Irvine Construction Blog
Exploring the Value: Is Adding a Sunroom Worth It?
The idea of adding a sunroom to one’s home often evokes images of relaxation, natural light streaming in, and a cozy space for enjoyment. Yet, like any home improvement project, it comes with questions about its worth. Is the investment worth the benefits? Let’s delve into the considerations to determine whether adding a sunroom is indeed a valuable addition to your home. Enhanced Living Space One of the primary reasons homeowners opt for a sunroom is the promise of additional living space. It provides a versatile area that can serve various purposes, from a tranquil reading nook to an entertainment…
Protecting History: Winterization of Your Historic Home
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…
Preserving A Historic Property: The Timeless Charm of Wood Floors, Fireplaces, Stained Glass, and More
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…
Pros and Cons of Finishing Your Basement
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…
Are Energy Retrofitting and Historic Preservation at Odds?
A large percentage of homes were built before modern energy-efficient fixtures were available. That means there’s a lot of potential for beneficial energy retrofitting in single-family homes. However, if your home is historic, you may risk sacrificing your home’s historic features when you make upgrades. But thanks to advances in energy retrofitting capabilities, you can complete an energy retrofit without compromising your home’s historic preservation needs. A little extra work on the part of you and your contractors will also help! Review the Requirements If your home is on either the National Register of Historic Places or a locally designated…
4 Tips for Designing a Home Office When Working From Home With Kids
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…
5 Things You Need to Know about Adding a Second Story
You love your home. The layout, the schools, the neighborhood – Everything about it is perfect. Except … It’s too small. If you want to stay in your home but have more room for your growing family – or just to be able to have that home office – you want to add on to your home. In most cases, this means you have two options: Building up or building out. For homes that have maximized all their horizontal space, or homes where adding additional foundational work is impractical, adding a second story is the way to go. But before…
Damaged plaster walls?
When to Repair and When to Replace Lath and plaster walls and ceilings were a commonplace construction technique in the United States until the 1950s, when drywall became available. Although plaster has fallen out of favor as the go-to choice for your average contractor, there are still many homes in America that utilize this material, and for good reason. Compared to drywall, plaster provides better sound dampening, insulation, fire protection, and is a more solid, thicker material. Knowing that you love your classic plaster walls, if you encounter cracks or damage, you may ask how to best deal with the…
Best Flooring Types for Historic Renovation Kitchens
Renovating any kitchen can be a major project, but creating the feel of a specific time period brings a whole new collection of challenges. Picking the right floor material can be key to pulling all of the elements of your renovation together. Here are some of the best options available for your historic kitchen renovation. Stone Stone is labor-intensive to install, but can last a long time with proper maintenance. Stone naturally provides a unique look and feel and can be assembled in a near limitless number of patterns. One thing to keep in mind: stone is porous, and it’s…
Stone Foundations – Some Things to Know
Stone foundations were standard fare in houses built before World War I. Today, they’re a source of frequent worry to buyers and owners of old homes. But are they really something to be concerned about? Stone foundations require some extra attention considering that they are the foundation of your home. If an older house suffers from sloping floors and cracked plaster, it’s reasonable to suspect foundation failure as the likely cause. A brief visual inspection will quickly disclose bulging, bowing, shifting or settlement of a stone foundation. If you find any one these conditions, you should call in the services…
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