Backyard as Destination Resort

Most of us have fond memories of family barbecues in the back yard or running through the sprinklers. Only the clairvoyant among us could have imagined the new 'back yards': the highly appointed outdoor spaces that are becoming increasingly popular in today's new homes.

Long gone are the days of the patio slab, rectangular swimming pool, and rolling kettle grill. Current outdoor living features and materials are just as stylish and creative as the homes they serve, providing multifunctional destinations for owners and guests.

Professional designs ensure a smooth transition to and from the indoors, provide artful square footage, and the proper utility connections for all of the desired features. Careful planning can even accommodate year-round enjoyment through creative options for shade, sun, and other weather conditions.

One of the primary requests for outdoor space is a fully functional kitchen. A built-in, gas-powered barbecue grill, complete with warming drawers, heating elements and plenty of grilling surface, is essential equipment for today's outdoor chef.

Because an outdoor kitchen is often designed within a covered patio or veranda, grills are usually supplemented with a ventilation system to exhaust smoke and odors. Other conveniences include a sink and faucet, an under-counter refrigerator/ice maker, and a row of base cabinets topped by a weather-tough countertop.

An outdoor kitchen logically demands an outdoor eating area. Weather-resistant furnishings and upholstery are available in an increasingly wide range of styles to suit any taste and need, from formal dining tables to casual, plushy seating options. Outdoor rooms might also include a bar island between the cooking and eating areas. Such islands double as serving areas for casual meals.

Another popular feature of outdoor rooms is a fireplace-television combination. Modern gas-powered fireplaces are designed to simulate authentic wood-burning units, but with better energy use, heat distribution, and ventilation. Such chimneys can accommodate a niche for a flat-screen television, easily supplemented by small, outdoor-rated speakers for surround-sound. What used to be a plain patio has now become an enviable destination for family and guests.

To make the space accessible to the indoors and to merge indoor and outdoor entertainment space, many designs feature all-glass folding or pocket doors that create wide-open passages. When designed with the home's micro-climate in mind, these doors may also help to cool the house with natural breezes. Ceiling fans keep the air moving through the outdoor room, while outdoor-rated lights in the ceiling and on the walls allow its use after dark.

To keep less-desirable weather out of both the house and the covered outdoor space, motorized roll-down screens -- ideally concealed in the structure -- keep pests, winds, rain, and other debris out. Such screens come in a variety of weights and are easily controlled by a remote device or wall switch.

The living space extends beyond the covered area, of course. Patios can be equipped with interlocking pavers, flagstones, or stamped or colored concrete to add dimension and interest. The open-air space might be a deck, increasingly finished with weather-resistant engineered planks that require little maintenance, maintain their color and structural integrity, and are eco-friendly. To complete the look, consider adding comfortable built-in seating and a freestanding fire pit.

Finally, modern pools and spas, are becoming works of art, incorporating fountains and waterfalls, rock formations, frameless edges, and other landscaping features.

Combined, a covered outdoor room, open deck or patio, and pool/spa feature create a value-added feature for any new home. By extending the living space with year-round options to enjoy it, the modern back yard provides years of enjoyment and boosts property value for any homeowner.

The old backyard has become a destination resort.

Pride of Ownership

There is no feeling that matches that of homeownership. It's something we see all the time among our clients: a certain satisfaction and well-earned pride in their new home. It's not something that can be measured, like an interest rate or price appreciation, but pride in ownership is a powerful and worthwhile reason to buy a new home.

Of course, pride in ownership exists to a certain extent with regard to anything you've worked to afford and purchase. However, in our experience, it is strongest among those who have helped select, design, and customize a new home to their personal tastes and lifestyle needs.

As a professional builder, we exist to enable that process and foster that sense of pride. We offer home styles and floor plans to accommodate a variety of needs -- including features such as bonus spaces, dedicated home offices, garage workshops, and walk-in kitchen pantries, to name a few -- and then we coach our clients as they customize those features to precisely suit their specific needs, desires, and budgets.

That level of customization simply isn't possible with an existing home, whether it's an older home that's "ready" to occupy or one in need of remodeling. Building a new home is simply the only way to get what you really want and brings the greatest pride in homeownership.

What does that pride deliver? Beyond the satisfaction of customizing a home, pride in homeownership breeds a fierce desire to maintain what you've worked to accomplish and enjoy.
While few people really enjoy home maintenance chores, owners who have had a stake in choosing (and buying) the products and systems that need to be kept fine-tuned are more likely to get out there and get the chores done. Beyond doing simple maintenance tasks, these are the homeowners who look for ways to maintain and improve their homes to help sustain or even boost their value.

Owners with pride in homeownership express a feeling of commitment to their community. When you invest time, effort, and money to make a new house "your own", you put down deeper roots in your neighborhood and you are motivated to protect and improve your home's value.

Think about the new things you've purchased in your life, measures of success and achievement such as a new car, a new suit, or a new piece of furniture. You choose such things to meet your needs and lifestyle, ideally tailored to your specifications and afforded as a result of your hard work. A new house that you customize right from the beginning fosters a unique and strong pride in ownership that extends far beyond its financial value.

Maintaining Your Dream Home

We pride ourselves on building and delivering homes that bring our clients' vision and imagination into reality. We build dreams. Along with a focus on aesthetics, we construct homes that are designed to maintain their luster and beauty for decades. But this is only possible if a home is nurtured and cared for over time.

Once they have settled into their new home, it becomes increasingly the client's responsibility to maintain it. As a professional builder, we have a period of time in which we respond to warranty service calls and address questions from our new homeowners. Eventually the baton is passed to our owners for regular home maintenance. This helps insure a comfortable, secure and safe living environment and protects an important financial investment over time.

And while every house we build is slightly different, specifically with regards to the various exterior and interior finishes, (from the roofing to the countertops, flooring, and paint coatings) they all need to be cared for properly to retain our clients' investment and maximize their quality of life. We see it as our responsibility to educate and help our clients tackle their role as 'good stewards' of their home.

Wood Floors. All types of wood flooring material, whether solid wood, composite, or laminate, require regular care. For prefinished products, no waxing is required. Clean these surfaces using a regular application of warm, soapy water. To maximize the life of wood flooring, keep it dry and free of debris that can cause scrapes and discolor the finish.

Drainage. An engineered combination of a home's roof design, gutter system, and placement on the lot, work together to shed water from the house and its foundation. To maintain an optimum level of drainage, have gutters cleaned twice a year, ideally before the rainy seasons. Also, adjust the gutter's downspouts to empty into splash blocks or extend at least two feet away from the home's exterior walls. If you add shrubs, flowerbeds, or other landscaping around your house, angle (or grade) the dirt away from the home's foundation.

Appliances. Refer to your homeowner's manual or binder to find the user manuals to all of the kitchen and other major appliances in the house. These guides typically include seasonal and periodic maintenance tips. For instance, your refrigerator coil should be cleaned twice a year; check the seal of the door gasket, as well, to make sure you're not wasting energy. In addition, the clothes dryer vent hose (between the dryer and the wall) and the vent louvers on the outside of the house should be cleaned out at least semi-annually. Every three months, replace the furnace filter, clean out the dishwasher strainer, and drain and flush sediment from your water heater. Such maintenance chores allow these appliances to operate at their optimal performance and extend their usable lives.

Air ducts and ventilation. Air ducts and vent registers can become clogged or stifled with debris, reducing their ability to distribute conditioned air and keep your house comfortable. About every two years, hire a professional service company to clean them out. For the same reason, clean the filters and check the general operation of ventilation fans in the kitchen and bathrooms so they work efficiently, as well.

Roofing. Make regular and thorough roof inspections. Pay attention for missing or damaged shingles or voids in the flashing that may allow moisture or air infiltration. Replace or repair as soon as possible to ward off problems that can occur unnoticed or unseen.

By following these guidelines, the time and energy owners invest in their home will continue to provide dividends well into the future.

How to Drive your Builder Crazy

We take our profession as homebuilders very seriously. We look forward to creating the kind of comfortable yet professional relationship with each homebuyer that will disprove stereotypes about builders, contractors, and the construction industry.

That being said, we also try not to take ourselves too seriously. We enjoy a good joke, even at our industry's expense, and hope that humor will foster goodwill and a more relaxed atmosphere during the project.

It's true that the construction industry has some image problems. One of the prevailing stereotypes about our profession is that of the "truck-and-dog" contractor who talks a good deal, gladly takes a deposit, but then never shows up or fails to complete the work. Naturally, he can't be reached by phone, email, or GPS. As much as we hate to admit it, those bad apples exist, providing ample material for people (and the media) to gripe about builders in general.
In the spirit of equal time (and with tongue firmly in cheek), we offer the following "Seven Deadly Sins" for driving your builder crazy. Here's your chance to get revenge on our industry—but hopefully not on us, specifically!

Avoid making decisions. That'll ensure a phone call (probably several) from your builder so at least you'll know he's still alive.

Make several change orders, then get outraged by the additional costs and delays. Actually, we welcome this because it helps us refine our change order process and puts our customer service training to work.

Refer to your brother-in-law's opinion, neighbor's know-how, or your 10th-grade shop class experience to challenge our expertise. Hey, if you got an "A" in the class, we might listen.

Poach our workers by asking them to come back when the job is finished to do another job "off the books." We have the numbers for the local IRS office and building inspector on speed dial.

Allow your kids to run through the job site, up ladders and over the various power cords and hoses snaking through your unfinished home. Just don't be surprised if we ask one of them to crawl inside a heating duct to retrieve a screwdriver.

Call your builder in the middle of the night and on weekends about problems that can wait until Monday. In this economy, we're not sleeping, anyway.

Wander around the job site muttering "It doesn't look finished." Chances are, it's not finished. But if it's not finished at move-in, then we have a problem.

Our thanks to an article we found in the New York Times News Service for these fiendish suggestions. Remember, these are for demonstration purposes only. Please do not attempt these stunts during your actual new home project!

Saving Energy for an Independent America

If there is one idea shared by all American's it is to lower, and ultimately eliminate, our Nation's dependence on foreign oil. It seems clear that there is no single solution that will provide an all encompassing solution to our energy situation. Along with cultivating new sources of energy and continuing to utilize our existing oil, gas and coal reserves, energy conservation plays an important part toward achieving energy independence.

Today's professional home builders are aware of the difference they can make in our Country's energy future. Green Building has arrived and it's here to stay.

There's little doubt that today's new homes are much more energy efficient than those of even a decade ago, and certainly compared to homes built before the "energy crisis" of the mid-1970s. Incredible improvements in the performance of windows and doors, major appliances, and heating and cooling systems have significantly lowered the energy consumption of new homes, helping lower utility bills and raise the quality of housing overall.

Builders do not work in isolation. Government agencies and their building codes have contributed to pushing energy efficient homebuilding into the mainstream. Builders must comply with basic levels of home energy consumption prescribed by governmental code, from minimum window performance standards to adequate levels of wall and attic insulation and proper fresh-air ventilation. Codes also set guidelines for reducing moisture and air infiltration into the structure, which not only saves energy but also reduces incidences of mold growth and other moisture-related problems.

In addition to more stringent and specific codes regarding energy-efficient homebuilding, there are an increasing variety of independent, public-private, and federally funded programs that promote the concept and even certify products and entire homes that meet energy-use standards. The most recognized among these entities is Energy Star, a government-sponsored program that certifies the energy use and cost savings of several thousand products from nearly 1,300 manufacturers, as well as builders and the homes they build.

In response to both codes and independent energy standards, manufacturers of various building products have not only met the code and other independent standards, but also developed materials and methods that allow builders to exceed the minimum and achieve a higher level of energy efficiency for new homes. Such upgrades or options include super-insulating, multi-pane windows, extremely efficient furnaces, air-conditioning equipment, and electronic programmable thermostats.

Builders who have taken the mantle of energy efficiency as a cornerstone of their businesses understand the added value of building homes that use less energy and cost less to operate. Their considerations extend beyond specific products. Energy efficiency is best achieved by looking at the entire system, including design issues and construction procedures, to achieve the goal of a more energy-efficient, comfortable, and long-lasting home.

For example, consider your heating and cooling system. A builder who specifies and installs a higher level of insulation in the walls, floor, and ceiling, seals openings in the structure (including around doors and windows), and uses products and design techniques that provide natural shading, enable cross-ventilation, and reduce thermal transfer through your home will be able to reduce the size of the furnace and air conditioning unit required to keep your home comfortable year-round. This system approach will often lower the cost to install and maintain the equipment. Chances are it will last longer and reduce repair and replacement costs as well.

Working together, homebuilders, code agencies, independent certification groups, and product manufacturers continue to improve the energy efficiency of today's new homes. As a result, their efforts not only reduce energy use and costs, but also help stabilize our national economy, create longer-lasting homes, and boost overall housing value.

The Construction Process: The Finishing Touches

We've compared a home's framing to its skeleton, wiring to its nerves and insulation to its muscle. Now it's time to talk about exterior finishes -- a home's "skin", with a little make-up applied, as well.

We're very fortunate to be designing and building homes in a time that offers a vast array of exterior finishes, including siding (or cladding), roofing, trim, and hardscapes. The choices available in each category enable us and our homebuyers to create unique combinations that distinguish our homes and add to the value of the neighborhood.

With a wider selection of materials also comes a higher level of performance. Today's exterior finishes and systems are tougher and more weather-resistant. These products combine good looks with durability. Because their improved quality is better able to retain paints and stains and to resist warping, cracking, and delamination, maintenance chores and repair costs are reduced for our homeowners.

Greater selection and durability has fostered a trend toward a varied mix of materials on a finished house. It's increasingly common to see a home that tastefully combines stone, clapboard (or lap) siding, and stucco, for instance, to deliver visual interest and achieve a more comfortable scale.

Modern manufacturers, in fact, typically offer various colors, textures, and forms within the same general category of products. For example, a manufacturer of roofing may offer a harmonious array of asphalt or clay tile roofing so that roofs along the same street retain a sense of cohesiveness without being exactly the same. Manufacturers of different products, such as roofing and siding, may even partner to promote compatible combinations across product types.

From a practical point of view, the range of available choices allows our homebuyers to select exterior finish combinations that express their desired style while simultaneously complying with the codes, covenants, and regulations (CC&Rs) of the community. The result is a return to the varied streetscapes of older, historic neighborhoods that are held in such high regard. One color, one style neighborhoods are a thing of the past.

Of course, we are also mindful of retaining the regional materials and architectural styles of our homes. Proper proportion and scale are essential to ensure lasting value and timeless curb appeal. If a certain material does not suit the style of the home -- picture stucco instead of shingle siding on a Cape Cod home -- using it only detracts from the overall appeal and value of the house.

Being able to select from a palette of exterior finish materials is a great advantage to the new home owner. The exterior finish is a home's first impression, its greeting to neighbors and visitors, and an indicator of the owner's taste and style. Thankfully, we and our homebuyers have many choices that enable us to put a unique and beautiful "skin" on every home.

What Can Your Builder Control?

Homebuilding is a highly specialized and complex process. And like builders themselves, no two clients are exactly the same. Some homeowners are very interested in the homebuilding process, while others are more content to follow the lead of the builder and be available only when needed. Most clients fall somewhere in between. Regardless of their approach or comfort level with new home construction, clients play a vital role in its success.

The ideal homeowner leads by example; making appropriate and timely decisions to help ensure the home is completed on schedule. In addition, pro-active homeowners become educated about the home building process so that they understand and respect its nuances.

A critical part of that education is knowing what is and is not in a builder's control and having realistic expectations for how issues will be managed, questions answered, and problems solved.

One of the most obvious issues is the weather. Rain, freezing temperatures, and other severe climate conditions are out of any earthly being's control. When the weather results in delays in the delivery of materials or their installation, however, it can have a ripple effect on the entire construction schedule. While professional builders cannot control the weather, they can prepare for it by communicating regularly with subcontractors and materials suppliers to gauge their availability once the weather clears and keeping homeowners informed about changes to the schedule.

Likewise, outside circumstances -- such as a natural disaster in another part of the country, or even global trade trends -- may cause the cost and availability of construction materials and labor to become volatile or unreliable. With proper controls in place, however, a professional builder should be able to mitigate or adjust for delays and cost overruns by providing adequate lead time for materials delivery and making sure each trade partner finishes his phase of the work before the next one begins.

To avoid other common delays, smart and successful builders are aware of how long it takes to get approval from the local building department to begin construction and the amount of time an inspector needs to schedule a job site visit to check over the progress to date.

But even under the best of circumstances, barring any problems caused by weather or other outside forces, there's always a risk in relying on other people to help complete any job, whether it's the construction of a house, providing input on a financial report, or creating an advertising campaign. Increasingly, the housing industry exemplifies this shared responsibility among a complex network of players, as builders rely on subcontractors and materials suppliers to deliver pieces of the puzzle on time, within budget, and according to specifications and standards.

In fact, a builder's role is often akin to a manager as much as it is a craftsman. Builders must manage complex scheduling and supervision of various trade partners. It's a job that requires no less skill than building a wall or installing a heating system.

As a homeowner, consider what you can reasonably expect your builder to control. Communicate with your builder to be sure he knows and agrees with those expectations. This will help ensure a coordinated effort toward achieving overall success and satisfaction with the finished home.