Real Estate Blog

Let’s jump right in and start out with water heating. Whether you heat it with electric, or gas it consumes 10-25% of your utility cost. The best way to cut this cost is Solar Hot Water. There are systems designed for all climates and conditions so unless you don’t get any sun all year it will pay for itself in a short period. To coin an old phrase it has the biggest bang for your buck.

Next let’s talk about insulation. One of the latest products to hit the market is Spray Foam. You may have seen it. When sprayed on it expands filling all cracks and crevices. It’s a great product that won’t sag or degrade over time. This product is excellent for new construction but what if you’re just doing a remodel or an addition? You don’t plan to tear off drywall but you know your walls need more insulation. The answer here is Injection Foam Insulation. Like the name implies it is injected into existing walls to fill any and all voids with foam that does not expand. With a rating of R-5 per inch a 2 x 4 wall will be R-18 with an air seal. Something you don’t get from traditional insulation. 2 x 6 walls will be R-28. This product is also great for soundproofing. If you are remodeling it would be best to find a company that does both, Spray and Injection. continue reading…

But there are other criteria as well to be taken into consideration, as a home can last a lifetime, and this way paying more at the start can mean having better living conditions for centuries. The roof, plumbing or floor coverings may be twice as expensive, but if it lasts twice as long, then you can say you’ve made a good decision.

There are a few factors that influence cost per square foot. Firstly, there is the built in profit your home builder works with. This quote is up to the builder, and it can be anything from 10% to 50%, depending on what services are you contracting. continue reading…

If you are considering installing a temporary building, there are a wide range of options available to you for pedestrian and vehicle access. You are literally spoilt for choice when it comes to choosing the most suitable means of access for a temporary building.

You see, because of the variety of uses, there are a number of access options available, to help you get the most out of your building, to help you improve your operations and keep things moving along efficiently. continue reading…

In this series of articles, I will be focusing on Green Building Best Practices and how dealing with airborne pollutants can help your design and construction projects reach a higher leave of efficiency and sustainability. This first article in the series will focus on specific projects and talk about one or two elements that make the project “green.”

During construction, pollutants are released into the air; drywall dust, saw dust, dirt, off gassing or toxins from newly installed carpet, sealants and furniture. These airborne toxins can affect not only the workers but eventual occupants as well. A well conceived best practices plan can help contractors and builders deal with these issues. continue reading…

But there are other criteria as well to be taken into consideration, as a home can last a lifetime, and this way paying more at the start can mean having better living conditions for centuries. The roof, plumbing or floor coverings may be twice as expensive, but if it lasts twice as long, then you can say you’ve made a good decision.

There are a few factors that influence cost per square foot. Firstly, there is the built in profit your home builder works with. This quote is up to the builder, and it can be anything from 10% to 50%, depending on what services are you contracting. continue reading…