Design/Build

Conservation & Green Building

Working with Architects

Technology

Warranty

Design/Build

Design/build means working with a single team from start to finish, from concept through design through execution. Design/Build is for people who want a more active role in planning the construction of their homes and who appreciate the convenience and consistency of working with one firm from start to finish. Frequently, our clients come to us with a strong sense of the type of house they want. Sometimes, clients may have seen a standard plan from a planbook that suits their needs with just a few minor changes. In other instances, clients come to us with nothing more than a description or a wish list. The client's building site is an essential consideration. When our clients have selected a piece of land for serious consideration, we will walk the property with them, pointing out ideal building sites, discussing such issues as where to site the driveway and how to ensure proper drainage, which trees to preserve, even how to improve the views. With a client's program in hand, we can advise them as to the suitability of the land to meet certain "must-haves" on the list. By listening to our clients and getting to know their building site, we are able to create a custom home designed just for the way they live.

Conservation & Green Building

We consider it a privilege to live in Central Virginia, surrounded by pastoral countryside, with the Blue Ridge Mountains as a backdrop. We have always been committed to observing principles of energy conservation and preservation of natural resources given we started doing business as “Energy Conserving Homes” in 1976. We eagerly assist clients in siting their homes to their best advantage, preserving selected trees, preventing erosion, making the most of sun and shade, always practicing energy efficient construction techniques.

We were one of the first local builders to be certified as an EarthCraft House Builder in Virginia. EarthCraft House is a program owned by the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Assn. and Southface Energy Institute that has been introduced to Virginia through the Virginia Sustainable Building Network and the Blue Ridge Home Builders Assn. EarthCraft House is a green building program that serves as a blueprint for healthy, comfortable homes that reduce energy bills and protect the environment. EarthCraft Homes will save at least 30% in heating and cooling costs over a conventionally constructed home and also use more energy efficient lighting and appliances as well as recycled building materials. To find out more about Earth Craft House, click here. To see the guidelines to qualify as an Earth Craft House, click here.

Working with Architects

Architects can play an important role in the building process, whether they are fully responsible for design and specifications, or simply join our team for a few hours of consultation. Architects enter the equation in one of three ways: 1) An architect has designed a house for a client, considers us part of his "short list" of appropriate builders, and approaches us about building it; 2) A client knows us by reputation or referral and asks us to recommend an architect to design the residence; 3) We enlist the help of an architect on a particular aspect of one of our own design/build projects.

Technology

With technology changing at an unprecedented rate, we realize that though we are building for today's needs, we must consider tomorrow's possibilities as well. Whether your concern is a state-of-the-art media room, an in-floor heating system, high-speed internet capability, or "smart house" wiring, we are able to acquaint you with the latest innovations and to recommend options that will make your new house more adaptable once its not so new anymore. Often, our clients are building the house of a lifetime, so we know how important it is that the house can provide for your needs into the future.

Warranty

Simply put, we stand behind our work. Our written contract specifies a full one-year warranty on what we build, but our commitment to customer satisfaction reaches well beyond that year. If there's a problem we'll fix it, regardless of the time.