Jeremy Bonin

You have a home design you love - now it's time to find a builder. Here is great information from the National Association of Home Builders we want to pass on. If you are building a new home or addition, or remodeling your home, use this checklist to help you select a builder to perform the work.

• Does the builder or remodeler have a permanent business location and a good reputation with local banks and suppliers?
• How long have they been in the building business? It usually takes three to five years to establish a financially sound business. Will they be around after the construction is complete to service any warranties?
• Have you called your local Better Business Bureau? They can alert you to any complaints.
• Does the builder/remodeler have sufficient workers compensation and general liability insurance? If not, you may be liable for any construction-related accidents on your premises.
• Will the builder/remodeler provide you with names of previous customers? Ask them if they would hire the builder/remodeler again.
• Have you seen the builder/remodelers work, both completed and in progress? Check for quality of workmanship and materials.
• Are you able to communicate with the builder/remodeler? Remember you will be in close contact with them throughout the construction process and afterward as you live in your new home.
• Will the builder/remodeler provide you with a complete and clearly written contract? The contract will benefit both of you. Review it carefully.
• Be cautious of unusually low-priced bids. If the builder/remodeler is unable to pay for the materials and labor as the project proceeds, this may indicate a potential problem.

Your architect can also refer builders in your area and set up interviews to match you with the best builder for can also refer builders in your area and set up interviews to match you with the best builder for your project.

Source: http://www.nahb.org/generic.aspx?genericContentID=125965

There's an old / new kind of home in the home building industry: a hybrid home. Hybrid homes are built utizing two or more construction types. For instance, Bonin Architects designed a hybrid home in Candia, NH, with timber framing, structural insulated panels (SIP panels), conventional 2x material, and conventional insulation material.

The center section of the hybrid home is timber frame and SIP panels. The Master Bedroom has timber rafters with SIP panel walls, roof, dormers. The Master Bedroom connector: SIP panel walls with conventional roof, while the garage utilizes conventional 2x material with batt insulation.

A hybrid home might better fit your client's family's needs - and budget. If budget is a concern, consider combining building methods. Using high performance SIP panel construction for the majority of the home, and conventional material in areas such as the garage, can reduce the overall square foot cost of the home.

For more photos of this home under construction, visit our www.boninarchitects.com/underconstruction.html.

There is a lot of talk about energy efficient homes and ENERGY STAR. ENERGY STAR is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy that provides information, training, and certification of products and practices to help homeowners save money and protect the environment.

By making a green home compliant with ENERGY STAR standards, homeowners enjoy a savings of at least 20%-30% in energy costs (more if structural insulated panels are used), and create a healthy indoor environment for their family while reducing air pollutants, dust, and drafts, and increasing the value of their home.

An ENERGY STAR home has five major components that a conventional home might not have:

•1. High performance insulation: probably the biggest savings in energy costs in the home. I recommend using structural insulated panels, which create a continuous thermal building envelope.

•2. Energy efficient windows

•3. Tight Building Envelope: sealing heating & cooling duct systems

•4. Efficient Heating and Cooling Systems

•5. Efficient Products. ENERGY STAR products and appliances make a significant contribution toward energy savings in a green home.

After the home is built, an independent ENERGY STAR qualified Home Energy Rater evaluates the home to earn certified as an ENERY STAR home. After approval, the only thing left to do is to enjoy the comfort of the new energy efficient home, marvel at the low energy bills, and admire the ENERGY STAR label on the home's breaker box!

Our Green Home Seminar in November (partnered with Riverbend Timber Framing) had a pretty good attendance - about 20 guests. Apparently this was indicative of the declining market.

Last month, though, we partnered with Timberpeg for a Green Home Seminar and Open House at one of their local timber frame homes (Newbury / Mt. Sunapee) and attendance topped 74 - we had to close registration because we had standing room only! We offered a free site visit to attendees who own land and are building an energy efficient home. Here are the statistics from those who filled out the registration form and included their building information:

46 couples/singles total attended
20 couples own their land
5 couples are looking for land
1 couple is in the process of buying their land

An overwhelming amount of guests said they want to start the home design process now so they will be ready to build in fall 2009 / spring 2010. As a result, Bonin Architects & Associates had 13 couples ask us to visit their site this spring! Our site evaluation consists of an analysis of the site conditions and environment conservation, accessibility, utilities, easements and regulations, a study of the relationship between human activities and the landscape, as well as home placement. This is a valuable "first step" in the design process.

Because of the terrific attendance at our last seminar and having to turn guests away, we are holding another Green Home Seminar Saturday, March 21^st in Newbury.

Certainly this is good news for our economy (even if it is a small sign compared to the national market)!

Tell your clients!

Attend a FREE SEMINAR with area professionals to help you get started on building an energy efficient home!

Topics include green home design; building a home with SIP panels; timber framing; solar and geothermal heating systems.

Best Western Sunapee Lake Lodge (right across from Mt. Sunapee ski area)
1403 Route 103
Newbury, NH 03255

Saturday, February 7, 2009
Seminar: 10:00 AM – NOON
Lunch on your own
Timberpeg Open House: 12:30 – 2:00 PM

Open House: Timberpeg Timber Frame Home by Old Hampshire Designs, 2100 square feet with SIP panels, solar, and geothermal heating system.

For additional information and to register contact Bonin Architects & Associates at 603-504-6009 or visit our website.

Jeremy Bonin, AIA NCARB LEED AP
Bonin Architects & Associates, PLLC