12 Design tips for the Garage/Workshop

Wednesday, November 5th, 2008 5:04 pm

By Scott Lee McElyea

I like to fancy myself a woodworker along with many other hobbies my wife would never let me do at the kitchen table. In my garage; I work on our vehicles, build custom wooden canoes, and design and build furniture, jewelry boxes, etc. I also have to store bicycles, lawn equipment, camping gear and a chest freezer. To say the least, my 20’x20’ two car garage plan is incapable of housing any cars that do not have the Matchbox logo on the bottom. The encumbered space is loaded to the hilt and if I want to work on a hobby it is usually done in the driveway. Read the rest of this entry »

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Can House Design Promote Stronger Families?

Thursday, October 30th, 2008 12:05 pm

By Scott Lee McElyea

I know it might seem a little unusual for a designer to bring up family dynamics, but I believe the home plan can actually affect the way the family interacts with each other. I believe that this effect is multiplied when children are living in the house. Today, so many working people are being pressured to work longer hours, travel more, and bring their work home, making it possible to go multiple days without even seeing children living in the same house. Read the rest of this entry »

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Designing the Efficient House Plan

Thursday, October 30th, 2008 11:29 am

By Scott Lee McElyea

Here lately, most of us are looking for ways to cut costs in many different ways. Many of us experienced great finical growth that is now being followed by a large down turn. A large amount of people are in houses that were with-in their budget before but now it is not a practical house plan and is looking to down size. Don’t worry; living in a smaller house can be a wonderful change of pace to those who are leaving a house that was as bigger than they actually needed before. Read the rest of this entry »

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Residential Fire Sprinkler Mandate

Tuesday, October 28th, 2008 10:30 am

By Scott Lee McElyea

The International Code Council passed a new fire sprinkler mandate this September in an overwhelming vote of 1,283 in favor of the mandate compared to 470 against. The new fire sprinkler mandate will require all one and two family homes built on or after January 1, 2011 to include a home fire sprinkler system. This new code is accompanied by many mixed feelings and opinions.

Supporters of home sprinkler systems stress that in the event of a house fire, these sprinklers will allow people more time to evacuate their homes during a fire by preventing flashover. Flashover occurs when the temperature in a room reaches a point where all combustible materials burst into flames. They also point out that many homes and the property within them will be saved. Read the rest of this entry »

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Home Plans a different way. The right way!

Wednesday, October 22nd, 2008 3:39 pm

By Bill Elliott

In today’s times market share is everything. The day of the “me too” home plan business is over. AVID started our house plan company on the philosophy of great products and great service. With our superior product line and excellent services we have been growing in a down market. Our model has been proven as the “better mouse trap”. During the conception and development of our company’s business plan in the past 2 ½ years AVID has proven time and again our services and products are in high demand. Plan companies have a “me too attitude. Service is lacking in the retail plan industry. Read the rest of this entry »

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