Houston’s a perfect choice if you’re looking for an idyllic setting to own a vacation home. It’s near the Gulf of Mexico and home to a vibrant mixture of warm weather, extensive parks, arts, and culture. Houston also has high returns on investment in real estate due to its growing population and affordable living costs. However, if you decide to build or repair an old home, there are a few things you need to know about precision home construction in Houston.
1. Use the Right Equipment
There’s usually a lot of heavy lifting during home construction, renovations, and upkeep. You need the right equipment to remove a pile of rubble from a demolished wall, clear fallen debris, or bring building materials to the site. It’s, therefore, no surprise tractors are effective.
Renting reliable tractors has more benefits than you may realize. Tractors are versatile and can accomplish several tasks apart from hauling heavy loads. You can use tractors for precision home construction and property maintenance with the right attachments.
Tractors are convenient for any situation. Consider the amount of soil you’ll need to move when clearing land and laying the foundation for your vacation home. Then there’s landscaping and gardening, which, according to your tastes, could include creating sizeable ditches for tree planting, drainage canals, cutting grass, and irrigation.
2. Invest in a Local Heating Oil Service
While Houston’s warm climate guarantees a delightful outdoor experience, the same can’t be said for cold weather. Houton has mild winters, though a significant drop in temperature still means your vacation home has to be cozy and comfortable. As a result, besides ensuring your heating and cooling system is in working condition, you need constant access to heating oil to keep you going through the winter months.
Partner with a local heating oil company. This way, you’re assured of a consistent supply of heating oil for your vacation home. There’s much more.
Local oil delivery is reliable, affordable, and offers value-added customer services. You never have to worry about running out of heating oil. Market prices may differ, but you can always trust your local heating oil company to offer you oil prices that fit your budget.
3. Consider Outdoor Drainage
You want your vacation home in good condition as the seasons change. It’s, however, a problem when you haven’t given much thought to your outdoor drainage system. Poor drainage has disastrous effects on your landscape and your home’s structural integrity.
Here’s what happens when you don’t take heed to precision home construction. After long periods of heavy rainfall, the exposed upper layer of soil washes away. Topsoil is a protective layer for your home’s building structures, so losing it may cause defects beneath the foundation. Poor drainage can also cause rainwater to pool and lead to more issues with your home’s foundation, including wood rot, aesthetics, and environmental problems. Your outdoor drainage has one job: to channel excess water away from your vacation home.
Install drainage systems in your vacation home. Rain gutters and downspouts are a must-have. When maintained regularly, this drainage infrastructure effectively protects your home’s interior and exterior by redirecting rainwater away from your home’s roof and foundation.
Vegetative cover is one of the most reliable erosion control measures. It’s, therefore, important to remember both the aesthetic and functional qualities of your landscaping. Trees and plants’ roots hold the soil in place while aiding in water drainage. Consult a commercial landscape service to determine the best outdoor drainage systems that suit your vacation home’s design.
4. Install a Private Well
It’s impossible to outweigh the benefits of having water from a natural source piped straight to your vacation home. Whether building your vacation home from the ground up or making home improvements, having a well makes a big difference in your vacation expenses. Accessing water from a public source has many setbacks. Publicly accessed water has to pass through several chemical treatments before it is safe for domestic use. These chemical processes deplete the natural minerals in water and give it an unnatural taste.
There’s the inconvenience of sudden water shortages due to a system malfunction or contaminant problem. Paying water bills for two homes is also not practical. You hadn’t planned for unnecessary water expenses during your vacation. So why not hire a well driller?
Water from a well is the remedy for Houston’s hot and humid climate. It’s healthy, refreshing, and easily accessible. Your well will only need occasional maintenance to monitor water levels, cleaning, and testing for contaminants. A private well is a great example of precision home construction. It increases your property’s value and makes your vacation home worth staying for more than just the weekend.
5. Clean your Septic Tank
Precision home construction is all about making the right choices for your vacation home’s design. When you install a septic tank, you don’t have to go through the trouble and expense of installing drainage pipes that access the city’s main sewer line. Managing your waste disposal would be much easier and cost-effective, especially if your vacation home is in a remote area.
Since your vacation home is only accessible at certain times of the year, there’s no immediate concern for your septic tank filling up. However, it also depends on your septic tank’s storage capacity. On average, you should empty your every three to five years.
You need your vacation home’s drainage system always to run smoothly. So, inspect it regularly and not only when it’s being emptied. Accumulation of grime and solid objects flushed down toilets could, for example, clog the drainage outlet that connects to your septic tank. Avoid a vacation nightmare and hire septic pumping services for routine septic inspection checks and cleaning. In the long term, you’ll spend less on repair and maintenance.
6. Replace your Garage Door
Any time you’re not on vacation, your vacation home is vulnerable to weather elements and intruders. So you must consider your vacation home’s entry points; your garage door is one of the largest. Your garage door doesn’t only give access to your home.
A newly installed or well-maintained garage door shows you’ve given much thought to precision home construction. It boosts the curb’s appeal and increases your home’s value. There are safety concerns, too. If your garage door is worn out and not operating properly, it becomes a safety risk.
Check your area for local garage door companies. Hiring professionals sets you up with quality services. Apart from garage door repairs and replacement, your garage door company can install extra safety features, like a vacation lock, sensors, and an emergency safety release mechanism.
Your garage door company will advise you on safety precautions when you’re not on vacation. Unplugging your garage door opener, for example, prevents unauthorized access. You can also install a garage door opener with a rolling code technology.
To be more energy-efficient, insulate your garage door or replace it with a new insulated model. Insulated garage doors reduce your vacation home’s heating and cooling expenses. They’re also more durable and keep stored items in your garage safe from extreme weather.
7. Inspect your Roof
Your garage door isn’t the only part of your vacation home needing insulation, repairs, and replacement. Your roof plays an important role in maintaining your home’s building structure, making it an important part of precision home construction. It’s also one of the most noticeable areas of your home, so an attractive roof improves your home’s value and sets the tone for a pleasant stay during your vacation.
Sometimes, roof damage can go unnoticed, especially when you don’t use your vacation home often. Therefore, it will come as a surprise when you start seeing the effects of water damage on your roof. Gaps in your roofing can also cause significant fluctuations in room temperature. Stay ahead of roofing repairs by working with residential roofers. You need a trained eye to perform regular roof inspections and spot any flaws in your roofing structure. Because of Houston’s frequent storms, your roofer can advise you on suitable roofing installations to protect your roof.
It’s your vacation home, so don’t hesitate to take full advantage of roofing designs and precision home construction. Your roofer can install a roofing deck, providing an added protection layer for your roofing structure. When done professionally, a roofing deck creates an extra living space perfect for the vacation season.
8. Turn your Vacation Home into a Summer Camp
Summer camp activities are fun and allow kids and teens to learn new skills while building long-lasting friendships. Adult summer camps are becoming quite popular, too. However, the traditional summer camp experience is gradually shifting towards a contemporary direction.
Renting out your vacation house for the summer months is a good way to earn extra income and foster community outreach. Thankfully, technology has made it easier to handle most of the paperwork. So, all you need is professional business advice.
What type of camp is suitable for your vacation home’s location? Remember, Houston is a hub of fun and learning opportunities, from sunny beaches and recreational parks to space exploration, museums, and cultural institutions. Therefore, include indoor and outdoor activities.
Work with a trusted business professional and develop a detailed business plan covering all aspects. Get all your paperwork in order, including registration forms, job application forms for hired staff, waivers, and permission slips for day trips. Calculate the expenses at the end of the camp season and weigh the profit margin
9. Rescreen Your Pool
Few things come close to a cold dip in your swimming pool during the summer. Hence, it’s essential to maintain your pool and protect it from debris, insects, and harmful UV sun rays. If you have a pool in your vacation home, you’ve possibly installed a pool screen enclosure, but when was the last time you made repairs or considered a replacement?
Over time, your pool screen will wear out, sag, and begin to collect insects and debris. Although a standard pool screen can last up to ten years, you don’t have to wait this long before replacing it. Constant exposure to weather elements speeds up the deterioration process, so it’s better to order a replacement sooner rather than later.
Pool rescreening poses many safety risks, so enlist a pool rescreening service. Go for a service with the best prices on quality material and extended warranty coverage. You’ll also get great advice on the right choice of materials, like polyester materials for durability, Phifer meshes for bug protection, and better enclosure fasteners that don’t rust and loosen their hold on your pool screen panels.
10. Use Custom Designs To Decorate Your Vacation Home
A vacation trip transports you into a completely different space meant to be peaceful, relaxing, and recreational. Consequently, your vacation home has to capture these elements through its design. Team up with custom home builders and transform your living space into a dream getaway.
Start by focusing on your internal décor in your precision home construction. Use bold designs that match your tastes. Each room should have its own unique set of colors and textures. Add in features like fireplaces and decorative furnishings.
Choose a floor plan complementing your vacation home’s custom design. Open floor plans are popular with modern-day vacation homes. You can also opt for a cottage-style floor plan for a homely touch. Select wooden flooring and wall paneling to enhance your vacation home’s visual appearance.
Lighting fixtures are equally crucial in producing the desired effect for a vacation setting. Lighting designs come in various options and are suitable for every area in your home. Choose soft lighting for relaxation areas and bright lighting for outdoor and recreational areas.
Your outdoor space is an extension of your vacation home and the final piece to achieving precision home construction. Install a concrete patio, as concrete is durable, stronger, and highly resistant to heat and weather elements. Pick a theme that goes with your swimming pool. You can install a fire pit and appreciate the outdoors on clear, starry nights.
If you’re planning to enjoy your next vacation trip truly, make sure your home is in good condition. Invest in precision home construction to preserve your home’s build and design and add a touch of convenience any time you access your home. Schedule home inspections and maintenance off-season, so you have plenty of time to make repairs, necessary replacements, and renovation designs. You have a great thing going, make the most of it.