The most modern trends in architecture will radically transform the way we think about the criteria used for determining building technologies and styles – here are a few trends that are already having considerable impact:

• Minimalist styles – clean surfaces, natural hues and high functionality are already the trend for homes just as much as for office spaces, on the inside and on the outside as well. Ornaments are skipped entirely or are present only as accents

• Using natural materials – as the demand for environment-friendly, green and passive buildings increases, houses made from sustainable natural materials such as homes built from logs or from natural stone are becoming more and more popular, or simply using product that lasts a lifetime with the help of skilled Connecticut masonry companies.
  

• Prefabricated houses – another new and impactful trend, modular buildings are popular among owners, architects and constructors as they are quick and easy to erect and they provide durable and aesthetically pleasing housing solutions

• Outdoor living – while in the past, outdoor spaces around the house were taken up by patios, backyards and the occasional grill, the latest trends extended indoor functionality outdoors in areas where climate conditions are suitable for such an approach. Outdoor kitchens are already very popular and outdoor rooms are catching up quickly, too.

Finding a good contractor for home improvement, repair or construction projects is certainly a daunting task, but not impossible – nothing is, with the right approach. If you are in the process of searching for the right contractor, here are a few tips to make it all easier for you:

• Look locally – start your search in your neighborhood, then extend it gradually to your town and the region where you live.

• Check expertise and experience – have a look at the websites operated by local contractors and contact only those that provide exactly the service that you are looking for. Check qualifications, insurances and certificates, too.  Check for specialties like masonry restoration for the most qualified contractor.
  

• Check reliability – verify the contractor you have in mind on review websites and forums.

• Request multiple quotes – collect at least three or four quotes for your project from various contractors to get an idea about how much it will cost you.

• Don’t go with the lowest or the highest offer – make a reasonable choice based more on service quality and reliability than on the price. Bear in mind that the cheapest or the most expensive offers are not necessarily the best, so make sure you evaluate the offers from every aspect before committing to one contractor or the other.

The architectural heritage of Connecticut is certainly among the state’s most important attractions – wherever you go in the state, you will see amazing constructions preserved in their original forms and open for the interested public.  There is always building restoration experts hard at work to preserve the historic buildings.

Besides traditional architecture that exemplify the dominant style of e certain era, Connecticut gives home to a lot of “firsts”, “bests” and “onlys”:

• The Buttolph-Williams House features traditional New England design and building technique
• In New Haven you can visit the country’s first agricultural experiment station as well as Yale University’s oldest building
• Hartford has lots of Colonial-style monuments
• In Litchfield you can visit the state’s first historic district.

In the past, Connecticut was the chosen home of many scientists, artists, writers and other important personalities:

• Nobel-prize dramatist Eugene O’Neill lived in New London – his house called Monte Cristo Cottage is open to the public
• Another important American writer, James Merrill also lived in New London county’s Stonington
• 19^th century sculptor John Rogers lived in Fairfield
• Painter and sculptor Frederic Remington lived in Fairfield county, in Ridgefield.

If you like Gothic architecture, you will also find a lot of monuments to visit in Connecticut – Fairfield, Windham and Hartford have lots of beautiful Gothic buildings.

Commercial roofing products are available in such a wide range and variety that whatever you are using your commercial building for, whatever the building’s structure and design, you can surely find the best roofing material for it – here are the most common ones:

• Single-ply membrane – made from various materials such as PVC, TPO or EPDM, roofing membranes are easy to install, lightweight, flexible, therefore suitable for unconventional roof structures and they come with superior heat-reflection properties, especially light-colored varieties.

• Metal – tin, aluminum, copper and steel roofing sheets are also gaining in popularity these days due to their resistance, durability, low maintenance needs. They are also very quick and easy to install.

• Asphalt shingles are also great for commercial roofs and are the most chosen by commercial roofing Connecticut companies – the shingles can be easily adapted to any shape and angle, they are available in many different colors and shapes, they are resistant to impact, fire and wind and they are very affordable, too.

• Bitumen roofs – one of the most traditional roofing materials, bitumen sheets have a proven track record of being resistant and durable. The high-tensile strength of the material makes sure the surface does not crack and bitumen can withstand even the harshest weather as well.

Home restoration is usually a stressful and tedious process. However, it doesn’t have to be that overwhelming – just have a look at our home restoration ideas, we put them together in hope of making it all easier for you.

Assign a Budget

Don’t buy cheap materials of sub-par quality, but don’t go overboard either – the golden middle way is the best. The price of construction materials, tools and furniture vary widely, so do a little online research to find out how much the renovation will cost you.

Make Accurate Measurements and Create the Design on Paper First

You will need to measure everything to be able to calculate the quantity of the materials you will be using for the renovation. If you find the calculations difficult to do, consult an expert – better pay for consultancy than for materials you don’t need.

Preparation

Home restoration is not only about building and installing new materials – it is also about tearing down walls, removing debris, cleaning, preparing surfaces and many other tedious tasks. Make sure the space you will be renovating is properly prepared for the renovation – it’s tiring, but it’s worth it.

Get the Right Tools

To be able to do a great job you definitely need the right tools. Assess your tool-related needs based on the operations you will need to perform and make sure you buy the best tools you can afford – they make all the difference.

Work Systematically

There is nothing worse than realizing that you need another source of light over the sink when the backsplash and the cabinet are already installed and the plates all sit nicely on the shelves. Design every process carefully – start with electrical work and plumbing, then move to the floors and the walls and leave the decorative elements and the furniture last, that way you can be sure everything is done the right way. If the renovation also involves large, exterior structural elements such as the roof, the gutters, the sidings or the doors and windows, start with those and move inside only when everything is fixed on the outside.

Prepare for Material Storage and Debris Removal

If you are planning large-scale renovation, you will need large quantities of construction materials as well, materials that you will need to be able to store among proper conditions, so make sure you have a shed or a storage container to accommodate your materials.

Renovation also generates a lot of debris, even if you want to redo only one small room. Work out a way to collect and to dispose of the accumulated debris – without a solid debris-removal strategy you will find it much harder to contain chaos.

For all things related to building and masonry restoration in Connecticut talk to New England Masonry.