Throughout the years you have likely seen their entries in the Showcase of Homes. You have become familiar with the identifying traits of new homes by Bay Lakes — the tasteful use of quality materials and colors, the highly functional floor plans, the dramatic curb appeal of their exteriors, the meticulous craftsmanship, and the unique architectural detailing. All of these defining elements of a new home by Bay Lakes are highly visual. But what about those equally important unseen details that impact the living quality of a new home? This is a topic Paul feels strongly about.

“We are very concerned that the exterior of our homes maintain a high level of aesthetic value and, of course, the floor plan has to function,” Paul explains, “but everything has to perform well together as a system or you’re not going to enjoy your home.

It is a priority for Soletski to educate his customers on building performance, which can be easily overlooked when simply shopping for price.

“We try to ensure that our customers think about the internal environment of their home during the planning process,” says Soletski. “Bay Lakes is proud to use one of the best insulating products on the market today to achieve high ‘R’ values and building tightness. But because our homes are built so tight, it is critical to have properly installed and efficient mechanical systems working together as part of a whole-house ventilation system. These are details we take great care in researching right down to the bathroom exhaust fans we use.”

Joe Nagan, Technical Director for the Wisconsin Energy Star Homes (WESH) program, goes on to state, “The blower door testing on Bay Lakes Builders’ program homes show that they are not only meeting our stringent air tightness requirements, but are exceeding the target on average by 50%. This should provide their customers with an increase in comfort, long-term building durability, and a permanent reduction in long-term operating costs.”

Designated as a “Performance Builder” in the WESH program, Bay Lakes’ participating homes are tested for building tightness and proper ventilation by an independent third-party inspector. The subsequent test results and computer modeling indicate that Bay Lakes’ homes typically have heating and cooling costs up to 35 percent below typical new homes constructed to meet state building code (+/- $1,000 annual savings for a 2,100 sq. ft. home).

Moreover, Bay Lakes Builders has been committed to “green” building before “green” became common household terminology. As far back as 1995, Bay Lakes collaborated with Wisconsin Public Service to construct a model home called “The Power House” intended to showcase the latest in energy-efficient products and design. One of these products was blown cellulose insulation. A standard tool in the Bay Lakes arsenal ever since, cellulose provides many benefits a homeowner may never see or realize.

The cellulose allows much less air infiltration through the wall--limiting drafts and providing increased comfort. It also includes a fire-retardant UL rating and will not support mold growth as compared to typical fiberglass insulation. In addition to its R22 sidewall and R44 attic insulation values, the system also provides outstanding soundproofing qualities. Furthermore, cellulose is made from a renewable natural resource which diverts waste from landfills, limits greenhouse gas emissions during manufacturing, and also prevents waste paper from releasing environmentally harmful gases as it decomposes.

Besides the use of cellulose, Bay Lakes continues to employ other conventional green building practices such as radon mitigation, high-efficiency furnaces and air conditioners, and direct venting of combustion vapors while also utilizing some newer green building practices such as geo-thermal and modern “hybrid” heat pumps.

Another area that Paul and the Bay Lakes team feel strongly about is eliminating surprises during the home building process. If you’ve ever heard of a friend, family member, or co-worker having a challenging building experience—poor communication is almost always the culprit. That’s why the Bay Lakes team is willing to spend as much time as necessary to educate customers and put their minds at ease. And with several family members (four) working as part of the team, there is a great deal of pride, trust, and loyalty in making sure that the job gets done right and customers are always in the know.

By listening carefully to their customers and drawing on their extensive construction experience, Paul and the Bay Lakes staff are able to provide highly detailed estimates up front that minimize confusion and unexpected charges down the road. With such detailed specifications in hand, Bay Lakes’ customers know exactly what they’re getting for their dollar. This peace of mind allows the rest of the building and selection process to be much more enjoyable. And once you have finally moved in to your dream home, you will have comfort in knowing that your new home is covered under Bay Lakes’ one-year warranty.

To summarize, you’ve already likely seen that Bay Lakes’ home designs are inspiring, well-crafted, and functional. But what you may not have realized is that their construction techniques provide a durable, energy-efficient, and comfortable home environment that costs less to operate than typical new homes. Their customer service is also second-to-none, ensuring that each of your concerns are addressed from the very first meetings to well beyond the completion of your home. Furthermore, the longstanding relationships Bay Lakes has with their subcontractors means that they’re able to offer a consistent product in each new home that they build.

In addition, Bay Lakes Builders will custom-build your own house plans on your own lot. Don’t have either? Don’t worry. You may choose from one of their extremely popular “Design Series” home plans as seen on their website, or Bay Lakes will listen to your specific needs to design a completely original house plan expressive of your own tastes and lifestyle needs.

Bay Lakes also offers several home sites in architecturally controlled communities with the design consistency to help protect your investment. But if they don’t have the lot you’re looking for, they can help you find it. Bay Lakes’ sister company – GreenList Realty – has licensed agents specializing in buyer services while also providing discounted flat rates to help sell your existing home.

In addition to custom home design & construction, Bay Lakes Builders also offers services for “barrier-free” homes, finished basements, remodeling, and additions. When it comes to making one of the most significant investments of your lifetime, you can trust the experienced professionals at Bay Lakes Builders & Development to provide satisfaction and value in building the home of your dreams. Call them toll-free at (800) 492-3666 or visit www.baylakesbuilders.com for details.

Guildmaster Award Winner 2008 Guildmaster With Distinction
2009 Guildmaster With Distinction
2010 Guildmaster With Distinction
2011 Guildmaster With Distinction

Affiliations GuildQuality
National Association of Home Builders
EnergyStar
Brown County Home Builders Association
Wisconsin Builders Association
Door County Home Builders Association
Valley Home Builders Association