Hamilton Building Services

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

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

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

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

Choosing a new roof doesn't happen too often. In fact, roofing usually does not need to be replaced for at least 10+ years once it's established. So, when it does come time to replace your old roof or when you are building a new house, you'll want to ensure that you have the right roof for your home. GAF is north America's largest roofing manufacturer, so they are an excellent resource to take a look at. GAF has a lot of options to choose from, but here are some samples to give you a taste of what GAF's Ultra Premium Collection   Lifetime Designer Shingles have to offer:                                           Glenwood  Glenwood shingles are sure to provide your home with the most authentic wood-shake shingle look.                                             Camelot Camelot shingles have a multi-dimensional profile that looks beautiful on your home.                                         Grand Canyon Grand Canyon shingles offer a rustic

The Gadsen   2,054 SQ FT The Gadsen is a two story, cape style home that is a just a little over 2,000 SQ FT. This home features three bedrooms, three baths and a two-car garage. In addition, the home contains custom features such as a skylight, built in window seats, a den and raised ceilings in the master bedroom. First Floor Second Floor

Your friends and family are on their way, and you still  haven't gotten around to decorating . . . no worries! Take a  peek at some of the simple, affordable and trendy  Thanksgiving decor inspirations we've found, below.  Burlap Runner Image via www.pinterest.com Pine Cone Center Piece Image via www.vitamin-ha.com Pumpkin Drink Chiller Image via www.pinterest.com Pumpkin Candles Image via www.indulgy.com Sources www.pinterest.com

Thanksgiving celebrations are a great time for family and friends to come together and enjoy delicious food, wonderful company and football! Unfortunately, because there is always so much going on, it can be a stressful day for the cook. Follow some of the tips below that we've found can really ease your stress on this warm and cozy day! Use a cooler for a makeshift refrigerator Image via www.huffingtonpost.com Put your mashed potatoes in your crock pot Image via www.pillsbury.com Tape recipes to your cabinets for easy use Image via  www.princesspinkygirl.com Make your pie dough in advance and freeze it Image via www.huffingtonpost.com Sources www.foodnetwork.com

A lot of folks really like the appearance of a log home, but once they find out about the maintenance that is required to own a log home, they are often deterred from ever owning one. Fortunately, the building industry has made great strides to advance siding options, and many log homes are now log sided both on the exterior and interior of the home. Such siding allows for less maintenance and is more for appearances and energy efficiency. Additionally, log siding can help with insulation and save on heating costs.

One common issue people run into when they're looking to buy an older home is that of popcorn ceilings. The trend was at one time popular, but those days have long past, and popcorn ceilings will make even the nicest home feel outdated. Click here to see a full set of directions and learn how to remove your old popcorn ceilings and replace them with smooth, modern planks. All image via www.edithandevelynvintage.com Before After Sources www.edithandevelynvintage.com

If you have a fireplace at home, you know this is the season to really put it  to use. Before you decide to stoke a fire, check out some ways that you can decorate  and really spruce up your fireplace. Adding a few decorations and light touches will make  your fireplace the warm and inviting center of your home! Image via www.suburbanmen.com Image via www.pinterest.com Image via www.decozilla.com Image via www.christina@thefrugalhomemaker.com Sources www.pinterest.com

The front door of your home is an inexpensive way to make a big difference in the appearance of your home. You might not have the funds to completely re side your house or put on a new roof, but if you can manage to swing a can of paint, you're in good shape. Check out some front door colors that will make your house pop! Stormy Gray This color is versatile with light and dark colored siding, and it will prevent showing dirt. Image via www.cozycottagecute.com Canary Yellow Yellow doesn't have to be over bearing. Choose soft or earthy yellow tones for a subtle highlight. Image via www.pinterest.com Navy Blue Blues pop in the middle of a lightly colored house. Grays and taupe shades compliment blue well. Image via www.mariakillam.com Cherry Red Adding a red or orange tone to your front door will add a warmth to your home's appearance. Image via www.prettyhandygirl.com Sources www.pinterest.com

People are often drawn to craftsman style homes because of the quaintness and charm of a craftsman home. It seems like the more roof peaks, detailed trim, and contrasting colors there are to a home, the more of a cottage feel a home has. Unfortunately, these features are not usually cheap. In fact, the more of these detail added to your home, the higher your price point will be.    Lucky for you, we have some suggestions on how you can slash these costs if you're dead set on having a craftsman style home. First and foremost, the materials you decide to use will ultimately make or break your budget with this kind of home. To counteract high building costs, do your research. With all of the new and upcoming advances in the technology behind building materials, you should be able to save money if you choose carefully. For instance, fiber-cement siding is an excellent substitute that resembles real wood and stucco siding. It's also becoming more common to use authentic-l

Lately, manufacturers have been coming out with some pretty amazing mosaic tiling. Little details like that can make a huge difference in a home, and add a pop of color while remaining tasteful and subtle. Check out this awesome technique that will upgrade your cabinetry, and you can do it yourself in a matter of a few hours! You'll need: Cabinet door Mosaic tile adhesive Paint Mosaic tile Cabinetry hardware Ruler Images via www.bhg.com Sources www.bhg.com

Talking about the cost of quality typically makes people think about the pricetag associated with getting exactly what you want out of a new home build. There is, however, a whole other side to this train of thought: What is the cost of NOT building a quality product? What are the repercussions to taking shortcuts and paying less up front? Are they severe? Take into consideration a few key points drawn from a study performed by the Integrated Building and Construction Solutions organization: Cost of quality can account for 8% - 15% of total construction loss The cost of correcting deviations from a specification was 12% of a construction project's total cost The cost of rework in commercial construction is 12.4% of total contract cost, and it’s 4.1% in residential construction The cost of quality management is 1% - 5% of total construction cost

We invite you and yours to visit our booth at the QUAD (Quality Unites Architectural Design) Conference TODAY, November 10th in Albany, NY. The conference will hold educational seminars, opportunities to network with Dealers and suppliers and there will be the QUAD State Design Awards Presenation. Click  here  to visit the official website. Visit Booth #83 Image via www.quadconference.aia.nys.org

We invite you and yours to visit our booth at the QUAD (Quality Unites Architectural Design) Conference tomorrow, November 10th in Albany, NY. The conference will hold educational seminars, opportunities to network with Dealers and suppliers and there will be the QUAD State Design Awards Presenation. Click here to visit the official website. Visit Booth #83 Image via www.quadconference.aia.nys.org

Incorporating plants into your home decor is always an excellent idea. House plants add a refreshing, clean vibe to the atmosphere, and can add a lot to a space. Also, if you shop around and look when certain plants are in season, you can usually get house plants for a good price. Here are some plants that won't die on you, but instead will thrive in your house. Image via www.ambius.com Aloe Aloe likes lots of sunlight, and a moderate  temperature around 70 degrees. This plant  is low maintenance as it likes dry soil and  does not need to be watered often. Image via www.interiorofficeplants.com Pothos Pothos plants are air-purifying that remove toxins from the air. They climb well, and look nice in hanging baskets. This plant requires moderate sunlight, and needs to be trimmed occasionally. The soil can be on the dryer side, but it does need watered periodically. Image via www.today.com Diffenbachia   Diffe