Remodeling and Home Construction

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When Luxury Items Become Necessities.

March 15th, 2008 Categories: Remodeling and Home Construction

Looking back at what has happened over the last 20-40 years in housing, what is striking are yesterdays luxury items that have become todays home necessities.

From the 1940-1960 indoor plumbing was a luxury for many homeowners. As late as the 1940’s nearly 50% of the homes in the United States did not have indoor plumbing. In some states approximately 80% of the homes were without plumbing.

In the 1960’s, 40% of the homes were without telephones.

So what items classified as luxury items in the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s became necessities in today’s homes?

The items included:

inside washer and dryers;
indoor plumbing;
electric heating and electricity;
multiple bathrooms;
phone service;
windows that open;
and air conditioning.

All of the above are considered home necessities today, but still there is a % of homes in some parts of the United States that do without these “necessities”. This can be due to the geographic area or it may be that the individuals do not want the item or items.

Today there are some luxury items that may become home “necessities” in the next 10-30 years.

How about………

the internet kitchen (refrigerator/ovens/ranges/dishwasher/compact/microwave);
Internet food and personal (automatic) shopping and delivery;
Internet washer/dryer;
Internet home schooling (all levels);
security systems/Internet communications center;
home theaters;
wine cellars;
indoor elevator for multi-story homes;
sauna’s;
on-line banking and federal/state tax reporting (government single source software);
automatic light sensors that turn off lights when no one is in the room. Re-activate when someone enters the room;
pizza ovens;
moveable walls to change the home flow and floor plan for homeowners convenience;
mood lighting throughout the home again for homeowners convenience;
tennis court;
step-thru bath tubs;
indoor bowling alley;
indoor golf gallery;
indoor/outdoor basketball/racquet ball court;
and lastly each home may be able to produce its own electrical needs via solar panels or other type panel material and will be able to recycle its own waste water for reuse for family needs or for watering the garden.

Of these listed luxury items, anything associated with the ”Internet” will more than likely become tomorrows necessity.

By all means do add to the list. Then we can all watch to see which item(s) becomes tomorrows home “necessities”. Only time will tell. But the next 10-30 (or more) years will be extremely interesting.

Your comments are invited.

Marmoleum…….flooring

March 14th, 2008 Categories: Remodeling and Home Construction

Unlike linoleum, marmoleum is a product that covers a host of colors, has no adverse known health issues, durable, easy to clean, anti-static and rejects bacterial properties. Reasonably priced between $ 6- $7 per square foot, it just may be a product worth looking at when upgrading your flooring.

Hot Tin Roof…..

February 22nd, 2008 Categories: Remodeling and Home Construction

It appears that we are reaching back to the early 1700’s with the resurrection of metal roofs for homes.

Metal roofs most certainly will outlast composite, cedar, slate or clay tile roofs. And it appears that home builders are taking advantage of this material because it cheaper than the others mentioned. What is cheap?

A metal roof costs between $1 to $ 4 a square foot (some say it can get as high as $ 6/sq. ft.). Composites range between $ 3.40 to $ 4.50 a square foot; shakes are about $ 3.75/sq. foot; slate runs about $ 5 to $ 10/sq. ft.; and clay will run $ 4-10 a square foot.

Laminated asphalt shingles are available at $ 1/sq. foot or less. This material is a fiberglass asphalt product which is thicker and are made to look like tile, slate or wood.

Metal roofs captured approximately 30% of the year 2007 market. Fiberglass asphalt captured 44% of the market, however that was down 50% from the previous year.

Metal roofs are considered more fire proof than any other roof and it last twice as long as any of the other materials used for roofing. When treated with various coatings and finishes it is said to be a good heat reflector, thus keeping the house cooler and the cost of cooling the house down.

But when it rains you will hear it. I suspect the “rain noise” can be readily solved with added insulation to dampened the sound. And you do not want to walk on it when it is wet. Slipping and sliding can do damage to one’s body.

Source for this article: Homeowners on a Hot Metal Roof, by Nancy Keates: Wall Street Journal (2/22/08).