Want more tips, reminders, and ideas for planning your new home or remodeling project?
The Difference is in the Details, A Homeowner's Planning Guide to Building a Functional Home will do the trick.
 There
are so many things to remember, decisions to be made, and options to
consider when building or remodeling a home, which is why so many people are
left with a list of “I wish I would have’s” at the end of the building project.
Either they weren’t asked the right questions, and/or they didn’t know the right
questions to ask. If any of you have built before, you know what I mean.
That’s why, back in October of 2006, I began creating The Difference is in the Details.
Two years, 400 pages, 400 photographs and over 900 tips later, it's finally here!
This planning guide asks the questions for you by providing the education, tips, and
reminders you need to navigate successfully through the residential construction
process.
With this tool you’ll be able to plan the details at the beginning of your
construction project. Using this tactic will greatly reduce the number of change
orders (and consequential charges) while at the same time resulting in a home
that fits your family’s unique needs.
If you save the cost of a single change order, The Difference is in the Details
will have paid for itself many times over! To peruse the Table of Contents, view
sample tips, and learn about my free bonus offer, see
www.DifferenceInTheDetails.com
Green...What's It
Mean? - Part IV
This is the conclusion of a series of ezines on the basic components of good green
home construction. Having covered orientation, sealing the building envelope,
insulation, efficient HVAC equipment, energy-saving appliances, upgraded windows,
water conservation, and indoor air quality, we wrap up with durability. After all,
one of the most basic definitions of a green home is a home that is built to
withstand the test of time. Discuss with your builder the construction elements that
will contribute to the strength and longevity of your home.
9 – Durability: 
Is your area of the country prone to strong winds? What products offering increased
durability will be used to construct the exterior walls and roof? For example, the
photo to the right shows a home being built with ICFs (insulated concrete forms).
Known as the “Legos” of the building industry, these foam forms are stacked on top
of  one another, after which their metal-reinforced core is filled with poured-concrete.
What
is the wind rating for the roofing material? Did you know that metal roofing can
withstand much higher winds than one covered with shingles. Depending on the product
you choose, the wind rating for metal roofing varies between 150 and 240 mile per hour.
Do you live in a termite-prone area? What termite-resistant products
and procedures will be used in the construction of your home? Metal studs, borate-treated framing, and
exterior termite barriers are some of the possibilities.
What methods will be used to protect your home from water intrusion
through the roof, the walls, and/or around the windows? Ask your builder about available options for your
budget. For example, peel-’n-stick roofing underlayment is more expensive than traditional felt
underlayment, but it also offers much greater protection against leakage.
 Selecting
products with durability in mind reduces replacement and maintenance costs down the road. What is the expected
lifespan for the roofing and siding options you’re considering?
For example, the estimated lifespan of metal
roofing is more than 50 years, compared with 20 years for shingles. According to the manufacturers, concrete
and copper roofing products are expected to last a lifetime.
The house pictured to the right shows fiber cement siding, tile roofing,
and metal soffits. Each of these products has a longer lifespan than many commonly used counterparts.
10 – Green Certification:
Now that we’ve gone over the basics of green construction, you might be wondering if all green homes include
these features. Unfortunately the answer is no, but if you understand the fundamentals of good green
construction, you’ll have a much better chance of choosing a builder who understands them as well.
If you want to build a green home, your best assurance that a builder will meet your needs is to ask if his/her
homes are certified under one of the green certification programs. In addition to national green programs such
as LEED and NAHB, there are many programs designed for local construction methods. See
www.nahbgreen.org
for a nationwide list of green certification programs.
Although these programs represent various levels of green, they all
require a whole-house approach to green construction. Because the builder must select points from all
categories within a certification program, all areas of the home are addressed. These categories generally
consist of lot/site, energy-conservation, water conservation, health, and materials. Selections differ from
builder to builder, so homes certified as green will have variations in green attributes. When evaluating
potential builders and/or their existing green homes, ask to see the green certification checklist and
discuss the various green options with them.
A green certified home also means that it was inspected during the
construction process by a green certifying agent to confirm that the selected green products and procedures
were implemented or installed. In most cases, the agent must provide documentation to an independent third
party that proves compliance with all selected points. If the third party is satisfied that the home meets
all the requirements, it will award a green certification.
Another
aspect of the green home certifying process involves a series of
tests of the structure itself. These procedures measure whole-house air leakage (the blower door test) and
ductwork leakage
(the duct blaster and smoke test). Thorough and proper insulation installation is also reviewed through the thermal bypass inspection.
(Note that not all tests are necessarily performed on every
green home, though you can request all of them as part of your agreement with the builder.)
The photograph to the right shows the blower door test. To read more
about each test, see a video of the ductwork smoke test, and access more photographs, visit,
www.OneStopGreenHome.com
Copyright © 2008 Tracy DeCarlo, Detailed Solutions,
Inc. - All Rights Reserved
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Tracy DeCarlo,
author of "The Difference is in the Details" publishes the idea-packed, monthly e-zine
"Tips for Designing a Functional Home." If you're ready to learn how to plan a more
durable, energy-efficient, and easy-to-live-in home, get your
FR*EE tips now
at
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