Ask The Building Experts » custom

What is Engineered Wood?

ATBEStaff — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 12:34:04 +0000

Stick Built might not be all that great. You may have heard for years that the best built homes are stick built. Well stick built means one piece at a time but maybe those sticks go together in the rain, sleet, snow or cold. Worst still it often takes as much as 3-4 weeks to get your home “dried-in” Today the best built homes are built in an environmentally controlled space on sophisticated equipment that insures accuracy.

Engineered Wood, Wall Panels, and Trusses speed the field installation times and make for a tighter, more energy efficient home. Precision equipment and advancements in handling and delivery equipment have made the “Stick Built” house an inferior choice.

Industry professional Bill Sauder provides this unique opportunity to learn more about the internal working of your home. Why does drywall crack? Why do floors squeak? Why are there cold spots on your walls? You will learn how these can be eliminated and be introduced to a fascinating aspect of building that few people have a chance to see.

The class will be offered April 6, 7–9 p.m. at the Décor Blvd showroom, 3436 Millennium Ct., in Columbus. In addition the class is also available online. For reservations or to view upcoming classes and events, visit http://customhomebuildingcamp.com. Classes are free, but space is limited and reservations are required for both classroom and online course.

Come to Camp

Gary Dunn — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 20:20:18 +0000

Camp for Grown-ups…What is it?

I am Gary Dunn, Co-owner of Dunmoor Homes. Bill Moorhead and I started Dunmoor Homes 10 years ago after spending many years working for one of the large local homebuilders. We have always felt that the greatest joy we receive is helping people achieve the home of their dreams.

The Custom Home Building Camp is an extension of that feeling.

Through the camp, our group of Builders, Sub-contractors, and Suppliers have created a way for the average person to learn more about custom home building and remodeling without having to enter into discussion with a sales person or make commitments before they are ready to do so.

We call it doing business on your terms. We want the classes to provide as much information and as many facts and figures as possible so you can make an informed and not an emotional decision.

You are bombarded with “Great Offers” and “Special Discounts” every single day, but what do these really mean? That great price for granite counter tops from one of the big box stores looks fantastic, but only until they start adding little extras like edging, cut-outs, and polishing. We will give the facts about counter tops and virtually all other home products.

Level the Playing Field

By just taking one or more of the camps you will be provided real cost information and insight into how the process works. You will become a better negotiator to help achieve your goal of a new home or a new kitchen.

Camp Offerings

Camp classes run the gamut from Design to how to budget for your home and include the following.

Making it a Green World

Alternative Building

Custom Home Budget

Beautiful Baths

Remarkable Kitchens

Personalize your Home

Engineered Wood and Systems Building

Find and Evaluate a Home Site

Remodeling 101

Geothermal, Home Comfort, and Tax Credits

Female Focused Design

We invite you make plans to attend a camp session today.

Geothermal and Home Comfort

Steve Mullins — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 16:38:02 +0000

Geothermal to the Rescue. Simply put Geothermal means Earth Heat. In today’s uncertain world, how important is it to install a heating system for your home that will use an unlimited resource, the earth’s temperature, to heat and cool your home.

The Cost to operate a Geothermal system is but a fraction of other systems and you will never be at the mercy of oil prices, embargos or other world event again.

When it comes to an expensive sophisticated product like geothermal you want a true professional designing and installing your system and there isn’t anyone in Central Ohio with more experience than our instructor Steve Mullins of Complete Comfort, Steve is not only an expert in the Heating, Cooling and ventilation field, but Geothermal as well.

Steve will explain the features and benefits of a geothermal system and discuss several other aspects of heating and cooling. The current tax benefit of a geothermal system help make it a viable choice for anyone considering building. The details of the tax credit will also be discussed.

The class on will be offered March 9, 2010, 7-9 p.m. at the Décor Blvd showroom, 3436 Millennium Ct., in Columbus. For reservations or to view other upcoming classes and events, visit http://customhomebuildingcamp.com. Classes are free, Classroom space is limited, but this class is available online as well. Reservations are required

The Captiva captures the imagination

ATBEStaff — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 17:01:12 +0000

When Nationwide Custom Homes was asked to develop a new concept home for the 2010 International Home Builders show in Las Vegas The Captiva was the result. Designed as a high-end baby boomer home. “The concept was to provide an exciting yet well-designed floor plan that addressed the needs of the aging baby boomer. The design achieved the much-wanted master suite on the first floor, providing one-level living for the owners.”

Nationwide designed The Captiva so owners wouldn’t have to sacrifice space for visiting or live-in children and grandchildren; they’re served by three additional bedrooms on the second level. Jack and Jill bathrooms create both privacy and convenience. Additionally, a home theater and game room keep pace with technology.

The master bedroom features a separate retreat area with coffee bar. Adjacent to the master bedroom, a luxurious bathroom features a dramatic bathing area, separate dressing areas and a large walk-in shower with curved glass walls.

One of the most dramatic design focus points in The Captiva was the curved stairway to the second floor, which homeowners can see from the outside through the double entry doors in to the foyer, which sports inlaid tile and hardwood flooring. The curving stairway, says Seekford, “Just needed a bride to stand on the stairs with her white dress flowing over the hardwood treads for a photo. It would have been beautiful”

Curved Staircase

The Captiva is the latest in modular design innovation from the experts at Nationwide Custom Homes. To see the full range of offerings from America’s premier systems built homebuilding company visit their design center located near the Jeffersonville Outlet mall on Interstate Highway 71 South of Columbus

The Modular Home Construction Process

ATBEStaff — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 00:50:40 +0000

What “Systems-Built” Means
Systems-built is a highly engineered method of producing buildings or building components in an efficient and cost effective manner.

The systems-built approach is common in residential, multi-family, commercial, and mixed-use construction. Modular homes utilize the systems-built approach and are constructed in modules in a climate-controlled factory by skilled craftsman using precision machinery and construction techniques. Nationwide Custom Homes takes this approach further with Systems-Plus Construction and provides essentially three distinct advantages. First, Elevation Excellence uses top designers and the most-up-to-date features to create exciting designs found in our Main Street collection. With our own rafter build shop, we design and build custom roof rafter systems that are stronger and feature more creative roof lines. Second, FRAME-IT-FIRST techniques focus on building a well-framed, level, and aligned house and then installing all of the fixtures. From drywall to cabinets, everything is dependent on a square, level, and well-fit home. Finally, our Pro-Set Advantage allows us to build homes and set them with superior delivery methods and Nationwide personnel. Our competition relies on outside subcontractors who do not have the same concern for the final fit as we do.

Describing the Modular Home Construction Process

The building process begins at the design phase using state of the art Computer Aided Design (CAD) systems. In-house engineering eliminates the need for costly outside engineering firms. Once a homebuyer has approved a design, a third-party approval is provided for a building application. Quality materials and processes are present as the home is constructed to the same building codes and standards as site-constructed homes. Efficiency surpasses the site-built home as modern assembly line techniques are utilized, eliminating delays from inclement weather, subcontractor no-shows or scheduling conflicts, and missing materials. At Nationwide Custom Homes our ProSet team goes to work after the home has been completed in the factory and transports the home to the building site on National Association of Home Builders (N.A.H.B.) by having our base homes satisfy the Bronze Level. We have devised a system in cooperation with N.A.H.B. to score our homes simply and quickly so our homeowners can enjoy government and local incentives for building a GREEN home.

Are Modular and Manufactured Homes the Same?

NO! Modular homes are constructed to the same state, county, and specific local building codes as site-built homes and should not be restricted by building or zoning regulations. Keep in mind that a modular home is inspected at the factory numerous times at each phase of construction and an independent third-party inspection agency approves each home before it is delivered to a home site. Manufactured homes, sometimes referred to as mobile homes, are constructed to the Federal Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Code.

Can I Custom Design My Home?

Yes, many modular companies may limit customization to altering existing plans as engineering and production capabilities vary from company to company. Nationwide Custom Homes offers true customization and will consider any home design.

Is Financing a Modular Home Different Than Financing a Site-Built Home?

There is no distinction between modular and site built homes as far as appraisal or financing. Banks and lending institutions treat both types of construction the same. Likewise, there is no difference in insuring the modular property.

What Are the Benefits of Modular Construction?

Highly Engineered
Constructed in a Climate-Controlled Environment
Efficient Building Process & Material
Energy Efficient
In-Plant Inspections
Consistent Quality
Speed of Construction
Design Flexibility
Constructed to Meet or Exceed State Building Codes
Ease of Financing & Insuring
Reduced Need for Subcontractors
Minimal Disruption to Property and Neighborhood

When It Comes To Green It Is No Contest!

Chris Dolan — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 05:50:32 +0000

SIP’s (Structural Insulated Panels) outperform conventional framing! Although other surfaces may be utilized to meet your needs. SIPs provide a building system that is very strong, predictable, energy efficient and cost effective.

What are SIPs?

Structural Insulated Panels are high-performance building panels for walls, roof and floors in residential and commercial buildings. Each panel is made using expanded polystyrene (EPS) sandwiched between two structural skins of oriented strand board (OSB).

Technically Superior and Demonstrated Quality:

From structural design to structural integrity, SIPs deliver quality inside and out. Lamit Industries utilizes materials from suppliers who participate in third-party quality assurance and testing (APA rated OSB, UL or RADCO certified Expanded Polystyrene Cores and adhesive systems approved for structural applications). SIPs are laminated in a highly controlled, constantly monitored process utilizing both vacuum and mechanical presses. APA-rated 7/16″ OSB is bonded to UL or RADCO certified expanded polystyrene (E.P.S.) cores with an adhesive system tested and approved for structural applications. Using independent third-party quality assurance and product testing by PFS/TECO, Lamit SIPs are listed with a nationally recognized code agency.

Performance:

SIPs truly outperform conventional framing. In a study conducted by
Oak Ridge National Laboratories, a 4-1/2″ SIPs wall provided a Whole Wall R-value of 14 compared to and 2 by 6 Framed Wall with an R-19 Batt which provided only a Whole Wall R-value of 13.7.

Versatile:

SIPs are as versatile as they are efficient. They can be custom fabricated to your specific project demands, whatever those demands maybe: cathedral ceilings, unique windows, door openings and pre-cut wire chases. Every home fabricated with SIPs from Lamit Industries is a custom home.

Labor Saving:

The one-step simplicity of building with SIPs can eliminate the labor-intensive cost of framing, sheathing and insulating a home, via old-fashioned stick construction. Many SIPs homes can be installed using a two-man crew. This will result in lower site labor costs and loan expenses.