Foundation the most important part of any structure
* All footers are reinforced with two steel rods, because ground conditions are unpredictable and often inconsistent.
* 12 inch , 12 coarse block walls with reinforced cores 64 inch O/C, because 12 inches is stronger than 8 inches, 12 courses afford more head room under beams and duct work, and reinforcing is often required under certain soil conditions.
* Foundation drains are installed inside and out because silting is going to occur obviously, more outside than in.
* Premium fill where required because stone settles a small fraction of what excavated soil does and settling creates major problems in regards to slab concrete, as well as lateral preasure on foundation walls.
* A minimum of 3 ft stone coverage over exterior footer drains. (Twice what is required by code. Gravel to grade is optional)
Energy Efficiency
* Vinyl windows with low-E glazing because vinyl is maintenance free, less heat conductive and low-E for the best efficiency.
(Other options available) * R-38 blown fiberglass in attic over heated areas because any more doesn't reap much benefit versus cost.
* High efficiency heating and cooling systems simply because they are available and pay for their cost differences over time.
* R-20 fiberglass batt and foam sheathed exterior walls because wood is a poor insulator, and can constitute up to 25% of a typical homes exterior wall surface. Left uninsulated framing members can account for approximately 17% of thermal loss in a typical home. Please see graphic recreation of thermal bridging through a typical wall envelope without insulation sheathing, below.
Miscellaneous
* Plywood floor sheathing rather than OSB because plywood withstands getting wet much better than OSB and we have yet to build a home that hasn't been rained on before the home can be made weather tight.
* SD35 PVC storm drain tiles are much less likely to be crushed accidentally, than thin wall and/or corrugated tiles.
* We install sound deadening insulation in baths, bedrooms and utility rooms where not isolated by closets or other means.
* Wired for phone in kitchen, as well as, phone and cable in all second floor rooms (excluding bathrooms) because this is the 21st century and wiring later is difficult and expensive.
* Pre-wiring meeting to determine location of lights, switches, plugs, phone and cable per your specifications because it is your house and you have a much better idea of what your needs will be.
* Two exterior G.F.I. outlets, two lawn faucets and one hot & cold in the garage are self explanatory.
* Five foot jet tub because it seems everyone wants one. (Other options available)
* Base floor covering allowance is normally figured at $3.75/Sq. Ft. of living space, which is usually ample for a combination of 'Better' or 'Best' grade floor coverings. (Not 'builders grade') Of course this can be varied in accordance with your desires.
* Eight foot high garage door(s) due to larger vehicles being popular and seven foot openings could even impede resale.
* Ice guard or similar under layment in all roof valleys and horizontal eaves because a few hundred dollars of prevention is worth thousands of dollars of cure.
* Vinyl porch rails & coated exterior trim because it doesn't chalk and never requires painting.
* .044 thick vinyl siding rather than .040 thickness because it simply looks better and keeps looking better longer.