Friday, January 30, 2009


What a turn out! Thanks to everyone that braved the horrible Ohio conditions to come to our Open House last night! 3 Pillar Homes "after the holidays party" was a lot of fun and the finger food prepared by Chef Cindy was phenomenal! Special thanks to the existing 3 Pillar homeowners and their continuing support in our events (you know who you are!)
If you weren’t able to make it, don’t worry, we will see you all in the Spring for another 3 Pillar Homes Open House! Any ideas for the next theme are welcomed!

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Construction Process: Framing

One of the most exciting and dynamic periods in the construction of a new home is the structural framing stage. It is the time when two-dimensional plans take on three-dimensional shape. As floors, walls, and a roof rise from the ground, the owners can envision the finished home and walk through its spaces.

As a professional builder, we are constantly looking for superior ways to build. The framing stage affords several opportunities to construct a home faster and within the budget without sacrificing the home's quality. In fact, the new techniques for framing actually improve a home's structural integrity, performance, and durability. Here are just a few of the methods and materials we consider for this stage of construction:

Advanced framing. In essence, advanced framing techniques allow us to remove excess and unnecessary structural components, such as extra wall studs and blocking. Elements which add nothing to the stability or ultimate performance of the house are the byproducts of outdated framing methods that linger in our industry, costing money without additional value. By reducing the amount of lumber we use in a home's structural frame, we lower both costs and waste. Because each length of lumber is a preplanned piece of a larger puzzle, there's less chance that we'll make unnecessary cuts and create unusable scrap. Because it supports increased quality and reduced waste, advanced framing is a tenet of green building practices and programs around the country.

Engineered lumber. Like advanced framing, engineered lumber uses less wood to build a better structure. Engineered lumber is made from strands or chips of wood which are reassembled with glue, heat and pressure into large beams and I-shaped sections. Tough and stable, engineered lumber framing components allow us to span the longer distances common in popular open floor plans and high ceilings. Because of their strength, we can use fewer lengths of engineered lumber. Thus, the quality of the house is increased simultaneously with a reduction in labor costs. Because these products are frequently made from smaller and sustainably grown timber resources, instead of old-growth trees, they are more environmentally attractive, as well.

Panels and trusses. For decades, quality builders have used roof trusses (premade sections of the roof's frame) to build houses better and faster. The same technology is now increasingly applied to floors and walls, with similar benefits. A house framed with panels and trusses is a truly amazing sight, seeming to spring into existence overnight. Furthermore, as skilled framing labor becomes more difficult and expensive to find, factory-built and quality-controlled panels and trusses allow us to create unique spaces and forms almost impossible with traditional framing techniques. Finally, even more than advanced framing and engineered lumber, these components reduce our waste stream significantly and leave a clean job site during what can be a very messy stage of construction.

Despite appearances, homes today are built quite differently than they were even a decade ago. Nowhere is that more evident than in the various advanced, engineered, and factory-built framing components and techniques now at our command. These systems allow us to build more efficiently and to a higher level of quality than traditional "stick" framing, delivering new homes that perform as promised to meet the needs and expectations of our owners.

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Capture Your Vision with Photos

Everyone has a vision about a dream home. You may have a particular style in mind, such as a Mediterranean or Colonial. Perhaps a certain room is the focus, such as a gourmet kitchen or master suite. Your imagination is an important starting point in your search for a new house, helping to narrow your choices in a world of possibilities.

However, it is often difficult to describe an idea to your spouse or other members of your family, much less to a builder or architect trying to build the house that matches that vision. It can be frustrating and time-consuming to translate dreams into words. To turn the mental vision into reality, it is critical to document your dreams in a way that allows you and others to see what you envision. Hands down, the best way to do that is with pictures.

Begin by gathering a stack of home and lifestyle magazines (friends will be glad to give you back issues of whatever stacks of magazines are littering their living room) and scan through them for photos of homes, rooms, and other features that match your ideas. When you see something you like, cut it out and set it aside. Similarly, if you see an article about a particular feature, floor plan, material, or product that sparks your interest, clip it out, as well.

The trick to this exercise is to work freely. Don't think about it too hard. Later, you may discard images that, on second glance, don't measure up or aren't important. Allow yourself to be open to new things that you may not have thought about, but that are attractive or interesting in some way. It all helps in formulating a clear idea of what you want in a new home.

For example, suppose that you see a photograph of a room that is bold and eccentric. It is an outrageous room, one you could not live with. Still, there is something about it that is appealing. Although you are not sure what it is that attracts you, save that photo, too. When you look at it later, you may find that it is the rich wall color and the complexity of texture that draws you. Make a note in the margin: "wall color and complex texture -- yes, blue staircase and exposed ductwork -- no."

Remember that styles change. Some variables, such as color palettes and types of kitchen cabinets, will inevitably give way to something new. In your research, branch out to back issues of magazines, as well as resources on the internet, in libraries and in bookstores. Give yourself a broad range of material to consider so that you gain perspective and an understanding of what characteristics are really important to you.

Another tip: Allow sufficient time to build a good collection of photos and clipped articles. Invest whatever time it takes to have some fun and feel good about your collection. This is your dream home. It deserves considered thought rather than a weekend rush job. That being said, a reasonable deadline will ensure that the process does not grow stale and fizzle out.
If you have a spouse or other household members to consider, work together or encourage them to build their own dream files. Once the hunting is complete, take time to discuss, consolidate, and arrange file contents in order of importance. In this way, you are prepared to make mutual decisions about conflicting options, if necessary, when shopping for a house.
Professional builders truly appreciate buyers who know what they want and can effectively communicate those needs and desires. Documenting your dreams with a collection of photos and articles will not only crystallize your dreams for you and your family, but also provide critical information for a builder as you begin to explore your options in a new home.