Building a Houseâ€Advice From an Architect

Congratulations on your (soon-to-be) home! While building a new house is an exciting—and possibly mind-boggling—experience for you, it is important to stay involved in every step of the process. Generally speaking, building your new house should not be a passive exercise. A myriad of decisions must be made, and they should be made by you. When you are unable or unwilling to make decisions, you force the builder to make them, and the result may waver from what you were hoping for. To make sure your new home fulfills your own vision, follow the following guidelines for staying involved when building a house. Understand Your Contract No matter what type of contract you sign, you become a party in a legal document involving a massive amount of money for the construction of your new house. Therefore, it is essential that you know your rights—and exercise them. Start by reading the contract thoroughly and understanding it. Remember: You are paying for the knowledge, experience, and abilities of the builders. Youre also paying them a profit above their expenses. So, what do you expect in return? How do you ensure that you get what you expect? Expectations of all parties should be laid out in the contract. Watch Building Costs The average house contains approximately 1,500 to 2,000 square feet. Do you need more space than that? Why? How much more? You pay for each and every square foot of space in your house, whether its occupied, usable, or otherwise. You also want to keep costs in perspective. For example, say the brick you really like costs $10 more per thousand than the standard brick. When a typical amount of 10,000 bricks is involved, thats a total extra expense is $100. Its up to you to decide if the special brick is worth the extra cost, but doing the math yourself in the first place will help you make informed decisions about your home. Overall, be smart. Take care that glitz and gadgets suggested by friends, the builder, or magazines do not get in the way of good basic construction. Bouncy floors where joists are stretched to the maximum are not remedied by a hot tub, flocked wallcovering, skylights, or jazzy door hardware. Comply With Building Codes No, you should not expect to control the number of nails used in your home. However, you should expect a substantially built house that is free of defects and in accord with all applicable codes and regulations. Require proof of such compliance at the closing of your mortgage. Many jurisdictions issue Certificates of Occupancy, which would indicate accord with the minimum code and safety standards. Realize that some details are virtually unchangeable because they need to be done correctly. This includes a properly sized and constructed foundation system, a properly designed and installed structural system, and so on. Changeable items such as finishes and coverings should not distract you from requiring good basic construction. At the same time, watch for things that are not necessarily what you want and that you will not be able to change easily or cheaply. It may be able to be corrected. Question things that just dont look or seem right. Most of the time they indeed are not. Seek some reliable outside, impartial advice—other than your father, even if he is a builder! Be Flexible Be ready and prepared to compromise in order to resolve situations and problems. Be aware, however, of what you may be giving up in this process;  examine and understand both sides. Is the situation worth what you are losing? The builder is fully capable of doing anything or finding someone who can do anything you wish, but anything always comes with a price. Be careful and wary of unique, inordinate, or far-out requests, new technology, and untested materials and equipment. Understand that construction is an imperfect science. Combine that understanding with natural elements (e.g., site conditions, weather, wood members, human foibles), and you might face situations where things could change, must be changed, or simply exceed capabilities. Flat-out errors do happen. Absolute perfection or your idea of perfection may not—and more than likely, will not—be achieved. Drastic imperfections, however, can be corrected, and they should be. It is within your rights to require this. Keep Records Issues not clearly and specifically noted, written, described, or shown will be left up for interpretation by both sides in the future. Therefore, be redundant in your record-keeping,  leaving nothing to chance. Follow up verbal discussions and instructions with written verification. Keep receipts; records of phone calls and other correspondence; samples you approve; sales slips; model, type, and style numbers; and the like. Knowing the exact details of all aspects of the building process can help you immensely. If an issue arises somewhere down the road, there will be no room for doubt or argument, and a resolution can be found quickly and without dispute. Keep It Professional Be pragmatic and absolutely businesslike in all of your dealings with the builders. They are working for you; you are not seeking them as new friends. If a friend or relative performs part of the work, treat that person in exactly the same manner:  Have a contract and demand adherence to your schedule. Dont let a gift or a good price disrupt the project overall. Questions to Ask When Building a House What is a good design for my needs?What is a building code? Does it affect me? How does it work?Overall, who is responsible for my building project?What are good sizes and proportions for rooms? What style do I want?What am I really getting from the builder?What problems do I have in my current home that I dont want to repeat?Where can I find answers and help? How do I make my desires known?What does that line on the drawing mean?What is a dispute? What is a lien?What are specifications? Does the builder write and provide them?What if my builder does something in a way I dont like?When will the house be finished?What is a contract? What does it say? What is my part in it?What is an extra?Is that a good material? Ive never heard of it.What can I change?Who picks the color of the paint, wall coverings, tile, type of wood, siding, etc?Is landscaping included? Are any landscape features guaranteed?What if I disagree with the builder? Can I stop the work?Am I allowed on the job site? Can I inspect the work as it goes up? Can I bring someone with me?If I buy an element of the house myself, who will install it?I have several items that I dont like. Do I have to close on the mortgage right now? About the Author, Ralph Liebing Ralph W. Liebing (1935–2014) was a registered architect, a lifelong teacher of code compliance, and the author of 11 books on architectural drawings, codes and regulations, contract administration, and the construction industry.  A 1959 graduate from the University of Cincinnati, Liebing taught at the University of Cincinnati School of Architecture and the College of Applied Science Technology at Illinois State University. In addition, he trained carpenters union apprentices, directed classes at community education programs, and taught architectural technology for Daytons ITT Technical Institute. He practiced architecture in both Ohio and Kentucky. Liebing published many textbooks, articles, papers, and commentaries. He was a fierce advocate for not only enforcing specifications and codes but for design firms to engage owners in the process.  His publications include Construction of Architecture: From Design to Built, Architectural Working Drawings, and The Construction Industry. In addition to being a Registered Architect (RA), Liebing was a Certified Professional Code Administrator (CPCA), Chief Building Official (CBO), and a Professional Code Administrator. Ralph Liebing was a pioneer in creating useful, professional web content of lasting quality.

Admission Essay on Best Advice I Have Ever Received

Always Be Yourself! When I was fourteen, my family moved house. Although the new home was much bigger, more convenient and my own room was twice the size of the old one, I was extremely unhappy. All my friends appeared to be miles away from me and the atmosphere in my new school seemed quite hostile. Studying well was not a good way to become popular among your class mates, but it guaranteed the nickname of a brown-nose one hundred percent. For me, it was like my worst nightmare coming true. I felt lonely, I could not make any friends, and gradually I decided to stop studying so well in order just to make a couple of friends, with whom I could share at least some of my emotions. Soon, I started doing less homework, skipping classes and wearing outfits approved by my classmates. The first person to notice the changes in my family was my Grandpa. I could see he was deeply upset and finally he decided to talk to me. We discussed the matter and he gave me the best advice I have ever got in my life. â€Å"Always be yourself†, he said. â€Å"If you try to adapt to the circumstances in this way, you lose your identity.† â€Å"Who needs the identity, if I am so lonely?† I thought. I was considering his words again and again, and, finally, I followed his advice. I got down to work, got excellent academic results and changed school in a year. Then I found myself a good company of students who shared my interests and soon I met my best friend. So, my Grandpa turned out to be right and since that time I have never sacrificed my principles in order to be liked.

Using Solid Liquid Extraction Of Caffeine From Tea Leaves

The purpose of this experiment was to use solid-liquid extraction to isolate a crude sample of caffeine from tea leaves and then subsequently purify the isolated sample via sublimation. The two solvents used in the extraction were water and dichloromethane. In addition to caffeine, tea leaves also contain other compounds that must be dealt with including cellulose, proteins/pigments, tannins, and saponins. Cellulose is not soluble in water as a result of its high molecular weight and thereby does not dissolve in water during the boiling process. Proteins and pigments are highly soluble in water and thereby do not present any problems since caffeine is being extracted into the organic layer. Tannins are soluble in the organic layer and can become problems when trying to isolate just caffeine. To deal with Tannins, we add weakly basic CaCO3 during the boiling process so that the ester bonds in Tannins are cleaved thereby producing their corresponding calcium salts, which become water-s oluble. Saponins cause increased solubility of organic molecules in the aqueous layer and are dealt with by salting out the aqueous layer so that it becomes more polar leading to decreased organic solubility in it. Moreover, saponins can cause emulsions to form because of their membrane like properties and this can be dealt with via centrifugation prior to each extraction. Following extraction of caffeine in dichloromethane, the organic solvent can be evaporated so that a crude sample of caffeineShow MoreRelatedEffectiveness Of An Extraction Process And Purification Process955 Words   |  4 Pageseffectiveness of an extraction process and purification process by sublimation is observed and used to selectively separate caffeine from teabags. In the first part of the experiment, water soluble materials, including caffeine, within the teabags are extracted into hot water because the solubility of caffeine in water increases as temperature increases. This is due to the concept that in creasing kinetic energy through increasing temperature will allow the molecules in the solute to break apart from the intermolecularRead MoreExtraction of Caffeine from Tea Leaves1151 Words   |  5 PagesExtraction of Caffeine from Tea Leaves Introduction Caffeine is soluble in boiling water and as a result it is easily extracted from tea bags by steeping in hot water. This process leaves behind the water insoluble portions of the tea bag. However, water extracts more than just caffeine, so a final separation is done with an organic solvent that will dissolve primarily caffeine. The organic solvent used in this experiment is Dichloromethane (CHâ‚‚Clâ‚‚). Dichloromethane is less polar than waterRead MoreEssay Separation of Benzoic Acid and Acetanilide1243 Words   |  5 PagesReport 13 October 2011 Table of Contents Separation of Benzoic Acid and Acetanilide 3 Extraction and Purification of Caffeine from Tea 4 Extraction of Trimyristin from Nutmeg 5 Conversion of t-butanol to t-butyl chloride 6 Appendix 7 Calculations 8 Literature and Experimental Values of Benzoic Acid and Acetanilide 9 Experimental Caffeine IR 10 Literature Caffeine IR 11 Experimental Trimyristin IR 12 Literature Trimyristin IR 13 Experimental Tert-Read MoreExtraction Of Caffeine From Tea1878 Words   |  8 Pages EXTRACTION OF CAFFEINE FROM TEA Abstract The method used to separate the organic compound from a mixture of compound is the extraction. It is done by the dissolving of one or more compounds in a good solvent. The solvent which was used in this experiment was 15 ml of dichloromethane into 125ml of water. Caffeine was extracted from 9.19 g of TAZO Awake English Breakfast. Caffeine is soluble in water in 2.2 g/ml at 20 C; it is more soluble than dichloromethane which has 10.2g/ml at 20Read MoreUsing The Solid Liquid And Liquid Extraction Techniques For Extract A Strong Acid1613 Words   |  7 Pages Extraction Aleigha Spaulding Joseph Osazee 10-6-15 Abstract: This report presents the percentage recoveries found when using the solid-liquid and liquid-liquid extraction techniques to extract a strong acid, weak acid, base, and neutral compound from a mixture. During the solid-liquid section of the experiment, 0.5 M NaHCO , 0.5 M NaOH, 0.5 M HCl, and distilled water are used to dissolve and separate the acid, phenol, and amine solutions from the mixture, leaving the neutralRead MoreMethods Of A Solvent System For Extraction1652 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction Extraction is a technique that is commonly used to separate mixtures, despite whether the components are solids or liquids. One of the most well-known examples of extraction is the brewing of tea or the making of coffee. Every pot of coffee or cup of tea involves solid-liquid extraction. The soluble flavor and caffeine are extracted from the solid tea leaves or ground coffee beans into hot water (the solvent). Insoluble plant material is left behind in the tea bag or coffee filterRead MoreEssay Acid Base Extraction1511 Words   |  7 Pages Acid Base Extraction The purpose of this laboratory assignment was two-fold, first, we were to demonstrate the extraction of acids and bases, finally, determining what unknowns were present. Second, we were to extract caffeine from tea. These two assignment will be documented in two separate entities. Introduction: Acid/base extraction involves carrying out simple acid/base reactions in order to separate strong organic acids, weak organic acids neutral organic compounds and basic organic substancesRead MoreIsolation of Caffeine from Tea Leaves1831 Words   |  8 PagesIsolation of Caffeine from Tea Leaves Introduction Caffeine is a member of the class of compounds organic chemists call alkaloids. Alkaloids are nitrogencontaining basic compounds that are found in plants. They usually taste bitter and often are physiologically active in humans. The names of some of these compounds are familiar to you even if the structures aren’t: nicotine, morphine, strychnine, and cocaine. The role or roles these compounds play in the life of the plants in which they are foundRead MoreOrganic Lab3305 Words   |  14 Pagesof an organic compound? Soluble impurities affect the melting point of a solid in the following manner. a. The presence of an impurity in the molten compound reduces its vapor pressure thus lowering the melting point of the compound. b. Broaden the melting point range. 2. For what tow purpose are melting points routinely used a. To determine the identity of an organic solid. b. To determine the purity of an organic solid. 3. What effects on the measured melting point would you expect in eachRead MoreTea Beverage (Jamaica Cherry)7403 Words   |  30 Pageshttp://www.rollybrook.com/carnitas-3.htm Compositional and Sensory Evaluation of Jamaican Cherry (Muntingia calabura) Leaf Tea Substitute A Thesis Presented to the Department of Food Technology College of Education University of Santo Tomas In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Bachelor of Science in Food Technology Janerica C. Camacho Gracia Remedios Veronica V. Em Amy M. Tolentino Kristine U. Villaruel Dyann Aissa B. Yu March 2011 CERTIFICATE OF APPROVAL

Framing a life story free essay sample

Why do you think that the decision to act on ones values is sometimes labeled as naive? I think the reason why we label a decision as naive is because somehow a person cannot accept the truth or reality. He or she doesnt clearly determine his or her goals that may lead to failure. Why do you think that the individual who decides to act on his/her values is sometimes labeled as unwilling to make the difficult calls or not committed to the firm? I consider it as a betrayal.That person cannot commit to the team (film)s goals. Moreover, it may affect the value of the team itself. To overcome such a circumstance, we have to punish him/her by not participating him/her in the team, We can define our own story. Why do you think that the Individual who decides to act on his/her values Is sometimes labeled as not driven to succeed? This kind of person Is really hard to commit so how could someone become successful if he/she cannot keep his/her own promises. We will write a custom essay sample on Framing a life story or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Success that really drives us is something that must be deeply rooted for It to serve us In times of stressful choices. Self-reflection and assessment exercises about our definitions of success and purpose are useful In this case. Can you Identify alternate stories or frames to use to change these labels, at least for the actor him or herself? The case protagonist from A Personal Struggle with the Definition of Success or the leadership development class participants In Naivetà © or Boldness.