Thriifty Decor Chick: building a home

Showing posts with label building a home. Show all posts

A New Beginning

Hello and welcome to my (new) blog! My name is Julia, and I originally started blogging when my husband, I call him Big A, and I decided to build a new home on a piece of property located in a small town, down a country road, with lots of fresh air and possibilities. We have 5 kids, and one (gasp) grandchild, and needed a lot of space for everyone to live a little more comfortably. Not to mention, we have quite a large extended family and needed the room for BBQ's and holiday gatherings. At that time the blog naturally followed our build. In my former blog I wrote about building a home - from selecting the builder, to performing the perc test, to financing. However, here we are a year and a half later, and we're truly settled in (if you ignore the <strike>several million</strike> twelve boxes in the basement still to be unpacked). Naturally, my blog has taken a completely different path, and I'm no longer writing about moving or building. I'm concentrating on daily DIY and home decor, gardening and cooking.  An endless to-do list keeps me busy. It was time for change. So after taking some time to think about what I wanted to do, I decided on the following: 1. I wanted to use Blogger for the ease of use.  2. I wanted to change my blog name to more accurately reflect my life. 3. I wanted to change my blog content to reflect how I spend my days. SO, there you have it. I'm happy to be here and starting up with a new look and a new name. I hope you'll join me in my DIY adventures, and pass along any of your own happy house stories!

A New Beginning

Hello and welcome to my (new) blog! My name is Julia, and I originally started blogging when my husband, I call him Big A, and I decided to ...

6:58 AM

A Quick Note on Modular Homes

It has come to my attention that some potential modular home buyers have trouble with getting their financial institution to play nice with their home builder/dealer. When you build a modular home you either pay in cash, or you will need a construction loan and mortgage. If you are looking for an overview on obtaining a loan, I wrote a post about loans <a href="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/?p=39">Here</a> ... But I'd like to make a quick point about your construction loan. If you need a construction loan and mortgage, it is essential you speak with your modular home dealer, and financial institution before you sign anything.  I suggest you consider using a lender that your dealer/builder works with to avoid surprises.  Otherwise, it's imperative that you check with your choice of lender to be sure they are able to work around your builders draw schedule.  If the bank will not budge, then you need to see if the dealer and/or builder can work the lenders payment requirements. If neither can reach an agreement, you may have to find a new lending institution, or modular dealer. If you have any questions, please feel free to comment. (We used <a href="http://www.keymodularhomes.com">Key Modular Homes</a> as our modular home dealer.  They are more than helpful in helping their customers secure a loan.)

A Quick Note on Modular Homes

It has come to my attention that some potential modular home buyers have trouble with getting their financial institution to play nice with ...

7:33 AM

Building a Home

When Big A and I decided to move, because we just needed more room for the kids, we had to decide whether to look for a larger older home, or take the plunge and build.  We, obviously, chose to build, because of the following reasons: 1. Everything is new. I know, duh!  But at risk of sounding obvious:  We lived in an old home, which was built around 1850.  It was beautiful, had original wood floors, high ceilings, secret passageways and storage areas.  There’s no denying it had charm.  It also had uneven floors, antiquated plumbing, dangerous electrical, leaky windows and doors, lead paint, steep stairs, and a long, long list of other problems. The home we built is brand new.  The walls are straight, the floors are even, and the plumbing and electrical are new, and up to code. AND, with a modular home, our builder took care of all the details, right down to installing the new carpet, the cabinets, and the lighting. 2. New Windows and Doors. This deserves a mention, because, rather than a steady fresh breeze (that’s a nice way of saying a “constant damp draft”), our new house is air tight.  If I want a breeze, I’ll open the window. With a modular home, the modular home builder walks you through all of the options they have available and recommends based on your needs. 3. Better energy efficiency. The furnace is new, the appliances are new, and the windows and doors are new (and don’t leak).  I’m not paying to heat or air-condition the yard.  Just my house. 4. I did it my way. Yup, now the song is stuck in my head.  But we did it our way.  Every time I walk in the house I think “we chose that counter top”, or “we thought of making that room bigger”. We had help, because our modular home dealer had suggestions.  But essentially it was Big A and I who brainstormed and made all of the decisions. Nothing feels better than knowing you built your home the way you wanted to. 5. No wondering where things are. You know when your Mom (very generously) puts your dishes away for you, and you’re very grateful, but the next day you can’t find your cheese grater ANYWHERE?  In an old home, if you want to do any work on a room, you wonder “where is the wiring?”.  You don’t get that with your new home.  You chose where to put your cable wires, your phone jacks, wiring and outlets. We even put some outlets in our kitchen cabinets so that we could use them to hide the wires for Christmas lights. Our modular home builder let us sit down and outline exactly where we wanted everything to go. 6. It (may be) a once in a lifetime opportunity. I know we will never have this opportunity again, and building is certainly going to be a happy memory every time I walk in the front door. As I mentioned, there’s an undeniable charm to older homes, and I’ve loved and appreciated their value.  However, there are some big advantages to building, and especially in building a modular home. (And because we both like the feel of an older home, we didn't choose a modern look - we chose antiqued hardware and cabinets, and doors with a more classic look. It kind of feels like we got the best of both worlds.)

Building a Home

When Big A and I decided to move, because we just needed more room for the kids, we had to decide whether to look for a larger older home, o...

3:32 AM

Planting a Front Garden

Time marches on.  NO, time FLIES!   It's already the end of June, and there are still a lot of things not crossed off on my To Do list!  However, the summer means birthdays in our family, and one really good thing to having another birthday is that my Mom and Dad surprised me, telling me that I need Big A and his truck in order to get my birthday present!  I need a truck for my present?!  How exciting! It turns out they bought me a bunch of plants, that are waiting for me at the local garden center, <a href="http://dickmanfarms.com">Dickman Farms</a>.  And that means I'll be able to cross another task off of the dreaded To Do list.  Cuz now I can plant a garden around the foundation! I've been googling: foundation plants, gardens, container gardens, easy gardening, and more... So pretty!  This picture below has 3 levels, and I love all the green.  I know day lillies will spread quickly and fill in a lot of space. <a href="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/garden1.jpg"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-290" height="194" src="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/garden1.jpg" title="garden1" width="259" /></a>I love the next garden below.  I love hostas, and I love the hanging baskets with a pop of color. <a href="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/garden2.jpg"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-291" height="194" src="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/garden2.jpg" title="garden2" width="259" /></a> Hostas and lillies below look really lush and full.  And I like the bricks edging the garden. <a href="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/garden3.jpg"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-292" height="183" src="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/garden3.jpg" title="garden3" width="275" /></a> And this one is so pretty - I love yellow! <a href="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/garden4.jpg"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-293" height="300" src="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/garden4-300x300.jpg" title="garden4" width="300" /></a> So now I have some ideas.  Time to grab my Mom and pick her brain for ideas on what is actually feesible in our space, and get to work.

Planting a Front Garden

Time marches on. NO , time FLIES ! It's already the end of June, and there are still a lot of things not crossed off on my To Do list...

4:14 AM

Painting pictures

Yesterday was a complete deluge, so I wasn't able to take any pictures of our handiwork!  The Master Painter and I wanted you to see what we had accomplished, so here are a few pictures. <a href="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/DSC_00032.jpg"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-240" height="199" src="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/DSC_00032-300x199.jpg" title="DSC_0003" width="300" /></a>This is the unpainted lattice.  We chose a black stain, in hopes that it would look good with our black shutters.       <a href="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/DSC_00071.jpg"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-241" height="300" src="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/DSC_00071-199x300.jpg" title="DSC_0007" width="199" /></a>Here it is stained.   I think it looks pretty good, and when I finish the whole porch (rather than the 1/2 that is done), I will post a picture of the front of the house.           We also managed to paint our second-hand steps to the back of the house.  Yesterday I posted a picture of the stair treads I'd like to buy too.  However, my lab decided she would decorate the steps for me.  Wasn't that thoughtful? <a href="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/DSC_00044.jpg"><img alt="" height="199" src="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/DSC_00044-300x199.jpg" title="DSC_0004" width="300" /></a>

Painting pictures

Yesterday was a complete deluge, so I wasn't able to take any pictures of our handiwork! The Master Painter and I wanted you to see wha...

9:45 AM

The Master Painter gets it DONE!

This past weekend I swore I would accomplish two projects: paint the lattice on the front porch, and paint the second-hand steps for our back door.  Weeeellll, things don't always go as planned.  I've been pretty darn sick, plus had a teenager who had to get ready for her 8th grade school trip to DC, and another teen with a bad foot and two doctor appointments.  Still, I tried. So, here it is TUESDAY morning.  All was not totally lost because I did manage to paint 1/2 of the lattice and, with the help of my 4 year old Master Painter, the second-hand back steps are done, even though it was 90 degrees in the shade.  Not too shabby, as the Master Painter mused. Today, however, the heavens have decided to open, so I'm not going to be able to show you any pictures of our handiwork.  However, I am going to give you a few words of advice on painting lattice and second hand steps.  Notice that I didn't say whether this was going be good advice or bad advice... I googled "painting over weather beaten wooden steps".  The results were overwhelmingly ambitious. Quite frankly, I wasn't feeling too ambitions.  Our back door to nowhere (eventually it will be to the patio) is hardly worth ambitions.  We were given a set of steps that happen to fit the space pretty well, but they had been sitting in a hedge row, and needed some attention.  On Saturday, I spoke to the paint guy at Home Depot and explained that my steps are old and are only going to be used in the interim until we put in the patio.  Therefore, I wasn't inclined to put in too much work.  Even the Home Depot guy wanted me to put in a little more effort than I was really prepared to do.  So I smiled politely and pretended to head in the direction he sent me. The four year old Master Painter and I considered our options.  This is what we decided to do:  We bought two 3"  "economy" brushes (read: $1.30 each).  We bought 2 quarts of outdoor ultra pure white paint and left Home Depot before the Home Depot guy could spot me not following his advice. First things first - my handy hubby did power wash the steps and that did clean off a lot of loose paint chips, which are now firmly planted in the grass. After the steps dried, I took a paint scraper and went over any rough spots. I then took out my broom and just gave them a good sweep, to get rid of any dust and/or bugs.  Prep work done! The Master Painter and I each grabbed a brush and got to work.  I put the paint on pretty thick, but tried to make it fairly even.  The Master Painter had his own unique way of putting on paint - which was to press the paint brush bristles flat onto the wood, and push the paint around.  This is more of a "brush mashing" movement than a "brush stoke", and is surprisingly effective.  (A tutorial may follow.)  Once our first coat was done, we waited a couple of hours and put on a second coat. To jazz things up, I think I'm going to order rubber stair treads something like this. <a href="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/stair-treads.jpg"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-233" height="300" src="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/stair-treads.jpg" title="stair treads" width="300" /></a> Now, similar to the stairs, I googled "painting lattice".  Holy Moly!  Here's what most experts wanted me to do... 1. Take the lattice off the porch 2. Power wash it or wash it with soap and water with the hose 3. Dry 4. Primer both sides 5. Buy a paint sprayer 6. Spray one side 7. Dry 8. Flip over and spray other side 9. Repeat 6-8 10. Re-attach lattice Well, I probably don't have to say this, but really?  That's a lot of work, or at least too much work for something that is going to be covered up  by foundation plants!  Sometimes in life you just have to either A.) fake it or B.) get it done.  I'm not even remotely suggesting that you should follow my advice or that my way is the right way to do things.  Cuz I'm pretty sure I'd get in trouble.  But here's what I did: On Sunday, I bought 2 more 3" economy brushes, and a gallon of stain, we happened to want to try the black.  I waited til the Master Painter's nap time, and I took my trusty broom and brushed the lattice to remove any unwanted bugs, dead leaves, and dirt particles.  Whatever refused to move, got painted over. I took my cheap paint brush and slapped the stain on as fast as I could.  It was 90 degrees out and not only were my shoulders burning, I could barely see cuz the sweat was dripping in my eyes. Well, I got it half done, and I have to say it looks pretty darn good! This week am going to finish the other half of the lattice when the rain subsides, and then I can cross off another task on my to-do list.  Which, I have to say, is a pretty satisfying feeling!  I just hope that my "cheating" to get these projects done doesn't come back to bite me! What projects do you feel you "cheated" on?   Did it backfire?

The Master Painter gets it DONE!

This past weekend I swore I would accomplish two projects: paint the lattice on the front porch, and paint the second-hand steps for our bac...

4:42 AM

DIY tips

Building a modular home or any home often leads to a loooooong to-do list.  Try to make your life a little easier with these DIY and home improvement tips from me.  Actually, some are more of a "warning" than a "tip", but you'll get  my drift. Make a plan.  Your plan should of course reflect the order in which things should be done, time it will take, cost, etc.  I think you can see the value in this, so I won't pontificate on it, but I will tell you a true story.  And I will give you the moral of this story right now: Don't be me.  I didn't make a plan once (alright I try to go plan-less all the time, but I don' recommend it).  Anyway, I decided to repaint a bedroom.  I gathered all of my painting supplies, and set to work sanding and cleaning the walls.  Next, I primed the walls and let that dry.  I set to work painting for painting for the next two days, a really beautiful chocolate color.  It looked pretty darn awesome!  And then I painted the ceiling white. (In case you don't get it, a plan would have come in handy here. Take my word for it.)  Moving on... Do what's necessary!  (Or, to be clear, don't do unnecessary things!)  For example, unless you can afford a landscaper (I wish!), use your natural surroundings.  Instead of removing trees, consider giving them a little trim, and leave them there.  Instead of moving a boulder, plan around it.  Our yard is full of trees, and yes, they're a pain to mow around.  But they're beautiful.  And frankly, it's easier to mow around them than to cut them down, drag away the branches, and cut up the wood.  Also, several boulders turned up when we dug our foundation.  Rather than haul them away, we kept the nice ones and plan to plant around them.  (In 2023.) Budget your projects. The harsh reality is that your project, no matter how big or small will cost up at least 35% more than you anticipate.  This is something that bites me in the butt all the time!   I guess a good rule of thumb is to add 50% on top of what you think your project will cost, and if you can afford that, yay! Just painting buys me at least three extra trips to Home Depot!   Halfway through painting I need more paint, or the dog runs off with my paint brush (happened!), and I need to buy a new one.  And I never budget for those extra trips! Then end up eating only stale bread for two days to save money.  Again, don't be me! Be realistic about your skills.  Some things you just have to be brutally honest about.  If your toilet is backing up into your tub and that "water" is flowing out of the tub and onto the floor, I don't have to tell you that if you're not a plumber you should probably call one, do I?  Similarly, if you think you can fix a faulty electrical outlet with a knife, well, you probably really need an electrician.  Whatever your project, think carefully.  Not only is your budget important, but so is your skill level.  If you get half-though a project and you find you can't finish it yourself, you're going to call a professional anyway, thus messing with your budget big time!  I'm really struggling with whether or not I am able to do my patio installation project myself.  But, it could be an interesting future post if I tackle this myself, and can't finish the project.  The title might be something like "Who needs a patio, when you could have a Shallow Hole?" or "How to find a good Chiropractor"...  We'll see. Phew, all this talk of DIY and projects, and it's the weekend!  Home Depot in the morning and I think I have two things I'm gonna cross off my to-do list.  But it's not a promise.  More of a threat than a promise.

DIY tips

Building a modular home or any home often leads to a loooooong to-do list. Try to make your life a little easier with these DIY and home im...

9:51 AM

Pansy Telepathy

I'm feeling under the weather with a bad cold, and can't quite summon the energy to do much of anything but sit around like a bump on a log.  I figured some fresh air might help, and folded myself into rocking chair on my front porch.  Feeling comfortable and warm in the sun, I looked around my yard and happened to glance to my right.  This is what I saw: <img alt="" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-219" height="300" src="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/DSC_00031-199x300.jpg" title="DSC_0003" width="199" /> Doesn't it look like my pansies are looking at me quizzically!?  As if they're saying "What's she doing?"   "Why is she just sitting there?" I couldn't shake the feeling that they were chiding me, and eventually they guilted me into trying to get something done.  As a new home owner, all kinds of things need to be done, including constant decoration, picture hanging, moving furniture... it takes a long time to get it right and get a feel for your home. So I guess I may be a little paranoid thinking my pansies are actually bullying me. Anyway, I've been looking at decals on the web.  I love the way they look and the way you can transform an entire wall (should you wish to), in a couple of hours.  They're ideal for decorating when you don't want to, or can't, commit to paint or wall paper (ie. dorms, apartments).  They're fun, and they're inexpensive, and you can move vinyl decals with ease. So one rainy day, I was on Amazon just looking around, innocently, when I came across the decal section and accidentally hit the "add to cart" button.  I got one wall quote and one large decal.  Just a note:  when I say inexpensive, I mean under $20 for a 6' wall decal, and .90 for the wall quote.  Now, they're a steal, but it's not the kind of thing you want to overdo in your home, obviously, less is definitely more in this instance. I bought a large tree decal which I put up in about 2 hours.  The vinyl pre-cut branches and leaves came on a separate backing, and you had to place them one at a time.  Easy peasy lemon squeezy.  And fun!  If you put a leaf on and it doesn't look good, just peel it off and try again.  Now, this is a good thing, because now I have the entire tree up (by my front door), I want to move it.  I'm not sure I like it there, but I do like it. <a href="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/DSC_00021.jpg"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-220" height="300" src="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/DSC_00021-199x300.jpg" title="DSC_0002" width="199" /></a>The picture is taken from my dining room at an elevated vantage point, but you can see the tree reaches to the top of the door, so it's a good size. <a href="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/DSC_00011.jpg"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-221" height="300" src="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/DSC_00011-199x300.jpg" title="DSC_0001" width="199" /></a> The other decal I bought was a wall quote for the laundry room.  The wall quotes look like stencils, but their a little bit easier to transfer than painting an actual stencil. The wall quote didn't come with instructions, but I had bought one of these before and knew what to do, luckily.  The letters come on a sticky transparent transfer sheet.  Basically, you peel off the non-transparent backing and stick your quote on the wall, making sure it's level.  You use the palm of your hand or the edge of a credit card to rub the letters onto the wall.  Presto! <a href="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/DSC_00091.jpg"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-225" height="92" src="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/DSC_00091-300x92.jpg" title="DSC_0009" width="300" /></a>

Pansy Telepathy

I'm feeling under the weather with a bad cold, and can't quite summon the energy to do much of anything but sit around like a bump o...

4:08 AM

Painting

When you build your new modular home, your dealer will be back in one year to check on your home, and because of the house settling, they will fill in any cracks in the walls or ceiling.  They will ask you to wait that year before you paint, so that you don't have to re-paint where the cracks have been filled.  Houses settle, and new houses settle a lot. I was sitting in our living room one day, about a month after living in our home I noticed a big line across the ceiling. Of course being all house proud and surrounded with the comfort and bliss of my new home, I was shocked and horrified!  But no need to worry, the builders will fill that.  However, this exactly why they suggest you don't paint.  You're gonna have to paint over the filled in cracks. We couldn't live without any color on the walls for a year, so we decided it would be worth it to paint before we moved in, and just touch up after the inevitable settling.  It's really no big deal - we've had to touch up the paint around the house all of our lives. Paint gets dingy and scratched and cracks appear all the time.  All it takes is a little fresh paint and about 15 minutes of your time to touch up.  Just remember to save your left over paint, and save the paint chips, and label which room they belong to so that you can always get a (nearly) perfect match for patching up.   I have a kitchen drawer that has all of my paintchips, labeled, and neatly stored. <a href="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/DSC_0001.jpg"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-175" height="199" src="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/DSC_0001-300x199.jpg" title="DSC_0001" width="300" /></a>Okay so I exaggerated when I said "neatly stored", but I know where they are if I need them!  See them there on the left?  I just write on them which room they belong to, and keep them there in a pile, next to the binoculars and Christmas ribbon! Personally, I want, need, loooove color on my walls.  If you want all white or monochrome, I think that looks awesome too, but it's not for me. I specifically have a thing for yellows, golds, and brown, with hints of maroon.  I love sunsets.  Think about the colors you wear, think about a favorite curtain pattern or throw pillow.  What are the colors you gravitate towards?  Of course, you need to go light if you don't have a lot of natural light, and you want it bright.  Go warm if you have tons of light and want your home to seem more cozy. <a href="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/DSC_00081.jpg"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-177" height="199" src="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/DSC_00081-300x199.jpg" title="DSC_0008" width="300" /></a> Sunset picture inspires my color choices.       And here are two pillows - I'm not particularly fond of the patterns, but the colors are my colors.  I wanted my wall colors to match these pillows.  It sounds goofy, but it's true -  go for colors that you love having around you. <a href="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/DSC_00061.jpg"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-178" height="199" src="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/DSC_00061-300x199.jpg" title="DSC_0006" width="300" /></a>         <a href="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/DSC_0005.jpg"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-179" height="199" src="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/DSC_0005-300x199.jpg" title="DSC_0005" width="300" /></a>         Next, armed with your favorite color pillow, shirt, painting, etc... go to your home store of choice.  When it comes to picking paint, you'll no doubt be advised to look at the color wheel. Is it me, or is that thing totally overwhelming?  Doesn't it seem too much like hard work?  Well, it does to me.  So rather than tangle with the color wheel, just grab the paint chips that tickle your fancy (those little pieces of cardboard with all the examples of color on them) and stuff 'em in your purse.  They're free!  I like to choose the larger square pieces with one color, rather than the strips with 5 colors per strip. I usually choose chips that match my colors, then grab lots of the same color, although in slightly different shades.  Take them home and carry them around to each room, because those small variances in shade and hue, look different in all rooms, and at different times of the day.  I once chose a beautiful medium gray for my old dining room and painted the whole room before I waited for the light to change or really let the color grow on me.  It was a lovely gray, until the light changed in that room, and then the paint (and my whole dining room) was no longer grey, it was purple!  Not quite ugly, but definitely NOT what I'd had in mind! So once you've looked at all the colors in each room, you'll definitely have narrowed it down. If I'm selecting different colors for each room, I want my colors to flow from one room to the next.  You want the color in the kitchen to go with the color in the dining room, and with the color in the halls... Think about this:  take the colors you like for your various rooms and put them all together on a white piece of paper, would they make a nice color combination for a curtain or a throw pillow? If they all go together nicely, your rooms will flow. <a href="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/DSC_00091.jpg"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-181" height="199" src="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/DSC_00091-300x199.jpg" title="DSC_0009" width="300" /></a> (In the above picture, you can see I have two gold/yellow tones. That white strip of ceiling where you can see a recessed light, will be a reddish/maroon color eventually.) * Note: kids bedrooms are different.  I believe in letting them have their own space and choosing their own colors, no matter how awful you think those colors are.  As I mentioned my affinity for sunset colors, my kids have completely different tastes. Our kids have bedrooms in electric blue, frog green, denim blue...  Our only rule was the flooring had to be our choice (a neutral gray carpet), and they could choose any paint they wanted.  After all, it's their space, and walls are easy enough to change.  While their rooms are now electric hews, with Eminem and David Beckham posters, I just close their bedroom doors and go to my happy place. <a href="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/DSC_0011.jpg"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-180" height="300" src="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/DSC_0011-199x300.jpg" title="DSC_0011" width="199" /></a>This is a happy place...

Painting

When you build your new modular home, your dealer will be back in one year to check on your home, and because of the house settling, they wi...

4:38 AM

Happy Memorial Day!

Happy Memorial Day!

5:43 AM

Patio Installation - am I nuts?

This is how I roll:  (Okay, I don't roll, I usually stumble, but anyway...) I'm walking through Home Depot with my man.  We are there specifically to get the stain for the front and side porches.  As we enter Home Depot, there's an easel with a sign announcing that there's a "How to Make a Patio" class on Saturday. Light Bulb moment!  My mind is racing... We want to expand our porch and add a large deck, but our rather meager budget isn't going to allow this any time in the near future.  So how about I install my own patio?  I'm giddy at the idea, but my husband is looking like a puppy dog left out in the rain.  And I know that look.  He's not thrilled with the idea.  Not because it isn't a brilliant idea - it's because it means he is inevitably going to have to help me, and by "help", I mean "do all of the back breaking labor in his free time". Now, I feel bad about this.  BUT, it means we can make better use of our back yard for BBQ's, for fires in the fire pit, for coffee with the birds, and lunches with the kids.  And we don't have to wait until we can afford the deck!  And I promise, I will make it up to my hubby - back rubs for a month! If my handsome, charming, kind husband will agree to help me... The process itself looks fairly easy, although very labor intensive.  I did voice my reservations about how difficult this would be, but the guys at Home Depot assured me that I could do this project myself, without help!  (And I'm a 5'3", 120 lb weakling, with a bad back).  Some of those pavers weigh 40lbs, each!  Okay, so I'm not fool enough to try this by myself, but I believe the HD guys that it's do-able. So with that belief firmly planted in my (pea) brain, this is a general idea of what the project looks like.  I'm planning on this taking a weekend! I looked all over and there are all kinds of pavers and bricks you can use for the patio.  Home Depot had them, I know Lowe's has millions, and lots of the local farm stands even have them.  I haven't decided on one yet, but when I do, I will get a square foot size of patio and buy the amount of pavers I need. Then the fun begins. 1.  Measure and mark the area for our patio dimensions.  You can do this with string and stakes, but the HD guys said to use spraypaint.  Smart! 2. Dig up the ground (call utility companies to be sure there are no underground lines). Edge around your perimeter, and then dig out the entire patio area, 6" deep.  Use plastic edging around the edges. 3. Make sure this shallow hole is level, with, well, a level. 4. Fill the patio hole with 2" of gravel and use a hand tamper to compact it.  Then put in 2" more of the gravel and compact that. 5. Add 1" paver sand and tamp down. 6. Arrange your paver stones or brick in the pattern you want... drop them straight down, don't slide them into place. 7. After laying the paver stones, sweep the paver sand all over the top, filling in the cracks with the sand. THAT'S IT!!!  Sit down and enjoy the view!  Well, in theory, that's how easy it is.  I'm gonna try it anyway.  What could go wrong? Don't answer that. (Details, pictures, and possible swear words to follow... )

Patio Installation - am I nuts?

This is how I roll: (Okay, I don't roll, I usually stumble, but anyway...) I'm walking through Home Depot with my man. We are ther...

8:51 AM

Porch Railings...

Day two of staining the porch railings on our new modular home, and it is coming along.  After two full days of work, with the stain scented wind in my hair, and bees around my ankles, I think I have finally cracked the code to painting quickly and efficiently. I had to cover the composite decking, because I do not want to have to deal with cleaning stain droplets off of the deck floor.  So I bought 4 large plastic sheets from Home Depot, which set me back all of $4.  I taped the plastic down and got to work. Not so fast!  It was windy and the plastic was paper thin.  You can probably imagine the wind blew the flimsy plastic, slapping it into the wet stain, and then wrapping it around my bare calves, thus staining my legs.  Not what I call a good look for summer. And not my finest hour. To add insult to injury, I inevitably dripped stain on the plastic, and managed to step in it every time.  Then worried about tracking it around and had to constantly check the bottom of my flip-flop. This clearly wasn't gonna work. So I rummaged around in the basement and found a large piece of cloth.  My first thought was the stain will bleed right though it to the flooring. Despite my worry, I folded the cloth into a 3 ft long square and placed it under the railing where I was working, moving it as I went.  This worked much better.  It was heavy enough that it didn't blow in the wind, and there were not wet drip marks to step in! So, my advice is: save yourself $4.  Wahoo!  Just enough for a RedBull! (I hate them, but you're gonna need one!) Regardless of your drop cloth, staining is sloooow going.  If you have wooden balusters and they're turned, as opposed to smooth, I feel for you!  Here's my advice:  choose smooth balusters if you're going to end up staining them.  Better yet, choose plastic so you don't have to stain them at all!  Only joking!  But for two days I can tell you I was thinking "Curse choosing the turned spindles!", only the version in my head had some more colorful words in it... Here's what I advise for staining, provided you have turned balusters: The porch posts are the easy part.  The surface is larger and smoother. The porch posts or columns extend from the porch ceiling to the floor of the porch and support the porch roof.  To stain the porch posts I used a 2" foam brush.  This seemed to work well, and foam brushes are so cheap you can use as many as you need. The turned balusters are a serious snore-fest to stain. Balusters are usually 36 inches tall and are offered in different widths and styles. We have a turned baluster, which means more nooks and crannies than an English muffin, to paint in.  Balusters are placed between top railings and the bottom rail and are usually spaced 4 inches apart.  What that means is: even if you have a small porch, you'll still LOTS off balusters to stain!  *Caution: May cause marked drowsiness and irritability. So, the posts go pretty quickly.  But if you get stuck, I mean, volunteer to stain the balusters, like I did, here's the fastest way I found to get it done: Start by using a 1" foam brush.  Get the brush wet in the stain, but not dripping wet.  Squish it into all of the nooks in the turns first.  Don't worry if it's a little thick, you can even it out after. <a href="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/DSC_00031.jpg"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-162" height="300" src="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/DSC_00031-199x300.jpg" title="DSC_0003" width="199" /></a>Then slather the stain from the top down, like you're slathering on BBQ sauce, and even out any drips.  Just make sure you get a good cover.  But within reason... It's really easy to be a perfectionist and get caught up in going over every little tiny weeny crack and bump on the wood.  Don't bother!  Just put the stain on fairly thick, even it out and keep moving.  I did an experiment and stained several of the balustrads really, really carefully, and a couple the fast, efficient way. Guess what?   Can't tell the difference when they're dry!   Well that's it for staining the porch railings.  And one thing off my "to do list".  Only 19 to go!

Porch Railings...

Day two of staining the porch railings on our new modular home, and it is coming along. After two full days of work, with the stain scented...

7:58 AM

Staining the front porch railings, finally!

There's no getting around it.  We've complained and procrastinated - our front porch railings still need to be stained.  Here it is (almost) Memorial Day Weekend and we have 20 people coming over for a clam bake on Monday.  So, it's gonna be done. Yesterday we went to Home Depot and spoke with the "paint guy with a very deep voice and lots of tattoos" (pretty sure that's his official title). He was very helpful and advised us to go with a semi-transparent stain in California Redwood.  I've seen a lot of houses where people have used a similar color on their porches and decks, and I hope/think/pray it goes well with our siding, because we ended up buying a 5 gallon bucket of the stuff!   (We don't like to mess around.) Mr. Deep Voice told us that the stain is water based, so we'd better hurry up and get the wood stained before the rain hits Saturday and washes our hard work away.  Great!  Now we only have until Saturday, if we want it done for our party on Monday. So, here we are at noon on Thursday, and there's a LOT to go.  (At least it shows some progress, and I'm very pleased with the color.) <a href="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/DSC_0008.jpg"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-158" height="199" src="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/DSC_0008-300x199.jpg" title="DSC_0008" width="300" /></a>Bummer for me, the H is off to work, I have a toddler who needs a nap, and two tweens who need to be picked up from school! How am I going to get this done?  I'll tell you how!  I'm gonna get off my computer, suck it up, and get out there! Pix of the finished railings tomorrow! (okay, realistically, Monday.)

Staining the front porch railings, finally!

There's no getting around it. We've complained and procrastinated - our front porch railings still need to be stained. Here it is ...

6:31 AM

Air Conditioning

Yesterday I was sitting in my office writing about how I’m not particularly fond of Air Conditioning.  I like the windows open and the smell of the cut grass!  As I sat here, the breeze was blowing in the windows, and my husband was out mowing.  It was lovely, except... I couldn’t stop sneezing!  I confess, it occurred to me: if the windows were all closed and I had AC, I probably wouldn’t be suffering from allergies as badly.  Because of all the sneezing, and the itchy, watery eyes, this is my second week without mascara (I know!).  And they say it’s going to be a long allergy season, since our winter was so mild.  And the weatherman says it’s going to be HOT too!  Perhaps I should have given the whole house AC a little more thought... Seriously, besides keeping us cool, and me grumbling about my allergies, there are some definite health benefits to Air Conditioning.  In hot climates, or on scorching hot summer days here in Central NY, we’ve all worried about our elderly or very young family members and neighbors during heat waves.  Excessive heat can cause fatigue and dehydration, which are both dangerous.  It goes without saying that an air conditioning system can reduce symptoms of fatigue as well as the risk of dehydration.  A CLEAN air conditioning system can help with external allergens (ie. pollen!) and can help with your overall air quality too. Also, let’s not forget the importance of a good night’s sleep.  I feel for my kids when it’s really hot.  They have to sleep with covers on them at night (it’s a known fact that bad guys can’t get you if your under covers).  Of course that gets hot, and sleeping is a lot easier when you’re cool. Air conditioning systems are expensive, and often need repairs - so depending on the systems your builder offers, it’s a good idea to check out Consumer Reports for the most reliable brands.  If you do end up putting in an air conditioning system, there are ways to reduce your monthly bills and to keep your house cooler in general: <ul> 	<li>Keep blinds and shades closed in the windows that get the most sun.  This really, really keeps the temperature down in your house.</li> 	<li>Use a ceiling fan to circulate the cool air around you.  This way you can turn your AC thermostat up a few degrees, and still feel just as cool.</li> 	<li>The new Energy Star light bulbs produce less heat, so there’s less hot air to cool down, thus reducing your cost.</li> 	<li>AC units have programmable timers so that you can set cooling times around your schedule.  Just set the AC to come on about an hour before you get home, rather than cooling an empty house.</li> 	<li>Cook on your grill.  And if you get sick of grilled food like I do by the end of summer, can you plug-in your crock pot outside?  Do anything but use the oven, which adds tons of heat to your house!</li> 	<li>Make sure the AC filter is clean.  Periodically have a professional check your duct work , vents and registers for leaks.</li> </ul> If budget is an issue, ceiling fans can be effective, as are window AC units.  And there’s always the stand-by of placing the underside of your wrists under cold running water for a few minutes.  That’s what we are doing, at least for this summer.

Air Conditioning

Yesterday I was sitting in my office writing about how I’m not particularly fond of Air Conditioning. I like the windows open and the smell...

7:04 AM

Ceiling Fans

One of the options we chose not to include in our modular home was central air conditioning.  We do have a furnace, so if we decide we need central air down the road, we can certainly install it.  I’m hoping that we wont need air, because it gives me a headache, and because I love the windows open and the smell of fresh air and cut grass in the summer.  We have our house closed up all winter, and I don’t want it closed up in the summer.  Of course we live in Central New York, not central Texas, so that at least allows me the option of choosing fans. We're also hoping to realize some savings with the fans, both in summer and in winter.  Central air costs about seventy times more to run than a fan.  And, according to the fan experts, a ceiling fan can make you feel 3 to 8 degrees cooler.  That's not too bad. (Today I’m using the term “we” loosely.  My husband would love AC.  So, I will post on AC tomorrow, and consider his opinion). Our modular home builder wired every room for ceiling fans.  Yesterday it was 91 degrees, which is hot for May, but the house was nice and cool, with just the fans going.  I’m hoping that’s a good omen, but I’ll have to let you know how we’re doing come mid-July when every day is 90 degrees. If you do want central air, you can still use a ceiling fan and raise your AC temperature, which will also enable you to save money. I did a quick look on The Home Depot website and there are about 15 pages of ceiling fans, ranging in price from $34.97 to $1908.09 .  Of course loading your house full of 2000 dollar fans, it may take a while to realize any energy savings! <a href="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/cheap-fan.jpg"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-130" height="300" src="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/cheap-fan.jpg" title="cheap fan" width="300" /></a>This is the least expensive fan:               <a href="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/exp-fan.jpg"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-131" height="300" src="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/exp-fan.jpg" title="exp fan" width="300" /></a>This is the most expensive:               You don't have to go to those extremes - as I remember ours cost around $90.  If you decide to buy a couple of ceiling fans, either to help keep the AC temperature up, or to use on their own, you need to get the right size.  Here is a guide to buying the right size fan (from The Home Depot): Fan Size Select a fan that is sized to match the dimensions of the room where it will be installed. Fan size is determined by measuring the width straight across from blade tip to blade tip. While a fan may be larger than necessary, as long as it has enough room to rotate properly, a fan that's too small will not effectively circulate the air. <div dir="ltr"> <table><colgroup> <col width="65" /> <col width="110" /> <col width="135" /> <col width="313" /></colgroup> <tbody> <tr> <td>Fan Size</td> <td>Room Size (Sq. Ft.)</td> <td>Room Types</td> <td>Points to Consider</td> </tr> <tr> <td>32"</td> <td>Up to 80</td> <td> <ul> 	<li>Bedroom</li> 	<li>Bathroom</li> 	<li>Kitchen</li> </ul> </td> <td> <ul> 	<li>Matching fan size to room ensures greater energy efficiency</li> </ul> </td> </tr> <tr> <td>42"</td> <td>80-120</td> <td> <ul> 	<li>Bedroom</li> 	<li>Office/study</li> 	<li>Porch</li> </ul> </td> <td> <ul> 	<li>Outdoor areas require specially-designed fans</li> </ul> </td> </tr> <tr> <td>44"</td> <td>120-144</td> <td> <ul> 	<li>Bedroom</li> 	<li>Living room</li> 	<li>Patio</li> </ul> </td> <td> <ul> 	<li>Downrods and angle mounts allow installation in tall ceilings</li> </ul> </td> </tr> <tr> <td>52"+</td> <td>144+</td> <td> <ul> 	<li>Family room</li> 	<li>Great room</li> 	<li>Patio</li> </ul> </td> <td> <ul> 	<li>Remotes and wall controls make adjusting fan speed easy</li> </ul> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </div> I’m not trying to play favorites here, but The Home Depot really does have a huge selection of fans.  I bought mine from the store, rather than online, and it was easy to get the right sizes, and I had a fun afternoon looking at all the fans and lights with my Mom!   All of the ceiling fans I bought had lights.  I needed the lights, but certainly, they come without lights depending on your taste and budget. Here is our ceiling fan in the living room. The light is not very bright because the shade is a teracotta color.  We don't need a lot of light in our living room because it gets a lot of light from outdoors in the day, and at night we want it ambient rather than bright. <a href="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/DSC_00211.jpg"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-134" height="199" src="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/DSC_00211-300x199.jpg" title="DSC_0021" width="300" /></a> That WAS in our bedroom, because I thought I wanted it to be nice and dim and romantic in there.  But it turns out I don't!  I want to read at night!  So we took this out of the living room: <a href="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/DSC_0020.jpg"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-135" height="199" src="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/DSC_0020-300x199.jpg" title="DSC_0020" width="300" /></a> Not only can I read at night, I find my outfits actually match nowadays! When you use your ceiling fan, and this may seem obvious, but sometimes I like to state the obvious - in the summer months, make sure the blades are blowing down.  We generate heat, and fans push that hot air away from our bodies.  When we sweat, the moving air cools us as well.  Ceiling fans do not make the air cooler, they just cool YOU.  To be clear, no need to leave ceiling fans on if you're not home, they cool people not the air. Ceiling fans are also efficient during the winter.  Almost all ceiling fans have  a switch to change the direction of the blade.  In winter, your heat rises, so all your heat heads up to the ceiling.  I’ve read that the air at the ceiling is 15 degrees warmer than the rest of the room!  What?!  If you change the direction of the blades and keep them  on the lowest speed, you will gently force the heat back down to the floor, where you are! Now here’s a tip:  When winter is over, and you decide to switch the direction of the ceiling fan blades, stop and think.  What is that long handled duster I own used for? Why don’t I use it on the ceiling fan blades?  Because, according to a friend of mine, not ME, if you skip this step, and just switch the direction and turn the fan on, you will walk back into a room full of little tiny dust bunnies.  That must have been really funny for my friend. You have to get your ceiling fans up.  I’m lucky.  I have a live-in electrician.  And he’s tall.  So, he hung our ceiling fans in the blink of an eye.  One day this Spring we even decided to switch the ceiling fan  in the bedroom with the one in the living room, and by the time I had a cup of coffee he had the fans switched.  Good job, darlin!  BUT, if you don’t know what you’re doing and don’t have someone handy in your life, hire someone.  The fans can be heavy, you have to stand on a ladder a fool around with wires.  Not a good idea. Well, that’s it for today and ceiling fans.  Now I’m off to help my hubby with cutting the poison ivy vines from our trees - no, not really!  That’s not a good idea either!

Ceiling Fans

One of the options we chose not to include in our modular home was central air conditioning. We do have a furnace, so if we decide we need...

6:18 AM

Tray Ceilings

Look up!  Isn't that what your mother always told you? Oh, no, that was stand up straight, anyway...  The ceiling is sometimes referred to as the fifth wall, and although I'm not big on painted ceilings in every room, I do believe they have their uses!  Keeping rain out is always handy.  In our modular home, the ceiling in the dining room is very useful in another way. If you've decided to build a modular home ask your dealer about the possibility of a tray (or trey) ceiling.  FYI: A tray ceiling is a recessed area like an inverted tray, cut into the actual ceiling, so that the center of the ceiling is higher than the surrounding edge, by about 12".  It’s easy to add during construction and creates architectural interest galore!  I’m not saying add one to each room, but a tray ceiling in your master bedroom or dining room would be very dramatic. AND tray ceilings are perfect for modular homes because they are very modern looking, and, modular homes are generally modern!  Deep, huh? Our floor plan is fairly open. As I mentioned we have a very large family and we needed the kitchen, dining room and living room to be open, so that we can all eat and still see one another. <a href="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/DSC_0054.jpg"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-121" height="199" src="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/DSC_0054-300x199.jpg" title="DSC_0054" width="300" /></a> In these two pictures you can kind of see what I mean.  Where the two stools sit, is a bar area to the kitchen.  And below, the view from the bar to the living room and dining room. <a href="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/DSC_0057.jpg"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-122" height="199" src="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/DSC_0057-300x199.jpg" title="DSC_0057" width="300" /></a> However, for nights when its just a few of us, or two of us (yeah right!) we wanted our dining room to have it’s own feel.  The modular home we chose came with a tray ceiling (Shown, but not Included!).  This was the answer to our dilemma.  The tray visually separates the dining room from the rest of the house.  And this makes me happy! A really pretty way to enhance the tray ceiling is with lighting.  The kind of lighting would depend on you design and decor.  We chose recessed lights in the tray, which are on a dimmer.  We can use either the chandelier, or the recessed lights, or both. As you can see, I haven’t finished painting my tray ceiling.  I want to highlight and paint the area of the tray where the lights are, a contrasting color to the golds we currently have. And, I am going to, I mean with my husbands blessing, I would like to paint some sort of glaze or mottled look on the actual ceiling.  However, convincing him that this will look amazing, is another story!  I may have to wait til he’s working late, and plan my attack... When that actually happens I will post an update.

Tray Ceilings

Look up! Isn't that what your mother always told you? Oh, no, that was stand up straight, anyway... The ceiling is sometimes referred ...

4:46 AM

My Modular Home Pictures

I took a couple of pictures to show you some of the changes we made to the specifications or inclusions in our modular home: <a href="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/DSC_0511.jpg"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-108" height="300" src="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/DSC_0511-199x300.jpg" title="DSC_0511" width="199" /></a> This is the front door.  The original door came with a very ornate window, and we chose the lead, with no colored glass. <a href="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/DSC_0515.jpg"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-109" height="300" src="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/DSC_0515-199x300.jpg" title="DSC_0515" width="199" /></a> Here is our back door/laundry room/mud room!  And here are the muddy shoes!  SO, we put a pocket door from the kitchen to the mud room and VOILA!  (See below!) <a href="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/DSC_0517.jpg"><img alt="" height="300" src="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/DSC_0517-199x300.jpg" title="DSC_0517" width="199" /></a> Ha ha! See, isn't that nicer than looking at muddy boots and laundry!  I'm a problem solver, not a cleaner! <a href="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/DSC_0519.jpg"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-112" height="199" src="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/DSC_0519-300x199.jpg" title="DSC_0519" width="300" /></a> This is a picture of one of the pendant lights that hang over the island.  The original pendants came with plain white glass shades, but we found these as Lowe's, and looooove them! For now, that's it!  Have a wonderful weekend!

My Modular Home Pictures

I took a couple of pictures to show you some of the changes we made to the specifications or inclusions in our modular home: This is the fro...

12:36 PM

Porches and Decks

I love our covered front porch which we altered slightly from the original, which you can see at <a href="http://www.keymodularhomes.com">www.keymodularhomes.com</a> .  (Our house is based on the "Waterbury").  We chose to have a composite material for the flooring, and in an effort to save a little we went with the traditional wood railings.  There’s plenty of room for seating, and our little one even has enough room to ride his scooter back and forth.  In the future, we plan to wrap the porch around to the back of the house to incorporate a deck and patio area.  I’ve been buying lottery tickets with no luck so far. Regardless, most modular homes come with the option of decks and porches and there are different floor materials for one to consider. Obviously you want your porch or deck to look good for years to come. Wood is the most common choice for a porch or deck floor.  Of course it looks natural, cuz it is!  Maintenance is essential, and you will have to treat the wood so that it doesn't crack or change color due to weather and sun.  I had a wood deck on my old house that I had to stain and weather proof every spring.  We had a large tree that provided essential shade over one side of the deck.  When it rained, the area of the deck under the shade of the tree stayed damp and would grow a fine moss, which was very slippery and had to be power washed frequently. Pressure Treated Wood is treated with preservatives.  It is inexpensive and is resistant to rot from the elements and insects, but it will still warp and bend. It has to be treated as wood to prevent the warping. Composite is another option. Composite is a combination of wood and plastic. When composite decking/flooring first came on the market it wasn't without problems, but the technology has come a long way.  Today composite decking is very durable and will last a long time, and is very low maintenance.  It won’t warp or crack and is ideal for uncovered areas, as it won’t fade (as much) in the sun.  You will have to clean it, but a power wash now and again is about all there is to it.  The downfall, is composite is expensive! Here’s a picture of our porch with the composite floor and the wood railings (that still need to be stained). <a href="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/497.jpg"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-85" height="199" src="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/497-300x199.jpg" title="497" width="300" /></a>It is very simple to make your porch and extension of your living space.  In the summer, I sometimes miss my house because we spent so much time on the porch or deck! Now, I’m not big on gardening, much to my mother’s chagrin, but I do like container gardening.  Porches and decks let you create miniature gardens in outdoor containers, or container gardens.  As soon as we are out of the danger of frost, I will be planting a lot of pots for the front porch.  Not only is it easier than gardening, you can move the containers anywhere at any time.  Hanging plants not only look beautiful, but they can act as natural privacy shield if hung in the right place.  I also like the look of evergreen shrubs or small trees planted in pots.  Year round color! If you need a little privacy from neighbors, or just like the look, there are all kinds of outdoor curtains and blinds to hang from either end of your porch.  Or, do as a friend of mine has and head to the fabric store to pick out a fabric you love.  Hang it up using furniture tacks.  Use table cloth weights at the bottom of the fabric to keep it from blowing too much. You can decorate a porch just like you would inside.  There are indoor/outdoor rugs that look beautiful on a deck or porch.  Throw pillows, candles, vases, bowls - all can have a home outside.  And I love white twinkle lights on the porch all year round.  You don’t have to string them up, just put them in plants or cluster them in a big bowl. Happy porch sitting! <a href="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/4901.jpg"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-86" height="199" src="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/4901-300x199.jpg" title="490" width="300" /></a>

Porches and Decks

I love our covered front porch which we altered slightly from the original, which you can see at www.keymodularhomes.com . (Our house is b...

11:47 AM

Do you want a garage?

Furthermore, do you want an attached garage or a detached garage? The position of your home or lot has some bearing on your decision.  Your lot may not have the space for an attached garage, and only room for a small detached. Conversely, it may allow for attached, but not have room for a detached garage.  If you decide you need a garage, you may not have an option because of these factors. If you do have options, an attached garage may be sensible for you if you are adamant about staying out of extreme elements. Of course, most attached garages have an entrance directly into the home, and this is convenient in inclement weather.  Furthermore, the cost of an attached garage can be less because the builder can make use of an existing wall, and use all of the same building materials he uses on the home. Regard the size and shape of your home.  The architectural style may not be conducive to an attached garage. Plus, you may be able to place a detached garage in a less obtrusive part of your lot. A detached garage should also be considered if it will be used as a workshop.  Any noise associated with the work being done, will not affect those in the house. As you can imagine, this could be a potential sanity saver! More importantly, a detached garage separates the home from potentially hazardous chemicals, or fires, if flammable or harmful chemicals are kept in the garage.  Because of this, insurance costs can be less for the detached garage. On a not so serious note: It recently came to my attention that garages were once intended to actually house AUTOMOBILES!!!  Lately they have become commonplace for many other purposes.  Here are some more common uses for a garage, in no particular order, in case you decide you need one: * Instrument practice. (Very helpful when the player is a first year violin student! ) * Housing for a wet dog, a dog that chews, or a dog that has IBS. * Motorcycle, snowmobile, go-cart workshop.  Oh sure, it’ll run... * Woodworking or artist studio.  Showcasing ancient furniture, old plant pots, and broken picture frames... * Giant beer cooler and/or TV room.  Hey, at least he’s home! * Showroom for lawn appliances, sports equipment and children’s toys. So, it’s up to you whether you need a garage, want it attached, or even what to a use garage for.  We do not, as yet, have our detached garage, because: a.) we ran out of money, and b.) we can’t agree on its potential main use. Maybe I’ll get a CAR in mine!

Do you want a garage?

Furthermore, do you want an attached garage or a detached garage? The position of your home or lot has some bearing on your decision. Your ...

1:22 PM

Choose your Foundation

This single most exciting day during the whole process of building our modular home was the day I arrived at our property and the foundation had been completed.  It might not have looked like much, and our beautiful piece of land looked in need of disaster relief, but I was happier than a kid in a pumpkin patch!  Looking at the foundation told me that this was real, and we were building a house. <a href="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/foundation.jpg"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-57" height="225" src="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/foundation-300x225.jpg" title="foundation" width="300" /></a> Choosing a foundation for a modular home largely depends on your budget.  You can choose between a slab, crawlspace, or a basement.  Of course your modular home dealer can advise you best based on your budget and any geographical considerations.  Because we have billions of children, and my husband has several big-boy toys, like motorcycles, we needed the extra space and the convenience of a full walk out basement. We had a natural slope to our land, so that made the walk out option fairly easy for us. Here are a few details on the options for consideration: Slab: A concrete slab is a flat, concrete pad that is poured directly on the ground. It typically consists of three to five inches of concrete. Simply because it takes little labor, a slab is the easiest foundation to make, and therefore is the least expensive. This is ideal for warmer climates, but would not work where the ground freezes in the winter. Basement: We chose to have our home placed on a basement foundation. Though a basement is much more highly-priced than a slab, it is a good investment. Not only does the basement give you valuable storage, but it is possible to convert a basement into living space in the future. Not to mention, well-constructed basements are typically regarded a positive selling point for most buyers. Our basement walls are so well insulated that it is very comfortable and warm. (Warmth is nice when you have to go down to the basement to let the kids out, I mean to get a hammer.) Crawl Space: A crawl space will be the space between the ground and the bottom of a home. Even though it will not supply livable space like a basement, a crawl space keeps the home up off the ground, and this is beneficial in areas that are prone to the damp. However, a crawl space is not going to offer much storage space. Of course your budget will determine what you can afford for a foundation, and your dealer/builder will advise you.  Let me know if you have any advice on choosing a foundation.  And, I apologize, one of these days I will endeavour to put up some pictures, however, the ability to do that escapes me!  Some days I wish I'd married a computer guy - then again some days I wish I'd married a hair dresser, a massage therapist....  anyway, we will figure out how to post pictures soon!

Choose your Foundation

This single most exciting day during the whole process of building our modular home was the day I arrived at our property and the foundation...

11:07 AM