General Progression toward Building
At this point, you probably have a very good idea of what you want in your home. To us, it is extremely important that there is a good relationship between the builder and the homebuyer. Over the next five to six months we will be working toward a common goal and will be building the custom home that you have selected and personalized. Our mission as a company is to help everyone Enjoy the Process, with Customer Service and Quality First. The Custom Homes that we build are Universal Design/EnergyStar Rated. The goal is to make it a good experience and to provide you with a home that is comfortable, livable, sound and safe for your family.
Once you have selected your plan, we will go through and make necessary changes to enhance the home and personalize it to your desire. We will have our Certified Interior Designer make the necessary changes and add any architectural detailing that you may choose. We will talk about budgets and general costs for the project. Upon our next meeting we will review and confirm the changes to the print and start making our selections.
At the 1st meeting there is a general letter of agreement that is signed and a deposit is collected. This deposit will go toward the construction cost of the home. We will schedule the next meeting and at that time we will review and confirm changes to the print and I will need your selections so that I can move forward with the bidding process for any changes that you have made. Depending upon the number of changes, the re-bidding process could take 1 ½ to 2 weeks.
Once the bidding process is complete and all the changes and selections are confirmed we will sign a formal agreement and schedule the construction of the home. It may take 3 to 4 weeks to get to the point of scheduling construction. Your decisiveness as a home owner will greatly influence the length and cost of construction and the Communication is #1 and the amount of communication in a building project is HUGE and will consume A LOT of your time.
Online Client Access
A building project is an exciting and important endeavor, and J&R; Construction wants the process to be as smooth and enjoyable as possible. That is why we provide each of our clients with access to a secure website with all of the details of their project.
Whether you are at home, at work, on the road, or on vacation, J&R; Construction puts information at your fingertips about your selections, upgrades, financial decisions, questions, documents, photos, and more.
General Stages of Construction
Lot: Building and gas permits, site staking
Foundation: Site excavation, footings, inspection, foundations walls, drain tile, water proofing, plumbing ground work and placement of basement slab
Rough Framing: Setting of structural steel, plates, floor, walls, roof, installation of windows and exterior doors
1st Walk through: At this stage, we will schedule your first formal walk through. We will review and confirm all electrical, plumbing and mechanical locations. We will also review and confirm the finish schedule for your home. Changes after this point become very difficult and expensive which will delay the process.
Rough in/Roofing: At this time all the plumbing, mechanical and electrical will be completed. Anything that goes into the walls of the home will be installed at this time. The underlayment, flashing and shingles will be installed at this time.
Inspections: All of the inspectors will be scheduled at the completion of the Rough in/Roofing. We usually allow 3 to 5 working days for this stage.
Insulation: Sidewall insulation and polyethylene vapor barrier, coffered ceiling insulation and cathedral ceiling insulation will be installed. After sheet rock is installed attic insulation will be blown in.
Drywall: Drywall will be installed, taped and finished
Millwork: Interior doors, casing, base and cabinets will be installed
Paint: Interior paint preparation will be completed and painting will be applied. Touch up will be completed toward during the final stage
Hard Surfaces: At this time the ceramic tile, the vinyl, and the countertops will be installed
Finishes: Plumbing, mechanical and electrical finishes will be installed. Those items include thermostat, toilets, faucets, electrical fixtures
Exterior Finish: Final grading of yard, sprinkler system, landscaping and sod will be installed
Punch Out: All hardware is installed, window screens and cranks, final inspections occur, cleaning and paint touch ups. Mailbox is installed. Final walk through and closing will be scheduled with the homeowners.
Features & Benefits of ENERGY STAR Qualified New Homes
Features:
To earn the ENERGY STAR, a home must meet guidelines for energy efficiency set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. These homes are at least 15% more energy efficient than homes built to the 2004 International Residential Code (IRC), and include additional energy-saving features that typically make them 20–30% more efficient than standard homes.
And with homebuyers increasingly interested in green building, energy efficiency is the place to start. That’s because the energy used in homes often comes from the burning of fossil fuels at power plants, which contributes to smog, acid rain, and risks of global warming. So, the less energy used, the less air pollution generated. And the easy way to make sure a new home is energy efficient is to look for the blue ENERGY STAR mark, the government-backed symbol for energy efficiency. Learn more about how Green Begins with ENERGY STAR Blue.
This label identifies a home as having earned the ENERGY STAR
Any home three stories or less can earn the ENERGY STAR label if it has been verified to meet EPA’s guidelines, including: single family, attached, and low-rise multi-family homes; manufactured homes; systems-built homes (e.g., SIP, ICF, or modular construction); log homes, concrete homes; and even existing retrofitted homes.
ENERGY STAR qualified homes can include a variety of ‘tried-and-true’ energy-efficient features that contribute to improved home quality and homeowner comfort, and to lower energy demand and reduced air pollution:
1. Effective Insulation
Properly installed and inspected insulation in floors, walls, and attics ensures even temperatures throughout the house, reduced energy use, and increased comfort. Learn more about Properly Installed Insulation (149KB).
2. High-Performance Windows
Energy-efficient windows employ advanced technologies, such as protective coatings and improved frames, to help keep heat in during winter and out during summer. These windows also block damaging ultraviolet sunlight that can discolor carpets and furnishings. Learn more about Qualified Windows (212KB).
3. Tight Construction and Ducts
Sealing holes and cracks in the home’s “envelope” and in heating and cooling duct systems helps reduce drafts, moisture, dust, pollen, and noise. A tightly sealed home improves comfort and indoor air quality while reducing utility and maintenance. Learn more about Efficient Duct Systems.
4. Efficient Heating and Cooling Equipment
In addition to using less energy to operate, energy-efficient heating and cooling systems can be quieter, reduce indoor humidity, and improve the overall comfort of the home. When properly installed into a tightly sealed home, this equipment won’t have to work so hard to heat and cool the home. Learn more about:
5. Efficient Products
ENERGY STAR qualified homes may also be equipped with ENERGY STAR qualified products — lighting fixtures, compact fluorescent bulbs, ventilation fans, and appliances, such as refrigerators, dishwashers, and washing machines. Learn more about ENERGY STAR qualified products:
6. Third-Party Verification
With the help of independent Home Energy Raters, ENERGY STAR builder partners choose the most appropriate energy-saving features for their homes. Additionally, raters conduct onsite testing and inspections to verify the energy efficiency measures, as well as insulation, air tightness, and duct sealing details. Learn more about Independent Inspection and Testing.
Benefits
ADDED CONFIDENCE
Home buying is complex enough without having to know all the details of energy-efficient construction. Instead, look for the government-backed ENERGY STAR label to easily identify homes that are truly energy efficient. Find the house of your dreams and enjoy peace of mind knowing that it also meets strict energy efficiency guidelines.
LOWER OWNERSHIP COST
Compared with standard homes, ENERGY STAR qualified homes use substantially less energy for heating, cooling, and water heating-delivering $200 to $400 in annual savings. Over the average 7 to 8 years you may live in your home, this adds up to thousands of dollars saved on utility bills. Additional savings on maintenance can also be substantial. Financing your home purchase using an ENERGY STAR Mortgage or an energy efficient mortgage can also lead to savings. Learn more about Mortgage Lending Programs.
BETTER PERFORMANCE
Properly installed energy-efficient improvements deliver better protection against cold, heat, drafts, moisture, pollution, and noise. An energy-efficient home helps ensure consistent temperatures between and across rooms, improved indoor air quality, and greater durability.
SMART INVESTMENT
To date, more than 8,500 home builders have partnered with EPA to construct more than 1 million ENERGY STAR qualified homes. The trend is clear. By choosing a home with the ENERGY STAR label, you can be confident that it will have an increasingly valued feature when the time comes to sell.
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
Did you know that your home can be a greater source of pollution than your car? In fact, 16 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions are generated from the energy used in houses nationwide.
Energy used in our homes often comes from the burning of fossil fuels at power plants, which contributes to smog, acid rain, and global warming. Simply put, the less energy we use in our homes, the less air pollution we generate.
What is Universal Design?
A: Our definition is whether you are sitting or standing, young or old, anyone can use the space. According the Center for Universal Design it is the design of products and environments to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design. Simply, Environments and Products for all People.
What is CAPS (Certified Aging in Place Specialist)?
A: The Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS) designation program teaches the technical, business management, and customer service skills essential for home modifications for the aging-in-place. Which we all are aging in place, right? Only 10% of the population plans to get older, so how are you planning to age in your new home?
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