General Residential Trends Dressing Your Home

November 3rd, 2011 by Matthew Kirkhope

General Residential Trends

Trends in residential buildings have shifted to greener measures. There are millions of old residential houses that are scheduled for energy evaluation. These houses were built before the latest building codes came into effect. Many homeowners are unaware of how much they are wasting in energy consumption. When heaters in winter and air conditioners during summer are going full blast a lot of energy escapes into the atmosphere without being utilized. Despite the measures that many homeowners follow – from doubling up on socks to waiting until a heat wave to turn on the air – these seem have no bearing on the continued rise of electrical bills. Better Insulation Homeowners are getting the services of energy auditors to help them in their battle against the flaws that exists in their homes and save on energy and money. These green workers can help point out how to come up with proper measures to get efficient energy utilization. Many people have discovered the importance of efficient home insulation. Ceilings, walls, and floors are getting insulated. Energy can escape through these parts of the house without homeowners realizing it. New floors are made thicker, doors and windows are getting completely sealed, liquid insulation foams are used between walls, and ceilings are now getting proper insulation treatments. Asbestos Removal There’s another trend going on concerning homes built before 1986. These homes are getting tested for the presence of ACMs or asbestos contaminated materials. Unfortunately, many homeowners have to live with the specter of asbestos contamination hanging over their heads. There’s a series of tests available in order to determine the presence of asbestos in homes. The first survey tests for the presence of asbestos in the home. If the survey is inconclusive, a second survey is done. This time samples are taken from some suspected parts of the house and brought to labs for testing. If you’re house is positive for asbestos presence, there are two asbestos abatement processes that can be followed: encapsulation or removal. Encapsulation is the process of limiting the asbestos in one place by sealing it inside a protective shell. Removal is the complete eradication of asbestos from the house. The best way of eradicating asbestos is by using the wet method. ACMs are drenched with water to prevent hazardous asbestos fibers from exploding into the atmosphere. Giving Garage Doors a Facelift Garage doors are also getting into the spot light. According to real estate experts, a beautiful garage door will increase the curb appeal of a home. A nice looking garage door can increase the value of real estate by 4%! Improving garage doors are less expensive than improving the kitchen and bathrooms, but nevertheless they can increase the price of the house more than costly renovations to the bathroom or the kitchen. There are just a few of the many home renovation and trends making their way into bathrooms, living rooms, and kitchens. Click here to get FREE estimates on your next project!

Dressing Your Home