Raise-Up and Double Your Space in Less Time, and a Lot Less Cost than Adding a Second Story

Raise-Up and Double Your Space in Less Time, and a Lot Less Cost than 

Adding a Second Story

Moving houses has been a dying business until now. With the environmental and friendly green awareness, the industry has new life  . . .  Raising Up Homes for Added Space you need. Reuse the existing home and raise up on a new first floor plan constructed of sustainable materials and green products will minimize your carbon footprint and cut down your utility bills.

If your home is more than 20 years old, chances are it does not meet the latest seismic code requirements. We live in an earthquake country so our structural codes require shear walls, hold downs and various other engineering requirements. These necessities will likely mean that a large part of the existing home will need to be demolished for added structural strength required to support a second story.

Most architects, designers and engineers recommend demolishing the existing structure due to the code changes that are required. For example, underpinning the existing foundation, adding shear wall (plywood) to the existing walls and removing the stucco and/or interior drywall, adding hold downs and supports within the existing floor plan, and opening up walls, ceiling and floors for the new required seismic strength to the structure. Quite expensive to do. It would have been better to demolish the existing house and completely build a new residence which will substantially increase property taxes.

An alternative concept is to raise the existing house and build a new first floor under it. Saving a big percent of added cost by not having to redo most of the existing structure than setting it back down on to the all new code required footings, walls and foundation. It is a lot cheaper and much faster construction time, keeping your temporary rent cost down. In one project, the client saved approximately $130,000 with this method and doubled the square footage over the typical conventional way of construction (adding a second story over the existing story).

By Raising Up the house, a savings of approximately 30% of construction cost plus saving the environment with at least 3 times less carbon and trash than building new construction . . . so save the house, save money plus, go Green by respecting the old while alive with the new.

 

For more information, go to www.EstimateConstructionCostFirst.com.

NEW GREEN PRODUCTS

NEW GREEN PRODUCTS

No-Flush Residential Urinal

The Del Casa and Casito Waterless No-Flush Urinals are perfect for residential bathrooms. Easy to install and are available in a variety of colors. BY WATERLESS COMPANYS

Linear Fireplace Unit

Customize your own fireplace to any length. Choose from a variety of multiply reviews. One-sided, two-sided, three-sided or all sides exposed.  The systems are versatile, flexible and designable. Now, your fireplace can truly will reflect your room.

BY SPARK MODERN FIRES.

Cellulose Insulation

Has a recycled content greater than 83 percent and a R-Value of 3.8 per inch (a 2x6 wall = 21.85 R Value) compared to R-19 by most standards. Cellulose is a very low embodies energy content, is a green, high performance insulation and a safe option for consumers. Cellulose can be “wet-sprayed” for new construction, giving you a snug-tight seal around electrical and plumbing connections.

Bug-Juice Insecticide

A paint additive from Walla Walla Environmental is recommended for both interior and exterior painting applications. It controls insects in and around the home. Easily mixed with water based and oil-based paints, stains and sealers. Last a life of the coating and kills several kinds of insects. Odorless and safe.

 To estimate your project, go to www.EstimateConstructionCostFirst.com and run your numbers . . . it’s FREE! 

 

GIVE YOURSELF THE "GREEN PRODUCT TEST" BY ASKING THE WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHY AND HOW QUESTIONS.

GIVE YOURSELF THE "GREEN PRODUCT TEST" BY ASKING THE 

WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHY AND HOW QUESTIONS. 

1. What recycled or recyclable materials are used?
2. How does it improve air quality?
3. Why does it reduce water consumption?
4. Where it is sustainably harvested?
5. Who causes it to reduce fuel consumption (Carbon Footprint) the manufacture, the delivery, the installation and or the use?

Evaluate your product selection by these basic principles? Air quality, recycled, reduces consumption, sustainable and carbon footprint. Just use common sense and judgment because green building really is an old-trident approach to building like low maintenance to heat and cool, non-toxic products. The now rating agencies are just verification systems as evidence in the learning process. It is like comparing square footage to square footage and forgetting about the difference in quality of one to the other.

 To estimate your project, go to www.EstimateConstructionCostFirst.com and run your numbers . . . it’s FREE! 

Planning to Remodel?

The Design / Build Advantage

Creativity in Living, Inc. (dba Top Notch) use of the design/build model is a key factor in the company's landing of custom projects. Because of the clients' frequent travels and busy work schedules, they want one contract for all of their issues. Concerns working with an architect are there would be something lost in the translation when design goes out to bid or that some static might occur between what they wanted to achieve aesthetically and the production of construction.

At Top notch, the design/build model also includes preliminary cost breakdown, interior design and space planning so every design decision is made with knowledge of the realities of construction. It also allows the clients and designers to tweak designs throughout the process while working with the production team.

A lot of times, as a designer, you have to be on the site and read the client and their temperament and translate what they are telling you into reality. That is a lot easier when everybody is part of the same company. There is a lot of cost savings when the designer has decades of experience with structural engineering and methods of construction plus in-field knowledge prior to beginning the design process. Not to mention the experience and knowledge with green design and scape design.

Finally, there is no finger pointing at the architect, contractor, interior designer or landscape designer. Just one person, one source, handling each and every aspect of the construction puzzle.

Go to www.EstimateConstructionCostFirst.com to start your planning.