Casement windows (crank outs) and Double Hung windows are both effective windows that offer a different look and function differently. Casements are easy to operate and show less window frame from inside and outside. Casements are harder to clean and are more prone to service issues with their operation.
Casements can be as much as 20-25% more expensive. My first survey question to you is: Are they worth the money?
Next question: Pella now makes a vinyl version of their wood windows at a fairly significant discount. There is a perception that vinyl windows are "lower end." If the interior jamb extensions on vinyl windows are wood, but the windows are vinyl, would you consider doing a vinyl window in a house over $400,000 for the lot and home package -- same Pella quality and warranty?
Please email your comments to: lifestylehomes@wi.rr.com --- Thank you!!!
Thursday, January 25, 2007
Sunday, January 21, 2007
Foundation Protection
A couple of things that Lifestyle Homes does to improve the "quality" of the foundations in our new homes is to backfill with as much stone as possible and use a waterproofing "membrane" on the outside of the poured concrete walls.
Nine foot poured concrete walls are standard pricing in our homes. We ALSO include a rubber-like membrane sprayed on the outside of these concrete walls. This is an effective barrier against moisture soaking through the concrete and getting into your finished, or unfinished lower level. This membrane is quite a bit more effective than the standard tar coating and is the same treatment used by firms that guaranty basements against moisture penetration for 10 years.
We also backfill around the excavation of our poured walls with stone as high as our excavation will allow us to go. Current code requires us to backfill with stone over the drain tile 1 foot. We usually end up backfilling with stone 5, 6 or more times that. In doing this, we take pressure off the foundation by moving water down to the drain tiles as expediently as possible. Water that sits on a foundation is likely to eventually soak through, even with 10 inch thick poured concrete walls. With the stone, there is room for expansion in areas that have a lot of clay and don't drain well such as on the North and Northeast suburbs. It costs us a little more, but we consider it an inexpensive insurance policy against future problems with foundations and is included with all of our homes.
As always, surface water management is a crucial factor in keeping a basement dry and that is managed by effective rough and finish grading in landscaping, proper gutter and downspout-downspout extension operation, and home maintenance.
Nine foot poured concrete walls are standard pricing in our homes. We ALSO include a rubber-like membrane sprayed on the outside of these concrete walls. This is an effective barrier against moisture soaking through the concrete and getting into your finished, or unfinished lower level. This membrane is quite a bit more effective than the standard tar coating and is the same treatment used by firms that guaranty basements against moisture penetration for 10 years.
We also backfill around the excavation of our poured walls with stone as high as our excavation will allow us to go. Current code requires us to backfill with stone over the drain tile 1 foot. We usually end up backfilling with stone 5, 6 or more times that. In doing this, we take pressure off the foundation by moving water down to the drain tiles as expediently as possible. Water that sits on a foundation is likely to eventually soak through, even with 10 inch thick poured concrete walls. With the stone, there is room for expansion in areas that have a lot of clay and don't drain well such as on the North and Northeast suburbs. It costs us a little more, but we consider it an inexpensive insurance policy against future problems with foundations and is included with all of our homes.
As always, surface water management is a crucial factor in keeping a basement dry and that is managed by effective rough and finish grading in landscaping, proper gutter and downspout-downspout extension operation, and home maintenance.
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Pricing
"What is the price per square foot of your homes?"
This is a very common question that I get asked and a question that intelligent people are going to ask nearly all the time. Square foot pricing is the way a lot of tradesmen bid out houses. It's a way for communities to assess permit fees or tax levys. It's a way for realtors to price homes.
But I think it's only a piece of the puzzle.
My question back to them is generally going to be - "How nice do you want it to be?"
What type of house is it - ranch, two story master up, two story with first floor master? What are your subdivision requirements? Are there exposures? What do you want included, ie. your walls rolled and painted, your appliances, a deck, a sidewalk? Will you need to install a private well or septic system? Think about the literally 100's of decisions that could be made on the items that go into your home and then ask yourself whether you are comparing apples to apples when price shopping? Complexity of design, quality of materials, quality of workmanship and level of finish are all components to the price of a home.
Whether it's furniture, clothes, cars or homes, one concept we've all experienced seems to hold true in life. You get what you pay for. There is no magic in the pricing of a home. It's a function of the costs of labor, materials and markup involved with the production of that product.
If something seems out of whack in pricing then you may want to take note and determine what you are giving up to get to a given number.
This is a very common question that I get asked and a question that intelligent people are going to ask nearly all the time. Square foot pricing is the way a lot of tradesmen bid out houses. It's a way for communities to assess permit fees or tax levys. It's a way for realtors to price homes.
But I think it's only a piece of the puzzle.
My question back to them is generally going to be - "How nice do you want it to be?"
What type of house is it - ranch, two story master up, two story with first floor master? What are your subdivision requirements? Are there exposures? What do you want included, ie. your walls rolled and painted, your appliances, a deck, a sidewalk? Will you need to install a private well or septic system? Think about the literally 100's of decisions that could be made on the items that go into your home and then ask yourself whether you are comparing apples to apples when price shopping? Complexity of design, quality of materials, quality of workmanship and level of finish are all components to the price of a home.
Whether it's furniture, clothes, cars or homes, one concept we've all experienced seems to hold true in life. You get what you pay for. There is no magic in the pricing of a home. It's a function of the costs of labor, materials and markup involved with the production of that product.
If something seems out of whack in pricing then you may want to take note and determine what you are giving up to get to a given number.
Intro and Mission
Being the managing partner of Lifestyle Homes, I am starting this blog to help educate people on the building process and open a dialogue that will provide an alternate path for the exchange of information on a very complicated, misunderstood and yet very rewarding process - building a home.
I plan to keep these postings as succinct and honest as possible. The frequency will be based on my schedule and whether I have something worthwhile to say.
Feedback is welcome by email directly to me and I will try to answer questions back by email and/or within this format if I feel it will be helpful to others. It doesn't have to be about one of the topics in the blog. If there is anything on your mind about building a home, please contact me. Helping others is ultimately the primary mission of the company. Hopefully, you will find it useful.
I plan to keep these postings as succinct and honest as possible. The frequency will be based on my schedule and whether I have something worthwhile to say.
Feedback is welcome by email directly to me and I will try to answer questions back by email and/or within this format if I feel it will be helpful to others. It doesn't have to be about one of the topics in the blog. If there is anything on your mind about building a home, please contact me. Helping others is ultimately the primary mission of the company. Hopefully, you will find it useful.
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