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Showing posts from 2017

Happy Hamilton Anniversary, Steve!

Hamilton's 2018 New Year's Resolutions

With the new year just around the corner, we've been reflecting on our accomplishments of 2017 and all that we are grateful for. With that in mind, we've set a few New Year's Resolutions to kick start our team into 2018! Check out our resolutions, below! Broaden our horizons – We are proud to announce that in 2017 we will be expanding our presence at new events. This means more exposure, more leads and more Dealers!  Pursue education – Each year at Hamilton, we strive to learn more about our industry, our Dealers and our homeowners. In 2017, we are making it our goal to pursue education by attending new industry events, community activities and building conferences.  Grow with industry trends – Through expanding our product lines, adding variety to our existing collections, and delving just a little more into social media, we plan to make this year the most trendy, sophisticated year yet here at Hamilton.  Grow our Dealer network & lead pip

Make 2018 a Better Year - Build the Home of Your Dreams!

Day dreaming about your fantasy home? Make 2018 the year you build your ideal house. Bring us your plans or utilize ours; the possibilities are endless for your custom project! When working with Hamilton Building Services, you can customize plans to the exact layout you're looking for. If you need a place to begin looking for home plan inspiration, try these three websites: Yorklyn 3,058 SQ FT 4 BEDROOMS  |  5 BATHS www.hamiltonbuildingservices.com www.homeplans.com www.designbasics.com Take advantage of the great items in our standard material package, such as: Custom Stamped Plans Windows & Doors Interior Trim Panelized Walls Pre-built Trusses Siding Countertops Custom Stairs Cabinetry And More! www.hamiltonbuildingservices.com

New Year's Eve Party Tips & Tricks

Before you know it, the new year will be here! Get ready for your festivities now, and you can relax when the big day comes. If you're hosting your own party this year, follow these tips & tricks we found helpful for a successful party everyone will love! Image via www.newyearimages2016.com 1. Use Facebook invites - These days, everyone seems to be on their smartphones, so you can guarentee all your friends will see the invite. Another great aspect of Facebook invites is that your friends can select an RSVP so you'll have a rough number of guests. It also alleviates the hassle of finding addresses and mailing invites.  2. Pick out simple appetizers - By the time your guests arrive, they've already eaten dinner, so there's no need to make an elaborate feast. Pick out a few simple appetizers that everyone will love, such as a cheese platter, veggie spread, or hot chicken wing dip. The classics are always full-proof. 3. Create a signature drink

Preferred Products: CertainTeed

CertainTeed provides home project materials on all ends of the spectrum. Their product lines include residential and commercial roofing, siding, insulation, drywall, trim, residential and commercial ceilings, decking, fencing, railing, sheathing, solar materials and HVAC and Industrial Insulation. If you're considering new home construction, constructing a commercial project, or even if you're just starting up some home improvement projects, look into purchasing CertainTeed products. Here at Hamilton, CertainTeed is a go-to. Image via www.premierrestorationlp.com

Precast Concrete Walls & Foundations - The Way of the Future

There are plenty of different options you may venture when you're deciding what kind of foundation will suit your future home best. But all in all, we all are looking for the same thing, though - a dry and insulated basement that will be custom to fit our individual needs. Superior Walls is Hamilton's go to for customized precast concrete foundations and walls, but don't take our word for it. Click here to examine a study performed by Sam Rashkin, author of the book, "Retooling the US Housing Industry: How It Got Here, Why It's Broken, And How To Fix It," which speaks of the future of precast concrete in the building industry. Image via www.superiorwalls.com Click here to visit Superior Wall's official website. 

Merry Christmas!

Have a Merry Christmas Eve!

Quick & Easy Christmas Treats

Christmas time brings joy and laughter, but when the pressure is on to cook for family and friends, it can become quite stressful. Alleviate your cooking worries this holiday season by prepping some easy and festive appetizers ahead of time. Check out some quick recipes we found, below. Caprese Salad Kabobs Easy to eat, red, white, and green, this healthy treat will satisfy your guests with a light and savory pop in every bite. Simply skewer together a cherry tomato, basil leaf and mozzarella ball, and you're ready to mingle with guests. Click here to get the recipe. Image via www.allrecipes.com Loaded Cheese Bites With just a few ingredients, these cheese balls will have your guests asking for more! The red and green peppers really make this appetizer especially holiday friendly. Click here to get the recipe. Image via www.delish.com Garlic Herb Dipping Oil There's a reason that restaurants have a tendency to put out bread and oil before yo

Upgrade Your Old Door Handles in a Snap!

A few weeks back, we shared a post with you on how you can use spray paint to revive old, gold, shiny floor vents, or chipped vents. Today, we would like to share with you that we've found that the same method works on door handles, too! Make sure you put a covering of some sort around what you're spray painting, and also ensure that you use the correct spray paint, but otherwise, this is a super easy and cheap home improvement tip! Image via www.recollectionsofadieharddecorator.wordpresss.com Sources www. recollectionsofadieharddecorator.wordpresss.com

DIY: Dying Rack

Some of the newer washers and dryers out there are truly amazing. There are so many settings to choose from with modern washers and dryers, that most of the work associated with doing laundry is a breeze. However, if you're still using an older washer that doesn't have such settings, you may find yourself in a pickle if you have delicate items to wash and you don't want them to be ruined in the dryer. As a work around, built your own drying rack for those extra delicate, gentle wash items. Follow the instructions below to DIY! Materials 2 x 2' precut birch, 1/2 " thick Two 1/2 x 2" poplar boards Two 3/8" dowel rods, 48" long Shash lock Narrow, loose pin hinges (set of two) D ring hangars to mount Bracketed hinge Three knobs Primer & paint of your choice Measure and cut your 1/2 inch x 2 boards to fit the 2 x 2 precut birch.  Cut your dowel rods to fit inside your drying rack frame  Drill holes for your precut

Where Does Hamilton Build?

Do you know where Hamilton provides building material? We ship all across the Northeastern region of the country. These territories include Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania , Rhode Island, and Vermont.

Tuesday's Testimonials: Independent Dealers

Here at Hamilton Building Services, we are always looking to add to our existing list of Independent Dealers and expand our building territories. If you are interested in becoming a Dealer for Hamilton Building Services, please contact our office at 855-871-2232 , or feel free to fill out a web form on our website and we will be sure to respond to your request within one to two business days. You can access that web form  by clicking here .

Hamilton Welcomes All Plans

Build Our Plans Or Yours! Cumiskey Home Plan Don’t spend hours pouring over home plans online! If you’re building in the Northeast, have a look at Hamilton’s plans for these key reasons:

Interior close up

From full design services to move in ready, Hamilton is the turn key solution you've been searching for. Below, you'll see a home Hamilton built start to finish, located in central Pennsylvania. The home's exterior is truly beautiful, but we really love when we can see how homeowners decorate and design the interior of their home, too! Check out this 2,329 SQ FT home, including the garage.

Flashback Friday: Back to Basics

Flashback Friday to these gorgeous Kemper Echo cabinets! These hickory cabinets were installed by Hamilton in a NY home not far from here. Call 855-871-2232 today to set up a time to meet with  Hamilton's Kitchen & Bath design specialist, and we can help you find the right cabinets for your kitchen or bath!

#ThursdaysThoughts: check out this kitchen rendering

Call 855-871-2232 to schedule a consult our Kitchen & Bath Design Specialist, today!

Nantucket, MA Hamilton Build

Did you know that Hamilton was a part of the construction of The White Heron Theater located in Nantucket, MA? That's right! It's one of our most proud contributions in the commercial construction world.  Image via www.yesterdaysisland.com Check out their website for recent shows by clicking the link here . 

Interest rates are rising - are you building, yet?

Image via www.nahb.org Research shows that interest rates are on the rise. Have you started your design process, yet? If you're looking to build a new home, now's the time to act!  According to the National Association of Home Builder's Chief Economist, Robert Dietz, "The current outlook is for three additional rate hikes in 2017." In addition to rising interest rates, material costs are also projected to soar. NAHB has released an article on their blog discussing specific materials that are becoming more costly for the home owner and builder alike. Get started on your design process today by setting up a meeting your local Hamilton Dealer. To schedule your appointment, please call our toll-free number at (855) 871-2232. We look forward to hearing from you soon!

Superior Walls - Ideal for Winter Foundations

If you're thinking about starting new home construction this winter, start thinking about using Superior Walls precast concrete foundation system. Superior Walls offers customers customization to fit their personal needs. If you want a warm, dry basement that you can start this winter season, look no further than Superior Walls of Upstate New York! Image via www.superiorwallsnypa.com

Spotlight Sunday: Samsung Smart Refrigerator

The Samsung smart refrigerator's motto is "Home has a new hub," and it sure is appropriate taking into account all of the amazing capabilities this smart device has! The smart fridge includes a Wifi enabled touchscreen that gives you the ability to connect with your family, manage your groceries and entertain your guests. It also has three built-in cameras that take shots of the inside of your fridge and you can then access them on your smart phone to see what you have and what you may need to pick up at the store. Connecting with friends and family is easier with this smart fridge as it has a built in calendar that can sync with your loved one's schedules, too. You can send messages and photos right from your refrigerator. Last but not least, there are tons of great apps your can download to make your entertainment nights a blast! Image via www.samsung.com Sources www.samsung.com

Ready. Set. Build.

Build confidently with Hamilton Building Services! Creating your own custom home has never been easier; we will guide you through your project from start to finish and beyond. Dream Up Your Design Customize Your Floor Plan Make Your Move-In Ready Home Let us help capture your dream home ideas! We offer full design and building services for your custom home.  Visit our Pinterest Boards   to gather ideas for the design inspirations for your own home! Bring us your plans or utilize ours; when working with Hamilton you can customize your floor plans to the exact layout you're looking for! If you are looking for floor plans to get you inspired, head over to   Design Basics   for fun and functional floor plan ideas. Start your new construction project prepared, with a new construction checklist! Download a copy of our  New Construction Checklist  to  begin framing your custom project today!

How To: Cut Crown Molding

Crown molding isn't always cheap, so when you're using it you want to ensure you don't make mistakes, taking money right out of your pocket. To put money back in your pocket, become an expert at cutting crown molding, and install it yourself! Learning to install crown molding is a story of its own, so for today, let's just learn how to prepare the molding to install. Watch This Old House's video below to learn how to properly and safely cut your pieces of crown molding. Sources www.thisoldhouse.com

Announcement! We've added more custom floor plans!

When you're searching for your forever dream home, a little inspiration never hurts. Here at Hamilton, we believe that as a dedicated customer, you deserve to build the home your heart desires. For this very reason, we've created a new floor plan category of all custom plans drawn in house by our skilled draftsmen. Click here to visit Hamilton's new House Blueprints!

What is Low-E Glass?

Dealing with Adverse Weather During Construction

When weather conditions become an issue, it can be frustrating. Weather conditions can become an issue in a matter of a few hours, and there's virtually nothing anyone can do about it. Image your home is in the middle of being built, and then all of a sudden a snow storm hits your city. At that point, construction stands still, and materials risk being damaged or even ruined.  Panelized construction combats that risk by cutting down time.  Once the shell of your home is constructed, contractors can work on the inside of your home until weather conditions permit working on the outside. If you live in an area that gets a lot of rain or snow, this factor can play a key role in your home's timeline.

Safety Precautions for Winter Months

As a responsible homeowner, certain precautions should be taken seriously in case of an emergency during the coming winter months. Skim through the tips below to stay safe this season. Image via www.redcross.org Apply salt on your sidewalks and pathways to avoid slipping and falling. Keep in mind if you have animals the salt may hurt their paws or they may ingest the salt from licking their paws, so you can buy pet-safe salt to put down for them. Knock down dangerous icicles that may be luming above you as you step out your doors. Icicles and ice in general are a concern each winter season, so be sure to eliminiate this dangerous issue from the moment you see them appearing.  Shovel snow so you have paths and walkways in and out of your home. If in case of an emergency, you'll want to be able to get where you need to be quickly.  Always have spare medications, batteries, water, etc. in house in case of an emergency. Keep pipes from freezing by ins

Pinterest's Holiday Home Decor

The holidays are quickly approaching!If you haven't gotten around to decorating . . . no worries! Take a  peek at some of the simple, affordable and trendy  holidaydecor inspirations we've found on Pinterest, below.  Epsom Salts Luminaries  Epsom salts luminaries are a simple and cost effective way to decorate your home for the holidays. Also, for later use, you could always remove the berries and holly and add on other accessories for another holiday. Don't forget to place a tea candle in the bottom to watch it glow! Image via www.tatertotsandjello.com Frosted Pine Cones These festive pine cones are a simple one, two, three! Lightly dip the pine cones in some white paint, allow to dry, tie a string of them together, and hang them where you wish. Image via www.hative.com Snowman Door This cute holiday decor idea will cost you a buck or two, tops. All you need to do is cut out some circles and triangles on construction paper, a

Framing the American Dream Video

The Framing the American Dream study is a project sponsored by SBCA, individual component manufacturers, supplier companies, and the Building Systems Council of NAHB. In this study, two 2,600 SQ FT houses were built simultaneously. The first home was built with wood component systems, and the second was fully engineered conventional stick framing. Builders spent 148 hours framing the home with components. In contrast it took 401 hours to construct the conventional home, 67% longer than framing with components. In the same way, 15,100 board feet were used to frame the component home, while 20,400 board feet of lumber were used to frame the conventional home, or 26% more lumber than in the component house. Scrap generated was 4 yards for the component home, and 17 yards for the conventional home. This project took place at the NAHB Show in Houston, Texas January 16 - 23, 1996.  Click below to see a video about the Framing the American Dream study. Video via www.youtube.com

December's Maintenance Checklist

December's here, and you can take comfort in this month's maintenance list, as it's one of the shorter ones! The colder months don't leave much work for the outside of your home, but the inside can always be maintained during the colder times of year. This month, focus on safety issues like removing icicles and checking hoses on appliances to avoid electrical fires. Image via www.amerifirst.com

Light Up Your Kitchen

You can have the most beautiful kitchen in the world, but if it's poorly lit, you'd never know - what a shame! Avoid this common problem by installing appropriate lighting in your kitchen and dining area. There are two questions to ask yourself when you're adding lighting in to your kitchen: what kind of lighting will I choose, and where will I decide the lighting should be? Get some inspiration for your lights, below. Image via www.bestofdiyideas.com Image via www.homebunch.com Image via www.doctorkish.com Image via www.wayfair.com

How To: Install an Interior Brick Wall

Adding a brick wall to the interior of your home can make a huge difference in the flow,  design and feel of a room. Bricks, if used where appropriate, can make your living room  warm, your bedroom comfy and give your house a quaint, content vibe. Follow the  directions below to get started on your wall transformation! Tools & Materials  measuring tape 4" grinder pencil making tape high-strength construction adhesive brick veneer masonry baker's bag trowel mortar pan premixed mortar Step 1 - Make half bricks by cutting your bricks long ways using a tile cutter. Step 2 - Decide on a window design layout Step 3 - Adhere your bricks to the wall Step 4 - Double check your wall, and ensure your design is cohesive Step 5 - Lay down plastic sheathing for easy clean up Step 6 - Mix grout according to instructions Step 7 - Set mortar into windowsills  Step 8 - Use baker's bag to apply mortar Step 9 - Recess joints and cr

When is it beneficial to use space heaters?

With the cold honing in on us, staying warm becomes a thought we can't let go of. But how do you know the best way to heat your home? Should you use space heaters, or will they only jack up your electric bill more and defeat the purpose? We've done some research to find out more about space heaters and when they are a good fit for your home and your budget. Check out what we found! Image via www.consumerreports.org When does it work? 1. If you're supplementing some heat in a particularly cool or drafty space  2. When you're trying to keep your thermostat down and just want to section off a small area to be a few degrees warmer 3. If you're looking to heat a space for a small amount of time, just for comfort. For instance, some people use space heaters to heat an office cubicle.   When doesn't it work? 1. When you're trying to heat a large area 2. If you're using the space heater as your only source of heat. Space

Supplier Sunday: Tru Cabinetry

Tru cabinetry strives to provide customers with beautiful, functional, comfortable cabinetry within a modest budget. Their products stand true as quality and there is a wide range of choices to choose from. Skim through some features of Tru cabinetry, below. Click  here  to view Tru's product catalog. All Images via www.truwood.com Sources www.truwood.com