Winter Home Maintenance Tips – From Freezing to Blooming

One of the reasons that North Texas is such a great place to live (and so attractive to people looking to relocate) is our temperate weather. We are fortunate to enjoy mild winters and early springs, but don’t forget that January and February can bring frigid temperatures and lows well below freezing.

Here are a few tips that will help you maintain our home during our coldest months and get you ready for the first blooms of early spring:

1.   Make sure that you keep your lawn and flowerbeds watered and cleaned out. It’s also a good idea to limit activity on the lawn until the temperatures start to really warm up and stabilize in March and early April.

2.   Keep your gutters clean and free of leaves and other debris.

3.   Store your firewood well away from the house – the best recommendation is at least 30 feet, as both a fire safety precaution and a measure to keep pests like termites away from your home.

4.   If you have any outdoor pipes that are exposed, take care to keep them wrapped or insulated during the harshest nights.

5.   Cover outdoor furniture and protect it from rain, ice and the occasional snowfall.

6.   Make sure the freeze guard on your pool or spa is in good working order and set correctly. If you don’t have a pool cover, take care to keep the filters clean and the surface regularly swept.

7.   Don’t neglect your indoor air filters either – if you forgot to change them during the fall, now is a good time to check them, along with smoke detectors and circuit breakers.

8.   Keep an even temperature in rooms that aren’t used frequently – it can be low – around 60 degrees, but try not to let the house get too cold.

9.   Use the winter months to maintain your lawn mowers, trimmers and blowers. Take advantage of winter discounts on parts and labor and avoid the spring rush when everyone wants to get their gear serviced. You’ll be ready to roll when spring arrives.

Thankfully, our winter season is short and moderate. With just a few simple and routine home inspections and self-maintenance, you’ll be ready to enjoy your yard, patio and some warm weather fun before you know it!

Hot Topics From Frozen Florida- Sizing Up the 2011 Builders’ Show

Last week, we touched on some of the latest design trends. We just got back from the 2011 International Builders’ Show (IBS) in Orlando, Florida, where it was sunny but really cold! In spite of the freezing temps, we saw heard a lot of HOT topics being discussed on the show floor and during the education classes and panel discussions.

One of my greatest takeaways from the show was the level of excitement that people in our industry have for the future – this year and beyond. From all the vendors who brought their latest and greatest products to IBS to individual builders, realtors and developers, everyone I met was enthusiastic about the year ahead and rising trends for new residential and commercial construction. Here are some of the highlights:

Welcome Gen X and Gen Y. While I hate to use broad labels, if you are 45 and under, rest assured that your likes and interests are top of mind for builders and designers. We hear you and we are ready to work with you to design great living and gathering spaces that are affordable, energy efficient and reflective of your personal style.

Nature and technology can cohabitate with ease and beauty. Technology drives efficient and convenience – everything from motion sensors that guide lighting to programmable HVAC and incredible Smartphone apps for countless functions in your home. Today’s high-tech home doesn’t have to look like a spaceship, though – I heard a lot of discussion about ‘soft contemporary’ design styles that combine natural materials (like bamboo flooring) and colors with sophisticated lighting and appliances for the best of both worlds.

Size matters – and bigger is not necessarily better. Last year we heard a lot about smaller floor plans – this year, the term was ‘right-sized.’ Right-sizing is more than just a euphemism for smaller. In 2011, designers and architects are taking a close look at creating great living spaces using less square footage and maximizing traditional spaces in different ways. Pantries and cabinets look different, eating areas are combined (say goodbye to the breakfast nook), ceiling treatments and lighting clearly define spaces, and every square foot in your next home will have a specific purpose.

Green is a state of mind. Yes, there are a wide variety of products, materials and techniques that going into green building - and some of these practices are very expensive. However, there are many design elements and products that can be incorporated into a home that give you eco-friendly solutions to everyday living. Using Energy Star appliances and electronics, making it easy to recycle, and using reclaimed materials can all contribute to a greener lifestyle for all budgets.

Every time I attend IBS, I am overwhelmed by the vast array of new products and services continuously coming online for residential and commercial construction projects. Experiencing the show is a great reminder that our customers have SO many choices – and that experienced builders should guide their customers through the selection process and design dilemmas so that they make the best decisions for their families. We’re happy and honored to help you!

Everything Old is New - A Quick Look at 2011 Design Trends

It’s January, and that means that another International Builders’ Show is about to kick off – this time in Orlando, Florida. I’m excited to join thousands of of other builders, associates, vendors and industry experts to share ideas and learn more about today’s best practices for residential and commercial construction.

I remember one of the home design speakers at last year’s show getting a big laugh when she opened her session by saying “Tuscany called and they want their home back.” 

Last year, much of the buzz was about smaller footprint, greater efficiencies, and (of course) green building and net zero energy. From the session titles I see on this year’s agenda, green building is still very much at the forefront of discussion. I can’t wait to bring back news of the latest trends and product enhancements, but I thought I’d go ahead and share a little bit of what top home designers are saying about 2011 interior design trends. Here’s a preview:

Vintage rules. 2011 will be the year of personalizing your new home or existing home with vintage looks, including architectural pieces and flooring. Not only are recycled or reclaimed materials cozy and comforting, they are greener, usually have a high quality and can be more affordable for home owners anxious to keep costs down.

Kitchens go lite. Dark, old- world style cabinets and finishes will give way to more streamlined, lighter woods, sleek fixtures and task lighting. The look will be eclectic and will mesh with the vintage touches that make a modern home personal and not sterile.

Walk on the light side. Dark, espresso finished floors will be replaced with two-tone looks, grays and driftwood or barn-wood finishes. The look is natural and is a pleasing compliment to vintage elements and recycled materials.

Rustic elegance. The overall look brings out a modern country feel. Feel free to introduce casual, tone-down finishes and washes on your walls, wood floors and furniture and add a few gold and brass accents that are popular again. Barn-style doors make an appearance as room partitions and decorative entryways.

Overall, recycled and upcycled goods will appear in everything from home accents to recycled content counter tops and tiles. The 2011 home is all about personal point of view and making the best of traditional, vintage materials in construction and decorating. Check back for more great ideas from the Builders’ Show, as well as some of my thoughts on re-purposed architectural pieces. Looks like this year is shaping up to be a great time to build or update your home!

Copper Shortages Hit Home

Happy New Year!

My New Year started off with a notice from my electrician that, due to the dramatic rise in copper wire prices, I should begin to figure an additional 15% - 20% increase to my standard bid amounts. Copper shortages and prices have been a focal point of news stories over the past couple of years as copper thieves have struck telephone supply yards, residential and commercial building projects and even churches. Over the last few months, the rise in copper prices has changed from steady to meteoric – what’s going on with copper, and what does it mean for builders and homeowners?

First of all, copper supply and demand is a global issue. For some time, demand has outstripped supply and industry experts project that this trend will continue for the next two years. Trafigura Beheer BV, one of the world’s largest industrial metal traders, predicts that prices will peak over $10,000 per metric ton this year.

While I was a bit surprised at the notice I got, my electrician is on target – copper prices rose 21% last year and many manufacturers are trying to build inventories to meet upcoming demand. China, the number one importer of industrial metals (and the consumer of 35% of the world’s copper), has created much of the pricing and demand problem. But other factors have a part to play as well:

• Many other developing countries have a great demand for copper
• Bringing new mines online is expensive, time consuming, and subject to labor and political disputes
• The European Union, Japan and the U.S. have experienced double digit growth in copper consumption as economies stretched in recovery mode
• Copper has become an international investment vehicle, playing additional havoc with prices and taking supplies away from manufacturers

Thirteen of 14 industry analysts (according to Bloomberg News) expect a copper shortage in 2011.

So what does this mean for the housing industry?

In addition to standard electrical wiring, we use copper in heat exchangers for industrial use and home construction, solar panels, tubing for air conditioners and other superconductor applications. With the volatile price changes expected in the trading markets, the manufacturers who supply our building materials have a hard time pricing products, meaning that pricing can fluctuate wildly during a single construction project. If builders can’t or choose not to pass on the increases to customers, then construction profits (already squeezed by the housing collapse) will continue to suffer.

Like many factors in the current new construction and remodeling environment, the price and availability of copper is beyond our control. Savvy builders and consumers will keep an eye on the markets, prepare bids and contracts carefully, and look for reasonable alternatives where possible.