FA Design Build is taking strides in building relationships with non-profit organizations like ReBuild, Habitat for Humanity and Community Forklift who accept quality, used building materials and sell them back to the public, raising awareness in their communities.

FA Design Build will make efforts to donate usable building materials and provide the homeowner with a suggested donation amount that can be written off on their taxes.  We will provide homeowners with an official donation form provided by the non-profit organization.  As part of the standard process, FA Design Build will also coordinate the pick-up of the materials during the donation/de-construction phase of the project at no additional cost to the homeowner.  Typical donation amounts can vary greatly, but a full kitchen, of quality materials in working order, can provide homeowners approximately $500.00 to $1,000.00 or more as a tax deduction.

Contact FA Design Build at 703-934-8447 for more details.

Before you can determine how you would like your bathroom lights installed, you need to focus on the various tasks that occur in the bathroom. For example, lighting in the vanity area is very important because the task in this area is grooming and it requires the highest level of lighting in the bath. We have found that providing light at the sides of the mirror because it creates no shadow on the face and the light will shine from a horizontal direction. These lights are typically wall-mounted and can either be incandescent or fluorescent. We also recommend the use of a dimmer in this area as well.

Fixtures Above the Mirror

 In order to create successful lighting on the side of the mirror, we recommend that you chose a fixture that is appropriate to the size of the mirror. For example, 100 watts of incandescent lighting for every 18” of horizontal width of the mirror. As long as the fixtures provide adequate light, placement of the fixtures above the mirror is equal to placement on the side of the mirror. Dimming In general, the amount of lighting used for a vanity fixture is appropriate for grooming tasks, but is too much for general bathroom lighting so the use of a dimmer is highly recommended. In addition to the extremity of the lighting in the grooming area, a dimmer also can provide comfort to your bathroom. Lighting for the shower and tub Use of lighting in layers is essential for other tasks in the bathroom. We suggest that the lighting be placed directly above the shower and tub, but there are standards that the National Electric Code states, meaning that the fixtures must be labeled as meeting requirements for wet conditions. These fixtures can be recessed or surface mounted, but we have found that recessed fixtures are the most popular option.

Lighting for the Water Closet

 You will find that in smaller bathrooms, depending on the lighting that you have chosen for your vanity area, the lighting in the water closet area is usually sufficient. If the water closet is not in the same vicinity as the vanity, a separate lighting source will need to be installed. Wall-mounted, decorative fixtures are typically the most popular in this area.

General Ambient Lighting

We have found that more and more decorative light fixtures are available for consumers to choose from and placement of a decorative light fixture in the center of the bathroom is also a great solution…no matter the size of your bathroom. Don’t forget that dimmers add a sense of elegance and comfort to any bathroom.

The 203K program enables HUD (Department of Housing and Community Development) to promote and facilitate the restoration of our existing housing.  It is HUD’s primary program for the rehabilitation and repair of single family homes.  HUD’s main goal is the revitalization and expansion of homeownership throughout our communities.

203K operates through FHA’s (Federal Housing Administration) approved lending institutions that submit applications to have the property appraised and to get the buyer’s credit approved.  The 203K program allows that buyer to just have one mortgage loan, at a long-term adjustable rate to finance the purchase and rehabilitation of the property.  The mortgage is based on the projected value of the property once the work is completed.  Once the mortgage is disbursed and an escrow account for the rehabilitation is established, the lender will have a fully-insured mortgage loan.

Eligible properties are one-to four-family dwelling units that have been completed for at least one year.  The units must meet the local zoning requirements.  The program is also eligible for condominiums that have been approved by the FHA.

Only certain lenders and subcontractors are approved by the FHA to participate in this program.  Flooring America/FA Design Build is an approved 203K subcontractor and we have completed several properties through this program.

Please visit www.203kplus.com for more details.  Stay tuned for our next blog which will discuss the 203k Streamlined(k) program.