Uncategorized – Page 18

26 12, 2004

News Flash: Good builders earn their money

By Steve McKee|2004-12-26T05:05:13+00:00December 26th, 2004|Before you begin, Uncategorized|Comments Off on News Flash: Good builders earn their money

Builders. They do nothing less than create the built environment in which humanity conducts its affairs. They’ve done so since ancient times. Today you can visit Roman structures that are still standing after two thousand years and marvel at the skill of the builders. Now, can you just find a good local one to come and do your remodel project? As a homeowner seeking to remodel, you are going to allow a builder to come in and destroy your home (your most special place in the world!) and then give them lots of money to put it back together different [...]

14 11, 2004

The wonderful failure that is Benicia

By Steve McKee|2004-11-14T05:06:14+00:00November 14th, 2004|Benicia, Uncategorized|Comments Off on The wonderful failure that is Benicia

Ever notice the easy way that architectural styles co-mingle in Benicia? It’s fairly unique, even among older cities, to have as much diversity as we do. Take a look around at the different house combinations in the older parts of town. A couple of folk Victorians may share a block with a Spanish style cottage, a World War II era duplex, and a Craftsman bungalow. On a corner may be a little house that started its life as someone’s fishing cabin. Sometimes you’ll find a barn tucked in somewhere. (Of all the clues that show us that lifestyles have evolved [...]

26 09, 2004

Energy laws and your building project

By Steve McKee|2004-09-26T05:07:08+00:00September 26th, 2004|Elements of Design, Uncategorized|Comments Off on Energy laws and your building project

Title 24. That was its clunky legislative name, and that’s how it continues to be known on building permits and at job sites throughout California. It’s the energy efficiency compliance law California has had in effect since the energy crunches of the 1970’s. Any building project in the state is going to comply with it. Documents showing this compliance need to be submitted when applying for a building permit or the permit will be denied. Title 24 requires that all new construction and additions meet certain minimum standards for energy efficiency. In houses, it’s done by looking at the project’s [...]

14 08, 2004

Architecture goes to the movies

By Steve McKee|2004-08-14T05:08:20+00:00August 14th, 2004|Random observations, Uncategorized|Comments Off on Architecture goes to the movies

The other day my family was watching “The Birds” by Alfred Hitchcock. Halfway through, Jessica Tandy finds her friend dead with his eyes pecked out. Stunned, she scrambles back into her truck, speeds madly across a field back to her house, climbs out and stumbles up her front porch, completely speechless, in a total panic to get inside. So my comment to my wife was “Cool newel post.” Which, of course, it was. The front porch rail was pretty average, but the newel post at the top step made for a great little accent. It was shaped from a simple [...]

11 07, 2004

What’s really up with a 2nd floor addition

By Steve McKee|2004-07-11T05:09:17+00:00July 11th, 2004|Elements of Design, Thinking like an architect, Uncategorized|Comments Off on What’s really up with a 2nd floor addition

I met with a homeowner last year who was in the early phases of her thinking about where to add a master bedroom addition to her one story house. Should she go up or sideways? Which was the cheaper square footage to add? She had met with a couple different builders and had not received a black and white answer and was frustrated that no one could give her a simple response. Truth is, there is no simple answer to this question, but the one thing I knew with some certainty was that the next builder or designer to come [...]

30 05, 2004

Home design in earthquake country

By Steve McKee|2004-05-30T05:10:06+00:00May 30th, 2004|Elements of Design, Uncategorized|Comments Off on Home design in earthquake country

It’s sort of a rite of passage as a Californian to experience your first earthquake. My twelve year old has one under her belt. It was the Napa quake of a few years ago and we both felt it because we were sitting still in the front room together. The house swayed a couple of times and I of course began to excitedly jabber on about what had just happened. Though often just a brief and fun diversion, these quakes have the potential to get really big and become a life shattering event. Just ask the good people living in [...]