True Built Home News & Information

May 22
0

3 Alarming Trends Local Spokane Builders Are Getting Away With

By | Construction, Learning Center | No Comments

Homes are the single largest investment families across the United States make on a daily basis. However, to some builders, maximizing their profits is the driving force behind their motivation. This odd but scary fact is amplified when savvy clients do their due diligence, ask the right questions and use common sense to avoid shady, cheap builders and choose a builder like True Built Home instead to build their future investment and the place they call home. So, where are some builders cutting corners to make higher margins on your hard-earned money?

  1. Rebar in the foundation

    Rebar in the foundation

    It might shock you to know that some very high profile on your lot builders do not use rebar, or use the absolute bare minimum in their single story (rambler) homes in much of Eastern Washington. Typically, not using rebar can save a builder between $1800-3000 per home. Much of this is due to the seismic activity, or tectonic plates and large-scale movement of plates below the surface of the earth. In layman’s terms, we haven’t had many earthquakes so you don’t have to use rebar. However, even if the earth doesn’t move, load on a house, say in a corner, can put additional force on a foundation causing cracks. Actually, cracks in concrete is natural and is to be anticipated. That’s where rebar comes in. The steal reinforces the concrete, holding it together, instead of it simply falling away.

    • When visiting with a builder, you need to request actual proof that their foundation plans call out rebar in both the footing and stem walls.

     

  2. The frost line

    What is a frost line? Here is a link for Spokane City and County. Essentially, due to the freezing conditions in Eastern Washington, code requires that a minimum of 24 inches in depth be cut before you can pour a foundation, unless otherwise stipulated (such as flood areas). The frost line – also known as frost depth or freezing depth – is most commonly the depth to which groundwater in the soil is expected to freeze. When water freezes under the ground it causes “Frost Heave”.

    Frost heave

    The diagram above warrants your attention especially when a builder sets the start of the foundation right at the minimum requirement. Combine that with a lack of sufficient rebar in a foundation and you can understand why we said, “alarming” in our article.

    True Built Home in the Spokane area uses a 6″ x 12″ footing, steel-reinforced, with a 22-24″ stem wall. In total, your foundation wall will be 28-30″ in height (requiring that the excavation be dug normally 6″ inches deeper) compared to the builder who only has a combined total wall height of 24″, or the bare minimum.

     

  3. Heating and cooling your home

    Sometime back, Washington adjusted the energy codes for all counties. As a result, they raised the bar for the efficiency of hot water tanks and heating/cooling (HVAC) of homes. In a nut shell, a builder is awarded credits for the number of different methods he chooses to reach the code in order to be issued a building permit. For example, the type of hot water tank, the thickness of insulation, heel trusses, HVAC products and many others. So, the builder chooses how to achieve that method, not you when you order their standard home. When the code changed sometime back, we wrote an article about it. You can reference it here.

    Here’s the rub: 1 ductless unit will get the builder the same amount of credits as a full heat pump furnace package! So, why do some builders use an inferior approach to heating and cooling the entire home? Because it saves the builder thousands of dollars. Sure, if your home is 1,500 sq. ft. or smaller, these are great units and that’s what we use for our smaller homes. However, if you have a larger two-story or rambler home and you want cooling in say the back-half of the home, or upstairs, be prepared to shell out thousands of dollars for an additional second or even a third ductless unit from another builder. True Built Home has uses heat pumps and full furnaces on all homes 1,500 sq. ft. and above. On our ramblers, we run the venting in the ceilings of rooms. This keeps construction debris from accumulating, having the plenum in the attic allows for additional insulation value and not hanging it under the joist in the foundation crawlspace avoids any dampness due to flooding or bad weather.

Don’t fall for cheap home builders

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Oct 17
0

How to Use Bedroom Design to Get Better Sleep

By | Associates, Learning Center | No Comments

Interior design should always enhance and support the main purpose of a room. In the bedroom, that means using design to create a sleep sanctuary that offers an escape from the stress of your daily life. Here are a few ways you can use design to help relax your mind and body so that you can reach the deepest levels of sleep.

Use Light Wisely

Light plays an important factor in the quality of your sleep because the brain uses natural sunlight to time your sleep-wake cycle. To get the best rest, the bedroom needs to be completely dark at night. If you live in an area with light pollution, blackout curtains, heavy drapes, or blinds can help keep the room dark. However, if you want a light, airy bedroom during the day, don’t be afraid to use two layers of curtains. A sheer inner layer gives you privacy and light during the day, while a heavier second layer keeps it dark at night.

The artificial lighting in your bedroom also affects your sleep. For example, high efficiency LED bulbs give off bright blue light that suppresses the production of melatonin, a sleep hormone. Opt for traditional incandescent bulbs, which still provide adequate light without affecting your ability to sleep.

Keep the Bed Comfortable

The bed is the focal point of the bedroom and the quality of your sleep. Before you can worry about how it looks, you’ll need to make sure your mattress provides the support you need. A lumpy or sagging mattress can cause wakefulness during the night, leading to morning aches and pains.

Once you’ve purchased a comfortable mattress, there’s no need to stop there. A bed that looks comfortable and inviting can help you mentally and physically relax. Comfortable, breathable fabrics for your sheets like cotton and linen feel wonderful against the skin and look cool and crisp.  Accent pillows covered in plush fabrics like velvet or corduroy will make you ready to settle down for the evening.

Welcome in Nature

Natural and organic elements have a calming effect on the mind, and you can find them in almost any style. The key is to incorporate pieces that make you feel connected to nature.

Sconces and dressers with metallic branch accents bring a modern but natural feel to the room.

Shake things up with artwork made from reclaimed planks or find artwork depicting the forest scene you’d like to escape to. If you want something more rugged, stone and rock bring texture and color that still hint towards nature. The right elements should accentuate your style and make you feel connected to both nature and your bedroom.

Color Carefully

Color can pack a big psychological impact. Warm colors like red, orange, and yellow stimulate the mind and cause your heart rate to increase, which means they should be used sparingly in the bedroom.

Cool neutrals like white and gray are well known for their calming effect in any room. They also provide a blank canvas for decorating. However, if you want a little more excitement, cool blues and greens also bring a sense of peace. Pastels are popular and provide a hint of color, but don’t be afraid of deeper shades. Dark colors make a room feel cozy and are easier on the eyes. If you’re not ready for a navy blue bedroom, try an accent wall behind your bed for a touch of drama.

Ellie Porter
Managing Editor | SleepHelp.org
ellie@sleephelp.org

Feb 15
1

3 Great Outdoor Upgrades You Can Do to Your Brand-New Home

By | Construction, Learning Center, News & Info, Resources | No Comments

Image Source: Pexels.com

Many people dream of becoming homeowners after a certain point in their lives. The beauty of having your own place is a unique experience which is irreplaceable in one’s life. This is something that anyone living on their own can gladly confirm.

However, you won’t ever find a flawless property. Just by watching a couple of shows with people picking out residences, you will realize that there’s always something you’re not happy with. If you’re in the market for buying a new house, keep in mind that there isn’t one that is perfect right off the bat.

Home Outdoor Upgrades

Even if your potential investment looks great on the inside, the outside might still need a bit of sprucing up. But don’t worry, because you can make it look even better with a few quick and easy upgrades. Here are the best three that you can try.

1.     Install Reflective Shingles

Working a bit on updating your new home’s roof is a great project that will not only make it look more aesthetically pleasing overall, but it will also raise the quality of your living condition. By installing a more effective roof temperature-wise, you will reduce up to fifteen percent in cooling and heating costs.

To do this, you will need reflective shingles which absorb solar radiation and immediately reemit the absorbed heat. And the best part is they come in a great variety of colors and finished to suit any design tastes and ideas that you might have.

One important thing to remember is that there are many complexities to building and upgrading a roof, so don’t be afraid to bring in professional assistance if needed. Furthermore, this special kind of solar tiles needs a particular amount of attention when put in, and a contractor can surely aid you with that.

2.     Light Up Your Front Porch

When your friends or parents visit your new home for the very first time, the porch and front door will be what they make an initial impression on. To ensure that your living space is cozy and comfortable for everyone, how you choose to light the entrance into it is crucial.

According to HGTV, the way your front porch and entrance are lit sets the tone of your entire residence. To make your home more inviting to any possible guests and yourself as well, you can add surface-mounted lanterns for more luminosity.

This improvement changes the face of your surroundings entirely, but it can also be an important security element. Some makes and models of porch lights come with integrated surveillance cameras that are so well hidden, possible intruders won’t even know they’re being watched.

3.     Plant a New Garden

A new garden changes the feel of your surroundings tremendously. Just imagine a varied array of flowers and trees just outside your window that greet you each morning and brighten up your day. Doesn’t that sound lovely?

Depending on your budget and neighborhood of choice, your potential home might already have a garden. But chances are that it could do with some upgrading. Flower beds are the most convenient addition because you can pick and choose your elements freely and the process stays pretty much the same.

Another worthwhile idea is planting a rain garden to divert any excess water away from the house and to the plants that reside nearby. Not only is this an incredible eco-friendly landscaping option that will add to the area overall, but it can be put together with only native plants.

Conclusion

Upgrading your new residence’s exterior doesn’t have to be a costly or time-consuming endeavor. With just a few simple additions, you can change the feel and appearance of your surroundings completely. On top of that, these upgrades also serve more than just aesthetical purposes. They are functional and raise the value of your property on the market.

Reflective roofing looks great, but it also cuts down on cooling and heating costs for your house. New porch lights make the entire place more inviting, but they can also serve as an important security element and help you monitor your home. And finally, a small and cleverly positioned garden will help keep rain water away from the actual building and send it where it belongs.

Whatever upgrade you might choose, the best one must improve the area not only visually, but also functionally. Raising its effectiveness by making it look better at the same time is the best decision you can take.

Author Bio: A fresh Engineering Design graduate with a keen interest in all things DIY, Vincent West is the mastermind of www.theplumbinginfo.com. He has worked on a handful of home improvement projects. And now he’s eager to spread the word on what he has learned.

May 23
2

Solar Tiles for Roofing – Wave of the Future, or is the Price Higher Than The Sun?

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First, if you are reading this you likely have an interest in roof tile solar energy, or you just crave all things solar. I, on the other hand, often force myself to write blog posts because I want to learn all I can about a particular subject, or for that matter learn to intelligently pronounce certain words within an industry, like photo-voltaic! Although fascinated with solar generated power, I am always “on the job training” all the time within this space. My goal is always to attempt to take complicated things and simplify them for myself and others. Let’s see what we can learn.

True Built Home started getting requests several months ago when news of solar tiles from a company named Solar City was bought out or purchased by Elon Musk’s company Tesla. Interestingly my perspective was, “I like the way those big solar panels appear on rooftops”. However, much to my surprise others felt differently: unsightly, ugly, even dangerous if a gale force wind comes along.
In a statement in October 2016, Mr. Musk said this, “I think there’s quite a radical difference between having solar panels on your roof that actually make your house look better versus ones that do not, I think it’s going to be a night-and-day difference”. Well, that has been addressed and it appears to be the wave of the future for new roofs and roof replacements. But, here’s the rub: cost.

It has been written and repeated over the internet in news articles, company releases, blog posts, and more, that these new roof tiles will cost less than a typical 30 yr. architectural roof product. Let’s just say that typically a roof for a 2,100-2,500 square foot home with a standard two-car garage costs about 10k to install. From what we have likely all read, this seems to be repeated about the cost, “Our roof costs less than an equivalent roof, with projected savings from your utility bill.” It’s important to notice the “with” in that statement. The Tesla folks are projecting future savings into the cost equivalent of having the new tiles placed – based upon your monthly electric bill cost. That may present a problem for many of us here in the Pacific NW, because we often have the cheapest rates in the country. I am not sure what cost per KW that they are using for their projections, so costs will vary quite a bit. Now since I have done my research, perhaps you can help: I have not found an actual cost associated with those tiles. If I had to figure it out, it would take me some time to do so. Are the tiles 30 or 50-year life? What will be the cost of installation be? Will someone need to be certified by Tesla to guarantee the product against future failure or problems? Can we afford it, and does it make sense for our PNW customers?

We are eager to install this type of roof, but as of May 2017 we still do not have a cost that we can use to compare with what a traditional roof costs. I do know that a regular panel solar roof can run around 20-30k depending on what you want to accomplish in your home. From my perspective, that is at least 3 to 4-times the cost of our typical conventional roof tile. So, what typically might cost 5% of a new home, now we are looking at significantly more.

With an estimated 4-5 million new home roofs being installed annually, Mr. Musk and Tesla want to tap into that market in a big way. Will they? The wave of the future is here, but will the cost of buying, installing, etc. be too costly for us to ride?

Hear what Mr. Musk has to say about roof tiles

This is a link to a local company that covers both Washington and Oregon, but I don’t think anyone as of May 2017 knows the cost of these solar tiles yet.

Nov 10
0

38th Annual Tri-Cities Wine Festival

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What could be better than an evening of wine, food, and fun?

It’s that time of year again: the 38th Annual Tri-Cities Wine Festival is coming to Kennewick this Saturday, November 12! Reserve your tickets now for a night you won’t want to miss: http://www.tricitieswinesociety.com/tri-cities-wine-festival.html. There is never a dull day in the Tri-Cities area. If you’re looking to relocate to Kennewick, let us at True Built Home build you a home tailored to your needs: http://truebuilthome.com/.

11-10-16

Nov 08
0

Spokane Valley Heritage Museum

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Explore the Spokane Valley Heritage Museum!

11-8-16

If you’re ever in the Spokane area, you have to check out the Spokane Valley Heritage Museum! A treasure trove of fascinating historical artifacts, the Spokane Valley Heritage Museum is a must-see for any history lover. Stop by this Saturday, November 12, for the museum’s 12th annual Heritage Program and Luncheon focusing on electric transportation from the early 20th century. More information is available at: http://www.valleyheritagecenter.org/index.html. If you’re looking to move to the Spokane area, we at True Built Home have you covered. Contact us today and see how we can help you build your dream home at: http://truebuilthome.com/.

Nov 03
0

Best of Portland Walking Tour

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11-3-16Touring Portland

Portland is recognized as one of the best cities to live in nationwide, but what makes Portland so special? Find out for yourself on the Portland Walking Tour, held every day throughout November at 10am, 2pm, and 5pm:

http://www.portlandwalkingtours.com/tours/best-of-portland-city-tour/.

Tour Portland once and you’ll never want to leave! If you’re looking to move to the Portland area, at True Built Home we can help you move into a home custom tailored to your needs: http://truebuilthome.com/.

Nov 01
0

The Whisky Extravaganza

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11-1-16The 2016 Whisky Extravaganza is almost here!

On Friday, November 11, the Whisky Extravaganza will be coming to Seattle, Washington! Lovers of whisky won’t want to miss out on this amazing opportunity to sample the finest whiskies from all over the world. Ticketing and other information is available at: http://www.thewhiskyextravaganza.com/. With events like this happening nearly every day, it’s no wonder that so many people are looking to relocate to Seattle. At True Built Home, we will work with you to help you build your dream home in the Seattle area: http://truebuilthome.com/.

Oct 27
0

America’s Largest Antique and Collectible Show

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10-27-16You never know what you’ll find at the antiques show!

Come out to the Portland Expo Center for America’s Largest Antique and Collectible show to discover all of the beautiful and historic items on display!  http://www.expocenter.org/events/america’s-largest-antique-and-collectible-show-3

Wanting to move to the Portland area? Visit True Built Home for help building your custom dream home! http://truebuilthome.com/.