CUSTOM HOME DO’S & DONT’S
Published by Kip Koehler at Smashwords
© Copyright Kip Koehler 2007-2012
This book is protected under the Copyright laws of the United States of America. It may not be transmitted in any form without the expressed, written permission of the author.
Edited by Cheri Clancy
3nd edition
ISBN-13 978-1-4276-4403-9
ISBN-10 1-4276-4403-9
Kip is a Custom Home Consultant in Prescott Arizona. He provides education, design and construction-oversight to prospective homeowners who want to build their dream home. Taking on a construction project can often be a difficult process with few resources to fall back on. Kip’s objective is to remove the misunderstanding and failed hopes from this complex procedure by providing the details that are needed to make informed decisions.
A new chapter in this expanded edition deals with the remodeling of existing residences. This information is provided with an eye toward maximizing the dollars that are returned on the upgrade or sale of your current home. A little wisdom here can pay big benefits.
Chapter 1: Introduction
Friedrich Nietzsche, philosopher: When one has finished building one's house, one suddenly realizes that in the process one has learned something that one really needed to know in the worst way - before one began.
It’s all About…
-those who are building a custom home
-those who have a healthy curiosity about the building process
-those who want to know and understand their choices
-those who do not have an unlimited budget
-those who want to receive the most value for their money
-those who do not want to be taken advantage of
-and more than anything, those who want to build an above average home that they can be proud of
The intention of this guide book is to provide prospective homeowners with high quality information in order for them to become proficient at understanding and managing the ramifications of new home construction. Clearly it is information that is the basis for making informed decisions and for becoming adept at designing an interesting and enjoyable home. At a minimum, by studying this book prospective homeowners should be able to avoid some of the pitfalls that can adversely affect their construction.
Sprinkled in among the do’s, dont’s, caveats and guidance will be more than a few of my personal recommendations for home design. No doubt you will not agree with all of these suggestions. However this can still be a good thing since my ideas may act as food for thought. Not everyone should build the same home. After all, uniqueness is a virtue. The views presented in this book are just the tip of the iceberg. It would not be realistic to list every suggestion, admonition or tip that I might want to since some of them may have only limited or specific application. I suggest dealing directly with a home consultant, designer, architect or contractor for more personalized assistance.
A Brief History
A few years ago my wife Cheri and I decided to build our first custom home. We started the project by relying on my background as a Systems Analyst in the computer field and set about designing our home using simple CAD (computer aided design) software. Actually the first rendition was penned at our favorite restaurant on the proverbial paper napkin. It was simplistic and, well, unrealistic. Just imagine having a hot tub located in the wine tasting room that would be sending its humidity into the rest of the house. We were from California after all. The following experiences we encountered demonstrate that more than simple planning is required for building a home to have the least amount of pitfalls and problems.
Phase one:
Once I familiarized myself with the intricacies of the software program I was able to produce progressively more sophisticated floor plan designs. Eventually they took into consideration the reality of a restricted property footprint, not just our fantasies. By footprint I mean the build-able area on our boulder-strewn hilltop lot. Simply moving boulders to clear a space was not always an option since a few of them reached 10’ high or more. As a result of this limitation the perimeter of the home was designed to match what we were able to level without incurring excessive blasting costs. Having mastered the software, Cheri and I created one version after another of home design. Following more than 100 major revisions to the initial plan we completed phase one of our project, and then engaged an architect to engineer our work.
Phase two:
Our original agreement with the architect, who was also a general contractor, was that he would refine our design and undertake the construction for a specified cost-plus fee. For details on construction contracts see the Everything’s Negotiable chapter. So the game plan was that the architect would first critique our home’s design, translate it into engineered bluelines and then act as the builder. However after his first version of the plans was completed we were notified that he would not be able to fit the construction of our home into our (really his?) timetable. He was, we discovered, too busy with local politics to meet his verbal commitment. Within days of being on our own we submitted the architect’s bluelines to three contractors for bidding. The universal feedback was that they were so poorly drawn that no one would attempt to bid the project. Apparently the drafting work had been done by the architect’s under-trained Office staff with little supervision from him. Not wanting to throw good money after bad we fired the architect before our next payment was made. Then with some effort we found a seasoned designer who reworked the drawings in a timely fashion. He then took on this task at a reduced billing rate because he sympathized with our situation. As you can see there are many pitfalls that can occur even before the first shovelful of dirt is moved. Knowing this about our experience should encourage due diligence in all matters that pertain to your own home.
Phase three:
The next phase of our project was to select a contractor. We went about this by considering the recommendations made by others. Because we were new to town this was unfortunately like asking a stranger to suggest a movie or a restaurant. When you do so there is a high probability that those making the recommendation may not be well informed, or they may not be sufficiently analytical in their approach to the subject. As a result we discovered the “recommended by others” trap… a reputedly good reputation may be undeserved, or it may simply have been valid at another time but is no longer. And those who are making the vendor recommendation may not even be familiar with a contractor’s current performance. Perhaps it was that they mistakenly expected some previous reputation would remain constant. The contractor that we decided to employ turned out to be the same developer who originally sold us our property. An after it was too late for us to change horses we learned that this contractor was indeed living off a past reputation and not off of current performance. Had we been insightful enough to look further this might have become evident. Initially the contractor seemed to be honest and made a verbal promise to us that our building experience would go well… the honeymoon phase. Unfortunately we learned over time that the contractor’s…
-integrity
-attention to detail
-supervision of subcontractors
-communication skills of their project manager
…were all lacking. As a consequence of this marginal performance we became the ad hoc managers of our home. We were obliged to visit the construction site almost daily in order to prevent problems from that could result from hidden defects. Is this a good time for me to refer you to the chapter on Selecting a Contractor? After all we did learn from our experiences. In reviewing our home’s progress we turned up one defect after another… some small, some significant. We found that the majority of the errors involved a failure to follow our bluelines (formerly referred to as blueprints) as well as a few code violations (like a missing window and light switches placed too far from the doors).
The project manager either had not seen or not mentioned many of the problems that we discovered on our own. So much for his promise to be conscientious about overseeing our construction on a daily basis! A major mistake made by a subcontractor had our Great Room floor built about 3” lower than the specifications called for. This would have unacceptably increased the height of the steps from this sunken room up to the Kitchen. In order to correct this mistake the contractor had to…
lay down a thick bed of light-weight concrete over the Great Room’s flooring
correspondingly raise each of the nine windows and doors to conform to the corrected floor height
rebuild the 10’ wide steps leading into the Kitchen with a lower step height
This was obviously a very costly matter for the contractor to absorb, but one for which they deserve no sympathy.
Even though contractors rely on the skills of their subcontractors, like a ship’s captain, they are ultimately responsible for their subordinate’s performance
There are some lessons for the prospective homeowner to learn from this example…
-constant vigilance is required during home construction
-one should never assume that things will proceed smoothly
-it is not necessary to accept construction mistakes no matter how costly the correction may be for the contractor
In a legal sense the contractor is the expert. And as a result of this legislated burden they are required to perform like an expert. This also includes their having reasonable communications with the client
Eventually our home was completed. Through our experiences and self-education we learned about the multitude of problems that can be part of building a custom home. I hope that your reading about our adventure will help you avoid some of the unnecessary ordeals that we and others have encountered.
The Bottom Line
I wouldn’t want you to think that this is going to be an industry bashing book. In my consulting business I meet many contractors, sub-contractors, designers and architects who are both competent and honest. It is just that like with life itself there are good and bad. So when building a home one must learn to tell the difference between the two. Because the home building industry is so loosely regulated in terms of quality and competence there may always be a significant difference between vendors. With this knowledge in mind prospective homeowners must take a degree of responsibility for all aspects of the design and construction of their home. I don’t pretend to know all there is to know about this subject. With much of my advice the reader will have to decide what is appropriate for them and what is not. My intention is to be informative and offer aspiring homeowners a way to improve their skill set in order to become more effective with their own custom home project. After all it is the lack of knowledge that puts people at a disadvantage. So am I a contractor? – No. Could I replace the project manager? Probably not. Is this a worthwhile book that is filled with a vast amount of pertinent material for prospective homeowners? Absolutely yes! As an example, the attention and effort my wife and I paid to the design and construction of our home was amply rewarded when it was featured in our local newspaper.
Chapter 2: Home Design Goals
Design Considerations
This chapter presents an overview of design features that might be incorporated into a superior home design. Hopefully this will help you think outside of the box and then employ more critical eyes. After all having plain vanilla plans merely produces plain vanilla homes… which should not be the goal when building a custom home.
A custom home’s design should take the following aspects into consideration …
Efficiency
Convenience
Curb appeal
Uniqueness
Elegant touch
Baby proofing
& Your budget
When these criteria are properly addressed and satisfied the reward can be a home to be proud of. Below is a sampling of ideas that defines each of these categories.
Efficiency:
This is (or should be) the most important design consideration for homeowners. The concern involves maximizing the livable space within the home as well as providing for a smooth room to room flow. An open-style concept runs counter to previous philosophies which envisioned compartmentalized dwellings with few windows and lots of doors. Here are a few ideas to consider on how to improve home efficiency. Eliminate the halls because they are a major inefficiency. They may even result in an undesirable maze effect. They work against the open-style design which facilitates easier passage between rooms. I have seen more than a few plans where the hallways occupied too much of the home’s area… in one case nearly 10%. Couldn’t everyone use that 50 or 100 sq. ft. inside of rooms rather than having it as wasted space in between them? In our home, for example, there is a walkway through the Kitchen that goes past…
-the “wine cave”
-the guest Bathroom
-an Office/ Guest Room
-on toward the Master Bedroom
This “hallway” is a functional part of the Kitchen because it doubles as a counter seating aisle. As a result it does not appear to be a hallway, nor does it contribute toward wasted space. This design demonstrates how having access to multiple rooms by going through another room can be more efficient than using a dedicated hall for that purpose.
If the area that is allocated to hallways exceeds 2% of the home’s total area it may be appropriate to rethink the design - a 3000 sq. ft. home should ideally have no more then 15-20 ft. in total hall length
Another element of efficiency revolves around the shape and layout of small to medium size rooms. If the intended furniture does not properly fit inside a room, or it interferes with window or door placement, too many unwanted compromises may result. Care should be taken to see that the designer’s or architect’s room layouts and your furniture make real world sense. In other words specifying a room only by its size is inadequate. I actually ran across a “professional” design where there was no suitable place to locate the bed in one of the Bedrooms. In another plan the front entry way was semi-blocked by a tall boulder. If a feature inside a room is either unnecessary or its purpose can be incorporated elsewhere, living space may be wasted. One example of this might be a guest Bedroom that has a TV-armoire. This item can take up a fair amount of floor space for something that is rarely used. When was the last time that your company wanted to spend time in the Guest Bedroom watching TV rather than being with their hosts? Space can also be used more efficiently by eliminating duplicate areas. One such redundancy could be in homes with both a small Breakfast Nook and a modest sized Dining Room. In this case when entertaining a group guests must be mercilessly packed together in the Dining Room, or they have to dine in separated areas. Another result of this inconvenience is that food must be shuffled back and forth, and the number of other people with whom guests can interact becomes limited. When the overall space is tight I suggest consolidating the dining and breakfast rooms into a single, larger room, and do away with the breakfast area completely. A more efficient option for a second eating area might be to have a breakfast bar that is incorporated into the Kitchen’s island. Unless you have children that you want to separate from either yourself or your guests why have a Family Room in the home’s design? It would be more practical to replace this room and a modest Living Room with a larger, multi-purpose Great Room that can handle all types of gatherings and activities. Does your home really need two or three places to entertain, read or watch TV? Consolidation can also help save on the cost of purchasing redundant sets of furniture and electronics. If a Family Room is a must, consider having it attached to the Kitchen without an intervening wall. This large space can then serve as an area where guests can easily gather and not be too far away from the enticing Kitchen. While all the rage, walk-in closets are among the least efficient use of space in a home. After all the standing area inside holds no clothing and may take up to 40% or more of the room’s area. I saw one walk-in closet that was more than 60% open space… literally enough to pitch a small tent in. Wouldn’t this under-utilized space make an effective contribution to another room? Do we really need to be that comfortable in a closet? As an alternative to the walk-in closet consider wide, traditional, wall closets where the access to them is a useful part of the room. For instance, the next-to area could be the space between the closet doors and one side of a bed. In this case the access does double duty as part of the bed’s and closet’s accessibility. This location of the closet can also act as a sound barrier between the Bedroom and the room next to it. If one or more walk-in closets are a must, locate them where there is a vaulted ceiling in order to maximize the storage space. Then be sure to include a built-in ladder or a mounting to hold a regular ladder. Even though homes are becoming larger, wall closets are still the most efficient storage method. Another one of their assets is that they eliminate the difficulty with the two to four semi-blocked corners that are part and parcel of walk-in closets. Since the view of an unsightly row of doors would be unappealing, consider installing attractive, floor-to-ceiling drapes to obscure the closet’s opening. Incorporating this convenient design allows all of the contents can be viewed and easily accessed once the drapes are pulled back.
Convenience:
This is a concept that is somewhat in the eye of the beholder. One convenience to consider might be having an open dining area that is situated next to both the Kitchen and the Great Room… without any intervening walls. Not only does this layout make food service easier, but it expands the area in which guests can congregate and still be within close proximity to each other without passing through halls or doorways. I will not include the Family Room (if part of a design concept) in this consolidation scheme because its primary function should be to have a separation from the other rooms. Moving on to the Master Bedroom. Is it appropriate to have a desk in this room or should it be located in a separate office? Unless you run a business from your home the appropriate answer may be to place the desk here. Or as an alternative, a desk could be built into the Kitchen counter or island. This location might even be more suitable and will surely take up less space than the alternative of being in a separate room. If two people need an Office setup then it might be fitting to consider a single room that will accommodate both with their separate desks. When sharing phone lines, scanners, printers and other items with your mate, a combined Office may make more sense.
Curb appeal:
How many homes do you see, except for perhaps some grand homes on large properties that have a truly attractive appearance from the street? Here are a few items to consider that can make a home more attractive from the outside…
-design a house that is not shaped like a box
-incorporate a roofline with architectural features
-use colored concrete or pavers for the drive and walkway
-include a curving walkway to the front door
-have a 2’ or 3’ change of elevation in different areas of the yard
-locate roof venting hardware so that it does not face the street
-obscure the placement of the Garage
Most homes present their unattractive Garage doors to their street. This layout can occupy 25-40% of that elevation (view) of the home. One alternative to this Garage-in-front design is to have it open off the side of the home rather than toward the street. While this layout may still position the Garage in front, it works well to obscure that fact by having its doors somewhat out of sight. It may also allow for a more appealing curved driveway to the home. This layout can also have a softly rounded “T” shaped drive with a turn-around. When using this particular Garage design, large, room-like windows (with window coverings) on the front side should be used to mimic the look of a regular, interior room. A side benefit is the increase in the apparent home size.
Another possible solution to the unattractive Garage is to install upscale, wooden doors. These can take many forms, including up to 18’ wide doors that resemble double carriage doors. Yes their price is substantially higher, but the curb appeal is fantastic… especially when combined with an arched surround (the bump-out that goes around the door). This also eliminates the need to hide the Garage’s opening. An alternative to these high cost items may be to paint the Garage door in a 3D fashion to resemble wooden doors and hardware. This looks much better than it sounds. While I am on Garages, skip those tiny windows that can be found in the top frame of many doors. Rather than improve the door’s appearance they draw undue attention to what is already an unattractive sight. One alternative to these windows could be to paint the Garage door and its frame in contrasting colors to punch up their looks. Or it may be possible to find a talented faux-painter artist who can add subtle and interesting touches to the doors. An immediate impression that greets guests is landscaping around a home. Other than being appropriate to the neighborhood, items to consider are…
-undulating grounds
-fast-growing trees
-large flowering plants
-colorful bushes
-an attractive statue
-ground cover
As for the undulating grounds, a few randomly placed mounds will be effective in breaking up and enhancing any yard. Then these areas can also become sighting locations for attractive islands of vegetation. I would avoid the type of flower gardens that tend to border the front of the home or run along its sidewalk. First, this look is a generations-old style. Second, these near-house plantings and their subsequent watering will disrupt the insect poisons that should have been laid down to control pests. Lastly, they have very little curb appeal.
Uniqueness:
Is it me or do many new homes tend to look alike? What ever became of custom homes that actually look custom? There is a housing development in our area that has attractive, million dollar homes, but coming home after dark must present a problem for the owners since they all have a similar appearance. Having a generous construction budget to spend on design and materials does not always ensure uniqueness. It may simply lead to a high end, tract look.
Will you be satisfied having your next home a near copy of others in the neighborhood, or would you prefer to have one that stands out with its own creative style that is impressive to viewers? A relatively simple method for achieving this uniqueness is to adopt a non-linear home design. That is, use…
-curved, offset, angled or bumped out walls
-cantilevered floors (that extend several feet past a lower wall)
-multi-faceted gable or hip rooflines
-balconies and decks
These features substantially improve a home’s appearance for a relatively modest additional cost. And it is these styling touches that can move a home from the: just another box category toward the elegant category. Hip (three-sided) rooflines can often add a visual roof appearance that is generally more attractive then the more common gable (peaked roof), the unusual Dutch (half-hip/half-gable) or the equally odd high-pitch style. Although hip roof architecture is generally more expensive, it tends to set homes apart from the crowd. In some cases the combination of hips and gables can also be stylish.
Several curved, angled or multi-level decks are a nice touch for adding uniqueness. While it may be tempting to construct a rectangular deck in order to be efficient with the use of materials and construction I would suggest that this may not be the best place to save money. Rambling, angular decks are an excellent to adding beauty and value to a home. Having vaulted ceilings is an outstanding way to add to a room’s apparent size and elegance. The bang you get for the buck with this architecture makes its modest cost worthwhile.
Vaulted ceilings come with a built-in benefit, other than their great looks. They can be combined with an economical 8’ wall on one side of the room and still have the attractive look of a high-wall room. I would readily consider vaulting all full-sized rooms. This makes any room more open and inviting. Conversely I would not vault smaller rooms since they could take on the look of an elevator shaft. In this case I would suggest a flat, 9’ ceiling… including any basement level room.
Let me interject a caveat at this point. The energy costs of heating and cooling a high-ceiling room is significant. The prospects of stabilized energy costs are probably a pipe dream. As a result you need to consider this added expense in your budgeting. Adding solid or hollow beams that follow any ridge lines of a vaulted ceiling can look stunning if they are done with flair. This feature also serves to pleasantly break up the expanse of larger rooms. One usually finds the rustic look of beams in woodsy homes but they can also be effective in more elegant homes if the wood that is used is of high quality and their construction style is sophisticated. Using several adjacent (non-bubble) skylights that have the look of regular windows is another unique touch. Not only do they let in extra light during the day, but they also permit star and moon gazing at night… sort of a window to the heavens. I might avoid having skylights located on the southeast, south or southwest sides of a home where there is high sun penetration in summer. Nor I would use them with flat-roofed adobe homes due to a greater potential for leaking. In addition, the use of triple pane glass is appropriate to prevent excessive heat penetration in the summer and heat loss in the winter (the ceiling is a warm spot in winter).
Unique design does not require re-inventing the wheel - it may just mean incorporating a variety of good ideas that are already in the public domain
Elegant touches:
This is the difference between a home with a plain vanilla style and one that shows a more exciting, sophisticated look. Elegance also involves staying away from a gaudy or too busy look. It’s not called: simple elegance for nothing.
It is not always a matter of how much is spent in the pursuit of elegance. Sometimes stylish designs cost no more than others that are less interesting or perhaps even boring. On the other hand, better is not always less costly. For an increase in our construction outlay we had our Great Room set within six (five exterior and one interior) angled walls. The difference between this design and the more common, square or rectangular room shape created the appearance that we were looking for. And it was well worth the price.
Corners add a visual interest to a home, along with a cost - the more you include, the higher the cost
Another way of incorporating elegance into a home is to vary the floor height from one room to the next. Even as little as a 1’ rise or drop can be effective, especially if one or more sides of that room are open and the elevation change is easily viewable. No you shouldn’t do this with every room, just one or two of the larger rooms for drama. When constructing multi-level homes, think about incorporating a tri or quad level design to shorten long stairways. This format can also be used to separate the sleeping areas from the living areas, and it will add noticeably to a home’s appearance. If the home is being built on flat land it is still possible to have the tri- or quad-level effect by building a play or storage room halfway under ground at one end of the home. Then include rooms above it for the tri-level effect. Even small elevation changes, say 3’ to 5’, can be used to reduce the shotgun effect (a New Orleans housing term) found in long, narrow homes. Just don’t incorporate narrow stairways to spoil it all. Ideally no stairway should be narrower than 42” (36” to -39” is normal).
Baby proofing:
Obviously this does not apply to most new homeowners, but when it does it is important. Since babies are a curious lot it is vital to examine anything and everything that they could come in contact with. For example, just because a knife is on top of a draped table does not mean that it is secure. A tug on the covering might bring the knife down to the floor… or worse. There are too many preventative items to list here and some may be specific to your home, so here are some generalities…
-prevent access to down and up staircases
-attach childproof latches on all cabinets – regardless of their contents
-put plastic bags and string in a childproof container
-raise curtain cords above a child’s reach
-remove anything that can topple when bumped
-eliminate exposed electrical cords
-cap electrical outlets
-secure plugs that stay in outlets
-remove items that could be swallowed
In some localities there are fee-based organizations that will examine your home for problems. They can also be engaged to make the required alterations. Or you might find a construction consultant with this experience. Expect to pay up to $1.00/sq ft when it includes the purchase and installation of the materials.
& Your Budget:
Most of us can agree that almost everything about a new home must take features vs. budget into consideration. And a large part of being able to come within your price range is the ability to make sensible choices on a wide variety of items. Few of us have carte blanch in the selection of design features so we must learn which of those on our wish list can realistically be filled and which of those can not. Sometimes we choose features because of their current appeal (read: fad) rather than their practicality. Two products that come to mind are stainless steel appliances and granite countertops. These items are fine, I suppose, when finances permit. But when they don’t it would be more prudent and practical to choose lesser alternative items that can still satisfy. Choosing wisely on all items provides the likelihood that other important items will not be passed over because of budget problems. It may also produce smiles when thinking about the savings. Another feature that may be designed more to impress than to being fully functional is the jetted tub. I don’t deny the appeal that this product has for many of us (we have one in our home). But while some will make regular use of this item, many more of us will use it only rarely… trust me on this. If they get used once a month I would be surprised. The thousands of dollars in cost for this upgrade could be more wisely spent on other aspects of the home. Now I am not suggesting that anyone should ignore their passions and simply live with the mundane. Far from it! Rather my advice is to make the intelligent decisions that can be appreciated for many years, not just for a few weeks. With a little imagination a home can be special, attractive and highly livable. The efforts made in this direction will likely be reflected, to some degree, in the cost. But more importantly they will represent an enhancement to its pleasure and resale value. When determining the building and furnishing budget be sure to leave a substantial cushion for the unexpected. This reserve will undoubtedly be used to fund the inevitable cost overruns that most of us encounter. But it might also be used to incorporate a few special, over-budget items. You know… the kind of items people don’t know that they “need” until the thought comes to them. If I were to put a number on it I would say that at least 5% of the anticipated construction budget should be allocated this manner. Adjust this range up or down based on how subject you may be to occasional whims in spending.
In My Experience
I have noticed that very few prospective homeowners take sufficient time to research and review the many facets that are involved in building a custom home. Somehow all will take care of itself is the prevailing outlook.
There are literally hundreds of critical choices to make, with each of them requiring diligent study and understanding of the considerations. Virtually all of us need educational assistance in this area, but most will fail to seek it.
I have found that the average person is simply not equipped nor has the time or sufficient interest to deal with the multitude of decisions that require their attention. As a result their propensity may be to rely on the good or bad judgment of others... even those that they do not know well. This brings up the difficulty of who one should listen to for competent advice. Or to put it another way… where do you find someone you can trust. This is when you may want to rely on the skills of a construction consultant.
Going Stylish
I recognize that attractiveness in the design of a home can reside in the eye of the beholder, but this does not imply that we can not all agree on many items. To make my point… if you ask anyone how they like their own car, they are invariably positive about it regardless of how it looks. On the other hand we all tend to admire the same, few, exciting cars that we don’t drive. So people may elect something that is bland even while they admire extraordinary items that other may have. It is this inclination for some prospective homeowners to choose the dreary options that I hope to counteract in this book. After all, exciting is exciting.
Hardscaping
When we think in terms of embellishing the property around our homes we generally think of landscaping… that is using grass, flowers and trees to add attraction to the grounds. Homeowners in the southwest generally know about the benefits of hardscaping - the use of non-plant materials as an alternative to landscaping. This includes such things as…
-pools, ponds and fountains
-rock formations
-wine barrels
-wood or rock paths
-bridges
-terracing
In addition there many types of groundcover like decomposed granite, rocks and stone, shredded bark, etc… in effect, using anything but greenery. The purpose for this type of hardscaping around an entire home is twofold…
-reduced water consumption
-reduced the time spent on yard maintenance
However unlike some of the homes I have seen that simply fill the yard with relatively unattractive rock, care should be take to combine this media with eye-catching islands of interest… a pond here, a rock pile there, a mounded area elsewhere, and so on. This variety of designs will add tremendously to the appearance of the home’s exterior.
Getting Advice
When you are looking for advice on many of the details that are part of home construction don’t expect your contractor to present many of those options to you. It is not necessarily their job, and it may not even be their expertise. They are builders first and designers second (or perhaps last). With some effort you might be able to find a designer or an architect to help, but in these cases they may be locked into their own background and style agenda. If you like the water they swim in then you may be in the right pond. If your thoughts reside elsewhere you may end up building their home instead of yours. A common mistake that people make is to assume that others have unbiased opinions. This is, of course, unrealistic since we all come with our own thoughts, attitudes and preconceived notions. Some people are better than others at giving good advice, and that skill may depend on whether or not they have something to gain from doing so. The motivation of the giver must always be considered. You know… use that grain of salt thing when listening to the advice of others for good ideas. When options are the result of being recommended by others it is the homeowner’s obligation to question the appropriateness of those ideas for their own situation. If guidance from others is accepted blindly the net result is that the prospective homeowner only has themselves to blame if the advice turns out badly. There is a plethora of bad decisions that are made regarding both the custom home design and its construction. Please do not think that you are immune from making your share of those mistakes. It takes research, education and conscientious evaluations to navigate this mine field. Sometimes a consultant, which is what I am, will have a more unbiased advice offering because they come with a broad range of experiences in dealing with the…
-client’s intentions – expressed or implied
-variety of designs
-choice of materials
-interiors styles
-range of appliances
-home design reviews
Generally the consultant should also not have an agenda that differs substantially from your own except when they have positive, constructive ideas to promote. There should be no conflict of interest in their recommendations because you are their interest. Ultimately though it is up to prospective homeowners to learn…
-what is possible
-what is available
-what it costs
-how well it conforms to the overall game plan
-what compromises need to be made
If down the road the thought: I wish I had comes to mind, perhaps the construction might have been better served by putting more up-front effort into analyzing the design or by obtaining a professional’s assistance in this matter. It has been my experience that all prospective homeowners would benefit from receiving outside advice when it comes from knowledgeable persons who have no particular objective other than to be informative.
Even those homeowners who feel that they are competent about design and construction have much to learn about discovering…