It appears that across the industry people agree that things are looking up. Bloomberg News reported that the number of homes that were sold and not yet started is the highest that it has been in seven years, which is likely to increase the sales of building materials and appliances while also creating more jobs. […]
Net-Zero Energy House in a Kit
Dave Gauthier, president of Vantem Panels, a structural insulated panels (SIPs) manufacturing company in Brattleboro, Vermont, has created a product called “SmartHomze,” which are kits for high performance house shells that can be assembled for about $150 per square foot, as compared to the $200-250 average for other high-performance housing. SmarHomze kits have five sizes […]
Places: A Floating Deck
Whether they branch off of the kitchen for an ideal gathering and outdoor meal space or bud out of the bedroom for a cozy place to drink coffee or read in the morning, decks are a great addition to a home. If, however, your home is not designed in a way conducive to a deck […]
How to Create an Indoor Painted Rug
A painted rug is a DIY project that can be a striking addition to any room. This article features step-by-step instructions for creating one, with an estimated project time of 24-48 hours, including drying time, and an approximate cost of only $120. The basic idea of the project is that you pencil out a “rug” […]
Split Decision: Re-Roof or Repair?
Spencer Tait was the fifth contractor to visit a certain roof earlier this year, and then only to suggest that it could be fixed without replacing the entire roof, a job that could range anywhere from $5,000 to $20,000 in the New Jersey market. With both labor and materials rising in cost, a job like […]
LEED v4 Passes Ballot, Will Launch This Fall
The newest version of the USGBC’s LEED (United States Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) green building rating system has gone through months of debate and an atypical amount of public comment periods, but has finally been approved by a ballot vote of USGB members with 86 percent in favor of a […]
Prefab Lightwall Pavilion Features Glass Bottle Wall
The Lightwall Pavilion is the winning entry in the 2012 ReSpace Design Competition. It was designed by North Carolina State University architecture students Abe Dreschler and Scott Hefner to be a multipurpose structure constructed out of reclaimed wood and glass bottles from local bars and restaurants. It is 213 square feet. The competition is sponsored […]
Breathing Easy in LEED Housing
The Mount Sinai School of Medicine recently released a study which found that a small group of residents in a LEED-certified building who were also educated on ways to avoid asthma triggers reported drastically reduced asthma symptoms. The building was the Melrose Commons V, which is an affordable housing development in the South Bronx certified […]
EPA Proposes Strict Formaldehyde Limits for Composite Wood Products
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recently proposed two new federal rules to regulate formaldehyde emissions from composite wood products. Materials affected include both domestic and imported particleboard, medium-density fiberboard (MDF), hardwood plywood, and also any finished product made from these materials. This move by the EPA is one of the first major restrictions on […]
Expanded Outdoor Spaces Make Area Homes More Marketable
According to a recent magazine report comparing the cost-effectiveness of various home renovations, one of the most effective moderations you can make to your home is actually outside. On average, a homeowner in Jacksonville recouped 75% of the costs associated with installing a wooden deck in increased resale value of the house. This was exceeded […]