Below is a selection of news items that may be helpful as you select your contractor and work through the process of designing and building or renovating your home. We provide this section as an information resource, enabling you to learn more about us and our industry, best practices, materials, trends, tips, and challenges.
Creating comfort and efficiency starts with a high performance envelope. Controlling the interior living environment starts with an effective boundary between indoors and outdoors. To ensure good air quality, maximum comfort, and extreme efficiency, this boundary has to be air-tight and resistant to heat flow.
Just as there are inherent risks in running a business, there are hidden costs that are incurred just by operating a business. The ability to stay in business and become profitable comes first with knowing what your costs are.
It is rare for a supply company to meet a homeowner who is fully up to date on all the latest products that are available. Most know about the latest kitchen, bath, lighting, and audio/video they wish to include in their home. But what about the “bones” of the home, or what is referred to as the framing?
SHB will be filming local Black Mountain builder, Living Stone Construction’s Sean Sullivan. They will be filming an episode of Dream Smart: Homebuyer Edition featuring Living Stone on August 3rd in The Settings of Black Mountain.
When selecting a Building Contractor you must assess your motives. You must also assess what the motives are of the person that you intend to hire. Is it quality or integrity? Is it communication to ensure that there is a good working relationship? Or maybe it is details, or value? Or, is it simply just about COST. Perhaps you have not thought about this question before, but at some point you should.
Most people are familiar with gas and electric cooktops, but what do you know about induction? Are you aware that induction offers the best of gas and electric cooking?
We have to understand that we live in the technological age in which everything gets smarter so we don’t have to work as hard. No one appreciates that more than I do as it frees me up to do other things. I like to recommend to my clients to consider at least doing the basics in wiring a home for “Smart Technology” including speakers, alarm system and basic automated lighting. But after that it can get really complicated really quick.
News - check this out!
*EPA eliminates lead paint opt-out provision effective July 6
Homes constructed before 1978 are subject to the new Lead-Based Paint Renovation, Repair and Repainting Program that went into effect in January 1, 2010. Renovations on these homes must be done by contractors who have been certified in lead-safe work practices. North Carolina developed its own RRP program that will operate in lieu of EPA's program. The North Carolina RRP rules adopt the federal regulations relating to lead-based paint renovation activities by reference.
Are you interested in savings of up to 50% of lighting energy, while adding style and convenience to your home? If so, Lutron could be the product for you.
NEWS CHECK THIS OUT
The building industry makes up about 16% of the National and State GDP. With unemployment in NC at 11%, there is no doubt a direct correlation between the effects that the Great Recession has had on our industry.
Watch the video on how it works.
Watch this video about the estimating process...
We hope you enjoy receiving our Newsletter with updates on what's happening in our area. When you get ready to interview contractors, remember that we're an approved contractor for The Settings of Black Mountain and Lake Rhodhiss, the Village of Cheshire, Creston, 1780, the Ramble, Mountain Air and numerous other developments.
After 15 years in the business, LSC has rested on the design which we feel truly reflects who we are and what we do. There is a lot going on in this design and the more you study it, the more it comes to light. The font used was created just for us, but adopted from a “Mission” style, representing the type of building we prefer most.
We hope you enjoy receiving our Newsletter with updates on what's happening in our area. When you get ready to interview contractors, remember that we're an approved contractor for The Settings of Black Mountain and Lake Rhodhiss, the Village of Cheshire, Creston, 1780, the Ramble, Mountain Air and numerous other developments.
At long last, the market for luxury real estate is coming back to life.
Prices for primary residences, which plunged at least 20% from the peak in 2007, appear to have bottomed. In some of the snappiest locations, scattered bidding wars are breaking out and prices are turning upward.
At a regional NCHBA (North Carolina Home Builders Association) meeting last month, the subject of unlicensed builders became a hot topic. Why such a controversy? some may ask. The issue of unlicensed builders and the misuse of the “Owners Exemption” have actually been a problem for some time.
Sheathing does more than deal with wind. Sometimes it doesn’t even deal
with that. It wasn’t always that way. We didn’t even used to have
sheathing. We had a timber structural frame (or not, sometimes we just
had rocks, or bricks, but you get the idea) and a cladding. The cladding
kept the outside out – kind of – and the structure kept the building
from falling down and blowing over – kind of.
Earlier this month I took the Certified Lead Renovators class at the Asheville Home Builders Association. I was distraught to find that contractors performing renovation, repair and painting projects disturbing lead-based paint in homes, child care facilities, and schools built before 1978 were required to be certified and follow specific work practices to prevent lead contamination.
It is becoming more and more evident that local businesses, suppliers, builders, designers, and architects are lobbying to buy local…but why? Why should a consumer feel motivated to purchase items from a local vendor when there are so many “good deals” from the internet and out of the area competitors?
By: Sean Sullivan - Earlier this month I took the Certified Lead Renovators class at the Asheville Home Builders Association. I was distraught to find that contractors performing renovation, repair and painting projects disturbing lead-based paint in homes, child care facilities, and schools built before 1978 were required to be certified and follow specific work practices to prevent lead contamination.
LSC celebrated their 14th Christmas this year at the S&W downtown Asheville on Saturday, December 19th. Just one day after the "Big Chill" hit us, everyone managed to get out, except for our Bookkeeper, Pam, and her husband Phillip.
It’s no secret that recycling is considered one of the best ways to live green in our modern world. Would you believe that Geothermal Heat Pumps can heat and cool your home through recycling?
The North Carolina Home Builders Association has selected Sean Sullivan, of Living Stone Construction, to be the Chairman of the NC Build-Pac committee for 2010. “With the current political climate, the volatile economic condition, and the fluctuation of the housing market, this is poised to be the most critical election cycle we have seen in decades.
P.O. Box 183, Black Mountain, NC 28711 ♦ ph. 828.669.4343 ♦ fax 828.669.3865 ♦ email: information@livingstoneconstruction.com
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