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A shouse, shome, or barndominium, (barndo)—call it what you wish—the combination of a shop and house as one building unit is one of the hottest trends in new home construction. Many owners are finding great value in this dual-purpose building. The structure combines a traditional house with a workshop that can accommodate work, hobby[...]

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If you have been researching the construction of a new home, you may have come across the term “Home Building Envelope” and wondered what they were talking about.

The building envelope is simply all the components of your home that work together to keep the outdoor environment from affecting the comfort and efficiency of the indoor[...]

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The quality of a building’s envelope is measured by the ability to prevent infiltration of outside air. Many prospective homeowners are familiar with the R-Value system that measures the insulation that goes into the new home. However, the stated R-Value doesn’t account for the wall’s actual thermal performance that may be[...]

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Finding the perfect site to build your new home will impact the enjoyment you have while living there and the investment you are making when it comes to the resale value. Whether you prefer the city or the country life, there are several considerations you can make in this very important step to building your dream home.

LOCATION

Spend some time[...]

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There is a strong focus now on healthier homes and creating a healthy indoor environment. The American Lung Association suggests asking your builder these questions to evaluate the expected health of your indoor environment.

1. What type of capillary break is used in the construction? A capillary break prevents water from moving up from the soil[...]

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Whether you love science or not, anyone planning to build a new home can benefit from an understanding of the science that affects home construction. Everyone wants a home that is affordable, comfortable, healthy and durable. Utilizing the components of proper building science when planning for your new home can allow you to achieve these[...]

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The Home Energy Rating System (HERS™) is the industry standard to measure a home’s energy efficiency. It is a nationally recognized system for inspecting and calculating a home’s energy performance. In 2020, over 269,000 homes have been rated.

The testing is performed by third-party raters who conduct inspections to verify a[...]

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As farm machinery continues to get larger and more expensive, many farms need to grow their machine storage space. A storage building can protect equipment providing more reliable performance. This protection can protect valuable parts and eliminate down-time and repair costs.  Other benefits of a new storage building include more capacity[...]

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The dream for this house started at the Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington, DC. It was there that James Hay was recovering from injuries he sustained in a bombing in Afghanistan. After he arrived at the hospital, doctors wanted to keep the brains of the soldiers moving, even though their physical abilities were limited.

“After being[...]

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Are you thinking of building a new home or a new shouse? The overall cost per square foot of your building project will be greatly determined by your list of wants and needs. Making decisions about a long list of choices can be overwhelming. One way to make sure you will remain in your targeted budget is to divide your considerations into a needs[...]

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According to the Department of Energy, a typical home contains a half-mile of cracks and gaps behind walls and around windows and doors, along with dozens of holes for pipes, vents, ducts, lighting, and wiring.

When these openings do not exist or are sealed, there are reduced drafts, moisture, dust, pollen, pests, and noise.

The energy savings[...]

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Community First! Village is a master planned community in Austin, Texas. The community, developed by Mobile Loaves and Fishes, (MLF) provides affordable, permanent housing and a supportive community for men and women coming out of chronic homelessness.

Energy Panel Structures (EPS) and authorized dealer Trevor Huffard of GeoFaze are supplying[...]

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