Rockingham County Custom Home project update

Rockingham County Custom Home project update

by | Oct 10, 2025 | Accessibility, aging in place, architecture, Building Science, Charles Hendricks, Custom Home, Green Building, Indoor Air Quality, Interior Design

A lifetime home is an incredible design opportunity for us to take on with our clients. As we started this Rockingham County custom home it became very clear that our clients wanted intentional and meaningful spaces. Our designs focused on quality of life and we are using the architecture to provide a backdrop for a lifetime of memories. In our design kick-off meeting we discussed daily habits, life values, and dreams for the kind of childhood their child could experience. We laughed about stories they remembered growing up and the special places that they remembered. This is the heart of a custom home design process for us, we want to know our clients so we can join them on their journey to finding their dream home.

Rockingham Custom Home

We gave a homework assignment to find inspirational photos of places they loved and the types of spaces that will give them energy. We balanced their goals and desires with building science and functional solutions for living spaces. We included thoughts of fun spaces, healthy and invigorating spaces, and spaces that will sooth their souls. As the design process unfolds we developed some visuals to verify the home we are designing is their dream home.

We have also visited their building site and worked to balance the slope of the land, water drainage, views, and arrival sequence for guests. This holistic process of learning our clients dreams takes time and attention. There is empathy and care infused in every decision we make along the way. It is a true gift to be able to do this and call it work. We love solving the design puzzle for our clients. We don’t just create blueprints, we infuse our clients values into their projects. Stay tuned for more photos as the design progresses.

Ready to get started on your own lifetime home? Click below to let us know! We can’t wait to hear from you!

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Rockingham Custom Home
Rockingham County Custom Home
Finding the right architect for your Environmentally Sensitive Dream Home

Finding the right architect for your Environmentally Sensitive Dream Home

by | Sep 15, 2025 | architecture, Building Science, Green Building, Indoor Air Quality

It can be tricky to find the right architect for your environmentally sensitive dream home. Building a custom home is a journey. Building a truly environmentally sensitive home is a quest. You’ve likely spent countless hours researching everything from geothermal heating to the embodied carbon of concrete. Now, the most crucial step is finding an architect who can translate that passion into a home that is both a beautiful sanctuary and a model of sustainability that fits the local environment. In our case, a mixed humid climate.

Your architect should be someone that understands the national research, building science, and local climate balanced with the abilities and standards of available local contractors. They will work with the land, the climate, the materials, and your lifestyle to create a single, integrated system. As you interview potential partners for this quest, here are the five key questions that will help you find the right architect for your dream home:

1. How does your design process work through building science for the local climate and our goals for beauty and budget?

This is an important question as you can always install more expensive systems that are often spoken about in national research. These national design standards work great for their prescribed goals but often add unneeded costs to achieve a high performance, healthy, and durable home that will last a lifetime. Common sense building science is often the most effective solution for design. Using advanced design standards will also work if budget is not considered.

2. How do you evaluate and select materials based on their durability, availability, and environmental impact?

Sustainability is about more than just “recycled” or “natural” materials. A knowledgeable architect will be fluent in the language of building materials. They will know products to recommend that will achieve your goals and be willing to research new solutions when needed.

3. Can you describe your process for integrating systems through the design process?

A high-performance home is a complex machine where the building envelope (insulation, windows, air sealing) and the mechanical systems (HVAC, water heating) must work in perfect harmony. Knowing that your architect has systems and standards for achieving a healthy, energy-efficient, and long-lasting design solution is critical for your new dream home.

4. What is your philosophy on integrating the home with the site?

A home’s position, location, and orientation on the building site will have incredible impacts on its lifetime performance. Making sure your architect will work holistically with the land to minimize site disturbance while maximizing views, solar access, and water management is critical to a successful environmental design.

5. Can you share past successful environmentally focused design projects?

Making sure your team has experience and successful projects that achieve your goals is important. While every new custom house has new challenges that need to be solved, a deep experience doing environmental design is critical to a successful dream home.

Finding the right architect is about finding a co-creator who shares your values. Their answers to these questions will tell you everything you need to know.

Top 10 things to do this Fall to make your home more comfortable

Top 10 things to do this Fall to make your home more comfortable

by | Aug 27, 2025 | architecture, Building Science, Green Building

An energy-efficient home is a comfortable home, especially as the crisp autumn air settles in. A few simple adjustments can make a big difference in your energy bills and overall comfort this fall. Here are the top 10 things you can do to make your home more energy-efficient this fall:

air leaks
  1. Seal Air Leaks:

One of the most effective ways to improve your home’s energy efficiency is to seal air leaks. Check for drafts around windows, doors, electrical outlets, and plumbing penetrations. Use caulk or weatherstripping to seal any gaps you find. This will prevent warm air from escaping and cold air from entering, keeping your home more comfortable and reducing the strain on your heating system.

  1. Optimize Your Thermostat:

Lowering your thermostat by a few degrees can lead to significant energy savings. For every degree you lower your thermostat, you can save up to 3% on your heating bill. Consider investing in a programmable or smart thermostat to automatically adjust the temperature when you’re away from home or sleeping.

  1. Let the Sunshine In:

Take advantage of the sun’s natural heat by opening your curtains and blinds during the day, especially on south-facing windows. This will help to warm your home naturally, reducing the need for your heating system. Close your curtains at night to help retain the heat.

open floor space between kitchen, dining, and living room. View from living room
  1. Reverse Your Ceiling Fans:

Most ceiling fans have a switch that allows you to reverse the direction of the blades. In the fall and winter, you want your fan to rotate clockwise at a low speed. This will push the warm air that rises to the ceiling back down into the room, helping to keep you warmer without turning up the thermostat.

 5. Insulate Your Attic:

A well-insulated attic is crucial for preventing heat loss. If your attic is not properly insulated, you could lose a significant amount of heat through your roof. Adding or upgrading your attic insulation is a great way to improve your home’s energy efficiency and reduce your heating costs.

  1. Maintain Your Heating System:

Schedule a professional maintenance check for your heating system before the cold weather sets in. A well-maintained system operates more efficiently, saving you money on energy bills and ensuring your home stays comfortably warm. Also, be sure to change your furnace filter regularly. A dirty filter can restrict airflow and make your system work harder, wasting energy.

hvac snow
  1. Use Draft Stoppers:

Draft stoppers are an inexpensive and effective way to prevent cold air from sneaking in under your doors. You can purchase them at most home improvement stores or make your own by sewing a fabric tube and filling it with insulating material.

  1. Upgrade to LED Lighting:

Fall means shorter days and longer nights, which means you’ll be using your lights more often. Replace your old incandescent bulbs with energy-efficient LED bulbs. LEDs use significantly less energy and last much longer, saving you money on both your energy bills and replacement costs.

chimney

9. Check Your Fireplace:

If you have a fireplace, make sure it’s in good working order. A poorly maintained fireplace can let warm air escape and draw cold air in. Keep the damper closed when the fireplace is not in use to prevent drafts.

  1. Lower Your Water Heater Temperature:

Most water heaters are set to a higher temperature than necessary. Lowering the temperature to 120 degrees Fahrenheit is usually sufficient for most households and can help you save a significant amount of energy.

Do you have a storm preparation plan?

Do you have a storm preparation plan?

by | Aug 1, 2025 | architecture, Building Science

We are seeing strong storms this year with heavy rainfall. Have you had water in your basement for the first time? Has the water jumped over your gutters? Is your home ready for the next big storm? Do you have a storm preparation plan for your home and business? Here’s a comprehensive checklist to help you get ready:

 

Before the Storm Hits: Protecting Your Property

  • Understand Your Insurance: Know what your home and business insurance policies cover before the storm. Identify who to call for claims to ensure a smooth and quick process if you experience damage.
  • Clear Drainage Systems:
    • Gutters: Ensure all gutters are clear of leaves and debris.
    • Downspouts: Verify that downspouts are directing water away from your foundation. Consider adding extensions if water isn’t flowing far enough from the structure.
    • Storm Drains: Check the storm drains around your property. Clear any debris to allow for free water flow.
    • Landscape Beds: Examine your landscape beds to prevent mulch from washing out and clogging drains.
  • Flood Prevention:
    • Sandbags: If you’re in a flood-prone area, stock up on sandbags. Stack them like a brick wall, ensuring the wall is at least 12 inches higher than the expected water level and twice as wide as it is tall for maximum effectiveness.
    • Elevate Valuables: Move computers, important files, photo albums, and other valuables to higher ground. Remember, a locked and closed dishwasher can be a surprisingly watertight cabinet for smaller items.
flood
  • Secure Outdoor Items: Walk around your property and secure anything that could become a projectile in strong winds. This includes outdoor chairs, trash cans, bikes, toys, hanging plants, and lawn decorations.
  • Address Tree Hazards: Inspect your trees for any diseased or damaged limbs. If you find any, have them professionally removed as soon as possible to prevent them from falling during the storm.

Essential Supplies and Emergency Plans

  • Lighting: Check your flashlights and ensure they have fresh batteries. Stock up on extra batteries. For a bright, room-filling light, try attaching a headlamp to a gallon jug of water.
  • Communication: Locate your first-aid kit. Have a battery-powered radio on hand in case internet or cellular service is disrupted.
  • Fuel and Transportation: Fill your car’s gas tank before the weekend. If you have extra gas cans, fill those as well.
  • Household Supplies: Ensure you have a good stock of essentials like toilet paper, diapers, wipes, baby food, and pet food.
  • Food and Water: Store plenty of drinking water. Stock up on non-perishable foods that don’t require cooking.
  • Water Management (for Wells): If you rely on a well, fill your bathtub with water. This provides a reserve for flushing toilets if the power goes out and your pump stops working.
  • Sump Pump Check: Verify that your sump pump is in working order, oiled, and ready to pump water away from your basement or crawl space.

Post-Storm Preparedness

  • Cooking and Cleanup:
    • Grill: Make sure your grill’s propane tank is full so you have a way to cook if there’s an extended power outage.
    • Shop Vac & Towels: Have a shop vac readily available for easy water cleanup after the storm. Keep a stash of clean towels for mopping up any spills or leaks.
    • Chainsaw: If you have one, ensure your chainsaw is fueled and in good working order in case you need to clear downed limbs or trees.
  • Power Backup: Consider purchasing a portable generator to keep essential appliances like your refrigerator and freezer running in the event of a prolonged power outage.

What else should be on this list? Please add your advice to the comments section below to help our community prepare!

Common Insulation Issues that you should address

Common Insulation Issues that you should address

by | Jul 31, 2025 | architecture, Building Science, Green Building, Indoor Air Quality

We frequently encounter specific insulation issues in renovation projects that, once addressed, can dramatically improve your home’s energy performance. Here are a few common insulation issues that you should address in your home:

Crawl Space.

The Crawl Space Conundrum

We often find crawl spaces where insulation is improperly installed in the floor above, leading to significant problems. High moisture levels are a frequent culprit, causing insulation to pull away from the subfloor above, severely diminishing its effectiveness.

For optimal results, we recommend encapsulating the crawl space. This involves insulating both the walls and floor, combined with installing a robust vapor barrier. This strategy effectively manages moisture, prevents insulation degradation, and ensures your crawl space contributes positively to your home’s energy efficiency and healthy indoor air quality.

 

 

Attic — The Hidden Energy Drain

Another frequent discovery is an attic lacking sufficient insulation to meet current minimum energy code standards. This problem is often compounded by construction debris left on top of the insulation, which compresses it and drastically reduces its performance. Even if insulation is present, its quality and depth might not meet today’s code requirements.

Examples like these underscore a critical lesson: the quality of construction materials and their proper installation are paramount to achieving true energy efficiency. Investing in the right materials and ensuring correct application from the outset can prevent significant energy waste down the line.

 

Old attic insulation
thermal imaging of an attic access panel

 

Good, But Not Great: Room for Improvement

we do encounter insulation that is installed to a good depth for the age of the house, with proper vent baffles to keep it in place while allowing airflow. While this might seem adequate, it’s crucial to note that if it’s not airtight, it’s not performing at its peak potential. Even well-installed blown-fiber insulation can allow for air leakage, reducing its overall effectiveness.

While good depth and proper venting are essential, achieving an airtight seal between uninsulated and insulated spaces is key to maximizing insulation performance.

Keeping Your Cool with Smart Home Updates

Keeping Your Cool with Smart Home Updates

by | Jul 18, 2025 | architecture, Building Science, Green Building, Indoor Air Quality

As summer heats up, we’re all looking for ways to stay cool and comfortable without seeing our energy bills skyrocket. The good news? Small, strategic changes around your home can make a significant difference in keeping the heat out and your wallet happy. The key is to identify and address those often-forgotten areas where your home’s insulation and air barrier might be compromised.

thermal imaging of air leaks

Attic Access Points

This is perhaps one of the most overlooked areas in many homes. Your attic access, whether it’s a pull-down stair or a scuttle hatch, functions as an exterior door. If it’s not properly sealed and insulated, it’s a direct gateway for hot, humid attic air to seep into your living spaces. Ensure it has weatherstripping around the perimeter and a thick layer of insulation on top.

Missing or Inadequate Insulation

Take a peek in your attic and crawl spaces. Are there any areas where insulation is sparse, compressed, or missing altogether? Gaps in your insulation allow heat to transfer easily into your home. Adding or topping up insulation in these areas can significantly improve your home’s thermal performance.

Old attic insulation
thermal reading of air leaks

Hidden Air Leaks

Beyond obvious gaps, air can leak through tiny cracks around pipes, wires, and vents that penetrate your home’s exterior walls or ceiling. Use caulk or expanding foam to seal these often-invisible culprits.

By taking a proactive approach to your home’s insulation and air sealing this summer, you’ll be well on your way to enjoying a cooler, more comfortable living space and more manageable energy bills here in Harrisonburg.