The Simple House Acceptable Solution is for single storey framed construction using limited roof spans and claddings. It contains Acceptable Solutions for single-storey, stand-alone houses that meet the definition of a simple house. A simple house sits within Category 1 of the Licensed Building Practitioner Scheme, and has a reduced weathertightness risk (where…
In our last post we discussed how products with similar features (e.g. a roof, a foundation, a bathroom, a kitchen, etc) can have widely different costs per square foot when building a house. If you didn’t read Part #1, I highly recommend you read that post first as it will give you the general basis for our discussion going forward. In my way of thinking the…
There’s a way to find a use for them while also providing a new playhouse or home for your feline friend. Build her a cardboard cat castle! Materials Needed: Cardboard Boxes (at least 3) Box cutter (Scissors might work, too) Pen Paint (optional) Glue The great thing about creating a cardboard cat castle is how cheap and easy it is. You don’t even have to be all…
For years on her twice-a-week walks, architect Elissa Morgante would pass a rundown little shack on a wooded lot with a Jeep halfway buried in mud out front. The property sat next to a path to a beach right on Lake Michigan in the Chicago suburb of Wilmette, Ill. In time she worked up the courage to knock on the door, telling the elderly woman who answered that…
According to the 2015 Survey of Construction from the Census Bureau, the average completion time of a single-family home is around seven months. It’s important to note that factors, such as the complexity of the project — the land on which the home is being built, the area where the home is being built and the intricacy of the home’s floor plan — will affect…
You can have your custom home built on your own land, whether you have that acre of land on top of that rolling hill, or your family’s land has just been subdivided among all of the cousins and your section is next to the babbling brook. What do you do now? What you should do is connect with The Homestar Group for a team of professionals that you can rely on…
How long does it take to get a Houseplans Cost-to-Build Report? Cost-to-Build Reports are typically emailed within 1 business day of the order being placed. top of page Where does the home construction cost data used in these reports come from? The construction cost data used in Houseplans Cost-to-Build Reports is compiled from real world market information supplied…
Build a home in ten days? Using William Castle s fast timber-framing method, that s all it took to put up the shell of this cabin for Castle s daughter. PHOTO: CHRIS McCLELLAN For half a century, William Castle has been building bridges, cabins, and shanties of all shapes and sizes. His favorite projects are right in his own yard. Woodland areas such as that…
Admiring the style and architecture of a home may inspire you to discover who the builder was. Perhaps you are considering custom building a home and would like to interview different contractors for the job or simply are intrigued by the design and workmanship of the home. Use several simple investigative techniques to learn who built a home in just a few days…
If your home is bursting at the seams, adding a bedroom can bring some much-needed space to increase comfort for your family. Options range from a state-of-the-art master suite to a simple budget bedroom without the frills. Understanding the cost of these options will help you choose the right option for your home and find the best type of bedroom addition to…
Tree houses cost between $9, and several hundred thousand dollars. Most kids tree houses cost between $10, and $30, . Adult tree houses, bed & breakfast rentals, or commercial use tree houses usually cost between $40, and up to as much as a ground house would cost. Why the big ranges? Here are the primary considerations in determining the cost of a…
When Jesus walked the dusty pathways of towns and villages that we now reverently call the Holy Land and taught His disciples by beautiful Galilee, He often spoke in parables, in language the people understood best. Frequently, He referred to home building in relationship to the lives of those who listened. He declared: “Every … house divided against itself shall…
Now that I have your attention, I want to talk about a common mistake that a lot of straw bale homeowners make early on in the process. Often the most fatal mistake of any job is underestimating how much it will cost to build that beautiful home you worked so hard to design. Common examples of this are: not including enough money for framing materials or electrical…
Anyone starting a business has done their fair share of research and analysis. You researched your chosen market, ran financial projections, and figured out startup costs. This proves you’re an analytical guru, right? That’s why it’s tempting to think you can continue to rely on spreadsheets to manage on-going analysis. Although this isn’t the “wrong” approach…
Contractors and builders can help with making sound environmental choices. No time is better to think about a green home than at the beginning of the construction process. Many decisions can be made with the environment in mind. Saving resources and energy is easier now that green materials and products are readily available to the typical homeowner. Although…
If you’re buying a home from a local, regional or national builder who has already bought land and is building multiple homes within a community, your financing will be similar to the purchase of an existing home. The main difference is that you will apply for a loan when you sign a contract for the new home, but you won’t lock in your loan terms until the property…
Building a new home begins long before the foundation is poured. To avoid costly mistakes during the construction process, start with these five important steps. As you move from dream house to real house, be sure to ask questions and share your progress with people who have gone through the process. 1. Plan Your Budget Begin now to think about how much you can…
Is it possible to build a house for €80, (that’s approximately $87, )? That was the million-dollar question a Portuguese family had for local architect JosĂ© Carlos Nunes de Oliveira of NoArq. The answer turned out to be not quite , so the family upped their budget to €100, (or about $109, ). What resulted is the Mami House, a “mini bunker” of a home measuring…
The price of an existing home will be affected by its condition and location. house image by Brett Bouwer from Fotolia.com Building your next home to your own specifications is an ambitious undertaking. Building a home often costs more than buying one, which might mean a larger mortgage bill. It will also take months or years to complete. However, building a…
I am in the middle of reading by Rob Roy and it is fantastic. It guides you step-by-step through what it takes to build a home and live thrive without a mortgage. I have to admit, the ideas in the book are definitely outside-the-box. As I read Roy s words, it slowly sinks in: NO MORE RENT. NO MORE MORTGAGE. What would I do with the money? The possibilities are…
How does a company know what resources should be developed internally versus what should be handled externally? This question teases out all the meaty issues facing a company – past, present and future. It’s not really the answer that matters so much. The important thing is how companies deal with the question. There’s a tendency to answer the question using…
Tired of sub-standard homes and high rents, an increasing number of people are grouping together to build their own housing developments. There has been an explosion in the number of Community Land Trusts (CLTs), with one set up every week in the last year. There are now 225 CLTs, a number which has grown six-fold in the last six years. The schemes buy land…
Move to a more affordable residence while saving for your new home. Building the home of your dreams from the ground up means you ll get to mold the project from beginning to end. But with this also comes the potential for unexpected expenses and going over budget. Saving money before you build will give you financial security to cover all of your design whims…
Time magazine on Thursday published a stunning illustration on its cover for the May 29th issue, depicting the White House mutating into a Kremlin-like building, featuring the distinctive onion domes and red brick of Russia s Saint Basil s Cathedral. The cover accompanies a story detailing White House officials struggles to contain and respond to multiple Russia-related…
