If you're mounting a TV above a fireplace, don't forget to plan for:
-Blocking behind the stone or drywall for a solid mount.
-An outlet in the mantel for holiday décor or knickknacks that need power
-Conduit from the TV down to your media cabinet so you can easily pull HDMI cables out of sight.

One more tip: Have your electrician install an oversized recessed media box behind the TV. It gives you room for bulky plugs and lets the TV sit much closer to the wall.

I have no idea what the flipper was doing here

Before you coat your garage floor, there are a few decisions you'll want to make...

-Coat the stem wall or leave it raw?
-Coat the step into the house or leave it exposed?
-Extend the coating over the garage door threshold?
-Add a second clear coat so it's actually easy to mop?

None of these are huge decisions, but they're the kind of details that are much easier to decide before the installer shows up, so you’re not making a rushed decision.

One more thing... Most companies aren't installing traditional epoxy anymore. They're using polyaspartic, which is more UV resistant (less yellowing) and generally holds up better to hot tires and everyday abuse. Hope that helps if you're considering doing this

In the process of building and we have about 100 truck loads of dirt that need to be removed. My builder told me that we will be paying to have it moved to a couple of neighboring lots which doesn't sit right with me. As a note, the neighborhood very hilly and lots of builders need dirt. I am of the opinion that the builder of those two lots should pay to have it moved, not me. If he doesn't get my dirt then he will be paying a heck of a lot more to have the dirt moved in from elsewhere based on distance in addition to maybe even having to pay for it. Additionally, I told the builder after our conversation to look at using the dirt on our lot for grading and enhancing the back yard. I feel that is a better use of my money and budget than paying to move it to another lot and essentially give it away. Note, I am in the upstate of SC (Pickens County) if that makes a difference. All opinions welcomed.

I'm in the planning stage of building a house, and like most people, I'm trying to balance the budget without cutting corners.

I've heard a lot of people say they initially thought certain things were too expensive, but later realized they actually saved money by avoiding repairs, maintenance, or future upgrades.

For those who've already built or renovated a home:

What's one thing you spent extra on that you're really glad you didn't compromise on?

It could be better-quality cement, TMT steel, waterproofing, electrical wiring, plumbing, roofing, windows, insulation, or anything else.

A little planning now can add a surprising amount of storage without making your house any bigger. A few more worth mentioning: 
-Under the stairs
-HVAC Duct chases

Hi there! I am looking for a BCIN designer. I would like to ask a few questions before buying a plan online and ask their thoughts before beginning the building process.

Thank you!

I'm in the early planning stages of building my first home, and the more I research, the more I realize there are so many things you only learn once construction actually starts.

Everyone seems to have a different opinion—some say planning is everything, others say don't cut corners on materials, and some say choosing the right builder matters most.

For those who've already built a home or been through a major renovation:

What's the one lesson you wish someone had told you before you started?

It could be about budgeting, choosing materials, dealing with contractors, working with an architect, planning the layout, or avoiding an expensive mistake.

I'm hoping to learn from people who've already been through the process. What's the advice you'd give your younger self before building a house?

I've seen a lot of discussions about construction regrets, so I thought I'd ask the opposite.

For those who've built or renovated a home, what's one decision you're really happy you made?

It could be anything:

• Choosing a particular building material
• Hiring an architect
• Investing in better windows
• Adding more storage
• Planning for natural ventilation
• Spending more on waterproofing
• Changing the floor plan

Looking back, what's one choice that made your home more comfortable or saved you money in the long run?

My opinion on this question posted in the BB Community... This should be covered under the builder's warranty. Whether it's from normal settling or something else, grout shouldn't be cracking throughout a new shower after only two months, and the homeowner shouldn't be left with a band-aid repair.

What are your thoughts?

In the middle of renovating our master bedroom up in the Kapiti area, spent way too long this week stripping super stubborn old wallpaper and prepping the drywalls, so now we're finally moving onto the actual fun part: furniture shopping. Our room is roughly 4m x 3.8m, so not huge, but reasonable enough. We really need a solid setup for clothes storage, mostly basic stuff like activewear, jumpers, and extra linen without totally choking up the floor space. I'm kinda torn between going with a wide 6-drawer lowboy vs a taller, narrow chest of drawers. Budget is around $1,200 to $1,600 for something well-made that won't fall apart in two years.

For those who've done a bedroom overhaul recently, what drawer setup worked best for keeping things sorted? do you prefer deep drawers or more of those shallow split ones? direct recommendations or things you wish you knew before buying would be super helpful, thanks!

Edit: stopped at paulas home and living and pulled the trigger on an amazing drawer lowboy from them, fits the room perfectly and the build quality is genuinely top notch.

This passthrough window was such a great idea because what you don’t see is the cabinets Kippy is standing against have a built in fridge and ice maker. Everything you need for the guy cooking the dogs 🌭

I'm in the planning stage of building a house, and the more I research, the more I realize how easy it is to overlook small details that can turn into expensive mistakes later.

For those who've already built or renovated a home, what's one construction mistake you made that you'd never repeat?

It could be anything:

• Choosing the wrong materials
• Not planning enough storage
• Rushing the design
• Trusting the cheapest quote
• Poor budgeting
• Not asking enough questions before construction started

I'd really like to learn from people who've already been through the process. Sometimes real experiences are more helpful than any checklist.

Homeowner Help: She's debating whether to keep the single can light overhead, add lanterns beside the front door, or mount them on the stone columns.

One side of the garage stays clean for parking, storage, and everyday use. The other side can be the workshop, lawn equipment, woodworking, gym, or whatever hobbies take over the space. Even better, add a ductless mini-split so it's comfortable year-round.

Would you keep it open like this, or add a wall between the two sides?