Maria Luisa Castellanos
Want to buy that condo - really?
Condo remodeling is as easy as remodeling a single-family house. There are certain things to consider. Miami architect explains.
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Maria Luisa Castellanos
- Feb 13, 2018
- 3 min
10 Questions to ask a general contractor before hiring him
1. How is your company structured? Do you carry workmen’s compensation insurance as well as liability? It’s important to know with whom you
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Maria Luisa Castellanos
- Feb 7, 2018
- 2 min
Can you phase your commercial remodeling project?
Why is phased construction something to consider for a commercial remodel? Most small businesses cannot afford to shut down completely when
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Maria Luisa Castellanos
- Dec 28, 2017
- 3 min
Planning a house for today and for future sale
Many people ask me what they should do with their houses when they are redesigning them. Some plan their remodeling and/or addition as thou
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Maria Luisa Castellanos
- Dec 8, 2017
- 2 min
If you live in Unincorporated Miami-Dade, can you turn your single-family property into a duplex?
Yesterday, Public Housing and Community Development along with Miami-Dade County's Planning Department unveiled the regulations on their
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Maria Luisa Castellanos
- Nov 30, 2017
- 3 min
Where would we go if we had a revolution?
We should start generating a consciousness for urban spaces. Miami needs them. We should lobby for them. Why should we have to go to shoppin
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Maria Luisa Castellanos
- Oct 11, 2017
- 2 min
What does 'good bones" mean and what makes a good floor plan?
To me, “Good bones” means a house with a working floor plan, solid structure, and windows. In other words, it may need to be remodeled or u
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Maria Luisa Castellanos
- Oct 2, 2017
- 2 min
Time is right for investing in the Florida Keys
I went to visit a friend in the Keys this weekend, and while I was there, decided to drive around and see how much damage Hurricane Irma had
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Maria Luisa Castellanos
- Jul 13, 2017
- 3 min
Principles of Good Planning from the Miami 21 Zoning Code
Maybe you want to know why Miami 21, the zoning code for the City of Miami, is such a different code from all the other municipal codes in S
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Maria Luisa Castellanos
- Jul 11, 2017
- 4 min
When to Tear Down, When to Add & Remodel, & When to Sell your House
So you are thinking about spending substantial money to add and remodel your present house. But should you? Or would it be better to tear do
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Maria Luisa Castellanos
- Jul 7, 2017
- 2 min
What is a 40-year Re-certification?
This is about the requirement for 40-year re-certifications in Miami-Dade County. United Architects can perform
these inspections.
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Maria Luisa Castellanos
- Jul 3, 2017
- 2 min
Five major issues in adding to or remodeling residential property
1. Look at the required setbacks. Before doing anything, look at the zoning code of the city or the county (if you live in an unincorporated
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Maria Luisa Castellanos
- Jun 1, 2017
- 3 min
Designing the Mansion Junior instead of the McMansion
When I was a child unlike most Cubans, my family lived in the north – Missouri, New Hampshire, Alabama, and Georgia. We would come to Miami
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Maria Luisa Castellanos
- May 24, 2017
- 1 min
New Trends in Laundry/ Utility Rooms
One of the trends in home design is a larger Laundry/Utility Room. Instead of just a place for the washer and dryer, it is becoming a place
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Maria Luisa Castellanos
- May 15, 2017
- 2 min
Planning your new Miami home or remodeling to reduce insurance costs
Sometimes a particular remodeling or addition to a home can get you more in value than the actual cost of the item.
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Maria Luisa Castellanos
- May 12, 2017
- 2 min
8 Ideas for a More Energy-efficient Home Design
Include cross-ventilation in the design. There is not need to air-condition a house all-year around. Including windows on several walls of
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Maria Luisa Castellanos
- Apr 4, 2017
- 4 min
The Coming Walkable City
Miami 21 is the most comprehensive zoning code change I have seen in any part of Miami-Dade County in my over 25 years of practicing archite
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Maria Luisa Castellanos
- Apr 4, 2017
- 3 min
Should Floridians give our public money to private entities.
Now this year the legislature is considering requiring the bond money that the public approved for public schools to be shared with charter
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