The Ancon Group - Design, Renovations and Estate Management

Weighing the Merits of Spray Foam Insulation

Scott Jacobs’ 1,100-sq. ft. Cape is a perfect candidate for an energy upgrade. The 90-year-old house is gutted, and Jacobs wants to insulate it well even if his budget is not unlimited.

The house, located in Climate Zone 6, now has a 1/2-in. thick layer of rigid foam on the exterior walls. Jacobs’ plan is to insulate the house from the inside with spray polyurethane foam.

“This is my problem,” Jacobs writes in a Q&A post at GreenBuildingAdvisor. “Three companies have provided estimates now. Two say open-cell foam, 7 in. to 8 in., on the roof and 3.75 in. on the walls. One company just quoted 7 in. open-cell foam on the roof and 2 in. closed-cell foam on walls. Estimates vary between $4,500 and $5,500.”

First, Jacobs wonders, how do the 2 in. of closed-cell foam compare with 3 3/4 in. of open-cell foam? And second, for someone with not much money to spend, would installing rigid foam insulation in the rafter bays himself be a reasonable option?

That’s the topic for this month’s Q&A Spotlight.  Read the entire article here.  Be sure to check out the comments section.  It contains some really interesting informatioin pro and con.

 

10 Great Products You Should Consider in 2012

Every year, we offer our suggestions for 10 products builders should be using (or thinking about using) in their houses.

Our list this year has no particular theme, except to help you and your buyers consider some new ideas. It includes products that are merely about aesthetics and design, some that are practical, and some that will help improve the energy efficiency of your homes.

Just as a refresher, in the past we’ve recommendedelectric radiant-heated floors, glass tiles, dual-flush toilets, tankless water heaters, water recirculators, and heat-pump water heaters. Low-flow faucets got a nomination one year, as did folding patio doors,humidity-sensing bath fans, crack-isolation floor underlayment, linear drains, ICF foundations, metal roofs, solid core doors, dimmers, and EPA-certified wood stoves.

 

Read the entire story and see the slideshow of products here.

 

5 Internet Marketing Trends for SMBs to Watch in 2012

In just the blink of an eye it will be 2012. And with that comes the opportunity for us to focus in on the hottest trends of the upcoming New Year, and maybe even those that eluded us in years prior. While you’re putting the finishing touches on your action plan for 2012, let’s dig into some of the hot Internet trends for SMBs to watch over the next 12 months. After all, you want to kick off the New Year on the right foot, don’t you?

via smallbiztrends.com

Salvage Beauty: A trio of historic structures gains new life in the Virginia countryside

Joe Svatos’ 217-year-old log cabin in Rappahannock County, Va., came perilously close to meeting an undignified end. “I bought the property for the land, which had this shack on it,” says the Washington, D.C.–based commercial real estate developer. “I thought we would get rid of it.” But once the dilapidated building’s century-old wood siding was removed, Svatos realized he had a historically significant structure—one that overlooks the tranquil Hazel River and boasts a stunning view of a famous Shenandoah National Park peak known as Old Rag Mountain. So rather than tearing down the cabin and its 1856 addition, he decided to transform it into his own weekend residence.

Architect David Haresign, of Bonstra | Haresign Architects in Washington, had always made a good impression on Svatos. Haresign typically works on larger urban projects, but he eagerly accepted Svatos’ request to design the cabin’s renovation. Svatos chose Greg Foster of Timberbuilt Construction as his general contractor because of the Flint Hill, Va.–based builder’s impeccable track record with both historic houses and more modern residences. Despite the team’s wide range of experience, though, no one involved had ever taken on a job quite like this. “None of us knew how complex and challenging it would be,” Svatos says.

Read the entire story and see the slideshow of this amazing project here.