Saturday, July 18, 2009

Paneling in a House

When looking at a house that has paneling, always try to determine if there is drywall behind it. This can be a big energy expense if there is none. During the cool months ,these rooms tend to not keep the heat in, thus causing your heating bill to rise. During the summer your rooms will not stay as cool, causing you to use fans or a/c to keep it comfortable. Always consider the cost of redoing the walls when considering a price on a house. Many times you will have to upgrade the insulation also.

Windows for a house

When looking for windows, try to get the most energy efficient windows possible. I would recommend 3 pane windows. There are many different manufacturers of windows, so do some research before buying. Everybody has there own favorites in window manufacturers, so get referrals and go with the ones that would suit your home the best.

Wiring for Bedrooms

When you design your bedroom layout, always use 3 wire for your lighting. Many times after just installing a light or a fan in the ceiling, the home owner considers adding a fan light combo, or recessed lighting. By having a 3 wire already in the box, this process can be done alot cheaper. You only have to come out of the ceiling box, instead of fishing another wire down the wall to the ceiling box.
Another tip is asking for Fan Rated boxes to be installed in ceilings that could eventually end up with a fan. The one I would recommend has a metal bar that expands while you twist. You then mount the box to the bar with a u bolt that comes with it.