Helpful Tips for Building a Functional and Quality Home.

              Ways to Build a Better Home.

New materials, products and techniques are appearing today at a faster pace than ever before. Here are some key tips to some of the basics of a comfortable and quality constructed home.

• Give More Attention to Framing Inspections

This is the most important part of the construction process. This is where you get the chance to fix mistakes or make moderate changes if necessary. Such items as shower head heights, twisted studs, or adding other details to the plan are easier to fix at this stage than later in the construction process.

• Use Low-E Glass

Although it is a concept familiar to most and standard to some, a lot of builders still are not using Low-E windows if they do not have to. A Low-E (low-emissivity) coating, which applies to one or more of the layers of glass that make up the window, increases the windows insulating value and filters out ultraviolet light.

• More Natural Light

Code requirements call for atleast 10% of the square footage of a room be reflected in overall window surface for addequate lighting factors. (example 100 sq ft in a 10 x 10 room would need a 10 sq ft window surface. This is usually not a problem for smaller rooms considering they usually get atleast a 3 x 5 window: equals 15 sq ft). The best place to affect the natural light issue would be in large rooms with distant windows from one side to the other or long hallways where even the addition of small skylights or light reflective tubes can be of great benefit. The quantity and size of windows will definately cost more initally, but with the increased natural lighting, the monthly utility bills can be reduced by more than the one time initial cost of the windows.

• Invest in HVAC

Installing a more energy effiecient HVAC unit and periferals in a new home these days can be of tremendous long term value in both comfort and cost savings. Depending on your typical usage patterns, you should speak with a qualified HVAC professional to explain the benefits for your particular floorplan and lifestyle.

• Sealing and Ventilation as a System

As homes continue to become more and more airtight for incrased energy efficiency, indoor air quality is becoming an ever-increasing concern. To prevent air and moisture infiltration, houses need to be sealed properly. This means using mastic on all duct joints, caulking or using expandable foam around windows, foam sealing all exterior wall plates and exterior seams in exterior sheathing of the home. Also sealing HVAC return locations is an extremely important item. If the returns are not sealed properly, just a small gap can cause the systems effectiveness to be dramatically reduced, thus causing decreased air flow and system effciency.

• Eliminate Avenues for Termites or other Infestations

One of the most effective and economical things a builder or homeowner can do early on is treat a potential problem before it ever happens. The application of a termite treatment and mold resistive additive to all  exterior baseplates and potential wet areas in the house can lead to a peace of mind that is hard to put a price on, though such treatments are usually not very expensive at all.

• Consider Blown-in Insullation

Though the product is usually about 25% more expensive than traditional fiberglass insulation, the benefits can outweigh the cost. For one thing, R-values of walls after they have been insulated with cellulose often exceed 20, making homes highly energy efficient. Secondly, cellulose insullation provides a vapor barrier tight enough to eliminate the need for house wrap products. Lastly, the product is very "green", which means that it is made from 90% recycled material, because of this, the product is also treated with a fire retardant.

• Soundproof Interior Walls

Extra care should be given to the walls that separate the bathrooms from the rest of the house, especially in the plumbing walls adjacent to bedrooms. Soundproofing or reduction for media rooms and family gathering areas helps to cut down on the noise transmission through the walls for added privacy and comfort.

• Commuications Wiring

Obviously with the technology that is available today, many possibilities arise for the use of structured wiring in a home. These types of systems will enable homeowners to intergrate and interact with all forms of media in the comfort of their own home. The installation of a central "Hub" with connections for "Cat 5" wiring and RG-6 coaxial cables. This can allow the home to communicate internally or externally to just about anywhere immaginable these days. It is definately a must for todays homes. Take time to speak with a specialist in the field before you get too far into the your project, I think you'll be surprised at what is able to be done these days.

• Trust Building (very important)

In todays marketplace, the competition for a customer to build for is intense. Every Builder has their own way of doing things. The most important thing is to have a good working relationship between the parties and to have things spelled out up front and on the back side as to who is responsible for what. Always know the Who, What, Where, When, How, and Why about your particular building process.

The best approach is to have meetings to discuss the next and prior stage or stages of the construction process as it relates to your specific situation. This is a very important issue that should be monitored on a continual basis. Now that does not mean stand there while the Builder hammers in every nail, it mearly means that you and the Builder should be on the same page and in the same frame of mind when it comes to building your home. Keep in mind that ommissions and or mistakes can happen, by both parties.  How they are addressed is the important aspect of the relationship, no one wants to waste time or money and still get nothing accomplished.

Make sure that all warranty manuals and policies are received at the appropriate time and all meetings are attended as needed to ensure a smooth and enjoyable building process.