2012 RAB Spring Showcase of Homes

It is that time of year!  The 2012 Rochester Area Builder's annual Spring Showcase of Homes is fast approaching!  We will have one home entered this year.  It is a ranch-style home located in Shannon Oaks that we just recently finished.  The homeowners have been gracious to allow us to show off their beautiful home!  This home has a unique layout with many upgraded amenities and a beautiful finish.  A lot of time and energy was spent on making this exactly as our clients dreamed it to be.  It is a must see!

The Spring Showcase is held on April 14 & 15 and April 21 & 22 from 12:00 to 5:00.  We hope to see you there!

***Watch for additional information as the dates approach!***

A different approach to the way Energy Star has directed us to go!

This past year Energy Star has published a new version of the way they score homes and determine their HERS score.  I wrote a few topics about how homes were scored in a recent blog.  Energy Star recommended builders to now start using R-10 exterior foam in the areas below ground level.  I have always been a believer in using minimal insulation below ground level to allow the heat transfer to occur vs this newer version of the R-10.  My philosophy is our ground temp throughout the course of the year in MN runs around 55 degrees.  Frost in the winter and hotter temps in the summer play a factor in this going up or down as you get closer to the surface of the earth, but the average temp is pretty consistent.  My argument to them is that with this 55 degree temp we have below grade, we can use this to gain heat in the winter and lose heat in the summer months.  It is a free way to allow the heat to transfer and by adding more insulation to the exterior block or concrete wall we are eliminating this from the equation.  The same holds true with the under slab insulation and they agree with this.  It is recommended not to install 2 inches of foam below your concrete unless you are installing in floor heat with water piping under the concrete.  My solution to the dilemma fell on deaf ears, but I feel it is the best possible option.  I believe we should have the 2 inches of foam installed on the block or concrete wall just 12 inches or so below ground level.  After this point, we would be much more efficient running the same 2” of foam at an angle 4’ away from the home.  I would then carry only 1” of foam down to the footing of the home.  My only logic for keeping the 1 inch of foam running down the wall is to make a condensation point for water on the exterior of the block or poured wall.  Basically what I’m trying to create is a constant wall temperature along the block or poured wall in the lower level.  The 2” in foam angled away from the home prevents frost or heat from entering the ground vertically and allows us to maintain a constant 55 degrees along the vast majority of the outside of the wall.  I’m happy to present this diagram to anyone interested in seeing it.  I truly feel it is a better way to incorporate the ideas Energy Star has pushed into the new version.    

COLORING CONTEST 2012!!!

It is that time of year again for the annual Coloring Contest.  If you were at the Rochester Area Builder's Home Show and stopped at our booth, the kids had a chance to enter into the coloring contest to win $100 gift card to Toys R Us!  We have posted the entries on our Facebook page "Med City Builders of Rochester, LLC".  All you have to do is like your favorite picture.  The two pictures with the most likes will win!  Good luck to all of our contestants!

What a difference a year makes

To say the least!!!  We went from record snowfalls to record lack of snow in one year.  Both years have lead to very little frost to deal with in the ground, so both years have been good for a winter full of building and an early start this spring.  One of this years benefits is that the lack of moisture in the ground and air should lead to better building materials this winter and a lack of the nail pops and or sheetrock cracks that occur because of it.  We are already starting to see the spring market heat up.  Several of my listings have seen an upsurge in showing activity and several of the clients waiting to sell prior to building are seeing the same results.  I typically have the spring rolling and underway once the Home Show is finished, so now is the time to begin the planning process.  The show is only a month or so away and by the time plans and financing get completed, we are a month away already.  I have several homes underway right now for any potential client to preview as well as a 100 or more homes from the past that we can look over as well.  I have super relationships with past customers and am happy to take the time you need looking at possible floor plans.  The spring looks to be a busy one for me, so call today to ensure we can accommodate all of your needs!

Would you pay 1% more to have your entire home be 100% American Made?

I recently read about and watched a report on ABC News about the effects on our economy of buying American Made products for building new homes.  They stated, if all home builders in our country bought just 5% more American made products than before, we could generate some 250,000 new jobs in our country.  I currently use many of the products on the list ABC published, but was looking for feedback for our own region on if buyers would be willing to pay the 1% difference in price they discussed if I used ALL American made products.  I really would appreciate your feedback.  I plan on making a conscience effort to purchase more American made goods regardless, but would love to hear your feedback.  I will post this on Facebook as well and would appreciate your input!

Should we drain our water heater???

I know many of my past customers use this blog as a tool for making their homes more efficient.  During all of my final walk throughs, 30 day walk throughs, and even the one year walk through with my past customers I mention emptying their water heater yearly.  While most don't ever even touch this appliance once it is turned on, there are some very inexpensive things we can do to make it last much longer than the typical life expectancy.  To drain your water heater, simply turn the switch to the unit off.  It is typically located near the floor where you would also adjust the temperature.  Once it is shut off, find the main line of water into the water heater.  This is located just above the water heater usually.  Now that the power and the water source is off to the unit, attach a garden hose to the screwed outlet on the water heater.  Once the hose is attached and ran to the floor drain, take a flat head screw driver and use it to open the valve next to the screwed outlet.  It typically doesn't take long to drain the water out, but by doing it this way the sediment on the bottom of the water heater leaves as well as the water.  This sediment is typically what accumulates over time and will eventually cause the water heater to rust from the bottom.  Once the water heater is drained of the water, screw the valve closed completely.  Then open the water valve on the top of the water heater back up to fill the unit up.  Remember not to turn the water heater on before any of this.  Doing so can damage the water heater due to how fast the elements can heat up.  Once the unit is filled and no water is leaking from the valves, turn on the water heater switch to start the heating of the water once again.  This is really that simple to do and it will more than likely add years of worry free operation to your homes water heater.  

Wait till spring or start now?

Simple question and most would say waiting till spring is the right answer.  I can't totally disagree with them either,  but we are in the perfect storm right now.  Building costs and labor costs have been suppressed for years now and the pent up demand is starting to build in our industry.  I have first hand seen the costs starting to tick up the wrong direction for the homeowner looking to build down the road.  While waiting till spring has his merit, the idea of an interest rate going from the low 4% range even to a 6% range decreases a buyers buying power by tens of thousands of dollars.  I also wrote blogs in the past discussing the ideas of the materials being so much dryer in the fall and winter months.  Come spring the materials have had a chance to gain moisture from the snow and the increasing humidities in the air.  This is the first cause of a home seeing nail pops and sheetrock cracks.  I monitor the homes I build a year after they are completed and have definitely noticed a difference on the homes we start in the fall vs spring.  The fall homes have much less movement and much less for cosmetic cracks over time.  That all being said, I'm not against spring building.  It is obviously the busiest time of the year for me.  I just don't want to see someone miss out on a valuable opportunity when while we are sitting in the eye of this perfect storm.  Call or email your requests today!!