Downspouts and gutters will collect and send out hundreds of gallons of water during a storm. Splash blocks only serve as a way to absorb and spread the energy of the falling water. Drain lines of durable 4 inch diameter plastic can capture and move the water to a better place on your lot. Read my column for more tips.
Garage plans are essential to your new home creation. Your garage will receive much use in a variety of ways. Most garages have far too little space, inadequate garage doors and little if any garage storage area. Planning your perfect garage with the ample space you will need will save you years of discontent.
New construction blues for builder and homeowner can be avoided if you select all features of your new home first and nix change orders. New home construction can suffer cost overruns, time delays and price gouging by a contractor when you decide to change some aspect of your job while work is in progress.
Mold prevention in your home is managed with simple materials and techniques as you build. Mold, mildew and wood rot problems can be circumvented with good and proper workmanship. Toxic mold prevention can be accomplished by utilizing the good building practices of many older homes, which created an air gap between the exterior of your home and the structure behind it.
Air conditioning units in your home have to be properly sized to fit your home. Your heating and AC contractor (HVAC) figures out how many supply ducts and return air ducts need to be in each room for the best air flow.
Concrete driveways, walks and patios can be a source of complaint from homeowners. Concrete that will remain in shape for years needs great strength, the right amount of water, proper curing, control joints and installation during optimal weather.
Interior door types should not be a decision you leave up to the builder or architect. Consider having solid core interior doors installed to reduce noise. Doorknobs and locksets can be installed that allow a wider margin to keep from scraping your knuckles. Match your doors to the style of home you have.
Bathroom ventilation fans or dryer exhaust fans shouldn't be vented indoors. Vent exhaust air to the outside of your home to prevent mold or mildew from condensation.
Your wall size or thickness will determine how much insulation you can apply for greater energy savings. A thicker wall upgrade depends on many factors, such as costs of insulation, heating and cooling your home, temperature differences between the inside and outside, etc. Whether a thicker wall will benefit you can be calculated, and best decided before you build that home.
Plumbing installation for drains through a line is not as easy as you might think. Your PVC piping should be sized right to avoid clogs. You will also need three fittings to create a new drainage line. Follow these tips for leak-free piping.
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