You Don't Have To Know Construction To Design

Many people have the mistaken idea that you have to know all about construction to design a home. Not True. Much of the detail about how the house will be constructed will be left to FromYourDesign.com's Design Experts and your contractor. You don't really need to memorize all the specifications about structure or code.

At the same time, it's important to realize that limitations do exist. If your design calls for a 50 foot wide opening in the middle of a living room with no supports, doing so may be very expensive.

Another consideration is the kind of construction you want, along with the advantages and disadvantages of each. Framed homes are the most popular in the United States. They are affordable to build and allow for adequate insulation. Block construction has also been popular for its low cost and durability. However, until recent innovations in insulation, block homes lacked efficient thermal properties.

Costs
There is another matter to consider concerning the structure and materials: costs. Many people, including contractors, try to skimp and save by using the cheapest materials. This is rarely a good idea. More often than not, the effort to save money will end up costing more in the long run.

This consideration can become even more important m the long run. A good example is the kind and quality of roofing materials. Try to save money on the roof, and the $500 you save now could quite easily cost you $3000 in five years.

There are times to save, and times to get the best available. When it comes to structural soundness, never skimp. Fortunately, building codes exist to help you and protect you here. At least they will in the major sense; the house won't fall down around your ears, anyway. But those codes won't protect you from having to pay thousands of dollars in maintenance over the long run.