imperative.

In America today, the average home is roughly 2,600 sqft., compared to an average household size of 2.6. About three people living in 2,600 sqft might seem rather comfortable, yet many people opt for much larger homes. It could be they need the space, or it could be they want to show off a lavish home.

Does your home have an attic space somewhere upstairs? Or are you constructing or remodeling your home? You’re probably grappling with the confusing world of residential codes. 

Colorado is one of the premier vacation destinations in the United States. As people visit, many are deciding that Colorado is the place to live as well. Colorado is rapidly becoming a favored relocation area for many families. Learn about building in Colorado and how much your new home may cost in this article.

A vapor barrier is an essential part of construction in any home and can prevent damage from moisture like mold and mildew. Even if you live in a warm climate, the potential for moisture to get into your home is high. While there are different kinds of vapor barriers, the most common is poly and it comes in different thicknesses.

Building a structure like a barn or shed doesn’t feel like as big of a deal as building a livable structure to many. However, Building Departments throughout the country value safety and expect you to comply when you build a barn. So, what happens if you build a barn without a permit?

Over time, as quality lumber supply lessens, we will likely experience a dramatic shortage and metal studs will begin to replace their wood stud counterparts. While wood studs are definitely more common in general construction, there are a number of benefits associated with using steel studs in a home.

Buying a house is difficult but building one, that is another story. Instead of filling out forms and jumping through hoops, you will be pouring the foundation and building the frame. But how long does it take to build a house?

Pilings are columns that hold up houses in areas where the soil cannot sustain a traditional concrete foundation. Using pilings allows builders to construct homes in areas that would otherwise remain undeveloped, such as beach areas, flood zones, floodplains, wetlands, and the sides of mountains. Having the right number of pilings keeps your home safe and minimizes the risk of damage from erosion and storms.

When a building is being constructed, it goes through many phases before the finished product is reached. Also, of utmost importance, is using the appropriate materials to ensure a strong build. The first phase is constructing the frame, but should you use 12d or 16d nails for framing?

Building a new home on a budget is a rewarding endeavor. But these days, finding the right materials at a low price can be a real challenge. Prices continue to increase and sometimes materials are difficult to find, which makes them even more costly. If you are on a tight budget when building a home, you will want to search high and low to find cheap or free materials to incorporate into your home building project.

Installing a roof is not as simple as assembling a pyramid of boards and dropping it on your house frame. There are things to consider as far as time constraints, cost, and aesthetics when drafting plans for a new build. Unless you’re using a single layer flat roof, two construction frame options are available to you: rafters or trusses.

Bricks are known for creating sturdy, insulated homes. If you are building a brick home, you’ll want to have a rough idea of how many you need. The old joke says that you only need one brick to complete a house no matter the size. Once you fit that last one in, the house is done. However, if we want to know how many bricks it takes to build a house that will require a few facts about bricks and some math.

Home improvement and construction projects are not cheap. Remodeling your home, or adding onto it are projects you and your family save for years to make a reality. So, when it comes to hiring a contractor and negotiating a price, there is a lot of pressure to get the price as low as possible.

There’s no doubt that living in a smaller home has its perks; just ask any tiny house advocate. However, living in 400 square feet or less is certainly not everyone’s cup of tea. But, what about a home that’s about 750 square feet? 

When you’re comparing house wrap, you’ll find that most of them have many features in common. House wraps are essential for keeping your home as durable as possible. You’ll want to keep your eyes peeled for things like air-resistance, cold resistance, and UV rating. 

Some people call it paradise. Others see it as Eden in the Pacific. Whatever your views, you will probably admit that Hawaii is one of the most beautiful places in the world. Many people dream of living in Hawaii but wonder how much it costs to build a home in Hawaii?

Many homeowners choose to add a garage to their home after it’s already been built. Doing so is an excellent way to add value to your home and give yourself some extra space for storage and parking.

Hanging drywall in a home is a big moment. It is when the shape and feel of a house really takes form and the construction site suddenly becomes a home. The drywall phase is a real turning point in home construction, and it involves some careful considerations. After all, you need to decide the type, amount and size of drywall that you need. You even need to decide whether you should hang it vertically or horizontally. 

Adding insulation can be a task depending on the size of your rooms or attics. Try applying the same logic to a vaulted ceiling, and you’ve got the potential of having a pretty big headache. Because of this, we’ve produced a short guide to help you out with insulation in vaulted ceilings.

Adding a new addition to your home as a builder-owner is a smart and exciting prospect. An addition of any size adds value, but a 20×20 addition is popular and offers many possibilities. You probably want to jump right into your 20×20 addition, but first, it’s important to know how much it will cost.

If you are currently looking to move into a new home, you are all too aware of the competitive and unpredictable state of today’s housing market. Buying a home in 2023 is incredibly expensive, stressful and can be difficult. Buyers are often outbid, and find themselves searching a real estate market with limited inventory. Naturally, it makes sense to consider building your own home rather than continuing in the housing market rat race. But when it comes to building versus buying a home, which is cheaper?

There are so many factors that go into choosing your type of home construction. Whether you’re shopping around or looking to build your house from the ground up, it can be overwhelming. You know about the all-to-common wood frame homes, but another type of house keeps popping up: CBS homes. So, what is a CBS home, and why is it growing in popularity?

If you are thinking about building your own home, you probably have a lot of questions. There is a ton of information and research to be done before even getting started on a plan. The first thing you really need to know though is how much it is going to cost you.

Radiant barriers are classically located in attics and are excellent at reducing the amount of heat and reducing cooling costs. While it may not be as typical, you can also install radiant barriers in stud walls. With this short guide, you will be well on your way to understanding how to go through this installation.

When you first start woodworking, you’re probably using 2 by 4s. They’re easy to attach to one another, not to mention to other wood measurements. When you need something sturdier, a 4×4 is what you’re going to grab. Attaching two of these to each other, though, can be a little bit tricky. So, how can you do it?

Knowing when your siding is ready for an upgrade is simple. Choosing the right type of replacement siding is not quite as easy. After all, when it comes to ensuring that your home is durable and possesses curb appeal to impress, your siding should be one of your first considerations.

Buying land is the American Dream. Who hasn’t had the idea of purchasing a plot of land and building the perfect home right on top of that plot? Unfortunately, there is far more to the dream than most of us realize. Like setting up utilities on that land.

Whether you’re building a new house on an empty lot or you’re setting up camp in a rural area, you can expect to face more challenges than you would if you were to build in a subdivision. Depending on where you live and the land that you purchase, site development costs can vary considerably. If there’s one thing that land developers know to be true, it’s that you should always budget more for developmental costs and fees than for buying the actual land itself.

 Many homeowners have asked themselves at one point or another: “Can I build a wall myself?” People consider it for many reasons – whether they are renovating a new home, preparing to sell, or trying to create more space for their growing family.

Are you thinking about upgrading your bathroom to give it a fresh look? One of the best ways to make an impact is by replacing your old bathtub or, if you only have a shower right now, to add a new one. Unless you have advanced carpentry and plumbing skills, this will involve hiring a professional to carry out the work.

Almost everyone dreams of a custom-built home. Getting exactly the amenities you want, on the location you want, with the finishes and colors you want is the goal. Many factors influence the overall price of a custom-built home in South Carolina.

Ah, the age-old tradition of hiring a contractor for your home. Fixing up your home is a pricey endeavor, and it’s actually one that carries a fair bit of risk. There are plenty of cases where contractors asked for large sums of money for a project upfront, only to bail mid-project. To ensure that you don’t get fleeced, contractors have a limit on how much they can ask for upfront in California. But, how much is it?

Plywood is an affordable and reliable building material, and it can be used to construct a great many things. It’s been a popular building material for decades, and most modern homes and businesses incorporate plywood in some way. Generally speaking, it’s a durable material. But like a lot of other materials, it becomes less durable when exposed to water, especially if it’s exposed for a prolonged period.

One of the most important aspects of a well-built home is excellent insulation. If you mess up the insulation, it can cause significant spikes in heating or cooling bills and potential fires. You need to know how to staple insulation to your studs.

Ductwork isn’t easy for every homeowner to navigate without vast HVAC knowledge, and that is understandable. The ducts in your home are every bit as important for heating and cooling your home as the AC and furnace. So, what size duct do I need for a 12×12 room?

Container homes, once a curious oddity in the realm of home building, have grown significantly in popularity over the years. They are common for everything from vacation rentals to guest suites, and are even used in building large geometric dream homes in desirable areas.

Until the 1980s, popcorn ceilings were quite popular. Popcorn ceilings are made of a spray-on stucco material, and many contain asbestos. The material asbestos can lead to serious problems such as cancer and asbestosis, so homeowners often remove popcorn ceilings.

Nails are one of the most common fasteners that are used for construction and other projects. At first glance, all nails seem to be created alike, except for the length. Some subtle differences make one type of nail better than another for a specific job, such as framing a structure.

For anyone working with concrete, being familiar with the cure time is an absolute must. Concrete is a building material that is not structurally sound until it is cured. The curing process depends on many factors outside of your control.

Whether you’re a professional builder or a DIY enthusiast, details matter. Everything from the screws in your home to the drywall you put up has to be installed properly. 

When spray foam insulation gets wet, it is easy to get worried over what may happen. You may wonder if you have to throw the whole thing out. Thankfully, damp spray foam insulation is not the end of the world.

Have you ever wondered if you could live comfortably in less than 600 square feet? When tiny houses became popular, many people started on a path of shedding clutter and living a more minimalist life. Although technically, a tiny house is typically less than 500 sqft, 576 sqft is still a small living arrangement.

Running across a term like “floating wall” might have you scratching your head in wonder at what ultimately sounds like a magic trick. But, on the other hand, if you’re from Colorado, the term might sound familiar where such building practices are common. The continuously expanding soils in Colorado are why floating walls as used.

Wood paneling was a popular option for homes in the 1970s and 1980s, but today is a dated look. Many homeowners prefer the appearance of smooth drywall compared to wood grain paneling. Updating your interior space can not only make you happier at home, but it can increase the value of your home. Unfortunately, removing wood paneling can be extremely time-consuming and expensive.

In 2019 US News ranked Vermont in the top five best places to live in the continental US. Vermont consistently scores high with families as a prime destination to make a home from scenery to education. Fortunately, the cost of home building in Vermont is reasonable and compares favorably with many other parts of the US.

Many people in recent years shifted toward a significant lifestyle change when they drastically downsized to 400 sqft or less. Undoubtedly, living tiny has its pros and cons, but is it for you? 

The roof over your head keeps your family and property safe. A good roof also enhances the curb appeal of your home and increases its value. When you build a house, the architect may talk about using stick framing and trusses. Each option has advantages and disadvantages.

SIP panels are modern, eco-friendly building panels that are quickly becoming popular with home builders. SIPs, or Structurally Insulated Panels, are load-bearing panels that can be used to efficiently build a home. They can be used instead of a traditional house framing. 

When building a home from the ground up or adding an addition to your existing home, you have to jump through a lot of hoops. Each town or county has its own set of zoning laws put in place by the local government. Oftentimes, the contractors will take measures to ensure they’re adhering to the proper laws. Whether you’re employing a contractor or building a structure yourself, it is important to understand the zoning laws in your area.

As pop star Maren Morris says, “The house don’t fall when the bones are good.” That sentiment has been the title of a hit HGTV show, too. So what exactly does it mean for a house to have “good bones?”

Having a basement offers more storage space and additional living space for you and your family, which makes it a popular project for many homeowners, especially if you don’t have a lot of overall square footage. Depending on where you live, you’re going to run into different guidelines and roadblocks when it comes to digging out a basement.

From record sales and rapid price increases to historic supply chain issues and steady interest rate hikes, things are without a doubt wild and constantly evolving in today’s construction world. But even with these major shifts and hurdles, buildings are still going up and new construction is soldiering on.

Texas is growing faster than almost any other state in the Union. In Texas, Houston is experiencing an economic and population boom as businesses relocate and their employees follow. The lower cost of living and the relatively modest cost of homes than other states make Houston particularly attractive. Many people are surprised at how much it costs to build a house in Houston.

Idaho runs neck and neck with Texas as the current most popular state for relocation. Low population densities, low costs of living, beautiful landscapes, and many other positives make Idaho a haven for many people. In addition, the cost of building a home in Idaho is a favorable factor.