We are in the middle of our Great Island, New Hampshire historic face-lift and it is coming along very nicely. This year New Hampshire has seen some nasty weather, but it hasn’t slowed Diamond Hill Builders down one bit. We have been adding photos to our website gallery and our Facebook business profile.

The new height added on the second floor has opened up the space and created some amazing views. The front of the house went from two standard window dormers to three windows with a full dormer. One standard double hung in the middle with double hung windows mulled together on either side. Now the light on the second floor will be dramatically increased and with the widows mulled together the views will not be obstructed.

All the windows in the home are Low-E argon glass windows, helping reduce heat transfer through them. With this house so close to the water and our wintry conditions these windows can reduce energy loss by 30% – 50%. They will also help with keeping some of our high heat summer temperatures outside.

Like this Great Island home, many homes built in the 70’s were built with exterior walls made up of 2×4 construction. We added 2 inches to each exterior stud making them more like a home constructed today with 2×6 studs. This way we will add more insulation value to the home’s exterior walls.

We hope you have enjoyed the project so far and if you have any questions please ask them below or on our Facebook page.

We went through many rounds of the approval process with the town, but after presenting our plans to use modern new construction vinyl windows and Shake style siding on the home, we were the only contractor in the state of New Hampshire to receive such approval.

First things first – Part 1

We started the project by gutting the inside while keeping some historical character per the request of the homeowner. The historical front-door will remain, allowing the home to show its character.  All the windows and exterior siding was removed and all signs of asbestos were removed from the kitchen area and the basement furnace. One of the largest areas of improvement will be the second floor. The roof will be removed to allow us to bring the interior wall height up to eight feet in height.  Below is a video overview of the project.

We will be documenting the whole process with photos on our home remodeling section of our website and videos will be posted to our Youtube page.  You can see the main building plans as well.

If you have any questions about our process please leave them below, we would love feedback!

Newcastle, New Hampshire – December 2, 2010

The 1940’s style Cape Cod home on Great Island will be transformed into an energy efficient home over the next four months with such products from Paradigm windows, AZEK trim and CertainTeed vinyl shakes. The roof will be removed and the exterior walls increasing, making the interior room height of eight feet. “It’s truly amazing the efficiency we can get from building products today,” said Chris Howlett. “We are pleased that the homeowners will be able to keep the historical structure of the house, while making modern improvements and bringing it up to some of  today’s building standards.”

With the help from EnviroVantage from Epping, New Hampshire, Diamond Hill Builders is also removing some asbestos flooring found in the kitchen and the furnace in the basement. The new plans were designed by local architect Charles Hoyt Designs. As a full service construction company, Diamond Hill Builders prides itself on managing the whole project from start to finish.

Diamond Hill Builders offers a complete line of building and remodeling services. Whether you need a new roof, kitchen or addition, we will partner with you and use the highest quality products to bring your  visions to life.  Located in the heart of Southern NH, we can service a range of clients throughout Southern NH and the Seacoast.

Today’s homeowners tend to look for more space in their homes from kitchens to basements and garages, but may never think about actual living space in the attic. If local business codes permit, you can add more adequate living space and ensure there is plenty of head room and light for your new space.

What are your ideas to increase more space in your home? Can we help?

1. Kitchen
   The #1 meeting room in the whole house. Today’s kitchens are the focal point for many designs. Design ideas can come from anywhere, but your contractor should be able to tell you the best use of your space.
   
2. Bathroom
   Another area of the home which can greatly increase your homes value. Getting rid of the old 70’s vanity with something new can greatly help with value and possibly storage areas in the bathroom.
   
3. Three Season Deck
   A great way to bring the inside out. There are times when the weather is in between too hot and too cold, that is when a three season deck is just the right place to be. (?) With electrical, cable or a tie-in to existing plumbing, your three season room could rival the kitchen.
   
4. In-law Apartment
   With parents living longer each year, a great way to bring the family back together is with an in-law apartment. With their own separate access you can care for loved ones as if they were next door.
   
5. Built-in Storage
   Many homeowners would love more storage, but don’t think they have the space. There are so many areas of home construction that does not get used appropriately. Creating built-ins underneath a stairway is one solution.

Budgets
One of the most crucial parts of any home remodeling is establishing your budget. The homeowners budget determines what can be performed by the contractor. An experienced contractor will work with you on budgets and possibly offer financing solutions. Financing solutions are usually offered by reputable companys with good banking relationships.

Time-lines
All projects take time and do not happen in one week like the folks over at Extreme Makeover. Be realistic about your project, but make sure the contractor gives you a timeline of when particular aspects of the project will be completed.

Connections, Licencing and References
It is so important that you feel a great connection with your contractor. You may get a really low bid from someone, but you really do not feel a connection with them. Remember, these people are going to be on your property for many many days. With new laws here in New Hampshire, make sure your contractor is lead certified. You should ask to see your contractor’s certification prior to hiring them. Contractors performing work without the certification face penalties of $37,500 per day!

Are there any other things you feel increase your homes value?

Should I get a new roof or shingle over existing roof? There is an upside and a downside for both scenarios. You should definitely be informed by a contractor of the pros and cons before you decide. If you have had leaking in the past chances are you could have some rot in your plywood or rafters and therefore you should go with a new roof. A good contractor will inspect all aspects and list possible scenarios for problems.

A roof has basically two functions. The main function is to keep moisture out of your house and to keep moisture;  that is produced by activity in your house, from getting out incorrectly. One way it would leave incorrectly would be from a roof not being vented properly.  Your roof is a major distributor of air in your home.  When a roof is properly vented it will help your house breathe.

Four signs your roof should be looked at by a professional.

1. Shingle curls
2. Moss growth
3. Discoloration or loss of grit
4. Ice dams with leaks

Shingle Curls: Shingle curls are due to many factors, but mostly due to the age and the type of shingle. Having a brief lesson from the installer on different types of shingles is a must. Asphalt shingles will give you an extended life if installed on a new roof. Remember, if you put any kind of new shingle on top of an old curling shingle, your chances are high that the new shingles will cause problems too.

Discoloration or loss of grit: Improper ventilation will produce extreme temperatures in the attic space, both hot and cold. When roof ventilation is not performed to building codes, it can tend to age the roof much faster than the manufacturer intended.
Moss Growth: Moss growth is most common from having improper ventilation. Even in the cold regions like New England, moss is prevalent when roofs are not proper ventilated. Two different forms of ventilation are recommended by most manufactures.

Ice Dams: Ice dams are caused by melting snow around the perimeter of the home and they tend to backup under the shingles. If you do not the have proper ice and water shield installed you could get water leaking into your home. Homeowners who choose to go over existing shingles now need to remember the two spots ice can back-up under the shingles. If ice gets past the ice and water shield it will leak into your home.  People who have gutters and do not use a heating element should use an extra “run” of ice and water shield, because gutters tend to create larger ice dams further up the roof.

Submit any questions or comments below and we will try to help.