Irvine Construction Blog
4 Tips for Buying an Historic House
If you are in the market for a home and want something one-of-a-kind, an historic home may be just what you are looking for. Many older homes are made with different materials and contain different floor plans and fixtures that you would be hard-pressed to find anywhere else. While owning a charming piece of history has its appeal, it can also come with a lot of responsibility. Many times, an owner of an historic home is expected to preserve the integrity of the original design. Here are some tips on how to go about purchasing an historic house to make…
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…
Can I Modernize My Historic Home’s Siding?
When renovating an historic home, much of the focus can be placed on the heavy-hitters – windows, floors, and fixtures – while other things are put by the wayside. Many historic homes are drafty, and much time is spent debating and picking out new windows and whether to add insulation to the walls. However, the siding of your historic home can contribute just as much to its energy-efficiency as the windows, and it’s often left to a last-minute decision. Depending on how well-kept your home’s siding was, you may need to fully replace it, which poses the question: Can I…
5 Things to Remember When Choosing a Floor Plan for Your Home
Building your own home means you get to decide what style and features meet your needs and the needs of your family. You’re limited only by your imagination and your budget, meaning you aren’t locked into any one design. One of the first decisions you must make when building your own home is the floor plan. How many rooms do you want, where will they be located, and what purpose will each room serve? You have the freedom to decide whether you want to use a pre-designed floor plan, completely create your own, or make modifications to an existing plan….
What Can I Expect From the Design Plan Process?
When you’re planning to remodel or add an addition to a house, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. Questions about budget, time, or even possibility can keep some people from moving forward. At Irvine Construction, we break down the process of designing a remodel or addition as seamless as possible. Here’s what you can expect from the design plan process: The first steps involve a consultation over the phone with one of our specialists to talk over your desires for your remodel. Giving us a few ideas to work with will help us prepare for a face-to-face meeting, as well as…
4 Qualities to Look for in a CAD Firm
You’re on the hunt for the perfect computer-aided design (CAD) firm to help you draw up the plans for your dream home. Lots of places say they’re great at CAD, but how can you separate the ones who are just talking and the firms that are truly good at what they do? Here are 4 key qualities of a great CAD firm: Technical Competence Just because a firm says they “use” a certain type of software doesn’t mean their designers know all the ins and outs of that software. You want to find a firm that knows the software…
What is a Demolition Plan and Why Do I Need One?
Demolition of structures on property may be necessary to build a more up-to-date and safer structure in its place. Demolition, though, can be a risky process no matter how necessary. Because of the risk associated with demolition, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has established a set of guidelines to be followed when conducting a demolition project. These guidelines are designed to protect the safety of all workers on the property as well as the safety of the structure going forward. One of the guidelines is proper planning, and the first step of that should include an engineering survey,…
3 Steps You Need to Take Before Designing Your Home
Designing your future house is a thrilling experience – you get to have creative control over the place you and your family will turn into a home. But before you jump headfirst into sketches, materials, and everything that goes into the design process, you need to take 3 important preliminary steps before the real fun begins. Figure Out Your Needs Think about what kind of home you want build. You most likely have a location already picked, but if not, think about the long-term implications of where you want to live. If you are planning to have children, is the…
13 Popular Architecture Styles for Homes
One of the first steps in planning and designing your own home is selecting the floor plan and architectural style you want. Because each style of home has its own unique characteristics and floor plans, choosing your style first means many of your other decisions will be dictated by the style you choose. To help you make your decision, here are 13 popular home architectural styles: Cape Cod Though most Cape Cod-style homes in the United States were built after World War II, the style originated in the 1600s. This style is characterized by its two-story layout, with the master…
5 Tips for Choosing the Right Historical Renovation Contractor
You’ve decided to renovate your historic home; this is an exciting time that allows you to express some creativity and show off the beautiful, story-filled structure you own. While your mind may be filled with tons of ideas, you have to take the first step to making those a reality: Hiring a contractor. Picking your contractor can be a daunting task. You need to find someone who understands your vision, works with you, solves problems, and creates a result that you approve, all while staying in your budget. So how do you do it? Here are 5 tips for choosing…
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