DOWN LOAD THIS PAGE AND USE THE INFORMATION BELOW TO INFORM YOUR DECISIONS ABOUT OPTIONS

FOUNDATION         SLAB OR WOOD FLOOR?

SLAB

   1 NEEDS FLAT GROUND

   2 DOESN’T NEED STAIRS OR RAILS

   3 NOT AFFECTED BY TERMITES OR ROT

   4 CAN ACCOMMODATE MOST FLOOR COVERINGS

   5 MAY NOT REQUIRE ANY EXCAVATION.

WOOD FLOOR

   1 NEEDS CONCRETE FOOTINGS UNDER SUPPORTING STRUCTURES

   2 CAN BE USED ON SLOPED OR UNEVEN GROUND

   3 ALLOWS ACCESS TO UTILITIES UNDER THE FLOOR.

   4 ELEVATES STRUCTURE FOR VIEW OR BREEZE

   5.  REQUIRES STAIRS AND RAILS

   6. FOOTINGS MUST BE BURIED ( REQUIRES EXCAVATION)

   7. WINDOWS AND GUTTERS ARE HIGHER FOR MAINTENANCE

ARE JOISTS         HUNG OR STACKED?

HUNG

   1 JOISTS ARE HUNG ON GIRDERS WITH  METAL JOIST HANGERS

   2. BECAUSE JOIST AND GIRDER ARE ON THE SAME LEVEL, 9-FOOT SIDING CAN         COVER THE ENTIRE WOOD FLOOR FRAMING ( JOISTS AND GIRDERS).

STACKED

1. JOISTS SIT ON TOP OF THE GIRDER WITH NO METAL HANGERS
2. BECAUSE JOISTS ARE ABOVE THE GIRDER, 9-FOOT SIDING LEAVES THE BEAM EXPOSED
3. YOU CAN USE LONGER SIDING TO COVER FRAMING.

Roof style

      GABLE

1. SIMPLEST AND LEAST EXPENSIVE.
2. ALLOWS FOR VAULTED CEILINGS UNDER.
3. GOOD PLATFORM FOR SOLAR PANELS.
4. EXPOSES GABLE ENDS TO WEATHER.

       HIP

1. PROVIDES EAVE PROTECTION ON ALL WALLS
2. MOST DIFFICULT TO VENTILATE
3. RESTRICTS (NOT PREVENTS) VAULTING CEILINGS
4. SEEM TO BE MORE ATTRACTIVE THAN GABLE
5. CAN LIMIT THE LOCATION OF SOLAR PANELS

        DUTCH GABLE

1. SAME EAVE PROTECTION AS HIP
2. VENTS THROUGH GABLE ENDS
3. LESS RESTRICTIVE OF VAULTED CEILINGS
4. LESS LIMITING OF SOLAR PANELS

        SHED

1. THE ENTIRE ROOF CAN BE USED FOR SOLAR PANELS
2. GUTTERS ONLY AT ONE END
3. USUALLY REQUIRES LARGER RAFTERS OR MID-BUILDING SUPPORT
4. LEAVES TALL SIDE OF HOUSE EXPOSED TO WEATHER
5. SOMETIMES NEEDS LONGER RAFTERS THAN WE KEEP IN STOCK

         OTHER

1. CLERESTORY
2. GAMBREL
3. BUTTERFLY
4. FLAT
5. DOMED
6. A-FRAME
7. SALTBOX
8. MANSARD
9. INTERSECTING
10. JERKINHEAD
11.  
12. ABOUT ANYTHING YOU CAN IMAGINE THAT WILL KEEP THE HOUSE PROTECTED

CEILING STYLE

OPEN BEAM

1. BEAMS SHOW
2. USUALLY 4” BEAMS 48” OC
3. MUST WORRY ABOUT FINISHING AND WEATHER
4. DIFFICULT TO INSULATE
5. COMPLICATES ELECTRICAL WIRING
6. HAS LOTS OF INSIDE CORNERS TO HOLD SPIDER WEBS
7. REQUIRES RIDGE BEAM

VAULTED

1. FRAMED WITH 2” RAFTERS
2. THE CEILING IS NOT INSTALLED UNTIL AFTER THE ROOF IS ON
3. AIR SPACE FOR INSULATION AND WIRING
4. REQUIRES RIDGE BEAM
5. CAN BE DONE WITH SCISSOR TRUSSES

FLAT

1. DONE WITH TRUSSES 24” OC

SIDING

1. WE SPECIFY T-1-11 PLYWOOD.
2. SMART PANEL
3. HARDIE PANEL
4. HARDIE PLANK
5. OTHER SIDINGS ARE AVAILABLE

WINDOWS              

1.  WE USE MILGARD DOUBLE-GLAZED SLIDERS
2.  OTHER WINDOWS CAN BE USED BUT ARE ALMOST ALL MORE EXPENSIVE.
3.  SIZES CAN BE ALTERED BUT STILL MUST ALLOW ACCEPTABLE WALL   BRACING

CATCHMENT   

          IF A CATCHMENT IS REQUIRED, WE NEED TO HAVE PROPER ENGINEERING              FOR IT ON THE PLAN. AMONG THE TANKS AVAILABLE ARE THE FOLLOWI

     1. SWIMMING POOLS

     2. GALVANIZED TANKS IN MULTIPLE SIZES

     3. CHEMTAINERS ( SOMETIMES THE  TANK IS 12’ HIGH)

     4. FERROCEMENT 

 SANITATION                   

             IF THERE IS NO SEWER LINE AVAILABLE, WE MUST                                               USE A SEPTIC SYSTEM

 WATER HEATING 

        THE STATE REQUIRES A SOLAR WATER HEATER BUT WILL ALLOW

        VARIANCES FOR:  

        ON-DEMAND GAS (ALSO REQUIRES ONE OTHER GAS APPLIANCE)

        ATTRACTIVE BECAUSE OF THE LOW INITIAL COST AND NO                NEED TO HAVE A STORAGE TANK

HEAT PUMP

         IT REQUIRES A TANK BUT NOT AS BIG AS SOLAR.

         WORKS ON ELECTRICITY EVEN AT NIGHT OR ON 

          CLOUDY  DAYS. 

PHOTOVOLTAIC ELECTRICAL.

 ROOF TYPE                     

1. CORRUGATED ( THE WAVEY ONE)
2. RIBBED  (FLATS AND HUMPS)
3. OTHERS ARE AVAILABLE, USUALLY AT GREAT COST