Tips That The Builders Use For Maintaining The Efficiency Of Your Home

By Author: Jason Delmar
Total Articles: 335
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There are a lot of secrets that builders use when building new construction. Most of them are things that you can do to your current home to keep it as efficient as possible. Here are just a couple of examples.

When a builder is about to install drywall, the home must pass a thermal bypass inspection. This inspection will determine if proper insulation and air barrier assembly has been installed. To pass, a home must include energy star-rated products in a variety of categories. Why is this important to you? Because builders list weather stripping, flashing, energy star windows, radiant barrier protection, and vinyl siding as the most import items that will particularly help to obtain a passing grade after the energy inspection. If a builder is using some of these basic ideas, like weather stripping and good quality windows, then this means you the homeowner can do the same to improve the quality of your house.

In these cold months you want to check for small air leaks. A small crack can add up to big heating costs over the duration of the winter. If a window is old and you have some extra money, replace ...
... it. Sometimes easier said then done -- so if you cannot afford a window, check your current weather stripping on your entry doors. You may find that you have none. This alone can improve your heat loss situation.

Next we move onto other products that builders are now using to cut costs, save money, and be more efficient in the construction process.

A far jump from energy saving products is the RTA line of kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanities; however, it is just another example of how a builder is saving money and how you can too. RTA is not a company name; instead it stands for Ready To Assemble. These products have been around for years and probably at some point you have assembled a stereo stand or a small table, but now RTA has made it into the kitchen cabinet and bathroom vanity realm.

RTA kitchen cabinets are sold in most retail/big box super centers. But be careful, these RTA products are inferior. Many stores like Home Depot, import cheap RTA products, mark up the price significantly and then claim that they are selling you a good product at a great price. None of this is true. Instead, look online (the internet) for RTA kitchen cabinets. Yes, the internet has much better prices (due to the lower over head of internet based companies) and the product is usually of a better grade. Do a Google search for RTA kitchen cabinets. You will be surprised how many companies are out there. Choose a few websites, make sure you go through them and compare prices and quality. (Make sure that the product has solid wood faced cabinets and paneled wood sides - NO PARTICLE BOARD). After this - go ahead and buy online. It will save you gas money and time.

So now that you know builders are using RTA kitchen and bath products and that builders are using small upgrades like weather stripping to improve quality - you can feel confident in looking for these small home improvements as a do-it-yourselfer. You can find these money saving ideas and improve the quality and value of your house.

Good luck and start looking.
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