Chemically sensitive Custom Home

Chemically sensitive Custom Home

by | Oct 20, 2025 | architecture, Building Science, Custom Home, Green Building

Bailey Builders has started construction on a new custom home for a chemically sensitive client in Augusta County. This new home has to be healthy for our clients, energy-efficient, and durable. The challenge is that many of the cost effective materials available have chemicals that might impact indoor environmental quality for our client.

As we worked through the design process, we tested various materials to see how our client would react to them if used inside her home. We designed a tight envelope and specified a HVAC system that would clean the air.

Our design strategy was to keep the floorplan open and allow for easy cleanup when coming in from the barn. This custom home is just a place to recharge as our clients care for their animals.

While on our site visit we were able to finalize some color options for the exterior of the home. This one will be beautiful.

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.

Iron Sharpens Iron: Communication and Knowledge-Sharing

Iron Sharpens Iron: Communication and Knowledge-Sharing

by | Aug 8, 2025 | architecture, Charles Hendricks, citizen architect, Green Building, green term defined, Harrisonburg Architect

The most important element of successful custom home building is communication. One way we do this is by sharing our knowledge of building science with contractors, educators, students, and community groups.

Beiler & Co.

Recently, Beiler & Co. in Winchester, Virginia invited Charles Hendricks and Nicole Rowe to meet their team and talk about high-performance custom design. Tyler Beiler and Charles have a strong track record of projects in the past and have learned to trust and respect each other. This opportunity brought together Tyler’s team along with Southland Insulation and Gaines Group Architects to talk about lessons learned, building science, and how to deliver the highest value to our clients. This is an example, as Tyler puts it, of “iron sharpening Iron:” bringing together three excellent teams together to build each other’s knowledge base.

The presentation Charles prepared encouraged conversation about building science, how high-performance HVAC and airtight insulation provide added value to a custom home design. He also talked extensively about indoor air quality, durability, energy-efficiency, and the importance of using local building products. The concepts shared encouraged conversation as Tyler’s experienced team asked questions, added insights, and talked about their lessons learned as they build high performance custom homes in the northern Shenandoah Valley. George Dimitrew with Southland Insulators was able to add expertise about available products, solutions used by his firm, and the efficiency of different insulation strategies.

Charles frequently shares his expertise on building science with contractors, community groups, college students, and even other architectural firms. His list of recent presentations includes stops at James Madison University, University of Virginia, Construction Specifications Institute of Central Virginia, Rotary Club of Rockingham County, Half Moon Education, NEED, Massanutten Technical Center, Hollins University, Sunnyside Retirement Community, Eastern Mennonite School, Young Architect Conference, and the Department of Energy. He welcomes all invitations to talk about adding value to your home through an application of building science, helping to create a healthier, more energy-efficient, and durable future.

Beiler & Co.
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.