Chances are that this summer you’ll be spending a lot of time on the deck catching up with old friends and family on your outdoor deck. Under the patio umbrellas, you’ll be sipping ice tea, eating barbecue and swatting away all those countless mosquitoes. Yes, the summer is a perfect time for some patio and deck fun. If you don’t have a deck, you should know that they make an excellent addition to any home with enough room in the backyard to build one. You should also know that there is a right way and a wrong way to build a deck. Here are 5 common deck construction mistakes.

Image via: RDM Architecture

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1.) Risers and railings missing:

One of the most common deck construction mistakes is failing to include risers or a railing on the steps on the deck. A single or double railing is important because it gives people something to hold on to when they are going up or down the steps. If your deck is unusually high, either to compensate for uneven ground or for aesthetic reasons, both a railing and risers are important because you don’t want young children to fall behind or get stuck.

Image via:  Marla Schrank Interiors

2.) Not sealing deck wood

Another mistake is not properly sealing the wood. Without proper sealant your deck is vulnerable to the elements, especially moisture. After a few months you will start to see the deck become withered and the wood will start to rot, which will cause the deck to splinter and possibly break through, which can be a huge safety hazard. Moreover, a deck that is not properly sealed will not be so pleasant to look at or spend time on after a few months.

3.) Proper sized brackets

Also, if you don’t want to run the risk of your deck collapsing or warping, make sure to install properly sized brackets for the specific weight distribution of your deck. All too often, people build their decks with too small or too big of brackets, which can have disastrous consequences. Make sure that before you build your deck you crunch some numbers to determine which brackets to use in your construction.

Image via: Paradise Restored Landscaping & Exterior Design

4.) Deck heights are according to local building codes

Next, make sure that you check with your state to see what the proper baluster height and spacing is so that you can build your deck according to code. If someone gets injured from spending time on your deck, because the baluster was too low or the space was too far apart, the homeowner can actually get sued for negligence. In order to avoid this potential headache, be sure to build your deck according to code.

5.) Proper size fasteners

Lastly, to avoid the risk of doing serious damage to your home or your deck in the long run, be sure to include the correctly sized fasteners that attach the deck to your house. There have been occurrences where someone skipped this crucial step and one rainy night the deck comes lose and takes a part of the house with it. To avoid this happening be sure to do the proper measurements and don’t skimp on the materials needed for the fastening process, like extra wood pieces, joints and screws. It is always better to be safe than sorry.

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So you want to embark on a self-build project? The best thing you can do is to know exactly what steps you will need to take in order to get the build going on time and under budget.

Follow these tips in order to have your self-build project go smoothly.

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Budget

First things first, you must have your budget sorted before you can proceed. You will need to have an approximate estimation of things such as: land costs, design costs, material costs, labour costs, and insurance costs to start.

Land

If you’ve not already purchased a plot of land on which to build, this certainly will be the next step. Check with local agents to find available land for purchase which will allow for a self-build house to be constructed upon. It is also a good idea to consult a local solicitor to ensure that all the paper work associated with the land is devoid of any surprises or errors.

Design and Labour

There are a few avenues on which to proceed here, you could hire an architect and tradesmen to build the home, you could build and design it yourself, or you can utilise a combination. If you plan to bring in outside labour, ensure that they are exactly on board with your goals and operate on schedule. It is also a good idea to work with those who have excellent reviews and experience.

Schedule

One of the most important things to keep track of, beyond the budget, is the schedule. An errant mistake here or there can end up costing both time and money over the long run. In this area, it pays to be quite thorough in scheduling work to be done and goals to be met at specific time periods.

Once you have these basics covered, it can be ensured that your self-build project will run so much more smoothly, and in no time you will be enjoying your new home on time, and on budget!

This article has been provided by Flat Pack Houses, one of the UK’s leading providers of flat pack homes. To find out more about the company, please visit the flat pack homes website.

Images via: 1, 2

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You have dreamed of the perfect home renovation for a long time and are finally ready to make it a reality. Your vision is to create an inspiring and inviting place for family and friends to gather, and you hope the redo will also increase the value of your home. You do not want to dig to deep into your pockets, however, and are concerned that hiring a contractor will set you back a small fortune. Before you resign to take on this daunting task yourself, understand that involving a professional on the job does not have to cost as much as you think. So put down that hammer and consider these tips for an affordable renovation.

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Hire contractors in the off-season

The easiest way to save money on your project is by hiring your contractor in the off-season. Many are eager for work and are willing to offer discounted rates as a result. Avoid construction during the summer, as it is the peak of construction. Scarcity of labor and a short supply of materials tend to drive up construction costs.

It is important to be specific about what you want right from the start, so have a detailed plan ready before hiring a contractor. Getting specific will allow your contractor to make an accurate bid; otherwise he will have to make a general estimate that is probably more than necessary. This will also reduce the chance of you changing your mind in the middle of the process, wasting valuable labor and material costs.

If you are very handy but have never taken on a project of this magnitude, consider hiring a contractor who charges by the hour to advise on projects. He will teach you how to complete the complicated tasks, but this tip is only recommended for homeowners already skilled in construction.

Ask contractor can save you money

Get even thriftier with your redo by asking your contractor if he has leftover supplies like lumber or tiling from previous jobs. He could have something that fits your needs, and you will be doing him a favor by getting it off his hands. Save on labor expenses by helping out with simple tasks like painting and daily cleanup. Participate in the initial demolition, and you will probably enjoy swinging a sledgehammer through a wall much more than you are willing to admit.

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Ensure quality when the job gets done

Though you want to get the job done for cheap, you also want to make sure it does not lack quality. When you receive the first round of bids from prospective contractors, discard the lowest one. The price is more desirable, but it could indicate the contractor is either desperate for work or prone to cut corners. You could end up spending more money repairing shoddy workmanship. Also be cautious of contractors who require at least 50 percent of their bid upfront. The payment schedule should be spread evenly throughout the duration of the project, allowing you to comfortably pay as the work is completed to your satisfaction.

If you are looking for ways to finance the construction, use contractormortgages.org to see if you can borrow against the new projected value of your house.

For more home renovation ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

While most of us focus on getting our younger children and college students back to school this season, we forget that adults who are pursing home related careers are also headed back to school. Whether you are interested in home interiors, architecture, construction, landscaping and more, this is the best time to get your head back into school! While you can take courses at any time of the year, the momentum is always easier when the rest of the world is headed back too! Here are back to school tips for you adults pursuing home related careers.

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Fall is perfect for pursuing home related careers:  

Now that the home market has picked up in most of the world, real estate, home decor, and home improvement professions are picking back up as well. Whether you are taking classes online and getting Cisco Certification, attending a community college or going to a traditional university, the momentum of other students starting now will keep you motivated to stick through the challenging times of pursing a home related career.

Reap the benefits of heading back to school now:

One of the other benefits of adults pursuing home related careers now can be two-fold. From great deals on computers, smart phones, tablets, and electronics, often times technology can hold many adults back due to the finances of school and buying computers. Get in on many back to school sales that electronic and big box stores hold in the fall months of the year. Also, don’t forget that minority scholarships for older students (age 35+ above) can often be an incentive to return back to school. Who would of thought that being older could have its benefits in school? Well it can!

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Whether you are pondering when to return to school for a home related career or you have already registered you just need to get all of your supplies and good attitude, these tips will help. After all, there is no better time to further your education and people enjoy their homes at the same time. Go on, get out there!

For more back to school tips on Stagetecture, click here.

All homeowners harbor at least a few issues with their current place of residence. Perhaps the avocado wallpaper and shag carpet in the basement make you feel like you’re stuck in an episode of That ’70s Show, or the leaky faucet in the master bath has got you pulling your hair out in frustration as you try (and fail) to fall asleep at night. Maybe you’d like to fill in those cracks in the driveway, build out the attic to make the space usable, or get rid of the wall between the kitchen and dining room to create an open floor plan. Or it could be that the space has become insufficient for your growing family and you’d rather build an addition than move. Whether your problems are small or large, the cost of fixing them to make your house the perfect fit for you and your family can quickly add up. This is why many homeowners seek a home construction loan to get the job done. But what do you need to qualify?

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Consider your credit score

When qualifying for any loan, the first thing you’ll want to consider is your credit score. And if there are any problems you should definitely address them before you apply for a loan. You can order a copy of your credit report for free from annualcreditreport.com to see your credit score and any black marks (like debt collection). Even if you have paid off debts, the lender has to submit this information to regulatory bodies before it can be wiped from your credit report, so you may have to get proactive and make some calls if the black marks persist. You might also need to balance out your debt-to-income ratio (i.e. pay down some debts, like credit cards or car payments) before you can gain loan approval (although equity in your home can help).

Where should you look for a lender?

Once your credit is in order you should start thinking about where you want to get a loan. There are a couple of options to consider. First, you could go with a national or international lender. The upside is that many have programs specifically for home construction loans with tons of options for loan amounts and repayment schedules. The only problem is that they may not offer you the best rates simply because they are more likely to base them on national averages rather than your local economy. So you might also want to look into reputable local banks or credit unions. They may not be able to offer you as much money as their larger competitors (not necessarily a bad thing) and their options might not be as diverse, but chances are good that they can get you a better rate.

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Determine how much money you need

Now that all of your ducks are in a row and you can get pre-qualified for your loan, you need to think about how much money you actually need and what sort of loan you want. Keep in mind that these projects nearly always go over budget, so it’s a good idea to factor in a 20% overage on costs. And you need to figure out if a variable or fixed rate is better for you (keep in mind that rates are not likely to get much lower at this point) and if you’d rather go with a short- or long-term payment plan. Once all of the decisions have been made, there’s nothing left to do but call in contractors to check out the site and give you bids so you can get started on renovating your home.

For more tips for your home on Stagetecture, click here.

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Whilst having a staircase in your home is extremely practical, not to mention essential in most cases, it can also be a potentially dangerous place, especially for children and seniors. It is therefore extremely important to ensure that your stairs are as safe as possible for anyone who will be using them.

Image via: Desire to Inspire

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A well designed staircase…

When a staircase has been well designed, it is obvious, because there is always enough headroom to ensure that no one will be at risk of bumping their head on the way up or the way down. They are also wide enough so that the majority of people can use them in comfort, without feeling a sense of confinement when too narrow, or feeling unsteady if the staircase is too wide.  It is generally the case that they are at least 90cm wide and this is after balustrades have been added.

Designing your own stairs…

If you are lucky enough to be able to design your own home, or able to refit your stair banisters then you can take all of the above into account and ensure that your stairs are as safe as possible. However, many of us will not get the chance to design our very own staircase, so we have to be content with making minor adaptations which will help to improve stair safety. Of the utmost importance is, of course having something to hold on to as you ascend or descend the stairs, so there must be a handrail of sorts. These are also vital as they help prevent people from falling off or down stairs. In addition to ensuring you have this, it is also a good idea to check the material that covers your stairs.

For instance, if your staircase is wooden, it can be especially hard to grip onto and knowing how children rush and run about, a wooden staircase can quickly become a hazard. Likewise with the elderly, who may not be as steady on their feet as they used to be; they may easily slip on such a surface. Therefore, it is a good idea to use non-slip grips on the edges of each stair ledge.

Alternatively, you could always choose to cover your stairs in carpet, which guarantees the stairs will be a lot safer, not to mention more comfortable should someone fall on them. It is also a good idea to make sure that the lighting in and around your staircase is well lit, as dim lighting can make it easy for anyone at all to have an accident.

Image via: Tracy Adams.Pinterest

Safety first…

For added safety if you have children, you can also add safety gates at the top and bottom of the staircase and a child height guardrail which fits the entire length of the stairs [underneath the banisters]. It is crucial that you take on these points if you currently feel that your stairs are not as safe as they could be, after all safety is definitely not something we should ever take for granted.

James Wittering is a Worcester SEO guy who also writes for Seagull Balustrades. When he isn’t blogging he’s either  playing his ukulele or trying to surf and keep up with his two sons.

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Whether you’re looking for a few simple ways to green up your home design or you’re totally committed to earning a LEED certification with your building project, you may be wondering how to get started. Unless you’re an expert in eco-friendly building design or you happen to work in green construction, your cookie jar of eco-ideas might be limited to well-known devices like solar panels and compost heaps. While even the most rudimentary efforts on behalf of the environment are a step in the right direction, you might be keen to reduce your carbon footprint a bit more. So if you’re interested in making some eco-friendly upgrades around the house (or starting from scratch with a ground-up building project) here are a few things you’ll definitely want to add to your checklist.

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1.  Green construction companies

Unless you’re pretty big on DIY home improvements (or you’re actually licensed to engage in green building), you’ll probably want to look for an eco-friendly constructions company or contractor (depending on the size and scope of your project) to help you reach your goals. These people are uniquely qualified to ensure that every stage of the building process meets your expectations where the environment is concerned, from securing green materials and labor to reducing waste and pollution at every turn.

2.     Materials

You probably have a pretty good handle on how to go green when it comes to materials; natural hardwoods and stone are out, composites and concrete are in, right? Actually, you might be surprised to learn that you can still have the gorgeous natural materials you want if you go about procuring them in the right way. For example, purchasing reclaimed hardwood for flooring, cabinets, and even furnishings means that no additional trees are cut down and that items that would otherwise go to the landfill will find a new life in your home. As for natural stone, you can always opt for reclaimed or even local sources that are extracted in an eco-friendly manner.

3.     Alternate energy

When it comes to heating and cooling your home and providing for your family’s energy needs, paying for power on the grid is so last century! Instead, consider looking for alternatives (solar, wind, water, and geothermal) that are prevalent in your area. In some states, you may not even have to pay upfront for these additions, as many power companies are setting up long-term (and transferable) payment plans to convince private citizens to install alternative energy collectors in their homes.

Image via: California Home Design

4.     Conservation

Whether you’re talking about water or power, there are plenty of ways to conserve in your home. You can add insulation and energy-saving electronics options on the electrical front. And when it comes to water, you should think about low-flow toilets, aerated faucets, a tankless water heater (although that’s really more of an energy saver), and even a cistern that collects rainwater for your landscaping. Along those lines, think about creating an outdoor space populated with drought-resistant native plants.

5.     Waste disposal

Although an eco-friendly contractor will see to it that waste is disposed of in an environmentally-conscious manner during construction, you should think about your own waste and how you can reduce it. You could start with the basics (like installing a recycling center and a trash compactor) and get more complex from there with the addition of a compost bin and even your own septic system (although frequent tank testing is a must). Changes small and large all make a difference for the environment.

For more green living ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

When most people consider the field of construction, they imaging buff guys in hard hats carrying wooden slats, hauling loads of bricks, riveting steel girders, or operating heavy machinery; in other words, hard manual labor. And while a fair number of “unskilled” workers are required to get any construction project underway, there are a lot of other people working behind the scenes to ensure that building projects are done right. So if you’re interested in doing your part to create new structures in your own town or around the world, here are a few career options in the construction industry that the average person might overlook.

Image via: California Homes Sales

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Site managers

These are the people that manage a building site on a day to day basis, ensuring that all employees know their goals and that they proceed in a manner that is safe and effective. The interesting thing about this position is that it doesn’t require any type of degree. Although there are people who go to school and specialize in construction management, anyone with the proper skill and experience can move up to this level.

Project managers

Project managers are educated individuals who take a construction project from a design on paper to a real-world structure. They often have a background in a related field such as engineering or surveying (unlike, say, corporate project managers) and they are responsible for setting goals and time lines and seeing that they are met and that costs are not exceeded. These are also the people that act as a liaison between clients and site managers, relaying important information in both directions.

Image via: Studio Freya

Quantity surveyors

These are sort of like the accounting wizards of the construction industry in that they look at plans for building projects, assess the quantities involved (materials, labor, legal, and so on) and come up with a cost. In many cases their job is ongoing as they will have to find ways to deal with overages in order to stay within the overall budget throughout.

Engineers

There are actually several types of engineering that may be required on any given construction project. A building services engineer, for example, will handle mechanical, electrical, and building health issues, a structural engineer can ensure that the building is within safety guidelines while still meeting design goals, and a civil engineer will deal with ensuring that new buildings meet environmental standards and work with existing structures through every stage of planning and inception. Although these job descriptions have been pretty pared down, you can see that many fields of engineering are required to ensure that any given construction project goes off without a hitch.

Image via: Sf Gallery House

Architectural design

Every building project has to start with a plan, and the architect is the person who provides it, by way of a building design. Unfortunately, this position usually requires no small amount of schooling, featuring a background in both artistic and technical pursuits. But you don’t have to spend an arm and a leg in order to obtain a degree for a construction job. Thanks to top online MBA programs you can now work towards degrees in management, engineering, and even architectural design with far less expenditure of money and time than you would with traditional schooling.

For more career ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

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What is a safe room?

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Have you just purchased a home that needs some tender loving care? ‘Fixer-uppers’ are a great investment if you are willing to put in the needed labor, time and expense of fixing it up once you move into it. Today, my Guest Blogger gives DIY tips from moving into his fixer and upper and how it changed his family’s lifestyle!

Image courtesy of Decor Dir

Get new carpet isn’t just getting new carpet. It’s a change in lifestyle.

We were in a lifestyle-changing mode, anyway. Getting into a new house and welcoming a baby are two of the biggest changes a young couple can face—we just happened to be facing them at the same time.

Two days after the papers were signed, the short sale completed, and the moving truck ordered, we get an “oh, by the way” call from the previous owners that they had forgot to mention to the agent: they had water damage, and the carpet had developed some mold on the backing. “Enjoy the house!” Click. I stood in my house staring at the offending carpet with silence and rage ringing in my ears.

Buying a house isn’t cheap. Neither is having a baby. I soon came to find the expenses involved in inspection and repair. I’d do it myself, but I still needed a loan. One California home improvement loan later, I headed to Lowe’s.

And that’s where we come to the lifestyle changes involved in changing your carpet. Because picking out a carpet was more than the color we liked. There were not only several factors to considered, but also many a trade-off to consider:

Image courtesy of Remodeling Ideas

Tips to consider:

• If we weren’t going to be in the house longer than five years, is it worth it to get the less expensive carpet?
• If we get the more expensive carpet, will it provide the value and satisfaction to balance out that price tag?
• If we are recarpeting one room, will we recarpet the rest of the house to match?
• What kind of furniture changes can we afford considering the shade of the carpet?

Our DIY priorities became the following:

• Cost
• Durability
• Aesthetics
• Ease of cleaning
• Furniture
• Paint

Having a home improvement loan does not mean that we were keen on spending the entire sum, so we were trying to be smart about the entire process (hint: loan = interest). And at every step of the process, we asked ourselves, “How is this going to handle with the little one . . . and any future siblings?”

See what I mean? Lifestyle.

Image courtesy of This Old House

So here’s what we ended up with:

Wife and I repainted virtually every wall in the house, a task that becomes rather entertaining when you have no concern for the old carpet beneath you. We settled on a carpet with soft brown tones ranging from “espresso” to “chocolate” that had Scotchguard built in. We—ahem, I—got through three bedrooms, a living room, and family room, and my father-in-law came by to help recarpet the stairs. Our used-to-be-white, 15-year-old sectional was replaced with a microfiber couch and loveseat, colored deep red.

And I’m afraid the rest of the furniture would have to wait. I now have yet another loan to pay off (interest), but my house is finally my house—and it looks amazing (equity).

So let’s hear it: Am I the only one who finds a complete lifestyle change with a home improvement project? Tell me about your latest and greatest, and fill everyone in on what changed for you.

Jared Heath likes to bite off more than he can chew when it comes to home improvement. He is most grateful for his wife who lovingly cuffs him over the head before the budget gets out of control. He and his wife and new baby are now resting comfortably in their new home.

For more DIY ideas on Stagetecture, & Stagetecture’s YouTube Channel, click here.