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DREAM. LEARN. DISCOVER... GET
STARTED.
Everything to get you started
on that dream home and so much more.
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Consider Your Options when Choosing Exteriors
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Consider your options when choosing exteriors.
Virtually every homeowner asks this question. “So, how much would it cost to do the home out of brick vs. siding or stucco?” Well, in Utah this is roughly the breakdown per square foot:
$13 Rock
$8 Brick
$5.5 Stucco
$1.5 Vinyl Siding
After I tell the people the price difference, they usually ask which one I would recommend. I tell them it depends on the house plan they choose. Some homes look good with a mixture of brick and siding. That is a good combination if you are trying to save money. Some house plans simply wouldn’t look good with siding. Most homes look great with all-brick, but considering costs is part of the equation. In Read more
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How to get your the most out of your brick
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With the price of brickwork, make sure you get exactly what you want. One thing that can really make a difference is to use a different color of brick mortar. For instance, if your stucco color is a tan color, consider using a tan colored Type S mortar. Since a large portion of the visible area of any masonry veneer wall is the mortar joint, spend a little extra time getting just the right color combination. Be aware that the colored mortar is a little bit more expensive, but I have found that most masons will give you a good deal on it, because they like to show off their work. Laying brick is not a very fun job, so masons usually jump at the chance to do something out of the ordinary. The cost shou Read more
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Brick Homes May Cost More To Insure
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I thought I would make people aware that the cost to insure a brick home is considerably higher than other materials. The reason is that brick tends not to do very well in earthquakes. Most of the time it just causes cracks in the mortar. However, the best way to fix the problem is to pull all of the brick down and start over. That is why insurance costs are so much higher with a brick home. Nevertheless, most insurance companies will allow you to opt out of the brick clause, which means you can't ever claim brick damage. Many homeowners choose to do this and hope they don't get hit with a big earthquake. If you do have a few unsightly mortar cracks, you can hire a mason to chisel out the morta Read more
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I found a good article about stucco
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Synthetic Stucco Raises Some Concerns
With Urea Formaldehyde Foam Insulation, most of us pronounce it "you-fee" but some insisted on "u-fee." In Canada "e-fiss" appears to be the preferred pronunciation for EIFS.
So now we can say it, but what is EIFS and why do we care? EIFS stands for Exterior Insulating and Finishing Systems. It is sometimes referred to as Synthetic Stucco. Its use increased sharply in the 1990s. In North America about 300, 000 homes have an EIFS exterior.
We care because EIFS has been connected to concealed rot in wall cavities.
A Little History
In 1994, moisture damage to the interior of walls was being linked to EIFS. In August 1995, 32 EIFS clad homes in Read more
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The brick is on
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We have recieved several feet of snow over the past few days. You can tell by the picture that it is winter in Cache Valley. They put the brick up this last friday. The house should be done in the next 5 weeks or so.
Here's the latest:
Read more
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So you live in a tract home neighborhood?
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Do you live in a suburb where all the neighboring homes are the same? Do you come home at night and pull into the wrong driveway because everyone's house plan is the same and the colors barely differ? Its frustrating isn't it? I like to see innovative production home builders that take the time and spend the money to give people more options within a subdivision. That's one of the reasons more and more people are wanting to build custom homes. Your home is an expression of yourself. It's nice to have a refuge that you really enjoy and is built to your tastes.
So what if you're stuck where you are for a while and want to give your home some character? Here are a few simple ideas that will help set your home apart.
- gable trim pieces Read more
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