Irvine Construction Blog
Everything You Need to Know About Built-Ins
Built-in shelving units, also referred to as built-ins, can be major show-stopper for your next home remodel! They offer an element of architectural interest and aesthetic charm, but they serve a greater functional purpose: custom storage space savers. What are Built-Ins? Built-in storage units are fixed architectural elements in a home that serve the same function as standalone, mobile furniture. These elements can either be recessed in the wall or outwardly attached to a wall to save space. They come equipped with multiple shelves, drawers, or doors. Oftentimes, homeowners install built-ins between wall studs, saving external space. Built-ins are almost…
Historic Designation: What It Means for Your Home
If you’re looking to gain Historic Designation status, listen up: It’s tough. It can be a lengthy process. It can be restrictive. But with a solid foundation of how it works, it might be the greatest thing you could do for your home. How Can My Home Qualify For Historic Designation? Does your home have a story that dates back to a specific time in history? Historic Designation officially recognizes homes as historic and protects them under historical preservation laws to benefit the education of future generations. You can apply for your home to be denoted an individual landmark or…
A Few Things to Consider Before Building a New Home
Building a new home is exciting and daunting at the same time. People often jump into the process without fully comprehending the scale of the project and how to prepare for it properly. If you’re looking to start a home building or home remodeling project soon, here are a few 4 things to consider before you start: Research & Reputation Before choosing a home builder, take some time to research your options and find one that will fit best with the final look you want. You can find reputable home builders listed with the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB),…
5 Ways to Create Your Own Modern Farmhouse
Modern farmhouses feature so much charm and character; it’s no wonder suburban and urban homeowners alike are trying to get a taste of rural, country designs. Here are 5 ways you can add the simple, yet elegant, farmhouse designs to your own home. Barn-Style Lighting Fixtures To get that authentic farmhouse feel, start with the right lighting and add some traditional barn lighting fixtures. These are typically characterized by their long arched necks, wide-domed brims, and one-light fixtures. In today’s country home design, you’ll find many of these fixtures have high contrast finishes in black or grey. They are sometimes…
3 Important Things To Consider When Renovating a Historic Home
Historic home restoration is no easy feat; in fact, it’s quite the opposite. They need a lot of TLC and can come with unexpected surprises and hidden costs that are enough to send you to the hospital with a heart attack. But fear not! With some patience and a whole lot of careful planning, you can get your historic home looking like the cover of a magazine. Before you begin the process of historic home restoration, it’s important to do plenty of research to get a good idea of what to expect. We’ve put together 3 important things to consider…
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…
Is Replacing your Historic Home’s Windows Worth it?
James R. Irvine Construction company specializes in historic home restorations in Maryland and Southern Pennsylvania. We love being able to breathe life back into older homes, but we always hear the same things from homeowners: ‘First thing is to replace those old windows.’ We agree that older windows can be drafty and inefficient, but there are a few reasons why we think keeping those old windows are a better option. Aesthetics There is a reason the older windows make the home look beautiful. Those windows were the originals, with the proper proportions and delicate, unique touch that you lose when…
Have a crawl space? Seal it to protect your home from mold and mildew
Crawl spaces, cellars, and sub-cellars have been used in buildings for centuries. They began mostly as areas for storing food and household items, especially produce that needed to keep from fall until the next summer. Now, with the popularity of basements used as additional living space, crawl spaces construction has begun to decrease in new homes. However, there still are many older homes that include crawl spaces, cellars, or sub-cellars, and keeping them well-maintained is important for the overall value and safety of your home. Crawl space walls are part of your home’s foundation, sometimes resting on a footing. These…
Keep Your Historic Home Cool This Summer
Maryland’s weather can be extreme, and May has had some extreme cold and hot days so far. This week especially reminds us that the summer heat is starting to officially set in. Many homeowners, especially those who live in historic homes, are looking for ways to stay cool without paying their entire paycheck to the utility company. Here are some low-cost ways to turn your historic house into a cool, energy efficient, and relaxing space. Provide Some Shade Keep your blinds down, window shutters closed, and curtains drawn! The California Energy Commissions estimates that 40% of heat buildup in homes…
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