Congratulations on building a new home! We agree that great communication and consistent updates are needed. Photos of the updated work can be very helpful. If there are any setbacks such as weather, material unavailability etc… these should be communicated to you as well so that you will have appropriate expectation for when the project will be completed.

Best wishes!

Solar panels are a great "green" addition to any home. That said, the roof underneath the solar panels is just as important. With an asphalt roof, the homeowner is going to be removing the solar panels to replace the asphalt roof long before the solar (PV) needs to be replaced. This wise choice would be to install a lifetime aluminum energy star rated roof and attachthe PV solar to the new metal roof. When the PV needs to be replaced or removed the roof will still be in service. In fact will last for many years beyond the life of the solar panels. On a different note, if you decide to install solar be sure you have a landing area for the snow slides coming off the panels. It is a little known problem that is just coming to light by the industry. Snow slides coming off a roof with solar can cause significant damage or injury. Be sure to address this issue with your solar contractor.

+1

If you can amortize it into the long term loan on the home, it is a 100% no brainer.

Yes!!

With anything like this, I hate to be the first especially with this manufacturer. They brought out the Nest smoke detector and it get recalled.  I would rather wait  and watch the press and blogs and when the dust clears and all is good then starting specifiing them. 

Phililp Anderson

Berkeley CA

The answer to this question is directly related to the climate that you live in.  The major window manufacturers offer glazing that is designed for the solar heat gain and temperatures in the various climate zones. You can obtain information either through a reputable window company in your area or by visting the websites of national window companies such as Anderson, Pella, Milguard, etc.

Alex, the region you are in is crucial and consider the cost vs time of recapitization

I have Rumford fireplaces in my antique house. When we had an addition built in 1998 we added another one. My advice would be to fine an experienced mason who has built these before and check with the local building department to be sure it can be done with all the building code requirements in place today. If I had it to do over I would have tried to get “pumpkin seed” brick. It is an antique English brick, a little smaller with a narrower face compared to new brick, which came over from England as ballast in the ships.

Depending on the application, spray foam is oftentimes preferable.  Closed cell spray foam, applied properly, can also help reduce or eliminate the growth of mold, as long as it doesn't exist already.  Spray foam is typically more costly, but has many benefits to include an excellent R value.

Hey Andy,

Consider setting up a DropBox account with your builder, so you can receive regular photos of the progress they are making. photos to answer questions you may have about product or performance. Email doesn't work as well because the size of emails restrict the number that can be sent in one email. DropBox allows you to not only post hundreds of photos, but you are also able to post various warranties, etc that you want to save for your own files.

DropBox is pretty convenient, unless of course you'd rather get several emails a day, charting the course of your new home.

Congratulations on the new home!

Chris Stebnitz

Stebnitz Builders

Elkhorn, WI 53121

Some states do not require registered design professionals to handle new single-family construction and renovation.  If your project is relatively straight-forward or does not require extensive creative design, you could consider a residential designer - AIBD would be one way to locate those design professionals, though many excellent residential designers are not affiliated with a national trade association.

One you've determined that an architect is the right fit, begin with AIA.  Many of the state American Institute of Architects affiliates list their members by areas of expertise and experience.

Possible questions for designer candidate interviews:

1. Show us examples of recently-completed projects similar to ours and send us contact info for owners and builders.
2. Do you emphasize function or form in your work?
3. Walk us through the design process from concept to project completion for a project like ours, pointing out milestones along the way and including estimated time required from concept to a design that's ready for construction.
4. Tell us how you prefer to be compensated for your work.
5. How do you participate in the process of selecting a builder for the project?
6. Do your normal service offerings include Construction Administration (CA)?
7. Do you carry professional liability insurance?
8. When your opinion about a particular design feature difrers from the opinion of your client, how do you resolve the conflict?

Good luck with your project!

GAVIGAN PLAN FOR SUCCESS

ANDY, YOUR CONCERNS ARE VALID AND ERIC & CHRIS are Spot on...   COMMUNICATE AND I WOULD ADD VALIDATE. Here in the Lowcountry concerns are the same for soem clients.

Protect your custom build by Video monitoring and third party inspections by actual inspectors. In the age of Video monitoring a simple data and power drop allows 24/7 video monitorings for the owner and Contractor. Most cable compabnies will run the data drops since you will use them after. (We provide this service free now for our owners out of market.)

- Validation of Lien Releases & Material Lien based on scopes and agreements, the pitfalls are in the contractual managament

- Notice of commencement filed at the County Gov't (Best 15-50 dollars an owner and GC can spend)

- video updataes weekly or pictures ( GOOGLE + | FACEBOOK | OR A MANAGEMENT SOFTWEAR )

You must haVe a good relationship, trust your builder, and Confirm

TRUST & CONFIRM

BILLY GAVIGAN, PRES GAVIGAN

CONGRATS ON THE CUSTOM HOME......

Hello!

On a weekly basis you should recieve a job update.  In the update it should let you know if the schedule has changed due to weather, delievery issues, or product delay.  One thing we have done is we set up a picture account.  We take before pictures of a project and then update the photo album every week or two depending on how much progress you are able to see in the photo.  Also we take specific photos of items requested by customers. 

The key is to have good communication!

Good Luck!

Surround sound is generally installed in front of and around an entertainment system including your TV or video monitor and often several locations throughout the house may need surround sound as in Home Theaters.  It should just be a few hundred dollars per system, per location to prewire surround.  If you are looking for whole house sound systems, that is a different story and generally each room is not surround but has stereo speakers and depending on the number of rooms and your distribution system, it can vary quite a bit.  Most good security systems today are wireless and I would highly recommend any glass door or window area easily accessible from the outside have glass breakage sensors.

Who made then the design change decission? Was it you that changed something and the seat was dropped due to the change? Or was it initiated by the builder? Did something else change that necessitated the eleimination of the seat?

If you requested a change that cause this to happen and missed it until the walk through the I don't see the builder as responsible. But if he did it on his/her own then I think they are accountable. In ether event there should have been a change order to document  the alteration.  

With more info about the cause and how it was initiated, if it was documented,if at all, would help the resolution to be much clearer. I can see responsiblity on both side. And a lot of greive and agreavation if laywer and courts get involved.

I would suggest arbitration as the next best course of action if you and the builder can't work it out between you.