August 8, 2019
/ Posted in: Builders, Dealers, DIY, Framers
The 2019 Home Innovation Research Labs builder survey found that construction pros still favor fiberglass insulation over other options. In fact, fiberglass batt insulation takes just over half of the market for single family homes while blown fiberglass is gaining traction at 19%. Of the 1,600 builders participating in the study, 71% used fiberglass in …
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August 6, 2019
/ Posted in: Builders, Dealers, DIY, Framers
Selling a home doesn’t entail listing it with an estate agent and sitting back and waiting for the offers to roll in. It can be a lengthy and expensive process that could be unnecessarily costly if not done right. Whether you are selling your own home or an investment property, there are a couple of …
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August 1, 2019
/ Posted in: Builders, Dealers, DIY, Framers
In order to ensure a successful flooring installation, you require a sound subfloor system. Any mistakes in the subfloor are likely to telegraph through to the installed floor and result in time consuming and expensive call backs. Inspect the subflooring carefully and be sure to correct any problems before installing finished flooring.
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July 11, 2019
/ Posted in: The Ol' Sage Builder
When signing onto a contract as a subcontractor, you may not want to consult a lawyer every time you take on a new job. Here are some things to look out for that may cause issues down the line or make you liable for mistakes and callbacks. If your Request for Proposal (RFP) states that …
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July 5, 2019
/ Posted in: Builders, Dealers, Framers
A recent survey showed that 55% of construction workers want more safety training. With labor shortages, taking time out for training can delay projects even more. 39% of people surveyed said they were more concerned for safety on the jobsite than they were last year. Not properly training staff can result in injuries on the …
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June 26, 2019
/ Posted in: Builders, Dealers, DIY, Framers
While spending a lot of money securing a home’s building envelope is a very effective way to use less energy, we also need to be cognizant of our energy usage. One effective way to cut costs is to find inexpensive ways to keep your home cool in the summer to minimize HVAC usage.
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June 14, 2019
/ Posted in: Builders, Dealers, DIY, Framers
Placing notoriously leaky HVAC ductwork into an unconditioned space will not make for an energy efficient heating or cooling system.There are a few options which locate the ductwork within the thermal enclosure of the home. Options include moving the ceiling plane to the underside of the roof with an unvented attic or placing the ductwork in a conditioned basement. A third option is the installation of plenum trusses which allow for a compact ducting system to be placed in a conditioned bulkhead.
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June 10, 2019
/ Posted in: Builders, Dealers, DIY, Framers
When renovating or building to sell, it can be difficult to know where your money will earn the greatest dividends. Here are some realtor-recommended features that help to sell homes faster and for more money. You may be surprised at some, but consult your designer and realtor to see which ones fit your budget best. …
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June 6, 2019
/ Posted in: Builders, Dealers, DIY, Framers
Construction labor shortages mean every minute counts on the jobsite. If you spend too much of your time tracking down tools, you can streamline your business and reduce lost assets by implementing a tool-tracking system. Bar-coded tracking systems These systems allow you to tag your tools with barcode stickers. This means even smaller tools can …
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June 4, 2019
/ Posted in: Builders, Dealers, DIY, Framers
Increased incidence of strong weather systems and the tragedies that follow high wind events have encouraged engineers and designers to rethink the way we build to improve wall strength. Stronger walls will keep home occupants safer during weather events and will increase the lifespan of the home. One of the problems is that the roof, wall and flooring systems are installed as separate entities. Connecting the OSB wall sheathing and the flooring system can create a continuous load path which can improve wall strength by up to 38%.
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