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Porch, Balcony, Veranda, Patio and Deck – which one do you have space for?

With outdoor living gaining a lot of popularity, people all across the globe have now started constructing outdoor domestic spaces, which can be used for several purposes.  Depending upon the availability of the space, there are various types of spaces, which can be constructed.  These include porch, balcony, veranda, patio and deck.  However, people tend to get confused between these as they are quite similar and tend to use them as synonyms.

Porch – A porch is basically an attached section to the house which is open to the outside air and is covered with a roof.  It is usually at the street level, and a house can feature a front porch as well as a back porch.  In addition, porch is usually employed as a living space and people use it for casual seating purposes.

Balcony– A balcony is a small platform that protrudes from a wall of an upper apartment floor and is usually enclosed by a railing. It must be clarified that unlike the patio, balcony is not at the street level.  A balcony is usually never employed as a social space, but is basically designed for outdoor ambience purpose.

Veranda – A veranda is typically an open, large, long gallery, usually covered with a roof and supported by pillars.  It must be mentioned that in most of the cases, verandas usually extend equally on all the sides of the structure.  Verandas are usually associated with large and expensive homes, and may be used as a living space also.

Patio – A patio is a roofless paved area adjoined to the house and usually employed for entertainment and dining purposes.  It must be mentioned that the open air living space is at the ground level and is usually made out of slate, cement, stone or a combination of the materials. Besides few furniture pieces, plants and few water decorative elements are also introduced in the patio.

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Using an Architect Can Save Time and Money

Canadian architect, Etienne Gaboury, once said, “Architecture is space structured to serve man & to move him.” “To serve man” implies that architectural design creates a useful living space, while “to move him,” refers to the art of the design, which makes a particular building unique, colorful, and worthy of living inside.

A trained architect will take a client’s wish & analyze it in conjunction with their needs, lifestyle & their long term plans.  Careful consideration of a family’s future size & goals will yield positive results when designing a home.

Throughout the process the architect may offer the family constructive choices which may save them money in the long run ultimately helping to offset the architectural fees.

Often time home owners and builders believe it will be cheaper to draw up their own plans but the cost of inefficient floor plan layout can be very serious.

Architects may ease the stress involved in the construction process by acting as project managers & construction supervisors and some may even take it a step further, like we do at Millenia LDC, and take on the construction project.

When you consider building your home, consult an architect about the benefits you can gain from using his service.  The consultation most likely will be free and it will definitely be valuable to you.

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10 Tips for Hiring a Contractor

  1. Give considerable thought to the individual or business you will hire to perform your construction or related projects. Pay particular attention to contractors offering their services at a considerably lower price – while you may save a few dollars at the time, you may end up paying a lot more over the life of the service or product.

 

  1. Talk to more than one specialist, this will allow you to develop a better understanding of the process. Knowledge gives power to negotiate.

 

  1. If you know you need to renovate or extend your building, don’t wait until the problem gets worst to get estimates and select a contractor e.g.if you know you need a new roof then don’t wait until you have water coming in from your second floor ceiling.

 

  1. Do a bit of research. If you have a friend who is more knowledgeable than yourself, invite them to take a look.  This allows you to give the contractor more specific information or details about the problem.

 

  1. Past clients or projects are a great way to learn about contractors and their capability. So go ahead and ask a neighbor or a friend for recommendations, look for completed jobs in the neighborhood. Now-a-days it’s all out there on the internet, check business websites to see their profile of completed jobs.

 

  1. Yes I am part of a company that provides construction services but I will still go ahead and say it – negotiate fiercely and make it clear to the contractor that you are looking for the best quality job at the best possible price. Remember, you are in charge and it’s your project and money so demand a great end product/service at a great price. It’s not always true that you have to pay ridiculous prices for great work but it is expected that the best quality work will come at a bit higher cost.

 

  1. Obtain and review at least three written estimates to compare what a job should cost. Once this is done, you’ll have a sense of which contractor to use.  Meet with the contractor again, at this point discuss any other qualms you may have with his estimate.

 

  1. Of course get everything in writing.

 

  1. After selecting a contractor, stay close to them; check the work and ask questions. A good contractor would know to keep the customer updated with work progress by submitting reports at agreed intervals and will seek permission before making any deviations from the original plans.

 

  1. If at the end of the project the contractor has done a great job ask for some business cards and pass around to friends and family.
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Outdoor Living Space Raises Selling Potential

On many properties there is valuable living space that is left under-utilized, and it’s typically found outside. Often the outside area that could be converted into a creative living space is larger than the largest space inside the home.  Maximizing the comfort of your home includes the use of available outdoor space.

When someone visits your home, they first see the outdoors, the surroundings.  Their impression of you and your home begins outside.  It would be wise that in the planning stages of the construction of your home that the building be located in an area that would maximize the usage potential of the outside of the home.

At these early stages, a vision for the outdoor space should be considered in order to minimize the cost of any future outdoor projects since the grounds of your home will already be fashioned to suit that vision.  Besides the visual effect of a well designed outdoor space and manicured grounds, an outdoor living space will increase your living area and allow for much needed fresh air and sunlight that is not available on the inside.  For those who entertain, outdoor space will reduce the traffic and wear on the interior of your home.

Investing in an outdoor room adds resale value to your property.  A homebuyer would be more interested in your home that offers this feature.  Here are a few tips to help you plan an outdoor space:

  1. Figure out which rooms have the best potential for access to the outside. You’ll want to consider how high the floor is off the ground, how you will keep your privacy, how much deck, patio or terrace space is available, which area the sun will affect the most and at what time, and how the space will relate to the rest of your yard or garden.
  2. Once you choose where the doors will be, do a floor plan and put together a list of functional requirements. Do you want a deck with room for outdoor dining? A vegetable or flower garden? Hot tub? Arrange the elements you choose with regards to everything you considered in step one.
  3. Plan the central area to be as big as an actual room – minimum 12 square feet, but not larger than 20 square feet. The shape should probably be square or rectangular. It is better if you stay away from long narrow spaces that surround the house. Furniture won’t fit there well so it won’t be used.
  4. Keep the steps leading from raised decks and terraces as wide as possible, at least six feet. Keeping a full width on multiple sides of the deck will create a smooth transition to ground level.
  5. Get creative with your paving materials to create different functioning areas. Also try incorporating different levels in the space. By adding benches, planters or other permanent features each area of your outdoor space will have its own identity.

Whether or not you have plans to sell, using these tips will help you transform the look and comfort of your home!

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Green Roof – Preserving Green Space

Development of urban areas often leads to degradation of natural green space and wildlife habitat and open space is being lost at an alarming rate. The addition of a green roof to an unused area on a building can help preserve the green space and is beneficial to the surrounding environment. There are also social, economic and environmental benefits to green roofs.

During heavy rainfalls green roof slows down the flow of water by retaining up to 75% of the rain water avoiding problems such as water pollution caused when rain water runoff from galvanize and concrete rooftops.

Plants naturally cool their surrounding environments while dark roofs can help bring down the overall temperature, therefore more green roofs means a cooler environment.

Some of the most desirable neighborhoods are near green park space. Green roofs are visually stimulating and can make great areas for recreation and pleasure. Converting roof space into green park space can provide that desirable feeling and can also increase the value of a property by providing a valuable building asset that makes the building more marketable and saleable.

Added benefits of green roofs are that they improve the air quality by absorbing and converting carbon dioxide to oxygen and the soil and plants are an effective sound insulator.

Green roofs are a very innovative technology and provide many benefits to the environment. They are now being accepted as an important part of sustainable construction and climatic change adaptation, which is very important. Today many new developments are having green roofs installed as part of their designs.

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Green Building

We’ve been hearing the terms “green building” and “going green” in the realm of architecture for a while now.  Building material and equipment suppliers and construction service providers in the U.S. often boast the environmental friendliness, efficiency and economy of their products and services.  But what is green architecture really, and how does it affect architectural design for us in the Caribbean?

 

In an article entitled “Green and pleasant lands: eco-friendly Caribbean living” from the on-line magazine Caribbean Beat, Lisa Allen-Agostini  says: “Green – that is, environment-friendly – architecture isn’t just about saving money and conserving resources, but about building spaces that are good for the people who use them.  Green buildings have been found to improve the sales, productivity, health and happiness of their users and inhabitants.”

 

There are various technical definitions of the term ‘green’ as it refers to architectural design and its implementation into actual construction, but this simple definition describes exactly what we think green design and building should accomplish.  In that same article, Agostini goes on to quote Mark Raymond (Lead architect on the Trinidad and Tobago Ministry of Information building in Port of Spain) in saying that “What has been hailed recently as green architecture represents…for some architects common sense and a means of working which they have pursued diligently for many years.”
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Ten Things to Expect From an Architect

  1. Listening skills.

Architects need to listen carefully to the wants and needs of clients, since this will be the basis upon which the project will be developed.  A project is never really complete unless the customer is satisfied.

 

  1. Communication skills.

Architects must have excellent communication skills and be able to discuss with clients, builders, suppliers etc in a way that all parties’ needs and wants are clearly understood.  The importance of precise and effective communication cannot be greater emphasized.

 

  1. Ability to solve problems.

Clients rely on the architect’s ability to think outside the box for creative solutions to problems as soon as they arise or even before they arise. A great architect has sharp problem solving skills.

 

  1. Excellent Design skills.

Architects themselves are trained to have an eye for good designs and a mind full of creative and aesthetically pleasing designs.  Architectural designs ought to cover both beauty and functionality.

 

  1. Expertise throughout the process.

An architect should be capable of efficiently producing the fundamental aspects of a design including Conceptual and Schematic Design, and Design Development.

 

  1. Understanding building codes and other safety issues.

In addition to the architect’s design and technical knowledge, they should keep abreast of local building codes and safety regulations.

 

  1. Product knowledge and recommendations.

Another thing that good architects should have is a sound knowledge of products and materials.  New products are on the market every day – from countertops, to deck surfaces to energy efficient equipment. Architects should be up to date with these changes so that they can properly advise clients on available products and most suitable materials, and possibly their prices and sources.

 

  1. Team spirit and co-operation.

The successful completion of any project is dependent on the co-operation of team members.  The better the relationship between the people who make up the team the more likely it is for the project to go smoothly.

 

  1. Education, experience and credentials.

Your architect should be a licensed architect and should be willing and able to provide a list (long or short) of satisfied clients.

 

 

  1. Passion for the profession.

The best architectural designs come from architects who are passionate and enamored about their work. This is almost always reflected in the quality of their designs.

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Extend Your Living Outdoors

With outdoor living gaining a lot of popularity, people all across the globe have now started constructing outdoor domestic spaces, which can be used for several purposes.  Depending on the availability of the space, there are various types of spaces, which can be constructed.

 

These include porch, balcony, veranda, patio and deck.  However, people tend to get confused between these as they are quite similar and tend to use them as synonyms.

 

Porch – A porch is basically an attached section to the house which is open to the outside air and is covered with a roof. It is usually at the street level, and a house can feature a front porch as well as a back porch. In addition, porch is usually employed as a living space and people use it for casual seating purposes.

 

Balcony– A balcony is a small platform that protrudes from a wall of an upper apartment floor and is usually enclosed by a railing. It must be clarified that unlike the patio, balcony is not at the street level. A balcony is usually never employed as a social space, but is basically designed for outdoor ambience purpose.

 

Veranda – A veranda is typically an open, large, long gallery, usually covered with a roof and supported by pillars. It must be mentioned that in most of the cases, verandas usually extend equally on all the sides of the structure. Verandas are usually associated with large and expensive homes, and may be used as a living space also.

 

Patio – A patio is a roofless paved area adjoined to the house and usually employed for entertainment and dining purposes. It must be mentioned that the open air living space is at the ground level and is usually made out of slate, cement, stone or a combination of the materials. Besides few furniture pieces, plants and few water decorative elements are also introduced in the patio.

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Quantity Surveyors Can Help Keep Projects on Budget

A quantity surveyor or cost estimator can keep your project on budget and avoid unpleasant surprises.

 

An architect draws a plan and makes initial calculations of the cost of construction (the cost plan) in reflection to the client’s budget.  However, if there is no one to keep an eye on finances, construction projects have the potential to spiral in cost.

 

A quantity surveyor/cost estimator deals with the financial management of a project. He liaises with the architect and the client throughout to revise the cost plan as the design changes and becomes more detailed.

 

Quantity surveyors/cost estimators are also concerned with managing different contract forms and dealing with a number of different areas e.g. valuations, final accounts, dispute resolutions etc.  A quantity surveyor/ cost estimator will basically manage the financial and contractual sides of a project.

 

They usually work on all types of projects including residential and commercial and on projects ranging from building schools, hospitals, commercial buildings, public roads and bridges.

 

Quantity surveyors work involves:

 

  • Helping the client establish a budget for the project

 

  • Liaising with the client and architect to produce initial cost estimates

 

  • Revising costing as the plans are developed

 

  • Producing a bill of quantities to be given out to contractors

 

  • Preparing contractual documents

 

  • Designating work to contractors if the client wishes

 

  • Monitoring costs once the project has begun

 

  • Checking invoices and overseeing payments, usually on a monthly basis

 

  • Scheduling materials

 

  • Measuring and valuing the finished project to produce an end report

 

Any client who is concerned with cost regarding their project will realize the importance of working with an individual or company who can ensure that the project is delivered within the specified budget.

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Steel Buildings

Steel buildings are metal structures constructed with steel for internal support as well as exterior covering. They first gained popularity in the early 20th century and have become more popular today, not only in the commercial sector but for residential buildings as well. They offer a wide range of advantages over other more commonly used construction materials such as lumber, brick and concrete.

  • Steel buildings are durable enough to withstand extreme weather conditions such as earthquakes and hurricanes. They are also more durable against fire. While no material is one hundred percent ‘fireproof’, steel is definitely more fire resistant than wood.
  • Steel buildings can last for years with minimal wear and tear and require little maintenance. Unlike wood and concrete, they are resistant to infestation of pests such as termites, cracks, splitting and rotting. Therefore structural damage is less likely to occur.
  • Steel can be virtually molded into any shape. Thus making steel buildings an attractive option for residential projects. It provides Architects and Designers with the option to design creative and unique structures that are both safe and resilient.
  • Steel is adaptable and can be altered when needed. Wall frames made from steel can be shifted easily to widen the space of the room or create an entirely new interior building layout. This makes it easier to expand buildings.