Archive for the ‘New Construction’ Category
Timber Frame Structures no comments
Known as one of the worlds oldest construction methods, Timber Frame Structures are regaining popularity with some new technology. Some hot new trends have come to this old construction method that make the design possibilities almost endless. The “barn” has evolved in the last few years. Working with traditional concepts and images, some barn construction companies have found new exciting uses for barn designs that combine today’s yearning for wide open spaces, with environmentally conscious construction. The new Timber Frame designs of today still remain grounded in their traditional elements and roots.
Solid and rugged, these structures are the essence of traditional timber framing, utilizing oak pegged mortise and tenon joinery. No metal brackets or splines are generally used, and the weight of the entire structure is supported by the frame which leaves the interior mostly open. For centuries timber frames have been used to build solid structures that span great lengths and heights. Most Timber Frame Structures are assembled in a large workshop by highly skilled craftsman using newer technology for even more precise joinery. Depending on the size of your structure, it could take anywhere from three to six weeks to cut and finish your frame. Then the frame is dis-assembled and shipped to the construction site. From there it is reassembled and the living spaces finished to the owners specifications.
The wood used during the construction process is usually taken from local native forest’s through sustainable means, but most oftentimes the wood harvested to be used is either Cedar, Douglas Fir, Eastern White Pine, or Oak, among others. The trees are cut down to size with large saws and then kiln dried due to the fact that only fully dried timbers can be smoothed, sanded and stained. The kiln dried timbers provide strength and durability, and combine the beauty of the wood with the elegance of the timber joinery to create a rustic yet modern feel. Hybrid Timber Frame Structures, which are gaining huge popularity, use large timber structures to provide the wood frame feel used in the main area of the house and use either standard stick frame techniques or SIP (Stress Skin Panels) to fill in the walls and provide insulation. The result is a Timber Frame look and feel with the savings of a conventionally built home with standard framing.
Many of today’s home buyers are planning to spend their retirement years in their homes, or enjoying their family horses for a very long time. So when you look at how Timber Frame Homes and barns are being built these days, you can definitely see that people are counting on the fact that their Timber Frame Structures are strong enough to last more than one lifetime.
Visit DC Building for all your Timber Frame Horse Barn needs and questions. Robert Davidson is a free lance writer for DC Buildings.
Create Your Own Home Bar no comments
Whether you like to drink or you just like to throw parties, having the right environment in your home for such occasion can really make the difference in the enjoyment of your guests. If you are a wine lover, then you will definitely want to think about creating your own home bar. This doesn’t have to be anything too fancy of course. All you really need is some simple things such as a bar cabinet. Before you go out and buy anything, you will first want to access what you need.
Depending on the size of your kitchen, you will want to see what you can fit in it. If you have room for a bar cabinet, then there are many different types for you to choose from. There are cabinets that are big enough to hold over 2 dozen wine bottles as well as the drinking glasses and other items. These can take up a lot of room though so you will want to make sure you have room for it. If you don’t have a lot of room, then you can get smaller cabinets that can even be placed in your entertainment room or your living room. If you are going to be placing the cabinet in a room other than your kitchen, then you may also want to get a cooler or something to keep your drinks cold when you have guests over.
Another thing you will want to consider getting is bar stools. Again, this will depend on what sort of kitchen you have but if you have high counters, then these stools will work well. There are many different choices to choose from when it comes to these stools. You can get them with back supports or without. Some will have a foot rest while others won’t. You can also get the swivel bar stools as well. All of these things will cost money obviously so you will want to take cost into consideration as well.
So is something like this even worth the trouble? It really depends. Many people like to host parties and to them, it’s about the look and environment. If you have the right furniture and the right over all look, it can really put your guests at ease and put them into the right mood to really enjoy the party. You can find anything you need to turn your kitchen or some other room into a pretty neat looking home bar with the right items.
Andy writes about various topics such as the bar cabinet. You can find more about these bar cabinets at his website.
All You Need to Know About Sunrooms? no comments
A home should be a place which offers relaxation and comfort to a person. Sunrooms are home extensions which are constructed onto a house. They help to enjoy the surrounding landscapes without being affected by adverse weather conditions. Sunrooms are a great blessing for those who love the outdoors. Even though you love the warmth of the sun there are many reasons which may prevent you from staying outdoors. Harmful pests, harsh weather, penetrating rays of the sun etc can be the reasons. Sunrooms come as a solution for this dilemma. You can stay indoors in a comfortable manner without missing out the warmth of the sun.
Sun rooms are a great investment these days. They are made of glass and as a result let heat and light of the sun inside. Sunrooms are built not only in new houses; people are adding them to already existing ones. These are used for multi purposes. Sunroom is cost effective than building an extra room which will not let light the way the former would. The cost of the sun room will depend on the type you need and its purpose.
Sunrooms come in various shapes and sizes and can be as simple as a greenhouse. They can be the perfect place for gardeners to enjoy their plants and watch them grow. You have to consider about heating and cooling if you are using sunroom as an extension of living space. It is possible to install heating and cooling systems during the extremely cold winter days and hottest summer days. There is also the option of installing three season sun rooms which are usable in warm climates. As far as those who live in moderate climates this is the best option as you find the temperature of the sunroom comfortable throughout the year.
You can have some fun furnishing after completing the construction of the sunroom. The furnishing depends on the purpose for which it is used. It can be set up as a place for your kids to play or as a reading room by installing some shelves. In case you need extra privacy, blinds and curtains are available to be fitted into the sunroom. There is no need to worry that this will damage the stability of the structure. These blinds can be controlled from electronic hand held devices. The rising demands have made it a profitable industry.
In earlier days the floors of the sunrooms were often tiled to avoid the possibility of roof leaks and the entering of cold air making the room chilly. These days floors with heated pipe and insulation are available. Nowadays customers are not confined to using tiles. Wide variety of materials and forms are available for flooring from which you can choose.
It is important to do some research and planning about what you want out of your sun room since it is something that should last for many years. Also make sure that you have a planning permission before you start. Once you complete all these procedures you can thoroughly enjoy your sun room.
If you are looking for more information then feel free to visit Sunroom.
Learn About Bungalow House Plans – Free Resources no comments
Bungalow house plans are quickly returning as a desired home style. Bungalow house plans originally came from western areas of the United States but quickly drew interest from southern and northern area families. The original bungalow houses were quite small and only a single storey in height. Bungalows often had wide verandas across the front or wrapping around the house providing additional family gathering areas. Today bungalows are still considered to be single stories but may include partial second floors or loft areas.
The popularity of bungalow floor plans is often the result of the desired convenience of having all the main living areas on one floor. In some cases it may be a requirement of necessity as the absence of stairs makes the floor plans well suited to those who are aging, have limited mobility or are confined to a wheelchair.
Bungalow floor plans come in a wide range of sizes from small, compact plans suitable for inner city lots to large, sprawling plans that take advantage of country locations. Therefore bungalows can be considered suitable floor plans for any type of homeowner – young or old, single or married, large families or small.
The smaller bungalow plans will be designed with strict, efficient use of all space as was typical in the original traditional bungalow designs. Simplicity of design is essential in creating a functional small bungalow plan. These plans can provide comfortable living spaces with all the current household conveniences that families are looking for while allowing for an ease of maintenance and smaller lot considerations. Smaller bungalow plans are suitable for individual homeowners or small families. They are often considered as ‘starter’ homes for families but are often found to be so efficiently designed accommodating grown families is possible.
Larger bungalow floor plans have become very popular in recent years. These floor plans provide families with designs that include more elaborate spaces in which to entertain, relax or engage in family activities. Often these larger plans may include separate ‘wings’ to allow for privacy between bedroom areas and active living spaces. Active living spaces may now include mini gyms, game rooms, home theaters and hobby spaces. In areas where construction practices include full basements bungalows with fully developed basement areas are extremely common. This helps to offset the more expensive aspect of bungalow construction. Since bungalows require more foundation and roof area on a per unit basis (per sq.ft, per sq.M) than the same living space in a two storey, bungalows are more expensive to construct. By retaining the convenience of all the daily living spaces on one floor and adding the amenities and/or extra bedrooms in the basement level the footprint can be kept smaller and maintain cost.
Bungalows can be designed in any style of exterior architectural design. Traditional exterior styles will customarily be Craftsman, Prairie, Shingle or Colonial designs. Typically clad in natural materials and finished in earthy color schemes these styles all offer wonderful attributes for a comfortable family home and blend suitably in most surroundings.
Bungalows are also well defined by Modern, Post Modern and International styles of architecture. These styles will consist of strong yet simple forms enhanced with edgy detailing. Finishing materials will be clean and smooth with possible textured or boldly colored accents. These styles offer the discriminating homeowner opportunity to make a contemporary lifestyle statement.
Kathy Evans is the author of DesignerPlans.ca – the first website of it’s kind to host tailored online portfolios of house plans, offer sales material and marketing services for residential builders. Learn more about Bungalow House Plans – Get 3D virtual views, and the opportunity to customize your home plans.
Finding a Reputable Greenhouse Builder no comments
Finding a reputable greenhouse builder and manufacturer should not be hard to do, but there are a lot of questions to ask them when considering a company for building your greenhouse structure. I hope this article helps when considering a greenhouse builder and manufacturer. A garden greenhouse has been used for not only small outdoor areas but has also been built for schools and universities. There are many different kinds of garden greenhouses. Some are made with vinyl, plastic, wood, aluminum, pvc, polycarbonate and glass among other materials. In choosing a type of greenhouse you should check with a national greenhouse builder to help you consult with this no matter how big or small. Many of the reputable greenhouse builders have been in business for at least 10 years and you will be able to see their portfolio as well as speak with some of their clients as well. The greenhouse builder specializes in working with the materials used in different parts of the country and can help you decide what your needs will be.
With many greenhouses, the builder also offers benches, hanging rods, hydroponic tubing, shade cloths, air systems and misting systems. They can also tell you how many windows needed in the roof to allow proper moisture control and venting. Steve Reno, owner of a reputable greenhouse company based in Houston, Texas says “to allow enough room for the plants especially if you plan on putting in benches, misting systems, etc. You would be surprised how some people can forget that. Also, make sure your materials hold up to the weather in your particular part of the country. You do not want to build a wood frame greenhouse in the south especially near the coastal region. We actually draw out a blueprint of the plan that allows everything the gardener needs to allow for future growth as well.”
When ordering a greenhouse it is a good idea to use a greenhouse builder who manufactures their own product. As a versatile greenhouse manufacturer, they should offer a full range of greenhouse structures from economical and functional, hobby and commercial greenhouse kits to complete turn-key luxury estate greenhouses and garden rooms, and everything in between! Many of the online companies that have not been in business long order theirs through China or Europe and are not as good of quality for the avid gardener. Some companies may charge more for their product because the materials and structure may have been engineered to outlast basic weather conditions and will outlast the cheaper temporary models. Check also to see if they have their manufacturing facilities close by. This would ease any problems with delivery and technical issues or missing pieces that could take too much time in the building process. There is nothing so frustrating as to order a greenhouse and have a few of the screws or particular parts not show up and have to wait a month for the part to come from China. It is a good idea to use someone that manufactures them locally. Check also to see if they also offer greenhouse maintenance which can also save a lot of lost time and money. When storms blow in, the local greenhouse builders are able to come out and do some repairs.
The greenhouse builder should not be a contractor that does not specialize in greenhouses. They should be qualified and not just a dealer, but a true builder that helps design or works directly with the architect to help you build a nice pleasing greenhouse structure that will last for years to come. They should help consult with site selection, shade needed and accessories. They should also offer a manufacturer’s guarantee. These are just some basic issues to think about when planning your greenhouse. For a true greenhouse builder and manufacturer, there should be products ready to ship or make, and a full line of accessories available. Many companies will help with the selection of type of greenhouse, and will also answer any questions you have on constructing it yourself but make sure when dealing with the accessories much thought is given to working safety and working with glass. This can prove to be dangerous.
For smaller areas, you may wish to build a greenhouse dome, or greenhouse out of wood. Caution to the amount of wood used and plastic used as these not only last a shorter period of time, create wood rot and possible termites, but can also spread disease to the plants. PVC has also been used to build greenhouses. This seems like a better material than the wood choice. Greenhouse builders may not be easy to find but asking the right questions will definitely save a lot of heart ache. They should be happy to give you the time when deciding on the perfect greenhouse. Happy Gardening!
Southern Greenhouses is owned by Steve Reno who is a greenhouse builder, manufacturer, and designer. Southern Greenhouses has been building and manufacturing greenhouses for over 25 years. He is easy to talk to and knows a lot about everything that goes into building a greenhouse. He has many greenhouses he has built from universities, colleges to simple lean to greenhouses. He can be reached directly from his site at http://www.SouthernGreenhouses.comHe would love to speak with you about building your Greenhouse dream!
Steve Reno, http://www.SouthernGreenhouses.com
He lives in Houston, but builds greenhouses all over the United States.
Judy Stevens is an article writer, and full time SEO marketing specialist.
She is friends with Steve Reno and all the fine folks at Southern Greenhouses.