Flat Roofs and Roof Decks: What You Need to Know
At our firm, we focus on creating high-end modern homes often pushing the boundaries of form and material. One of the signature forms found in many modern projects is the flat roof. In today’s blog, we look at how flat roofs work and what you should know when considering one for your next project. Flat […]
Why Spray Foam?
Many of us know that insulation is a major component for keeping your building cool during the summer and warm during the winter. There are many different types of insulation but why is spray foam the preferred? Batt Insulation – is probably the most common and most familiar to most people. Batt insulation is […]
Using Floor Trusses in Modern Design
Most buildings built in the United States these days are built from wood. Wood is in fact a renewable resource, affordable, easy to work with, and provides enough strength for most projects. Wood products range from commodity lumber (2x4s, 2x6s, etc.), engineered lumber, (LVLs, Plywood, etc.), and pre-fab trusses. In today’s blog, we discuss floor […]
Best Approaches to Basement Waterproofing
The dreaded flooding basement is a real pain. Basements, as we all know, are notorious for being damp and having water issues. This is primarily because water moves in all directions underground, sometimes even straight up. Not to mention soil weights a lot more when wet placing lots of stress on basement walls leading to […]
Structures and Wall Bracing in the Building Code
The International Residential Code (IRC) acts as a guide for many architects and contractors building one and two-family dwellings. One of the most challenging areas in the IRC deals with structural requirements. A deep dive into wall framing and bracing walls, as an example, reveals a lot of complexity that can be difficult to navigate. […]
Material Take-off During Design
As we discussed in our last post, construction costs can be difficult to identify during the pre-design process. With the many moving parts and constant state of change, cost evaluations must be performed in stages. If you missed it, cost evaluations must be performed in stages..
Knowing Your Project Costs During Design
Construction can be expensive. How do you navigate the world of construction costs during the pre-design phase? Almost every client is concerned about how construction and material costs impact their projects. Chaotic markets and changing labor demands, constantly contribute to ever-changing prices. Let’s discuss the techniques we use to get through it during the design.
Construction Drawings and Contracts
Construction drawings and specifications can be considered contracts between you and your builder. The more detailed the contract, the more precise the scope of work for the builder and their sub-contractors. Let’s discuss what makes your contract work better and why you want to have a detailed set of drawings to communicate your intent.
Secrets in Finding a Great Contractor
One of the biggest challenges that many new homeowners face when building a custom home is finding a great contractor. The relationship between owner, contractor, and architect should be that of trust and good communication. Here’s our advice on how we determine if a contractor is a good fit for the team.
Design Phase 4: Bidding and Contracts
The smallest phase of the architect’s scope is all about distributing information and helping find a great contractor. The bidding phase is set up for the more traditional “design, bid, build” approach to construction and design, in which the main purpose is to provide consistent information to all contractors bidding on the project. The Traditional […]