Montgomery Decor

Are you planning to build yourself a house, barn or any other structure and not quite sure how to find the RIGHT builder for the job? I agree, it can be so confusing and time consuming to find that perfect Builder among all the different builders out there. If you take any construction company and either look at their website or talk to them, you’ll be under impression that this company is simply the best and most experienced for your job. So, the question is, how do you choose the right company out of so many so-called “Best” companies that exist? The answer – ask the right questions.

Here are the five questions & suggestions that will help to make up your mind

1. How long has your company been in business? It’s best to go with the company that has been in business for at least 5 years. The study suggests that most of the new start-up companies go out of business during the first year. It’s also known that if a new business survives first 5 years, it’s considered to be an established company that will have less chance to go bankrupt. The bottom line, you don’t want to hire a start-up company that gives you 1-5 year warranty and find out later that this company is no longer in business (good luck with your warranty).

2. How much experience do you have in building this structure? What I’m trying to say here is, don’t hire a home builder do build yourself a horse barn or a pole barn, and don’t hire a horse barn or pole barn builder to build yourself a home. It just makes sense.
If you had a good experience with your home builder, it does not mean that you should hire him to build the horse barn. In most cases, hiring the barn builder will be cheaper anyway, since the barn builder can get all the materials needed to build your barn for less and will have significantly more experience than the home builder.

3. Do you have any references? Don’t forget to ask for some references, make some phone calls, go visit and talk to previous customers. In fact, this step is probably the most important step you can take, since talking to other customer and looking at their building helps most people to finally make up their minds as to what for company to hire. I always say this and will say it again, don’t forget to compare construction and materials used when looking at different buildings from different companies.

4. During construction, will you be using any subcontractors? These days, to find a home builder or a barn builder that does not use any sub-contractors is almost impossible. So, don’t even try, you’ll waste your time. Never the less, I think it’s still important to find the company that does most of the work themselves, without the use of sub-contractors. I personally believe that any reputable barn company should be able to do the foundation and build the barn without subcontracting any of the work. Other things such as electric, plumbing, painting, etc. is not as important and in my opinion may be done by the sub-contractors.

5. What kind of warranty do you offer? I believe (this is my personal opinion) that any structure that’s build on site (horse barn, garage, home, etc.) needs to carry at least (3) years of craftsmanship warranty. If no warranty is offered, forget about this company and go find someone else.

The last suggestion – These days, with the help of the internet and thanks to the search engines such as Google & Yahoo, you can always type the name of the company into a search engine and see if you can find what other people are saying about this company on different forums and blogs. Also, check with http://www.bbb.org to see the rating, number of complaints, etc.

This article was written by Eugene Zerebilov (part-owner of http://www.maplegroveconstruction.com and of http://www.mgcbuildings.com

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.

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.

With new home construction on the rise, there is no shortage of new and innovative designs. When we drive around some neighborhoods we cannot but help noticing how the builders of these structures have gone all out in making their homes unique and competitive. We now have homes in almost all shapes and sizes. Even people with existing homes have joined the fray. Since they cannot outright demolish their homes and reconstruct, they make a spirited attempt to modify their homes using innovative techniques. One of those techniques is using glass blocks.

Glass blocks as building blocks have been around for some time but they have become more prevalent in recent times as more and more people discover their inherent advantages. Glass blocks are not made of regular glass as there are many types of glass. Rather, they are made out of what is called tempered glass which is a specially made to specially-treated glass that is heated to certain degrees and then left to dry. This produces a type of glass that is more resilient than regular glass and can even be as hard as marble. This makes this a very attractive building material. Glass blocks have several advantages that make them an attractive building option.

One of their advantages is that they are obviously attractive. Having a section of a wall or building wing made entirely of glass is extremely attractive and is becoming popular. Hardly can we visit a number of offices than we see glass blocks adorning sections of the offices. This has translated to people’s homes who prefer glass blocks in some patios and even entire walls of the homes.

What makes glass blocks attractive is the fact that they allow light in without necessarily being brittle. We normally associate glass with being brittle and delicate as with drinking glass. The same is not the case with glass blocks. These can be set to allow light while at the same time be as hard as marble. They can even be set to allow some light and not all, meaning that they become translucent rather than totally transparent. This can allow light to enter into the building without necessarily compromising privacy.

Another reason that makes glass blocks attractive is their resilience. We mentioned this before; that they are made out of treated glass which is enhanced with the addition of increased chemicals and moderated heat levels to create a glass substance that is hundreds of times stronger than regular glass. In the event that is cracks and breaks, it does not shatter the way regular glass does. Who would not want a strong glass block to form part of their walls at home or at the office which is very beautiful to look at and also very strong?

Glass blocks, because they allow a lot of light into the room, contribute to reduced power bills. This is because with the block, there is less artificial light required since the room can now be lit with natural outdoors light.

A house plan is a construction document that guides a number of different construction efforts through every phase of building. Dimensions throughout the drawing need to be as accurate as possible to ensure every part of the home is constructed properly. Many home designers use dimension techniques that speed the design process but can cause considerable construction errors. You should avoid three dimension techniques commonly found in online plan purchases:

4″ wall thickness – Most American homes are built with common 2×4 lumber. “2×4″ denotes a “nominal” dimension – i.e. the name 2×4 relates to the size of the lumber (2″x4″) when cut freshly from a tree. By the time the timber is dried and cut for resale, the “actual” size of a 2×4 is 1-½” x 3-½”. To ease the design process and calculate dimensions without fractions, many designers assume walls to be 4″ wide, not the actual 3-½”. A ½” may seem insignificant but those small increments can create problems at the job site. Builders always refer to the frustrating practice of “chasing fractions”. Dimensions that are not accurate on the drawings force contractors to make up for the error at the job site. Even worse, if each contactor does not accommodate for these errors in the same way, critical construction issues can quickly arise. Be sure your plan uses exact thicknesses for all exterior and interior walls.

“Fractionless” dimensions – Many designers pride themselves in designing a home with even measurements – i.e. measurements without fractions. But, as mentioned above, most building materials are not evenly sized. A 2×4 does not measure 2″ x 4″ but rather 1-1/2″ x 3-1/2″. To be sure the house is built as accurately as possible, all drawing dimensions should be made as accurately as possible. Why design a space to a dimension that cannot be achieved at the job site? The only cost savings is to the designer. Moreover, many prefabricated components – bathtubs, shower stalls, fireplaces, etc. – are not manufactured on even inches. The design of the spaces accommodating these items should be dimensioned precisely. Drawings using fractionless dimensions cause contractors to “chase the fraction” at the job site (see above discussion of 4 inch wall thickness). Some contractors may even resort to “dimensioning from the drawing.” This highly inaccurate practice forces a construction worker to use a ruler and calculate the dimensions of the home from a scaled drawing (usually ¼” = 1′-0″). In this process, a measurement off by only a 1/16″ can cause an inaccuracy of 3 or more inches in your home. These three inches can cause structural issues, alignment issues and may cause your home to fail final inspection. The following is an example typical of a home built with poorly dimensioned house plans. By code, the distance between the center of a toilet and a wall must be 17″ or more. If this distance is less than that, you will be forced to move the toilet or the wall. In any case, you will be paying for a lot of unnecessary costs for something that could be easily avoided. Demand that your house plans are accurately dimensioned using “real” measurements of building materials.

Center line Dimensions – Many designers dimension their drawings “on-center”. That means that every dimension starts and stops at the center of each wall. This tactic is done to make the designers’ job much easier but can play havoc when the house is built. Understanding the practice of building homes will quickly show you why “on-center” dimensioning should be avoided as it can easily increase the cost of your home. After the subfloor is installed, framers will layout the wall positions by measuring and marking the placement of each wall. He refers to the construction documents for “on-center” measurements. The framer hooks one end of a tape measure over the exterior edge of the subfloor and places a mark at the center of the first interior wall. Since this marks the center of the wall, two more marks are required to for the inside and outside of the wall. The tape is repositioned and two marks are placed 1-3/4″ to the left and 1-3/4″ to the right. These represent ½ of the wall thickness (3-1/2″). To complete this single measurement, 3 separate marks and a repositioning of the tape measure are required.

Using “edge-to-edge” dimensions – “Edge-to-edge” dimensions requires only two marks. Each distance is measured from one edge of a wall to the other edge of the wall. In fact, depending on the size of the house and the length of the tape measure, all measurements could be made without ever moving the tapes’ initial position. Time is money and these seemingly minor details about a home plan dimensions can create tremendous costs during construction. For maximum cost savings, be sure your home plans use edge-to-edge dimensions that are exact and accurate – if it measures 3-1/2″ it should be dimensioned at 3-1/2″.

For more information about home plans, including a free 20-page publication titled “10 Things You Should Know Before Buying a Home Plan,” visit http://www.avidhomestudios.com