Building the dreams of tomorrow, today.
Blocks and Spots LLC is a licensed Lead Save Renovator (LSR).
Did you know that 24% of houses built before 1978 contain lead based paint? That number jumps up to 69% if the house was built before 1960. And a staggering 87% of homes built before 1940 are known to contain lead based paint. Lead based paint was used in 38 million residential homes in the United States before it was banned in 1978.
Continue reading “Renovate Right”
Small Business in America passed away peacefully in its sleep on March 1, 2022. It was 72 years old.
Small Business had a long and storied career, contributing significantly to the American economy and cultural landscape. It created jobs, fostered innovation, and brought unique products and services to local communities. Unfortunately, Small Business had been in declining health for some time and ultimately succumbed to a number of factors that proved too much to overcome.
Continue reading “RIP Small Business in America /s”
Recent drought and water use restrictions have highlighted the need for more water capture systems. Also, known as rainwater harvesting, these systems collect runoff water from your gutters and store it for future use. This post is about how I built my rainwater harvesting system.
Continue reading “How to Build – Rainwater Harvesting System”
5 years ago, we bought a run-down 1,200 sq ft Farmhouse, that had a 3,600 sq ft New England Barn attached to it. Built in the 1880s, the property had only seen minimal upgrades over the years. With a focus on efficiency modernization, we planned on using the property as a test bed to see how we can employ new construction techniques to upgrade a 140 yr old property and make it energy efficient.
This part of the Farmhouse Renovation story is about building a 750 sq ft Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) in the hay loft of the old barn.
Continue reading “ADU Barn Studio – Intro”
Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) are quickly becoming popular additions to existing homes. They can be a source of income and provide housing options for aging family members. Building an ADU requires a bit of planning and a lot of coordination.Continue reading “Building an Accessory Dwelling Unit”
The United States is in the middle of an affordable housing crisis. Since the 1970s, the cost of buying a home has gone up 500%. That's an average of 4% a year for the past 50 years. With inflation up an average of 7% per year, in that same time period, it's easy to see that buying a house is out of reach for the majority of earners. Additionally, higher labor and materials costs have compounded the overall affordability of new construction. This has made home builders and contractors tend to focus on more expensive housing in order to bring in higher profits. Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) are becoming a popular option for the affordable housing crisis. But are they the solution?Continue reading “Are Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) a solution to the Affordable Housing Crisis?”
