| Looking at alternative ways to build your home? | | | | home can be largely manufactured off site - |
| Most homes - over 90% - according to a recent | | | | assembled quickly on the site (think of the Amish |
| NAHB (National Association of Home Builders) are | | | | farmers erecting a barn) and covered with the high |
| stick built - meaning out of 2 x 4's. As a custom | | | | insulating and efficient skin. |
| home builder, I never build anything that resembles | | | | 3. Rammed Earth |
| the "standard." | | | | An age old technique has been modernized so that a |
| According to a survey done by the NAHB in 2005, | | | | newly constructed rammed earth home is very similar |
| the "typical" home built in America is approximately | | | | in structure to a solid reinforced concrete wall yet |
| 2200 square feet, 2 stories, 3 - 4 bedrooms, 2 full | | | | with the beautiful colors of the soils that are mixed |
| baths, powder room built on a concrete slab, uses | | | | into the rammed earth. These homes benefit from |
| gas forced air heat, is stick built on site (vs. modular), | | | | thick thermal mass. |
| has a 2 car garage, vinyl siding (second place stucco), | | | | 4. ICF - Insulated Concrete Forms |
| porch and a fireplace. Many "typical" practices are | | | | This relatively new technology combines several |
| unique to each area of the country, such as a typical | | | | techniques to construct highly insulated, concrete |
| basement in the Northeast vs. a slab in the | | | | structures. Although several unique, hybrid products |
| Southwest, but the overall numbers show the above | | | | exist such as Rastra, Performwall, the typical ICF wall |
| example. | | | | consists of two layers of EPS foam insulation which |
| My definition of a custom home is: | | | | create the form for a reinforced concrete wall. |
| A unique home built according to the custom plans | | | | Various thicknesses are available. The walls not only |
| and specifications of an architect or designer, working | | | | have very high insulation values (R values 25 or |
| with a client, for a unique piece of land. This plan | | | | higher) but they also benefit from the "thermal mass" |
| takes into account the clients wishes and dreams, | | | | of the concrete and the fact that the wall does not |
| the unique environment, and a particular budget. All | | | | suffer from the "thermal bridging" effect (the |
| materials are delivered and assembled on site by a | | | | interruption of an insulated stick frame wall by the |
| unique set of craftsmen consisting of 200 or more | | | | wood itself- which has a poor insulation quality) and |
| unique trades, suppliers and specialists. This home is | | | | the ability to create a very air tight shell. |
| built one time! | | | | 5. Straw Bale |
| Although we predominately build homes of "stick | | | | A "natural" building technique, straw bale construction |
| frame" (meaning 2 x 4 or dimensional lumber), there | | | | creates a massively thick wall - 24 inches - using a |
| is growing interest in special homes built of new | | | | waste product (straw). Popular with "do it your |
| materials. | | | | selfers," this technique can create very comfortable, |
| Stick Frame | | | | natural looking homes. I have seen straw bale homes |
| The most typical type of construction by far - the | | | | using natural clay based floors as well. I also toured a |
| stick frame is largely composed of "dimensional" | | | | "green home" in southern California built of straw bale. |
| lumber or "engineered" lumber (I-joists or other types | | | | At almost 8,000 square feet, the two story house |
| of framing that are comprised of various solid and | | | | actually had a custom steel frame that provided the |
| plywood combinations) | | | | structure required by strict southern California building |
| 1. Log | | | | codes and the straw bale was used as in fill for the |
| Log home enthusiasts are devoted to their logs! In | | | | walls. Check the code requirements in your area. |
| the style of the "pioneer" homes, log homes are | | | | 6. Rammed Tire |
| literally logs that have been stacked up on top of | | | | Another hybrid made popular with the Earthship |
| each other to construct the walls. The end result is a | | | | home, rammed tire construction consists of ramming |
| solid wood wall. Log homes are currently available in a | | | | earth into old tires to create walls. Not only does this |
| wide variety of pre built kits. Although log homes | | | | remove a worthless waste product from landfills but |
| have a terrific look and style - solid wood is not a | | | | it creates a super high insulated wall. Pretty unique! |
| very good method of insulation nor a very efficient | | | | When considering working with an alternative building |
| way of using wood. | | | | technique - pay special attention to the details. Find |
| 2. Post and Beam | | | | an architect, designer or specialist who can advise |
| An advanced method of using the "log, " post and | | | | you on the nuances of the product you want to use. |
| beam homes are beautifully crafted frames of solid | | | | Pay attention to where your material meets other |
| timber often exposed on the interior of the home. | | | | materials - such as roof to wall connections and |
| The finely crafted joints showcase the builders | | | | window and door placement. Many builders, after |
| talents. Although still probably not the most efficient | | | | building with more traditional methods, have common |
| way of using wood - a hybrid home using a "SIP" | | | | practices that will not work well in specialty |
| (structural insulated panel) skin creates a super | | | | applications. Good luck with your dream home! |
| efficient home. Using this method of construction, a | | | | |