Maine Modular & Custom Home News

Not that many years ago, we didn’t build homes in the winter because we couldn’t pour concrete in weather that was below freezing.  Some may think that this is still a bad idea, but with a few precautions and following some basic rules, pouring concrete in the winter is no big deal.  In fact, according to the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association (NRMCA), “Placing concrete in cold weather provides the opportunity for better quality, as cooler initial concrete temperature will typically result in higher ultimate strength.”  If you aren’t convinced that pouring concrete in cold weather is a good building practice, read more from the NRMCA.

Radon is a colorless, odorless, radioactive gas that can cause lung cancer.  Uranium within the soil is the source of this gas.  It can become concentrated to a level considered “dangerous” by the EPA within homes that are not vented properly.  Radon causes between 15,000 and 22,000 deaths per year and is the second leading cause of lung cancer. 

The good news is that you can make some very simple changes in your building process that can reduce the amount of radon that collects in your home.  A special fan in the attic and some venting from beneath the home can make a huge difference.  The really good news is that these small changes are not very expensive.  To read more about radon and radon resistant construction visit Building Radon Out.

HGTV - which builds dream homes for give away has built its first green home.  At the HGTV website you can watch a series of videos that explain their choices from start to finish, and how they built a LEEDS certified home this year.  There are a lot of practical ideas in these videos, and HGTV claims you can build a green home at an additional cost of only 1%-2% over the cost of a conventional home.  One thing I learned while watching these videos is the need to coordinate your site planners, your landscapers and your architect right from the beginning planning stages.  What each is doing will affect the other, so communication is vital.  Good communication throughout the process will be cost effective, also.

Local Building Codes, Boca Building Codes, HUD Building Codes….now soon to be Green Building Codes.  Codes are meant to standardize the building industry so that the consumer knows what they are paying for and if what they get meets that expectation.  Sometimes they can be confusing.  It might even take an engineer to figure out if a building code has been met.  With all of the Green Building claims in the construction industry it is no surprise that a Green Building Code is in the works.  I found it interesting that part of the code will be a consumer education piece.  This only makes sense as there is so much green information and green technology it becomes overwhelming.  Teaching the home owner the operation and maintainence of their new green building is a novel concept.  Hopefully the builder won’t be held responsible for the homeowner following the guidelines they are taught.  To learn more about the new National Green Building Standard (NGBS) that will be finalized in spring 2009, visit the Modular Housing News.

Controlling storm water run-off should begin with prevention.  Whenever a contruction site disturbs the natural habitat, ground cover or canopy cover, it will disturb the storm water run-off.  The plan should be to have effective excavation techniques that will have the least impact, and the greatest results.  This is possibly more time consuming initially in the project, but in the long run compliance issues can be avoided with some creative solutions.  Follow this link to the NAHB website to read up on storm water concerns during construction.

I post articles on green building all the time.  In my travels on the internet to find reliable sources, I ran across this: My Green Journey.  Ok - so it’s not about building, but it is very helpful information for each and every home owner.  There are green things growing around our homes that definitely are not good for us.  While gardening or exploring your lot, be very careful not to encounter poison ivy, poison oak, or any of the other poisons that are out there.

Should green building be mandated by the federal government? The state government?  Any government?  Advisors for both presidential campaigns attended the 2008 Energy Efficiency Forum last week.  Jason Grumet, speaking for Senator Obama said, “We have to invest in our infrastructure.”  Sounds good, but I’m not sure exactly what that means.  George Allen, on behalf of Senator McCain, “emphasized government’s responsibility to ensure it’s own facilities are energy efficient.”  I agree, but I don’t think there was any follow up on just how that might happen.  As the presidential candidates start to debate on the hot topic of “green”, a lot of ideas are being thrown around, without a lot of specifics on how to achieve the desired results.  Read the article posted on the U.S. Green Building Council site that summarizes the two positions.  Energy Efficiency Forum.  After reading it, I wasn’t really all that clear on what each party proposes, however, it was fairly evident that the government, whether local, state or federal, wants to begin to legislate how we do the “green thing.”  Makes me wonder who is profiting the most from building green?

Here are a list of 10 very important questions to ask your builder and/or contractor - courtesy of HBAA - part of the National Home Builders Association. If you are uncomfortable with any of their answers, dig a little deeper, or find a different builder.
1. What types of projects do you do?
2. Can I see some of your projects?
3. Can I talk to some of your favorite clients?
4. Are you licensed and insured?
5. How long have you been in business?
6. How do you handle call backs?
7. How much do you charge?
8. What is your payment schedule?
9. With whom will I be working on the jobsite?
10. Do you belong to any type of professional organization?
It is important that you, your builder and contractor can all work together. If your builder is not willing to take the time to answer your questions, ask yourself why? You will be working with them for several months before your project is finished, so make sure you have the right person for the job.

1. Is it really location…. location…. location?
It really is. The first step is deciding on what you need and what is that going to cost. Are you looking for acreage to build your dream equestrian center or mini-farm? Maybe you want a lot in a cozy little neighborhood where you can walk to the store and pick up the Sunday paper? Or, are you looking for your getaway on the lake or in the mountains? Just like determining what features you need in your home, you need to decide on what you need in your land. A 10,000 square foot lot in the city versus a 10 acre parcel out in the country have completely different issues to be aware of and lifestyles to offer.

2. What’s the neighborhood like?
Always take into consideration the location and quality of the surrounding homes. Use your senses of sight, hearing, and smell to pick up on any issues that may be objectionable to you. Think about the proximity of the land to your work and nearest ammentites, entertainment, schools and shopping. Or if you’re looking for peace and quiet, how close is the nearest home to the lot line and how will I locate my house on the land to maximize separation?

3. So I like the location and the neigborhood…what else?
What is the quality of the land? Some issues to look for in land quality follow; Is the land wet and does it have areas that can’t be built on? Does the land have a steep slope or drop off abruptly that would prohibit building? Does the land have good, deep soil easy for designing a septic system, or is it rocky or even have ledge? Are there streams on the land that require setbacks? What is the orientation of the land and will I have good sun exposure? Does the land have a view or water frontage? What was the land formerly used for? Was it a farm field, forest land, re-zoned residential property, or is it division?

By: Michael Noble
Michael has worked for Schiavi Home Development for close to a year now. He has a background in real estate and land development. Look for Parts 2, and 3 with tips and questions about buying land.

The consumer is demanding it, and the manufacturers are producing it.  New ways of preserving wood that are chemical free have arrived.  The products will begin hitting the market this month.  The wood is ideal for building outdoor decks and furniture that is environmentally friendly.  Get more information on the Building Green website.