Read about one client’s experience at:
http://streetsofwicker.blogspot.com/2010/01/adventures-in-spacelifting.html
If not immediately available, search for “spacelifting”- in January 2010 archives.
Archive for the ‘Housekeeping and maintenance’ Category
Spacelifting by Dina Petrakis, in Wicker Park blog
Sunday, January 10th, 2010ReGreen Guidelines for your remodeling project
Sunday, December 6th, 2009ASID(Interior Designers) and Green Building Council’s ReGreen Guidelines.Lots of links, sketches, and insights for planning a GREEN remodel.
http://regreenprogram.org/docs/regreen_guidelines.pdf. More info at base site, below.
Original Stair=Focal Point: Bungalow
Thursday, December 3rd, 2009See Facebook Album (link below) for Bungalow Renovation- Stair
Gut-rehab of 1920’s single family with changes to baths and kitchen to update lifestyle, while maintaining or restoring gracious proportions and features. Click on individual photos for details about the work done:
Stone repair and restoration
Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009Whole-house fan for whole-house savings
Monday, September 14th, 2009
Use a whole-house fan to reduce your carbon footprint- and save utility costs! At night, they pull cool outside air from open windows on lower floors, expelling warmer air. You need a lot of CFM’s for a whole house- try one from Grainger or other commercial source. If you don’t have attic accessibility, install in window of laundry or other room ON THE TOP FLOOR. Don’t forget to close windows during the day to keep the cool air in/hot air out. Enjoy…
Price Vs. Cost
Tuesday, July 21st, 2009What’s the difference? The price is what you pay now, cost is what you continue to pay down the road. Typically, if you pay a higher price, the cost will be lower. A historic example would be electric vs. gas heat. Electric heat has a low price at installation, but costs more going forward. That’s why developers often would put in electric heat- low price up front, and the tenant or future owner paid the higher cost electric bills.
Paying a higher price, when that’s possible, most often will save you money in the long run. Examples:
Spray insulation is a higher price up front, but will save you money due to the higher R value and the WAY better seal.
Radiant heat, a hot water system, is a higher price but saves you money because the hot water stays warm and is more efficient than heating air (you can also set the temps lower- it just feels warmer than forced air!)
Quality wood windows have a higher price than vinyl, but can be maintained and don’t need replacing again in 10 years or less- costing less.
Appliances, water heaters, etc- the higher efficiency ratings typically have a higher price tag.
An exception is that adding storm windows to your existing wood windows, and making any needed repairs, can price less than new vinyl windows, and also save you in costs. See previous post- “your contractor doesn’t want you to see this” or http://www.remodelingconsultants.net/articles/TradeSecret.htm.
Huge reductions in AC costs with radiant barriers
Monday, July 20th, 2009I know, we’re having a cool summer, but this is COOL:
Green Home Chicago
Saturday, July 4th, 2009Green Home Chicago is at 213 N. Morgan in Chicago and is way worth a visit, on site or online: www.ghcdesigncenter.com.
Products range from local artist’s work to furniture from reclaimed wood, to fabulous contemporary fireplaces, cabinetry, and tile.
Goods are green-ranked using the following criteria:
1. Recycled content
2. Non-toxic
3. Local
4. Sustainable/renewable resources
5. Cradle to cradle - product can be used, recycled
and used again without losing any material quality
6. Green manufacturing processes
7. Certifications
8. Artisanal/handmade
9. Community building/poverty alleviation
10. Vintage/reclaimed/repurposed
Rat-control tricks from Wicker Park
Tuesday, June 23rd, 2009If you live in the city, any city, you probably have rat burrows in your vicinity.
I know, yuck, but believe me, they’re there, whether you’ve noticed them or not. That’s what those 2″ and larger holes in your parkway or yard (or neighbor’s yard) are.
Here’s the trick- mix portland cement powder and wheat flour, 50/50. Pour the powder in the hole. Close the hole with soil- just kick the soil that has been displaced by the rats digging out, back into the hole.
Keep doing that, daily if possible- and it will solve the problem.
An exterminator will drop a couple of poison blocks down the hole and come back in a month- don’t bother- that will not work. Portland and flour- that will work.
Robern Uplift- a space solution for your bath
Friday, June 19th, 2009I write about Robern bath cabinets a lot, because they are so innovative. The newest is the Uplift- a door that moves up and down to open the cabinet, not from a side hinge like a normal cabinet.
What’s the big deal?
You can put the cabinet right behind your tall faucet, even all the way down to the counter.
You don’t have to worry about crashing into light fixtures, shower doors, spouses, etc, with the swing of the door.
Because the mirror can sit on the counter, you can sit down in front of the sink, for makeup application, instead of having a separate area. This will also benefit accessibility/ADA.
The mirror can be opened partially, so you have mirror AND access to contents at the same time.
Yes, you can get all the fun Robern features along with the Uplift, including an LCD TV mounted inside.
see them at: http://www.robern.com/press/release.rbn?articleId=uplift
