Screen to Screen Technology (Distance is No-Factor)

Regardless of where you are located, with today’s screen to screen technology all design activities can be done easily and with full collaboration regardless of distance between the designer and client. Save travel costs Collaborate from the comfort of your own space – as you work and meet directly with the designer. Take advantage of the designer’s [...]

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One or Two Story – which is the better choice?

Which is more desirable – a single or a multi story home? This is an intriguing subject which I am frequently asked. The reply is, as is typical with many such debates, ” It depends”. There are pluses and minuses to each. Let’s inspect the pros and cons of these two choices and then weigh [...]

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Beach Home Design – Be Aware of the Requirements.

As in most beautiful things, beach homes are easy to appreciate and love, but there is a significant background of technical and legal issues that must be met to bring them into being. The undertaking, like so many in our country, is now mostly owned by governmental regulators who act, almost daily, to protect just [...]

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Storm Shelters and Concrete Storm Shelters – Weathering the Weather

As the illusion of ever-increasing complexities and danger is amplified by 24 hour news and the apocalyptic shows on Discovery and the History Channel some may wonder if they need to better protect themselves in their own homes. Can one’s own home be a safe haven during the worst of storms? In 2004 and 2005 [...]

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Saving Energy in Your Home – It’s All About the Heat

Energy is heat. Saving  energy is mostly about heat management. Let’s cover 10  basic actions to reduce energy usage in your home. These apply to new construction and existing residences. First, some basic science: A. Heat energy flows from hot to cold. Its speed of flow increases as the difference between temperatures increases B. Heat [...]

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Aircraft Hangar Homes Are Unique. There May Be More Around Than You Realize.

There are many airport communities in the United States. I have heard that Florida, Texas and California have the most of them. However I’ve heard of these places in most every state. I live at one myself and usually am met with wide-eye’d surprise when I mention the fact. Most people have similar questions so [...]

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Should You Purchase Stock Plans – Here Are The Pros And Cons

- Stock plans can save time in selecting a home. Since the designs are done and there for your review, you can select quickly and save time. Usually the plans are displayed as floor plans and exterior views. Depending on the catalog you may get just one front view, and sometimes you’ll be able to [...]

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There Are Few Experiences More Fulfilling Than Creating And Building Your Own Custom Home

Imagine, it’s been a long day. You are tired and laying in bed thinking of the day’s activities. Sleep does not come easily because you are excited. You look around the new room – your room; so vivid in your recent dreams but now so real in fact. The coffered ceilings, the perfect built-in video [...]

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What is a Structural Engineer?

Thumbnail image for What is a Structural Engineer?

I think most folks have a pretty good idea of and an appreciation for what Structural Engineers do. Basically, we keep things standing. We make sure that the buildings and the homes that folks use will remain in the form intended. The field extends beyond buildings. Watch the wings flex upward as your airliner leaves [...]

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Creativity and “Tectonics”

All of us have it. It is a human trait. In my opinion it is too often reduced in importance by folks who insist that everything is simply a rearrangement of what we have already seen. In my opinion this is completely untrue. If it were the case then one would have to ask the [...]

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