Remodeling & Renovations Blog

Often it is the simple things that get left out of planning a new home renovation. Like, what is the normal order of activity when building a house. We all get the standard - foundations, floor, walls, roof, exterior, but what about those interim tasks.

The general order of things:

1. Excavations
2. Foundations
3. Concrete floors poured
4. Framing constructed
5. Roof on
6. Windows fitted
7. Exterior cladding
8. Plumbing
9. Wiring
10. Insulation installed
11. Doors fitted
12. Interior lining installed
13. Cabinets installed in kitchen, bathroom, laundry
14. Tiling
15. Final electrical and plumbing work
16. Painting and finishing
17. Floor coverings

If you work to this order you should be fine. When discussing items with your builder, ask them to indicate where in the process the action will occur. Keeping track of progress is much easier once you have a general high level expectation of the order of work.

Google is preparing to invest hundreds of millions of dollars in finding cheaper, cleaner alternative energy sources. And they are walking the talk, with hhuge solar panels dominate its Californian headquarters, they are true supporters of sustainable energy.

The investment falls under the company’s philanthropic arm, Google.org. US$20 million ($25.4 million) has already been committed to invest in start-up firms that research and develop solar, thermal and wind power as well as geothermal systems.

These three technologies were chosen as having the most promise of both reducing the overall cost of energy, and being capable of massive scale.

To date, the company has pledged US$10 million to eSolar [Pasadena, California-] to support research and development of solar thermal power, which concentrates heat from the sun to create steam and spin turbines.

It has also invested US$10 million in Makani Power [Alameda, California], which is developing high-altitude wind technologies.

Its particular interest in Enhanced Geothermal Systems [EGS] stem from the fact one can find find heat virtually anywhere. EGS is the ability to create power by pumping water into hot rocks in the ground rather than harvesting hot water already there.

Google.org is also looking at energy transmission and storage, both in the US and world-wide.

All good news for homeowners!

I have just finished researching and creating a couple of new sections on RemodelingRenovations

Building Green
Sustainable Homes

I found it really interesting that there is a lot of talk about what each country is going to do, or is doing, and even some good incentive programs to help those install technology to improve insulation, energy management etc

The sad things is that there are so many small things that are being overlooked.

Housing infill - where trees are being indiscriminately felled, regardless of what impact they have on neighbors. Sure, there are often guidelines about big trees or protected species, but those less significant green belts have been filtering the air, providing shade and privacy, absorbing carbon, adding oxygen, maintaining the local ecology for years - and without warning the whole environment changes. I accept that trees and shrubs need to be felled to provide for the building - and each homeowner has the right to landscape as they wish - but I feel strongly that greenery within 2 meters of boundaries should be protected, at least until neighbors have been given the opportunity to comment.

Boom Boxes and Big Bases - noise control limits are not keeping up to date with technology. So often, we get our nights disturbed by party stereos where the level of the music is acceptable but the base just thumps through the whole house until 4am - so much so we cant even drown it out with the television

Big Pipes - sure the kids love their cars - but those noisy muffler systems that rage around the streets at 3am are hideous.

I may sound intolerant - but really I am not. I just don’t understand why so many people complain in conversations with each other yet do nothing about taking formal steps to get local council policies up to date with what is happening in the community

Small voices do count, and small things add up to big problems

So don’t just sit back, do something. Your neighbors will love you for it.

Poggenpohl’s Porsche Design kitchen. Would you believe it if I told you - a Porshe Kitchen!! Yet it’s real.

Jointly designed by German furniture company Poggenpohl Möbelwerke and Porsche Design Group, the P7340 kitchen has all the hallmarks of Porshe - simplistic handle-free styling, innovative materials and lots of aluminium, glass and brushed wood. Access to the units is equally stylish - with just a gentle touch to access drawers and pullouts, and an equally gentle push to make them retract. Appliances have not been forgotten, with Miele & Cie. KG designated as teh the exclusive supplier of all appliances. Appliance operation is via sensor keys instead of buttons, with user-friendly dialogue displays.

And of course, the pure male kitchen would not be complete without a high tech audio-video system, the one in the Porsche kitchen, an anodised aluminium frame with ultra-glossy surfaces in back-painted glass. All electronics in the built-in LCD module are installed behind glass for protection, and they require no ventilation system. The plug-and-play sound system is both analog and digital.

Poggenpohl explains that their “cooperation with Porsche Design enabled us to design a kitchen whose sleek and functional design language specifically addresses male customers.”

The new kitchen will be on display as a show kitchen and sold in Poggenpohl studios around the world as of spring 2008. US availability will begin in the summer.

Website: www.poggenpohl.de

There are many misconceptions about one of the most toxic household molds, Stacybotrys. As our project leaky house is contaminated with Stachybotrys, and I personally have suffered from Stachybotrys poisoning, I think it is worth discussing before we end our section on planning.

Growth

Stacybotrys mold requires four key elements for growth:

1. Moisture - from leaky building envelopes, environmental disasters, chronic leaky pipes
2. Nourishment - high cellulose, low nitrogen building materials
3. Temperature - generally high temperature fluctuations
4. Time - takes 1-2 weeks to start growing, compared to most household molds that appear in 1-2 days

Appearance
The mold can have several appearances based on moisture content - from a thick black-green slimy appearance to a black powder. As other household molds can also share these characteristics confirmation of Stacybotrys is only possible by laboratory test.

Dispersement
The mold can spread by tendrils containing spores. Spores are only released [BUT NOT ALWAYS] when the mold has dried out and is disturbed. Spores will generally only live 24-48 hours, but can release powerful mycotoxic chemicals which cause allergic reactions in SOME people.

Symptoms of Exposure To Stacybotrys
Symptoms vary depending upon the type of duration of exposure.
Long term occupation in a mycotoxic environment can lead to symptoms such as:

MILD - anging from cold and flu symptoms to memory loss, muscle aches, sore throats, diarrhea, headaches, fatigue, dermatitis.
MODERATE - intermittent local hair loss, upper respiratory infections, fungal or yeast infections, and urinary tract infections and generalized malaise.
SEVERE - suppression and destruction of the immune system, hemorrhage in the lungs, DNA damage and cancer.

Building Remediation
Fixing a leaky building containing Stacybotrys is not a difficult task but is one that should be treated with extreme caution.

• Personal protective clothing such as masks, googles, gloves and disposal overalls should be worn
• Areas being treated must be suitably contained
• Proper procedures must be floowed, both for protection of those working on the remediation and anyone occupying the building.

For more information on:
Stacybotrys House Mold
Stachybotrys Poisoning
Leaky House Syndrome
Stacybotrys Affected Building Remediation

This month I have concentrated on preparing myself for the decisions involving the engagement of a building contractor. I wanted to do this prior to detailed design work, as the type of contractor I use will most likely dictate who does the final design.

I admit that progress this month has been slow, as I have arranged finance for the rebuilding project and done a lot of background work to ensure I make the best possible decisions going forward.

During this process I have researched and documented for you:

1. Typical remodeling project tasks
2. Types of building contractors
3. How to choose a building contractor
4. A contractor screening process
5. Types of building contract agreements
6. Benefits of using your designer as project manager
7. Project management tips
8. Managing remododeling project relationships

By going through this process I am now ready to commit to using a large building company to contract for the work. I am using a relatively new construction method technology to give the best possible weathertightness to my home.

Although I have yet to complete the due diligence process, my decision to go with this type of company is based upon:

1. This company are the experts in this type of construction, most used today on commercial buildings.
2. They have their own in-house team of designers which are familiar with the construction technology and materials I plan to use
3. They have a large team of builders so I will be less likely to be left standing if my building contractor is not able to complete the task.
4. They cannot hide behind a shell corporation if they don’t complete the job satisfactorily, so have more of an invested interest in doing a good job - their brand depends upon it.
5. I was impressed with the professionalism of their initial sales person, and their style of communication suits my personality and needs

So next month - the aim is to complete the engagement process. At the end of the month I intend to have a contract signed and the building work scheduled.

How many of us expect high quality construction at a cheap price? I mean, really,
is it too much to ask for a job to be done professionally at the best possible
quality, and for a reasonable price. Well, it seems the answer is YES!

The saying ‘You can have it good. You can have it cheap. You can have it quick.
But you can only have two of the three any time’. In other words, a good and
cheap building will not be quick. A cheap and quick building will not be good.
Or a good and quick building will not be cheap.

As the owner of your home remodeling and renovation project, you need to decide
right up front which combination of these three elements you want to base your
project on. It is very easy to be very economics focused at the start out phase
of design of any remodeling project, but as construction proceeds and quality
starts to become an issue, suddenly, as building owner you are not happy with
the quality of the workmanship - but often it is too late.

So think very carefully about the cheap and crappy approach - it is what you
are asking for, and it is what you are likely to end up with. Our recent article
on ‘What Causes Building Failure‘ may give you cause for reconsideration before you start your next home remodeling or renovation project.

When planning your home remodeling or renovation project one of the main decisions you need to make is who will manage the project. Your Designer, the main builder or you may decide to take on the project management role yourself.

But be warned, it’s not as easy as it may sound. In a recent article we reveal the detail of the 10 most common mistakes made by homeowners acting as remodeling and renovation project managers are:

1. Insufficient Planning – the success of your project is probably 80% based upon good planning.
2. Poor Materials Management - Time and Materials planning is a big task but it can be very costly not having the right materials in the correct quantity at the right time.
3. Not Planning Sufficiently For Contingencies – materials can become unavailable due to warehouses burning down, transport strikes, import problems and even short supply being given to a more valued customer. Labour can become unavailable due to illness, injury or overrun on previous jobs.
4. Poor Record Keeping – keep and file everything, and keep records well organised. You need to know exactly where you are in terms of time and dollars against the plan specification.
5. Not Managing The Worksite – there are a number of regulations and workplace safety items that need to be covered during any building project.
6. Slack Quality Assurance –QA is one task that should NEVER be rushed through or passed over when under time pressure. The downline impacts are too great.
7. Poor Subcontractor Management – a full home renovation, there can be 30 -40 subcontractors. You need to use a well planned system for engaging, qualifying, contracting and managing your subcontractors.
8. Poor Communication – Act professionally, and get to know building lingo.
9. Poor Change Management Control – ensure that any remedy or changes resulting from those errors is agreed, documented and charged to the appropriate party.
10. Not Keeping Check Of The Budget – projects generally overrun their initial estimate.

Sound scary, read these building project management tips and make an informed decision on this important role. For me - I am a qualified project manager, have architectural design training and experience, but for the sheer convenience of being able to continue a full time consulting job, I am leaving to the builder to manage the contract; but will ensure that key QA points are independently assessed.

Hi, my name is Gail and I suffer from renovationitis.

This challenging illness means that I have been inflicted with a renovation against my will, and am now fighting the mental and physical symptoms of renovationitis. I caught this illness from an unscrupulous vendor who sold me a ‘leaky house’.

Leaky houses are now known to infect the owner with years of mental distress as they fight their way through court battles and rebuilding, crawling step by step to regain their health and the health of their houses.

Other sufferers from renovationitis have caught the illness following plans to remodel their homes. Remodeling is accompanied by hopes of larger more enjoyable living spaces. Renovations are more likely to be merely repairing what was once a building structure of good health. In many cases, during remodeling projects, building illness is found, and renovations must be added to the project.

There is no known cure for renovationitis, but those who have suffered from this illness, whether transmitted from someone else or self infected, are aware of the debilitating symptoms.

• Extreme mental stress
• Reduction of strength of bank balance from escalating costs
• Marital and relationship problems
• Chaotic living environment
• Chronic court cases
• Poor sleep or lack of sleep
• Loss of weekends
• Poor work performance
• Obsession with lack of progress made in home rebuild
• Tendencies to mental images of imparting extreme harm to ones builder or subcontractors
• Loss of faith in the power of a contract
• Reduction in communication skills - increasing problems making yourself heard to the builder

If you suffer from more than three of the above, then you are most likely suffering from renovationitis.

Many of these symptoms are shared by remodellers. The distinguishing factor is the severity of lack of control over the initial infection.

How to Cure Renovationitis

The only known cure for renovationitis is completion of the project and sign off of the compliance certificate.

Sufferers have found the following to be helpful in times when the symptoms are at their worst.

• Learn everything you can about renovations from this renovations & remodeling site.
• Keep your wine cellar well stocked. Chocolate is also known to help in milder breakouts.
• Explain to family members that you will show times of extreme insanity and are not to be approached or reproached at these times.
• Have an emergency contact number to your best friend on hand at all times.
• Check up on everything - Trust nobody that the job will be done correctly first time.
• Have a support group of other renovators [past or present] that fully understand how debilitating this illness is.

Remodeling Renovations Support Group

Members of the Renovations Support Group are all here to help you, so when things get really bad, or if you are unsure as to whether you are recovering or getting worse, then post a comment on this blog and we will all rally around to protect you. We welcome membership from other sufferers, builders, contractors, designers or anyone else connected with the renovation industry that may be able to assist our members. Membership is free. Just sign up at www.remodelingrenovations.com/Blog

Renovating Ranter

Join me over the next 12-18months as I take on the renovations of my leaky house.

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