by Charles Hendricks | 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.
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.
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 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 | Jan 3, 2025 | architecture, green term defined, Harrisonburg Architect, project update
We have been fortunate to work on a variety of Daycare facilities this year. The Spanish Lab and Learning Center Daycare is another brand new facility that will open in 2025 in Harrisonburg.
This facility is going into an existing building that will require a few major changes to make it work efficiently for a daycare. The biggest challenge with converting an office building into a daycare is typically exterior egress access. In the case of this building, which had holding cells, the major challenge was thick concrete walls where you didn’t want them. We evaluated multiple buildings before finding this one that seemed to work just right for the new use. However, taking out a concrete ceiling and walls that were specifically designed not to come out proved to be a challenge. Fortunately our builder, Nesselrodt Construction, partnered with the innovative excavation firm Maust Excavating to figure out a simple way to safely remove the existing concrete.
As work progresses, the vision for this space is coming into focus. The Spanish Lab and Learning Center will get a dedicated entrance and the Daycare will have a separate entrance. The fenced in yard will make for a great playground and over time more equipment can be added. The classrooms will have lots of windows to invite in natural light where possible.
The additional of more daycare spaces in Harrisonburg is huge for our community. There are waiting lists everywhere for daycare and this prevents everyone who wants to work to get to work. Children who have the opportunity to attend a daycare are more prepared for kindergarten and have opportunities for growing social, emotional, and cognitive skills.
This particular daycare will provide for Spanish speaking skills to grow before ever entering kindergarten. Once you meet the owners of this facility, you will know that the care and quality it will provide will be the best.
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.
by Charles Hendricks | Dec 30, 2024 | architecture, Bryce Resort, green term defined, Harrisonburg Architect
This unique home in Orkney Springs needed a little more space and a modest upgrade. We have been working with the clients to figure out the right finishes for the budget, the right space layout for the functional goals, and the right drainage strategy to manage water on the building site. Over the Mountain builders have been working hard to execute the plan and a lot of progress has been made. Jarod has been working hard with our clients and the builder to make sure the best value finishes are being used to achieve the design goals and that the builder has the right information to execute the plan.
Working through the design before construction starts is always the best process. However, this one ended up finishing drawings, starting construction, then finishing selections. Balancing the information flow is one of the areas where we provide huge value. Construction can be stressful and we can help minimize the strain, improve the communication, and keep everyone on the same page. The added challenge of spotty cell phone service when doing an Orkney Springs renovation project has benefited from our team stepping in to help more with communications. Every project we have is custom, this one needed us to adapt a little more hand-on designing during construction, so that is what we have done.
I think the primary design skill that any architect or interior designer has to have is being adaptable to the project’s needs. If you have empathy for your clients and their builder, this will come easy to you. We strive to always put ourselves in the shoes of clients and builders to maximize the communication and minimize the misunderstandings.
