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Items to think about before starting a project:

pdradmin — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 23:12:57 +0000

Budget
How much money do you want to spend on this project?

Design
Do I know what I want it to look like? Can I express my ideas to others so they will understand? Do I have pictures or sketches of what I like? Do I need to hire an architect to design and draw it? What materials should I use?

Permits
Are permits needed for this project? Who files for permits? Where are they obtained? How much do they cost?

Construction
How long will it take? What are my responsibilities during the project? What is the order of construction? How clean or messy is it?

Contractors
Where do I find a dependable contractor? What do I tell them? What should I expect along the way? How often do they get paid? What insurance should they carry? Do I need any special insurance?

Subcontractors
Who hires them? Who is responsible for them? How do I find good ones?

Inspections
When are they needed? Who schedules them? What if I fail an inspection?

Selecting Your Architect

pdradmin — Fri, 20 May 2011 12:57:25 +0000

Prior to beginning your design project, you will need to select an Architect who will work with you to complete your vision. The best way to find someone will be through word of mouth from family or friends who have used someone in the past. If you do not have any references then perform an online search for Architects in your town, county or state.

Review the websites of architects you find or who were recommended to see what type of work they do and read testimonials they have. When you narrow your search down to 2-3, then prepare a list of questions you have and call each of them and perform a phone interview. Your questions can be simple:

Have you designed projects similar to this in the past and can I have 2 references from similar projects?
What will be the approximate timeframe for completing this project?
What types of projects are you currently working on?
Is there anything I need to consider about this project that I did not mention?
Can you explain to me the process from our initial meeting to the construction completion?

At this point you are looking for the architect to guide you a bit and give you information about the process and things that you should be considering for your project. You are not looking for design information such as where should I locate my kitchen sink, but more general information such as how will you be using the spaces, how many people will it accomodate, how many bedrooms are needed, do you have enough land to accomplish your project, are there any state restrictions in my area, are you familiar with my towns zoning requirements? After you have performed your phone interviews, set up a meeting to review your project inperson. After this meeting they will be able to provide you with a writtten proposal and contract for their sevices.

At PDRdesigns, we will educate the owners because we want them to be informed and we want to help. Clients trust us and we live up to that trust by providing them with the information they need to make a well informed decision about how to proceed.

Your relationship with your architect is a very personal one, so choose someone that you are comfortable with as you will be spending alot of time communicating with them over the course of your project! Do your homework and make your selection based on how you feel about someone after meeting them, not solely based on price.

Good Luck and call us when you are ready to proceed!

A Picture is worth a thousand words!

pdradmin — Fri, 06 May 2011 10:41:19 +0000

I recently completed the design and construction of a really beautiful pergola for a repeat client and wanted to give you some guidelines for preparing for a project.

I believe it is essential for clients to have an idea of what they like prior to beginning the design process. This does not mean that they need to design the project, but they need to understand what it is they like in order to convey that to their architect or interior designer. Communication is key to any project and especially so at the design phase when fresh new ideas are being generated.

You can show your wants, likes and dislikes through pictures, sketches and words. Pictures are the most expressive as you can rip out magazine photos, print items you find online or take pictures of something you see in your area. I encourage my clients to label or circle the particular item that they like so we can discuss it further. This reviw process gives both of us a real taste for the style and character that they desire and promotes much better communication.

Expressing your ideas to your designer through pictures will make for a much smoother process. Grab a binder or folder and start adding your favorite pictures to it today for your next project. Call me when you are ready to begin and we can transform your dreams into reality!

Ask the Architect

pdradmin — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 02:00:28 +0000

Question: I have a limited budget this year, but would like to do some “Green” projects. What can I do to help the environment and save my pocketbook?

This is a great topic that a whole book can be written about and it comes at a great time! This month has two important dates: April 15^th is the tax filing deadline and April 22^nd is Earth Day. The average American will receive back over $3,000 this year, which will hopefully allow for a few upgrades or changes in celebration of Earth Day.

The big question is where to begin? What are the best ways to use the money for improvements that will make a difference? The two biggest areas for improvement are the building envelope (exterior) and the interior appliances and fixtures.

The building envelope alteration can consist of air sealing and adding insulation in the attic. This is very cost effective and can return the money invested in that within a few years. Of course you will need to know how much insulation you currently have to determine if that is a project that makes sense for you. Replacing old windows with new energy efficient models may make sense as well, but requires a larger budget. Reviewing the cost savings versus the initial cost will determine if this is a good investment for your home.

On the interior, an easy cost savings is replacing those regular incandescent light bulbs with Compact Flourescent Light bulbs (CFL’s), which use 75% less energy. Each bulb can save $40 in electric bills over its lifetime and since lighting accounts for up to 25% of a homes energy budget, this can be a significant savings. Changing to Light Emitting Diode lights (LED’s) can increase that savings even more, but will cost more up front to install. LED’s can last 10 times longer than CFL bulbs! The refrigerator is the highest energy consuming appliance in the house but before replacing it, see how it compares to the newer models. Water heaters vary depending on fuel source, size and energy efficiency. Review the annual operating costs of models to see what your savings might be for this item. Replacing an outdated air conditioning condenser (15-20 years old) and blower unit can save 20-40% in cooling costs. The new AC units have a SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) value of up to 18 SEER vs 6 for some of the older units. Hiring a qualified installer is important to ensure the units are installed correctly.

For tax year 2011, there are still some tax incentives for upgrades, but they are generally only 10% of the installed cost and up to a $500 maximum. Check with your contractor to see if your upgrades will qualify for tax credits. In general, the more energy efficient an item is, the better it is for the environment; however a careful review of the return on investment is required for any upgrade you are contemplating.

If you have a question, please address it to sales@pdrdesigns.com.

Paul D. Rugarber, AIA

Ask the Architect

pdradmin — Sun, 20 Mar 2011 02:00:15 +0000

Question: My basement floods each spring. What can I do to fix this?
Basement and crawlspace flooding is a common problem in the springtime, so much so that March 15-19 is National Flood Safety Awareness Week! The melting winter snow, sudden thaw of the ground, and additional rain all compound the problem of surface water entering the basement. As the water seeps into the ground, groundwater rising up from below may become an issue as well. There are 3 main issues to address with flooding or excessive moisture entering the space.
The primary cause of a water issue is poorly graded landscaping adjacent to the house. This may be compounded by clogged gutters or no gutters at all. Have your gutters cleaned out each fall to keep them clear and add splash blocks or extensions at the base of downspouts to route the water away from the house. The grade around the house should pitch away from the house 1 inch per foot for the first 6 feet, which means there should be a 6 inch drop in grade 6 feet from the house.
The next issue is cracks in the floor slab or foundation walls. If there are significant cracks, there may be a structural issue that needs to be addressed, but minor cracks can be addressed with various materials. Most home improvement and hardware stores carry materials for patching concrete while water is still entering the crack as well as caulk or patching compounds for dry cracks. Read the labels carefully to see what will work in your situation. Masonry waterproofing paint will help with dampness, but will not stop water from flowing through the walls.
The third issue is groundwater, which may be rising up from below as the water level in the earth rises with excessive rain. This is a more involved problem to fix as foundation drains and a sump pit are needed to combat this problem. This can be addressed by installing perimeter drains around the interior slab to wall connection and tying them into a sump pit that is pumped away from the house on the exterior.
Addressing your gutters and grading should be a yearly maintenance item as well as locating and fixing any cracks that may develop. Installing a dehumidifier will keep the space from feeling damp. If significant water damage has occurred, call your insurance company and have the repairs completed by a competent contractor. Quickly addressing the issue will avoid any mold or mildew issues later.
If you have a question, please address it to sales@pdrdesigns.com.
Paul D. Rugarber, AIA

NUVO Releases The Music Port Server

pdradmin — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 14:40:37 +0000

NEW! NuVo’s Music Port Server elevates your home audio experience with even greater control, and a whole new world of listening possibilities.

With four audio outputs, the Music Port Server can supply up to four zones of incredible audio variety. Combining a home’s digital music collection, in both Windows Media Player and iTunes formats, into one comprehensive library on the server’s 320GB hard drive, any and all of a home’s networked computers become conduits to your favorite music. You can also enjoy streaming audio from several Internet Radio sources: Pair the MPS4 with our Color Touch Pad to create your own custom station through Pandora, rating song selections for a truly user-specific music experience; Open your system up to a literal world of audio selections with the 100,000 stations of RadioTime; Utilize your subscriptions to SIRIUS and XM online to enjoy your favorite satellite stations.