Finding the ideal house plan to meet your lifestyle and needs may seem time-consuming or overwhelming, but knowing what to look for can help lead you to success when building your new home. 19 Things You Must Know When Choosing House Plans 1. Aesthetics: Do you like […]
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How does this even get past the planning phase? &%$@# Hmmmmm… Should have measured twice! Apparently, you don’t want anyone seeing your face, but everything else is okay? The oak seat is a nice touch, though. And the purpose for the door is? This stall is […]
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Whether you’re remodeling your home or on the hunt for a new one, the cost of a solar system is on everyone’s radar these days. Installing a solar energy system can give your home that extra edge while saving you on monthly utility bills and curbing your […]
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Construction Lien Act In Ontario – Introduction Those involved in the construction industry are continually faced with financial risks not encountered in other commercial contexts. These financial risks stem from the fact that most construction work is carried out by different construction trades people who have no […]
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Straw-bale home construction is a building method that uses bales of straw (commonly: wheat, rice, rye, and oats straw) as structural elements, building insulation, or both. The first straw-bale structures we know of were built about a hundred years ago by European settlers in the Sand Hills of Nebraska. Having little other […]
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Post and Beam construction is a method of building homes with heavy timbers rather than dimensional lumber Where low energy running costs are matched by precise engineering quality and a new home doesn’t need to come at the expense of future generations. “Post and Beam” construction or […]
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Everything you need to know to create a warm, comfortable, attractive log home. Over the last 30 years, architects and designers have taken log cabin design to places our founding fathers could scarcely imagine. Yesterday’s one-room cabins have become full-fledged homes—even castles—sought out by do-it-yourselfers and boardroom […]
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Insuring Your Home While Being Built – Construction Insurance Even though insuring a home while it is under construction or being built is not directed by any laws, it is a must, especially if you finance all or a part of construction costs. So, what type of […]
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At the beginning, we have to state that only a small percentage of contractors are bad apples. Those who are will cost you large in time and money. Fortunately, scammers and con artists are pretty easy to spot as long as your desire to save money doesn’t […]
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How much will my dream home cost – What you need to know about a cost of homebuilding: If you are considering having a custom home built, the following information will help you get an idea of the home building cost exclusive of land. There are many […]
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Buying a House With a Well and Septic System: A Comprehensive Guide Ah, the charm of rural living! Rolling fields, serene silence, and enough fresh air to make city dwellers green with envy. But life away from urban utilities comes with its quirks, notably wells and […]
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Living in a radiant heat home provides you with a level of comfort that no other heating method can match. So, how do you combine this luxury with valuable hardwood floor? Is the combination of radiant floor heating and hardwood floor a dream or nightmare? The […]
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In this Guide To Operating & Maintaining Your Septic System, you will learn that the way you treat your septic system will influence how long the system lasts and how well it functions. If you own or rent a property served by an on-site sewage system, you […]
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By Leigha Dickens When we talk about energy efficient building, everyone wants to know about the R-value. “R-value” (that’s the inverse of the BTUs of heat transferred per hour per across a square foot of surface area per difference in temperature, in degrees Fahrenheit, on either side of […]
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Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) represents another choice for builders seeking alternatives for R-30 (or higher) walls for single and multifamily construction. Although a substantially different system than the more typical ICF construction methods, SIPs can achieve equally impressive results cost-effectively if the nature of the product, its […]
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$579,900.00 Energy Efficient Home – Less than $100 per month to heat this 1600 sq.ft. home in the midst of the winter: Wow, is the only word to describe this luxury “to be built” home! Executive 3 bedroom/ two full bath luxurious bungalow with stone & siding, […]
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Invisible, Clean, Quiet, Efficient and Dependable – Living With Hydronic Heating is One of Life’s Simple Delights In North America forced air heating is still the most popular because of its low installation costs. However, it is the most expensive type of heat to operate and the […]
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A geothermal system is a heating and cooling unit designed to extract the natural heat stored in the ground during the winter and discharge heat from air conditioning to the relatively cold ground in the summer. This article discusses geothermal heating costs in Ontario, Canada A […]
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Title: Energy-Efficient Homes: Your Guide to Saving the Planet (and Your Wallet) Without Living in a Cardboard Box “Design energy efficiency into your home at the start, and the benefits will pay off for years to come.” Ah, the wisdom of yesteryear. Back when “energy-efficient home” meant […]
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1. How do residential wind turbines work? A wind turbine, which is installed on top of a tall tower, collects kinetic energy from the wind and converts it to electricity that is compatible with a home’s electrical system. In a standard residential application, a home is served […]
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1. What can you build with Insulated Concrete Forms? Cast in place concrete walls for bearing and non-bearing walls that have superior insulation built-in. You can use ICFs for foundations, exterior above grade walls, sound walls, residential, commercial, and industrial walls. ICF concrete construction is also used for […]
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Insulated concrete forms (ICF) is a method of building walls for reinforced concrete ordinarily manufactured with a rigid styrofoam insulation that stays in place as a permanent interior and exterior walls. 9 Things You Should Know Before You Start Building With Insulated Concrete Forms 1. Insulating Concrete […]
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Solar hot water heating systems are compatible with radiant floor systems for a multitude of reasons: 1. The radiant floor system requires water temperatures in the same range that the solar system can generate. 2. Hydronic baseboards and fan coil systems, by comparison, require water temperatures that […]
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23 Things You Need To Know About Wood Burning Stoves That May Save Your Life! Note: Before installing a wood burning stove, seek advice from your stove dealer, your local building inspector or fire department. And check with your insurance agent. The insurance company may have its specifications […]
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ICF-great-case-study Insulating Concrete Forms (ICF) wall most commonly consist of concrete between polystyrene foam, although other form materials such as polyurethane, recycled wood and cement mixtures exist. The foam is usually two flat pieces of either expanded polystyrene (EPS, average R-value of 3.8 per inch) or extruded […]
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