Spring 2000 Remodeling Tips   Select an Issue Spring 2002 Winter 2002 Fall 2001 Summer 2001 Spring 2001 Winter 2001 Fall 2000 Summer 2000 Spring 2000 Winter 2000 Fall 1999 Summer 1999 Spring 1999 Winter 1999 Fall 1998 Summer 1998 Spring 1998 Winter 1998 Fall 1997 Summer 1997 Spring 1997 Winter 1997 Call Now for Summer and Fall Remodeling Projects Additions Without Traditional Foundations Making It Personal Conservatories: Windows on the World Wood Siding & Fiber-Cement Siding Call Now for Summer and Fall Remodeling Projects As I am writing this, it is snowing and the kids are out of school for a snow day. Who is thinking about work on summer remodeling projects at this time of year? Well, if you have a project in mind for the summer, you should be in touch with us now! Traditionally, people begin to take action for their summer projects after the weather warms in the spring. This year, industry wide demand for remodelers has been so great that people have had to wait much longer than they anticipated to have their project built. This pace shows no sign of letting up, so if you were planning to call us for an addition in the summer, call now! By calling us this spring, we will be able to design your project and get it into our summer construction schedule so you can enjoy your new space next fall.   To Top Additions Without Traditional Foundations One of the most expensive items in building many additions is the foundation. The traditional foundation is excavated, possibly even deep enough for a basement, has a continuous concrete footer, and has walls built of concrete block. This process is very costly and can be a significant part of the expense of adding to your home. Coastal Builders has been offering a solution to the costly traditional foundation for many years -- the pier and post foundation. In this type of construction we dig individual footer pads to hold the necessary posts and beams that support the addition. The concrete pads are sized to carry the necessary loads to support the addition as fully as a traditional foundation would. Posts may be made from either treated lumber or concrete block. This solution can be as little as one third the cost of a traditional foundation, helping the homeowner stay within their budget. Often homeowners are able to afford a larger addition or more amenities due to these budget savings. Cost savings come from fewer materials and less labor used to build the foundation, and less excavated dirt to either haul away or grade out on the building site. Other advantages of the pier and post foundation include: faster construction, better ventilation, and no basement or crawl space water problems. Pier and post foundations can be skirted with various materials to enclose the space under the addition and to tie the addition to the ground. In addition, we often install access doors in the skirting to allow storage under the addition for lawnmowers, lawn furniture, or other outdoor items. Coastal Builders built all the additions in the photos on this page with pier and post foundations and skirted them with various materials. Mr. and Mrs. Pasquarella of Wetherburn chose vinyl lattice to enclose the space under the addition, many homeowners choose vinyl or treated wood lattice. Mr. and Mrs. Marucci of Dorsey Hall chose to use painted cedar planks to match the cedar siding on their addition. Mr. and Mrs. Cooper of Clarksville picked stucco textured Hardi-Plank to enclose the space under their addition. Hardi-Plank is a board made of cement and has the advantage of giving the appearance of a concrete foundation without the expense. As you can see from the photos, a pier and post foundation can be a very stylish and attractive way to build your addition as well as saving you money.   To Top Making It Personal Your home is your haven a place where you can unwind, relax and be yourself. It should, therefore, reflect your tastes and interests. Too often we make choices for our homes based on what other people like or recommend. The residence of Josef Mahler is an example par excellence of recreating at home an atmosphere that spells personal fond memories. Several years ago Josef, an artist from Germany and his wife settled in the United States, which offered a warmer climate in which to work. The cold, wet German winters were adversely affecting Josef’s arthritis, and therefore his ability to draw and paint. However, as much as they loved their adopted country, they still missed their homeland. Josef’s wonderfully creative solution was to design his entire home around a Bavarian theme. A focal point in the Mahler’s kitchen is the cooktop, where brick, tile and stucco are used to create the visual impression of an open hearth and massive chimney, reminiscent of an early German cottage. The workhorse of every German kitchen was a large, freestanding cabinet. Josef elegantly painted his with flower motifs and villagers dressed in colorful Bavarian costumes. The spectacular master bath features a wraparound mural depicting the German village of Mrs. Mahler’s youth. Step into the whirlpool tub and you can lose yourself in a magical fairytale land of swans and weeping willow trees. Every facet of the Mahler’s home is beautifully designed to fit in with the theme that is so dear to their hearts. It is a place where they can be themselves. Interior designer, Jerri Edwards, suggests that a homeowner establish his or her own "logo" so to speak. When working with a client, she will ask questions like "Which season do you like the best?" or "Do you have a favorite aroma?" or "Describe a nostalgic moment from your childhood." Her interior design solutions incorporate colors, patterns and artifacts that evoke in her clients pleasant memories or comfortable associations. Giving consideration to these kinds of questions can help you design your home in a way that makes it totally your own.   To Top Conservatories: Windows on the World Beginning in the 17th century, British aristocracy built delightfully elegant glass houses for the purpose of protecting the exotic plants they gathered from around the world. Theses elaborate structures, called conservatories, were highly ornamented with finials, fancy brackets, projecting gables, round bays, roof lanterns, fan lights and stained or leaded glass. An intricately designed conservatory was a must have for every grand home of the Victorian era. Modern homeowners still enjoy the distinctive Old World charm of a British conservatory, but the light and airy space has now become an extension of their home’s living area. Benefiting from high-tech, state of-the-art construction, today’s conservatories are energy efficient, durable and virtually maintenance free. They have become year round rooms, flexible enough to be used for a variety of activities. A conservatory is designed to compliment the existing architecture of the home, regardless of the style. Conservatories designed with simpler lines are often called sun rooms. A well planned conservatory enhances a home’s exterior, adding a totally new dimension of beauty and value. Imagine a sun-filled breakfast room, doors wide open and the pungent smell of flowers in the air. Or picture a warm, cozy sanctuary where, protected from the elements, you enjoy watching gusts of wind playing in the trees. No other room in your house would give you such direct, breathtaking views of your outdoor landscape. It wouldn’t take long before your conservatory became your favorite spot in the home, a source of continuing delight and pleasure.   To Top Wood Siding & Fiber-Cement Siding From very earliest times, people have used wood for cladding the exterior of their dwelling places. Available practically worldwide, it is extremely versatile and can be cut into a wide variety of sizes and shapes. The fact that it is economical, durable, easily malleable, and uniquely beautiful in appearance make it an obvious choice for building material. Experience has shown, however, that when exposed to extreme weather conditions, wooden boards may shrink, expand and warp with changes in the moisture content. When properly sawn, dried, installed and finished these effects are minimized. The purpose of the finishes is to guard the boards from moisture reabsorption and the damaging effects of ultraviolet rays, which can cause premature decay of the wood. Paint and solid color stain provide the best protection from the elements. Some manufacturers even pre-finish their boards at the factory. When two coats of a quality finish are correctly applied, the siding will maintain its good looks for up to 15 years before requiring a recoat. Recently, fiber-cement siding has gained heavily in popularity for installations where the look of wood siding is desired, but strength and durability is paramount. Fiber-cement siding has earned a reputation for withstanding hurricanes, humidity, salt spray, snow and ice. It also resists UV rays, termites and is non-combustible. The siding comes from the factory already primed for painting. © 2003 Coastal Builders, Inc.