New home
Green Home Building Tips Building a green home will save you money while saving energy and the environment! Consider incorporating these ideas into your new home for a more sustainable future! Home orientation – Depending on your climate you can use passive design to keep your home cooler or warmer to help reduce energy consumption through heating and cooling. Build small – Smaller homes cost less to cool and heat so only build what you need. Windows – Choose energy efficient windows that are ENERGY STAR® qualified. Fixture & Appliances – Select water conserving faucets, shower heads, dishwasher and washing machine to slash your water consumption. Thermostats – Install learning thermostats that can be controlled by an app on your phone. If you’re thinking about building a green home be sure to visit our sustainability board for more green home building tips!...
New home
There are many decking materials options to consider when building a new home or adding on to your existing home. The most popular decking options include composite, pressure treated and cedar. Composite decking is becoming increasingly popular because it is exceptionally low-maintenance and offers excellent warranties. It is resistant to scratches, splitting, stains, rot, insects, moisture and mildew! Composite decking is available in realistic wood grains and many color options. Pressure treated decking is an affordable option that will last fifteen years if it is properly maintained. It is chemically preserved to resist fungus, decay and bugs. Pressure treated decking is also able to be stained or painted to match your style. Cedar decking is another beautiful and natural decking option to consider for your new home. With proper cleaning and sealing, cedar will have a lifespan of approximately 20 years. It is naturally impervious to rot and insects and moisture as well! For more information and photos about your decking material options be sure to visit our Pinterest board or schedule an in home consultation to get the facts and...
New home
Universal design home building is becoming more prevalent in new construction and custom built homes. Many people are choosing to build new homes that can accommodate all ages and physical requirements. Single floor living is a smart way to ensure you and your loved ones can remain in the home for as long as possible. Designing a universal design floor plan should at least consist of one bedroom, bathroom, living area, kitchen and dining area on the first floor. Zero-step entrances are an important aspect to building a universal design home. All entry doors, thresholds, doorways and decks should be built so they are manageable for walkers, wheelchairs and strollers. All thermostats, electrical outlets and light switches are to be placed within arm’s reach for anyone in a wheelchair. Motion sensor lights outside and inside might also be a smart addition to your home design. Universal design bathrooms can be functional and still stylish! Choose a wall-mounted sink with open space below it, hand-held shower heads, grab bars, benches and a threshold free stall shower. Universally accessible appliances should be installed for ease of access. Front load washing machines and dryers are the best choice. A stove with front controls are necessary to prevent burns and to be able to safely prepare food. Side-by-side refrigerators are a smart choice too. Universal home design is a great choice no matter your age or current situation. You can build a universal design home that will be safe and stylish forever. Visit our Universal Design Pinterest page for more...
New home
If you are heading out of town for the weekend or a month consider these tips for protecting your Southcoast, MA home from intruders. Maintain Landscaping – Keep trees, hedges and landscaping well maintained to ensure burglars don’t have a place to hide. If you are going away for over a week be sure to hire someone to mow your lawn so it doesn’t appear that the house has been vacant. Light it up – Buy timers for indoor lights and use motion activated lights outside. Hold the mail – Have the post office hold your mail while you are gone, or ask a friend or neighbor to collect it for you. An overstuffed mailbox and a week’s worth of newspapers in your driveway is a flag that no one has been home. Be neighborly – Talk to your close neighbors and let them know that you will be away so they can keep an eye out for any suspicious activity. Also give them your contact information in case they need to get in touch with you. Hide your valuables – Close curtains or shades before locking up your home so thieves can’t see inside your home. Check locks – Make sure your window and door locks are in good condition. Consider adding deadbolts to doors for added security. For more home tips visit our Helpful Homeowner Tips Pinterest...
New home
Energy efficient products for your new home can help you save money while making your home more sustainable. Consider these green products before you build your new home. Thermal windows will help you save money on energy bills in your new home. These windows usually have two to three panes of glass with insulating Argon gas between each pane. In the summer these thermal windows stop most of the sun’s heat from increasing your indoor temperature. During the winter, the windows will keep your heat from escaping your new home. Our window recommendation is Harvey’s line of vinyl windows. Fiberglass Doors manufactured by Therma-Tru have a solid polyurethane foam core for improved energy efficiency. Therma-Tru entry doors and patio doors are made with energy-efficient glass that is triple-paned for reduced heat flow. Therma-Tru doors and glass work together with weatherstrip to create a tighter seal which means reduced air leakage around door edges. GAF Cool Roof Shingles will help keep your home cooler during the summer. Reflective shingle technology will reduce attic temperatures– which means spending less on air conditioning. Depending on your home’s specific property, geography, and the season – a cool roof may save you between 7-15% of overall cooling costs. Cool Series Shingles use specially designed roofing granules that have superior reflectance than traditional shingles. This results in less transfer of heat to the space beneath. A cool roof reduces the solar heat gain of a building by first reflecting incoming sun rays and then by swiftly re-emitting the remaining absorbed portion. Consequently, the cool roof stays cooler than a traditional roof. Mastic Insulated Siding offers...
New home
Planning a deck for your new home is easy if you answer a few questions and follow a few steps to help guide you. Before you can start the process you must define your budget to get a realistic scope of the project. How will you use your deck? Think about how you will use your deck to help you determine the best size and shape. For instance, if you enjoy outdoor entertaining you will want a large deck with room for plenty of seating. If you plan to have a pool or hot tub you might want to think about how they will fit into your space as well. How much sunlight do you want? You might be limited to where you can put a deck depending on your home’s orientation and your desired exposure to sunlight. Look at the space during different times of day to choose the most comfortable position based on your wants and needs. If the deck will be getting lots of sunlight you might want to add an awning into your budget! Which decking material fits your lifestyle? Real wood, pressure-treated wood, composite, PVC and vinyl decking are just a few of the most popular decking types. If you are looking for a low maintenance option you will likely go with a composite, PVC or vinyl deck that mimics the look of real wood without the associated upkeep. If you prefer a more natural and organic look but don’t mind painting or staining – you might consider hardwood or pressure treated wood. Do you want or need any deck accessories? Think about...
