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Build Your House Yourself University

Wish you knew more about the biggest investment you will most likely ever make? Build Your House Yourself University (byhyu) will teach you to save money and make smart decisions about the construction of the place you and your family will call HOME. We will help you understand residential construction— simplify and demystify the design build process. You’ll come away with successful strategies for building your own house, with or without a general contractor. Become an educated consumer, even if you prefer to buy, rather than build a new house. Complex construction jargon and best practices will be explained in easy to understand terms. It’s not the typical DIY (do it yourself) show. You will learn how to MANAGE the labor, not DO the labor for your new house. Join me, Michelle Nelson, host and fellow informal residential construction student. I’ll share the research I find on home design and building as I prepare to build my home. Together, our community of future home builders, will learn the tips, tricks and trends of experienced contractors and industry experts. I’ll interview owner-builders and construction professionals. During our mini lessons, I’ll inform you about framing, flooring, windows, insulation, kitchen cabinets and countertops…almost anything having to do with new construction homes. You’ll hear about energy efficiency and green building too. There will be product reviews in which you will be introduced to cutting edge, as well as, tried and true products and services. And in keeping with the university theme, episodes will end with short, fun quizzes. If we do our due diligence BEFORE we start construction, we will actually start construction with the most difficult part of the project behind us. Let’s put in the time, effort, preparation and research BEFORE we break ground and building our homes will be much easier and more enjoyable.
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Now displaying: Page 8
Oct 4, 2017

I recently got a request from a listener named Don. He asked me to discuss home generators. On the heels of so many storms that have affected the United States and the Caribbean, we definitely need to at least consider installing a home generator. They can provide power during the outages that often accompany major storms. Thank you, Don, for a great show idea.

We’ll discuss the 2 general types of generators that can be used during power outages— permanent, standby generators (also called whole house generators) and portable, backup generators.

Show notes at BYHYU.com

Sep 27, 2017

So this week I have a project update. I told you about the trouble that I had getting my house plan started a few weeks ago in BYHYU 079-- My House Plans-- Back To The Drawing Board (Literally!)

But now, I have a good report. I’ll tell you about the treasures that I’ve found since recording that episode, including a markup tool that I used to tweak my house plan and the person that I’ve got helping me.

Show notes at BYHYU.com

Sep 20, 2017

You’ve probably dreamed of having a fireplace in your living room, master bedroom, outdoor living space or even your master bathroom. Fireplaces these days are far more than a practical source of heat. That’s why people not only in Vermont and Michigan want them, but those building homes in California, Texas and even Las Vegas plan to have fireplaces installed in their dream homes. Fireplaces add beauty, character, coziness, and drama to almost any space and they also add to the perceived value of a house.

This week, I’ll give you the pros and cons of the different types of fireplaces, including wood burning fireplaces, gas fireplaces, electric fireplaces and alcohol burning fireplaces.

Show notes at BYHYU.com

Sep 13, 2017

Last week we talked about the pros of cons of the different types of pool construction. After you decide what type of pool structure you want, you’ll have to decide want type of sanitization system you’ll use to keep your pool free of bacteria, viruses, and algae. The most common systems are chlorine, saltwater, and ultraviolet light. We’ll briefly go over each system and discuss the advantages of each.

Cost, maintenance, and health concerns are the main reasons to choose one sanitization system over another. When making your decision, be realistic about your budget and your sensitivity to chlorine and your willingness to perform or pay for maintenance.

Show notes at BYHYU.com

Sep 6, 2017

This week’s episode will give you the pros and cons of different types swimming pools in hopes of helping you decide whether your dream house should even include a swimming pool, and if so, what kind.   We’ll compare vinyl pools, fiberglass pools and concrete pools this week and next week we’ll talk about sanitation systems, including chlorine, salt water, and ultraviolet systems.  We'll begin the lesson by briefly discussing how a pool might impact the resale value of your house. 

Show notes at BYHYU.com

Aug 30, 2017
Even if, like me, you want hardwood, tile and/or vinyl flooring throughout most of your house, many of us love the warmth, style and soft surface that carpet provides, especially in bedrooms.  Carpeting also muffles sound, so it can be especially practical in kids bedrooms or playrooms.  
 
This week’s episode will give you a better understanding how to choose quality carpeting.  Carpeting that should last you at least 15 or 20 years.
 
Shownotes at BYHYU.com
Aug 23, 2017

This week we have the final part of my interview with Sue Burkett of Owens Corning.  She’s educating us about how we can make a statement with roof color using Owens Corning roof shingles. 

If you think of the front of your house like a face, then the roof is like hair.  And roof color, like hair color, can drastically alter the overall appearance and reflect your personal style.

What I love about Owens Corning shingle colors is that they have so much dimension.  In keeping with our hair analogy, their shingles aren’t just flat, uninteresting colors.  Instead, the roof shingles have depth, kind of like highlights and low lights in hair color. 

Take a look at Owens Corning.com for inspirational photos of their roof shingles and design tools that will let you test out different roof colors on photos of sample houses that they have on their site or on house photos that you can upload yourself.

Show notes at BYHYU.com

Aug 16, 2017

Too often we think of our home’s roof as only a structural element, when, in fact, choosing roofing that’s also stylish and unique is a great opportunity to make your house stand out from others in the neighborhood.  On average, a roof accounts for 40% of the home’s exterior appearance.  So choosing the perfect roof color is vitally important in building a distinctive and attractive dream home.

This week and next week, we’ll hear about Owens Corning Roofing. Now, you probably know Owens Corning’s insulation by its signature pink color.  But they also produce other products for the home, including roofing.  Sue Burkett will tell us about Owens Corning roof shingles, which come in beautiful hues that are tasteful, but far from ordinary.

Show notes at BYHYU.com

Aug 9, 2017

This week we're talking about dishwashers. We’ll cover some of the newest and most popular options that you’ll have to choose from when selecting a new dishwasher.  Since most of our homes already had a dishwasher installed when we bought them, many of us have never had to shop for a dishwasher.  I’m hoping these 12 quick tips will help you narrow your choices. 

Show notes at BYHYU.com

Aug 2, 2017

Welcome to episode 79 of Build House Yourself University—BYHYU. I’m Michelle Nelson, your host and fellow student, and together we’ll learn the basics of home design and construction and demystify the building process, so we can ask the right questions and build quality dream homes, with or without a general contractor.

This week I’ll give you the surprising update on my project.  I’ve hit a stumbling block (actually two).   But, I’m working through it.  No one said the road would be easy. 

Show notes at  BYHYU.com

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Jul 26, 2017

If you’ve decided to hire a builder to be a general contractor, site supervisor, or even a consultant for the construction of your new house, there are a whole slew of questions that you’ll want to ask him before you commit to working with him.  There’s the basic list of questions that you’ve probably heard before.  These are questions that most people ask when they are vetting, or investigating, a builder.   I bet you can guess many of them:

Are you licensed and insured?

How many years have you been building?

What kind of warranty do you offer?

How do you handle change orders?

So, there are also a few other questions that I came across last week that go beyond what the average homeowner typically asks. This list of questions is from one of my favorite websites, energyvanguard.com.  That blog post was called “10 questions to ask your prospective builder.”  We’ll cover 9 or those 10 question today.

Show notes at BYHYU.com

www.facebook.com/BYHYU

Jul 12, 2017

I know what you’re thinking… Really, Michelle? A full mini lesson on kitchen sinks?  White or stainless steel.  What else is there to think about?  What’s the big deal? 

Well, even if, like me, you don’t cook most days of the week, you do probably use your kitchen sink every single day, and probably several times a day. 

The kitchen sink is one the hardest working fixtures in the entire house.  So, we need to choose the best sink for our kitchen routine and our kitchen design.

Some sink materials are tougher than others.  Taking the time to become familiar with different sink features and materials will help you find a sink that will make your kitchen look great and function well. This week we’ll go over the pros and cons of the most common kitchen sink materials, then I’ll give you a few tips for choosing the best sink size and style for your home and habits.  Plus we’ll go over our Pro Term: Farmhouse sink.

Shownotes at BYHYU.com

Jul 5, 2017

Learning about kitchen faucets probably won’t be the most exciting thing you do today, but it’s important that we get a basic understanding of the features we should be looking for.  Because we use our kitchen and bathroom faucets so often, we’ll want to choose those that will last for a really long time without problems and that work with our house design and preferences.  Here are 12 kitchen and bathroom faucet quick tips.

Show notes at http://BYHYU.com

Jun 28, 2017

What’s up with house shaming people for wanting a larger house?      That's so judgy.  When researching this post, and just talking to people in general about new houses, I’ve run across tons of derogatory statements about larger houses and people who want to live in them.  House shaming people for living in, or building larger houses, is far more common than house shaming folks who like small houses. 

Just like smaller houses, larger houses have some disadvantages, but there are also advantages to living in a larger house.  My feeling is… to each his own.  If you like a smaller house, cool.  Build a small house.  If you want a larger house, and you have the budget to build it, that’s okay too.   

Last week we talked about the pros of living in a smaller house.  This week, we’ll go over the pros of living in a larger house.  Yes, despite what you’ve heard in the media, there are advantages to living in a larger house.

Shownotes at BYHYU.com

Jun 21, 2017

Small is a relative term.  You might think of a tiny house when you hear someone using the term “small house” or you might think of an 1800 square foot home.  Wherever you fall on the spectrum, there are some definite benefits of building a smaller house.

Show notes at BYHYU.com

Jun 14, 2017

This week we’re talking home automation with Carley Knobloch.  She’s a digital lifestyle expert who serves as a home automation consultant for HGTV and she’s worked on several of HGTV’s Smart Homes.  Carley also talks technology on CNN and the Today Show.  She’ll give us some insight on exactly what home automation is and tell us about some of her favorite technology for the home.

Show notes at www.BYHYU.com

Check out Carley’s blog at www.CarleyK.com

Jun 7, 2017

Most people want a quiet, peaceful home— one without a lot of outside noise and one where sound within one room doesn’t transfer to another room.  Controlling noise involves reducing the movement of sound waves from one place to another. The best way to minimize noise within a room is to combine a number of different sound-blocking and sound-reduction methods.  This week I have 10 quick tips that you can use to help sound proof different areas of your house.

Show notes at www.BYHYU.com

Windows 102--BYHYU 042

May 31, 2017

This week I have a meeting with a house designer. So in this episode, we’ll talk about what you and I should do to prepare for those initial design meetings.   What documents and information we’ll need for those meetings to be less time consuming and more successful.  Now I’m not going to talk a lot about how to choose a designer or architect.  If you’ve listened to this show for a while, you can probably figure that out.  Ask friends and family and contractors for their recommendations and get several references before settling on a house designer or architect. What we’ll concentrate on today, is what you do after you’ve decided on a specific design professional.

Show notes at BYHYU.com

BYHYU 039--Practical Luxury For Your Master Bath That's Totally Worth the Splurge

BYHYU 052--See What Your House Will Look Like Before You Build It

May 24, 2017

Together we’ll learn the basics of home design and construction and demystify the building process, so we communicate with designers, contractors, and suppliers more effectively and build quality dream homes, with or without a general contractor.

Most people think of their pets as members of the family.  So, it only makes sense to consider them when designing your new home.  This week I have 9 quick tips for designing a pet-friendly home.

Show notes at BYHYU.com

Follow us on Facebook   www.facebook.com/BYHYU/

May 17, 2017

In cold, northern states of the US, most homeowners really don’t have much choice of what type of foundation their house will have.  Most cold climate foundations are basements.  That’s because of the footing, which is the lowest part of the house, right beneath the foundation, has to be placed below the frost line.

If you live in a moderate or warm climate, you’ll have a choice to make.  Today’s mini lesson will cover the pros and cons of the different types of foundations.  It will help you decide whether a basement, crawl space or slab foundation is the best choice for your house.

Show notes at www.BYHYU.com

May 10, 2017

The house that my husband are planning to build will be our forever home— the first and last house that we’ll ever build.  At least that’s the plan. Eventually, everyone of us will either rent, buy or build our last home- the one that we’ll will grow older in. The one where our adult children and grandchildren will spend holidays.

 

This week’s quick tips will give you some ideas about how to design a forever house.  The list includes universal design elements, meaning features that will allow anyone of any age or anyone with any level of mobility to enjoy and live in the house.

 

But a forever house shouldn’t just be physically accessible to us as we age, it should also accommodate changes in lifestyle, habits and traditions as we progress from busy, working people to retirees.

 

Show notes at www.BYHYU.com

May 3, 2017

This morning, when I was on my knees scrubbing my small, framed, fiberglass shower stall, I thought to myself, “What would I do to make this shower better?  How would I design the perfect shower?”  One that would be a pleasure to use everyday and one that would be easy to clean and maintain.  In  this week’s episode, I’ll share with you some of the things I came up with.  We’ll go over some quick tips for designing the perfect shower. 

 

Now, obviously, what a perfect shower is for me, might be the perfect shower for you.  But I think you should be able to get several good ideas from this week’s perfect shower quick tips.

 

Show notes at BYHYU.com

Apr 26, 2017

Solid hardwood floors are on the wish list of most people that I know who are planning to build a home.  Wood floors are warm and welcoming, but they’re also expensive and they don’t hold up well to moisture and humidity, pets, rowdy children and heavy foot traffic.  


Fortunately, wood flooring alternatives have now entered the residential market in the form of wood look tile and wood look luxury vinyl flooring. They provide the warm look of wood, without many of the downsides that go along with hardwood flooring.  


What gives these alternatives the look of hardwood is an high definition wood image that’s applied to the surface of the tile or vinyl. In this week’s mini lesson,  I’ll give you the pro and cons of wood look tile, plus some buying tips.  Last week we went over the pro and cons of luxury vinyl flooring.  Take a listen to episode 65 if you missed that.

 

Shownotes at BYHYU.com

Apr 12, 2017

Listen, I know what you’re thinking when I say vinyl flooring…inexpensive, unattractive linoleum-like floors.  Not something that you would consider worthy of a new, custom built home.  I used to think the same thing.

I always assumed that I would definitely put hardwood flooring in my dream house. But now I’m not entirely sure.  I’ve seen more and more wood look alternatives that look exactly like solid hardwood.  And what’s really intrigued me is that I’ve seen these wood look alternatives in several luxury model homes. Plus, in doing a bit of Google research, I’ve read that many homeowners are specifically requesting wood look alternatives, even in high end custom homes. 

This week, I’ll tell you about the pro and cons of wood look luxury vinyl floor planks and next week we’ll cover wood look porcelain tiles.  Both are great options for the look of wood, without the cost and maintenance associated with solid hardwood flooring. 

 

Show notes at www.BYHYU.com

BYHYU 030-- Spray Foam Insulation and Rigid Foam Insulation

Apr 5, 2017

Kitchen islands.  They’re one the most requested kitchen features in new homes.   This week’s quick tips will cover how to best organize your kitchen island and what type of island storage might work well for you and your family.  You should customize your kitchen island to reflect your habits, needs, and desires.

Show notes at BYHYU.com

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