Archive for June, 2010
Wednesday, June 30th, 2010
If you’re feeling cramped in your current house, your first thought may be to look for a new home. This can be hard, though, for families who have grown attached to their home or community and don’t want to disrupt their children’s lives. For these families, putting on an addition may be a better option. To better weigh the options, here are some things to keep in mind about an addition.
- Staying power
Yes, an addition costs less than a new home, and you’ll probably recoup the cost of an addition in the value of your home. However, if you’ll still have to move even years after an addition to your home, it may not be worth it. If you’re hunkering down for the long haul, an addition is a great option. If you still may be moving on during the next few years, it may not be right.
- Affordability
As soon as you get your first estimate, you’re bound to start wondering whether you can afford an addition. There are online calculators to help you figure the cost of an addition. When you’re ready to proceed, make sure you’re able to get a loan (if you need one), that you’ve built in money in case the project goes over budget, and that you’ve gotten good estimates from different contractors.
- Permits and permissions
Many additions require permits. Your contractor can help you out with this, but ultimately, the buck stops with you. While you’re getting permissions, don’t forget about the people around you. The construction will cause quite a disruption for your family and you should talk with your neighbors beforehand to maintain good relations.
These points and their accompanying articles can help you get started on the decision-making process. We’re also available to lend you advice based on our expertise in building additions. Contact us for more information.
Tags: adding on, additions, building permits, bump out, home additions, house additions, room additions, sunroom, T.W.Ellis
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Saturday, June 26th, 2010
Once upon a time we thought of our back yards in terms of the objects in them: a deck and/or patio, a lawn, maybe a pool. With more and more products and accessories available, homeowners have found new ways to make their yards more appealing and comfortable and are taking a more holistic approach, viewing yards as “outdoor living spaces.”
It started out simple enough by adding the grill and dining area to the deck, a chiminea or hot tub on the patio, and a water garden or fountain in one corner of the yard. It’s grown thanks to comfortable yet durable furniture and advanced, cheaper technology. Grills and eating areas have given way to outdoor kitchens, and chimineas or fire pits have been replaced by full-blown hearths with gas- or wood-burning fireplaces. Tiki bars round out pool areas, and waterfalls accent the backyard garden.
With options seemingly limited only by our imaginations, creating luxurious outdoor living areas for our families and friends relies even more on experienced, knowledgeable professionals. It’s no longer a simple matter of choosing among a few building materials and making sure everything’s level during construction. You’re no longer limited to wood, brick, and concrete when building your patio and deck. Outdoor kitchens and hearths almost certainly require gas installation and probably water lines. You’ll need some safe, stable structures to provide cover. Everything needs to withstand the elements.
Even the most ardent do-it-yourselfer needs guidance and assistance for some projects. A shoddy job can be disastrous and an enormous waste of money. Especially in this day in age, if you’re going to spend the money on outdoor luxuries, you need to make sure it’s done right. With almost 20 years’ experience in enhancing families’ outdoor living, T.W. Ellis has the expertise to help with any part of your project. View the work we’ve done for others and contact us to learn how we can make the outdoor living space you’re imagining.
Tags: chimineas, deck installation, decking, decks, fountains, grilling, grills, outdoor fireplaces, outdoor hearth, outdoor kitchens, outdoor living area, outdoor living space, patio, patio installation, pool, pool deck, porches, T.W.Ellis, tiki bar, water gardens
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Thursday, June 24th, 2010
Your builder has used recycled materials and installed low-flow showers and faucets. Does this make your home a green building? What if your builder added Energy Star appliances? Will that make a difference? How green can your home be anyway?
There are so many components to making homes and buildings environmentally friendly it can be hard to keep track of them. To make matters worse, not all builders agree on what constitutes green buildings. That’s why the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and International Code Council (ICC) developed the National Green Building Standard and its Bronze, Silver, and Gold certification levels. But understanding all the aspects of the standard takes time that you may not have.
Enter the NAHB’s Green Building Verifiers. It’s the job of these men and women to fully understand the criteria for green building certification and to work with builders and homeowners to verify which criteria are being met. The Verifiers provide assurance to homeowners and guidance to builders.
T.W. Ellis Owner/President Tim Ellis is one of these verifiers. Like other verifiers, he has the prerequisite experience in green building construction and received training and testing on the National Green Building Standard. He is available to work with you and your builder to review the options in making your home green and ensuring. Contact T.W. Ellis to learn more about certifying your home an NAHB green building.
Tags: Energy Star, green building, International Code Council (ICC), low-flow, NAHB, NAHB Green Building Standard, NAHB green building verifier, National Association of Home Builders, recycled building materials
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Tuesday, June 8th, 2010
So what exactly is a Certified Master Remodeler? Well let us explain. Tim Ellis has been certified as Master Remodeler by meeting the National Home Builders Association of Maryland criteria to provide the highest level of assurance possible within the industry to you, the customer. If you’re considering hiring a remodeler, you definitely want to make sure they are certified.
“The program was developed as a means for builders and remodelers to establish their company as one that meets the highest standards in the industry. To obtain this certification, builders and remodelers must meet stringent review criteria in areas including among others; established time in the industry, consumer satisfaction, financial performance, adherence to accepted building technology standards, customer service and governmental compliance,” according to the National Home Builders Association of Maryland.
Once these builders and remodelers are certified, they must comply with continuous training and renewal of criteria which mirrors the original acceptance standards. “The Certified Master Builder and Remodeler program requires that Certified Master Builder and Remodelers adopt and abide to the NAHB Residential Construction Performance Guidelines. The program also requires the Certified Master Builder and/or Remodeler to provide a binding arbitration process to resolve complaints that are not resolved directly between themselves and the homeowner,” stated by the National Home Builders Association of Maryland.
When debating on hiring a remodeler for your home, you want to know that person or company is certified by a program that ensures you will receive the best work possible. You want to know that they have been tested in all areas pertaining to the work they are being hired to do. For more information on the National Home Builders Association of Maryland, please visit their website at www.homebuilders.org. To see all of Tim Ellis’ certifications and more of what T.W.Ellis has to offer, please visit our website at www.twellis.com!
Tags: building green, certified master remodeler, decks, home additions, home contractors, MD home builders, MD home contractors, MD home improvement, National Home Builders Association of Maryland, NHBA, outdoor kitchens, sunrooms, T.W.Ellis, Tim Ellis
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Wednesday, June 2nd, 2010
T.W.Ellis would like the opportunity to explain to our blogging audience exactly what a Building Performance Institute Certified Envelope Specialist is! Tim Ellis is personally certified and would like readers to know the degree of importance that the certification holds for the quality of your home improvement project.
The Building Performance Institute truly sets the technical standards for home performance and weatherization retrofit work that are recognized across North America. BPI believes there is a need for a highly trained, skilled and professionalized residential energy efficiency retrofit and weatherization workforce, so they spend their time, effort and resources certifying selected individuals for the success and satisfaction of your personal building projects. From these standards, they have developed training programs, professional credentialing for individuals and company accreditations – including quality assurance programs – that help raise the bar in home performance contracting. It is an independent, non-profit organization who strives to help create sustainable, green-collar jobs in local communities while helping to improve all aspects of America’s existing housing.
Tim Ellis is proudly accredited as an Envelope Specialist, who is responsible for quantifying performance and prescribing improvements to help tighten the building envelope (shell), stop uncontrolled air leakage and optimize comfort, durability and HV/AC performance. Tim Ellis, with the help of T.W.Ellis employees, is able to combine many years of hands on experience with multiple accreditations – such as this one as an example – to truly provide the best quality work and ultimate satisfaction to your home project.
For more information on Tim’s accreditations or what T.W.Ellis has to offer, please visit our website at www.twellis.com!
Tags: BPI, Building Performance Institute, certified Envelope Specialist, commercial building, decks, green building, home additions, home contractor, home improvement, MD Home contractor, outdoor kitchens, screened in porches, screened in rooms, T.W.Ellis, technical standards for home performance, Tim Ellis, VA home contractor
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Wednesday, June 2nd, 2010
They’re always hanging around new buildings with their hardhats on and a clipboard in hand, but have you ever wondered who they are what their job entails? These individuals are Certified Building Analysts; they are in charge of teaming up with the design team on new buildings to make sure the structure is working to its maximum energy potential. Using computer models, they are able to track the energy flow through the building and see what parts of the building are susceptible to:
- Heat loss
- Poor air filtering
- Poor insulation
After pin pointing such areas, analysts are able to work with the contractors to fix any problems. Certified Building Analysts are not only required to take both a written and field practical exam but they should also have a background in:
- Architecture
- HVAC design
- Computer Design
Tim Ellis of T.W. Ellis is a certified building analyst. To find out how he can help on your next project visit twellis.com
Tags: certified building analyst, New project Building Analyst, Prevent Heat Loss, Prevent Poor Air Filtering, Prevent Poor Insulation
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