Whether you want to a hire a professional to design and install the landscaping for your new home, or do it yourself, there are a few basic tips and rules that will help you plan outdoor spaces.  Let get right into them.








 1. Identify the feelings, style and functions you want for your yard. 
Even if you plan on hiring out some or all of the work, you need to think about how your landscape will be used and how you want it to look and make you feel.  Do you need areas to entertain guests? Are you looking for solitude and privacy? What color combinations do you like and what would go well with the exterior of your house? Do you prefer a garden that’s cozy and cottagy or formal and dramatic or zen and more minimalistic? The answers to these questions will help you define the parameters of your landscape design. Your preferences, needs and budget should drive your landscape design whether you hire a professional or not.

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This week we have a list of features that many homeowners are requesting in new homes that they’re buying or building.  This is according to an article in Professional Builder magazine where builders, architects, designers and other industry experts were asked about must have features that today’s homeowners want.  Take a look and see how many things on the list will be included your new home.  You may not want to include all these elements, but consider the ones that are best for you and your family. 



Before we go any further, let’s go over this week's pro terms:




PRO TERMS

Built-in, Overlay and Integrated Refrigerators

These 3 terms are often used interchangeably, but they don’t all mean the same thing. Let's make sure we know the difference between built-in, overlay and integrated refrigerators so we can clearly communicate what we want for our kitchens.  



All of the appliance designs that we’ll define today are classified as built-in.  “Built-in” is an umbrella term that can be used on it’s own, but it also includes overlay and integrated appliance design. 




A built-in refrigerator is fitted into a customized space that allows the fridge to sit flush, or almost flush, with cabinetry.  The space that houses the fridge is either built into cabinetry, or it is a cavity created by drywall.  Simple built-in refrigerators stick out a couple of inches from the cabinets, so the refrigerator door can open without obstruction.  



Simple built-in refrigerators exhibit their original finish, like stainless steel, while other built-in fridges are covered with panels that match the cabinetry.  That’s where the terms overlay and integrated appliances come in.



Overlay refrigerators are overlaid, or covered, with a panel.  Like a simple built-in refrigerator, overlay refrigerators protrude slightly from the cabinets, meaning they’re not quite flush.  Overlay fridges are not exactly hidden because you know that the appliance of there, but it matches the surrounding cabinetry.  


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The integrated refrigerator also has a panel, but it’s completely integrated into the cabinet design. It is a hidden appliance.  An integrated fridge is completely camouflaged.  If it’s not pointed out to you, it’s hard to find within a line of cabinets.

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So, in summary,  built-in is an umbrella term that means that the fridge in built into cabinetry, or into a drywall cavity.  Simple built-in fridges exhibit their original finish and stick out a couple of inches.   Overlay refrigerators  stick out  couple of inches too, but they are overlaid with a cabinetry panel.  Overlay refrigerators match the cabinetry, but you can still tell where the refrigerator is.  Integrated fridges are also covered with a panel, but they are completely flush with surrounding cabinetry, therefore completely camouflaged.




Before we move on to our list of must-have house features, I want to thank Zerjan24.  Thank you for your 5 star rating and review. He or she says the podcast is “Perfect for real Learning.”  Thanks for your kind words and for taking the time to do something nice for the show.   It really does help our reputation and ranking.  So, I appreciate you Zerjan24, and everyone who has helped the podcast.  You guys are the best.  




Ok,  ready to get to the list of house design must-haves?
  



1.  Practicality.  

In most areas, the excess of the 90’s and early 2000s has given way to practicality and functionality.  Homeowners want enough space and amenities to be comfortable, but they no longer want large, opulent spaces just to say they have them.  No more keeping up with the Jones.  They want their houses to include only features that they will really use. Many people are completely forgoing specialty spaces like dedicated media rooms and wine cellars, or they’re incorporating those features into other areas of the house.  Instead of a wine cellar, they may choose a wine fridge.  And Instead of a dedicated media room, they may opt for a large screen tv within a bonus room or family room.

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2.  Open floor plans. 

Open concept home designs continue to be popular among people buying and building homes.   Great rooms which combine kitchen, dining and living areas are often requested.  There are fewer and fewer requests for separate. formal living and formal dining rooms.  Open floor plans enhance interaction among family and friends, and they also make smaller houses feel larger.
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3.  Flexible spaces. 

Homeowners want rooms that can be used in multiple ways, depending on the current and future needs of the family.  A room that can serve as a guest bedroom, or a home office, or a play room, or a craft room.  Buyers, and those building, want spaces that are generic enough to be used flexibly and switched up as the needs of the family change over time.

4.  First floor master suites. 

Not many homeowners want to climb stairs every time they want to go to their master bedroom, so they want their master to be on the first floor.  This is especially important if you are building your forever house where you’ll be aging in place.

5.  Transitional design. 

Transitional design combines some traditional elements with some contemporary elements. Typically you have the timeless elegance and detail of traditional design, along with the clean, simple lines of contemporary design.  So, you might include crown molding and wainscoting, like you would in a traditional home, but the molding will be sleeker, less elaborate.  Transitional homes is less "hoity toity" and less ornate than traditional homes, but they are not is cold or minimalist as most contemporary homes. ​

6.  Lots of windows to let in natural light. 

Adding ample lighting fixtures is important too, but homeowner are really drawn to lots of natural light.  Include as many windows as your budget will allow, even it they are small, inoperable windows, which tend to be less expensive.  You can even add a skylight or solar tube if a traditional window won’t work in a certain space.  Don’t forget to add windows or skylight to areas like the bathroom and closet so you can see how your hair, make up and outfit look in natural light before you leave the house.

7.  Large kitchen islands. 

If the kitchen is the center of the home, the island is the center of the kitchen.  It’s where kids do homework, where casual meals and snacks are prepared eaten, where cleaning and prep stations are located, and where guests and family members can sit chat.

8.  A dedicated pantry. 

Homeowners want a closeted, or walk-in pantry that can hold the majority of their canned and dry goods and convenience foods.   Since many people are now opting for some open shelving in kitchens,  having a pantry to store food is becoming more sought after.

9. Roomy, walk-in showers that are separate from tub.

Some homeowners are willing to forgo a bathtub in order to include a roomy shower in their bathrooms.  Ideally, showers will have a bench, or at least a ledge, and recesses for soaps and shampoos.


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10.  Free standing soaking tubs.  

For those who do want to include a bathtub in their master bathroom, free standing soaking tubs are taking the place of old-school, built in, jetted whirlpool tubs.  Jetted whirlpools are often plagued with mold and drainage problems and soaking tubs usually are not.  Plus, free standing tubs often look really pretty, almost like bathroom sculpture


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11.  Quartz, granite or marble countertops in the kitchen, and in bathrooms, especially the master bathroom.    Which stone is most popular varies from region to region.  


Ok, POP Quiz, is quartz considered a natural stone or an engineered stone? 


​The answer is engineered stone.  We learned about quartz in episode 33 called Kitchen Countertops 101.  Quartz is man made, but it contains about 93% crushed, natural stone that is combined with resins and pigment, so it’s considered an engineered or manufactured stone.

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12.  Exhaust fans that are humidity-controlled or motion-sensing.

As people have become aware of how detrimental moisture can be to their homes, homeowners are actually asking about these exhaust fans that will automatically come on when people are in the bathroom, or taking a shower.
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13.  Mudrooms. 

People are requesting a pick-up and drop-off station at the family entrance— usually near the garage.  People are looking for mudroom spaces with hooks, cubbies and cabinets that will help keep the family organized.  For more details about what to specifically include in a mudroom, take a listen to  episode 43 called  14 Unexpected Features to Include in Your Family Foyer—The Mudroom.

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​14.  Energy efficiency. 

Today’s, more educated homeowners now know to ask for energy efficient design such as double pane, low E windows, a well-sealed building envelope, ample insulation, LED lighting and Energy Star appliances.   People realize that buying, or building a energy efficient home will save them money in their utility bills over time.

15.  Programmable thermostats. 

According to Enegy.gov, “You can save as much as 10% a year on heating and cooling by simply turning your thermostat back 7°-10°F for 8 hours a day.”  With  programmable thermostats, like those from Nest or Honeywell, you can easily set up a program that will automatically lower the thermostat temperature while your family is away at school or work, or at night while you sleep.


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​16.  Blurred indoor-outdoor connections. 

I think because of all those HGTV shows that we are inundated with, homeowners expect to have the same amenities and options that they see on TV. And indoor-outdoor spaces are VERY popular on home design shows. In most parts of the country, people are asking for comfortable outdoor living areas that are connected to the inside by French doors or patio doors that can be opened wide so the indoors flows into the outdoors.    This is especially nice if you do a lot of entertaining.

17.  Low maintenance exteriors. 

Homeowners are looking for siding, windows and exterior trim that don’t have to be regularly painted or refinished.   There are so many beautiful options that are low, or no maintenance, that homeowners are overwhelming steering clear of natural wood products in favor of vinyl, aluminum, fiberglass, brick and fiber cement siding, like Hardie board.

18.  Pet accommodations. 

As an increasing number of homeowners consider their pets members of the family, they’re looking for built-in dog washes and litter box spaces and integrated food and water dishes— features that show that the homeowners are concerned with the comfort and care of their pets.

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19.  Stainless steel appliances. 

Stainless steel appliances are still more popular white, black or colorful kitchen appliances.  Built-in appliances with cabinetry panel overlays are also sought after, especially in higher end kitchens.

20.   Lots of electrical outlets. 

The request for more electrical outlets has increased as more family members have the need to plug in and recharge cell phones, tablets and other electronics.  Most homeowners want several outlets in each room.  A dedicated charging station for family and visitors is a bonus feature that will make your house stand out among the rest. ​


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Well, that’s it. Hopefully you got a couple of good ideas for your own house, or you got confirmation that the features you’ve already planned to include are right on trend.   If you know that several of your social media friends will be building or buying a house in the future or if you know new builders or house flippers who need to know what homebuyers are looking for, you can share this episode with them.  To share from iTunes, you can tap either one of the icons at the bottom left or bottom right of the screen.  If you’re listening from the website, tap the 3 small circles within a circle, that’s found towards the right of the podcast player.

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Before we end today’s episode, let’s go over a couple of quiz questions:




QUIZ:

1. True or False?  Transitional design combines traditional design with contemporary design.  







That’s true.  Folks buying and building homes are most often looking for transitional homes— those that combine the timeless elegance of traditional design and the simple, clean lines of contemporary design.





2.  True or False?  Overlay refrigerator design is completely camouflaged and flush with the other cabinetry.






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That’s false.  Overlay refrigerators are overlaid with a cabinetry panel, but you can still tell that they are refrigerators.  They are almost flush, but not completely flush with the cabinetry.  Instead, overlay fridges stick out a couple of inches so the door can easily open.  Integrated refrigerators are the ones that are completely camouflaged and flush with the cabinets.  It is difficult to tell where an integrated fridge is unless someone points it out.






Please remember that the purpose of this podcast is simply to educate and inform.  It is not a substitute for professional advice.  The information that you hear is based the only on the opinions, research and experiences of my guests and myself.  That information might be incomplete, it’s subject to change and  it may not apply to your project. In addition, building codes and requirements vary from region to region, so always consult a professional about specific recommendations for your home.




Thank you for stopping by this week. Visit me at the BYHYU Facebook page and join me next week for another episode of Build Your House Yourself University—BYHYU.



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How should you coordinate/pair your backsplash and countertop?  Should they be matchy-matchy or contrasting?  Which should you choose first?   And how much influence should your flooring and cabinet choices have on your choice of backsplash and countertop?  This week I’ll give you a few quick tips to help you with making your choices for these two major surfaces of the kitchen (and bathroom).

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It’s one thing to see small samples of countertops, tile, paint and flooring in a showroom or retail space, but to see those design features displayed in new houses is so much more helpful. Not even full sized samples such as doors, plumbing fixtures and lighting fixtures have the same impact in a showroom or a photo as they do up close and personal in real life applications.  That’s why I take as many opportunities as I can to go to new homes around the country.  I want to stay on the pulse of what's new and trending, and what design features seem to be here to stay for the foreseeable future— the ones that emerged several years ago, but don’t seem to be going anywhere (like linear fireplaces).   






I recently went to 2 parades of homes—one in Kansas City and one in the Memphis, TN area. 
I visited about 30 different brand new homes, about 6 in Memphis and the rest in Kansas City. Many of the features that I saw we’ve talked about on other design trend episodes, but I think it’s important to keep revisiting the topic of home design so we don’t build and decorate a brand new house in a way that looks dated soon after we move in.  Here are some of the top design elements  I saw in those parades of homes…



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The Energy Information Administration says that home appliances produce the third largest energy expenditure in the home, representing about 9% of the typical energy bill.  Only heating and cooling, and water heating use more energy.   Specifically, refrigerators and clothes dryers have the highest operating costs per year.



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Because most of us want not only a beautiful, well-designed house, but also one that is energy efficient and/or sustainable, over the coming  months I’ll be doing several episodes/posts where we’ll talk about noted high performance houses that have been covered in the media.  I’m a big believer in learning from others since we may be able to incorporate into our own projects some of design elements and materials used in other recognized green, energy efficient homes.




Let’s get right into it.

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Because of the popularity of white interior walls, and white backgrounds in general on blogs and social media posts, we have grown accustomed to thinking of white as a go-to backdrop for many of our interior spaces.  White is familiar, bright and offers a clean background for highlighting home furnishings and features.  The fresh, clean background is why most museums and galleries use white walls to showcase artwork. White can be a great choice for traditional and contemporary spaces. But to some people, white can come off as cold, boring and sterile and overdone.  







Choosing a white is not as "black and white" as you might think.  There are hundreds of shades of white. You’ve got to put some thought into selecting the right white for your spaces.   Although your eye may be drawn to the the purest, whitest white, be careful, because the whitest white can look, well, kinda like  primer.  Many times a cool white or a warm white is a better choice.  A cool  white is one with blue, gray or green undertones and a warm white has brown, red, orange, yellow or pink undertones.

Did you know that the average home build produces about 8,000 pounds of waste?   And with increasing landfill and building material costs, reducing job site waste could both help the environment and save you a significant amount of money.  The less you have to throw away, the less money you have to spend getting rid of your construction waste.


 


When renting a dumpster for a construction site, you’re charged based on the size dumpster.  The more waste you accumulate, the larger, and more expensive the dumpster you’ll need. In addition, the weight of your debris will also have some baring on the waste management fees.

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When a dumpster is picked up from a construction site for emptying, the dumpster and debris are weighed at the disposal station.  After it has been emptied, the dumpster will be weighed again to determine the amount of waste disposed of.  If you exceed the weight of the dumpster’s capacity, you’re usually be charged an overage fee.  This is an unexpected line item that ideally we want to avoid.   In this week’s episode, I’ll give you some quick tips on how to reduce job site waste so those overage fees are less likely to occur.  Plus, we’ll hear from Angela Phillips from ZTERS, the waste management solutions company that I’ve been working with.  Angela will give us a little more insight how we can manage our waste more efficiently.

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This week's episode is based on an article that I read in Houzz called "10 Home Design Trends on the Rise."  They made this list based of trends that they see in photos that designers and homeowners have submitted, and based on their conversations with design professionals.   This list includes things that I too have been seeing in past few years that I think we'll continue to see in new homes as we go into 2020.



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Don’t call it a comeback, marble’s been here for years.  But in the last decade, marble has become more popular than ever, especially in bathrooms and kitchens.  But… how good of an idea is that?  In this week’s mini lesson, we’ll look at the pros and cons of using marble in our new homes, and the difference between 2 of the most widely requested types of marble:
Calacutta and Cararra marble.



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Before we get into that,  let’s go over a couple of Pro Terms: Topical sealers and Impregnators.

For decades, the standard ceiling height was 8 feet tall—a dimension that resulted from two 4-foot-wide drywall sheets laid together horizontally.  But homes are now being built with standard 9 or 10 foot ceilings on the first floor, and ceilings at 8 or 9 feet tall on the second floor.  




When 8 foot ceilings were standard in most homes, cabinets were often designed to accommodate that height.  Standard cabinets could go all the way to the ceiling by adding crown molding and trim in the gap between the top of the cabinets and the ceiling.   Alternatively, cabinets would extend to a dropdown, drywall soffit within the kitchen. An interior soffit is the drop-down box that runs along the ceiling that often hides plumbing, ducts and electrical wiring. 





With today’s taller ceiling heights, the potential space above standard upper cabinets has become larger and we have to decide how far up we want our cabinetry to go.  Should we leave an open space between the upper cabinets and the ceiling, or should we fill that space with a soffit or with additional cabinetry?  

Last week, we began a mini lesson on the pros and cons of different exterior door styles. We went over 2 of the most common styles: single, standard doors and French doors.  Plus, we talked about a new kid on the block, bifold  doors. In this second part of our list, we’ll discuss  more old school and new school door styles, including sliding doors, pivot doors and dutch doors.  And we’re answering the burning question “Are storm doors still a thing?“




Let's get right into it.


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Whether you’re deciding on what style of door you want for your main front entry, or to your patio, or to any other area that leads to the outdoors, there are several door styles to consider.   It’s not just a matter of choosing a traditional single, or double, French doors for your main entrance. You could also install a pivot door, or a dutch door.  For your patio doors, there are French doors, sliding doors, and bifold doors to consider.  This week and next, we’ll talk about the pros and cons of each style of exterior door.

Last week, I introduced you to roof overhangs.   Remember, a roof overhang is simply an extension of the eave or “edge” of the roof.  The overhang can extend beyond the exterior walls of the house many inches, or a few feet. 





In part 1 of the mini lesson, we talked about how many homeowners and house designers pay too little attention to roof overhangs because they think of them as purely aesthetic. But overhangs have several important functions: they can protect exterior doors, windows, and exterior walls from rain and snow; they can shade windows from hot summertime sun rays; and they can help keep basements and crawl spaces dry by directing rainwater away from the main structure of the house.





We learned that all sides of the house will benefit from 16-18 inch overhangs because those overhangs will protect the house from the elements.   And that the south side of the house will see the most impact from deeper overhangs for shading. Remember, the roof overhangs for shading are usually 24 inches minimally, but more often 36 inches or more. 





I’ve been using the word wide to describe the overhang sizes because that’s what the articles I read used, but I think the correct dimension is deep. Deep is measured from front to back. Wide is technically a side to side measurement.  The depth of overhangs is mainly what determines how much shading they will give (although width matters too).   But I digress…




This week, we’ll go over whether you need deep roof overhangs for shading on the north, east and west sides of your house.    Plus I’ll tell you what you can do to protect your house from the sun’s heat and rain if you either don’t want overhangs, or can’t have them because of building code.  Yep, building codes in some areas don’t allow overhangs.

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Although you may have thought about the color and material you want for your roof, the typical homeowner puts little thought into the actual design of their roof.  And roof overhangs specifically, forget about it.  Roof overhangs haven’t even crossed most people’s minds.    




A roof overhang is simply an extension of the eave or “edge” of the roof (I mistakenly said "house" on the podcast).  The overhang can extend beyond the exterior walls of the house many inches or a few feet. 




In this week’s mini lesson, I’ll tell you why overhangs shouldn’t just be an afterthought.   And why almost every new home should include them, where possible.




Before we get into the meat of the mini lesson, let’s go over a Pro term.  



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Pro term:  Scupper 

Where you place your dishwasher can increase or decrease your kitchen’s functionality and flow.  And although there is no one exact right place that dishwashers should universally go, this week I have a list of quick tips that you should think about before deciding where to put your dishwasher.  If you haven’t heard our Dishwasher Buying Guide Quick Tips, you might want to go to episode 80 and take a listen.

In recent years, homeowners have been opting for fewer upper cabinets to give their kitchens a more open, airy feeling.  Some people want completely empty walls (maybe with a window) where traditional upper cabinets would have gone.  But many homeowners are requesting open shelves, sometimes called floating shelves, in place of some, or all, of their upper cabinets.




People are typically either adamantly for, or adamantly against open shelving in the kitchen.  You’d be surprised how much  emotion is stirred up by the subject of open shelves. Some people claim they are one of the most beautiful and most functional features you can put in a kitchen, and others say that open shelves are not only unsightly, but unsanitary. 



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I have a couple of pocket of doors planned for my new house and when I was talking to a contractor about them, he said “I hate pocket doors.” That's not an uncommon statement.    Some people love pocket doors because they’re sometimes the only small space door solution available, but pocket doors also have some problems.  So let’s talk about the pros and cons of pocket doors and let’s briefly discuss some pocket door quick tips.

One of the first things you’ll have to decide when building a house is whether you want to be an owner-builder, or use a general contractor for your project.  If you are considering building the home yourself, episodes 2 and 7, called "You Can Save Money, Lots of Money, But Should You Build Your Own House?" and "Build Your House Yourself, But Not All By Yourself" will give you some insight on acting as your own general contractor.  




If, however, you want to use a builder to construct your new home, you’ll have to choose between a custom home builder and a production builder.   Much of your decision will rest in how many choices you wish to make and how much input you’d like to have during the construction process. In this week’s episode, we’ll talk about the differences in production builders and custom home builders and I’ll give you the pros and cons of each.  A shout out goes to listener Architects guide for this week’s show idea. 




Let’s get right into it….

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Really quick episode this week about something I recently learned about that can make our lives easier and help us to save on our electricity bills:  Smart outlets or smart plugs.



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First let me tell you the difference between an outlet and a plug.  An outlet is a built-in rectangular receptacle with usually 2 electrical sockets that is an electrician installs in the wall, floor and sometimes drawers.    A plug is a small square or rectangular box with sockets that plugs into an existing electrical outlet.  Plugs are often used when you need more than 2 sockets.  An electrical strip is a variation of a plug.


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If, like me, you’re a fan of HGTV’s Fixer Upper with Chip and Joanna Gaines, I bet you remember the Barndominium episode.  They restored an old barn into a beautiful family home.   Although barndominiums have been around for decades, that episode of Fixer Upper, and the popularity of modern farmhouse and rustic chic decor have made many homeowners decide to build a barndominium for themselves.





So what exactly are barndominiums?  Well, barndominiums are a type of barn, usually, but not always, made of metal. These metal barn structures are then upgraded, finished, and furnished to serve as a comfortable home, at least in part. 





They are an alternative to traditional stick-built new homes for homeowners who love a barn aesthetic and who want to live in an unconventional house.   And although this style house is not for everyone, there are a few homebuilding practices and features of barndominiums that most of us can incorporate into our homes and homebuilding experience,  no matter what home style we choose.

Last week we talked extensively about water softeners and water conditioners.  Water softeners and conditioners help to alleviate many hard water problems, including limescale build-up in your plumbing. But water softeners and conditioners are ineffective in removing chemicals and contaminants that can cause less-healthy, bad-tasting and foul-smelling water.  For those issues, you’ll need a water filtration system.




Although city and county water systems  typically do a good job of removing harmful quantities of contaminants from tap water, they leave behind small amounts of substances that most of use would rather not drink. Some tap water contains the residue of treated sewage, industrial waste, agricultural chemicals, pharmaceuticals, toxic metals like arsenic and mercury, plus fluoride, disinfectants, and storm runoff.  




Other contaminants that might be found in tap water, or especially in well water, include Illness-causing bacteria, viruses, and parasites, and pesticides, herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, as well as Volatile Organic Chemicals (VOCs).




In this week’s mini lesson, we’ll get into the different types of water filtration systems and what sort of certifications you should be looking for before you buy one.  

If your area has hard water, you’ll usually notice.  There will probably be whitish, yellowish, or grayish deposits on shower heads and faucets, and around drains, and sometimes even in toilet bowls.  These deposits are called limescale, scale or scaling and are usually deposits of calcium and/or magnesium.  This scaling is a tell tale sign of hard water.  




It’s said that about 85% of all households in the US have some degree of hard water.  Some of the hardest water in the country is found in the midwest.  Take look at the map below showing the level of water hardness in different areas of the country.



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To commemorate our 100th episode, I want to give you some of my favorite homebuilding and design tips that I’ve learned over the past 2 years of this podcast. I’ve learned so much, but these are some of the most relevant things.




We’ll go over 50 tips in this week’s mini lesson, but since this is the 100th episode, it only makes sense that I give you a list of 100 of the most important pieces of homebuilding knowledge that I've gained.  So we’ll go over 50 tips now and I’ll send you 50 more tips and tricks if you email me at info@BYHYU.com or you can get in touch with me through the "Contact Us"  tab above.



All you have to do is type the number "100" in the subject line and as a thank you for helping me get to episode 100,  I’ll send you a PDF of a list of 50 bonus tips, plus the 50 tips that we’ll cover in today, so you won’t have to take notes.  You’ll end up with a list of 100 of my favorite bits of homebuilding information.  Now don’t worry about me spamming you.  I wouldn’t do that. 




Before we get to the first 50 tips, I want to sincerely thank you for your loyalty and support and for encouraging me to keep the podcast going with your awesome reviews and kind emails.  I especially want to thank you for sharing the show with friends, family and coworkers by text, email and on social media.  You are the reason the show is doing so well. Since I’m not great with social media, I’ve been counting on you to spread the word about the podcast/blog and you’ve done that, so thank you.  




As we move forward with the podcast/blog, I’ll continue to give you quick tips, mini lessons and interviews that will help you make informed decisions about your homebuilding options, but when I actually break ground on my own project, I’ll be doing more regular project updates and I’ll tell you what materials, appliances, fixtures, and methods I’ve decided on and why.   Thank you again for all that you’ve done to help me over the past 2 years.  




Okay, let’s get into the first 50 most relelvant homebuilding tips.
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Did you know that most water heaters use more energy than all other household appliances combined? According to the US Dept of Energy, water heaters account for almost 17% of a home’s energy use.  Other sources say it’s up to 30% of the a home’s energy.  This week’s mini lesson will help you decide if a conventional, storage tank water heater or a tankless water heater is  the better choice for your new home.  And the choice is probably not as cut and dried as you think.
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Conventional, storage tank water heaters are still the most common type of water heaters found in new homes in the US. But tankless water heaters are steadily gaining popularity.  We’ll go over the basic information about how conventional water heaters and tankless water heater work, plus the pros and cons of each system.




Let's start with this week’s pro term.


PRO TERM

Recirculating system:
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