Aging-in-Place, or Universal Design, means being able to live in one’s home independently regardless of age or ability. We all know someone who has trouble getting around. And with our aging population, we want the guarantee of being able to stay in our own home as long as we choose to. If you are going to design+build a new home, live the way you want because you have planned for it. Enjoy the posts below to see how to make this possible.
Design trends for 2014 and Beyond
The National Association of Home Builders recently announced the winners of the Best in American Living Awards – a prestigious award program that spotlights design excellence for the entire residential building industry. Award recipients represent the forefront of...
Sullivan meets with Congressman Meadows
Asheville HBA Meets Congressman Mark Meadows To Discuss National Building Issues
This past Tuesday, at the Asheville HBA office, Sean Sullivan (President of Living Stone Construction and President-Elect for the NCHBA), Steven Webb (lobbyist for NCHBA), Caroline Sutton (Executive Officer of Asheville HBA), and 7 others met with Congressman Mark Meadows to examine current and future problems the country faces in the building industry.
AuraLast Wood – building GREEN
JELD-WEN Ups the Ante on Wood Window and Door Performance ... Again CHARLOTTE, N.C. ̶ When it comes to wood, JELD-WEN is not only changing the game, it’s completely rewriting the rules. The company is tightening its stronghold on pushing the limits of wood window and...
Are green home buyers happy home buyers?
A new survey shows that they are.
It’s National Designation Month, when the National Association of Home Builders shine the spotlight on those industry professionals who go the extra mile by seeking the education and training they need to attain professional designations that signify their specialized knowledge.
It’s especially important with green ─ high-performance ─ building. More and more consumers are looking for homes designed to save energy and water and that incorporate locally sourced materials. Choosing a builder or remodeler who holds the NAHB Certified Green Professional (CGP) or Master Certified Green Professional designations is one way to find someone with the latest knowledge of these high-performance practices.
These industry professionals have studied the interplay between energy efficiency and indoor air quality, understand the principles of environmentally sensitive lot design and are trained to help their buyers make decisions to result in a home that is green as they want it to be.
Many of these professionals also turn to certification programs such as the ENERGY STAR and whole-house certification programs such as those based on the ICC National Green Building Standard (NGBS), a nationally accredited rating system that forms the foundation of their training.
The result: Measurable customer satisfaction.
The Levine’s Custom Petite Alexandra
“The process of design/build and creating something that is so energy efficient is a miracle to me. Sean has a way of putting things together so that we get the product that we want and then he puts together the quality product that he knows he can build.” Dr Steve Levine. “We found Sean to be a man of his word, honorable and he takes such pride in his work.” Cheryl Levine
Energy Efficiency Testimonial
“The energy efficiency of the house has made it very comfortable through some very extreme weather and our energy bills have been remarkably low. I cannot believe how well we did on energy costs every month. The energy star rating of the home has really paid off. Truly, I haven’t had energy costs this low in 20 years.” Gary Holstein
Every home we build is Energy Star Certified. Why?
With ENERGY STAR, you know you are making the right decision—for your wallet, for your family, and for the environment—bringing these important benefits:
Lower Utility Bills
By using less energy for heating, cooling, and water heating, ENERGY STAR certified homes deliver approximately 20% savings on annual utility bills. Over the 7 to 8 years that a typical family lives in a home, you can save thousands of dollars in maintenance cost.
Enhanced Performance
Published in NC Design – BALA Award winning project in Lake Lure
It’s interesting how the most challenging projects also turn out to also be the most rewarding. That was the case with today’s featured home renovation. This two-year labor of love presented Asheville builder Sean Sullivan with numerous challenges, but ultimately Sean’s company, Living Stone Construction, achieved spectacular and award-winning results.
Custom design/build for the Ackerman/Stahls
“Design/build is an outstanding approach and the implementation of it was just amazing. We had very high expectations based on Sean’s reputation and what we had seen. And they were exceeded.” George Ackerman
Living Stone Construction Brings Home Gold From Las Vegas
On February 5, 2014 Living Stone Construction was presented the Gold BALA Award (Best in American Living) for “Whole House Renovation” of the Bertsch-Furimsky project, which took place at the NAHB International Builders Show in Las Vegas, Nevada. Living Stone has won many awards on both the state and local levels, including in 2012 when they received the award for “Best Whole House Renovation” from the NCHBA for this same project. However, the Gold BALA award is the company’s first national honor.
Keep Your Home and Family Safe and Secure
Your home is likely the largest investment you own, but more importantly, it protects and provides a sanctuary where your family will share experiences and create lifelong memories. The National Association of Home Builders’ MyHome Press has published a handbook for home owners, “Home Maintenance Made Easy,” and below are just some of the many tips provided in the Safety and Security section that can help you keep your home and family out of harm’s way.