Owner: Custom Home Architect URL:http://www.customhomearchitect.blogspot.com Join Date: Wed, 21 Feb 2007 19:36:28 -0600 Rating:0 Site Description: Discussions and articles about all aspects of home and remodeling design and construction. Information about design trends, energy saving design, and many other topics. Site statistics:Click here
Choosing Decking 1970-01-01 00:59:59 The materials and finishes that we use on the interior of our homes require cleaning and occasional maintenance; we dust, we vacuum, we mop-n-glo to keep them looking good and long lasting. Without too much effort we can stay ahead of the wear and tear from our kids and our pets.Materials on the outside, however take a daily beating from the sun, wind, rain, temperature changes, and other environmental elements (in addition to kids and dogs). Those materials need a great deal more care and maintenance but that can be reduced somewhat by selecting the proper materials to suit your goals.Outdoor decks are subject to a great deal of abuse - the deck surface is especially susceptible to sun and rain. Wood is the most popular surface for decks, but it's also the quickest to wear out. Fortunately there are a variety of deck surface products available that allow you to choose between appearance, cost, and the effort needed to keep your deck looking great for many years.Natural Wood De
Basic Bathroom Planning 1970-01-01 00:59:59 To a plumber, the difference between one bathroom and another is a matter of degrees; some baths are bigger, some have more fixtures, but in the end, everything flows downhill. Get the fresh water in, get the wastewater out - mission accomplished.But planning a bathroom is much more than just connecting the pipes. There are many possible configurations and types of baths and a large number of finishes and fixtures to select. And it's one of the most expensive rooms in the house.We all know what a bathroom is used for - that hasn't changed - but baths today are designed for specific users. In today's homes the "masters" of the house usually have a private luxury bath, and their children often have baths of their own. Another bath may be set aside for guest use, and if the home has a lower-level recreation room, there will probably be a conveniently located bath to go with it too.The Muck Stops HereYou probably didn't' grow up in a house with a utility bath but y Read more:Basic
Construction Costs and Hurricanes 1970-01-01 00:59:59 The impact of Katrina on home building resources will be significant, undoubtably causing a noticeable increase in the cost of building materials. Even though the hurricane winds didn't destroy as many houses as Andrew did in South Florida in 1992, many more houses that survived intact have been rendered uninhabitable by extended submersion in floodwaters. When rebuilding starts, lumber and other buildings materials will be in great demand (read: cost much more).At the same time, the Southeastern US is a source of a great deal of raw lumber and is home to many lumber production facilities. Some of these facilities were damaged by Katrina and will be unable to process trees into lumber for some time.Finally, hurricanes fell many mature trees - trees that will rot if not soon harvested. Ironically, these same felled trees block access into the lumber forests and make their harvesting more difficult and expensive.Read the NAHB's take on Katrina here: http://www.nahb.org/news_details Read more:Construction
, Costs
, Hurricanes
Fallingwater Gate For Sale 1970-01-01 00:59:59 A reproduction of an entrance gate designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and used for a time at the Fallingwater visitor's center is for sale on eBay. There's more info in this article: http://pittsburghlive.com/x/tribune-review/trib/fayette/s_376726.html
Architectural Diversity 1970-01-01 00:59:59 I just got back from a trip to the Bend, Oregon area and was very pleasantly surprised at the architectural diversity of the homes there. The majority of homes I saw were heavy-timber, steep-roofed "Western" styled, but quite a few were more contemporary. Fortunately, the bland "neo-traditional" style so common in the East hasn't yet made an impact in that area (at least in the areas I visited). I was most pleased to see that many homes carried the architectural theme throughout, incorporating heavy timbers, wood ceilings, and other elements deep into their interiors. It's great to see that regional architectural is alive and well in the great Northwest! Read more:Diversity
Another West Coast Mention 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Thanks to Janis Mara of Inman News for mentioning me in this article! Read more:Coast
Architecturally-controlled districts 1970-01-01 00:59:59 More and more new residential developments are making "architectural controls" a part of their sales pitches. An architecturally-controlled area requires peer review of house designs and must approve each new home, addition, or other exterior change.The motivation for such review is admirable - a desire to create and maintain high aesthetic standards and high property values. No doubt about it, architecturally-controlled districts attract a higher-end buyer. After all, your home is a big investment and you want it to appreciate, right?But too often, architectural controls are set up and operated by otherwise well-meaning people with limited visions of what's considered "good" design. They create "architectural guidelines" that lay out the homeowner's choices of style and materials - a prescriptive code. But prescriptive architectural codes, by definition, discourage architectural creativity and invention and encourage conformity.I was recently involved in a review of a small city's
Find the "Pros"; avoid the "Cons" 1970-01-01 00:59:59 How do you go about choosing someone to build your new home, or remodel your existing home?First, find qualified contractors - the "Pros". "Qualified" means professional, experienced business people who know construction, finance, and customer service. There are many sources to find names - your local Home Builders Association (see www.nahb.org); recommendations from neighbors and friends; and recommendations from your architect or designer. Add to your list only the best and stay away from the "Cons" - anyone about whose experience, integrity, or character you have even the slightest concern.So you've found three or four quality builders - what now? There are two roads to follow. Most people are familiar with competitive bidding, the process by which two or more contractors submit proposals for the same project. Successful competitive bidding requires a highly detailed set of drawings and specifications; anything less leaves too many unanswered questions for the bidder and usually re
The Ripple Effect 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Two demons wait for unsuspecting homeowners, hoping for their chance to gobble up time and money on new home and remodeling projects.The Ripple
Effect lurks quietly in the background. Just like the movements on the pond surface for which it's named, The Ripple Effect starts out small and grows, expanding until it engulfs the entire project.Pebble In The PondThe Ripple Effect is the remodeling budget's worst enemy and can wreak havoc on small and large projects alike. A simple example is a window replacement project. At first glance, it's a simple, isolated project. But the interior and exterior trim must be replaced and painted and the exterior siding may have to be reworked, especially if the new window isn't the same size as the old one.And that's just the beginning. Once that window is replaced and the new window trim painted, the rest of the trim in the room looks bad and so the homeowner decides to paint that, too. A pebble's been dropped in the pond, and the ripples h
The Chicken or The Egg? 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Ready to build or remodel? Great! Who are you going you going to call first - an Architect? A Homebuilder? An Interior Designer? The answer depends upon what your goals and expectations are for your project.The vast majority of new home buyers start the process with a homebuilder. That's because most people don't have their homes designed - they buy a speculative home or build from a plan book. Most times their design options are limited to choosing finishes and colors, and that's fine for the majority of new home buyers.But if you're interested in designing a custom home "from scratch" or you're remodeling your home you'll want more design input. Where do you start?If you think I'm going to recommend you start with an Architect, you're right (and you understand the marketing potential of blogging!) - but not in every case. Here's how some of the major players in the designing and building processes fit into the overall scene:The Homebuilder, obviously, is in charge of constr Read more:Chicken
Continental Reach 1970-01-01 00:59:59 My little blog has been mentioned in an article in a newspaper way out on the West coast! Thanks to Ilana DeBare of the San Francisco Chronicle - her article can be found here. Read more:Continental
, Reach
Why Your Basement Leaks! 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Water in all its forms is the enemy of every house. Rain, snow, ice, groundwater, and water vapor will take every available oppotunity to find a way to appear where you don't want it and damage your house and your belongings.Almost everyone is familiar with the dreaded wet basement, but few know the causes or know how easy a wet basement is to prevent! Here are a few simple steps you should take to save yourself money and headaches:1) Keep your gutters and downspouts clean and properly connected. Their purpose is to carry water away from your house; clogged, disconnected, or leaking gutters and downspouts allow water to drain up against the foundation and into your basement.2) Make sure that the soil around the perimeter of the house is sloped to drain away from the foundation. Why? see #1 above! The soil grade around new homes often settles quickly, causing water to pool right up against the foundation wall. Check the grade and add soil if needed!3) When building a new house, Read more:Basement
, Leaks
Energy and Design 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Energy prices are going to have an impact on house design, just as they're having an impact on vehicle design. Hybrid cars are in demand - will some sort of hybrid house design be far behind? Technology exists to have multiple energy sources in homes - wind and solar power in addition to natural gas and electric, for example - but how will solar panels and windmills be integrated into home design in a country that favors tradition design elements? Will the average American home begin to morph from traditional to a more modern, high tech look? Read more:Energy
New Home Insulation 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Question:We are considering building a home in the hot humid Fort Worth, TX area. We will be building a 2 story home, with about 3800-4000 sq ft living area. Which type of insulation/energy savings do you recommend? Spray foam? How bout radiant barriers for the roof/exterior walls? Which is proven better? What about costs? Can you use both? Thanks for your input!Answer:You have to look at the entire system when you consider how to best reduce the energy impact of the home you're designing.Think first about the design of the house; the best way to reduce the "cooling load" on the house is to prevent the heat and humidity from getting into the house in the first place. Take a look at the indigenous architecture of the area - you'll probably find deep overhangs shading windows, lots of porches, light colors, masonry construction, etc. These are all elements of the design that respond to the unique demands of your climate. If you can keep the hot sun out in the first place you'll greatl Read more:New Home
Wood Deck Treatment 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Question:Hi, We live in south central Pennsylvania. We have a lovely deck. It's made of treated wood (but NOT the arsenic treated wood that is being phased out). It is 2 years old, and this summer will be the 3rd year. I think we need to pressure wash it and treat it with some kind of sealer. There are several places where moss or algae is growing on it. I think this green "vegetation" will consume the wood eventually, and cause it to rot if nothing is done. My husband thinks it's just fine and we never have to do anything to it. What is your opinion?Answer:The green growth will definitely shorten the life of the deck - it's a fungus that feeds on moisture and cellulose.Power washing is one way to clean it, but I wouldn't recommend it for a deck as new as yours. Power washing will raise the grain and accelerate the rotting of the wood.Even better than power washing is treating with a commercial fungicide - there are products made especially for cleaning decks. They'll bleach out t Read more:Treatment
Exterior Paint Colors 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Question:Richard, I live in CT and we're planning on painting the exterior of the house. It's a small garrison colonial with a stone stoop. I'd like it to blend into the surroundings. Do you have any suggestions? Have looked at Sherwin Wiliams universal khaki. Cream trim? I would welcome your advice.Answer:I've always liked the classic little garrisons - a good solid revival style with a little character on the front. I like darker color schemes with these houses - try these SW combinations:Field: Rock garden (or garden gate)Trim: RamieAccent: FireweedField: ArtichokeTrim: NacreAccent: Dark nightField: FirewoodTrim: Wheat GrassAccent: JasperMy own house is Garden Gate with Sand trim - looks great!Richard Taylor, AIACustom Home ArchitectLuxury Home PlansLuxury House Plans Read more:Paint
, Colors
Solar Energy Strategy 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Question:We are planning to build a home in Northern Thailand in next few years. Are there some solar energy ideas which we can consider - ideas which are cost effective ways to harness all this sun in Southeast Asia?Answer:It depends on what you want to do with the energy - if you're thinking of climate control in your new house then you should consider a range of cooling strategies. If you're going to use the energy to generate electricity for other uses, your options are fewer.Hours of sunshine is just one variable in the solar energy equation; it's raw energy. If you're trying to cool your house you can deal with it in several ways - either collect it to power cooling devices, or block it from overheating your house.Another nearly as important variable is humidity. The climate in that part of the world is extremely humid - cities like Chiang Mai get almost 10" of rain a month in the fall and nearly 50" a year. If you want to cool your house you MUST deal with the humidity first Read more:Energy
, Solar
, Strategy
An Old Perspective On New Home Energy Efficiency 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Richard Taylor, AIACustom Home ArchitectLuxury Home PlansLuxury House PlansGood house design takes its form in part from the forces that act on it. Climate and weather are two of the strongest form-makers (there are no igloos in the tropics) since houses must be designed and built to repel the damaging effects of the world we live in. Mother Nature is always trying to tear our buildings down.Climate and weather also affect the comfort of our homes, and cause us to seek out ways to maintain the temperature and humidity of our homes within tolerable levels. A great deal of design effort is devoted to keeping the heat in or keeping the heat out, depending on the climate and season.This Old HouseAt times throughout American history, the forms of our homes have reflected - to greater or lesser extents - our ingenuity in making our homes' internal climates more comfortable.Settlers in the Deep South built deep porches around their low-slung homes to shade them from the harsh sun and to Read more:Energy
, New Home
, Perspective
, Efficiency
, Energy Efficiency
Construction Costs 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Richard Taylor, AIACustom Home ArchitectLuxury Home PlansLuxury House PlansSquare Foot Pricing…Handle With Care!When evaluating the costs of building a new home, many homeowners use square foot pricing as a basis for comparison. Let's talk about square foot pricing for a minute - what it is and what it isn't.Square foot pricing is a method to roughly compare construction costs for two similar houses, houses in different parts of the country, and houses with different characteristics. It is not a method for determining how much a particular design is going to cost to build.I can tell you, for example, that a typical production starter home (a standard plan built by a large-volume regional or national builder) will cost around $80 to $100 per square foot to build in my part of the country. A "semi-custom" home will cost around $110 to $130 per square foot, and a true custom home will cost at least $140, and as much at $200 per square foot to build.Show a builder a house plan, Read more:Construction
, Costs
RE-definitions 1970-01-01 00:59:59 REmodel; REnovate; REstore; what's the difference?Although these terms are too often used interchangeably, they do mean different things! To remodel means to change the character of a house or a portion of a house.Renovate means, quite literally, to make new again. It's also called updating; and when you renovate you are also remodeling by definition.Restoring a house is the opposite of renovation - instead of updating, you're making the house like it was before (you can do a historic restoration but not a historic renovation).
Energy and Design, Part II 1970-01-01 00:59:59 A solar-powered house you can eat? http://www.knoxstudio.com/shns/story.cfm?pk=SOLAR-10-06-05&cat=AN Read more:Energy
Residential Architect Magazine 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Did you happen to read my letter to the editor in the April issue of Residential Architect
magazine? Here's the unedited version:Ms. Conroy:At my office we've begun to notice a trend with some of our clients and potential clients and I'm curious whether you've heard other Architects commenting on the same.A few years back, potential clients began to show up at our offices better prepared; they'd done their research on how to choose an architect, they'd made lists of their needs, and they'd read books and magazines about home design. Many of them appeared on our threshold with a copy of "The Not So Big House" in their arms.It was a refreshing change to not have to educate every client from scratch; to have clients who already understood some of the language of architecture and design, and who were very excited and motivated to participate in creating good design.Lately, however, the trend's gotten a little out of control. We've had a recent spate of clients who've drawn up f Read more:Magazine
Open Shower 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Question:As I dream about building a new home, I have drawn out a shower I saw in a magazine- approximately four by six with no shower door-then i thought about how cold (air flow) that might be. Is that type of "open shower" really functional or primarily aesthetic? Thanks for thoughts and ideas.Answer:We do a lot of showers without doors - sometimes called "lockerroom" type showers. The trick is to wrap the wall around once towards the inside (kind of like a square spiral or a maze) so that the opening to the shower faces an inside wall of the shower, rather than opening to the bathroom.Is that confusing? Think of it this way: create two showers; one about 4 x 2, and one about 4 x 4. Put them next to each other, then create a small opening between the two. With this type shower, you don't have a glass door to keep clean, and you can use the 4 x 2 part as a "drying off" area. We put a separate floor drain in there, and add towel racks.A real treat is to add heated towel racks - you' Read more:Shower
An Old Perspective On New Home Energy Efficiency 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Buildings use about 1/3 of the energy consumed in the United States. A lot of that energy is wasted because houses aren't designed to use it efficiently. The few energy-efficient homes out there today use technology to manage energy use, but 30 years ago many homes made energy-efficiency intrinsic to their design. Can we do that again today?read more | digg story Read more:Energy
, New Home
, Perspective
, Efficiency
, Energy Efficiency
Smooth Stucco 1970-01-01 00:59:59 QuestionHi, Mr. Taylor.I've been playing with the idea of building a house, but I'd like it to look old--like the spanish or cotswold style houses built in the 1920's and 30's.I've noticed that one thing the old houses have in common is a very smooth stucco finish, giving more of a plastered look. Is there a product or technique that can give this effect, today?Thanks, KittyAnswerHi Kitty - thanks for your question!A modern stucco finish can easily be made as smooth as you like; it's really just a matter of how much sand is in the mix, and how the finish is trowelled.Generally, however, a smooth finish is not as durable as a textured one; is more prone to cracking; and is more difficult to create a uniform color with.The older finishes you like required regular maintenance.It can be done, but you may not be happy with the long-term results.Hope this helps!Richard Taylor, AIACustom Home ArchitectLuxury Home PlansLuxury House Plans
Residential Elevators 1970-01-01 00:59:59 When one of the Architects at my firm suggests to a client that an elevator might be the answer to some of the issues in their new home design, the reaction is often predictable: “An elevator? That doesn’t make any sense, does it? Aren’t they really expensive? Who puts an elevator in their house anymore?”Residential elevators are found in more homes than you might think – and not always as an extravagance, but often as a practical and cost-saving design feature.We’d Live Here Forever, But…As American homeowners age, they’re becoming concerned about their ability to remain in their homes. They’d like to stay well into the golden years, but most family homes have all of the bedrooms on the second floor, including the owner’s suite. With sixteen or more steps between the first and second floors, the stair can quickly become a difficult (and often dangerous) obstacle for older homeowners. It’s a major reason why empty-nesters move to one-level homes.But while a one-le
Blocking In 2 X 8 Floor 2008-02-07 07:03:00 Question I have an attic space made of 2X8's and want to put down a sub floor (3/4 OSB). There is no blocking in the floor and I would like to add some before I do the decking. How many blocking points should be done normally in a 12' span?AnswerHi Wayne - thanks for your question.I assume you're talking about bridging? This is a code issue, so the requirements may differ depending on your location.Generally, bridging isn't required for anything smaller than 2 x 12's. When it is, it's usually at 8' spacing.If you are concerned about lateral bracing in the attic floor it certainly doesn't hurt to add bridging. One row in a 12' span should do it!Hope this helps!Richard Taylor, AIAResidential ArchitectLuxury Home House Plans Read more:Blocking
, Floor
Historic Home Restoration Consulting 2008-02-07 07:01:00 QuestionHi, I'm interested in becoming a historic home restoration consultant. How can I go about doing that? I don't have a lot of experience, but I've read a lot about historic homes particularly craftsman homes. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.AnswerHi Debra - thanks for your question!Generally, a restoration consultant is someone with a great deal of experience in "hands-on" work with historic properties. It's one thing to know about house styles and history, quite another to know the proper way to go about replacing and rebuilding old-house parts and pieces.At our office we would only contract with a restoration consultant who demonstrated extensive knowledge and experience acutally working on old homes. You need to know proper techniques and materials and sources for Read more:Consulting
Exterior Paint Colors? 2008-02-07 06:50:00 Question Hi Richard. I have been searching and searching for exterior paint color combination ideas and haven't found exactly what I am looking for. We are getting ready to have our home repainted and wanted to try and find something a little different than we have, but stay with something traditional.Should we stick with the same color family when choosing a color? For example, if we choose a certain color, should we pick the lighter shade in that same family for the trim or is that not right?Any help you could offer or any ideas would be most appreciated. Thank you very much for your time.AnswerChoosing colors is tricky, as you've discovered! Sometimes the best route is to find a house or a picture of a house that you like and copy their color scheme.Most paint manufacturers have example Read more:Paint
, Colors
What Style Is My House? 2007-12-29 10:34:00 Pocahontas was chatting with her friend Captain John Smith, comparing her reed-covered hut with his sturdy log home. “Hey John,” she asked, “What style is your house?”“I’m not sure,” Smith answered, “I think it’s a Colonial.”American home design from the Colonial period through the late nineteenth century followed trends and reflected popular tastes. Well-known styles were often “all the rage” for a number of decades until another style supplanted it; rarely did more than one or two styles dominate home design at the same time.Elements of Style
The two important characteristics that have the most to do with a house’s style are massing and detailing. Massing is the size and shape of the “boxes” that make up the house; detailing is everything from trim and siding Read more:House
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