by Shelter Associates | Oct 20, 2010 | Building 101
Q: What's the difference between engineered wood flooring and solid wood flooring? A: Unlike solid wood planks, engineered wood flooring features a substrate (or main section) made from thin sections of solid wood that are set in a cross-hatched pattern and...
by Shelter Associates | Oct 20, 2010 | Building 101, Design Tips
Regardless of a home's size or style, all construction follows a consistent pattern and pace. Excavation and foundation work will be followed by the framing phase, which will be followed by rough mechanical, electrical and plumbing work. As soon as those stages...
by Shelter Associates | Oct 20, 2010 | Building 101
Q: What is “millwork”? A: Millwork is an industry term that refers to items — usually wood-based—that are “milled” from larger pieces of wood into finer, more detailed pieces, or items that are produced in a specialty saw mill....
by Shelter Associates | Sep 7, 2010 | Building 101, Green Building
In fewer cases, the claims are intended to deceive you; the company is simply jumping on the green bandwagon without the proper documentation and worse, little sincere concern for the environmental impact of its products. The goal is to cash in on the green movement,...
by Shelter Associates | Sep 7, 2010 | Building 101
Q: What does the Energy Star endorsement mean to me? A: Energy Star is a federal program managed jointly by the EPA and the Department of Energy to identify, verify, and promote products (including entire homes) that save energy. While a terrific and legitimate gauge...
by Shelter Associates | Aug 31, 2010 | Building 101
Q: What is “structured” or advanced wiring? A: The combined growth of personal home computers, consumer electronics, entertainment systems, and home security products-not to mention the dynamic evolution of the technology behind them—has prompted...
