From the Builder

Greetings!

This month has practically flown by in what seems like a blink of an eye. I sure have been thankful for the warmer weather! Spring flowers are popping up everywhere, the grass is turning green and the new leaves appearing on the trees sure are a welcome sight.

At our house, this means spring cleaning time, both indoors and out. So I have included some articles to help you tackle some of those “spring cleaning” chores. Hopefully these tips will make your tasks easier and enable you to spend more time enjoying this wonderful weather.

It seems the longer we live in our homes, the more personal belongings we seem to collect. Maybe you have been thinking about building some type of storage building, shop or barn to store your belongings. If so, be sure to read the article discussing garages, shops and barns. It’s loaded with great ideas on how to design and plan for this type of structure as well as innovative ideas to create a multi-use building that is sure to maximize your return on your investment.

Also, be sure to check out our Commodity Watch section as we have discovered a great opportunity for you to save on appliances and Energy Star equipment during your renovation or remodel.

Enjoy!

Jeff Hibbard

 

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Garages, Shops and Barns…Moving Beyond Just Storage

Homeowners have always had a need for additional storage space – outside of the home. We need to keep our vehicles protected from harsh weather, our tools stored for future use, and our animals need a place to eat and sleep as well. Not to mention all the other valuable things we seem to collect over the years the longer we live in our homes.

We love extra storage space, but hate the way the average prefabricated storage building looks. Most are unattractive, cheaply made sheet metal or plywood box with all the durability of a rice-paper umbrella. This explains why many sheds are relegated to the deepest, darkest corner of the backyard. Some neighborhood associations have even banned outbuildings altogether because they consider them eyesores.

In the past, your barn, shop, or garage tended to be strictly practical, often made of metal and sometimes sold as a pre-fabricated structure delivered to one’s property on a truck. That is changing rapidly. Versatile designs with enough flexibility to fit comfortably into any yard have become the norm. The installation of widows, both sizes and amounts, lets you create just the right amount of interior sunlight and shade, while keeping the storage building within your budget. In other words, you can have practicality, flexibility, and a beautiful and stylish backyard building, all in one. But you need to plan ahead.

Pre-Planning your Building.
When you decide to build a garage, shop or barn, invest some time considering what other uses the building might serve in terms of storage and extra space. Many people find themselves in need of storage to accommodate items such as a lawn mower, patio furniture, and pool supplies. However, your garage, shop, or barn can be planned to serve as a very functional and stylish workshop or a combination of both storage and workshop.  To read more, click here...
 

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Spring has sprung and the yard work has begun!

Break out your gloves, rakes and wheelbarrows…your yard needs some attention. Get the landscaping season off on the right foot with these spring yard maintenance tips. Bring your "spring cleaning" spirit outdoors and clean old mulch off perennial beds, so they wont be smothered. Apply compost to beds and get new compost piles going. Make sure rototillers are prepared for tilling gardens and mowers are tuned up for mowing.

The following are some great tips and some common pitfalls often encountered. We hope this advice will help you to keep a beautiful yard all summer long:

Neglecting the Soil
A good lawn begins with good soil. If your lawn has you scratching your head, it may be time to get your soil tested. Unhealthy soil will spawn an unhealthy lawn. There's nothing all of the lawn care products in the world can do to solve this if you're not focusing on the right issue. Always be mindful of how important your soil is!  To read more, click here...
 

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I don’t do windows!

Cleaning our windows is just a necessary part of keeping our home tidy and clean and we just can't neglect them. After all, they are our way to see the world outside our home. Windows get dirty very easily, too. There are so many reasons for these dirty windows such as: smog, soot, smoke, and just general grime.

Pros recommend cleaning your windows monthly. Perhaps this is too often for some of us, but it is less work when we do this task regularly. Why let buildup occur and then have to work harder when one finally decides to clean their windows?

Have you ever wondered how the professional window washers move so fast with the squeegee, and the windows turn out perfect? Well, there are some tricks to it that are simple to learn. Once you do, you may even enjoy washing your windows. It is possible!  To read more, click here...
 

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Hibbard Project Spotlight

A former customer came to us with a need for additional storage. Hibbard Construction had already completed a remodel to their well known, historical landmark home here in Caldwell and it was the customer’s desire to build a garage that stayed true to the construction, design and craftsmanship from the time period of which their landmark home was built.

They wanted to compliment their home and design a structure that looked as if it has always been a part of the property. Considerations were made regarding roof pitch, decorative trim, crown moulding and special windows to achieve the desired result. Special garage doors were ordered to complete the look and feel of the project.

Not only did the customer desire a building that “matched” their home, but they also wanted function as well. A guest/bonus room was added above the garage and a pass-through door was included in the rear of the structure to allow access and storage for equipment, trailers, or recreational vehicles behind the structure.

The customer really thought through the design and use of this building and created a wonderful space that has many, many uses!

View photos of this custom garage with the historical charm below.

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A Custom Garage with Historical Charm

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