Archive for the ‘House Plans’ Category

Drywall Finishing For All Homes

Thursday, February 11th, 2010

Drywall requires mud to finish it and make it look smooth just as many homeowner’s want. it is time consuming but well worth the wait.

Once the drywall is installed and screwed to the wall, it is going to need some tape and compound. This is a very big step as it is the final step in the way that your drywall looks. You must make sure that you are applying the mud or compound the right way to your walls to ensure that it looks great.

There are three steps to know about how to mud drywall.

1. know what tools you need and what type of compound.
Being prepared is one thing that you have to make sure you are doing. you need to be sure that you are familiar with the items that you have to have.

joint compound will come in two ways, powder and pre mixed. They are going to be different textures. Taping compound is coarse and needs to be used for the initial tape. Topping compound is thin and smooth than regular taping compound. It should be used for finishing.

when applying mud you should use tape knives. These tools will come in different sizes and you should always use on that is a little longer than the first one for each layer that you do.

You want to be certain that all of your screws are sunk in deep. You do not want any protruding out so that you are not hitting them with your knife. You should go back and sink your screws in a little further if they are not in far enough.

2. you should follow procedure.

When you are mudding drywall it is going to be a 4 step and four day project. You will want to let it dry for at least twenty four hours.

You can start with a drywall taping layer. You should apply compound and then place paper jointing tape in all the joints and the make it smooth with a little compound. You will also need to cover up all the nail and screws with compound. You should always make sure that your finish look is completely smooth and looking good.

You will want to apply two layers of compound that will smooth out the surface for you. you will want to use a good tape knife that is one or two inches longer than the one you used before. For the second and the third you will need to use a tape knife that is about seven inches to a foot in length.

You should try and put the compound on the joint and then smooth It with different strokes.

It may be hard to apply this compound. You will want to apply the mud in different variations of thickness. You need to apply pressure in different spots. When you are ding the side strokes you will want to put more pressure on the outer part of the knife. There are different procedures for smoothing and you will need to learn the right way for each method you are doing.

The finish coat is last of course. this is where you need to make sure that it looks good and is smooth.

3. have some patience on your side

when you are mudding you want to be consistent and take your time. You may want to get it done fast but you have to follow with the stages. You cannot rush the mud to dry. You have to wait and leave the enough drying time in between. This can be messy but it is something that has to be done to make the drywall come out right.

Vince Paxton’s newsletters are found on plenty of online sites with reference to drywall taping tools and how to do drywall taping. Writing for reports such as http://www.insidewoodworking.com/drywall/drywalltaping.html the writer affirmed his depth of understanding on ideas related to drywall taping.

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Things to Think About When Considering a Floor Plan

Wednesday, February 10th, 2010

The kitchen place of your home becomes a very important center for social gathering whether you decide to host a family breakfast or an elaborate dinner party. So you need a perfect floor plan for this space where you would be doing the multi-tasking.

You should have a small prep sink and no other appliances on the cook top as that will give you more space and make it easier for you to cook. The sink, the refrigerator and the stove should be kept close to each other so that you do not have to run around the entire kitchen when you are cooking a meal. You should not fall for attractive fixtures because it is important to keep the space available for the preparation of a meal.

When you are planning the kitchen space you need to micro analyze what you will use each of the cabinets for. To store dry food, house plates etc – everything is to be planned so that you do not end of building cabinets that are larger or smaller than what you need. The kitchen should be large enough to accommodate two cooks and there should be at least a five feet distance between the two stoves.

You need not have real high ceilings but rather go for lower ceilings to keep the place cozy and warm and to keep the people closer to each other. If the length and the width of the space is kept the same then it would be easier to divide the space for the various functions like dinning and fireplace and game space.

From the rooms the view outside should be clear and should not be blocked by an adjoining porch and you should be using clear glasses for the windows so that the view is clear. The television is always a focal point in most families these days and so you should consider the TV’s placement before you start planning anything else about the great room. Before choosing the layout the furniture that is going to go to the great room needs to be decided for sure. Even window sizes and the placement of windows is a vitally important thing to be considered while figuring out the layout of each room.

A large dressing closet should be planned within the bedroom. You need to think very carefully about the master bedroom as well as about the master bath especially if you are going to have over night guests visiting your place every now and then. A master bedroom space can also work for a home office when ever there are no guests staying at your place and so in this way the same space will serve for two functions. The guest room and/or office room should be long and narrow so that one end of the bed faces the window and the other end faces the freestanding table and chair.

Check out Christi Sealey’s website. It will provide you with easy to understand information on building or buying your own Log Home or Log Cabin. Check it out at Your Log Home Guide. Don’t make the same mistakes others have made that cost them big!

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Cabin House Plans – Designing Your Perfect Winter Escape

Tuesday, February 9th, 2010

If you are one of those people who spend every winter crossing your fingers that you will get at least a few flakes of snow this year, you might just need to invest in a winter getaway. For those who rarely see a flake of snow let alone even a foot of snow, sometimes you simply need a good dose of the white stuff. This is when a cabin located in the heart of snow country will come in handy. When the call of a snow drift beckons, all you will have to do is pack your suitcase and be on your way.

When it comes to designing your winter cabin, the major thing to think about (besides location) is the floor plan itself. If you are looking for a comfy and cozy cabin feel, you probably don’t want to go all out and build from luxury mansion house plans. You will most likely want to go with a cabin that has a smaller living space to make upkeep easier. You’ll also probably want to have a floor plan that has vaulted ceilings and large windows to let in all of the amazing views of the snow drifts and icicles outside.

When choosing your floor plans, you should also consider the roof line along with your cabin’s location. If you are in an area that sees feet upon feet of snow, you would want to design your cabin with an a-frame structure. This allows the snow to freely slide off the roof onto the ground rather than pile up in masses on top of your dream cabin. With this in mind, you will most likely not choose to go with the ranch house plans levit.

The other major item that should be taken into consideration is the location of your winter cabin. Make sure that the cabin will be located in an area that is somewhat easily accessible. Keep in mind that you will most likely bring your personal items that you need for your stay – including clothes and bathroom amenities. You will also probably bring along plenty of food for your stay as well. If your cabin will be located on a road that is frequently plowed then you should have no problems. But if the road isn’t plowed and the snowfall can be measured in feet rather than inches, you will probably wind up parking your car somewhere alongside the road and then either hiking or riding a snowmobile to the cabin.

When it comes to building and designing your own winter cabin there are numerous options. You could choose to go with a rustic look and build your cabin from a log home house plan. Or you could stick with the typical a-frame style. Whatever you choose, enjoy the snow while it’s there!

If you are looking for more information on luxury mansion house plans or ranch house plans legit be sure to click on http://www.houseplansandmore.com today. House Plans And More also has information on a log home house plan as well.

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Don’t Forget to Pay Attention to the Ceilings in Your Luxury Home Floor Plan

Monday, November 16th, 2009

In any new home you think what meets the eye is the most important. But with this thought you leave out approximately 1/6 of all interior space – the ceiling. Ceiling treatments can set the stage for any room of the house, and have grown from the Traditional “popcorn” effect to exquisite architectural masterpieces to add luxury and style to every room of the house. In addition to being decorative, ceiling treatments can also be used for functional effects as well, such as providing acoustic value and to define functions of the room. When building a new home, the sky is the limit when choosing a ceiling treatment.

The shape of the ceiling offers the most dramatic detail, and provides room definition and controls acoustic values. Most ceiling shapes fall within one of five categories. Cathedral, named after the steep pitches of old-time cathedrals, angle upward following the pitch of the roof and connect at a central peak. Consider cathedral ceilings in your luxury home floor plan to dramatically increase the room’s volume, making it ideal for gathering spaces such as the living and dining rooms. Similar to the cathedral shape, vaulted ceilings are open and airy. The edges roll upward to a half-barrel shape, and have variations including arched, domed or barrel ceilings. These ceilings require additional budget and planning in order to obtain the most dramatic effect. For a superb artistic effect, coffered ceilings are a great addition.

These ceilings are made with recessed rectilinear panels, often formed of hardwood, and arranged in an interesting grid pattern with regular intervals. Coffered ceilings are well suited for many home styles especially English country house plans. Exposed beams add a touch of rustic style to any open space. Usually placed along with a vaulted ceiling, beams will add warmth and comfort while also increasing the luxurious feeling of log home house plans or even a more traditional home plan. Tray ceilings are constructed with an inverted indentation and sides angling at 45 degrees up to a flat top. A variation of this is the stepped ceiling which features an inverted indentation and sides in a stair-step fashion leading up to a flat top.

No matter what ceiling shape you choose, any type can be modified with accents to further add your personal style to each space. Adding warmth and scope while remaining out of the way, skylights are quickly growing in popularity among homeowners. These additions create clean lines and support minimalist decorating concepts. Both decorative and functional, trim and molding, create extra style while hiding joints. Crown molding is the most commonly placed trim to connect the walls and the ceiling. Trim is available in numerous materials, shapes and sizes to fit all types of décor. Don’t stop at the walls when painting – continue on up to cover the ceiling as well. Different colors will allow for different effects, whether going for a monochrome scheme with the ceiling the same color as the walls, or going a bit further for a bold complimentary color.

The list could continue on and on so speak with a design professional to learn the many ceiling and types to find what is best for you and your new home or visit http://www.houseplansandmore.com for ideas. By paying attention to this massive area overhead while planning your dream home, be it a luxury home floor plan, English country house plans, log home house plans or anything else you can dream up will be complete from floor to ceiling.

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Bathroom Shower Options in New Home Plans

Sunday, November 15th, 2009

Just when you think you have one simple choice to make to outfit your new home, think again. Today’s showers are available in a variety of shapes and sizes, and can be outfitted with amazing features to provide the most luxurious shower imaginable.

Showers can be stand-alone bathroom fixtures or be a part of a tub combo. The two main factors determining the type is you available size and budget. If space is tight, all you may be able to fit is a stand-alone shower stall. With a little extra space, and the need for somewhere to soak your stresses away, the shower/tub combo is the right choice. For those new homes equipped with plush master suites and the ranch house plans with two master bedrooms that are becoming more common, a separate stand-alone shower is ideal because there is plenty of room for a soaking tub on its own.

Showers are either found as prefabricated units or completely custom built to fit your space and style. Prefabs are best suited for standard stalls that are either square or circular units. Custom built units sometimes become necessary when those country style house plans you have been working on need something more tailored to fit any nook and cranny available in your bathroom.

No matter what style you are looking for, showers are available in a multitude of materials. The most important thing to ensure is that the material chosen is waterproof and durable. Prefabricated units are typically made of fiberglass-reinforced acrylic, plastic laminate or synthetic marble. Custom shower stalls can be created using any number of materials, including ceramic tiles, stone, marble and granite. Using these materials takes a step further in aesthetics and offers the most flexibility in size and shape. Whatever type of shower you are building, it is important to take in the entire bathroom environment to ensure a relaxing and stress-free atmosphere.

General shower stalls come equipped with grab bars and soap dishes, while upgrades can include benches and multiple showerheads. Showerheads come in a dizzying array, and can take the shower experience from standard to pure luxury. Choose from multiple pressure options, handheld (also with various pressure options), and even full body showerheads that act similar to a car wash. And, growing in popularity is the waterfall showerhead that has the feeling of a gentle rain. Additional extras that can be incorporated into your shower experience include programmable preferred temperatures, natural light, steam rooms and units and smart home technology.

It’s not hard to become overwhelmed with all the decisions involved in building your new home. Do you go with a traditional ranch house plan or indulge your post modern side? But with careful consideration and proper research, your dream home – right down to every bathroom – will be a pure joy for you and your family.

Be sure to visit House Plans and More for more house plan and bathroom resources. The planning stages of that traditional ranch house plan or more updated ranch house plans with two master bedrooms can seem daunting at times. But arm yourself with information and even country style house plans will be a breeze to tackle.

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Choosing Modern House Plans

Saturday, November 14th, 2009

When you choose modern house plans as the basis for the design of your home, you veer off from the overt use of traditional styles that seem to be prominent today. Some people though prefer modern plans that are not too overtly so in their appearance and thus they can still achieve their intended goals with a number of house plans of a modern nature which might not be rather extreme when it comes to the nature of their modern appearance. All house plans that fall into the modern category belong to a wide range of sub-styles some which draw on older house designs in order to gain the necessary basis for their modernity. A number of different house plans of the modern kind also have little or no roots in the past and are purely based on modern architectural and construction trends with their usual array of steel and glass in creating these structures. Contemporary house plans are also classified as a subset of modern plans. Different other house plan designs fall into the subset category of modern plans as well and sites that are designed to provide this information will provide such details assuming the information they provide is comprehensive enough. Getting the modern plans that you need can be somewhat difficult because there is some difficulty in ascertaining the correct definition of them term “modern plan” and what it entails. However once you’ve gotten around a bit and seen a couple of plans you should get the idea of what precisely you’re looking for. A number of websites host such plans and you can enter the relevant search terms in order to view the choices available and possible selections and combinations which might be made to get the house plan that you feel would satisfy your needs as well as aspirations. A number of architects and designers exist who tend to specialize in modern house plans. These individuals may also offer you the chance of benefiting from innovative designs as well as unique services. Finding great designs isn’t all that difficult; all it really takes is some added research instead of just looking on the surface. If you have no ideas of your own, simply taking a look through existing house plans can provide the spark that is needed to kickstart your imagination and form a basis for your research. House plans that are modern are terrific for a variety of reasons, one of such reasons is the fact that they tend to have larger windows than regular houses and house plans. The fact that they possess such qualities makes them a welcome place to live in due to the space, lighting and opportunities for ventilation that they provide. Sometimes people will keep the exteriors of their houses traditional and the interior locations modern and vice-versa, the opportunity to indulge in this flexibility will provide them with a house that is as unique as houses come even though the design structure may borrow from more well-known concepts. Kelly Hunter owns and operates http://www.modernhouseplansguide.com and writes about Modern House Plans

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