The House Plan Shop Blog

You’ve heard of the crash-test dummies used to test the safety of automobiles. Home insurance companies recently began using this concept to “crash-test” residential construction. The goal is to provide insight, feedback and concrete evidence about home construction that will help devise new disaster-proof construction practices for home building. Home insurance companies can sponsor a test chamber that simulates severe weather conditions and the effect they have on model houses. For example, tests can simulate Mother Nature’s harshest weather conditions by inflicting gale-force winds, torrential rains, hail, fire and debris. The chief engineer for the Institute for Business and Home Safety, Time Reinhold, says “This is an opportunity to create demand for better construction.” The IBHS lab is designed to subject model homes to simulated weather conditions typical of a Category 2 or Category 3 hurricane such as 140 mph winds produced by fans, hail created by freezing water in different size molds, fire produced by blazing embers (burning mulch hurled by fans), open gas lines and burning shrubs and trees, and rain with up to 8” per hour produced by sprinklers.

The IBHS’s test facility debuted in October of 2010 with two test homes side-by-side. One was built to typical building codes used in the Midwest. The other one incorporated structural reinforcements and more durable materials. The results were impressive with the reinforced home suffering only cosmetic damage while the standard-code home collapsed in minutes.

The results were clear. It is worth investing in reinforced construction when it comes to durability and safety. For more information about cost and additional details, review this “crash-test” article.

Source: Crash-Test Homes Show Value of Better Construction, by Clare Kaufman

Tags: home construction, home insurance, Home Safety, residential construction, severe weather

Time is running out! Just 2 weeks left for The House Plans Shop’s special Facebook shipping promotion! Visit our Facebook Page and Like Us to find a special shipping promotion code for Facebook friends only.

Only until October 31st: The House Plan Shop is offering FREE Ground Shipping or $35.00 OFF Priority or Express Shipping on the initial sale of any blueprint package. Simply enter or mention the special promotional code you find on our Facebook page when you Like our page.

Tags: Facebook, Facebook friends, home plans, house plans, shipping, shipping discount, shipping promotion, The House Plan Shop

Visit The House Plan Shop’s Facebook Page and Like Us to receive a special shipping promotion code for Facebook friends only.

For the month of October only: The House Plan Shop is offering FREE Ground Shipping or $35.00 OFF Priority or Express Shipping on the initial sale of any blueprint package. Simply enter or mention the special promotional code you find on our Facebook page when you Like our page.

Tags: Facebook, Facebook friends, home plans, house plans, shipping, shipping discount, shipping promotion, The House Plan Shop

The popular TV show Extreme Makeover: Home Edition is returning to Nashville. A pep rally was held today for area residents kicking off the construction of two new homes for local families. The rumor is, the homes will be built for families who lost everything they had in the recent floods in Tennessee. This is a great way for area residents and volunteers to help their neighbors and support one another during a difficult time. And an added bonus….the possibility of one of country music’s hottest dropping by to pitch in or entertain the volunteers.

Find out more here.

Tags: building new homes, construction, extreme makeover, pep rally

Early this week, the Denver Post reported the Denver Parade of Homes starts tomorrow, August 14, and runs through Labor Day. This year’s showcase of homes includes broad range of designs stretching from affordable homes to posh luxury designs. While some of the dream homes and state-of-the-art technology will certainly get your attention, this year’s Parade has shifted its focus a bit acknowledging the present situation of the economy. You’ll find homes designed for practicality and function to accommodate the needs of individual families at many different price points. Furthermore, admission is free.

Read more about the Parade.

Tags: Denver, home showcase, houses, Parade of Homes