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"Green" Restorations

NORCO, Calif. (Aug. 9, 2010) Construction work... 

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Restoring a historic home is both an exciting and daunting task, and even more so when you want to be environmentally friendly about it. Despite preconceived notions, including reclaimed products and green technology doesn’t have to deflect from the home’s original character.

First of all, hire a contractor that has the knowledge and experience to take on a sustainable renovation project. Ask the contractor if he or she re-uses demolition debris, recycles, and works with reclaimed materials. Some contractors simply will not work with used material, so get this information up front.

Many historic buildings are energy efficient due to their quality of construction, but others require improvements. Consider an ultra-efficient HVAC system, spray-foam insulation, low flow plumbing fixtures, and an efficient hot water heater. When remodeling an old kitchen, install energy-efficient appliances to reduce energy and water use. None of these additions will detract from the historic character of the home and will only save you money in the long run. You also want to ensure the home has proper ventilation to prevent unwanted moisture and mold, which can be a problem in most historic homes.

Depending on how much you wish to spend on the overall renovation, consider solar panel installations and energy-efficient lighting with dimmer switches. LED lights save money on the electric bill and can even be run on solar energy alone. Also shop around town for reclaimed furniture, windows, and other materials to incorporate in the remodel.

A little planning and determination go a long way in renovating your historic home, ensuring that sustainability doesn’t have to be compromised.

 

Filed Under: Environmental Awareness Tagged With: , ,

Restoring A Building

Restoration and renovation are things which may seem easy and les costly at a glance, but would overwhelm you with the cost when they are completed. These are things you must know if you are trying to restore or renovate a building to a much more modern setting than it is in at the present. You have to weigh the pros and cons before committing yourself to the project.

When you build a new building you are doing the task from scratch. This would mean that you have to plan the structure, gather the materials, and modify the plan and so on. It is a hectic and tiresome task no doubt but it is on you would be satisfied with. This is because you have built it with your own ideas, visions and imagination.

When you restore or renovate a building you are doing something new, or rather modifying the structure which somebody else have build. That is the first thing you must encounter. The next is that it might take more finance to change a structure and modify it. You may have to build on the old structure or entirely destroy the old part of the building and make a new one.

It would cost you a lot to do this than you might ever realize. Remember that restoration has the part of modifying the place more than building it. Hence when you are trying to do the restoration, be ready to face the costs and estimate the cost beforehand so that you know what you are facing. With this in mind you would be able to do the task without any problems or worries to haunt you.

Filed Under: Environmental Awareness Tagged With: , ,

Choosing Your Next Home Improvement Project

The decline of the housing market has inspired many people to improve and repair their homes and at an affordable cost where possible. Improvements and repairs are often great ways to increase the value of your home, and it can increase one’s quality of life. When it comes to home improvements and renovations, the most pressing factors can often be cost related. Major renovation projects can often require a substantial amount of time and resources if you are not prepared to rely on the services of a contractor. However, many small to medium sized home improvement procedures can be implemented fairly easily and at a relatively low cost.

When choosing your next home improvement project, a great place to start is usually to list some improvements and repairs that seem the most obvious. Among home improvement projects there are needs and desires. Thus, it may make the most sense to satisfy a cost effective need rather than pursuing the refinement of qualities that may or may not dramatically increase the value of your home or make it more livable to others.

Sometimes houses need work in the area of structural integrity. This is usually one of the most important aspects of any home. Nobody wants to have their house fall down and nobody wants to move into a house that looks structurally precarious. If structural repairs made it to your list as an obvious improvement, it is usually recommended to prioritize these type of renovations over other potential projects.

If there are little to no serious needs for your next improvement, you can usually start looking at refinement and aesthetics. These kind of details can include upgrades on surfaces and superficial modeling of the interior. Repairs on these type of surfaces can make a huge difference in perceived value of your home in the eyes of prospective buyers.

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Planning Your Renovation

There are usually several stages to general renovation projects. The more familiar you become with those stages, the more effective you can be at implementing your next renovation. Though every renovation project is different, the basic format for achieving a successful renovation usually remains the same. First you have to plan the type of renovation, you acquire funding, you engineer, you repair, rebuild, and then you retouch. Of these stages, the planning aspect is probably most important.

Planning your renovation involves the process of deciding the nature and scope of your project. You need to familiarize yourself with what’s most important to the property as whole as well as what your goals are with the building functionally, aesthetically, and financially. If you want the building to serve a specific purpose, you have to make sure that your renovation is successful in this respect. Additional aesthetic desires may also require additional resources or certain types of action. These factors should also be accounted for.

If you have long term financial goals for the building, it is important to consider all factors that pertain to the value of the property. You need to understand its current value, and establish a projected value that considers the surrounding area and other external factors over time. Then it is important to establish a realistic goal value that considers these factors in addition to improvements attributed to your renovation project. If the market in the area of your property is in decline this should be accounted for but by no means should it be discouraging. If your renovation is successful then your property may shine as an exceptionally desirable commodity in relation to the surrounding area.

In the end, proper planning of a renovation project is in some cases more important than the renovation itself. If you plan it properly, the chances are more likely that your renovation work will not need to be redone in order to achieve your desired results.

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Go Green With Renovations

As you begin to create a home renovation plan, consider going with a greener attitude. Your home is your sanctuary. It’s where you feel safe and secure. Going green in your most treasured places is a simple decision. Here are a few ways to go green at home.

Let’s hit the bathroom first. Your bathroom goes through a lot of water each day. From the flushing, to the soaking, and morning showers, water flows though that room like eggnog at the office holiday party. Installing a low-flow toilet can slice the amount of water flushed away by at least 50 percent. Add water saving shower heads and faucets and you can boost your wallet by cutting down your bill. One simple thing to do today is begin turning the water off while you brush your teeth.

Your kitchen is the heartbeat of the home. It’s where you come to be nourished. By swapping out environmentally abrasive cleaners for non-toxic ones, you help to cut back on the chemicals your food is exposed to. There is also a growing number of kitchen materials made from sustainable, eco-friendly materials to up the ante on your new greener home. From reclaimed cabinets to non-chemical leaching cookware, the options to go green in the kitchen are on the rise.

If a new coat of paint is included in your remodeling plans, consider one with low to no volatile organic compounds. Low VOC paints and adhesives are available on the market to complement your choice to go greener. Choose from a variety of hues to suit your redecorating needs.

Placing environmentally safer elements into your home renovations is not only the wave of things to come. It can also save you money in the long run, while putting your mind at ease with the notion that you are doing something beneficial for the world you live in.

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The Skinny On Reclaimed Materials

Reclaimed materials may be the very thing that your next home improvement project is looking for. Cookie-cutter homes are not uncommon. Perhaps you want your renovations to succeed in making your home stand out among the others. Going with reclaimed pieces can be a good way to to just that.

Reclaimed pieces are components obtained from another building or home that are reused in your current design. Say you come across a private charter school switching up their style. You are able to snag a couple awesome marble end tables for your den. Or throughout your yard sale adventures, you stumble upon a church stained glass mural. These rescued items can add a sense of panache and identity to your home.

Maybe you don’t have the time to hunt down places set for demolition to find what you desire. And amazing yard sale finds don’t come easy. These days, many companies that carry reclaimed items can be found with a simple internet search. It can be labor intensive to reclaim and reuse certain pieces. It goes without saying that rescuing an stylish brick chimney will take more work than hanging an antique door. It’s a good idea to plan out what types of pieces you’re interested in and budget accordingly.

By using reclaimed materials you give new life to vintage pieces, while adding a sense of style to your home remodel. Antique glass knob pulls on drawers and unique floor tiles are just a couple examples of the types of items waiting to be discovered for your next home renovation project. Green homeowners have reclaimed entire wood flooring to give a room a lift. Contact your local wood supply company and ask about reclaimed lumber. Other reclaimed items commonly used are iron spiral staircases, claw-footed tubs and sturdy wooden ceiling beams. Give your home a sense of individual character by adding pieces of history in your next home makeover plans.

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