Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Men at Work




Michael and Christos Zenios helped Smith Excavating begin digging our newest 3 Pillar Home today! Smith Excavating crew members let Michael and Christos move dirt with the dozer and even dig some holes with the back hoe! Thanks again to Smith Excavating for letting them tag along!

Monday, June 29, 2009

Emily's an Aunt!


On June 26th, 2009, Emily Chapin, Office Manager of 3 Pillar Homes, became an Aunt! Henry Matthew Fine was born via C-Section weighing in at 9lbs, 14 oz and measuring a staggering 21 3/4"! Henry's proud parents are Emily's sister and brother-in-law Rachel and Matthew Fine.

At it Again!


Over the weekend, 3 Pillar Homes superintendent, Brent Cantrell, rocked his drums at their annual 4th of July Party! Check out that drummer!

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Check Us Out on Facebook!

3 Pillar Homes has recently created a Facebook page and we would love for you to be a Fan! As of today, we have almost 50 fans and we are looking to have more! Our Facebook page will include special event dates, has albums of all of our homes and will be a great way to interact with all of you! Look forward to seeing you there!

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Prefinishes: The 'No-Name' Construction Phase

After the structural framing stage and the installation of the preliminary -- or "rough" -- plumbing, electrical, and heating and cooling components are complete, there is a no-name phase of construction we'll call the "prefinishes."


The reason this stage of the process has no common name is because several different activities -- by several different trades -- occur during this time. All of them combine to prepare the house for the finish products to come, from flooring to trim to lighting, and are vital in the overall performance of the house. Indeed, the sum of these prefinishes is called the "thermal envelope." These critical steps include:


Housewrap. Also called an air or vapor barrier, this tough, woven sheet-like material is installed on the exterior walls around the entire house. Sections are fastened and taped together to keep water and air outside the structural frame. Housewrap protects the "thermal envelope," improving the home's energy efficiency and indoor comfort. The wrap covers the rough openings of the windows and doors. Once it is installed, we carefully cut out those openings and fold the material around the rough openings to ensure complete protection from the elements.


Windows and doors. Once the housewrap has been cut to expose the rough frame openings, we carefully install each window and door. Attention to detail is critical at this stage to make sure that the windows and doors not only operate smoothly and properly, but also deliver maximum thermal benefits. Good quality windows and glass patio doors are now designed for improved control of thermal transfer, solar heat gain, and harmful ultraviolet rays.


A home's main entry door is often a signature feature of the house. Depending on the home's design, the entry door might include windows on one or both sides (sidelights) or over the top of the door (transom), or perhaps even a glass insert in the door itself. These design elements add character to a home's design and heighten curb appeal.


At this stage, we install the garage door(s). Like windows and passage doors, garage doors have come a long way in their design options and insulating value.


Insulation. Insulation is typically installed in the exposed framing cavities of the exterior walls. Good quality insulation retards the transfer of warm and cold air through the home's structure. Insulation makes the home more energy efficient and comfortable inside.


Different insulation products are sometimes used for different sections of the house. In the walls, for instance, formed batts of fiberglass insulation are designed to fit snugly between the studs. In the attic, a loose-fill (or "blown") insulation is often more appropriate to pack the spaces between the roof framing. An expanding, spray-applied foam might be most appropriate in the slight gaps between the window and door frames and their rough openings to seal the house more completely against air infiltration and thermal transfer.


Drywall. The last of the "prefinishes" is drywall, or gypsum wallboard panels. These familiar panels are cut to fit and fastened to the framed walls and ceiling, creating a smooth surface and substrate for paint, paneling, wallpaper, and other finishes. (The floors have a wood substrate called "subflooring," which is installed during the framing stage of construction.)


Because whole and cut sections of drywall panels are pieced together, the seams between the sections must be filled and smoothed before the wall or ceiling finishes are applied. Taping the drywall joints is a process that requires several days, as multiple layers of "mud" are applied and sanded to deliver a smooth and uninterrupted substrate with no visible joints between the panels.


The completion of the "prefinish" stage creates the home's thermal envelope, fully protecting it and its occupants from the elements and from thermal transfer through the exterior walls and openings.

Thursday, June 4, 2009

Hard at Work!







Michael Zenios, son of President & CEO, Zenios Michael Zenios, came with Dad to work on last Wednesday. Michael got to tour a 3 Pillar Home, work on the computer at the model and even took a few pictures for this blog! It won’t be long before Michael Zenios is working full time in the office!

Check Out Our Website

When you get a minute, take a look at our website! Over the past few weeks have have added a gallery section with LOTS of pictures as well as pictures for most of our homes.

Special thanks to all of our homeowner’s that allowed us to take pictures of their homes as well as Christine Lamp and Emily Chapin who worked really hard to coordinate and bring this project live!

Check it out at http://www.3pillar.com/gallery.php and http://www.3pillar.com/viewAll.php

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

The Beauty of Natural Light

Walk into any new home and you'll immediately notice a big difference from many older homes: an abundance of natural light. Because of poor thermal performance, windows and glass doors in older homes were necessarily scaled down. Today's builders, however, are able to take advantage of advanced technologies, a wider range of sizes and styles, and a number of new products and creative applications to capture natural light.

For clients who prefer a modern look, glass walls are certainly possible to maximize natural light. For those preferring traditional housing design, professional builders usually work within historic housing forms to increase interior natural light. Window and door manufacturers have helped this effort by providing a wide variety of products to match traditional house styles.

For example, a roof window (or series of these units) over the center of the kitchen can bring in a tremendous amount of natural light without having an adverse impact on a traditional facade. This is especially true if that room is on the back or side of the house and thus out of view from the street. Unlike skylights, roof windows can open to vent stagnant or hot air and odors. They have a flat design, only slightly raised above the roof finish, which further reduces any intrusive appearance.

For smaller interior rooms, such as a water closet, walk-in shower, or storage area, traditional approaches to bringing in natural light are almost impossible, or at least impractical. Tubular skylights offer a solution. From a small, unobtrusive opening in the roof, light enters a tube lined with mirrors and reflective material that reflect light into the room below. These small devices pour large quantities of light into tight spaces, making them feel more spacious and comfortable.

Fixed or operable transom windows may also be used to bring natural light into interior rooms. Set above passage doors to bedrooms and bathrooms or even in interior walls, transom windows can carry natural light from rooms on the outside perimeter into otherwise dark, inner spaces.

A kitchen backsplash can be used creatively to increase natural light. Glass block or fixed panes of glass may be installed in the space between the countertop and the wall cabinets. Light is brought onto the work surface without sacrificing kitchen cabinets for a large window expanse.

When homeowners prefer traditional architectural styles, experienced home builders will assist homeowners with design and product solutions, made easier with the wide array of technologically advanced windows and doors now available. With new products to choose from and some creative design work, home owners are simultaneously able to enjoy their home style of choice and the aesthetic and cost-saving benefits of natural light.