Irvine Construction Blog

Protecting History: Winterization of Your Historic Home

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Owning a historic home is a unique and rewarding experience, but as winter approaches, it’s essential to take proactive steps to protect its charm and character. At Irvine Construction in Maryland, we understand the significance of preserving historic homes. We’d like to pass on our essential winterization tips to safeguard these architectural treasures during the colder months. Weather Stripping and Caulking The intricate details of historic homes often include original windows and doors that add to their charm. However, these features can be a source of drafts. Applying weather stripping and caulking around windows and doors helps create a tight…

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Preserving A Historic Property: The Timeless Charm of Wood Floors, Fireplaces, Stained Glass, and More

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In the world of home design and renovation, there’s a growing appreciation for the beauty and character of older homes. Whether you live in an older neighborhood or are preserving a historic property, you’ve likely encountered a treasure trove of historic features that are worth renovating and saving. From elegant wood floors and enchanting fireplaces to intricate stained glass windows, these elements not only add to the charm of your home but also tell a story of the past. In this blog post, we’ll explore why these historic features are worth preserving and how they can be integrated into your…

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Pros and Cons of Finishing Your Basement

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An unfinished basement is no one’s favorite part of the house. Among the spiders, dark corners, and damp walls, there isn’t much to enjoy. That being said, the lowest level of your home has the most potential to be great. Finishing your basement is a huge investment, and there is much to consider before taking the leap. If you’re wondering if you should finish your basement, here are some pros and cons to consider.  Pro: It Increases Your Home’s Value Even if you’re not planning on selling your home anytime soon, it’s important to consider how any choices you make now…

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Are Energy Retrofitting and Historic Preservation at Odds?

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With a large percentage of homes having been built before modern energy-efficient fixtures were available, there’s a lot of potential for beneficial energy retrofitting in single-family homes. However, if your home is considered historic—or you just want to preserve its original character—it can feel as if you’ll be sacrificing your home’s historic features when you make upgrades. But thanks to advances in energy retrofitting capabilities, as well as with a little extra work on the part of you and your contractors, you can complete an energy retrofit without compromising your home’s historic preservation needs. Review the Requirements If your home…

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4 Tips for Designing a Home Office When Working From Home With Kids

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Even as the restrictions from the COVID-19 pandemic recede, many workers are still doing their jobs from home permanently. If this describes you, you may be considering renovating part of your home into a home office. And, if you’ve got kids at home, taking them into consideration when designing your space is essential. Here are 4 tips for designing a home office that’s serviceable for you but also welcoming for your kids: Identify Your Space Whether it’s a dedicated room with a door that closes, a closet in the playroom, or a space that you can cordon off a bit…

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How to Deal With Lead Paint in Your Historic Home Remodel

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Once a staple of interior painting, we now know that lead-based paint is dangerous for anyone exposed to it for too long. Children and pets are the most vulnerable, but healthy adults and the elderly also can experience lead poisoning with enough exposure. If you’re planning a remodel of your historic home and suspect (or know) that you’ve got lead paint, here’s what you need to know about keeping everyone safe during the process. Identify Lead Paint You may know that you’ve got lead paint in an area you’re planning to remodel, or you may just suspect that you do…

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How the Housing Market Is Impacting the Remodeling Market

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The housing market is notorious for constantly changing. One week it’s looking up for buyers, the next it’s dominated by sellers. This contrasts with the remodeling market, which has been steadily increasing for many years now.  Still, these two markets affect each other in many ways. If no one is buying new homes, they are more likely to renovate the homes they already own. And if everyone is preparing to sell, they may want to spruce up their places before they go up for sale.  If you’re thinking about changing your housing situation, you may be wondering which is right…

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Hidden Costs to Look Out for When Renovating Your Home

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Home renovation projects can be pricey. That’s why it’s so important to create a realistic budget and stick to it.  If you’re planning on doing some construction to your home, you’ve probably already considered the price for the designer, contractors, and materials. But there are a few hidden costs that many people forget to consider.  These charges can add up, and if you don’t include them in your original estimation, you’ll end up way over budget. Here are 5 hidden costs to look out for when you’re renovating your home: The Land Surveyor A land surveyor is the person trained…

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4 Tips for Preparing for Your Selection Meeting

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Building your own custom home is an exciting process for many homeowners.  Because you’re choosing where everything goes and what it will look like, this means you’ve got nearly complete control over every aspect. From the overall layout right down to the cabinet pulls, there are dozens – if not hundreds – of selections and decisions you have to make during the custom home building process. Part of the custom building process includes the selection meeting. During this meeting, you sit down and make all the final design selections for the interior and exterior of your custom home, including flooring,…

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4 Ways Renovating Your Historic Home Can Be Cost-Effective

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The decision to renovate your historic home may be a difficult one, especially if you’re looking solely at the price tag. However, while knowing what you can reasonably afford before you sign a contract is important, it shouldn’t be the only consideration when making your final decision. In fact, even if the cost of your renovation seems high, the benefits of your renovation may far outweigh the sticker price. Here are 4 ways that renovating your historic home can be cost-effective: Your Neighborhood Many historic homes are located in neighborhoods full of similarly historic properties, and may even be located…

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