Preparation for the changing seasons involves a lot of work. In Spring, that means packing away the long johns, breaking out the gardening tools, putting in extra gym hours to prep for swim season, and tackling the infamous spring cleaning. When Fall rolls around, the long johns resurface, we surrender to that comforting layer of “holiday weight” (what are bulky sweaters for?), we quietly cry over the loss of long, sunny days, and we moodily begin winter-proofing our cars and homes to ward off the snow-filled months to follow.

When winter approaches, the condition of our roofs is pretty easy to overlook in the hullabaloo of new tires, snow mats, antifreeze rationing, and new wardrobes comprised solely of fleece. But investing in a good roof plays a large part in protecting everything underneath that roof which we hold dear: our children, family heirlooms, pet sea monkeys, vintage Beatles albums etc. Here are some things to keep in mind about roof maintenance, whether you’re trying to protect grandma’s quilts or your favorite Fab Four vinyl.

Most roofs under 5-years-old should be in pretty good shape, but these simple tasks can sufficiently maintain a healthy roof for approaching winter:

• keep the roof surface clear of debris
• clean out the gutters regularly
• check for leaks, rust and rot
• trim overhanging tree branches or shrubbery
• replace damaged shingles

While these preventative methods will ensure you the most mileage out of a good roof, if you’re building a new home or in need of serious roof repair, a roofing contractor is often the best bet. A roof that’s over 15-years-old and suffering from heavy leakage and other damage might require a brand new roof installation. While it can certainly save money to tackle the job yourself, a rookie mistake could subject you to further costs down the road, and then you couldn’t afford those cool, new ear-warmers that everyone’s rocking at work.When purchasing new roofing for your house, you’ll want to do some cost analysis based on three main criteria: roofing material, the area size of the roof, and removal of the existing roof.

Some common roofing materials include:

• copper
• fiberglass
• metal
• rubber
• galvanized steel

Once you’ve picked out your material, measured the area, and gotten an honest roofing cost assessment from a reputable contractor, you should have a pretty good handle on how much you’ll shell out to maintain your “home sweet home” until the day you and your pension can run away to Fiji…and banish unflattering, fleece vests for good.

My name is Edie Pastis, and I’m a copywriter for Signature Specialists.

Within the five major types of roofing (asphalt shingles, tile, slate, metal, and wood) there are narrower categories of roofing of different materials, each of which has its virtues and flaws. But for most people, the decision of which of the types of roofing to choose will be based mainly on both cost and durability.

Asphalt Roofing

Nearly four of every five home owners in the United States have decided that of all the types of roofing, asphalt shingles have the most to offer. Asphalt singles come in two varieties, the compositions shingle which has an organic base, and the fiberglass shingle. Both these types of roofing are reasonably fire resistant, lightweight, and wind and waterproof. They are manufactured in both three-tab (standard) and multi-layer (designer) styles, with the three tab shingles having a minimally textured finish and the multi-layered shingles a heavily textured one.

Wood Roofing

For homeowners who prefer a more natural or rustic of, the best of the major types of roofing is wood shingles or shakes. Machine-sawed from southern pine, cedar, or redwood, wood shingles are great on log homes while wood shakes, with their irregular edges, add a contemporary look to a roof.

Wood shingles and shakes, however, require factory treatment to make them fire-resistant. Untreated wood shingles and shakes may not be permitted in some areas of the country.

Tile Roofing

One of the oldest types of roofing, tile roofing, dates back over ten thousand years to ancient China. Tile roofing can be manufactured from either clay or concrete, and red tile roofing is a fixture in California and the southwestern United States, as well as Florida. Tile roofing, however, is now manufactured in a wide range of colors and specialty finishes.

The one drawback of tile roofing is that it is significantly heavier than asphalt, metal or wood roofing, and if you want to replace a one of those types of roofing with tile roofing, you need to make sure your home can handle the additional load.

Slate Roofing

Tile and slate are similar types of roofing in that they are both quite heavy, but slate is a natural rock mined in the Northeaster US. Slate roofing is available in a range of grades and colors, and of all the types of roofing is the closest to being indestructible. Slate, however is also the most expensive of the types of roofing and its installation must be done by roofers trained in the correct techniques. Properly installed, slate roofing will last for centuries.

Metal Roofing

The final of the types of roofing is metal roofing. Metal roofing is ideal for structures with steeply pitched roofs, and is manufactured in both sheets and shingles. Metal roofing sheets are available in many different shaped, while metal roofing shingles can be make to look almost indistinguishable from wood shingles and shakes. Metal roofing is both lightweight and fire-resistant, and can be treated, if necessary, to make it corrosion and rust-proof.

You can also find more info on steel roofing. Roofingbliss.com is a comprehensive resource which provide information about roof.

For anyone familiar with my writings, you know I’m a big supporter of the owner builder process. I’m also a huge supporter of getting professional help along the way. One element of home building or remodeling you can’t afford to slight is the design.

Good design precedes a good building process and getting what you want. Throughout my years coaching and advising home owners, I’ve learned that most people are simply not aware of the value that proper home design and blueprints provide. It has proven to be a big hurdle for people who don’t pay attention and gloss over this aspect. There are enough hurdles in the process of home building, don’t exacerbate the problem by starting with poor design.

Sources of House Plans and Home Designs

Quality design can come from various sources. Many people will be satisfied with well-developed and drawn stock house plans from plan books or online resources. For more custom type home designs an architect or residential designer is often preferred. Once you get into the higher end and uniquely customized homes an experienced architect is the choice for most.

Higher end custom home house plans will cost you. It is not unusual for these to cost in the tens of thousands of dollars. However, the majority of home builders and remodelers can find good plans or professional help in the range of several hundred to several thousand dollars depending on their project and the source of the plans.

Typically, you cannot buy stock plans for a remodel. It’s going to take a drafter, designer, contractor/builder, or an architect. The existing design and structure have to be analyzed and the additions have to dovetail nicely with them.

Let’s take a look at three specific benefits of good design.

These are three of the more important advantages of good design. We could come up with many more but these will, I hope, convince you of the need.

Building Materials Specification

The way to ensure that you get the type materials that you want is to get them specified in the design and blueprints. Whether you act as your own builder or hire a General Contractor, the way to convey to the workers what you want is to have your materials choices within the plans. This not only includes the lumber and structure, but continues on to windows, doors, siding, roofing, and finishing materials. Close work with your home designer is the way you get this.

The Feel of the Home

Most homes have a unique feel to them. Good designs create a feel that is very apparent. What you really want is the look and feel that really suits you. This doesn’t happen by accident. You’ll likely have to look at many homes before you know what you want. From the exterior to the interior, from the size of the home to the size of the room, from the location of spaces to the location of various rooms, many factors go into the feel that you get. Its all in the design.

The Ease and Speed of Construction

If your subcontractors are not given the proper instructions they will not know how to bid or build your home. You won’t know what you’re getting and you will endure delays and mistakes. The process could very well bog down in the process. Long, drawn out building projects, especially when remodeling, are the curse of home building.

CONCLUSION

Spend the extra time up front to get good plans. Do whatever homework you need to do to make your decisions about style and materials before you launch into building. Start with great plans if you want a great home. Now, go create the home of your dreams!

You can learn so much more about home building and remodeling online. One great option is to take advantage of a very informative yet simple to follow *free* eCourse that you can find by clicking here http://www.DreamHomeCreation.com You will also find other tips and tools, surveys, videos, and additional articles by Mel Inglima.

Pluck that home building dream from the clouds. Make it real. Is it your time to actually jump in with both feet and build your own home?

Over many years I’ve helped hundreds of people build their own homes by the sweat of their own brows. It isn’t easy, to be sure. Framing a home can be very complicated for the novice. Lot’s of time, effort, and help is required. But, for those who have the time and the sincere desire, there are ways to use your own muscle, and that of your family and friends, and frame your own homes.

Panelized Prefab Homes Make Home Building Doable
One advent in recent years has made the dream possible for people. Prefabricated homes allow people with more marginable skills to actually perform a lot of their own labor during construction. These “kit homes” include panelized wall systems that make the process of framing easier to understand and accomplish. I often recommend them for those who want to do their own framing and a lot of their own building.

While there are advantages, there are some cautions to be aware of. Take a look at these plusses and minuses and judge for yourself if prefab panelized wall systems make sense for you.

PLUS:
The framing is done and delivered to you in sections, often in the panel lengths that you request. You receive a complete schematic that shows you exactly where each section of exterior and interior walls go.

MINUS:
Even though these panels are assembled in dry factory conditions on assembly jigs, they are not always 100% square and level. Laborers at the plants are often unskilled and make mistakes. You need to ask the company about their guarantees.

PLUS:
A lot of decisions are eliminated leaving you more time for other things. Measuring is done, nailing is done, and window and door openings along with headers are in place and completed. These are huge time savers for the home-owner builder.

MINUS:
Sometimes the codes followed by the kit home company differs from the local code requirements you’re dealing with. This can cause confusion and mistakes. You will need to have your building department or engineer review the procedures of your housing company before the panels are made.

PLUS:
Assuming you have found a really good and conscientious kit home company to prefab your framing, you’ll have quality, kiln-dried wood and very exacting measurements. Wall sections will be square and true. This can really speed the construction process.

MINUS:
Any mistake in the foundation … deviating from proper measurements, square and level, can cause significant frustration and time delays. You really must make sure that the foundation is made to the exact measurements of the panelized wall sections and that it is perfectly level.

Prefab Framing or Not, You Need Help

Of course, it goes without saying that framing your home is only one step in the home building process. The foundation must be laid, the electrical, plumbing, interior finishing materials and labor, the roofing, siding, etc. etc. To make sure you can handle all this it’s wise to hire a home-building consultant/coach. That will help you manage the entire process.

So, for the framing job, using pre-panelized walls can be the leg-up you need. Do your homework. Check out the companies that provide kit homes and panelization. Ask to see homes under construction. Get samples of their schematics and talk to references. Maybe you can be a framer after all. Happy framing!

You can learn so much more about home building and remodeling online. One great option is to take advantage of a very informative yet simple to follow *free* e-course that you can find by clicking here http://www.DreamHomeCreation.com You will also find other tips and tools, surveys, videos, and additional articles by Mel Inglima.

One of the most frequent questions I get from my clients centers around quality. As an owner builder building your own home, naturally you want to ensure a quality product. But, how do you do that? Are you alone responsible, and how do you judge it?

You can’t just purchase a packaged or kit home and rely on that! For most, the achievement of the quality you seek will be a direct result of the professionals you surround yourself with. Add to this the use of quality building materials, a properly engineered structure, well-prepared blueprints, and periodic inspections by the building department and you have a winning combination.

START WITH YOUR COACH – KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR

Believe it or not, when you’re properly prepared with the right people around you, your final product (your home) has a good chance to be of higher quality than many homes built by General Contractors. Better materials, better construction methods, and more personal attention can lift you above the shortcuts and omissions found with many builders who are looking to cut costs at your expense.

You won’t likely be able to achieve this on your own, however. Using a homebuilding coach is critical. We recommend this for everyone taking on their own projects. Your coach will help you prepare well and inspect well. Here’s how:

Good Set of House Plans – the Blueprints

Your project needs to start with a sound house plan. Your blueprints need to be well prepared, easily understood, drawn to codes, and building materials specified clearly.

Building Materials – Use The Highest Quality You Can Afford

I recommend that where you can, you exceed the requirements of the codes. This can give you a sturdier home, a more efficient home, a “greener” home, and a more comfortable home. These building materials choices will be made during the creation of your house plans.

A Good Foundation – Level and Square and on Solid Ground

Quality cement and level and square forms are important. But, you will also need to consider the ground your foundation sits on. Testing the soil is critical to a good foundation, just as a good foundation is critical to a proper house structure. Use a soils engineering firm. Your building department should require this.

The Framing – The quality is Found in the Materials and the Labor

The skeleton holds up the body of your home. Consider SIP (structural insulated panels), ICF (cement and foam block) walls, or Kiln-Dried framing. There are many choices and this is something to discuss with your coach during preparations. A good Kit Home package can help.

Good Labor – The Lowest Bids?

Quality is usually not found in the lowest bid. Always get at least 3 bids for each phase of construction. Always get references for each subcontractor you use. Always check those references before hiring the sub. And use your coach and inspectors to monitor the work.

CONCLUSION

Quality is an all-inclusive discipline. It’s not achieved by demanding one single requirement. It’s not achieved by just purchasing a kit home. Yet, when you put these steps together, with a good system in place to guide you, you’ll be able to achieve the quality you want.

You can be a successful owner builder. It starts with the preparation and setting up the proper structure for your entire project. We heartily recommend a complete management system for the owner builder that includes a homebuilding coach. Do a lot of research and solicit the help of professionals. It’s that important.

You can learn so much more about home building and remodeling online. One great option is to take advantage of a very informative yet simple to follow *free* e-course that you can find by clicking here http://www.DreamHomeCreation.com You will also find other tips and tools, surveys, videos, and additional articles by Mel Inglima.