As we look toward the future of building insulation, a growing consensus is forming around the need for innovative solutions. One promising approach is exterior insulation, which moves away from traditional methods that place insulation between wall studs.

By utilizing waste wood products, we can effectively prevent these materials from being incinerated and releasing harmful emissions into the atmosphere. This nontoxic alternative not only replaces potentially hazardous materials but also performs the same function more sustainably.

What’s not to love about a solution that prioritizes safety and environmental stewardship? It’s a win-win for our buildings and our planet.

The most durable home is the one that can withstand the various forces of nature, including rain, sun, smoke, fire, insects, earthquakes, landslides, and wind.

If you aspire to have a home that stands the test of time, dedicate your time, resources, and finances to acquire top-quality materials and ensure their proper installation. By doing so, you can relish in the comfort of your home for the next century, secure in the knowledge that you've made every effort to construct a residence worthy of passing down through generations.

In this video, we will delve into the finest materials and installation techniques, offering a nearly foolproof path to a home that can endure for a century.

The key to any successful construction project is quality workmanship and maintaining a good relationship with inspectors. It's essential to avoid cutting corners, always be respectful, and provide inspectors with what they need. But what do you do when two inspectors visit your job site at different times and disagree on what needs to be done?

This situation leads to frustrating delays. On the Cereza project, we encountered just such a scenario. The conflicting opinions of the inspectors forced us to escalate the issue to the head building official for resolution. This meant we needed revisions from the engineer, which we had already obtained but now had to resubmit to the city.

The approval process took an additional five weeks, partly because our submission coincided with someone's vacation. Such unexpected hurdles are part and parcel of the construction world.

Ahhhh, construction...

Have you ever wondered why wall textures have such peculiar names? More importantly, do you know what each of them means and how to choose the right one for your home? Or if you need different textures for each room? Don’t worry; we’ve got you covered.

Wall textures aren’t just about aesthetics—they play a significant role in the functionality and feel of your home. Knowing the differences between textures can help you make informed decisions during your building or remodeling projects.

Firstly, why do we have such unique names for wall textures? These names often derive from the techniques used to create them or their historical origins. For instance, "Skip Trowel" refers to a method where a trowel skips across the surface, creating a distinctive pattern, while "Old World" evokes a sense of rustic, European charm.

So, what does each texture mean, and how do you decide which one to use? Here’s a quick guide:

• Skip Trowel: This texture adds a touch of elegance and hides minor imperfections, making it great for living rooms and bedrooms.

• Level 5 Finish: This is the smoothest and most premium finish, ideal for spaces with lots of natural light where you want to avoid any imperfections being highlighted.

• Old World: This texture brings a timeless, classic look, perfect for creating a cozy and inviting atmosphere in any room.

When choosing textures, consider factors like ease of cleaning, durability, cost, and how well they hide damage. For example:

• Ease of Cleaning: Smooth textures like Level 5 are easier to clean but may show dirt and smudges more readily.

• Durability: Rougher textures like Skip Trowel can be more durable and better at hiding wear and tear.

• Cost: Generally, the smoother and more intricate the texture, the higher the cost.

• Damage Visibility: Some textures, like Orange Peel, can help camouflage minor dents and scratches.

Stay tuned as we break down the most popular drywall textures, helping you understand their characteristics and the best applications for each. Whether you’re building a new home or remodeling, this guide will ensure you make the best choices for your walls.

Creating an outdoor space not only adds an extra layer of protection to your home but also provides a serene retreat from the elements, whether you're basking in the warm glow of a sunny day or seeking shelter from a stormy, frozen winter. When that space is constructed by skilled craftsmen, it becomes a truly special haven.

Imagine stepping onto a beautifully crafted cedar porch, where the rich aroma of the wood mingles with the fresh outdoor air. This inviting space becomes an extension of your home, offering a perfect spot to unwind with a good book, enjoy a cup of coffee, or gather with loved ones for meaningful conversations.

A cedar porch, with its natural resistance to decay and insects, promises longevity and durability, ensuring that your sanctuary remains a cherished part of your home for years to come. The warm, reddish-brown hues of the cedar planks add a touch of elegance and warmth, blending seamlessly with the surrounding landscape.

Whether you're watching the sunset on a summer evening, listening to the gentle patter of rain, or sipping hot cocoa while wrapped in a cozy blanket during winter, a well-built cedar porch enhances these moments, making them even more memorable. The craftsmanship that goes into building such a space reflects a dedication to quality and a passion for creating something truly extraordinary.

So, when you choose to invest in a cedar porch, you're not just adding an architectural feature to your home; you're creating a timeless retreat where memories are made and cherished. It's a space that invites you to slow down, breathe deeply, and appreciate the beauty of the outdoors from the comfort of your own home.

Often, one of the first big investments any new homeowner has to make is to change out their roof, because of leaks or general damage. And it is really hard to know what to choose since there are so many options with such an enormous impact on the safety and value of your largest investment, your home. In this video we talk about the Bay Street passive house, and the reason we decided to go with the roofing material that we chose: standing seam metal roof.

Why did we chose it?

Why it was better than the alternatives?

What are the cost of the different options?

If you want to know how to protect your home, from the top down, this is the video to watch.

How do you give a window visual depth in a wall but also make it a durable, airtight installation?

Making the decision of building a new house or remodeling your existing house is incredibly difficult especially if you don’t like your existing house and there’s nothing really wrong with it. So how do you make this decision? We talk with David W., the owner of Jake’s house, about his decision to build a new house in a different area, even though he was perfectly happy or almost perfectly happy, and his existing house. Join us for a conversation with one of our clients.

2023 was a wake-up call for the East Coast. Canada on Fire woke the rest of the country up to the fact that fire and the accompanying smoke filled, orange skies are the future of a warming planet. The West Coast of the US and California have known this for a while.

California is going to see a lot more forest fires in the future and if you want to be safe in your home, you need to pay attention to air tightness and air filtration whenever you work on your existing home or build a new home. In this video, we talk about testing your home for air tightness to make sure that the toxic smoke stays outside and your family stays healthy, inside your home.

Preconstruction is crucial for helping architects and clients make efficient and effective decisions, as the success of a construction project hinges on the success of this process.

A successful preconstruction process ensures that most decisions by the client and architect are made early, resulting in a fixed schedule and budget with minimal allowances or unresolved issues before construction begins. This leads to significantly fewer change orders—about one-tenth as many— and fewer delays due to late decisions, materials, or changes from clients or architects. It also results in happier clients and architects, confident that their projects are built as designed, not altered by builders for convenience.

We pride ourselves on having one of the industry's best preconstruction processes, attracting most of our clients. This process makes clients feel comfortable, secure, and involved in every conversation and decision impacting their project's quality and cost. It provides peace of mind in the typically chaotic construction process.

Our preconstruction process has been refined over a decade, focusing on exquisite project organization and transparent pricing. It fosters efficient collaboration between architects, clients, subcontractors, suppliers, and our team. While not perfect, our process is the best we've seen for ensuring great projects with minimal change orders, fewer delays, and high efficiency and quality, delivered as quickly and cost-effectively as possible.