Austin home project guides: page 2
25 local guides: costs, permits, maintenance, rebates, materials and planning checklists for Greater Austin.
Materials & ComparisonsFence Materials and Posts for Austin's Clay and RockAustin-area fences face heat, drought and storms, plus two very different ground conditions. East of I-35, shrink-swell clay pushes and pulls posts. West of MoPac and in the Hill Country, limestone sits inches below the surface and makes diSeasonal MaintenanceProtecting Your Foundation in a Texas DroughtOn the Blackland Prairie clays east of I-35, and in clay pockets across the metro, drought is when foundations move most. As the soil dries, it shrinks and pulls away from the slab edges, so corners drop and cracks open. Then the fall rainsPlanning ChecklistsHiring a Contractor in Texas: Vetting ChecklistIn many states, you can look up a general contractor's state license in seconds. Texas is different. There's no statewide license for general contractors, remodelers or roofers, so anyone can call themselves one. Specific trades areSeasonal MaintenanceOak Wilt and a Year-Round Tree Care CalendarLive oaks and red oaks shade much of Austin, from Tarrytown and West Lake Hills to Circle C and the Hill Country suburbs. They're also vulnerable to oak wilt, one of the most destructive tree diseases in Texas. Many oak wilt infections Materials & ComparisonsPatio Surfaces That Handle Austin Heat and ClayA patio in Austin has to survive two things most patio brochures ignore: surface temperatures that make bare feet regret stepping outside, and soils that either swell under the slab (clay, east of I-35) or refuse to be dug (limestone, west Planning ChecklistsPlanning an Austin Remodel Timeline, Step by StepThe biggest delays in a remodel happen before any work starts: design decisions, permitting and contractor scheduling. Here's a realistic sequence for Austin-area projects and where the time goes.Planning ChecklistsRemodeling a Pre-1978 Austin Home: What to ExpectCentral and East Austin, Hyde Park, Travis Heights, Tarrytown and the older parts of Georgetown, Taylor, Bastrop and San Marcos are full of houses built before 1978. They're well built and full of character, and they hide things that chPlanning ChecklistsSelling in Austin: ECAD Audit and Pre-Sale FixesIf you're selling a home inside Austin city limits, there's a requirement many sellers learn about late: the Energy Conservation Audit and Disclosure (ECAD) ordinance. Here's how it works and how to use it in your pre-sale plan.Materials & ComparisonsSolar Screens, Film or New Windows in Austin?In Austin, the window problem is mostly heat coming in. A west-facing bedroom on a July evening can stay hot hours after sunset because glass let in a whole afternoon's sun. There are three main fixes, at very different price points.Rebates & IncentivesEnergy Programs Outside Austin Energy's TerritoryA common mistake in the Austin suburbs is planning an HVAC or insulation project around Austin Energy's rebates, then discovering the house isn't served by Austin Energy. The metro is a patchwork of electric providers, each with difSeasonal MaintenanceFreeze-Proofing an Austin Home: A ChecklistMost Austin winters are mild, and that's the problem. Houses here aren't built with the assumption that pipes will see sustained subfreezing temperatures, so a hard freeze every few years catches plumbing exposed in attics, exteriorPermits & CodesAustin Tree Rules for Remodels, Additions & PoolsAustin loves its trees, and the city's code protects the big ones. For homeowners planning an addition, ADU, pool, driveway or even a large patio, trees are often the first constraint you hit and the one most often discovered late. Here
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