Why Architecture? It is a common question that I get as I interview with potential clients. The answer is simple, a good plan will make for a successful project.
Why architecture? Because we make clients happy, builders look good, reduce call backs, improve energy efficiency, and help create beauty in this world. #designmatters
There is a bit more depth to this answer than might be apparent on the surface when looking at building a new home. Purchasing a plan online or hiring a drafter that can draw a house is not architecture and it is certainly not a custom home. Having someone other than an architect develop the plan for a new home or purchasing generic plans not specifically developed for you is a solution for a new home, but not a custom home. This is an important distinction that you need to decide on before starting your journey towards a home construction project.
Does your home facilitate the life you want to live? If you have to adapt your life to the house you have, then you have not experienced a custom design specific for you. A custom design done through the architectural process develops the spaces specific to how you want to live life. We infuse lessons learned from past projects to create efficiency and comfort. Architects listen for clues along the way during multiple conversations with you to be able to create your dream home.
As an architect, I have spent many years learning to listen and think through design. I understand the holistic approach to creating the space you want to facilitate your dream life. We are creating something custom that will enhance your livability in this new space.
If you have a renovation, addition, or new home project on the horizon, here is a resource I have developed that might help with the process.
A lot of people are facing similar challenges with working remotely and having a spouse and / or kids doing the same. I have had many discussions about home office renovations with a variety of people over the last 8 months. Are you considering upgrading your space? If so, here are some things to consider:
Designated work areas and schedule
The most important thing to do is to set up designated working areas and boundaries. If you and your spouse / children are working in the same room, make sure that you are all on the same page as to policy for noise. There are many options and designs for speakers or headphones. Note that the noise cancelling headphones will limit your ability to hear yourself talk – so this typically will lead to a natural response of you talking louder than normal. Setting rules, just like you would in a classroom or office will help minimize conflicts in the future. Perhaps all phone calls need to be taken in a different area of the house for instance. You may also want to adjust your working hours to make sure your conference call with a client is not at the same time as band practice for your eighth grader that is learning to play trumpet.
Acoustical Considerations
If your home and family will allow for work spaces to be spread around in different rooms, then there are some good acoustic solutions that you could add to improve performance. First at the door if you could add a “sock” along the bottom so noise transfer can be minimized. A “sock” in this case is a fabric filled with rice or beans (if you make it yourself) that is the length of the door. Adding weather stripping to interior doors is also an option to tighten up the door gaps which allow noise to escape around the door when closed. I have also found that many residential doors are hollow core which do not offer the same sound deadening that solid core doors provide, so replacing particular doors could be an option to improve sound transfer.
Draft stopper
Comfort and acoustics
If you are working in a space with a door that has an attic above you, adding another layer of insulation across that space will help keep the sound in the room (and improve your comfort). If you are working in a basement space adding fiberglass sound insulation in the floor joists above your head is a great idea. If the space does not already have a finished ceiling of course. If you have the option to add a finished ceiling, acoustic tile ceilings are a great option for stopping noise transfer from one floor to the other. Adding insulation to the walls will help keep you more comfortable along with rugs to keep your feet off the concrete floor.
Renovation and additions
If a renovation is a possibility, there are many option for adding sound rated insulation in a wall cavity, resilient strips behind drywall, noise cancelling drywall, or even a double stud wall.
As you are planning your office at home, think about how you can also improve your home’s future value. If an addition is part of the solution, can the new office also be a future bedroom for instance. Are there ways to improve the comfort and energy-efficiency while you are renovating? Are there maintenance items that should be addressed while the contractor is on the job like a new roof or upgraded HVAC system?
Remote working has become a new reality for many of us. Setting up an effective office space(s) in your home allows for more resilience in the future. As a workaholic having my work space convenient is critical, but for many having separation at home from work is critical for mental health. If I can help with solutions, please reach out. I am happy to share lessons learned and if you need design help, I welcome the business.
As we move into the cooler months, it is a great time to stop the air leaks around your home.
Air leaks are the result of holes in the thermal envelope of your home. The thermal envelope is the protection layer between the inside and outside temperatures – for example siding, drywall, insulation, roofing, foundation, housewrap, caulk and windows. All of these different materials come together and there are joints, seams, and cracks allowing air to blow into your home. This results in higher energy bills and a lack of comfort – sometimes in one room and sometimes in your entire house.
Taking time to seal the holes will improve the comfort of your home as well as potentially reduce your electric bills. One place that is easy to improve is around light switches and electric outlets. You can see in the photo above this light switch on an exterior wall of a home that without thermal imaging looks find. However, on the photo below you can see that once I use my thermal camera there are huge air leaks all around the box. While one light switch will not impact the overall comfort of an entire home, if you add all the light switches and electrical outlets up around the house, that is one big hole in the thermal envelope.
To seal this home, take the decorative cover plate off the wall and there you will see a plastic box. If there is a gap, even a narrow gap, between that box and the drywall / plaster, that is where air is leaking through the wall. Seal this gap with a silicone caulk. Do this for all light switches and electrical outlets on both interior and exterior walls. You can also add a thin insulation pad, socket sealer, that is made specifically for this application.
As the cold weather approaches, it is time to make sure you are ready for the change. I have not been able to doenergy-audits this year due to my lack of availability and well, understanding science and respecting the severe nature of COVID-19. So I thought it might be useful to write a few blog poststo highlight some of the common places I find issues in homes here in the Valley.
The easiest place to make improvements in most homes is the attic.
If you have a pull down stairs or a scuttle access, take a peak into the attic. If you can see the ceiling joists you do not have enough insulation. (Note: if the attic has a plywood floor for storage, you will not be able to add insulation easily).
If your attic is vented (it should be if you have insulation on the floor of the attic), then you want to make sure the soffit vents are not covered up. This home has a rigid baffle to keep the insulation in place and the air from the soffit moving up into the attic. This is not the most effective way to design an attic, but that is another blog topic.
So how much insulation should you have in your attic if seeing the ceiling joists indicate that you don’t have enough? It depends on the type of insulation you have, but generally if it is fiberglass or cellulose you need a minimum of 12″ and it would be nice to have twice that amount. It should be even across the surface of the attic and should be clear of debris and moisture. The attic should be well ventilated including baffles to allow soffit vents to work and have a ridge vent to allow warm moist air to rise and leave the attic space. You should not be able to see the back of drywall, like in the photo above and it is best to have all ductwork and mechanical systems on the warm side (in the winter) of your insulated envelope.
If you want to make your energy bills as low as possible and your home as comfortable as possible, there are better solutions and more considerations. I wrote about what I did at my house here.
Fall weather always seems to creep up on us every year, read up on what you can do to stay ahead of the temperature drop and keep your home cozy this season.
Check your door and window weather-stripping. Make sure doors and windows seal tight to make your home more comfortable this fall and winter. Keeping doors and windows locked when closed will increase the performance against winter winds.
Make sure heating vents are clear of furniture. If your system is designed to perform optimally then it needs to blow air / radiate heat without obstructions. Keep draperies, furniture, and rugs off the floor vents and away from radiators to make sure you are getting heat to the right places.
Close your fireplace damper when not in use. A chimney is a huge hole to the outside of your thermal envelope and of course heat rises. Cut your energy use by making sure the damper is closed tight.
Check your landscaping. Cut back overgrown plants that block airflow to your air handler and trees that overhang your roof. Protect your plants from coming heavy snows by trimming them back. Plant a winter crop on your garden and collect leaves and grass clippings in your compost bin.
Close your crawl space vents. The best thing to do is to close your crawl space vents permanently and insulate your crawl space walls. If that is not possible at this time, at least close your foundation vents for the cold months. Add a square of rigid insulation over the vent to help things stay modestly warmer below your floor.
Clean out those gutters. Now that temperatures are more moderate, it is time to make sure you don’t get damage come snow season. Take advantage of this time of year to clean out your gutters and inspect your roof.
Clean for efficiency. Refrigerators are huge energy hogs so keeping them maintained is critical. Vacuum the coils on the back and bottom and check the temperature. While you are at it, clean the lint hose for your dryer – this will prevent fires and reduce mildew problems.
Hang heavier curtains on your windows. No matter the quality of your windows, they are still the weakest part of the thermal envelope of your home. Adding insulating curtains will help offset heat loss during the cold months that are looming.
Open the windows. Open the windows on these cool autumn days to not only enjoy the sounds of nature, but also to air out your home.
Have your chimney and furnace inspected. Make sure your fireplace and heating system is ready for the colder weather that is on the way. Get your chimney professionally cleaned to make sure it is free of buildup and birds’ nests. The same can be done for your heating system; clean and efficient is the goal. You should have your HVAC system serviced twice a year (fall and spring).
