Adding A Second Story To Your Home

The first step to planning a second story addition is making sure your home can support the additional space and that local residential zoning codes allow such significant additions. A professional, licensed contractor can work with you and talk with city officials for you to procure the permits necessary.The second step is hiring an engineer to inspect the foundation and structure of the house to ensure it will be ale to support the additional weight. A plumber and electrician should also be consulted: you will undoubtedly need electricity in your second story addition, and if there will be more than one room a bathroom is also a good idea. Once you have these expert opinions the real planning can begin.

Before starting the plan for your second story addition, there are a few things that need to be done. First, contact your city and ensure local zoning and building codes allow for second story additions (a licensed contractor can do this for you). Second, contact an engineer for a foundation inspection. You must ensure your foundation and the supporting walls will be able to handle the weight of a second story, even if it's just a room or two. Third, consult a plumber if you want to add a bathroom (which is a good idea if there will be more than one room) and an electrician for your lighting. Once these professional consultations are complete you can begin the real planning.

One of the biggest benefits that building up has over building out is it can be less expensive when the foundation and supporting walls are solid. A second benefit is building up keeps the back and front yards intact and allows you to make the most of your space, truly adding on, rather than converting land. Third, an addition allows you to assess the style of your home and potentially change it, especially if your addition will be visible from the street.

A caveat to second story additions, however, is the house is largely unlivable during construction because the roof must be removed. Plan your addition during the summer when there's little or no chance or rain or other inclement weather, and possibly during a time when you and the family will be out of town or be able to make other arrangements.

Second story additions are perfect for families with growing kids, live-in parents or frequent visitors, but they can also be ideal for households that require space for activities and hobbies. The design of your second story will be 100% yours and can be used in any number of ways. Your second story addition offers an enhanced feeling of pride and ownership in your home, which is something that can't be found anywhere else.

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Conservatories, Orangeries, and Summer Houses: Functions

These rooms and small structures are popular in colder or temperate climate countries like New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and most of Europe, and the United States. These rooms serve a variety of purposes, including offices, playrooms, living rooms, entertainment centers, and dining rooms, among other functions.

Conservatories are made of various materials like hardwood, PVC, or glass. The entire framework of a typical conservatory is hardwood, treated soft wood, or PVC and is closed by double-glazed glass panels all throughout. Conservatories come in various designs and sizes and are usually built according to a client's specifications. Various architectural styles include Georgian, Victorian, antique, and classic. Oftentimes, hardwood framing is preferable to PVC because hardwood is durable and ecologically-friendly.

Clients prefer orangeries to conservatories. An orangery is a substantial extension than a conventional conservatory. An orangery is best for certain types of buildings and can even be granted planning permits in a conservation zone. Orangeries are becoming popular and are becoming the preferred alternative for contemporary glazed extensions. Wooden orangeries have a timeless elegance to a place and add aesthetic value.

A summer house is different from a conservatory or orangery, but their functions are basically the same. Summer houses is used as a place for relaxation during the summer or warm weather. A typical summer house is a small, timber, roofed building and is perched on a wooden deck. They can also be built in a park or garden. Summer houses use interlocking tongue and groove timbers, resulting in a secure and strong structure. A typical cabin also has styrene-glazed Georgian doors and windows that allow daylight to filter.

Timber built conservatories, orangeries and summer houses add coziness to properties. A conservatory, orangery, or summer house - more importantly - is a place for recreation and allows its occupants to commune with nature.

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What Type of Orangery Would Suit You?

Our individual requirements mean that, like anything, a variety of orangery designs are required to meet everyone's needs. Orangery styles vary widely, meaning that whether you're a mother, child, professional who works from home, or an elderly person, there's an orangery for you.

Professionals The contemporary orangery design can be the perfect type to suit the wide variety of people who work part, or full time from home. Unlike many of the offices we are used to working in, professionals from home can enjoy a wonderfully light and airy place of work with an orangery. Contemporary orangeries not only look modern and stylish, they also mean that you get plenty of sunlight, even during those darker stages of the year.

By investing in a high quality orangery for your workspace you can benefit from a light but secluded area that's conducive for efficient work.

Orangeries provide great insulation as well as an array of heating properties, including under floor heating and great double glazing qualities. This ensures a comfortable place to work during the colder months, just as much as during the wonderful summer time.

Parents Those who have children will find an orangery of great benefit for a number of reasons. People with children often use the orangery as a great place of respite and quiet when things get a little too much. By turning your extension into a place of quiet and concentration you can get away from the squabbles, bangs of loud toys and the pace of life. Having your own particular place to unwind can be great for your mental happiness and your own peace of mind.

Others find that turning the orangery into a playroom and a place for children can also make family life all the more enjoyable. Children love having all their items in one place and so will you, as it means they aren't scattered throughout the home. The bright setting also makes the whole area all even more suitable. In the summer months of course you can leave the doors open, allowing them to play in between the garden and orangery.

Older People For elderly folk the orangery can be the perfect place for relaxation, pondering and leisure activities. The fact orangeries have a fantastic mix of heating, blinds and glazed windows, yet allow you a fantastic view of the outside world, make them wonderful places to spend some time.

Traditional orangeries have a classic element that may be aesthetically appealing and are great places to indulge in your hobbies, as well as to enjoy your gardening activities from. In colder months, a great orangery, comfortable chair and engrossing book are the perfect pastime.

Orangeries offer everyone some excitement and enjoyment and so should be considered for those looking for extra space, more light, and another room in their home.

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Custom Home Design Tips: Choosing the Right Designer

Whether or not you have already purchased a lot that your custom home plans must be designed around, following the tips we've gathered below will ensure that your custom home designs will produce the house of your dreams.

1. Establish excellent communication.

Poor communication can ruin a set of custom house plans. For instance, if your architect doesn't really understand what you want in your custom home designs, you could end up with a custom built home that you don't actually enjoy. Alternatively, you could be shocked to see your "custom" plan in a new housing development. (Some architects turn their best custom plans into generic, widely available floor plans.) Avoid both of these unsavory outcomes by clearly outlining what your custom home plans should include, and whether or not you're comfortable with your custom design being tweaked into a universal house plan.

2. Choose a designer with experience working with similar properties.

If you've already purchased the land for your dream home, ensure that your designer has background in working with your type of property. For instance, while a steeply sloped lot often offers up the best views, it also poses unique design challenges.

3. Check that your architect has liability insurance.

Accidents do happen - that's why insurance was invented. If something doesn't come out right in your custom home design, liability insurance can cover rebuilding costs or other unanticipated expenses. Professional engineers and designers carry insurance to defend their customers against expensive errors. Make sure your custom home plans come from a designer with liability insurance.

4. Zoom in on the details.

A complete set of custom home plans will include enough information to facilitate construction. Contractors must be able to quickly find details on dimensions, materials, and building techniques. Unclear floor plans will bring all sorts of problems. Expensive errors often occur because contractors can't read or find the necessary details on a set of custom home plans. The last thing you want is a carpenter or plumber making guesses as to what your custom home designs intend. Work with an architect that includes plenty of construction details on the home plans.

5. Ensure building code and state certification compliance.

Federal and local building legislation is always changing. If your custom home design doesn't follow these building guidelines, city officials could reject it and you'll face more expenses to bring your design "up to code." Because this is such an important issue, be up-front about it with your designer. Ask about how they ensure code compliance, and check with previous customers to make sure the city approval process went off without a hitch. One final bit of due diligence: Check that your architect or designer is professionally certified with your state. If any red flags come up during this investigation, select a different architect. Otherwise, you could be stuck with home plans that can't actually be built.

6. Select an architect whose style matches yours.

Doctors specialize in bodily systems; writers specialize in different types of communication; architects specialize in different design styles. Be sure that your designer has experience producing the type of home you prefer. For instance, if you like the Tudor style, you should choose a designer who has produced lovely custom houses in this design mode. Don't expect a Frank Lloyd Wright lover to suddenly switch to a Tuscan approach.

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How to Make Your House Look More Impressive

We would surely like all of our houses to look more impressive than the way it does right now. The good news is that there are definitely a lot of things that we can do in order to make its appearance seem better. There are a lot of things that can be done in order to achieve just that.

Here are some tips that you can use in order to make your home look more impressive than before:

1. Your move should start on the outside. Put your lawn back into shape by mowing it and cut down the dead branches on your trees and plants. That's the first thing that people would see in your house.

2. A new coat of paint can do wonders. If you can, start painting lintels and even the front door. Now, if that's something that you don't want to do then just make sure that you clean them up.

3. Leaks can ruin the look of your house because it can cause stains. Besides, it gives the general impression that a house is very poorly maintained if there are leaks in it. So fix those as well.

4. Clutter can take up space unnecessarily so get rid of as much as you can. Throw away or giveaway unused furniture and clothing. Anything that you have been hoarding that does not have any real use, should go.

5. If you're using carpets then you should have it professionally cleaned. You cannot achieve the same level of cleanliness that professional carpet cleaners can deliver and you might also stain them. A well maintained carpet can add a elegant look to your home's interior.

6. Have some new caulk in your bathroom. That would be the next best thing to having your bathroom renovated. It can lend it a new feel.

7. Lighting is a good way to enhance the look of your home. Try to use more intense lights in and around your house. A well lit place is generally more impressive than one full of shadows.

8. Give your living room that cozy and comfy feel to it by placing cushions and pillows all over the place. See to it that it has that lived in feel, but don't make it look cluttered or disorderly. You need to strike a balance.

9. Try to remove strong odors such as those produced by smoking. There are air fresheners that you can use, but a natural way is to place a bowl of vinegar in the open. That would counteract the smell.

10. Make sure that your windows are always clean and free from dust. All your efforts will go to waste once people see that you can write on your windows because of the thick dust that has collected on the surface.

11. Make sure that your kitchen and dining place are as clean as you can manage. These places have to be spotless.

These are just some of the ideas that you can follow if you want your place to look as impressive as you can manage it.

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Questions To Ask An Architect During Your Selection Process

Designing and building a house is huge commitment - both financially and monetarily - therefore taking your time to ensure you partner with the right people to guide you through the process is essential. This may be one of the biggest undertakings of your life and it can be a very stressful yet rewarding time so making sure that you have the right professional alongside you should be a decision not lightly taken.

Your architect - who will usually double as your project manager too - plays a major part in the process so to ensure you hire the right person you should conduct some interviews with prospective architects and find out whether they are someone you can work with during this demanding yet exciting time.

These are some of the questions you should ask your prospective architect during the selection process.

What qualifications and experience do you have? Whilst experience may not be the most important factor, especially as newly qualified architects may have lots of new and innovative ideas, it's also important to ensure that your architect will be able to complete your house without concern for their ability.

What do your services include? It's essential make sure you know exactly what services your architect is going to provide. This will not only make comparing the different architects easier but also you will have a clear idea of what things are included in the fee and what aren't. One architect may only include their design fee, others may also include project management. As project management of a build is an intensive part of the process, knowing how much of this is included will be important to the rest of the build.

What is your fee structure? Although cost is not everything when choosing your architect, it's important to understand what you are paying for and when payment is due. You should expect to pay a fee upfront and then progress payments during the build.

How many projects will you be managing during our build? Your architect may be talented at design and also at 'selling' themselves but if they are spread too thin, on too many projects during your building process then you may find things are not happening as they should. You should be able to sign on the dotted line and walk away confident that your architect is going to provide you with the best possible service for your money.

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Home Elevators - Enjoy Safe and Comfortable Access to All Levels of Your Home

Home elevators are a great addition to multi-storied residential building and a real boon for the elderly as well as physically challenged persons. Incorporated with a range of innovative safety features and technological specifications, residential elevators can provide safe and comfortable access to all levels of your home.

Installing a residential elevator overcomes the challenge of negotiating stairways. It allows you access the different floors in your home effortlessly. Besides providing safe and comfortable access to the floors of your home, the device facilitates the transportation of goods such as laundry, furniture, seasonal items and groceries from floor to floor.

Well-known elevator manufacturers such as Savaria, Federal Elevator and ThyssenKrupp Access offer home elevators with a wide range of functionalities, models, stylish designs, configurations, cabin sizes, innovative features and wall panel finishes. The accessibility systems also come with various customization options so that they can be made to easily blend with your home decor. Most elevator systems designed for residential purpose are integrated with advanced technology to ensure consistent performance, reliability, durability, quiet operation, and a smooth and comfortable ride.

Sophisticated technology ensures a smooth and safe ride

To ensure that your ride is safe, smooth and comfortable, home elevator systems come with advanced safety features, easy-to-use controls and specifications.

• Anti-skid platform: Non skid platform allows the users to enter the lift quite safely, without fear of falls and slips.

• Door interlocks: Residential elevators are provided with door interlocks to prevent the chance of the doors opening when the elevator is moving.

• Emergency stop switch: Helps to stop the lift quickly whenever an emergency occurs.

• Under-panel sensor: The lift stops immediately if it happens to encounter an obstruction in its path, thereby protecting both the user and the system from accidents.

• Emergency alarm button: This allows the user to seek immediate help in case of an emergency.

Other safety features include fully automatic operating controls, manual emergency battery lowering button, backup power facility, in-cab alarms, emergency lighting, handrails on platforms, an emergency telephone or communication system, slack rope safety system, uninterrupted power, door interlocks, under-platform sensors, final and ultimate limit switches, open door sensor, in-use indicator lights on hall stations, motorized braking, locked power cabinets, one touch screen controls, cable safety devices and more.

Buy your home elevator from an established elevator supplier

While home elevators help you enjoy safe and comfortable access to the different levels of your home, it's important to purchase your device from the right dealer. Buying elevators from a reliable elevator supplier offers many advantages. A reliable and established elevator supplier can offer you free site assessment, trouble-free as well as professional support to set up the device with least structural modification and to suit your specific accessibility requirements. Only a professional elevator supplier can provide efficient after-sales support such inspection, maintenance and repair.

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How to Select a Contractor for Your Dream Home

If you're reading this article then you have recently decided to embark on the exciting adventure of building your dream home. Making this initial decision is not easy but the next task on your list is just as difficult if not more so. In order for your new project to not only take off without a hitch but provide you with the finished product you're imaging you need to hire the perfect contractor. Choosing a contractor for such a big project can be a daunting task but we are here to help guide you through the process and hopefully help you spot the best contract out of the bunch without hesitation! Below we've listed some important attributes to look for in your perspective contractor.

• Everyone today immediately heads to the internet to complete their initial search for just about anything and this includes contractors. The best and most professional contractors, even the smallest contractors today have their own websites. On these sites you should not only find pictures of their projects but addresses as well allowing you to see them in person and confirm their pictures are real. A general search for contractors in your area should provide at least 10, no matter where you live!

• Asking around! This is the second most popular search method when finding a contractor. Even if you personally don't know someone who has built a new home your friends or family members likely do. Find out what they thought of a particular contractor the good and bad aspects so you can get a fuller picture of each company. Personal experience can really help you back up your own initial opinion and find out how they actually work and their schedules, their production time, etc.

• By this point in the process you likely have a short list of the contracting companies you are interested in. From here it is time to call each one of them and get a quote. This aspect of the decision making process allows you to get rid of the contractors whose quote you simply can't afford and focus on the contractors left who offered you reasonable quotes within your price range. Keep in mind here that you may love one contractor in particular but if their quote is too high it is never worth that much debt and anxiety to build a dream home.

• Lastly and most importantly you want to thoroughly check out the contractors you have narrowed down to your top choices. You will want to find out they are properly licensed and certified. Feel free to come right out and ask for proof of this, there is nothing wrong with this, especially when you are planning on putting your plans and dreams in their hands. By having builders on your property who are not certified or insured can create the potential for major problems, liability problems you want to avoid at all costs.

Take these suggestions and start searching for your contractor today! Good luck with your adventure.

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Advantages of Building With Poles and Pilings

Building a house is not an easy task and it involves several tasks and this article will explain you about the advantages of building with poles and pilings. Survey suggests that building with poles and pilings have several advantages and it gives an add-on effect to the present analysis form or data.

The foremost initial and important advantage is that the potency or the strength, they are prone to stand out from others for their effectiveness in power. Moreover treated poles and pilings are stronger and very less probably to distort than dimensional timber.

They stand out from others for their Permanence since, they have condensed heartwood revelation, treated poles and pilings have a longer existence, assembling them very economical.

Next are the Resourcefulness and the versatility: a greater option when it comes to treated poles and pilings is that it can be sanded, blemished, or painted to match existing decor.

Better prolonged existence: the longevity of any pole or piling is increased significantly by the Polymer wood coating. Because of the abridged heartwood exposure poles and pilings have a long-span of life.

Polymer woods coating: the polymer gets bonded to the woods and creates a protective barrier and this helps the wood from marine borers or termites. It is engineered in particular for the woods use. It is one such product used by contractors and engineers to rest themselves from others contributing less quality products. It is an exceptional add-on for customers that is highly durable and lasts longer. This is the reason that most of the people make use of treated woods. The best part about the polymer coated wood is that it will not disintegrate at the ground line.

There are several Advantages of Poly Coated Wood and it stands out from others for being sturdy, hard-wearing, effective, and economical. Also, they are easy to use and are accessible in different sizes. It requires no extra tools or handle and it can be managed to the same process.

Polymer Coated Ground Line Zone Coating for Utility Poles has several benefits and it takes into consideration the following:

They draw out the life of utility pole and the poles can be custom drilled or cut according to the requirement of the process held. They are environment friendly as elements do not leak into the neighboring water or soil. They save a lot of existing costs by averting the need for casing the pole in the future.

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Granny Flats: An Alternative to Retirement Homes

Many retirement homes, nowadays, have impressive facilities unlike what is commonly portrayed in movies and TV as a sad and very strict institution for the elderly. Many private institutions have vastly improved their facilities to provide better care for their residents. However, the cost of living in retirement homes is expensive for some folks. Also, the notion that you are putting away an important member of your family may not be agreeable for others. This is ideal for elderly folks who want to live on their own but prefer not to enter a nursing home or live in another separate location.

Instead of nursing homes for the elderly, granny flats are becoming a new option to consider. An extended home within a property can be set up for the elderly. It provides privacy from the main residence but is also easily accessible if family members need to reconnect and bond once in a while. A granny flat usually has its own entrance and all the basic amenities like kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, and living room. It works like a regular small apartment but is situated in the same property as the main residence. Homeowners can decide whether to create an adjoining entranceway or keep it separate for more privacy.

The advantage of granny flats over retirement homes is that it's affordable and convenient. If you want to know more about granny flats, you can also check kit homes offered in your area. You can choose to construct a kit home for a cheaper but good quality alternative over stick-built homes. Minimal repairs and maintenance are required with good quality kit home. The low cost is also ideal for an elderly living on pension or supported financially by family members.

Elderly people who are suffering from any illness can be easily taken care of by family members. Although retirement homes have good healthcare facilities and professionals, being near family in these times will help the elderly manage an illness and put him or her in good spirits. A personal nurse can be hired if the family can't provide care for the elderly full-time. This becomes even more convenient for both parties.

A granny flat was originally built for the elderly, but nowadays, this term is also used to describe a guest home or extended home for another family member, relative, or tenant. A son or daughter who has graduated from college can use a granny flat to feel less dependent on parents. You can also choose to rent out the flat to another person. If you have extra space and would like to get profits out it, this is a good idea.

Before you build your granny flat or kit home, make sure you check zoning law and requirements in your area and adhere to all these requirements to prevent any hurdles in your construction. Also, if you will be renting out the flat, there are also regulations set by councils and local government. Make sure you know more about granny flats construction and regulations.

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Minimalist Home Designs

Minimalist home designs are often chosen by house owners these days to refurbish or build their properties, because their simple and seamless style makes their abode more comfortable and relaxing. Minimalist design is influenced by the Japanese art elements of clean lines and open spaces. It doesn't support elaborate features, clutter, and unnecessary items that take up space.

If you'd like to apply this principle on your own house's architecture, you have to focus on being simple and keeping things at their most natural state. You should choose a flatter roof and more open spaces. Try avoiding a roof structure that has a steep pitch. For your interior house design, if you need to have a private space, try avoiding permanent walls and use a shoji or a sliding door, instead. In this way, you can still have an open space when you don't need an enclosed area.

Flooring should go with the simple and natural theme. Wood is often the choice for this style. You can still have stone tiles, but refrain from the shiny types. Muted stone tiles in earth colors would be best.

Wood beams, walls, and countertops should be left in their barest look. If the item is of wood material, the most you should do is have it stained to bring out the natural beauty of the wood. Stone countertops should just be polished also to bring out the grains and specks of the material. Metal items should also just be polished and not painted.

Minimalist home designs should have an overall look that's spotless and effortless. When choosing paint for the walls, you can still veer away from white, though. But you have to stay with the neutral shades like beige. The strongest color you can pick is a pale shade of terra cotta. The guideline in selecting colors for this type of design is to remain creating the feel of open spaces. Colors that make an area feel enclosed should be avoided. The idea is for your home to be in harmony with nature. You can add mirror doors for a modern twist, if you wish.

Windows are also crucial in creating open spaces in minimalist house designs. Large sliding windows are ideal. If you need to use blinds, select those made of bamboo or wood or those that are of neutral color. If you prefer to use curtains, don't use ones with floral or ornate prints. Choose those with sheer materials, preferably of white, beige, sand, and other neutral hues.

These are just some ideas to help you have your own home in the minimalist look that you want. You can add in your own concepts to add personal touches. Simply keep in mind about open spaces and being one with nature and you won't go wrong.

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Affordable House Plans: 8 Tips For How to Find Them

The current economic climate is causing many consumers to look for savings opportunities. This article explains how you can obtain affordable home plans by limiting construction and maintenance costs. Even if your design budget is small, house plans are available to fit your needs.

1. Limit your Square Footage.

Sky-high construction and energy costs, combined with a movement toward simplicity and eco-friendliness, have increased the popularity of small house plans. Choosing a cozy home over a McMansion makes it less expensive to build and maintain your custom home. Eco-bonus: less square footage equates to a smaller carbon footprint.

2. Rank the Most Important Features in Your Home.

Create a list of features that your new home must have, and another list of characteristics that you'd like, but that aren't mandatory. For instance, if you're constructing a new home to make space for a family, having a minimum of three bedrooms would probably land on your "must have" list. However, if you luxuriate in the tub only once or twice a year, a built-in bathtub might be listed under "Nice to Have, But Not Necessary." Prioritizing your needs in this way will help limit the costs of your home plans. Insisting on luxury features such as fireplaces and pools will make it harder to achieve affordable house plans.

3. Include Built-Ins to Give the Impression of Larger Square Footage.

Even if you're building with a set of small house plans, your home can feel spacious. Smart design techniques, such as open floor plans and built-in storage, can help you maximize the utility and comfort of your new space. Natural light also has a big influence on how we perceive area, so include plenty of windows in your home plans to fully capitalize on your square footage.

4. Create Attractive Outdoor Space by adding a Deck/Patio.

Many climates allow homeowners to use covered patios for the majority of the year. In places like Portland, light rain rules during the winter months, but it's never too cold to preclude outdoor lounging. If you enjoy relaxing outside, consider adding a covered outdoor space to extend the livable area in your small house plans. A covered patio can also make an excellent setting for parties.

5. Limit the Number of Plumbing Cores.

While browsing affordable house plans, you may notice that plumbing fixtures are often aligned over the same vertical space. For instance, you might see that the upstairs bathroom is located directly above the downstairs kitchen sink. Consolidating plumbing cores helps limit costs by decreasing the number of pipes, water heaters, and other plumbing parts that must be purchased.

6. Look for Simple Rooflines.

Roof ornaments such as dorm windows are charming, but costly. Simple rooflines are typically included in more affordable house plans.

7. Select Stock Plans.

You don't need to hire an architect to build a beautiful, comfortable home. By choosing a stock house plan instead of paying for custom design services, you can save a good deal of money and still achieve the home plans of your dreams. Stock home plans are available in a plethora of configurations and styles.

8. Build up, not out.

Adding a story to increase space in your small house plans will generally incur fewer costs than adding more ground-level space.

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Understanding Blueprints for House Plans

Blueprints of house plans are used by builders and contractors as a map to instruct them how to build, or remodel, a home. Many homeowners are not familiar with construction and blueprints which can sometimes cause communication problems that are costly. In order to insure that you get the home you want you should familiarize yourself with the basics of understanding blueprints so that your home plans will be exactly what you expect.

Each set of blueprints contains several pages which include the cover sheet with a rendering of the final look of the home, foundation plans and information about the footings and framing, side and rear elevations which include elements such as the fireplace, cabinets, and materials, cross-sections which allow you to see structural construction details, floor plans include the size of the rooms, window and door placement, plumbing, electrical details and other features, and other detail pages which include things like roof plans.

The blueprints for a home plan should have detailed information about the materials being used in the construction of the home. This detail in the blueprint will help you to get accurate estimates for the cost of the home. The blueprints will have symbols which help to map out every detail of the house plans. If you don't understand the symbols then ask your contractor or builder what they mean.

You will also want to determine to what scale the blueprints were drawn. Blueprints are drawn to scale which means they are an exact representation of the house but smaller so that it can be drawn on paper. Many plans are drawn to ¼" scale, which means that for every ¼" on the paper it represents 1' in the actual size of your house. It is important to check all of the measurements in the blueprints to be sure they contain the correct dimensions. If you want a door moved 1' or 2' then it will need to be noted on the blueprints.

One of the best places to start looking at blueprints is to start on the floor plan view. The floor plan shows the house plan from the top looking down, as if you are floating in the sky looking down on the house with no roof. This view allows you to see the sizes of rooms and where things are located such as fixtures, appliances, cabinets, doors, and windows. Floor plans will also sometimes include light fixtures, switches, and outlets.

Elevation pages in the blueprints include a view of the front, rear, and both sides of the house and show what the house will look like when it is completed. They are drawn to scale representing the building height and length and include roof pitches, materials used and any other information to give a general idea of the look of the house when finished.

Cross section drawings show a slice of the house as if it is cut in half. The cross section is one of the more difficult views of blueprints to understand. These cross section drawings are usually used to show interior details such as built-ins, moldings, stairways, and trim work. They also show the exterior walls with information about the various layers, including exterior cladding and insulation. The more detailed and complex a house the more cross section drawings there will be.

This is a very basic introduction to understanding blueprints for house plans. Designers will vary in what they include in their blueprints. It is important to have a home plan that is drawn by a professional with construction experience. You want the house you expect and not surprises so ask your contractor lots of questions if you do not understand what you see on your blueprints.

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Architecture: Current Trends in Architectural Design

Like any other form of art, whether it is painting, music or fashion design, architecture is dependent on current trends. People want their structures to incorporate the latest and greatest advances in architectural design, but maintain a classic sense that will ensure the look is in, no matter what year it is.

As technology and mindsets have advanced, so has architecture. Here are some of the current, more popular trends in architectural design:

Green

We live in a world that is more environmentally conscious than ever. This urge to protect Mother Nature extends to architecture, and more architects are trying incorporate eco-friendly items into their designs, including selecting materials that don't leave much of a carbon footprint. These items include:

Efficient use of land and energy Storm water filtration Waste-product reduction Native landscape use Minimal disruption of the habitat

With these healthier designs, architects can help make those occupying the structure more comfortable and healthier by indoor air quality enhancements, increased connections to the outside environment, improved acoustics and introducing more sources to daylight.

Honesty

Maybe it's a reaction to the Great Recession, but homeowners are looking to simplify their lives, including their homes. While glitz and glamour used to be very popular architectural features, more are opting for a more honest form of architecture, and having interior designs that focus on clean lines, little to no embellishments and natural finishes.

This "architectural honesty" extends to the size of the home. With the bloat of large-scale homes, more buyers are choosing something a little smaller, and medium-sized houses have become less popular among prospective homeowners.

Thought

Modern architecture isn't just about how good the final result looks; it's about presenting new ways of thinking. Architects are able to accomplish this by applying scientific and analytical methods while making the buildings. In doing so, they should be able to reflect complex technical problems in 20th Century house designs. It's about presenting something that is not only beautiful, but natural in every aspect of construction.

Whatever you want from your new home, remember that while it should incorporate modern design elements, but it also needs to be timeless. You want this structure to be long-lasting, so don't just opt for the "latest and greatest" trends. This will be the home where you possibly raise your family, so make sure it's something that can be enjoyed by everyone living there and that you choose the architect who can do the job you want.

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Things You Should Know About If You Want to Make Your House Look Better

Whether you are planning to sell your home or you just want to feel good about it, you should strive to always make your place stand out. The way that your house looks is a direct reflection of your personality. So if you have people visiting your place all the time, then you should expend extra effort in seeing to it that they would find no fault with the way that your house looks.

You do not have to spend a fortune to achieve this effect. By simply knowing some simple steps then you can get things right. Here are some ways that can help you make your house look impressive:

1. Giving the interior of your home a fresh coat of paint can do wonders for the way that it looks. If you plan it properly, you can do it all over one weekend and the cost of the supplies should not be more than$100. That's a small price to pay for achieving a new look for your house.

When choosing the color of the paint to use, think about just using plain white for it and then just use an accent wall. That means you would have to paint one section of the interior differently from the rest to give it depth.

2. It might sound like a simple thing but you should seriously think about getting better high quality door knobs, especially if the one that you have looks boring and chunky. You can buy great looking door knobs online.

3. Buying new furniture might be costly, especially if you want impressive ones. You can just settle for getting some art pieces that looks unique and would stand out. The best ones to get are those that can be placed on the walls - where they can catch the attention of visitors. The same thing is true with the side tables. It is actually easier to focus on these minor items because they would cost a lot less.

4. Do you like keeping old posters on your wall? If you do, then you better get into the habit of getting them framed. You do not have to buy some really expensive frames for the posters, but just make sure that they don't look cheap at the same time because that would just be as bad as not having them framed at all.

5. Change the lighting in your bathroom to something more impressive. The cost of renovating the whole thing can be prohibitive, but switching to an impressive lighting fixture can change the whole look of the bathroom while changing very little.

6. Make sure that your place looks clean starting with the lawn. You could follow all the tips in the world about making your place look impressive, but if you don't keep a tidy place all the efforts are going to be wasted. Just do some extra effort in cleaning up.

Follow these ideas and you wouldn't go wrong when it comes to making your place look great.

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