Lake Homes

A Helpful Lift with Garage Doors

By placing them on the sides of our homes or even in the rear off of an alley, they are hidden by any means possible by home designers. There is nothing that provides such an important function in our homes, yet is treated as an obstacle to good design, than is the lowly garage door. According to a newspaper article I recently read, in the nascent years of the automobile, garages were set apart from the home because this new machinery had the undesirable tendency to catch fire. No need to burn the house down along with the car and [...]

Keeping You in Hot Water

You awaken from a good night’s sleep and having retrieved your cup of coffee, the morning routine leads you to the bath room where you prepare for a nice hot shower. This is done without a thought given to one of the vital pieces of equipment in your home you rely on daily; the water heater. When planning one’s new custom home or remodeling project, the conversation with your builder should eventually include what options are available in water heaters. Although not as glamorous as deciding what color of cabinetry you want or the design of your stairway balustrade, deciding [...]

Exterior Decking Product Selections

Deciding on the size and shape of your new exterior deck is only the beginning of the choices that must be made that will significantly impact the appearance and performance of this outdoor feature. There are numerous materials from which to choose and each of the materials have benefits and drawbacks that must be considered in the decision making process. Listed below are some of the more popular choices with a short synopsis of each. Pressure Treated Pine For many years, the most common material used in the construction of a new deck is pressure treated pine. This is simply [...]

Building Site Selection Basics

There are significant differences between a developed subdivision lot and an undeveloped property and being aware of these basic differences should help in deciding which type of property works best for you. If you prefer a developed subdivision lot, public sewer and water are typically available but there will normally be a charge to hook up to these utilities. Public walks are also required on selected lots in a subdivision and if they are indeed required, you will be responsible for the installation and the cost thereof. As a practice we determine what those expenses will be and include them [...]

Deciding on Siding

While establishing the features you want to include in the construction of your new home, cottage or remodeling project, the type of siding to be used will need to be addressed. Obviously the type of material and color of the siding you select will have a tremendous impact on the curb appeal of your home, so it is advisable to educate yourself on the different products available. Prior to deciding on a siding product, there are some general considerations that you need to address that will be helpful in your decision making process. Since siding is exposed to weather extremes [...]