Whether you have built a home before, have a location with home plans and are ready to build again, have a location but no plans, or you are at the beginning stage of your new home quest, we can help answer your questions or solve any myths you may have heard. Obtaining a proper education about your new home should be your next step.

How much are your homes per square foot?
Dividing the cost of a home by the A/C square footage of the home arrives at the price per foot. This term is used by people is the real estate market for a comparison of one home to another. It sounds like a good concept but every home has thousands of components and should not be compared in this way. One must evaluate the homes features, design and products to do an equal comparison. I build homes that range from $400,000 to $1,000,000 and up. This range is for the home only and does not include land or site development.

Where do you build?
We will build anywhere in the San Antonio and Boerne area however; in fairness to all clients, each project’s location will be limited by the existing projects and commitments that we have at the time.

How to start building a home?
Review the process section of our web site and contact us with your questions then we can guide you towards your final goal.


What do you engineer?
We engineer the foundation of our homes with a local engineering firm, who will inspect the slab prior to pouring the concrete. An engineered foundation is an excellent base for a home, but we take engineering one step further to engineer the frame of your home as well. Our homes are framed on site and not in a factory, therefore once the framing and mechanicals are completed, an engineering firm will inspect the frame prior to the installation of sheetrock.

What are standard options and upgrades?
Some builders use these terms to describe what products they put into homes. These terms do not apply to us. Before we can tell you what your home will cost to build, we need to know what you want in the home. Therefore, nothing is standard or an upgrade, your home is per your specifications, not ours.

What is a change order?
A change order is a form used after the contract and construction specifications have been signed to make any changes to the plans or specifications. It provides a written clear understanding of what changes are to be made and what additional costs, if any, will be incurred.

What is an allowance?
An allowance is a budgeted amount for a particular item, which is included in the contract price. This allows you to choose the items to be used in their home after the contract is signed. You may choose to select items above this amount and pay additional overages or choose items for less than the set amount and receive a credit towards additional overages or at closing time.

What is a spec?
A spec (or speculative home) is a home that a builder builds without a client, but with the intent to sell. They will build it per their specifications, within the home market where it is located.


Energy Savings

What is an R- value?
A material’s R-value is a measure of how well a product resists the flow of heat or cold. R-valve is determined by a laboratory test in which a material is sandwiched between a cool and warm surface. The ability of the material to resist temperature changes results in an R-value for that material. The way it works is simple: the higher the R-value, the better the material insulates.

What does SEER mean?
An air conditioning unit is rated for efficiency using the "Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratios" or SEER. Basically speaking the higher the SEER value the more efficient the unit. Today the minimum SEER level availably is 13 SEER. There are complicated formulas explaining the level of efficiency difference between SEER ratings, however a simplified look at SEER efficiency is :

• A 6 SEER unit would run twice as long as a 12 SEER unit would for the same cooling.
• An 8 SEER unit would run 1 1/2 times as long as a 12 SEER unit would for the same cooling.

As you can see a higher efficiency unit will certainly pay you back in the long run with power savings.

What are media filters?
Media filters are filters used in the A/C system of a home to clean the air. One filter per A/C unit is attached to the A/C unit in the attic. The filter is 4” wide and has filter paper is installed from side to side. This provides more surface area for the air to be filtered through, in return giving you cleaner air. With the use of this filter, individual filters at each return air are not needed. One other advantage to the media filter over conventional filters is that they are recommended to be replaced two times a year versus conventional filters which should be replaced every month.

What is radiant barrier and what does it do?
Radiant barrier roof decking is an OBS product with a thin laminated layer of aluminum installed on the bottom side. This prevents up to 97% of radiant heat from entering the attic. Cooler attics equal less energy lost allowing the A/C to run less.

Blown insulation vs. Batt insulation?
Batt insulation is fiberglass insulation cut and installed into wall cavities. Blown insulation is a superior product, which fills voids and gaps, even behind plumbing and electrical. It allows less air infiltration, more soundproofing and is coated with fire-retardant chemicals. Blown in insulation will lessen heating and cooling cost, provide a quieter home, and in general a more comfortable home.
 

What is low-e glass?
Low-E is the abbreviation for low emissivity glass. It is a metallic film on windows used to reflect a significant portion of the long-wave radiation outside, reducing the entry of the heat from the sun. From the outside this film will give a semi-mirrored look in a red or green tint, however from the inside it is not visible.

Can you explain the purpose of a ridge vent?
Ridge vents are used to ventilate the attic. Instead of having roof turbines, the ridge vent, a maintenance free vent is placed at the ridge of the roof allowing air to escape. As the air in an attic heats up, the hot air will rise to the top of the attic and escape through the ridge vent, as the air is leaving, outside air will enter the attic through the soffit vent, this allows for a continuous flow of air through the attic to keep it cooler. Ridge vents are available for shingle roofs and metal roofs only. Tile roofs use air hawk vents for this purpose.

If you have any another questions please contact us.