Incredible Renovations Shares Home Design & Building Techniques - Going the Extra Mile

Incredible Renovations shares Advanced and Efficient Framing Techniques for New Homes (or Additions) From the EPA

One of the best debris reduction techniques for minimizing the amount of material used in construction is advanced framing (also known as Optimum Value Engineering) (PDF).

Advanced framing refers to lumber layout and usage techniques that minimize the amount of lumber used to construct a house without compromising its structural integrity. It can improve a home's energy efficiency and durability, and reduce construction costs. Also, by optimizing the amount of lumber used to frame homes, more space is created for insulation in exterior walls. This helps to eliminate cold spots, which are susceptible to condensation, and mold growth.

For more information on advanced framing techniques, go to:
http://www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/building_america/pdfs/db/35380.pdf

Another green option is to buy a prefabricated or manufactured home. Many of these homes are built using advanced framing techniques and are designed to use smaller cuts of lumber that would be considered waste in designing a typical stick-built home. Modern prefabricated homes are often well-bulit and more energy efficient than homes constructed on-site.

Design New Homes for Deconstruction/Renovation

Architects and builders typically do not design homes with easy renovation or deconstruction in mind. The average U.S. family moves every 10 years. Homes often undergo many renovations over their lifetimes, or complete building removal is carried out to make room for a newer home.

When building a new home, consider long-range goals and work with your architect to create a design that is adaptable for future needs. Designing a home for deconstruction or renovation proactively addresses changes in a home's structure by: 

• Designing for durability and adaptability.
• Using fewer materials to realize a design.
• Design for salvaging materials
• Using fewer adhesives and sealants, making it easier for construction professionals to salvage useful items and valuable building materials including lumber, fixtures, hardware, and appliances.

By designing homes to facilitate future renovations, and eventual dismantlement through deconstruction, a home's systems, components, and materials will be easier to rearrange, recover, and reuse. Thus, designing for deconstruction maximizes the value of a building's materials, while reducing environmental impacts. It also creates adaptable homes that can be more readily reshaped to meet the changing needs of owners.

For more information on designing for deconstruction or renovation, go to:
http://www.lifecyclebuilding.org/resources.php

Source EPA

For more information about remodeling or renovating, please contact Incredible Renovations at www.incrediblerenovations.com