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 pieces 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 to 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’s the difference between a custom builder and a production (track) builder?
A production (track) builder will generally build several of the same home plans within a particular community. A customer can choose from these plans and make very few or even no changes. A custom builder will coordinate the design of a custom home plan specific to the client’s desires and location, then help select what products to put into the home. In our case, custom is exactly that; let us build your home, how you want and with what you want.

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, that is included in the contract price. This allows a client to choose the items to be used in their home after the contract is signed. The client 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 their next overage or at closing time.

Why does my home look complete but you say it is not?
We believe in completing a home before a client moves in. At the end of construction the interior of the home will appear to be move in ready, but we prefer to check the operation of the whole home and correct any potential problems prior to the client moving in.

What does “Cat 5” mean?
Short for Category 5, network cabling that consists of four twisted pairs of copper terminated by RJ45 (phone) connectors. This line offers 4 separate phone lines into a home with the use of only one wire.

What is a spec?
A spec 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.

What is flatwork?
This is a term used meaning any concrete to be poured separate for the foundation of the home. Examples are driveways, sidewalks, or patios.

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 more 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 is. Like most energy appliances air conditioners have made great strides over the last several years. Today the minimum SEER level allowed sold is 12 SEER. While there are formulas that could explain the level of efficiency difference between SEER ratings, they are not a great deal of fun to read.
Here is a simplified look at SEER efficiencies:
• 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 zig zaging 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 to prevent 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.