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Drywall vs plaster
Most homes built in the past 50 years have interiors made with drywall—large, thin sheets of paper-covered gypsum nailed directly to wall studs and ceiling joists. Drywall is inexpensive to buy and install and easy to repair.
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Although durable, it is also easily damaged—doors bang into it, furniture scuffs and marks it, water damages it. Occasionally, drywall nails pop into view (most often in new homes because of settling or framing shrinkage), though drywall screws tend not to pop out. The areas between wood framing members are unsupported and therefore particularly vulnerable.
Before drywall, most homes had plaster interiors. Plaster work is still done in new construction, but it requires more skill and is more expensive, so today it is usually found only in higher priced homes. Working with plaster takes some practice. Once mixed, it has a very brief “open” time in which the material is liquid and pliable, requiring a skilled installer, but it sets quickly and becomes rock-hard in an instant. Plaster applied to wood lath is held in place by the “keys” that form when it squishes through the lath.
How to shop for kitchen cabinets
One of these kitchen is filled with cabinets that are exquisitely crafted in Europe by one of the world’s top cabinet companies. The other kitchen contains cabinets from Europe as well, but these are sold in ready-to-assemble boxes from a retail chain store based in Sweden. Can you guess which is which?
Top-quality kitchen cabinets are made like good furniture, but even the most devoted watchers of the Food Channel don’t know what to look for. Worse, what to look for is usually hidden.
Spring has sprung – give your home some TLC
It’s somewhat ironic that many people are religious about car maintenence, yet a car depreciates quickly over only a few short years. A house, however, appreciates over time, yet homeowners tend to neglect annual the maintenence necessary to keep up the home until it becomes a problem. The time to check for necessary repairs is now, not when those April showers make their way into your bedroom in the middle of the night.
So, what if you’re like so many other homeowners, and you just can’t squeeze in the time needed to inspect your home, you don’t know what to look for, or you are not physically able to climb ladders and crouch down in a crawlspace, etc…?
Airoom now offers seasonal home maintenence programs, some of which include handyman services to make any necessary repairs. We’ll inspect your roof shingles, inspect your siding, inspect your smoke detectors, and much, much more. For more information, call us at 847-763-1100 and ask about our seasonal home maintenence programs.
What do I need a permit for?
At Airoom, we pull permits for every project that we do, from finishing a basement to a large scale addition. We’ve been asked many times why we insist on getting a permit for the smaller projects – you know, the ones that your neighbors may not even notice. It can seem like an unnecessary hassle and expense.
Not only is getting the right permits for the job the legal thing to do, but without the right permits, you cannot claim the extra value that the remodel brings on a sales contract. Permits are also only issued to parties who can provide evidence that they have thought through the process and are capable of completing the remodel safely.
When a permit is issued, the city or village will give you a list of inspections that need to be done throughout the building process. The inspections can be crucial. Not only is it important that the building be done legally, ie within code, but also for the safety of the homeownwer and occupants. You wouldn’t want old uncle Ned handling the electrical work withou getting it inspected only to have fire from faulty wiring months later, right? Not only that, but if there was work done without a permit and the required inspections, your homeowner’s insurance would not cover the damanges caused by that work.
Ask an architect
Wondering if your city will allow you to add a 3rd stall to your garage? Want to finish your basement to create usable space but don’t know where to start? Considering adding a sun room but you’re worried that your current HVAC system can’t handle the extra square footage?
Airoom has licensed architects on staff who would be happy to help you out. Post your question here by clicking on”Ask an architect”.
Basements Taken to a New Level
Specialty rooms, like this basement bar, can easly be yours with a smart basement or lower-level remodel.
The basement — once a place for storage, HVAC equipment and the laundry — is rapidly becoming a functional living space that only your dreams and budget can restrain.
High tech media rooms, home movie theaters, upscale wine cellars, commercial-quality bars and extra bedrooms, baths and even secondary kitchens are all becoming realties to today’s homeowners looking to transform once underutilized space in their homes.
New Home Addition: Up or Out?
When considering building a home addition onto an existing structure, check first with an architect or a structural engineer if the existing structure will support the weight of an additional level.
So you’re thinking of adding onto your home with an addition. Maybe it’s extra living space to accommodate a growing family. Perhaps your current home’s layout just never lived up to your needs. Or maybe you’ve always wanted a luxury master bedroom and bathroom suite, larger great room or additional bedrooms. Whatever the reason, when you’re adding to your home, you have two options — up or out.
Next Home Design Trend? The Return of the Library
Large windows, parque flooring, spacious seating areas and even floor-to-ceiling shelves are all typcial features of both traditional -- and today's -- home libraries.
Looking for a new trend in luxury home design? It’s the return of the library of today’s upscale homes. While many might dream of super-sized flat screen TVs, home automation or kitchens that Wolfgang Puck would feel at home in, today’s real “smart homes” have dedicated space for collecting, reading and displaying books and homeowner’s favorite collections of items.
Whether a peaceful inner sanctum or expansive room of two-story bookshelves, a custom-designed library adds a distinct level of sophistication to any home. These rooms are often clad in luxurious and sometimes exotic woods, feature intricate parques and frequently sitting areas, reading nooks, book bars and large, inviting fireplaces.
Even homes with a contemporary design can contain rooms exclusively for displaying and reading books. In cases like these, there tends to be a lack of the “heavier” woods like oak and mahogany, and more stand alone bookshelves and display cases with an open, airy feel.
Pros and Cons of Home Additions
A smartly-designed home addition increases livable space, can add value to your home and is designed by you, not a previous owner.
With the housing market the way it is currently, many homeowners looking for more living space for an expanding family or just those desiring a change might be discouraged when looking at what they can expect as a sale price for their current home. One alternative to certainly consider is an addition to rearrange living spaces, improve the path of traffic through your home, increase the amount of usable space and make existing rooms more modern and functional.
A home addition is not without its pros and cons, however, and today we’ll take a closer look at both so you can have a better idea of what a project of this size and scope entails.
Advantages of an addition
High cost to value ratio. According to an About.com report on the payback you can expect from various types of home remodeling and renovating projects, a mid-range two-story addition to an existing home tends to give a high resale value back to the home. Even additions such as bathrooms, remodeling of family rooms and kitchen should result in a moderate increase in the resale value of your home.
Don't Want to Move? Consider Remodeling: Steps to Make it Simple
Remodeling your bathroom can give you an in home spa.
Many people consider remodeling rooms in their home as a viable alternative to packing up their family and livelihood to move to a new home, although it’s possible you won’t always save money if you decide to do a remodel. Selecting an under-qualified contractor and inadequate management can lead to a number of problems including poor craftsmanship or financial stress. Having a general idea of what you want to accomplish with the remodeling — whether it’s additional living space, an updated design or a new layout — can help save money and time in the end.
