So You Are Buying a New Construction You may be buying a new construction because you want a home built your way, or maybe a home that has never been lived in. You should use care and follow some basic advice when buying new construction and this will eliminate many problems and costs before they even start. The first tip is to always have your own agent if you are buying from a developer. Many people go to the development or contractor and take on the first agent they see, and this can be a big mistake...continue reading
Want to get a free estimate for a New Construction project now? Get a quote from our New York New Construction expert
New Homes Have Their Fair Share of Problems Too The proper amount of fill and backfill should be between six to eight inches deep, and it should be tamped down completely so that the dirt is completely compacted so there are no gaps or air pockets in the bottom layers of the dirt. Another problem near the foundation that can happen in new construction is that the grading is not sloping away from the foundation. This is important, because without this grading slope water, including rain and snow...continue reading Want to get a free estimate for a New Construction project now? Get a quote from our New York New Construction expert
Replacing a Concrete Walkway Closely inspect the concrete walkway, and look for issues such as cracks, crumbling concrete, an uneven surface or one that is no longer level because of settling, and even staining. Determine if any of these factors are present, because if your concrete walkway is not level and in good condition and repair, it may need to be replaced. Replacing a concrete driveway involves five basic steps: the demolition phase, the grading phase, the forming phase, the placing phase...continue reading Want to get a free estimate for a New Construction project now? Get a quote from our New York New Construction expert
Installing New Patio Pavers The first step to installing new pavers is to make a design plan, and plan out exactly where the project will be located, what size area will be paved, any drainage for the area, the correct slope to ensure water runs off the pavers, colors and designs required in the paving stones, and any other aspects of the project. Draw up the design using graph paper, making changes as needed through the design process...continue reading Want to get a free estimate for a New Construction project now? Get a quote from our New York New Construction expert
Types of Pavers Pavers can be found in many types, but there are three main basic types that any home owner and do it yourselfer should get to know. Pavers are brick, concrete, and natural stone, and each type has specific benefits and disadvantages associated. The most common method used to choose pavers is the look and the function the paver will have. Even though there are only three basic paver types, there are hundreds of styles...continue reading Want to get a free estimate for a New Construction project now? Get a quote from our New York New Construction expert
Big Focus on Radon Radon is a tasteless, odorless, colorless gas that occurs naturally everywhere in the environment, all over the world. It is a radioactive gas that is produced when radium decays. While there are some areas of the globe that naturally experience higher concentrations of the gas, in most outdoor locations there is a sufficient amount of ventilation so as to minimize any effects that the gas would cause. The situation indoors however, is another story...continue reading Want to get a free estimate for a New Construction project now? Get a quote from our New York New Construction expert
Will I Need An Architect Many new homes are custom designed, and this is done by an architect, so if you want a unique custom home unlike any other you will need to have an architect for the project. If your home does not have to be one of a kind, it is possible to use another method instead, which can save you both time and money in the process. For a traditional home, your options include using an architect...continue reading Want to get a free estimate for a New Construction project now? Get a quote from our New York New Construction expert
Considering Building A New Construction Tim Carter, writer of the "Ask the Builder" website gives a thorough New Home Construction List that should not be ignored. With each item on the list, he goes into detail about what you should be checking and then double checking so that you don't run into costly and heartbreaking problems later on. For instance, his checklist mentions, "Foundation Drain Line - Does the foundation have a 4 inch perforated drain line? Is the line covered with two...continue reading Want to get a free estimate for a New Construction project now? Get a quote from our New York New Construction expert
Design Your Plan Design Workshop. "The complete freeware Design Workshop Lite software package provides all you need to build your own 3D models for home design and visualization of architecture, landscapes, exhibits, or any kind of spatial design." The makers of Design Workshop also offer free tutorials and user guide...continue reading Want to get a free estimate for a New Construction project now? Get a quote from our New York New Construction expert
A Few Things About Concrete Walls One of the first things that you might want to keep in mind is that concrete is very strong when compressed. However, this does not mean that it will always support weight without cracking. Even though it is a very hard material, it is also quite brittle. When the soil shifts, concrete is in danger of cracking and for this reason it should always be reinforced when it is being used in the construction...continue reading Want to get a free estimate for a New Construction project now? Get a quote from our New York New Construction expert
Types of Foundations The first type of foundation is the shallow foundation. Shallow foundations transfer the weight of the structure to the layer of earth very near the surface. Common types of shallow foundations include spread footing foundations, mat slab foundations and slab on grade foundations. Spread footing consists of pads of concrete which transfer weight from the columns and walls to the earth. Mat slab foundations transfer the weight from the columns and walls across...continue reading Want to get a free estimate for a New Construction project now? Get a quote from our New York New Construction expert
The Green Foundation Some of the more traditional methods that are used to build foundations are not the most energy efficient, and when you're considering building a home that is environmentally friendly, you should look into the more green options for the foundation as well. The more traditional slab on grade foundations are known to leak substantial amounts of energy and they are therefore not the first choice of the environmentally conscious builder...continue reading Want to get a free estimate for a New Construction project now? Get a quote from our New York New Construction expert
Mud Techniques Cob Construction This type of construction is catching on in North America and to that end there are more and more of these type of homes that are springing up. A stronger mix has found it's way into the process and to that end there is a more controlled formulation process than anything that's been seen before. This is called Cob construction and it has been undergoing several basic transformations lately...continue reading Want to get a free estimate for a New Construction project now? Get a quote from our New York New Construction expert
Interior Construction of Walls and Ceilings Like everything else, when it comes to a new construction there is a sequence that needs to be followed. As a rule, ceilings are finished first and then the walls, with the floors completed last. Keep in mind that workers will drop tools and materials as they work; it does no damage to drop tools on unfinished floors...continue reading Want to get a free estimate for a New Construction project now? Get a quote from our New York New Construction expert
Construction Defects and Foundation When most of us think about the foundation, we tend to think of the part that we can see that sits above the ground, but there is another part of the foundation that is just as important even though we cant see it and that's the footings. Cracks in the foundations are often caused by poor footings or in some cases, no footings at all. Old brick foundations generally have no footings as a rule and for that reason it will be possible...continue reading Want to get a free estimate for a New Construction project now? Get a quote from our New York New Construction expert
Construction Defects and How They Can Impact Your Home Although most people assume that the fault of these construction defects lies solely with the builders or even the engineers, more often than not there are a variety of things that can influence them including an improper soil analysis and poor site selection. After a home has been built on an unsuitable site, it's next to impossible to change some of the features that affect the construction unless the owners can considerably change the grading by landscaping...continue reading Want to get a free estimate for a New Construction project now? Get a quote from our New York New Construction expert
Foundation Crack Evaluation The most common type of foundational defect is a foundational crack. A crack in the foundation can be evaluated based on its size, shape, location, and pattern. Length, width and continuity can all be signs of either insignificant or unstable cracks. Look at the shape and pattern and see if it occurs frequently over the wall or if it is isolated in one location. Foundation cracks occur as horizontal cracks, vertical cracks, diagonal cracks, and shrinkage cracks due to frost heave...continue reading Want to get a free estimate for a New Construction project now? Get a quote from our New York New Construction expert
Selecting The Proper Site For A New Construction There is a long standing historical precedent for going to great lengths to select the right place to build, as looking at the practices of ancient Rome can attest to. Back in those times, cattle were confined to graze in the area where a home was to be built for a period of time and they were then slaughtered and their innards were taken out to be examined...continue reading Want to get a free estimate for a New Construction project now? Get a quote from our New York New Construction expert
New Construction Inspection Because a buyer was given a builder's one-year warranty for workmanship or any extended structural warranties, the buyer feels safe and is pacified. The buyer thinks the builder is a professional and has to live up to a certain reputation, which is not always the case. The builder may also reject the notion of another person's involvement with the sale of the new construction...continue reading Want to get a free estimate for a New Construction project now? Get a quote from our New York New Construction expert
Buying a New Construction Some think that buying a fresh home from a builder does not require a real estate agent, but there are some great reasons to include one in your transaction. At the very heart of the hammer is the experience a real estate agent has with the contracts you will be asked to sign and the negotiating process you will be asked to go through as you consider purchasing a new construction piece of real estate...continue reading Want to get a free estimate for a New Construction project now? Get a quote from our New York New Construction expert
Land Issues Before European settlers first started building homes in North America, the land was largely inhabited by Native Americans who chose to live in roughly the same areas as we live now. Many tribes chose to bury their dead, and occasionally during the construction of a new home, human remains are unearthed. Usually the remains are relocated, and construction continues on the former burial ground. Often people associate Indian burial grounds with hauntings...continue reading Want to get a free estimate for a New Construction project now? Get a quote from our New York New Construction expert
The Building Blocks: The Foundation and The Footings Remember that it's the "foundation that rests in the earth" this may not seem like a big deal at first until one considers that there are many different types of soils under every home and all of these soils react differently to the pressures that are placed on them. The best footings and foundations are designed taking into consideration the displacement that they create for the earth. Both these things need to be carefully aligned so that the final home sits properly...continue reading Want to get a free estimate for a New Construction project now? Get a quote from our New York New Construction expert
Back To The Home Remodeling, Home Improvement, Home Inspection article library Free Estimates for a New Construction project in New York Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan and Staten Island
|