The relationship between moisture and the walls of your home can be a complicated balance. If your home doesn’t have enough moisture it can result in dryness of your respiratory system, cracked wood, and nose bleeds, whereas too much moisture in your home can harm not only your health but the structure of your house. An overabundance of moisture in the home can bring in unwanted visitors such as mold, termites, and even cockroaches.
According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) mold can lead to a series of allergic reactions especially if a member of your family is allergy sensitive, to begin with. While the risk of mold in walls and other areas of the home can be scary, prevention is easier than you think. It is important to use air conditioners/ humidifiers, open a window, or turn on an exhaust fan when showering, and using an exhaust hood fan when cooking. And of course, consult an architect about what wall system would work best for your home, chances are we can recommend something that will not only protect your home from dangerous moisture levels but save you money on energy bills.
It is no surprise that amidst a pandemic people are spending much more time in their homes. Overall human beings spend a significant amount of time indoors, meaning the air we breathe is a lot less healthy and could affect our overall well-being later in life. This reason alone is enough to stress the importance of hiring a designer who understands building science- it can make the difference between a healthy home or one that has the potential to make you and your family sick.
There are certain factors that can impact the air we breathe, one of those being a fireplace. This element leaves an opening in your home that can pull dirty air into the home from the fireplace itself or the building envelope. According to the United States, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) microparticles in wood-burning fireplaces can cause bronchitis, asthma, and other respiratory issues in children and the elderly. A safe alternative for this would be using a vented gas fireplace, this eliminates the need for wood and other natural materials along with pushing out the harmful exhaust. Speaking with your architect about a ventilated fireplace in the home design process can make all the difference in the air you will breathe every day.
Nearly every living thing relies on the energy from the sun, and humans are no different, we need sunlight just as much as the succulents on our windowsills. Natural light provides vitamin D – making us calmer, and more productive as a result. By allowing us to feel closer to nature through biophilic design humans can feel happier and healthier as well. Aside from benefiting the human body, sunlight can also benefit your wallet.
Natural light can eliminate the need for artificial light in the home, saving homeowners money on monthly electricity bills. Along with not needing to use artificial lights during the day, we can also rely on natural light to heat our homes during cooler seasons. Saving money on your home is great, but making money on your home is even better. Natural lighting can actually increase the value of your home, opening your windows allows sunlight to fill your whole room and in return gives the appearance of a much larger space. An article by The Ohio State University breaks down different ways light is being harnessed in the home!
An excellent example of a home that utilizes this science is the Keezletown Farmhouse. This home was designed to capture all the coziness that comes with owning a family farm, and in doing so focused on getting the perfect from the comfort of the living room.
Each year we host high school students in our office for a chance to job shadow and explore architecture as a career. There are so many avenues you can take if you enjoy design and this is a great way to explore one before paying for college. We spend time talking about college options, majors, career options, experiences, daily activities, and more. Over the last 12 years, we have hosted a number of students that thought architecture would be their college major that changed direction after being in the office. This is a huge financial saving for them and allowed them to explore other options early on. We have also had several students continue on to an architectural major, including Eli and Keeanna. This summer Emma Kate joined us for a short time to complete a job shadow requirement she had for school. Here is her story:
My name is Emma Kate, and I am a senior atBuffalo Gap High School and Shenandoah Valley Governor’s School in Augusta County. Over the Summer of 2021, I had the pleasure of job shadowing Charles Hendricks and his company, Gaines Group Architects. During this time, I sat through meetings with contractors and subcontractors and listened to discussions of floor plans, plan changes, working in SketchUp, and spoke with other employees about career paths. Throughout this time, my eyes were opened to the field and its surrounding options. I would highly recommend working with Charles and his highly personable staff; they are always willing to lend a helping hand, whether it be talking about their career or aiding in the virtual construction of a house.
As mentioned above, throughout my mentorship, I continuously worked in SketchUp to increase my familiarity with the program, while also exposing myself to more aspects of design. Most of my time was spent working on the tiny house shown in the pictures. Designing this house gave me a chance to increase my creativity in storage and design and increased my knowledge of spatial awareness. Extra storage elements include closet space beneath the stairs to make up for space lost in the bedroom/loft area, a closet with a shelving unit in the bathroom, and a fully functional kitchen with storage opportunities. This was a great way for me to learn the software, its options, its shortcuts, and its overall layout should I need it in the future.
In summary, my entire mentorship with Charles and his company was a great way for me to be more informed of the career path I am most interested in, and it allowed me to dabble slightly in almost every aspect.
As the need for renewable energy rises so does accessibility. The first annual Rocktown Energy Festival is bringing the information you need to go green and live an environmentally sustainable life. This free event will take place on October 2nd at the Harrisonburg Farmers Market and will work to promote clean energy in the Valley. It will not just cover the large-scale efforts to utilize renewable energy but also highlight what individuals can do to make their homes, lives, and families greener.
This event will feature informational speakers, workshops, and sustainable-focused business owners to discuss the benefits of clean energy. The goal is to get members of the valley to explore green energy options and explore the benefits that follow. There will even be a familiar face at this event as our very own Charles Hendricks will be attending to talk about the importance of solar power, and sustainable homes.
We are beyond thrilled to not only be a part of this event but to sponsor in the hopes of educating homeowners on opportunities to save the environment, and save them money.
