When you decide it s time to put down roots, you may wonder: Is it cheaper to buy or build a house? Unless you re rolling in money, you ll probably want to weigh the pros and cons of new vs. old construction—and the price you pay upfront is only where these considerations start. Here we lay out everything you need to know about buying an existing home compared…
To begin roofing, first cover the entire roof with a single piece of 15 lb. asphalt-impregnated roofing paper (tar paper). It’s an extra layer of protection that helps ensure the inside of your doghouse remains dry. Staple the roofing paper in place with a hammer stapler or electric stapler, using 3/8-inch galvanized staples. Use a utility knife to trim the edges…
Have you ever considered building your own home? There is a lot to consider if you take on this project. However, just because you build your own home, doesn’t mean that you have to be the one that actually completes every task or even any task for that matter. Usually, it just means that you designed everything just the way you wanted it. So I’d like to explore…
Welcome to our second shipping container home interview of 2017. As always, in these interviews we speak with shipping container home builders to help you. We speak with them about what worked and what didn’t work and how you can learn from their mistakes so you can build the best shipping container home possible. In this episode we speak with Stephan Busley…
Whether you’re an adventurous person, a DIY expert or simply a persnickety home buyer, the thought of building your own home might be a thrilling prospect. After all, when you choose to build your own abode, you get to call all the shots. That means you can determine the precise layout, dictate the exact number and type of rooms, handpick all the finishes and…
Building the perfect home for your family is easy with Whitestone Custom Homes award-winning Build On Your Lot program. When you build with Whitestone Custom, you talk with a Community Sales Manager to explore design options and estimate your home s price in simply a few days. When you re ready to make final decisions about materials and design details, one…
Before you start construction on your new home, you need somewhere to build it, and this means finding land. First consider the size of the plot. How big do you want the house to be? How much yard space do you want? Do you want a garage, concrete pad or will you park on the street? Next, make sure the land is properly zoned. If you see other single-family homes…
Last week’s post introduced you to Ashleigh Sergeant, our #FWOTM that lives the yogi talk, naturally and sustainably. We learned she not only teaches people to “build a life you love” in spirit, but also in physical form with the example of the beautiful sustainable home she and her husband Justin recently built in Costa Rica (pictured above). Fueled by a love…
I’m working on a project that’s about to be delayed by seven months because we’ve discovered a bat colony on site. Bats don’t like being moved and, what’s more, they are protected by legislation. 4 Don’t leave out the landscape A lot of people just don’t get landscape, but if a house’s quality is not reflected in its surroundings, it looks like a piece of fluff…
What areas do you service? We are a supplier of modular homes in Northern and Southern California. From the Pacific Ocean to the state borders, we are here to serve you. If you are in California and would like to build with modular or prefab construction, we would welcome the opportunity to build your home. If Cutting Edge builds all over California, how can…
Here’s a list of the hardware we chose to build this beast: SUPERMICRO MBD-H8DG6-F-O E-ATX Form Server Motherboard 2X AMD Opteron 6348 Abu Dhabi 2.8GHz 12MB L2 Cache 16MB L3 Cache Socket G34 115W 12-Core Server Processor 8X Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 1600 MHz RAM Corsair RM Series 850 Watt ATX/EPS 80PLUS Gold-Certified Power Supply 4X WD Red 3 TB NAS…
You have found the perfect mountain property for your vacation home, and it is now time to find the perfect log cabin to complete your dream. With log cabin kits, you can save yourself money compared to custom-built options without sacrificing modern design, and high-end finishes and amenities that you want in your vacation home. Log cabin kits include everything…
Developer Networkers have been building labs with networking gear for decades. Every one of us who has built their home lab has had to go through some learning curve of researching various product families, models, operating system versions, and product features supported by various hardware and software combinations. But building a home lab has often been worth…
Finding the money to build a new home differs from taking out a conventional mortgage on an existing home, because to build a home, you essentially need three loans: one for the land, one for the construction phase, and one for the permanent financing of the home after it is built. But the process is not nearly as difficult to navigate as it may seem, as many…
Building a house is full of highs and lows, and we’re not just talking about the price of materials. No matter how excited you are or how frustrated you get about building your home, you can never forget that house-building is business and you’re the boss. That means getting the result you want is up to you. Nailing Down The Budget If you’re asking, “How much…
The answer to this question depends on local regulations regarding construction and renovation. In general, urban and suburban areas require more permits than rural areas; however, it is always better to be safe than sorry. The following are circumstances that frequently require building permits: New Construction: Constructing or building a new home or other…
What every owner-builder aspires to receive. Photo courtesy of iStockphoto Becoming the owner-builder of your own house is a great adventure. It gives you the freedom to design and build what you want, provides great personal satisfaction if you do the work yourself, and can save a lot of money along the way. But for many people who dream of building, it’s hard…
Perhaps the biggest step to getting into better shape is actually making the trip to your local gym. After a long day of emails, going to work out can sometimes feel like a marathon in itself. Save money and time and bring the gym to your home this year! Build an at-home gym for under $1, with these DIY tips. Choose Your Location Once you cancel your gym membership…
The average sales price of a newly constructed house in January 2016 was 494, , according to the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development. Since this price range is well above the average price of an existing home, consumers seeking a newly constructed home often ask whether it would be cheaper to just build a house. Let’s take a look at the numbers…
Though the current economic climate presents some challenges, the time to build is now. Many builders and sub-contractors are seeking construction work and are willing to negotiate on pricing and terms in order to win your job. Prices for construction materials can also be a bargain in comparison to the boom years. The current challenges in building a new home…
Browse for inspiration, but remember that offices in design magazines may not be set up to accommodate a 50-hour work week. Upholstered dining room chairs look amazing, but they won’t support your back. Tiny vintage desks won’t accommodate your project files, and while some people like bright colors, you might get annoyed looking at a whole wall of fire engine…
A new house will probably cost between $80 and $200 per square foot… In one form or another, this question is one of the most frequent requests we receive from our visitors. Unfortunately, it is also one of the few questions that we simply cannot answer very specifically. Can you tell me how much it costs to take a vacation or send my kids to college? How much…
However, I’m positive that some of you have been through this process and have some wisdom to share. Read the email below, and please do leave your advice in the comments! ( Email subscribers : so that this reader can see your comments, click on the post title to come to the actual blog and leave a comment. Clicking reply will send your comment to just me!)…
