The news is reporting in that the price of a lumber package for a single-family home has increased by an average of $36,000 per home. This increase reflects one that the market has never seen before and hopefully will never see again. But the truth is that this issue of lumber prices is a narrow… -Read More

In today’s market, many apartment complex owners must compete for tenants by offering the amenities and luxuries that their market place dictates and those that the clients expect to see. The investments made for renovations and creature comforts can vary drastically based what part of the country the real estate is located & what the… -Read More

As a builder, I’m often asked by clients what they should look for when buying a piece of land. Here’s a quick list of some important things that should be taken into account, before plonking down hundreds of thousands of dollars: Zoning: Will local planning allow you to build, if so what requirements do they have.… -Read More

It’s always satisfying to re-purpose a material and give it new life by turning it into something else. Right now I’m busy in the shop making a new entry door for my clients. The wood I’m using is reclaimed Douglas Fir salvaged from bleachers out of the University of Southern Illinois (credit to our friends… -Read More

There must be hundreds of these lists around and there’s plenty of opinions on what are the most important things to do to make your house cozier. Surprisingly in our research we’ve found that some of the biggest cost savings are actually the least expensive things to do. With that in mind I’ve listed 8… -Read More

Bread – it doesn’t get much simpler. Every day for lunch, my mum would pack me half a loaf worth of sandwiches. At Saturday teatime she’d butter a loaf, put it on the table and it would be gone in 30 seconds. As kids, if we ate coleslaw, smashed banana and sugar, marmite and cream… -Read More