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Month: December 2019

Helpful Attic Finishing Tips from Experienced Builders

Helpful Attic Finishing Tips from Experienced Builders

There are many reasons why you may want to finish building your attic. Apart from just offering additional living space, completing the construction of the attic could also significantly boost the overall value of the home. And, the investment usually comes with lots of returns on investment. Nevertheless, the following are some helpful tips on how to finish up your attic. 

Observe the Rule of 7s 

Generally, the building codes vary from one state to another. But, there is one golden rule that applies to all, which you should always keep in mind when planning to finish your attic. The rule of 7s requires that you have at least 7 feet of clearance between the walls. In basic terms, finishing the attic into an additional living space requires at least 70 square feet. Besides, it is still important that you carefully consider what you intend to do with the attic to create a desirable space. 

Add Proper Lighting 

Without proper lighting, the attic can become a significant safety hazard in your home. Proper lighting will not only illuminate the spaces but, also inspire a sense of warmth and style therein. When finishing up the attic, you should maximize the use of natural light by creating properly sealed windows. If the attic does not have any exterior windows, you should consider installing hidden pot lights or more efficient lamps. 

Consider Rerouting the Access Points 

On most occasions, attics have limited access with just a stairway leading downstairs. If you are looking to remodel the unused space in your attic, rerouting the access should be a key consideration. Creating an alternative access point would be quite convenient in case you are thinking of renting the space. 

Other areas that you should also keenly focus on when finishing your attic include the floors and roof quality.  With a good plan and the help of a professional builder, you will be able to easily create the right attic in your home. 

Check out this video from Owen’s explaining some attic tips in detail. Check it here.…

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Features to Consider During New Home Construction

Features to Consider During New Home Construction

There is so much to consider when constructing a new house. From the budget to layout and design finishes, it becomes easy to get overwhelmed and forget some important features. The following are some considerations to make when picking the right features for your new home.

House Orientation

This is an important factor to consider regardless of the styling you might have chosen for your house. Access to direct sunlight throughout the day is crucial, thus most homeowners will prefer their houses to face north. Such an orientation is very useful especially in winter when temperatures drop considerably both inside and outside of your house. If your location is affected by strong winds, you should factor in this as well.

Current and Future Needs

It will be a mistake to factor in only the current needs when designing your home. For instance, you might have a small family of four people now, but that won’t be the case in the future. The kids will grow up and move out, or your elderly parents might move in with you one day.

Pets Comfort

Not everyone is fond of pets, but at one point someone in the family might require one. Homeowners get very attached to their pets and treat them as part of the family. Therefore, while building a new home, consider building a comfortable place for them. However, you should have the doors to pets houses built in such a way that, they won’t allow raccoons and other vermin into the house.

Hidden Room

Everyone wishes to have a state of art hidden room that adds some level of security. This room can be used as a secure vault or a panic room which increases the security in your house.

Storage

Storage is one of the most important features when constructing a new home. This is important especially to new owners, who need a lot of space to stuff their possessions. Therefore, consider building a bigger attic, closet, and a deep pantry. The same will apply for the kitchen, where you’ll need extra cabinets and drawers which will attract future buyers if the need for re-sale arises.

These features will add a lot to the functionality of your house, as well as make a huge difference when you put your home on the market.

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5 Reasons to Hire a General Contractor for your New Construction

A new construction project should be an exciting, positive experience. Everyone aspires to be a homeowner. It’s, however, important to note that constructing the home of your dreams or even renovating your current home involves not only proper planning and resource allocation but also working with the right professionals. One of the most important aspects of your new construction or renovation is hiring an experienced and professional general contractor. 

The success of your project depends on the kind of general contractor you work with. But why do I need to hire a general contractor, you may ask? Well, here are some of the advantages of working with a general contractor for your home renovation or new construction project. 

Professional Competency in Construction

Undertaking a home renovation or new construction requires professional expertise, experience, and knowledge of engineering construction. You don’t want to risk causing damage to your property or not realizing your dream home by working with an inexperienced contractor, therefore. Your general contractor should comprise of experts who are trained and experienced in the field of home construction. By hiring such a contractor, you can rest assured of a great service and a structurally sound home. 

Accountability and Transparency

Some construction projects require you to work with several contractors. In such cases, it can be difficult and stressful supervising and following up on the progress especially if there’s no one contact person. Hiring a general contractor ensures transparency and accountability when it comes to communication and the overall execution of the project. Furthermore, the fact that general contractors are companies that care much about their reputation means they’ll endeavor to ensure their reputation is intact by ensuring transparency and accountability in every aspect of your construction project. 

A General Contractor Saves you Time

Every project has a budget and schedule. It’s, however, important to note that your construction schedule can be interrupted by bad weather and other factors. Hiring a general contractor will ensure the project keeps moving and stays within schedule no matter the setbacks. It’s the contractor’s responsibility to resolve any arising issues and problems and ensure everything runs smoothly. 

Better Control of your Project

There’s no better way to manage your new construction or remodeling project than to work with a general contractor. Your contractor will supervise how the builders and sub-contractors complete their tasks and ensure everything is within schedule. Simply put, your general contractor helps you manage and take control of the timing, cost of materials, and every other aspect of the project. 

Financial Savings

A home construction or renovation project can be quite expensive. Yes, some projects cost millions of dollars. You probably have a budget and want to cut on construction costs when undertaking your project. A general contractor can help you realize your dream of owning a home within a budgeted amount. Not only do they have the expertise and experience to do the job right the first time but can also help you get the lowest bid from subcontractors and high quality construction materials at a lower cost. Remember they have established working relationships with building suppliers and subcontractors.  

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