by Charles Hendricks | Jul 9, 2025 | architecture, Building Science
A big question that comes up when looking for your dream home is whether you should build custom or purchase an existing luxury home. While there are advantages to purchasing an already built home, there are also some major tradeoffs that you should consider.
An existing home is available immediately, and you can see firsthand what you are purchasing. However, a custom home built for you can take 18+ months to design and construct. You can also request historical power bills, maintenance schedules, and view the established landscape. A custom home, on the other hand, can be personalized in every detail for the life you want to live. Every detail, from the floor plan to the cabinet finishes, can be selected and decided by you.
Our design process walks you through thinking about how a home can facilitate the life you want to live on your property. We work through a series of questions about habits, hobbies, goals, and your vision for your dream future. This allows us to craft and shape the right home for your family’s future.
We also work to design the performance you expect from this custom home. We set standards for materials, energy usage, durability, and maintenance to achieve your goals. This focus will lower your monthly energy and maintenance expenses while also allowing you more time to enjoy your dream life. A custom home can be created that optimizes every space, so you don’t end up with rooms you don’t use. This creates the best value investment you can make in a lifetime home.
by Charles Hendricks | Jul 7, 2025 | architecture, Building Science, community, Green Building, Harrisonburg Architect
The final phase of renovation has started at the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Child Day Care Center, and there is excitement in the air. For over 50 years, the HRCDCC has been a cornerstone of the Harrisonburg community, offering licensed childcare on a sliding fee scale and ensuring quality care that is accessible to all families. This move brings them back to the heart of downtown and adds a new level of excitement and vibrance to Harrisonburg.
Historically, HRCDCC has operated out of local churches, which has been a true gift to the community. However, these shared spaces inherently limited their ability to meet growing needs, and they dreamed of having their own space. Through an amazingly successful fundraising initiative called “Dancing with the Stars of the ‘Burg,” they were able to raise funds to complete a Phase 1 renovation at 44 Federal Street in downtown Harrisonburg. Harrisonburg Construction partnered with the organization to gut and rehab an existing building, maximizing its functionality for childcare.
Phase 2 has kicked off and will bring some highly visible changes to the outside of the structure, including a new private playground. As “Dancing with the Stars of the ‘Burg” dancer’s company, Nielsen Builders, takes on this challenge, we are excited to see the changes coming. The curbs have been poured, and the strong foundation is in place for a vibrant play area. The work will also include upgraded energy-efficient windows and a new EIFS exterior. Another significant change will be the introduction of a front door that opens to the south.
by Charles Hendricks | Jul 5, 2025 | architecture, Building Science, Green Building, green term defined, Harrisonburg Architect, Indoor Air Quality
Building a new custom home is an exciting venture, filled with many decisions about design, finishes, efficiency, features, and function. There are many very visible elements that you will decide on through the design process. There is also one less glamorous but equally vital component that deserves your attention: air sealing. Often overlooked and forgotten, proper air sealing is a significant element in the comfort, longevity, and durability of your new home.
What is air sealing?
Air sealing is the process of closing off any gaps, cracks, and openings in your home’s “thermal envelope.” This includes the outer walls, foundation, and roof. These small imperfections, often found around outlets, lights, windows, doors, and plumbing/electrical penetrations, collectively add up to a significant potential for uncontrolled air infiltration. This could be the equivalent of leaving a 3’ x 3’ window open in an average home.
The benefits of an air sealed home
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Superior energy efficiency and lower energy bills: Air leaks allow outside air to leak in and inside conditioned air to leak out, resulting in your HVAC working harder to keep up.
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Enhanced indoor comfort: Drafts and cold spots around your house could very well be air leaks in your thermal envelope.
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Improved indoor air quality: Air leaks are sources for dust, pollen, pests, and even fumes to get into your living space.
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Effective moisture control and increased durability: Leaks allow moisture to move through your walls, which can lead to mold, rot, and pests.
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Reduced noise pollution: A tightly sealed home is quieter, keeping external sounds outside.
Make air sealing a priority in your new home
While air sealing might not be on the selection list for your new custom home, it should be part of your performance standard. We use a project manual to set the standard each new home should achieve. Building code now also requires a blower door test to show how much air leaks through your thermal envelope. That is a minimum and should be done by a third-party inspector who has calibrated their equipment within the last 12 months. While building code allows builders to self-perform this test, that may not give you the answers you need to ensure the performance you should get in your new custom home. This is one very important design element that will help protect your investment and its long-term performance, comfort, and value.
by Audrey | Apr 14, 2025 | architecture, Building Science, Charlottesville, Green Building, Harrisonburg Architect, Indoor Air Quality
How can vegetation be beneficial to a site?
By: Emily Scognamillo
Every spring, people eagerly anticipate the flowers and plants coming to life. It is a well-known fact that humans enjoy being closer to nature, as it provides a sense of relief and well-being. Vegetation, such as flowers, trees, and grass can benefit a building site. Not only does it help the user by improving mental health while increasing productivity, but it also provides ample advantages to the site and the surrounding community.
For example, vegetation plays a crucial role in soil erosion and stormwater management. Trees and plants help stabilize the soil to prevent erosion and flooding, and filter harmful sediments to prevent pollution. While the roots control the soil, the plants themselves can improve the air quality from pollution as well. By absorbing carbon dioxide from surrounding cars and releasing oxygen, this creates a healthier community. Additionally, trees provide natural cooling by offering shade, which lowers the surrounding temperature. Providing vegetation can result in a building using less air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter. Bushes, plants, and trees provide a barrier against harsh winter temperatures, allowing the building to stay warmer.
Overall, incorporating vegetation into your site not only supports the community but also increases your comfort and the sustainability of your structure. Starting a garden, no matter how small, is a simple way to make a difference in your community.
Celebrate National Gardening Day today!
by Charles Hendricks | Jan 5, 2025 | architecture, Building Science, Green Building, green term defined
Over the next 10 days the temperature in the area is going to be a high of freezing most days. It is time to hunker down and enjoy the warmth of your home when possible. So fire up those logs and pull out the extra blanket – winter is here. I have written a lot of blogs over the last 14 years about saving energy, making your home more comfortable, and reducing your monthly electric bills. However, 10 days of cold will test any system and all levels of protection. So here are a few home updates to get you through the freezing weather.
Take advantage of the sun and protect against heat loss through windows. Close your insulated curtains on the north side of your house over the next few days and on the south side when you are not getting heat gain from the sun. If you have storm windows make sure they are closed up tight. If you feel air coming through the windows, a temporary fix is to put plastic over the windows. This is not attractive and should not be a long term solution, but it works in a pinch.
Make sure your exterior heating unit is cleared of any snow so it can breathe and make sure the inside filter is clean so it can work efficiently. Most heating units can work 10 degrees and better outside temperature but might struggle on these really cold nights to keep up. If you have gas or electric back up heat your bill could grow quickly. So reduce the set temperature inside when you can and add a blanket to your bed.
Frozen Pipes are a huge problem when temperatures stay below freezing for multiple days in our area. This can happen at an exterior hose connection or just pipes in an outside wall. Read more about what to do to prevent frozen pipes and what to do if you have frozen pipes in this blog “Freezing Pipes: Should I be worried?” Open up the kitchen and bathroom cabinets if they are on an outside wall and keep the door open to those rooms if possible. If you have exposed pipes in your crawl space and it is not insulated (which is should be) then make sure the vents are closed. You need to protect the crawl space in this weather.
Make sure your attic access has insulation over it. In so many houses the attic access insulation was never installed or moved and never put back in place. This is a huge hole in your thermal envelope and should be corrected immediately. Don’t let this one go without checking. If you want to take it an extra step, the attic access is a door and should be weatherstrip sealed to prevent air leakage.
Make sure your attic has the right amount of insulation and is completely insulated. Code minimum has moved to an R60 minimum. I honestly think R30 is economically and functionally all you need – so that is your minimum if you are adding it yourself. However, you want to make sure you don’t block any soffit ventilation if you have a vented attic – this could lead to more problems. If you have ductwork in the attic you really should insulate the entire attic.
Air leakage is a huge concern for comfort on cold days. Leaks around light fixtures, electrical outlets, doors, windows, and even at the top and bottom of walls cause heat loss and energy waste. Make sure your storm door is closed tight and the garage door is down.
Finally, as you start melting away any snow tomorrow, be sure to protect your concrete. Here is a guest post by Phyllis Friesen on the topic.
As they say, this too shall pass – it will be spring soon and there is a whole new list of household tasks that will need attention. I hope you have done the prep needed to be warm this winter but if you have not, make a list so you can get it done before next winter!
by Charles Hendricks | Dec 30, 2024 | architecture, Building Science, green term defined, Harrisonburg Architect, Historic Renovation
We have had the honor of designing renovation / additions for several of the beautiful historic homes on Franklin street in Harrisonburg over the years. Our approach to a project in a historic neighborhood is to figure out what is possible with the existing structure and the available budget, then to maximize the value added with the work planned. Sometimes working in existing homes there are really unique opportunities that we can highlight through design. Sometimes working in existing homes there are big challenges that limit the opportunities. We work hard to figure out what can be done on paper before construction starts.
We serve as our clients’ advocate and protection in all construction projects. This is even more important when working on a historic home. Hiring a builder to do the design and construction leaves you open to not having expertise to figure out if you are getting the best value. You may be giving up design options that the builder has decided are too complicated or not even thought of since they are not trained in design. You might be convinced to remove parts of the historic home that still have useful life in them because it will be easier. You might also simply be putting a new finish on an old problem.
To avoid creating problems in your historic home you should develop a plan that thinks through as many of the obstacles and opportunities as possible prior to construction. To offer the most protection for your budget and scope of work, have your architect involved through design and into the construction phase. We know what is possible and can give options should a surprise be uncovered during the demo. A team approach is the best way to maximize the value of your renovation dollars.
