I strongly believe in investing in education in order to better my future, my profession, and my community. In order to be able to solve the complicated buildings in our future we have to continue to learn new and innovative solutions. From building energy-efficient structures to healthy buildings we are learning new lessons everyday. There are constantly new buildings materials being introduced with huge claims – some that can be proven, some that fall short. So how do we address these new challenges? How will we be prepared for buildings of the future?
It is incumbent for all of us in the construction industry to continue to learn new methods, understand past successes and failures, and build relationships with other experts in the industry. This cross-pollination happens in the only organization in the construction industry that invites builders, architects, engineers, specifiers, product representatives, interns, and designers to the same table as an equal, CSI.The local chapter of CSI is based in Charlottesville. There are also chapters in Northern Virginia, Roanoke, Tidewater, and DC that are in our area.
I have found huge value in being involved in CSI. Read more here, here, and here. I encourage you to invest in the future of our industry by coming to a meeting, joining a chapter, and getting involved. Before you join – remember, you get out of an organization what you put into it. Joining and not attending meetings will not give you a return on your investment.
Join CSI by August 31 and pay only $192 for national dues — a 20% savings.
Proper planning for buildings reduce the need for future renovations, extend the service life of buildings, and make it possible for people of all abilities to have access and function. When designing for accessibility the results often focus on wheelchair use in a building. These are limiting strategies that don’t work for most people and even do not work for many in wheelchairs. Universal Design on the other hand has a more holistic approach that focuses on all abilities rather than specific disabilities. UD allows easy navigation by everyone, regardless of age, height, eyesight, mobility, and dexterity.
UD is encouraged by those wanting a home that lasts a lifetime. According to the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) survey, 73% of adults 45 and older wish to stay in their current residence as long as possible. However, fewer than half have basic accommodations for universal design in their homes.
Good planning for Universal Design prior to construction incorporates many strategies into a home that will reduce future renovations. Strategies to focus on include:
Open Floor Plans – with fewer walls, there are fewer corners or narrow passageways to navigate.
Adjustable workspace heights – Conventional heights are simply done “because that is the way we always do it”. Having a variety of work surfaces allows for kids to work in the kitchen, someone in a wheelchair to comfortably make dinner, or someone taller than average to work without bending over.
No-step entryways – From the front door to room to room transitions, having a home with no steps allows easy transitions for moving in a stroller to a wheelchair.
Doors with lever handles – Another strategy to make life easier. A lever handle will allow you to open a door with your elbow if your hands are full or with arthritis.
Roll in Shower – Having a shower that does not require a step to get into makes it safer to use on a daily basis.
Although it is impossible to plan for every future possible, planning for easy access will make your building more livable for a lifetime. Here is a longer checklist of items to include (click here). In Virginia, there is a tax credit that helps with incorporating these strategies (click here).
Remodeling or building a new home is a complicated, stressful, and emotional process. The process is usually unclear. There are often many options and no clear right answers. So how do you make it through with the best results? Here is a list of questions that you should answer before you get too far into the process (click here). Your next step once you decide to build is to get the team in place that can deliver the best value. Your team should include an architect and a contractor. Here is a quick perspective on why you need an architect (click here). So how do you find the right contractor to continue to build your team? Here is a list of things you should ask before hiring.
Reputation – What is your past experience with projects of this type? Did you stay on budget? How do you deal with unhappy clients? How many projects have you done like this one?
Schedule – When can you start? How many projects will you have going at the same time? How long will it take? How much of your devoted time will my project get on a daily / weekly basis? When do you start work each day? When do you stop work each day?
Project management – Who will be on site every day? Do they curse or smoke? How do they relate with the subcontractors – manage by yelling or with respect? Can I ask them questions? Will they know the answers?
Communication – Will we have weekly meetings? Do you communicate best by email or phone? Can I call you at night or on weekends? Do you take notes in our meetings and issue minutes?
Decisions – Do you have a process in place to help me stay on track with decisions that need to be made? Do you give me options of places to make selections or do I have to shop at one place? What if I want to supply something I find at an antique store or on sale?
Changes – What is your change order process? How much do you charge as a mark up on change orders? Who do I tell I want to make a change? How do you document the change?
Green Renovation
Mistakes – Who do I need to tell if I don’t like something? What if something is not like I thought it would turn out?
Billings – How do you handle invoices? Do I get to see everything you paid for and how much you are marking it up? How do you calculate the fee?
Project closeout – How do you finish a project? Do I get to do a punch list? What happens in a month if I find something wrong that I miss in punch list? Do you walk me through everything and show me how to use the new systems? Will you be available in the future if there are problems? Will you provide operating manuals in an organized form? Do you provide a list of subcontractors and phone numbers so I can contact them in the future? Will you give me marked up plans and pictures showing installation for future renovations?
You hear it all the time, but I am here to tell you:: Green does not cost more, quality costs more. Here are 17 tips that will not add to your building costs, but will save you money and protect the earth.
Orient building to maximize natural lighting and solar heat gain.
Place windows to provide good natural ventilation.
Select a light-colored “cool roof”
Provide overhangs on south-facing windows.
install LED lights.
Install high R-value insulation
select energy star appliances.
Design Water-efficient landscapes.
Install water-efficient toilets and fixtures.
Use permeable paving materials.
Use concrete with flyash.
Use engineered wood for headers, joists, and sheathing.
Use recycled content insulation, drywall, and carpet.
Use Low or No VOC paint.
Use formaldehyde-free or fully sealed materials for cabinets and counters.
Talking with any experienced carpenter, you have probably heard the phrase “a house needs to breath, you don’t want to build it too tight.” This is common folklore that has been passed down from generation to generation. Your builder tells you he is doing something that is good for your home by letting it leak a little to get fresh air and allow the building materials to dry out. These concepts need to be addressed, but a leaky house is not the solution. You do want to bring fresh air into your home, but you should do it through a planned ventilation system. You also want to allow materials to dry out so you need to know the permeability of those materials and verify that you are not creating a surface that reaches dew point in the assembly.
Duke Gardens (which I introduced in this post) is almost done and the details are coming together just as planned. In a competitive market all building owners look for advantages they can gain over the competition to get tenants in both residential and commercial. In our new multi-family projects we are able to design a timeless aesthetic that will serve for years in attracting tenants. For instance, Stone Creek Village, remains one of the most desired rental communities in Albemarle County. I personally lived there in the first building that opened years ago. Now almost 15 years later, it still looks fresh and has all the amenities expected of a high end rental community. However, if a building is left without any updates for more than 30 years, you might end up with a building that aesthetically cannot compete with other properties.
A simple facelift can bring the property back to life. Here is our attempt to do just that – let us know what you think about our design and Valley Renovators Execution of the plan.
Reputation – What is your past experience with projects of this type? Did you stay on budget? How do you deal with unhappy clients? How many projects have you done like this one?
