Archive for category House
Are There Any Advantages Of Building Houses With Brick?
Posted by admin in Building a Home, House, Planning on May 18, 2011
By Orson Dixon
Did you know that about 70% of the self builders chose brick as the building material for their houses? It has been used as a construction material for thousands of years and still continues to be the number one choice of the builders. Even though it is costly than other construction materials like aluminum sheets, vinyl or wood, people tend to consider the factors like safety and strength while choosing bricks or blocks. There are various other advantages of building houses with blocks. Here are some of those advantages:
- Brick houses are low on maintenance. There are no dangers of rotting or rusting. Unlike wooden structures, buildings made with blocks are termite-proof. It is also not mandatory to paint the buildings regularly. The durability of blocks for construction work makes it the number one choice – convenient and economic.
- Bricks are more energy-efficient than other building materials. It helps to keep the interiors cool in the summers and warm during the winter months thereby, helping you to lower your electricity bills. Since blocks can withstand heat efficiently, it offers better fire-protection.
- Blocks come in a wide range of non-fade colors, finishes, and textures. That is why you can use it for giving an elegant, timeless appeal that will only improve with age. So, it will be the perfect material for creating your dream house.
- Owing to the features like durability, fire resistance, and pest resistance, amount of insurance premiums are also considerably low for brick-build houses as compared to buildings made with other materials. It has been estimated by many homeowners that over time, this insurance discount will recover the initial cost of buying blocks. Read the rest of this entry »
Pros and Cons of Stucco and Siding, Which One To Use On Your House?
Posted by admin in Building a Home, House on May 18, 2011
A variety of house building products are available to the house owners, nowadays. It becomes really difficult to choose among them. Due to their cost effectiveness, stucco and siding still remain the primary choices for general house builders. Both of them possess certain pros and cons and here we would be discussing their detailed and comparative features to enable the reader to decide the best option for his home.
Stucco is basically a mixture of lime, sand and water, which is used as a coating on walls and ceilings. But, sometimes Portland cement as well as other synthetic products like, acrylic and glass fibers are also added to the traditional stucco mixture in order to increase durability, flexibility, water resistance and other desirable properties. It is strong, involves minimal maintenance and can be practically installed on almost all wall surfaces.
Siding, basically is the outer covering of a house, for shedding water, protecting the building from weather effects and also, adding an aesthetic value to the whole house. Siding is generally formed of horizontal or vertical boards or sheets made up of wood, metal or plastic(vinyl).
Wood siding involves simple installation and a versatile style but, it is also associated with high maintenance like, protection from ants and termites, heavy humid conditions etc. Galvanized metal sheets or corrugated aluminium cladding are also popular due to their high strength, fire resistance, resistance to pests and bugs and minimal maintenance cost. But, they also include poor insulation and heavy installation. Plastic or, vinyl siding composed of poly vinyl chloride(PVC), perfectly fits the bill and hence, is the most popular siding at present. It is available in long thin planks, which are installed in overlapping rows covering the external walls of the house. It is lightweight, easy to install, moisture resistant and requires a minimal maintenance. Read the rest of this entry »