General Contractors
Trends in Custom Homes Offer Innovative Techniques
2009 building trends have seen quite a few changes from the recent years of opulence and grandiose residences. While many homeowners still enjoy elegant living, it is not the showy products that are popular, but rather the increase and focus on sustainable living and practical spaces. With several builder trends moving away from the McMansions and onto green building, smaller homes and flex spaces, new homes are an improved version of what once was.
Outdoor living space - Custom home by Brock Builders
Smaller Homes
The old adage of less is more is not always true, but with many trends in new homes, this is becoming more and more popular. Smaller doesn’t necessarily equal less quality, but having a smaller footprint can often create a larger impact on saving resources, time and money. With the rise of open floor plans, many smaller homes are still just as functional as larger ones, but are more practical in layout and functionality.
Flex Space
It might be a home office to you or a library to another, but whatever the reason, flex space is a frequent addition to new floor plans. A qualified general contractor can assist in altering a plan’s flex space to fit your needs. Work with your builder to create a black-out room for home theaters or the builder trend of built-in furniture and French doors for the home office.
Storage
With homes shrinking in size, storage remains a top priority among 2009 building trends. While closets are important, many homeowners are turning to the attic as a new functional space. Often thought of as dead space, the walk-out attic can now become additional square footage to store more than Christmas ornaments and old clothes.
Outdoor Living/Outdoor Rooms
You don’t need a sprawling back yard to have an enjoyable outdoor living area. Functional living space can include everything from an outdoor kitchen and fireplace, to a comfortable seating area and a water feature. How you choose to spend your time outdoors is entirely customizable with your vision and local home builder’s prowess. The recent increase in home technology and green building also expands to outdoor living spaces. Wire your outdoor room for football games and movies, while enjoying delicious meals and an on-site recycling station.
Green Features
One of the largest builder trends practiced today is green building. Whether the home is entirely green, such as a HealthyBuilt Home, or includes tankless water heaters, recycled materials, rainwater collection systems or energy-efficient appliances, green home builders are in high demand and with recent energy tax credits, any-size home can do its part to conserve energy.
Several other trends in new homes include the addition of technology throughout the home such as in security systems, cameras, built-in speakers and other technological conveniences. Custom kitchen design is still one of the most popular home building trends and includes functional spaces rather than rarely-used rooms, such as the formal dining room. Desks, computers, cell-phone recharging stations and multi-use islands are all easy additions yet popular examples of functional custom kitchen designs.
Trends in new homes come and go, but how you live in your home is always the most important part of any new home build.
New Home Punchlists are Crucial for Homeowner and Builder
Custom home by Asheville general contractor Brock Builders
When building a new home, most homeowners care about staying in budget and moving in on time. One often overlooked but important part of the home building process is the punch list. Any professional general contractor or custom home builder will work with the homeowner to complete the criteria listed on the punch list in order to create a positive relationship with the homeowner.
A punch list is a list of items created by the homeowner and builder toward the end of construction and explains all of the necessary items needed to complete the custom home construction. Typically the builder and a representative for the builder will walk through with the homeowner and possibly the real estate agent (if one is being used) and scan the home for flaws or anything that was not done according to the contract. When determining the flaws, there are two categories in which flaws usually fit: reasonable and unreasonable. The latter affects the quality of the home and can often delay moving into a new home.
While damage is fairly inevitable, most custom home builders will prepare for reasonable flaws and typically do their own walk-through before the official punch list inspection occurs with the homeowner. It is important that the person who prepares the punch list is familiar with the home’s plans and specifications and is not someone who is new to the home.
Just as no two custom home projects are the same, no two punch lists will have the same items. Typically speaking however, the same types of items are inspected and they usually include the following:
- Paint and Finish flaws (external and internal)
- Missing trim pieces
- Inoperable plumbing fixture
- HVAC controls
- Hardware
- Appliances
- Inoperable electrical fixtures and outlets
- Fixtures and materials that do not conform to specifications
Prior to the punch list inspection, the following items should also be closely examined for any flaws:
- Smoke detectors
- Lights and outlet testing
- Hand rails, guard rails and stair rails
- Electrical systems
- Stairs
- Insulation
- Appliances
- Plumbing fixtures
Once all of the punch list items have been addressed, it is still important for the homeowner to obtain a list of contractors and building material suppliers in the event a repair is necessary and the builder is unavailable. It is also recommended to acquire a list of design consultants, including the architect, engineers, landscape architect, interior designer, etc for any record keeping.
After the homeowner moves into the home, a truly great builder will not dissolve the relationship and should make him or herself available for any necessary repairs. For example, in certain regions such as Asheville, weather might cause one to use the heating and cooling systems differently than in another region, and this could lead to eventual shrinking or expanding of certain materials. This and other problems are often not known until the home has been occupied for some time and will require a professional builder’s attention.
When choosing a builder for a custom home, remember to consider the relationship not only during the building process, but also after. Word of mouth and referrals are the most important advertising for any builder, so finishing the home on time, in budget, and continuing to make the homeowner happy even after move in, are all crucial practices for any local home builder.
Residential Solar Panels Save Money and Energy
Residential Solar Panels
Residential solar panels continue to be one of the largest trends in green building and energy conservation. With new government tax credits in place to those implementing green practices, solar panels are quickly becoming one of the most affordable ways to lower utility costs for the homeowner. No longer eyesores on the roof, home solar panels are now available in several styles that blend with tiles and shingles to create a seamless roof line and attractive streetscape. But how exactly do they work?
Solar roof panels consist of modules that contain solar cells and convert sunlight into direct current (DC) electricity. An inverter within the panel converts the DC power into alternating current (AC) electricity that is used to heat and cool the home, and also operate any home appliance or device. Homes connected to the utility electrical grid are known as grid-tied homes or on-the-grid systems, while off-grid homes rely on batteries and need to be a safe distance from power lines. Most homeowners choose to work on the grid due to the added security from the utility company. Depending on your electricity provider, you may be allowed a credit, or net metering, if your solar-powered panel produces an excess of energy.
For those concerned about bad weather or dark skies, no additional plan is needed. Residential solar energy systems still function on cloudy days by drawing upon backup electricity from the utility company (for on-the-grid systems), and the same is true during night hours. For off-the-grid systems, the panels are usually connected to a battery storage system as the backup power source and will extract energy if there is a deficiency that day.
Before installing solar power panels into an existing roof or new home, it is recommended to work with a custom home builder or general contractor. Many builders have existing relationships with solar panel integrators and can assist in determining the best position of the panels based on the amount of available sunlight in the various seasons. Although composition shingle roofs are easier to work with than tiled roofs, don’t worry if your home has the latter. There are now several solar modules available in gray, brown or terra cotta frames that are aesthetically pleasing and blend in with the home’s roof.
Not only are solar power panels becoming more attractive and saving the planet, they are also making daily living more affordable for homeowners. New federal tax credits reimburse homeowners 30% of the cost of their residential solar energy systems, while state and local incentives are in place to promote green building. The cost for upkeep is also very little as solar panels require very little maintenance other than battery replacement and a non-abrasive cleaning agent. With government support, low maintenance costs, more attractive products and lower monthly bills, residential solar systems are more widespread than ever before.
Tips for Choosing a General Contractor in Asheville
A few themes come up again and again on a custom home building project. We have arranged them here into a short and useful checklist. Each item can help you avoid headaches during the process of building a custom home.
Asheville Custom Home by Brock Builders
1) Timing. Time is money – and sticking to budget means sticking to schedule. The first question you should be asking the general contractor is how long he thinks the project will take. It is standard practice to provide start and stop dates that account for some weather delays. Also, don’t forget to ask what else your custom home builder is working on; if the builder is spread too thin your project may not get the attention it deserves.
2) Experience and Expertise. How long has the general contractor been building custom homes? Does he have a portfolio he can share with you, and references? Do they specialize in high-end custom homes? Additionally, if you’re building in an area like Western North Carolina you may need someone whose expertise lies in building on challenging lots – our mountains are beautiful, but they don’t always make it easy. You don’t want to find out, after the fact, that your general contractor does not have experience with complex foundations.
3) Supervision. Who, exactly, will be managing the construction of your custom home? It’s preferable to have a Project Manager – or one central point-person – managing the work, resources, and subcontractors. We all know the old adage about too many cooks in the kitchen spoiling the broth. Mistakes can be costly, particularly if they’re not caught until later in the construction process.
4) Collaboration and Communication. Do you already have an architect, or are you looking for one? Is this something the general contractor can help you with? You, the architect, and the builder all need to work well together. And communication is key. To travel from concept to concrete reality, you must all speak the same language. Further, you must speak it frequently – via email, phone, and regularly scheduled, face-to-face meetings.
5) Budgeting. Your home is a big investment, and the general contractor should be qualified for the job. You need to set your budget, and your builder needs to stick to it. Once a final budget is agreed upon, what’s the next step? Also, what does your contract include? Ideally, it should include delivery dates and other essential details. Further, (since he’ll be in charge of the purse strings) what is the builder’s financial experience, if any? Look for a general contractor who will use the industry standard AIA (American Institute of Architects) contract. It includes delivery dates and other essential details.
Use this checklist to narrow your list of builders who have the expertise and experience to help you build your custom home.
We are looking for stories about custom home building – both the glory and the misadventures. If you have a good story about your experience building a custom home, consider emailing us or leaving it in a comment.
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