Optima Blown in Insuation

Where practical, we specify high-performance insulation on our projects to increase the energy-efficiency of the structures. Optima blown in insulation is one of these products which fills the wall cavity between the framing, surrounding all the piping and conduit and also provides an all important air infiltration barrier to reduce heat loss and heat gain. Tests show that even a small gap in an insulated cavity can cause a substantial increase in heating or cooling costs. Blown in Insulation by OPTIMA makes it easier for installers to provide a superior insulation job with no voids around wires, electrical boxes and pipes. Also, odd-sized framing assemblies are no problem with Optima, there’s no cutting or fitting.

SYSTEM BENEFITS

•        Blown in dry
•        No drying required—immediately ready for drywall
•        Thermally efficient 
•     Fills voids for higher R-Values per inch
•        Excellent sound control
•       Little dust and quick clean-up
•        More uniform application
•        Won’t settle
•        GREENGUARD® Children & Schools Certified
•        Formaldehyde-Free
•        All important air infiltration barrier

What is Custom Homebuilding and who would build a Custom Home?

Here is a great article on what Custom Homebuilding is from both the builders perspective and also from the clients. There are lots of great articles around the web that discuss what a custom builder is or what building a custom home is about but no too many that touch on who the clients are.




The Journey

By S. Claire Conroy

The “Great Recession” not withstanding, custom builders have had a number of competitors nipping at their heels for some time now. During the boom times, production builders stepped into the high-end market with a “have-it-your-way” approach that conned a lot of buyers into believing they were getting a custom home at mass market prices. The big builders happily would mix and match model floor plans—a first level of one mated to a second level of another. They'd swap the French Country elevation for the Arts & Crafts. They'd tick every upgrade box with glee.

But builders who construct true custom homes know this is simply mass production taken to its computer-driven extreme. A real custom home has no bulk-buy limits on what a client can order. Every choice is catered to with personal-shopper attention. Every detail is designed to fit and fabricated from scratch. Every house is a prototype, with all the potentials and challenges that entails.

Among this genre of houses, nothing is more challenging than the “art house.” It is the crème de la custom home, a house where the goal is to achieve new aesthetic heights—to experiment with site, program, materials, and engineering. It's the high-wire act of the residential construction field—the Mount Everest summit, the Evel Knievel daring leap. It's not for the faint of heart or for those with a conservative attorney on retainer. These projects are for builders who are bored with doing the same old luxo-barge with granite counters. These builders are risk takers with a fire for the ultimate achievement in their chosen profession.

The clients for these houses are different, too. They are fully engaged in the enterprise. This journey is their creative zenith as well, and they may not really want it to end. Half the fun for them is getting there. These are the houses where the client, architect, and builder end up as friends for life.

These are true custom homes. And no matter what tricks production builders come up with next, they will never, ever manage to take their home buyers on a ride like this. If you build luxury production houses, anyone with good management skills can do what you do. If you build art houses, you're part of an elite minority.

NAHB: Checklist for Hiring a Builder or Remodeler

Checklist for Hiring a Builder or Remodeler

Do your homework before having work done on your home.

Use this checklist to help you select a builder or remodeler to work on or build your home.

• Does the builder or remodeler have a permanent business location and a good reputation with local banks and suppliers?
• How long have they been in the building business? It usually takes three to five years to establish a financially sound business. Will they be around after the construction is complete to service any warranties?
• Have you called your local Better Business Bureau? They can alert you to any complaints.
• Does the builder/remodeler have sufficient workers compensation and general liability insurance? If not, you may be liable for any construction-related accidents on your premises.
• Will the builder/remodeler provide you with names of previous customers? Ask them if they would hire the builder/remodeler again.
• Have you seen the builder/remodelers work, both completed and in progress? Check for quality of workmanship and materials.
• Are you able to communicate with the builder/remodeler? Remember you will be in close contact with them throughout the construction process and afterward as you live in your new home.
• Will the builder/remodeler provide you with a complete and clearly written contract? The contract will benefit both of you. Review it carefully.
• Be cautious of unusually low-priced bids. If the builder/remodeler is unable to pay for the materials and labor as the project proceeds, this may indicate a potential problem.

Call your local home builders’ association for the names of member builders and remodelers.



NAHB: Checklist for Hiring a Builder or Remodeler

Open House Sunday May the 9th

Come see the newest Craftsman Style home by Daniel DeVol Custom Builder located at 535 Mc bee Rd in Bellbrook. The Open House will be from 1:00 until 5:00 on Sunday the 9th of May.

 This home has plenty of fine details that define a custom home by Daniel DeVol Custom Builder including a custom built cherry kitchen, buffet and mantle pieces as well as a quarter-sawn oak staircase.

For additional photo's please visit out Facebook Page at DeVolbuilders Facebook

The home is near completion and will be open for one day only!


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Master Bath Renovation

While most of our work is Custom Homebuilding we do enjoy a remodel project from time to time. Here is a job where the client needed a total master bath renovation. We redesigned the shower area to make it larger and incorporated two shower head’s as well as a rain shower head from Kohler. The existing vanities were a clear maple and we designed and custom built cherry vanities with radius fronts, furniture style feet and integrated mirror frames. The whirlpool tub was replaced with a Kohler Air Tub and a custom cherry front to match the vanities. A floor warming system from Warmly Yours was also installed.

At Daniel DeVol Custom Builder we love well executed details and are committed to designing, building and installing superior products that reflect your lifestyle and will add value to you lives.

To see additional photo's please visit our Fan page on Facebook.

DeVolbuilders Facebook

Builders Show 2010 Great Finds

As I mentioned in the previous post I wanted to point out some of the great finds at the Builders Show this year. Some of the items we already use and their some that just caught my eye and we may incorporate. If you were at the show and came across something great and would like to share it please feel free to comment below. 

Have a great 2010!

Stuff we already use:

• I am a big fan of Certainteed Optima Insulation. Optima gives homes a custom-designed, seamless, thermally efficient sound-reducing blanket that completely fills any void.
•    Pella Windows continue to be a great product with many different options and great local service, we use them in every one of our homes.
•  All of our homes are built using Advantech Sub Floors. Without question the most weather resistant sub floor on the market.
• Schlage Link is a great alternative to some big name home automation systems. Change the temperature in your home, unlock a door, and get a text if someone else unlocks your door all from your Blackberry.
•   Kerdi Shower Systems are a great way to build a custom shower that is water tight without a mortar bed.

Cool finds and someday maybe…

•   Crownpoint Cabinetry was on display this year for the first time. I have seen their cabinets in magazines but never in person. Very nice stuff, well built and a step above most custom cabinetry.
•  I came across a great solar water heating system from Kingspan Solar. Solar energy is free, clean and safe and will definitely be integrated into our homes.
• This funny little gadget caught my eye and is worth mentioning. The No Pain Drain, the picture says it all.
•   Here’s a solar powered attic fan from Solaro, the sun hits it and it's on. Just a simple as that.
• The foam insulation have come a long way and Icynene seems to have a great product that is setting the stage for maximum building envelope performance. 

International Builders Show

I just got back from the International Builders Show put on by the NAHB in Las Vegas, it was my 9th show and continues to impress. The information that I gather at the show from the seminars that I attend to the vendors that are displaying is invaluable and make’s me a better homebuilder.

This year at the show energy efficiency had great focus. There were lots solar panel exhibitors including panels that will generate electricity for your home use or just for a water heater and even a solar power attic fan that was really cool. Insulation packages were huge including BIBS wall insulation, which we do a lot of, Foam Insulation and even a recycled wood batt type insulation from Germany. I will post another time with links to these items.

Again they brought in top notch speakers for the seminars. I always hit the seminars that Joe Stoddard is presenting, Joe is a technology expert and has great insight for seeing what is coming down the pike for builders. In addition to Joe there were several industry experts detailing what is coming in the future for builders and homebuilding in general. (Looking forward to the zero energy homes!)

Again, I will post links to the great finds at the show and the great products that we are including in out homes now that were represented there.

Looking forward to a great 2010!

A Welcoming Entry

When approaching a home for the first time the one thing that is sure to send a statement about that home is the Entry Doors.  Often the door will reflect the style of the home, dictate feel of the home and offer a sense of craftsmanship.  At Daniel DeVol Custom Builder we feel strongly about making the Entry Doors a focal point of our homes and make each door unique for the client.

We achieve this in one simple way, each one of our Entry Doors is custom designed and built for that home and for that client. The doors are custom built by DeVol Millwork  which is owned by my older brother Mark. His millwork shop has a combination of “state of the art” woodworking equipment along with some “timeless” woodworking pieces and is located in Knoxville Tennessee.

The initial design is typically provided by the Architect and can be modified by DeVol Millwork’s design team.  Standard widths for most exterior doors are just 36” so when the plan allows for we try to make the width of the door at least 3’ 6” and the thickness of the door a full 2 ¼”. Another nice feature of the doors is the solid Mahogany threshold as opposed to a standard aluminum threshold.

At Daniel DeVol Custom Builder we are committed to designing and building a custom home that executes fine woodworking details and that often starts with the Entry Door.

Custom Woodworking Details

Often times our homes are highlighted by woodworking details that may be unique to a time period, the homes overall design or the customers personal taste.  A woodworking detail can be something as simple as specific crown molding profile to custom cabinetry, columns, wainscot, staircase newels, mantles and much more.

It sometimes starts with a thought or a photo and the design goes from there. We offer a free design service that will provide a conceptual view of what will be built. Much thought goes into the design including scale, proportion, molding profile and of course the species of wood.

The woodworking details in our homes are just another feature that make our home’s unique and provide a sense of craftsmanship to our customers.

After many months and lots of long days we are ready for opening night. THANK YOU to all that helped to make The Mariner a great home for the 2008 Homearama. At Daniel DeVol Custom Builder we enjoy executing well designed details combined with outstanding craftsmanship……The Mariner is an example of just that.

For additional photos please visit the photo gallery.