Build Specs

I like to use precision cut steel framing over wood when possible. 

Steel offers the following benefits: 

• Stronger than wood

• Mold & pest resistant: Termites don't eat steel. If they start eating steel, I gonna retire.

• Fire resistant

• Straight & Level: Wood warps. Wood bends. Wood may not dry completely or correctly before hitting the job site. Steel is straight and strong.

• Less site waste: The framing is cut and partially assembled prior to shipping. There is barely any waste involved unlike wood framing.

• Faster assembly: Takes only a couple of days to put the framing together with a crew of about 3-4 people.

Steel framing offers design flexibility that wood framing cannot offer, allowing for larger spans and more modern designs. Wood headers can't take the weight load that steel can. a steel header or truss has better design flexibility than wood. 

Our framing packages are pre-punched for all plumbing and wiring. This saves tons of time for rough electrical and rough plumbing phases.

Steel offers less waste. If you've ever been on site where a home is being framed, you realize the tremendous amount of wood waste created by the endless cuts that have to be made by the framers. Steel framing that is precision cut has near-zero on-site waste. 

We even recess the screw heads so that walls can be completely flush against the studs.

To avoid thermal bridging that can occur with steel framing, all homes are wrapped in computer cut insulated sheathing.  Thermal bridging is where the steel framing absorbs and transfers temperature from the outside to the inside of the home. We don't want that. The sheathing serves as a barrier between the steel and the outside temps.  For most builds, we will use Zip Sytem or similar sheathing.

Luxury vinyl plank (LVP) is leading the industry in affordable, durable flooring. With endless selections, LVP can look a lot like wood without all of the challenges that real wood poses. We prefer LVP because it is waterproof and largely animal proof.  It's scratch resistant, durable surface is easy to clean and maintain.  It is also easier to repair if necessary. 

We can also use engineered hardwood floors. They aren't waterproof like LVP but they can be beautiful. 

In some flooring situations, we may choose to use carpet. We make every effort to find carpet that is more natural and has less off-gassing. 

I like modern appliances. Not just the standard-looking appliances. I am going for a design aesthetic inside these homes. When choosing appliances for each home, we look at reliability as much as we look at aesthetics. We want to create a beautifully cohesive design that serves the homeowner well for years to come. 

• Washer and Dryer - In some of our designs, we use stacked washers and dryers. It saves space to stack these appliances by going vertical with them. Personally, I prefer stacked W/Ds because I don't have to bend over to get into the dryer and find that last sock

• Refrigerators - We prefer to use counter depth refrigerators when possible as they tend to look the best. This means that the fridge doesn't stick out way past the front face of the countertops.

• Cooktops - We prefer cooktops over freestanding ranges. We can use gas (if available on the build lot), electric, or electric induction. 

• Ovens - In the builder's personal home, he opted out of having a traditional oven. He prefers his small air fryer/oven and we built that into the kitchen cabinets.  

• Microwave - Generally built in above the built in oven or lower in the island. 

Most of our designs call for custom cabinetry not only for the kitchen, but for other rooms as well. The Barn style 800 that we build, for example, uses custom cabinetry in the loft, kitchen, garage and master bedroom. The plan has no traditional closets. Instead, built-in cabinets take care of the storage needs. What you'll find is a minimalist design that caters to a simplified lifestyle. 

We use solid surface countertops (granite, quartz, engineered marble) on the kitchen and bath countertops.