A Guide for Insulating a New Garage Conversion

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Man on construction site with plans in hand

When planning to extend your garage, the thought of the décor might not cross your mind. How will the room look? But most importantly, you need to think about insulation. Your garage is just a place for parking your vehicle. As such, it might not be a pleasant place for spending time during the colder months. Therefore, you need to insulate it once you convert it. Here is a guide for insulating your garage conversion. 

Insulate the Walls 

Insulating the walls should be the first step. If the garage was built into the home, this might not be a major issue. That’s because the walls could have the same standard as the house. Thus, your garage walls might be compliant with local building regulations. 

However, you will have to work on the door part. You can use a stud wall in this part. That means you will create a wall between the gap and fill it with insulation materials like rigid boards or rock wool. 

Insulate the Roof 

Whether you have a flat roof or a pitched roof will determine your insulation decisions for this part. Insulating a pitched roof is easier. You just need to insulate the loft in the main house. Insulating a flat roof gives you two options. You can go for a cold roof, where you fix the insulation material between the roof joists, or a warm roof where you add insulation above the joists. 

Insulate the Floor 

To insulate the floor of your garage conversion, make sure that the concrete is moisture-free and level. Once you’ve done that, consider using foam insulation to coat it. You can also use wood sleepers to ensure that foam panels fit in-between. 

Regardless of the options you choose when it comes to insulating a new garage conversion, make sure that the job is done by the most qualified professionals. That way, you will get quality, long-lasting results.
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Effective Ways to Build a Better House

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Similar to other industries, home construction remains subject to a series of changes mainly caused by innovations and technologies. While some changes also come with additional risks, they mainly aim to improve customer satisfaction. Nevertheless, the following are key innovative ideas to help you create better living spaces. 

Make Wiring Upgrades Easy with a Chase 

Today, most homeowners demand wiring upgrades for multiple phone lines, high-speed internet connectivity, and home entertainment systems. To easily avoid the common problems that builders often experience with such upgrades, you should install a PVC chase that runs from the basement to the top floor. 

Build Ground-based Air Intakes 

Building a home with ground-based air intakes will properly address the growing need for fresh indoor air quality, keeping your house cool in summer and warm during winter. One of the best ways to build the intake is by using a stainless steel pipe buried at six feet underground. One end of the pipe connects to the floor register as the other opens up to the yard. The intakes can be connected to each room in the house, ensuring moderate air-intake that will significantly reduce your home’s cooling and heating needs. 

Choose Concrete Slabs for Outdoor Flooring 

Builders have found an innovative and less-costly way of building concrete floors, which you should also consider for your house. The process involves using a structural pan to pour four-inch slabs for the flooring of decks, stairs, and steps then, dyeing and stamping the surfaces to create unique color patterns. The surfaces are not only attractive but, also durable and highly resistant to moisture and wear. 

Established builders also recommend using building systems as a great way to avoid huge labor costs as the suppliers can deliver all the panels and materials for building the entire home at once. Building systems are both eco-friendly and cost-effective since they have very little to no construction wastes and, also require less labor. Overall, all the ideas discussed above can help you to create attractive and safe living spaces without any significant financial implications.
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Useful Tips for Stress-Free House Construction

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The decision to build a home is probably one of the biggest you will ever make. It comes with lucrative rewards and challenges too. While most people only focus on the benefits, it is very important that you also know about the challenges of house construction and how to address them for success. The following are useful tips for stress-free house construction. 

Budget for More than the Expected Construction Costs 

Do not always assume that things will go according to plan. Most of the time, you will find out that the actual costs exceed the estimates. That may be due to pricing and some costs that were left out in the initial budget. For convenience, you should create a budget that caters to more than the initial construction cost estimates. 

Make Early Arrangements for Financing 

You do not want to keep halting construction due to financial inadequacies after the start of the project. Therefore, make sure that you have the money required for every stage of the construction process ready. If you are getting a loan to build the house, meet the lenders and discuss all the details on time so that the money will be ready when the project starts. 

Work with a Professional Builder

The builder will represent your interests and expectations of the project from its inception to completion.  As a result, you need someone with the skills and experience to make sure that the project is handled to your expectations. The key elements to consider when choosing a builder should include credentials, past projects, pricing, and reputation. 

Visit the Construction Site Often 

Although you trust the builder to create your dream home, do not wait until the project is completed to see how it comes out. It could be humiliating to find out that the builders did not follow your instructions after the house is complete. Regular site visits will enable you to personally observe and evaluate the progress of the construction so that any changes can be made on time. 

Although house construction presents various challenges, you can avoid most of the stress with proper planning and understanding of the procedures involved. The above tips will help you to determine some of the risks involved in building a new home as well as how to effectively mitigate them.  For updated stress free info and qualifications, check out the national association site here.

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Types of Basement Construction

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The basement foundation offers the needed strength to keep your home standing tall in all weather and environmental conditions. However, the effectiveness and longevity of the basement mainly depend on the type of construction and how it is built. Nevertheless, the following are some of the most popular types of basement construction. 

Poured Concrete 

This is perhaps, the most common type of basement construction for a majority of homeowners. The key reasons behind its immense popularity are durability and ease of installation. In this type of construction, the concrete is simply poured to form a footing for the basement. Both sides of the footing are held in place by forms, which are removed after the foundation is dried. That results in strong and lasting foundations. 

Precast Panels 

Precast panels are also becoming very popular today mainly because of their time and money-saving properties. The panels are fabricated separately then, transported to the construction site for installation. Precast panels are made from a mixture of concrete but, they are more water-resistant and, also very strong. 

Concrete Blocks 

Concrete blocks are considered to be the least expensive alternative when it comes to basement construction. The walls of the foundations are crafted using cinder blocks, which are much easier to install than poured concrete. They are also fitted with steel rebar for better reinforcements. The only setback is that cinder blocks are usually prone to water leaks, which could impact water damage. 

Stone Walls 

Stones and clay were popularly used in historic times. As such, they are only common on buildings of the yesteryears. Although they have a rustic appeal, stone or clay basements are also quite durable. Their only problem is that they can easily allow water and moisture from the ground to seep into the foundation. 

Depending on the type of basement construction that you need, it is important to consult with a professional for assistance in making the right choice. 
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4 Common DIY Building Code Violations

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You’re off and running various home improvement tasks on your own so you can save some cash in the process. While you may believe yourself to be handy enough with power tools, you should avoid undertaking larger scale projects that require expertise and experience. When you take a new construction or renovation project into your hands you’re not only risking property damage and injuries, but also building code violations. It’s best you hire a general contractor to handle your project.. 

Understand that building codes are set guidelines, rules, and regulations that ensure your residential or commercial property is safe to live in. Failure to comply with these codes could result in fines and a costly tear-out. You may also be forced to redo your construction or renovation project. Here are common code violations that trip up many who go the DIY route. 

Starting a Construction Project without Proper Permits

The fact that you own the property doesn’t mean you can perform any renovation or construction you want without obtaining permits from the authorities. Failure to obtain appropriate permits means your project won’t likely comply to the set regulations. This is something that will come to haunt you in the end. You won’t have access to a building inspector and you risk penalization. You’ll be liable for any improper construction or installation as your insurance company won’t cover any damage or loss in case of any. 

Incorrectly Wiring Electricity

 Common wiring mistakes include splicing wires without a junction box, using the wrong size circuit, and missing a ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI). Electrical wiring can be life threatening if not handled correctly. It’s the most critical part of construction and requires the knowledge and experience of an expert.

Improper Bathroom Venting

Many don’t realize it’s a code violation when the bathroom venting fan vents into an enclosed space like the attic space. This will always result into all sorts of problems including mold growth and rotted wood. According to building codes, bathroom venting fans are supposed to be installed in such a way that they expel humid air to the outside into fresh air via a four-inch diameter vent pipe. 

Misplaced Smoke Alarms

Yes, you need to install smoke alarms in your home. But, do you know where you’re supposed to place them? You can’t just put smoke alarms anywhere. You should install a smoke alarm on each level of your home and outside each of the bedrooms, according to building codes. Note that these are critical life-saving devices and should be given enough space away from air ducts and lighting features. They are the best protection anyone can have in their home in the event of a fire. Hiring a professional will ensure the proper installation of smoke alarms in your home so they meet the current requirements. 

If you’re undertaking a larger project, consider hiring a qualified general contractor. General contractors have the expertise and experience and will ensure your construction or renovation complies with all the building codes. Handling complicated jobs by yourself could end up costing you a lot more.  

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