Radiant Floor Heating Systems: 4 Radiant Floor Heating Facts

Radiant floor heating systems are the perfect mix of a luxurious and practical home remodel project. They share that feature with projects like remodels for master bedrooms and mini remodels to improve your home. When you make the choice to install a radiant floor heating system you’re setting up your home for a lifetime of comfort and ease.

These four facts about radiant floor heating systems showcase what radiant floor heating can do for you. They also break down the work you’ll put into deciding to invest in radiant floor heating. Read on to decide if radiant floor heating is the right choice for you. It can enhance your home as it is now, and prepare it for the future.

4. Efficiency of Radiant Floor Heating

Compared to standard gas or boiler heating for homes, radiant floor heating systems are incredibly energy-efficient. Radiant floor heating systems take about half the energy to fully heat your home than a standard system would. You can invest the money you save on energy bills in other areas of your home, and feel good about having a home that is better for the environment.

3. Ideal Builds for Radiant Floor Heating

If you’re in the process of a custom home building project, you can work around a radiant floor heating system. The benefits of custom home building mean you can design your home to be the best for you. Radiant floor heating is particularly wonderful for rooms with rugs or carpeting to enhance the comfort, and you can plan for that in your custom home.

2. Types of Radiant Floor Heating Systems

There are two main types of radiant floor heating systems. Those types are hydronic and electric. Hydronic radiant floor heating makes use of water-filled pipes under the floor. They are heated by a boiler system. Electric systems use electric heating wires or heating mats. Both are excellent, it’s all about which one works best for you.

1. Resale Value of Radiant Floor Heating

While radiant floor heating systems will add to the quality of your home while you live there, there’s an added benefit of resale value. If you ever plan to sell or rent out your home, radiant floor heating is a huge perk. 

Your initial cost for installing radiant floor heating is comparable to the prices of other heating systems, falling in the average range of $1,300 to $4,000. That cost, however, pays dividends in the resale value and quality of radiant floor heating.

Radiant Floor Heating: Heating From the Ground Up 

Radiant floor heating systems often come into play in a larger home remodel. When you’re planning a home remodel that includes radiant floor heating, reach out to Dhe Best Construction. Our team of renovation experts can help with every step of your remodel. 

As you’re planning each step of the remodel, we can be with you for each project. Your radiant floor heating system will be a piece of what makes your house into a cozy home. 

House Floor Plan Types: 3 Foundational House Floor Plans

Learning about house floor plan types is useful for current homeowners, and anyone looking into buying or building their first home. From buying a home to home additions to home remodels to custom home building, house floor plan types are a foundational part of designing your home. If you’re choosing a fixer-upper, for instance, you’ll want to check out the floor plan.

There are three main house floor plan types. In this Dhe Best blog, we’ll walk through the three types. We’ll discover what each type is and the benefits of each one. Whether you’re buying or building a home, thinking about a remodel, or you’re just curious about home floor plans, this is the place for you.

Traditional Closed House Floor Plans 

The first of the house floor plan types are traditional closed house floor plans. Closed floor plans are a home where every room is boxed off. Generally, this means there’s a main hallway and doors to each room. Older styles of homes often have closed floor plans, as it was the main floor plan in use for many years. It’s excellent for noise reduction around the home. 

Contemporary Open House Floor Plans 

The next type of floor plan, contemporary open house floor plans, have been increasing in popularity for decades. Open floor plans are a house with limited closed doors. There are open arches between rooms and often low connecting walls. Open floor plans are great for air circulation, and for making your home feel inviting.

Custom House Floor Plans 

Custom house floor plans give you the best of both worlds. The benefits of custom home building mean you can have a house that is a mix of closed and open. Closed bedrooms, with a good barrier between them from the rest of the house, are our recommendation. Open areas are ideal for the kitchen, dining area, living room, and any other shared spaces.  

Which Floor Plan Is Right For You? 

Choosing from the house floor plan types is something you can reason your way through, but it’s entirely a personal decision. Does your family need a space with closed-off rooms for people to focus on work, school, and everything in between? Do you live alone, and appreciate an unobstructed view across your home? There is no wrong choice among the types of floor plans.

Floor Plan Alterations

If you’ve bought a home with a floor plan that you’d like to change, there’s never a bad time for a home remodel. Maybe you’re designing a guest room or remodeling for a home office. Changing floor plans even works with remodels for master bedrooms. If your floor plan doesn’t suit you, altering it is a worthwhile home construction effort.  

House Floor Plans: Planning Your House From the Floor Up 

If you’re looking to make changes to your floor plan or build a home from the ground up with your custom floor plan, reach out to work with Dhe Best Construction today!

Best Features of Finished Basements: 6 Tips for Basements

The best features of finished basements are all about making a hidden space in your home into a welcoming, comfortable communal area. A basement can be a dark space, used for storage and not much else. When you craft a finished basement, however, you can turn it into an inviting space. 

These six best features of finished basements are a mix of small changes and more intensive choices. You can mix your favorite types of home remodel tips into these features, from reclaimed remodeling to designing a guest room for the basement. Whatever direction you take for your finished basement, these six tips will get you headed there.

6. Lighting Variety

No matter what else you include in your basement, make sure you invest in lighting variety. Some of the best lighting for a finished basement is recessed lighting. Recessed lighting is often more energy-efficient than other types of lighting. In addition to being eco-friendly, recessed lighting does an exceptional job of brightening up the corners of your finished basement. 

5. Built-In Bar Space

A built-in bar space is one of the best features of finished basements. It gives your communal space in the basement a central focus. Your built-in bar can have traditional bar fixings, but it’s also a great place to store any of your favorite beverages. Having easy access to food and drinks in your basement makes it a more complete space to spend time in.

4. Bright Paint Choices

Bright paint choices are an absolute must for your finished basement. When you’re in a space without natural light, the best features to focus on are the ones that add lightness to the ambiance. Whether you like a classic white paint or a mix of pastels for the walls, keep it light. 

3. Concealed Storage

Many of the best features of finished basements focus on the use of your basement as an active place to spend time. Concealed storage spaces are less about creating a hangout space, and more about the function of a finished basement. Built-in cabinetry and closet space are perfect for a finished basement. 

2. Furniture Built for Comfort

Many of the best features of finished basements are based on making it a comfortable space. If you’re looking for one key place to invest in that comfort, furniture is a good place to start. A cozy couch and deep armchairs will go a long way toward turning your finished basement into a part of your home you want to spend time in. 

1. Secret Door Entrances

Of all the features on this list, a secret door entrance for your basement is one of the most exciting options. You can make your basement into an intriguing space with the use of a hidden door in a shelf or wall. It’s more construction-intensive than the other features on this list, but it’s oh-so worth it!

Features of Finished Basements: What’s Your Finishing Touch? 

These six options for the best features in finished basements will turn your basement into one of the coziest areas of your home. If you’re looking to revamp your basement into a social space, reach out to Dhe Best Construction to work on designing your dream basement. 

Designing a Guest Room: 7 Features of a Great Guest Room

As you’re working on a home remodel, one area to pay close attention to is designing a guest room. Similar to remodeling for a home office or remodels for master bedrooms, designing a guest room comes with particulars for the space. These seven features of a great guest room will guide you in designing a guest room you and your guests will love.

7. Create a Functional Closet

Creating a functional closet takes on a new meaning when it comes to designing a guest room. In terms of space, you’ll want a large enough space for storage and living needs. You should include built-in storage and space for anything your guests may be traveling with. 

6. Add Luxury In the Bathroom

When friends or family are visiting, every area of the guest room is something that will make their travels more comfortable. One area you should focus on for additional comfort is the bathroom. From towel warmers to a water filter on the showerhead, adding luxury in the bathroom will enhance the entire guest room experience. 

5. Provide Homey Touches

One of the key details of designing a guest room rests in the homey touches you use. These touches cover the types of windows you have in your guest room, to implementing the best ways to brighten your home. It should be a space that feels like home for whoever is staying in it. 

4. Invest In the Mattress

As it is with any bedroom, you can never overestimate the importance of a good mattress. When you’re designing a guest room, choose a mattress that works for a variety of sleep styles. Something nice and soft, with good support, will fit the bill. 

3. Plan for Luggage

There’s one particular feature of designing a guest room that usually doesn’t show up in other rooms in your home. That feature is the need for storage space for luggage. When guests come to stay, they’ll likely have a couple of suitcases, backpacks, duffles, and various other luggage containers. You should include open, large storage areas where luggage can be tossed. 

2. Choose Timeless Designs

Choosing timeless designs for a guest room helps you create a space that fits any guest, and seamlessly suits your home. Ideas range from the best fireplace options to unique bathroom tile designs for any space. Design choices that will always fit your home are particularly helpful in guiding a guest room design.

1. Think About Seating

One of the most important functional aspects of designing a guest room is the seating you choose for the room. When you have guests come to stay, while they’ll be spending time with you, they’ll also need downtime in the guest room. Some comfortable seating, be it a couch or a window seat, will help them feel right at home.

Creating a Guest Room: Getting Ready for Your Guests 

Designing a guest room involves style choices, home accents, and renovations to create a space that is inviting for all your guests. If you’re looking to make changes to your guest space, reach out to Dhe Best Construction. Our home renovation experts can help you craft a space your guests will love.  

 

Remodeling for a Home Office: 5 Key Home Office Tips

Of all the home remodeling projects you can undertake, remodeling for a home office is one with a huge impact on your quality of life. Your home office needs to be a space where you can focus on work, no matter what the rest of your home is like. 

There are home renovation mistakes to avoid that can play into having the right space for a home office. You might want to invest in an additional property structure to create your workspace. The benefits of custom home building can even come into play, with the space to design a home office to your exact specifications.

However you go about it, remodeling for a home office is something you want to plan for with care. These five tips around remodeling for a home office will help you get started.

5. Build Into Your Kitchen

Your kitchen is most likely the area of your home that sees the most use. You cook there, often eat, and gather with friends and family. Who’s to say it can’t also be a home office space? If you want a home office with easy access to everything else in your home, dedicating a part of your kitchen for work is a good option.

4. Have a Dedicated Desk Space

No matter which room you choose when it comes to remodeling for a home office, you need to have a dedicated desk space. If the room you want to use doesn’t have the space, you can knock down a wall. You could also put up a new wall to create a home office. 

3. Transform An Alcove

If your home has an alcove–like a window seat among your types of windows–that’s a space to transform into an office area. Maybe you have a closet that doesn’t see much use or a corner that doesn’t feel like the right space for a couch. If you do, that’s a good place for a desk, some light, and your work necessities.

2. Use Multi-Purpose Space

Sometimes when you’re remodeling for a home office, you don’t have a lot of extra room for the remodel. If this is the case, make use of your multi-purpose space. This could mean having a wall desk in the living room and a chair nearby. It could also be a temporary desktop that you put over the kitchen table. 

1. Choose an Office Theme

One of the most important factors of remodeling for a home office is having a space that feels like an area for work. Creating a dedicated space can be hard, especially in a busy or cramped home. 

One thing you can do, which can be a mini remodel or low impact renovation, is choosing an office theme. From the wallpaper to the woodwork, choose a theme and use it to tie your space together.

Remodeling a Home Office: Where Home and Work Come Together 

Remodeling for a home office is easier when you work toward it with these five tips in mind. When you’re ready for the remodel, reach out to Dhe Best Construction. Our team of home renovation experts can turn your space into a workspace with ease. 

Home Renovation Mistakes to Avoid: 6 Key Tips

When it comes to remodeling your home, there are certain home renovation mistakes to avoid if you want a smooth experience. Whether you’re choosing a fixer-upper, adding additional property structures, or doing home remodels for warm weather, these mistakes will pop up. 

This Dhe Best Construction blog post walks you through six common home renovation mistakes to avoid. When you settle in to start your remodel, keep these in mind to avoid running into pitfalls. 

6. Set an Unrealistic Budget

Home renovations can be pricey. There are budget tools you can use and cost-efficient methods, but you’re still settling into a financial investment with any home remodel. One mistake to avoid is setting an unrealistically low budget. It’s much better to have set aside more money than not enough.

5. Setting Function and Form at Odds

Form and function are two parts of a home remodel that go hand in hand. They should be well balanced. Function should come first for decisions, with form coming in as a check on functional designs. Don’t prioritize one over the other, make sure they work in conjunction together.

4. Disregarding Personal Style for Trends

When you’re planning a home remodel out of the pages of home magazines, it’s easy to get caught in trends. The most important thing to remember is, this is your home. Trends come and go, but your personal style is something you will want to live with through the ages.

3. Getting Ahead of the Process

There are many steps in the journey of a home remodel. A common mistake is getting ahead in the steps. This can lead to decisions that don’t work with the first steps, and anxiety over how much you have to work on. Follow the steps from start to finish, and let the process unfold.

2. Choosing Appliances Too Late

A major home remodel should be based around the largest appliances and essentials. When it comes to appliances, it can be easy to think you’ll find the right refrigerator after you’ve framed your kitchen layout. That will lead to stress. Your major appliances should be chosen as part of the remodel framework. 

1. Buying Cheap Materials

Home renovations are pricey, everyone who has ever gone through the process understands that. What they also understand, however, is buying cheaper options to save money will take more money, effort, and time in the long run. Find your budget, and stick with it, but invest in quality materials. They’ll last longer and make your renovation worth the cost.

Common Home Renovation Mistakes: Renovation Done Right 

These six common home renovation mistakes to avoid will come up in different forms in a home renovation project. When you’re prepared for them, you can move forward with the plan to avoid them. If you’re looking for expert support to help mitigate risks and renovate in the right way, reach out to Dhe Best Construction to work with our home renovation experts today!

 

Additional Property Structures: What To Know Before Building

Building additional property structures, or accessory dwelling units (ADUs) is something every homeowner has the potential to work with in home remodels. From adding a garage to building a secondary living unit, additional property structures come up as you make your home into your dream space.

Additional property structures can serve as an outdoor home addition, or even a benefit of custom home building depending on what you build. In this Dhe Best Construction blog post, we’ll break down what regulations exist around building on your property. We’ll also talk about why additional property structures could be right for you.

Local Regulations

Your local regulations are one of the first things you need to research when you look into additional property structures. There are different rules across the states, counties, and specific zones. If you are part of a homeowner’s association you’ll likely have rules within the association that you need to follow. 

Overall, when you get an idea of an additional structure you’re interested in, check out your local regulations. You’ll want to check them thoroughly before you break ground.

Building Permits

Like local regulations, the building permits you’ll need will vary from place to place. In some locations, for certain types of structures, you don’t need any permit. In others, you’ll need a variety of permits for different types of construction. Those can include permits for alterations, new builds, and zoning permits. 

After you learn about your local rules and regulations, obtaining the proper permits is the next step in adding additional property structures. Your state government website will get you headed in the right direction.

Curb Appeal

One of the benefits of an additional structure on your property is the curb appeal it can add. Home renovations, from new types of windows to unique siding options, add to the overall look of your home. A new structure on the property can add immense aesthetic enjoyment and resale value. 

Resale Value

With the housing market bouncing around, it’s always a good idea to think about the resale value of your home. Even if you aren’t planning to sell maintaining value adds to your potential profits over time, and keeps your home in good shape. The right additional property structures can add resale value beyond your original home footprint.

Entertainment Possibilities

If you’re looking for a reason to build an additional structure on your property, the entertainment possibilities are endless! Whether you’re hosting parties every weekend or you want a chill space for a quiet evening, a unique structure can fit the bill. The benefits of custom home building can apply to a specialty structure built just for you.

Building Additional Structures on Your Property: Building Up and Out 

Building additional property structures can spruce up your home, enhance curb appeal, and give you something new to look forward to at home. If you’re looking to build a new structure, reach out to Dhe Best Construction to start working with our experts today. 

Remodels for Master Bedrooms: 6 Master Bedroom Renovations

There’s never a bad time for remodels for master bedrooms. If you’re looking to spruce up a space for a big impact on your quality of life, your bedroom is a great option. You spend approximately one third of your entire life asleep. The place you sleep should be perfectly curated for comfort when you’re asleep and awake. 

In this Dhe Best Construction blog post, we’ll walk through some of the best remodels for master bedrooms. Of all the home renovations you can do, these are some that will benefit your life immensely from the moment you implement them. These six remodels for master bedrooms will get you started.

6. Build In a Window Seat

Building a window seat into your master bedroom is an excellent option. It’ll help make your master bedroom a place you can hang out in, even when you’re not sleeping. A window seat can add storage space at the same time that it adds personality and design. 

5. Upgrade Your Lighting

Every room in your home can benefit from upgrading your lighting. Some of the best ways to brighten your home are as simple as adding some new lights. If you want something unique for your master bedroom, a skylight will give you new light, and a great view at night!

4. Make a Statement with Artwork

Yes, it’s true, remodels for master bedrooms often include more than new artwork. When it comes to making a statement with artwork, however, there are so many options. You could make a gallery way with some thrift store frames. You could also go big and create a mural on your wall. 

3. Update Your Walls

Updating your walls can be an extremely personal touch. It can start with a new color of paint–perhaps from the 2023 house color trends. You could lean into reclaimed remodeling with reclaimed wood for a statement wall. Ultimately, your walls can be as much of an accent in your master bedroom as you like. It depends on the materials and upgrades that suit your sleep. 

2. Build Out Your Living Space

Several of the remodels for master bedrooms on this list are focused on your living space. If you’re looking to redesign your master bedroom, highlighting that focus is a good option. You can do this with creating a living room space with chairs and a couch. Additional storage space and a fireplace can also help create a living space beyond your bed.

1. Center the Room On Your Bed

Centering your master bedroom around your bed is one of the best ways to give your master bedroom a central focus. Your bed is, afterall, the most important piece of furniture in your bedroom. From upgrading your bedding to creating an accent wall behind the head of your bed, you can create an intentional sleeping space.

Master Bedroom Remodeling: Master Your Sleeping Space 

Remodels for master bedrooms are one of the best things you can do for your home. If you’re looking to start your remodel, reach out to Dhe Best Construction. Our team of home remodel experts can help you find the right balance for your master bedroom. 

Choosing a Fixer-Upper: 6 Fixer-Upper Selection Factors

Choosing a fixer-upper house is something you may relate to for yourself, or because you’re looking to do a home remodel and eventually sell. Whatever your reason is, choosing a fixer-upper is something to be done with care. Not every fixer-upper is built the same, and choosing the right one is of critical importance. Read on for six tips for choosing a fixer-upper.

6. Choose Your Location Carefully

For choosing a fixer-upper, choosing your location is about two equally important factors. One is the factor of the current area. Is it a good neighborhood? Is it developing? 

The second is closely related, but it’s all about the future of the location. This isn’t something you can know for sure. A fixer-upper in a space that is close to an urban center, with great potential for homes, is a good choice.

5. Consider Overall Home Size

When it comes to choosing a fixer-upper, the house you buy isn’t always the same house you’ll end up with. This relates to everything, from paint to materials to the actual layout of the home. 

The rooms may change, but the one thing likely to remain the same is the overall size of the home. A home that could fit a few bedrooms and two bathrooms is a plus, even if the current layout isn’t what you’re looking for.

4. Follow Inspection Recommendations

Following the recommendations of your house inspector is always important, but it’s especially important when you’re choosing a fixer-upper home. If your home inspector says the house has irreparable damage, listen to them. There are many issues you can fix, but there will always be some you can’t and that’s not a good option for a fixer-upper.

3. Consider Cost-to-Fix Ratios

A big part of the impact of buying a fixer-upper falls on your budget. You’ll end up spending more than the initial house cost with the amount of repairs you’ll face through the remodel. When you’re choosing a fixer-upper, make sure you consider the cost-to-fix ratio. If it’s going to be an atrociously expensive project, keep searching for the right fixer-upper. 

2. Plan Your Timeline

A big part of the work of buying a fixer-upper home comes in the timeline of how long you’ll be doing home renovations. It’ll take a lot of time, there’s no doubt about it. When you’re choosing a fixer-upper, planning your timeline, no matter how long it is, will help you have a clear picture of your project.

1. Think About Living or Reselling

There are a few reasons why people choose a fixer-upper as their home option. Typically, either you’re buying it to move in and work toward your dream home, or you’re going to resell. 

Both of these options have benefits and risks, but neither is better than the other. The decision about which one is right for you, however, is something you should have your mind made up on before you buy.

Finding Your Fixer-Upper: Fixable or a Flop?

Choosing a fixer-upper can be a stressful situation. It’s finding a home, checking the possibility of a location, and considering remodels, all in one go. When you’re looking to find a fixer-upper and make the right decisions with fixing it up, reach out to Dhe Best Construction. Our home remodel experts can help you fix up your dream fixer-upper. 

Types of Windows: 7 Types of Windows for Your Home

Choosing the types of windows you want in your home is something every homeowner has the opportunity to work with in a home remodel. When you think about windows, you might not think about the variety of types of windows available. 

From traditional options to unique, exciting choices, you can outfit your home with a range of windows. These seven types are some of the most common.

7. Horizontal Sliding Windows

Horizontal sliding windows are one of the most common types of windows. If you think of a typical home window, with a middle latch and one side that slides open, that’s a horizontal sliding window. There are single and double-slider options. They are often wider than other standard types of windows.

6. Single-Hung Windows

Single-hung windows are a simple and elegant window option. They are a single pane that opens upward, with a vertical slider build. They’re ideal for bedrooms and bathrooms, where you want some light, but not a huge window. Of the options between single-hung and double-hung windows, single-hung options are more cost efficient.

5. Double-Hung Windows

Double-hung windows are the close cousin of single-hung windows. Double-hung windows have a vertical slide opener, with two panes that open. With a top and bottom opening pane, double-hung windows are one of the best options for air circulation in a smaller room. They can also come in hinged styles, as opposed to sliders.

4. Casement Windows

Of all the types of windows, casement windows are one of two types of windows that are typically built to swing open. The opener mechanism is often a hand-crank at the bottom of the window. The entire window can open, unlike many sliding windows. Casement windows are gasketed on all sides, so they are often one of the more energy efficient types of windows.

3. Picture Windows

Picture windows are named quite aptly, as they provide a picturesque view of the outdoors. They can be very large, and they are some of the most versatile windows when it comes to choosing blinds and curtains. Picture windows are most often fixed, which means they don’t open. 

2. Bay Windows

Bay windows are built as an outward extender on a house. They’re often built around a bench or seating area in your home, where you can enjoy the view outside from a cozy space. Bay windows are one of the best ways to brighten your home and create a comfortable area. Usually, the side windows of a bay window open, while the middle portion is a picture window.

1. Awning Windows

Awning windows come in at number one because of how unique they are in terms of window design. Awning windows are one of the two types of windows that most often open with a vertical swing as opposed to a slider. They open up and out like an awning, and work well in bedrooms, and small spaces like the area above a door. 

Different Types of Windows: Curate Your View

If you’re looking to build a custom home or update the windows in your current home, reach out to Dhe Best Construction today. Our team of renovation specialists can help you find the right windows for your space.