Brock Builders: Asheville General Contractors for Custom Homes, Remodeling, Green Building

Top Five Reasons for a Bathroom Remodel

Brock Builders — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 21:58:19 +0000

Natural Stone Shower

If you’re considering renovating your home, you may want to include that master bath remodel you’ve been dreaming of for years. Bathroom remodels don’t just deliver the calming, relaxing space you always wanted; they are also surefire ways to add equity to your home.

Smart Investment

Though the housing market is continuing to the mend, bathroom remodels still prove smart investments. Many homeowners are even choosing to add or remodel bathrooms to their existing home in favor of selling. After all, the average bathroom remodel can produce a 71% ROI.

Smaller is Better

Smaller homes with smarter use of space are becoming all the rage in home design, making the incorporation of extra bathrooms in your current home an easier feat, as there will be fewer square feet acquired by the new bathrooms. Even renovating your master bath can be much less stressful if you are less concerned about square footage and more concerned about the use of natural materials and addition of smart storage.

Smaller is Sustainable

Smaller bathrooms require simpler sinks, tubs and fixtures so as not to overwhelm the space. In terms of tubs, simpler tends to also mean smaller, which will save money and water. There is also more emphasis on the use of eco-friendly toilets, showerheads and faucets.

Sharing is Caring

Another popular bathroom trend is isolating the toilet in a separate water closet. This makes the bath and vanity space useful even when the toilet is occupied.

Earth Tones Add Warmth

With the incorporation of more eco-friendly materials throughout the home, earth toned stone flooring is becoming an increasingly popular choice in bathrooms. Small, sterile bathrooms can feel cold and uninviting, but the use of warm hues and natural stone can make the space feel warm and spa-like, no matter the size.

Green Landscaping Adds Great Value

Brock Builders — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 18:25:12 +0000

Native Rhododendron Calendulaceum

One of the easiest and too often overlooked ways to add green-value to your HealthyBuilt home build is through the incorporation of native and organic landscaping. The use of native, drought-resistant plants is quickly becoming a best-practice for saving money and doing your part for saving the planet.

Better Plants

The shift from reliance upon chemicals for healthy, beautiful greenery towards the use of processes that more closely resemble what nature intended will actually help to harness the plants’ naturally defenses and result in stronger, healthier plants.

Better Value

The use of native species and good planning to incorporate the plants into the space you’re working with can help cut down on unnecessary time and financial expenditure for maintenance.

You may even wind up saving money in ways you never expected—proper placement of the right trees can actually help reduce cooling and heating costs! So in short, well thought out landscaping means less work, less money and less waste winding up on its way to the landfill.

Better ROI

Another great reason to invest in a healthy, green landscape is the ROI you will see in the form of added value to the home. Typically, the full cost of landscaping, if not more, can be recouped at resale. As a rule of thumb in the real estate market, the right landscaping can easily translate into a 10% increase in property value.

Certified Green Builders Produce ROI

kristen — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 21:26:57 +0000

HealthyBuilt Home by Brock Builders

The ROI for incorporating green features into your home is apparent. But did you know that in order to make the most cost effective and energy efficient choices for your new custom home or remodel, your builder must have invested ample time and money into the proper educational and certification programs?

Adding green building features to your home has become an even smarter investment with government tax break incentives in the mix. But a lag time between the supply of certified green builders and homeowners looking for these services is to be expected. We at Brock Builders have remained on the cutting edge of the WNC green home building movement and do possess the proper certifications.

Adding green features can range in complexity from simple ENERGY STAR appliances and windows to expertly architectured geothermal wells. So when searching for the home builder for your job, look for a company with both the certifications as well as the experience.

In order to receive your ROI, these green features must be expertly incorporated into the plan and build of your home. Certified HealthyBuilt Home Builders in WNC like Brock have the know-how and the man-power to seamlessly incorporate your green home includes.

Certified Renovators of Homes with Lead Paint

kristen — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 22:46:58 +0000

Blueprints for a Home Remodel

If you’ve been thinking of renovating an older home to better suit your family’s needs, you will want to verify that your home renovator is certified to work in a space that may contain lead paint. In 2008 the EPA mandated that builders would have two years to complete extensive safety and procedural training to handle environments with lead paint.

Safety First

The reason for these new laws revolves around the safety of the home owners, workers and anyone who may have cause to be in the house. You see, when renovating a home, common practices such as sanding, cutting and demolition can create dangerous dust and chips which are harmful to anyone exposed to them.

EPA’s Requirement

This new law states that as of April of this year, any contactors hired to work in a manner that would disturb old lead-based paint in a home, child care facility or school built before 1978 must have undergone required certification training.

Protective Procedures

Certified builders must maintain the following procedures:

Contain work area
Minimize dust
Clean up thoroughly

Brock Builders has completed the proper training and is a Certified Renovator of Homes with Lead Paint. For more information about protective measures while working in homes that may contain lead paint, please visit the EPA website.

10 Must-Have Features for Your Home

kristen — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 21:50:11 +0000

Attractive Stone Flooring, A Design Favorite

The global economy has greatly influenced home design, giving life to some unexpected trends. Consumers are building and buying homes that are smaller, smarter and greener; quite a contrast to the bigger-is-better, lavish-excess of recent years.

Whether you are planning to build a new home, buy or remodel, you should familiarize yourself with these emerging trends, which appear to be here to stay:

Energy Efficiency is Key, Smarter is Better

ENERGY STAR Appliances—Stylish, up-to-date kitchen appliances can make a great impact on your home’s visual appeal. But even more importantly these days—they can also save you money. With energy tax credits and the money you’ll save over time on utility bills, adding energy efficient appliances to your new home has never been so important.
Water Catchment Systems—Incorporating native, drought-resistant plants into your landscaping is great-looking and good for the planet. But did you know that you can make your yard even greener by installing a rainwater catchment system. Gutters deliver rainwater into insect and bacteria resistant barrels, which can later be used for watering gardens and several other non-drinking purposes.
Energy Saving Building Includes—With utility costs on the rise, homeowners are looking for houses that are well insulated and sealed from the beginning. Drafty, leaky houses are costing too much to maintain, and using up too much energy to heat and cool.
Tankless and Solar Water Heaters—Another way to quickly run up your monthly bills is by paying to much for those winter-defrosting hot baths. Solar heating systems make great, natural use of existing sunshine to heat your hot water, leaving you paying for just those not-so-sunny days.
Natural Flooring—Bamboo, cork, wood and stone have long been favorite flooring choices of interior designers, but did you know that they also help create a healthier, chemical-free environment in your home.
Outdoor Rooms—With rarely used, formal living rooms becoming a thing of the past, outdoor living and dining spaces are quickly taking over. Some popular features include large, space-heating stone ovens, built-in seating made of natural materials and huge, welcoming dining tables.
Smaller, Smarter Spaces—Bigger-is-better is a mindset of the past. Huge homes with extra rooms mean higher monthly bills, and lower spacial efficiency. Homeowners are instead choosing open and accommodating floorplans.
Smarter Storage—Built-in kitchen islands, perfectly organized garages and tons of closets can help make better use of your square footage. Too little storage means clutter and large furniture pieces to accommodate closet overflow. But adding extra storage into your build means seamlessly making room for all of your belongings.
Smart Home Systems—If you knew how much energy it was actually using, you may be more likely to turn that light off when you leave the room. Smart Home Systems not only allow you to heat and cool based on the times of day that someone is home, but they can also tell you just how much power is being used at a given time.
Front and Side Porches—Outdoor spaces add square footage and traditional attractiveness to your home. Whether you’re enjoying a summer evening out front under a ceiling fan or rocking in a chair watching the sunrise, front and side porches enhance your home’s welcoming curbside appeal.

Outdoor Rooms Add Usable Square Footage

kristen — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 15:00:45 +0000

Working with your custom home builder in a part of your home you may not have imagined, you can add useful square footage in the form of an outdoor room. Backyards are too often laid with grass and beyond that, left virtually empty, save a swing set, rusty old grill, or tract of space for your dog to run.

Outdoor Kitchen

Modern outdoor rooms have expanded upon the old backyard favorites in ways that provide function in a luxurious package. Simple grills have been replaced with built-in outdoor kitchens with massive stone and pizza ovens, perfect for entertaining year round. Warm summer nights can be enjoyed outdoors with friends over a fresh baked pizza. Cold winter nights are made warm by gathering around massive stone ovens, while piping hot soups boil up atop an outdoor stove.

Outdoor Living Space

Tattered patio furniture has been become a thing of the past. Replacement options include built-in seating units with removable cushions, tall stools seated before an outdoor bar and rustic wooden dining tables and chairs. Built-in furniture, like benches and sofas can add a natural appeal to your outdoor space at a minimal carbon footprint by using indigenous materials.

Indigenous Landscaping

No room is complete without the right decor. And for outdoor rooms, that means landscaping. Working with your HealthyBuilt Certified Home Builder, you can incorporate native plants into your outdoor space, which will require little to no maintenance. Eradicating plants that are exotic to Western North Carolina in favor of native species will create harmony in the ecosystem of your outdoor space to ensure the health and well being of forces who also appreciate your outdoor space, such as migrating birds.

Since recent studies suspect perfectly manicured lawns as one of a home’s largest carbon producers, transforming your dull, grassy space to a luxurious outdoor room can even be beneficial for the planet.

Whether you’re looking to add life to your existing home in the form of an outdoor room, or you want to create a special entertaining space in your new custom build, speak with your home builder to make use of this valuable space.

Window Labeling for Tax Credit Eligibility

kristen — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 04:59:52 +0000

Will your Energy Star windows, doors and skylights meet this year’s newer, more stringent requirements? Your green home builder will be able to help you select the most energy efficient products for your home, but it’s not a bad idea to familiarize yourself with these important new labels.

Earlier this year, new performance requirements went into effect on all ENERGY STAR windows, doors and skylights. Knowing how to identify these labels when purchasing your new energy efficient products is vital to making good investments and ensuring eligibility for tax credits.

Red and Black Labels

ENERGY STAR Red Label

There are two new ENERGY STAR labels to watch for. The label shown at right was rolled out in October of 2009. Appearing in either red or black, this label identifies window, skylight and door products which will no longer meet the high-efficiency ENERGY STAR standards effective April 1, 2010.

Blue Label

ENERGY STAR Blue Label

The new, blue label will help you identify ENERGY STAR products that are eligible for tax credits up to $1,500 when installed in 2010.

To ensure the highest level of energy efficiency and tax credit eligibility in your ENERGY STAR purchases, it is always important to consult your green home builder.

Maximize Storage Space in Every Room

Brock Builders — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 21:35:26 +0000

A Custom Island Adds Kitchen Storage

Be honest, can you ever really have too much storage? Ample storage space is one of the most sought after qualities people look for in a new home. Building a new custom home is an excellent opportunity to ensure that your new house has all of the storage amenities that you desire.

Before we go through the various types of storage that can be planned into your new build, we want to clear up a common misconception. Adding storage space does not have to mean bedroom closets only. There are several opportunities throughout your home to satisfy storage needs that are often overlooked. Here are some of the top picks for adding extra storage spaces to your new home.

GARAGE

Built-in shelves and workbenches are a simple solution for garage storage. They lessen clutter from large tools and smaller items, such as drill bits, that can get lost in a mess of any handyman’s toys. Garage storage organization can also be done by adding drawers into the work bench. For storing rakes and lawnmowers, consider adding a storage shed onto the rear of the home.

FOYER

When entering your home, it is so easy to drop shoes, purses, briefcases and backpacks, without having a way to organize or hide these items. Having a built-in coat rack and organized shelving systems right near your front or a rear door easily helps keep walkways clean, while also creating a stylish entry way. Benches with storage underneath are another great idea and provide a last-minute spot to tie shoes or remove them.

KITCHEN

Kitchen storage organization is a necessity for any homeowner and there is no such thing as too many cabinets. Make sure your home plan features a copious amount of cabinets and that your builder takes full advantage of all of the space in the plan. A Lazy Susan-style cabinet provides a functional space that also reduces the need to overcrowd a pantry, as it is another area where storage should be plentiful in the kitchen. Storage racks inside longer or lower, hard-to-reach cabinets make it easy to keep dishes and plastic containers organized.

BATHROOM

Bathrooms often have the reputation of lacking in storage space. But with so many modern amenities including window seats, towel racks, built-in shelving and even bureaus used in vanities adding counter space, drawers and cabinetry, such is no longer the case. With these features in place, your bathroom will take on a new life, offering storage for everything from toiletries to towels and linens to dirty clothes.

ATTIC

One of the most popular new ideas is transforming the attic space to create sizeable walk-in storage rooms. Many new homes now feature these walk-in or walk-out attics. Space is plentiful in the attic so why not take advantage of it? The comfort of no longer climbing up tiny, unstable stairs is worth more than peace of mind.

No matter where you need storage space the most, chances are you can never have enough. When building a new home keep these tips in mind and remember to always maximize your space.

Paint Color Trends for Custom Homes

Brock Builders — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 06:29:48 +0000

Paint Color Trends for Custom Homes

Ever wonder why certain rooms tend to invoke one emotion over another? For instance, warm red-hued kitchens can promote hunger, while cool blue bedrooms invite relaxation.

Choosing the right colors can be as vital to the comfort and success of your new home as your well-thought-out appliances. Your builder or general contractor can assist you with popular color choices, but the majority of these decisions should be based upon your personal tastes. Building a custom home is all about getting what you as the homeowner want, but before painting the whole house red or blue, consider adapting these trends to express your design style throughout your new home.

NEUTRAL COLORS

Neutral colors have a misconception of being boring or uninventive, but neutral doesn’t automatically mean tan or beige. When choosing your home’s colors, think in earth tones. By choosing warm, muted shades for your color scheme, you can invoke an intended feel without overwhelming the senses. Plus the addition of your furniture, decorative fixtures and pieces of artwork are what will complete the room. So if it’s feels done before it’s even furnished and decorated, your room’s wall color may be too heavy.

MOOD DETERMINED BY COLOR

When dressing your home up with color, be careful to marry together the right shade with the right emotion. Warm colors like red, orange or yellow work best in rooms that exude energy, like the kitchen. Kids’ rooms are often bright for a reason, as stimulation and creativity abound with just a dash of color. Cooler shades in the bedroom or bathroom, such as blue, green or gray, conjure up thoughts of mountain and beach side views, which typically produce very relaxing environments.

OPEN FLOOR PLANS

When choosing colors for a home with an open floor plan, the home color design must be cohesive. This is an area where a neutral like a soft chocolate or deep beige can still lend “color” to a space while still allowing you to have fun with your floor coverings, window treatments and accessories. Repeating a color or using different shades of the same color helps create a flow from room to room and enhance the open layout. Brighten each room’s personality with fabrics, window treatments or attractive tile work.

TRENDS FOR 2010

Interior paint decorating trends for 2010 include purples, such as eggplant or wine shades, oranges (think terra cotta) and yellows. Whether a pastel, or rich shade with orange hues, yellow is a stimulating shade in any room. Just be careful not to overdo it. Green is also a popular home decorating trend, and not just the color. Using organic and environmentally friendly paint products that contain no dyes and are made from natural processes is an easy way to produce a healthy home environment.

For those needing unique color decorating ideas, painting stripes and patterns have become quite popular, while painting just one wall an accent color is an easy way to add color without drastically changing the room. No matter your preference, decorating with color is a fun and exciting process that allows your creativity to flow and so that your family can flourish in your custom home.

Tips for Choosing Kitchen Appliances

Brock Builders — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 19:56:18 +0000

One of the most exciting rooms to customize when having your new home built is the kitchen. And no kitchen design is complete without the right appliances. Key factors in the selection of your new appliances include price, method and frequency of use, as well as the look and feel of the pieces.

Budgeting for the Right Appliances

Kitchen appliances typically account for about nine percent of the budget when building a new home. Therefore, the life expectancy of each of your new appliances should be a long one. Plus, whether or not your new house is a HealthyBuilt green home, you may want to consider installing EnergyStar appliances which may cost more upfront, but will save money on energy bills over time.

Use of Your Kitchen Appliances

Refrigerators can eat up the biggest chunk of your appliance budget, so choosing the right one for your home and family is vital. Some internal features to consider are shelving depth and space, Twin Cooling technology, gallon door door bins and water filters. While the external look, feel and dimensions of each piece are vital to maintaining design harmony in your kitchen, first considering your family’s cooking style and eating habits will help determine which one is right for you.

Talk to your family and make a note of how you typically use your stovetop and oven to help select the right ones for your new kitchen. Some cooks are loyal fans of gas ranges, while others prefer the sleek look of modern electric stovetops. While the overall look and feel of your kitchen appliances is important, performance and preference take the lead in selection.

The kitchen sink is becoming an increasingly popular site for putting your design eye to good use. Attractive hardware, under-counter mounts, different color options, shapes and materials all allow you to express your inner kitchen designer.

Your new kitchen appliances each serve a unique purpose, but by working with your builder, each one can be integrated into the design of your new kitchen to create an inviting space for both cooking and gathering.