Build Your House Yourself University

In the midst of the COVID 19 pandemic, now more than ever, we’re aware of actions we can take to help prevent the spread and growth of viruses, bacteria,  and other illness-causing microorganisms.   And that got me to thinking, are there ways we can design our houses that will also help fight and prevent germs?  Obviously, we can’t completely eliminate microorganisms, and we shouldn’t want to because some of them are beneficial.  But what can we include in our new builds that will decrease the chances of unhealthy bacteria and viruses living and thriving in our homes?

Show notes at BYHYU.com

The novel coronavirus, COVID 19 is on everyone’s minds.  And for those of us in the middle of construction, or simply planning a new build, it’s natural to wonder how the pandemic might affect our homebuilding plans.  I stress the word “might” because no one can be sure how long this pandemic will last, or how long-lasting its effects may be.

In an effort to better understand what could possibly happen in residential construction in the near future, I talked with a local builder and scoured the internet for articles on the subject.

Show notes at BYHYU.com

According to residential construction expert Mike Holmes from the show Holmes on Homes, “If your garage is attached to your house, the most important thing is to make sure it’s sealed. You must keep fumes, exhaust, and carbon monoxide out of the house”.   You don’t want off-gassing in your garage from your vehicle’s exhaust to seep through the garage drywall into the main house.  You also want to insulate certain walls of the garages.  Learn which ones in this episode.

Show notes at BYHYU.com

This episode was inspired by a question that I got about garages from Joe, from my home state of Virginia.  Hey Joe!  This week we’ll talk about the pros and cons of an attached vs a detached garage.  Now, many of you might think, why would I build a new house with a detached garage?  Doesn’t everyone want the convenience of an attached garage?

It’s important to realize that there are advantages and disadvantages to both detached and attached garage structures. And that’s what we’ll briefly discuss.  There are many factors to consider when making your decision, including your budget, your lot size and shape, your desired level of personal and home security and your sensitivity to chemicals and fumes.

Show notes at BYHYU.com

A quick episode this week giving you some suggestions that will help you save money on your cabinetry.  The things I’ll mention won’t give you the most durable, beautiful or practical cabinetry, but if you’re willing to sacrifice some beauty and convenience, you can save quite a bit of money.    Keep in mind, you don’t have to use all the suggestions to save. Incorporating even one or two of these design features can save you hundreds to thousands of dollars.

Show notes on BYHYU.com

The kitchen is the heart of the home and one of the hardest rooms in the house to keep clean. You’ve got crumbs, smoke, grease, dirt, dust, stains, spills and splatters to deal with. But there are practical ways to design our kitchens that will make maintaining and cleaning them easier.  I have a list of 20 tips. Andy many of these tips can also work for bathrooms too.

Show notes at BYHYU.com

Those of us who want to build a well-constructed, energy-efficient home should aim for a tight building envelope that minimizes air leakage (meaning it’s airtight), controls moisture, and has a generous amount of insulation.

In episodes 27-31, we looked at several different ways to insulate a house, but this week, we’ll consider how much insulation is enough and whether over insulating a house is a thing?

Show notes at BYHYU.com

IBS, The International Builders Show is the largest yearly residential and light commercial construction trade show in the world. Typically more than 1400 construction manufacturers and suppliers showcase the latest and most in-demand products and services in the industry. 

Although I love seeing homebuilding products on the showroom floor of IBS, my very favorite part of the show is touring the 2 official idea houses they build every year — The New American Home® (TNAH), and The New American Remodel™ (TNAR). You know I love a show home, especially one that’s been built with energy efficiency and quality construction in mind.  We can get ideas for pretty decor almost anywhere, but it’s so much more valuable for us to look at examples of houses that are not only pretty but well-built.  High-performance concept homes, like the New American Home, can give us ideas about materials and methods that we can either use or adapt, for our own projects.

Show notes at BYHYU.com

Whether you have small children living with you full-time or you’re an empty nester who will have grandchildren or nieces and nephews visiting on a fairly regular basis, you should consider incorporating kid-friendly design into your new house.   This includes features and decor that are safer and more practical for little ones. This week we’ll talk about 12 kid-friendly design features.

Show notes at BYHYU.com

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Back on track after unavoidable pre-construction setbacks, my homebuilding journey has had its share of challenges, even before the foundation was placed.  But delays have been used as opportunities for design improvements that will make the house even more resilient than originally planned.  This episode is kind of a construction update.  I’ll tell you about our delays and what we did to make lemonade out of lemons.

Shownotes at BYHYU.com

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