1. For efficiency, the work triangle (the space between the sink, refrigerator, and stove) should measure 26′ or less with no single side longer than 9′, or less than 4′.

2. In kitchens smaller than 150 sq. ft., opt for at least 13′ of base cabinets, 12′ of wall cabinets, and 11′ of countertop. In kitchens which are larger, go with at least 16′ of base cabinets, 15 1/2′ of wall cabinets, and 16 1/2′ of countertop.

3. For convenience, plan work aisles to be at least 42″ wide for one cook, and at least 48″ wide in multi-cook kitchens.

4. Specify a minimum of 24″ of counter space on one side of the sink and at least 18″ on the other.

5. To create the most accessible landing for unloading groceries, allow at least 15″ of counter space on the handle side of a standard refrigerator; on both sides if it’s a side-by-side model. Or include a landing area directly across from the refrigerator, but no more than 48″ away.

6. For cleanup ease, install the dishwasher within 36″ of one edge of the sink and allow for at least 21″ of standing room next to it.

7. For microwaves and ovens, provide at least 15 ” of counter space nearby, at least 16″ deep.

8. For optimum clearance, no entry, appliance, or cabinet doors should interfere with another.

9. For comfort and to help avoid repetitive-motion injury, plan for work counters of different heights; between 28 and 36″ off the floor (easier for chopping and seated-use access), and between 36 and 46″ for general tasks (higher counters accommodate taller cooks).

10. To install a cabinet unit above the cook top, make sure the clearance is at least 24″ for a fireproof surface, 30″ for an unprotected surface.

Designing a kitchen is as much a science as it is an art. Knowing the recommended measurements to use when planning the project can make all the difference in the final outcome.

Author Bio
Harvey Juric, is a veteran custom home builder in Southern Ontario. If you like this article, there is more at: www.ontario-home-builder.com

Article Source: http://www.ArticleGeek.com – Free Website Content

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This overlooked feature can really bring pizzazz to your décor and needs to complement both the window and the curtains you have chosen, as well as be appropriately functional.

Hardware for window treatments is available in a wide variety of styles. Some curtain rods are designed to be covered by the curtains, while others are best displayed prominently due to their highly decorative nature. If the rod is meant to be featured you could hang the curtains from decorative rings sewn into the top panel. Considering both the curtain and the rod at the same time will save you the disappointment of having pieces that don’t complement each other.

Today’s Lesson: Do you know what finials are? They are the decorative ends on the curtain rod. I didn’t know their official name for several years. I just called them “ends of the curtain rod.” They can be wooden, wrought-iron, glass, or plastic.

The most standard types are:

Finials can range widely in price, from the $2 plastic pieces to $100 very heavy fancy pieces. Consider your budget but also know that what you choose will make a certain statement in the room and that statement will last longer than the effects of spending a little extra money. You also have to be sure the finials will fit where you are hanging the curtain. Consider the shape of your window and the molding around it. In some cases there just isn’t room for large fancy finials, nor is it always appropriate for the style of curtain you’ve chosen.

Author Bio
Visit curtains.topicreviews.com/curtain-rods.html for more information on curtains, rods and finials.

Article Source: http://www.ArticleGeek.com – Free Website Content

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https://atlasgreenhomes.com.com  ” https://atlashomes.us.com” 

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The vast majority of contractors are honest, hardworking professionals. Protecting yourself against the few bad apples requires checking references, having a solid contract, and being alert to the warning signs of these top ontractor scams.

Take my word for it

When you first meet with the contractor, he’s very agreeable about doing everything exactly to your specifications and even suggests his own extra touches and upgrades. Some of the details don’t make it into the contract, but you figure it doesn’t matter because you had such a clear verbal understanding.

Pretty soon, you notice that the extras you’d discussed aren’t being built. When you confront the contractor, he tells you that he didn’t include those features in his price, so you’ll have to live without them or pony up additional money to redo the work.

How to protect yourself: Unfortunately, you have no legal recourse because you signed a contract that didn’t include all the details. Next time, make sure everything you’ve agreed on is written into the project description. Add any items that are missing, put your initials next to each addition, and have the contractor initial it, too—all before you sign.

I don’t need to pull a permit

You’re legally required to get a building permit for any significant construction project. That allows building officials to visit the site periodically to confirm that the work meets safety codes.

On small interior jobs, an unlicensed contractor may try to skirt the rule by telling you that authorities won’t notice. On large jobs that can’t be hidden, the contractor may try another strategy and ask you to apply for a homeowner’s permit, an option available to do-it-yourselfers.

But taking out your own permit for a contractor job means lying to authorities about who’s doing the work. And it makes you responsible for monitoring all the inspections—since the contractor doesn’t answer to the inspector, you do.

How to protect yourself: Always demand that the contractor get a building permit. Yes, it informs the local tax assessor about your upgrade, but it weeds out unlicensed contractors and gives you the added protection of an independent assessment of the work.

We ran into unforeseen problems

The job is already under way, perhaps even complete, when this one hits. Suddenly your contractor informs you that the agreed-upon price has skyrocketed. He blames the discovery of structural problems, like a missing beam or termite damage, or design changes that you made after the job began.

The additional fees might very well be legit, but some unscrupulous contractors bid jobs low to get the work and then find excuses to jack up the price later. If you’re unsure whether your contractor is telling the truth about structural problems, you can get an impartial opinion from a home inspector, the local branch of the National Association of Home Builders, or even your local building department.

How to protect yourself: Before signing the contract, make sure it includes a procedure for change orders–mini-contracts containing a work description and a fixed price–for anything that gets added to the job in progress. The extra work, whether it’s related to unforeseen building issues or homeowner whims, can proceed only after the change order is signed by both homeowner and contractor.

I’ve got extra materials I can sell you cheap

This hoax is usually run by driveway paving companies, whose materials—hot-top asphalt and concrete—can’t be returned to the supplier. So the crew pulls up to your house with a load of leftover product and quotes a great price to resurface your driveway on the spot.

Even if it’s really a bargain (by no means a sure thing), taking them up on the offer is risky if you have no idea who they are and haven’t checked references. And if the driveway starts cracking next year, you can bet you won’t find this bunch again.

How to protect yourself: Never hire a contractor on the spot, whether it’s a driveway paver, an emergency repairman who shows up after a major storm, or a landscaper with surplus plantings. Take your time to check contractors out to make sure they have a good reputation and do quality work.

By: Atlas Green Homes HQ

Published: January 7, 2019

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The average cost of a bathroom remodel over the last quarter was less than $10,000. Out of a pool of 3,000 homeowners, 9 out of 10 were not only pleased with their project, but would recommend it to others. When you think of the money and resources that get wasted by leaky pipes, dripping faucets, inefficient showerheads, and obsolete toilets and, add the hassle of waiting for mirrors to clear up, waiting for hot water (or running out too soon), and dealing with water pressure problems it’s easy to see why so many folks are so happy with their new bathrooms!

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By Atlas Homes

Tell us a little bit about your company and its foundation.

Atlas Homes has a proud tradition of making a family’s dream home a reality. The many styles and floor plans offer you the flexibility to design and choose the home of your needs and desires. Atlas Homes offers the quality, security and lifestyle people demand in a custom homebuilder today.

Atlas Homes has served the greater Houston area since October 1983. We service the Austin, San Antonio and Houston, Texas area. Atlas Homes has on-site designers on staff who have the experience and knowledge to guide even the first-time home buyer through the designing, building and finishing of a custom home.

Over the past 34 years, Atlas Homes has earned an unequaled reputation and completed hundreds of projects. Our goal is to make you happy, while building solid, attractive homes in a reasonable time for a reasonable price. We work honestly, ethically and take extra care to satisfy our customers.

What is the first thing you tell people who are looking to remodel their bathroom?

That we will be an advocate for our client from the initial design to project completion to use their investment as wisely as possible and complete a bathroom in which add equity to their home.

When looking at a bathroom for a remodel, what factors do you take into consideration first?

We carefully listen to our clients needs, desires and wants, and analyze the current living environment. A unique, artistic and buildable design is created, translating client ideas into a plan of action to fit today’s lifestyle.

What are the most popular areas that are considered a waste of space in the bathroom?

This depends on the layout of the bathroom and customer’s wish list as well as the usage of the bathroom.

What are your personal favorite design elements in a bathroom?

Detail work, seamless shower door, fine tile work, lighting and natural color painting.

What is your best professional advice for homeowners who are looking to remodel their bathroom?

Homeowners need to be careful of hiring the contractors and decide on the one who has expertise in bathroom remodeling and can provide quality work.

What’s the best way for people to get in contact with you or your company?

Interested clients can contact us @ 713 545 2429 / 210 541 2466 or e mail their requests at info@atlashomes.us

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please give us a call @ 713 545 2429 for more info,  thank you

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General contractors are familiar with every stage of building a rock-solid and beautiful home. To a large extent, the physical act of building is the most enjoyable part of a contractor’s job. It’s the advanced planning of costs and fees that presents the real headaches and challenges.

A lot can go wrong when predicting costs and fees associated with a building project. Home buyers want the most cost-efficient contract possible and this puts builders under pressure to create a financially competitive bid that also covers all the costs and expenses of the project — even the unexpected ones.

Let’s take a closer look at the most important components of a residential building contract.

The Two Types of Home Building Contracts

There are two primary kinds of home construction contracting formats that builders commonly use to map out contractor fees for residential construction. Both these types of contracts offer slightly different contractor fee schedules:

• Competitive bid contracts: During the competitive bidding process, the home buyer selects several contractors and gives them about three weeks to create a bid. The home buyer will then take the time to review each of the bids from the different contractors and ask questions for clarification. The home buyer will probably want to interview the contractors before making a final selection.
• Cost-plus home building contracts: Cost-plus building contracts have become a lot more popular in recent years because they offer transparency and a simple structure. A cost-plus contract includes
  • (1) the base costs associated with building the project,
  • (2) plus the contractor’s management and coordination fees, a.k.a., the construction management contracts and fees percentage. This percentage is usually around 15 percent of the base costs.

Markups That Affect Total Contract Costs

Building contractor fees will include an array of extra costs called “markups.” Markups can increase total fees by 10 to 30 percent. Here’s a list of typical markups included in home building contracts:

• Insurance: Insurance costs include the price of general liability insurance and tools, machinery, leased equipment and workers’ compensation.
• Taxes: Taxes may include city, county, state and federal taxes that apply to the job. Other taxes may include Social Security, Medicare and unemployment taxes for employees.
• Labor burden: A typical contractor fee for labor burden involves the expenses of employing a team of workers. These include costs relating to recruitment, training, taxes, vacation time, retirement plans and other expenses.
• Office and staff: These are the costs of renting or maintaining an office space where staff members work, including costs associated with phones, utilities, security, landscaping and more.
• Transportation: Transportation costs relate to the transportation of people and materials to and from the job site. Expenses associated with contractor-owned vehicles, rental vehicles and the rental of large equipment such as dump trucks and backhoes. Insurance and maintenance costs associated with these vehicles may also be included in transportation costs.
• Communications: Communications costs are associated with maintaining communication devices such as smartphones, email and computers for staff to stay in touch with each other and the client.

Contractors may be tempted to include a “warranty” fee, but this is not the general practice. Instead, home building contractors will cover the costs of follow-up repairs out of their profits from the job. This is part of the responsibility of being a contractor, and why it’s essential to scope out the job, and complete it, as perfectly as possible.

Create Accurate and Competitive Bids for Your Construction Contracts

Since 2001, Houston Plans & Permits has assisted Houston-area contractors and their clients throughout the permitting and home design process. Houston, Austin, San Antonio Plans & Permits takes the guesswork out of the painstaking aspects of producing house plans, allowing you to focus on what you do best: Building rock-solid and beautiful homes that your customers fall in love with.

Contact us today to get a quote on your next project!

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