Creating a dynamic space for all your family’s needs!

Homeowners have many questions about their attic and its’ potential. It can be a daunting process. Do I need to add a dormer? Where will the stairwell fit? How much will it cost? There is a lot of money at stake and the wrong decision will be very expensive.

Many historic homeowners have a large attic and it seems it would be economical to finish it. However, there are two important items to remember when building out your attic. First, what is the current structural framing and second, how to insulate the space correctly?

Lynn Taylor of Taylor Made Plans will talk about the process of evaluating your attic. The structural and insulation requirements of your attic are but only 2 of 7 critical areas to be discussed.

In this webinar, you will learn how to:

●        Determine if your home’s attic is feasible for a build out

●        Evaluate if there are any construction difficulties with your house

●        Will this existing house have room for a stairwell?

●        What type of insulation will I need?

If an attic renovation could be in your future, bring your questions and concerns for discussion with one of Nashville’s leading home remodeling designers. Lynn Taylor, owner of Taylor Made Plans, has assisted homeowners in the addition & renovation process for more than 15 years. Lynn teaches you how to evaluate your home, property, and personal situation to determine the best course of action saving you thousands of dollars on your attic-remodeling project!

COST: $27.00 for this webinar presentation. Money-back guarantee! If you are not satisfied with this webinar, you will receive a refund. To process the refund you must send a short email (within one week of viewing) explaining why the webinar failed to deliver. This feedback will contribute in delivering superior service in the future to you!  REGISTER HERE FOR THIS WEBINAR

Lynn Taylor is an expert in this field. Taylor is a sought-after speaker on home design and renovation. With a straightforward and down-to-earth style, she delivers a wealth of practical information to participants in her seminars and webinars.

Attic Conversion

Tara Biller presents:

“Dispelling the Myths of Greening your Home and Lifestyle”

Just turning on the news, reading the paper, or checking online news reports can make you worry about what’s going to happen with our economy. We are all looking for ways to cut back our spending and save money — and going “green” is an excellent way to do that. There are many misconceptions that going green is very expensive and in order to do so, you must install solar panels, geo-thermal systems, grey-water systems, or buy a hybrid or electric car. Those myths are certainly NOT the case. The majority of us can’t afford to make those kinds of investments today. So what can we do?

LOCATION:

EAST BRANCH LIBRARY
206 Gallatin Road, Nashville, TN 37206

Directions to our Library: About two miles from I-65, I-40, we’re at the intersection of 11th Street, Main Street, and Gallatin Road. Free parking is available behind the building.

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Tara Biller of Green Proof Your Home will lead a discussion on how greening your home and lifestyle can help reduce your environmental impact and save you money.

Tara Biller is founder and owner of Green Proof Your Home, a consulting service designed to outline the simple steps of going “green”. She is a contributing writer to several Nashville community papers and newsletters. Tara is a frequent speaker on topics related to “Green” living and has organized a community challenge called the Nashville Eco-Challenge (a volunteer effort to reduce our community’s ecological footprint).

Tara Biller, Green Proof Your Home

tbiller@greenproofyourhome.com

http://www.greenproofyourhome.com/

Nashville, TN – Award winning, Taylor Made Plans today announced the launch of a Home Renovation webinar series about the world of home design, construction, and renovation. The purpose of the series is to empower and educate the consumer with inside information that is critical to the success of any residential project.

The series will be organized by Lynn Taylor, president of Taylor Made Plans who is recognized as a leading voice on historic design and preservation. A residential designer with nearly three decades of experience, Taylor is a dynamic and engaging personality who regularly advises homeowners and municipalities on how to best incorporate modern design elements while maintaining historic integrity. Clients continue to return to Taylor because they trust her insight, are grateful for her flexibility and love her design.

“I encourage anyone who is in the middle of a project or interested in starting one to join our webinars,” said Taylor.  “People have so many questions when they start a renovation or construction project, from what contractor to pick to what materials to use.  I decided to start this series to help them navigate those often intimidating waters, saving time, money and a lot of worry in the end.”

The Consumer Federation of America reports that two of the top 10 consumer complaints in the nation center around construction and home improvement, including shoddy work, the failure to start or complete a job, false advertising, and failure to deliver.

Taylor has fashioned the webinars to help consumers avoid these complaints.  Topics include affordable green building products, best construction methods, hiring contractors, unique construction products, hiring interior designers, attic build outs and more! In addition, Taylor Made Plans will feature other top professionals in the residential design and construction industry.

For current webinars and registration, visit http://budurl.com/webinarEVENTS

“For many years, Lynn has been one of Nashville’s leaders in historic preservation and design,” said Nashville resident Jane Hardy.  “My home and I have benefited directly from Lynn’s leadership in events and workshops in which she brings local experts together to inform and inspire homeowners to embrace the historic character of their homes and to increase their sustainability. I highly recommend her!”

Learn how to select green and energy-efficient methods and products for your next addition or new home

Are you planning a remodel, addition, or new home? Do you want improved indoor air quality for your family? Want lower energy bills? Don’t guess where to spend money on your next home project, know.

“High utility bills in summer and winter can often be traced to air leaks in your home’s envelope, inefficient windows or inefficient or incorrectly installed heating and cooling equipment, or poorly sealed and insulated ducts.” Energy Star website.

Lynn Taylor, owner of Taylor Made Plans, assists homeowners in selecting the best construction products and methods for their personal situation. An award winning residential designer with three decades of experience, Taylor is a dynamic and engaging personality who regularly advises homeowners on how to best incorporate energy saving building materials, while maintaining a budget. Her presentation will highlight energy saving building materials for your green home remodeling project.

Taylor is a sought-after speaker on home design and renovation. With a straightforward and down-to-earth style, she delivers a wealth of practical information to participants in her seminars and classes. She is a consummate learner and regularly attends green, energy-efficient construction conferences, workshops, and webinars.

In this webinar, you will learn how to:

• Determine which construction products and methods are the most affordable and the best to choose;

• Know what to look for on the job site;

• Prevent indoor air pollution;

• Understand why durability details are important.

Duration of Webinar:      1 hour

Webinar INFORMATIONAL Video

REGISTER TODAY for this WEBINAR:  http://www.anymeeting.com/PIID=E958DF80834D

It’s GOOD to share!

Over the years, I have answered many questions about building garages. (in Nashville, TN) Garages can be an asset to a property and provide much needed space for homes with little storage. There are so many variables when deciding to build a garage, so this will give you a start for the process.

First, you will need to determine your zoning and overlays; for example, Urban Zoning Overlay (UZO), Historic Conservation, or Historical Preservation Overlay. You can find this information on the property maps at the Metro government site. The smallest two-car garage I recommend is 24’ x 24’. In the UZO, the maximum square footage of your garage is 700 sq. ft. or half the square footage of your home, whichever is greater. Usually you can build a garage no taller than your house with vertical walls rising no higher than twenty-four feet. If your property is located outside the UZO boundaries, the maximum square footage of your garage is 700 sq. ft., and garage vertical walls may rise no higher than sixteen feet tall. Otherwise, you will have to apply for a variance at the Building Codes department.

Garage Plan #G102

Of course, before you start building a garage, I highly recommend you at least get your property lines “pinned” by a surveyor. It’s best to have a complete survey done on your property locating all property corners, buildings, easements, trees you may want to keep, fences, flood plains, etc.

Building code restrictions are subject to change even as I am typing. This information is meant to get you started thinking about what questions you will need to ask your  residential designer and the building code official.

Check out our Garage Stock Plans here——> http://www.taylormadeplans.com/catalog.php

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UPDATE: Recently this ordinance passed in Nashville, TN – ORDINANCE NO. BL2011-900

– (Enacted 05/17/2011) An ordinance amending various sections of Title 17 of the Metropolitan Code, Zoning Regulations, to modify Section 17.04.060.B (Definitions of General Terms), by adding definitions for “Accessory Apartment” and “Accessory Dwelling, Detached”, modifying Section 17.08.030 (District Land Use Tables – Residential Uses) to add “Accessory Dwelling, Detached” as a use permitted with conditions (PC) within Historic Overlay Districts within the R, RM, OR20, OR40, and ORI zoning districts, and modifying Section 17.16.030.A (Uses Permitted with Conditions: Residential Uses) to add standards for an “Accessory Dwelling, Detached” (Proposal No. 2011Z-005TX-001).

Taylor Made Plans, LLC designs custom homes and renovations that capture all the architectural details and modern amenities that homeowners love. Led by residential designer and historic preservation expert Lynn Taylor, the company’s home designs have gained national attention and awards for their high quality, attention to detail, and custom charm.  Taylor works closely with homeowners, investors, affordable housing organizations, and community development corporations to determine the ideal plan for their needs, within budget.

What We Do

Taylor Made Plans helps homeowners design and build the homes they’ve always imagined.  We work closely with homeowners, walking them through every step of the often-daunting design process leading up to construction.  We provide pre-construction consultation and create detailed custom blueprints for new homes, historical or modern, as well as additions and renovations.  We specialize in “infill” – designing new homes that fit seamlessly in historic neighborhoods.  We even guide homeowners through the difficult job of selecting a contractor and assist with project administration.  All our services make the construction process as easy as possible for homeowners.

Why Choose Taylor Made Plans, LLC?

Taylor Made Plans is led by Lynn Taylor, a residential designer with more than 27 years experience who is known for the personal care and meticulous attention to detail she brings to each project.  Clients continue to return to Taylor because they trust her insight, are grateful for her flexibility and love her design.

Lynn Taylor is recognized in the industry as a leading voice on historic preservation and design.  A dynamic and engaging personality, she regularly advises homeowners and municipalities on how to best merge modern design elements while maintaining historic integrity.  One of her residential designs won a Great American Home Award presented by the National Trust for Historic Preservation and Old-House Journal in the infill housing category.  Her designs also have won several awards from the Historic Commission of Metropolitan Nashville.

Lynn Taylor is active in the industry and in her community.  She stays current with design trends and is a regular participant and speaker at industry conferences.  Taylor was the chair of the Association for the Preservation of Tennessee Antiquities Appraisal Fair, chair of Old House Fair, and has served on the board of Advisors to Magdalene, a Nashville charity for women recovering from drug addiction, the board of Historic Nashville, Inc. and the Lockeland Springs Neighborhood Association.

Lynn Taylor is a residential designer with more than 27 years experience in building design and construction. She is a member of the American Institute of Building Design and National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO)

For more information about Lynn Taylor and Taylor Made Plans, please visit the website at www.taylormadeplans.com.

The Taylor Made Plans Process

Consultation

Our services begin with an on-site consultation meeting where the homeowner gets to know Taylor Made Plans and for Taylor Made Plans to get to know the project.  During this meeting, the homeowner and Lynn Taylor will discuss the project and consider such questions as:

• Is the project feasible?
• Is remodeling the best option versus moving to a different home?
• Will the money spent on remodeling give a good return on investment if the homeowner later sells the house?
• Will the project suit the family’s lifestyle?
• Are there any construction difficulties with your property?

Taylor Made Plans will provide samples of our work in this meeting, including before and after photographs and construction drawings (blueprints), and provide references.  If the homeowners are able to define the scope of the project at this time, Taylor Made Plans will quote a fee range (plus expenses) for design services by the end of this initial consultation visit.

Prior to this initial consultation, it is helpful for homeowners to consider:

• What works and what doesn’t work with the current space?
• What are the family’s needs for the next five years?
• What is the budget?
• What is the house approximately worth (in terms of cost per square foot)?
• Collect photographs and pictures from magazines of aspects liked and disliked.
• Find your mortgage survey, if you have one.

The fee for the pre-construction consultation is $125 per hour (including driving time to and from our office, with a $125 minimum.)

Schematic Design Phase

Sometimes with extensive remodeling projects, it is difficult to estimate a construction cost without first obtaining quotes from contractors.  If the homeowner has concerns about whether the project is feasible based on their budget, Taylor Made Plans will provide schematic plans at a percentage of the overall construction drawings package cost.  During this phase, we will have two to four meetings to consult with the homeowners and to photograph and measure the space.  Schematic designs will include:

• Minimally detailed floor plans
• Demolition floor plan
• New construction floor plan
• Exterior elevations

Although they will not include details or notes suitable for construction, these designs will be sufficient for obtaining “ballpark” quotes from one contractor before proceeding further with the project.  In addition, they can be used for obtaining historic commission approval if the home is located within a historical district. This phase also includes submitting drawings and all necessary forms to the Metro Historic Commission, if the home is located within a historical district, and appearing before the Commission when the homeowners’ plans are considered.  If the homeowner is comfortable with the ballpark estimate, Taylor Made Plans will proceed with construction drawings.

Construction Drawing Phase

This phase consists of drawing detailed construction plans and refining schematic drawings including:

• Foundation layout plan
• Electrical layout plan
• Framing layout plan
• Wall sections and details

There will be two to three consultations with the homeowners to review the designs as they progress. At this phase, we will bring in a licensed structural engineer to review the site. The design fee includes drawing the foundation and framing construction drawings, which will be submitted to the structural engineer for review. We believe it is important to have an engineer size all beams, footings, framing, etc. for your best interest.

Schematic Design and Construction Drawing Phases

Taylor Made Plans charges a fixed fee, plus blueprinting charges (printing cost + processing), once the scope of work is defined.  Twenty-five percent is due from the homeowner as a deposit upon commencement of the work, with the remaining amount payable in installments as the work progresses.  If the homeowner changes the scope of work during the design period, additional fees will apply. The initial consultation fee will not be credited toward any design fees.

Contractor Bidding Process

Taylor Made Plans includes assistance in selecting a contractor as part of the design services package. Taylor Made Plans can provide contractor recommendations, upon request, and will be available for questions during the bidding process and review of the bids.  Taylor Made Plans does not make any money from referrals of contractors and provides them solely as a service to our clients.

Some important things we have found to consider during the bidding process:

• Homeowners should obtain two to three contractor quotes after construction drawings are complete.
• Homeowners should not share their budget with the prospective contractors.
• Homeowners should not share competing quotes with other prospective contractors.
• Homeowners need to be aware that contractor quotes often vary significantly due to their overhead structure and subcontracting arrangements.
• Homeowners are responsible for checking the referrals, licenses, liability insurance, and workman’s comp of each contractor.
• Homeowners should not tell the contractors, whom they are bidding against during the process.

Although Taylor Made Plans provides much assistance, homeowners are responsible for selecting their own contractors and executing their own contract.  Ultimately, homeowners need to make their selection based on how comfortable they feel with the way the contractor conducts business and his or her references.

Other Professional Services

Homeowners need to be aware that different municipalities have varying requirements for the issuance of building permits, and these requirements may necessitate the use of other professional services.  Should any of the professionals listed below be required, Taylor Made Plans can give referrals and will coordinate with these individuals in order to facilitate their work.

• Structural Engineer. Some projects may require that a structural engineer make a site visit and/or review the construction drawings in order to size the foundation, framing members and beams.  The design fee for these services varies, but homeowners could expect to pay between $300 and $1,200 +/- for projects.

• Civil Engineer. Some projects may require that a civil engineer be consulted to review the site plan and conduct a property survey.  These fees could range between $500 and $1,500 +/-.

• Landscape Architect. Some projects may require homeowners use the services of a landscape architect to complete the total design of the property.

The above are only estimates of professional fees; each project is different.  Fees for these professional services are individually determined and are in addition to Taylor Made Plans design fees.

Taylor Made Plans can also assist in evaluating whether an interior designer should participate in the project, since interior design elements are not specified in the house designs.  If homeowners need assistance in selecting interior finishes, such as paint colors, cabinetry, flooring surfaces, hardware, trim, countertops, lighting fixtures, plumbing fixtures, etc., they should consult an interior designer, for whom we would be happy to provide referrals.

Construction Administration

Another important benefit to a Taylor Made Designs package is that we provide phone consultation with contractors throughout the project.  This includes being available to the homeowners and contractors for questions or

clarifications on drawings or minor modifications due to unknown circumstances or a change in codes.  We also will make one site visit (and more on request for an additional fee) that will help keep the construction on track according to the needs of the homeowners.  We always encourage homeowners or contractors to call with any concerns.

Lynn Taylor

Need to Know More? Give us a call today!   615-650-8956

We are constantly updating the Taylor Made Plans, LLC website with new plans and new photos. Check in regularly to see what’s new! www.taylormadeplans.com.

Thank you for your interest in Taylor Made Plans!

Lynn Taylor is a Residential Designer and member of the American Institute of Building Design, a national association. Lynn Taylor is not an architect. No employee of Taylor Made Plans, LLC, is an architect. In most states, including Tennessee, the practice of Residential Design is exempt from the laws governing the practice of architecture. Lynn Taylor and Taylor Made Plans, LLC, will perform no work outside the exemptions from the practice of architecture listed in Tennessee Code Annotated Section 62-2-102(b).

Looking for ways to save energy and money? It’s easy! Join NES and “Kilowatt Ours” for a FREE workshop on how to reduce your electrical bill.

Saturday, March 26
11:00am to 12:30pm
(Pizza lunch included)

Flyer: Saturday, March 26

LOCATION:
Margaret Maddox YMCA
Community Room
2624 Gallatin Pike
Nashville, TN 37216
(615) 228-5526

Wednesday, March 30
5:30pm to 7:00pm

LOCATION:
Salvation Army Community Center
631 Dickerson Road
(615) 255-0554

Flyer: Wenesday, 03-30-11

Tuesday, April 26
5:30pm to 7:00pm

LOCATION:
McFerrin Park Community Center
310 Grace Street
Nashville, TN 37207
(615) 862-8458

Are you interested in bringing this free workshop into your church or community center?
Contact info@KilowattOurs.org for more information.

Building a home represents the greatest financial investment most people will make in a lifetime and few envision how complex the process is until they are entangled in a jungle of restrictive covenants, building codes, zoning ordinances, design options, vendor and contractor choices and so on. Yet, most states do not have a licensing requirement for residential building designers.

When a new home or addition is in your future, a specialist in the discipline of residential design is your best choice to guide you through the design/building experience. Accordingly, it makes sense to secure design services from a qualified, experienced source, a professional member of the American Institute of Building Design (AIBD).

Since 1950, AIBD has provided building designers with educational resources, and has developed nationwide design standards and a code of ethics for the building design profession. Today, AIBD is a nationally recognized association with professional and associate members in 48 states, throughout Canada and in Europe, Asia, Australia and the Bahamas. Its chartered state societies are active in their respective legislative arenas and work to promote public awareness of the building design profession.

AIBD is also meeting the challenge of the future by educating members about new and improved building materials and innovative technologies that will impact how we live in the future.

Request Your FREE Guide To Residential Design Specialists

Lynn Taylor is a professional member of American Institute of Building Design since 2003.

For years, window replacement companies have implied that the greatest source of energy loss in homes is through old windows. The evidence I have seen suggests otherwise.

First, the Nashville Electric Service cites a study conducted by Southface Energy Institute showing that the greatest areas of energy loss in the home are air infiltration, at 28%, and air conditioning duct leaks, at 21%. Air infiltration includes holes drilled into the exterior and interior walls, dryer vents, electrical items, and plumbing lines from the crawl space.

Second, a recent home energy audit conducted by E3 Innovate on a 1930’s craftsman-style home here in East Nashville identified six areas needing attention. None of the six items involved window replacement. The top three areas to reduce energy loss identified by E3 Innovate were to reduce air infiltration, to insulate knee walls, and to insulate attic crawlspace.

Third, my own experience of renovation design on historic houses has confirmed both the Southface Energy Institute report and the recent E3 Innovate home energy audit.

This is not to say that new windows are not energy-efficient, because they are. However, air infiltration actually occurs inside the wall around the edges of the window, so replacing a window cannot solve your problem. I have seen windows replaced in a house where other glaring sources of energy loss, such as a lack of insulation in the attic or the crawl space, were left untouched. You simply cannot expect this to reduce your energy bill.

For the same energy conservation benefits, you can add cost-effective storm windows over your historic windows and get the best of both worlds. If you already have storm windows but yours were installed prior to the 1980’s, you may need to consider replacing them.

Windows are both a defining characteristic and an integral part of historic homes. Replacing original windows with vinyl windows reduces the value of your beautiful home.

For more information on energy efficiency in historic homes, check out Lynn’s blog at http://www.taylormadeplans.com/blog/

As always:  It is your responsibility to check and make sure they have a construction license, liability insurance, workman’s comp, and bonded. They should be able to provide you with a license number. Their insurance company will provide the liability insurance and / or workman’s comp information directly to you. Please call Taylor Made Plans if you have any questions.

Taylor Made Plans YouTube channel comment on January 13, 2011:

I agree with you insulating the rim joist with foam but what about the walls ? You paid to insulate the block cores which probably cost just as much as spraying the entire wall with foam. Also insulating the cores does not prevent the transfer of heat or cold thru the block wall. Also you have plastic down as a vapor barrier but used open cell foam to seal it. Open cell foam in NOT a vapror barrier at any thickness !!! Good job on using foam but I think you should read up on it a little bit more

There is only a 500-word limit in the YouTube comment section, we wanted to respond correctly. This should be helpful for everyone!

Thank you for your response. Core filling block in our area is actually much less expensive than applying spray foam insulation (open or closed). The typical installation practice is to core fill block the with a low density foam and insulate the band with fiberglass batts.

While this is not the ideal system by any means it can be effective at controlling humidity which is why we seal crawl spaces in climate zone 4.

You might have heard on the video that this house was being constructed for a non-profit organization. Budget was of utmost concern. E3 innovate, the company mentioned, donated the vapor barrier installation as well as the band spray foam. At this point, the blocks were already filled. It was not cost effective to provide a redundant application on the walls.

In terms of choice of spray foam, there are two points to consider. First we must not confuse the amount of moisture that could potentially enter a dwelling form exposed earth with the amount of moisture that could potentially enter from the band. A well sealed vapor barrier is a must (and in this case 12 mil cross laminated). While the open cell is not a vapor barrier, it is a retarder and any moisture migration through the band can easily be dried out by the mechanical drying plan (in this case 75 cfm of conditioned air). Also please remember this is the south where 90% humidity is not uncommon. The band is constructed of organic materials. Installing closed cell does run the risk of trapping moisture between the foam and house wrap. I’ll concede this is a low probability but at most offsets the probability that the amount of air born moisture that penetrates the open cell will overrun the mechanical drying system.

Does the Magdalene house fall short on the strictest of green building measures? Most certainly. But the Magdalene House constructed a very energy efficient and durable structure within their limited means. The nominal energy and money saved from using a closed cell per se is better spent on educating this group’s stakeholders on the importance of getting off the streets. This in turn allows for a beginners education on the wise use of energy and how conservation is critical to our nation’s future.

Thank you for your response. We sense the author’s passion.

Jeff  Middlebrooks of E3 Innovate, LLC