Do you want to make your home comfortable this winter? I purchased an older home, built in 1975, a few months ago. The location is perfect and the layout is functional for what we need as a family right now. However, the house was not energy-efficient at all when we moved in. It was also not comfortable. The first step was to replace the heating and cooling system. This was needed as the existing unit was at the end of life. The new unit is very efficient and is able to keep up with demand. I did let the HVAC company, Excel Heating and Cooling, know that I would properly insulate the attic and basement so the unit is sized appropriately to avoid short cycling. The first couple of warm months in the house were not a problem with the heating and cooling system keeping the upstairs comfortable and the downstairs is naturally cool. As cooler days set in the downstairs was not maintaining temperature as we had not corrected the insulation issues.
So, near the end of October the insulation truck from Elite Insulation showed up. The first step was to remove the existing blown in insulation from the attic. They essentially vacuumed out the dirt and fiberglass. The insulation was black in places showing how much air was moving through the insulation. You see insulation does not work with air moving through it. You need an air tight envelope to and solid insulation to provide a comfortable space.
This insulation method, open-cell spray foam, creates an air barrier while insulating. It corrects the problems of the old insulation and properly insulates the attic floor.
Once the attic problems were solved, Elite Insulation turned their attention to the basement level. This space is tricky to fix. There is a lot of concrete which absorbs heat and makes the space feel cooler than the air temperature. This space also has finished space in it which complicates fixing insulation problems economically.
The first step in this space was to remove the black fiberglass insulation. Talk about air movement! The rim board (the space where the floor joists meet the exterior wall) is a huge air leak in most every house I visit to do an energy audit. This old house was no different. This is also a space where critters gain access into the house. The process of removing the fiberglass is dirty and I am glad I hired Elite Insulation to take care of it. They then filled the gaps with open-cell spray foam.
This insulation not only closes off access for critters and stops air leaks – it properly insulates this 10″ tall space around the perimeter of the house. So far the solutions we have added to the house has improved comfort and cut the electric bills off of the previous owners average. I also changed all the lights to LED so that helps reduce the monthly bills. So as we move into the colder months we will see how much money is saved, but the comfort level has certainly improved thanks to Excel and Elite Insulation.
The custom home in the woods is finished. See previous post here.
We usually photograph our projects before our client moves in, but the timing did not work out on this house. So I ventured out yesterday and interrupted their weekend to get some finished photographs of their custom home (I will post the professional shots once they get sent to me). It was great to see them living in the house and using the spaces we imagined months ago.
With any custom home project there is a discovery process. We start with conversations about the life our clients want to live in this new place. We look through their inspirational images, talk about goals, habits, and traditions. This leads to concept sketches that help continue the conversation. As we go through the back and forth of design plans and elevations are developed and the idea becomes drawings for a builder to execute.
(Thinking of building a custom home? Start HERE first)
This home we spent time on the project site looking at opportunities, deciding on views and solar potential, and refining the design. The clients wanted a bright and open living space and after our visit yesterday – they got it. What a wonderfully cozy place to relax and enjoy life for years to come.
The builder, Herr and Company, served as part of the design team on this project. Their role was to make sure we are on budget through the decision making process. We take this integrated approach on every project possible – it only works when you trust the team and process – but the end result is success.
Bringing the entire team together through the design process builds cohesion and reduces surprises during construction. Finding cool details that can be done without greatly impacting the budget is key to making a house a home. From the colors or the exterior to the light on the interior from the interior rails to the exterior rails – I am very happy with how this home turned out.
Our work with these organizations not only benefits the organization that is working towards building strength, stability, and self-reliance through shelter, but also those families that get to own these homes. Our goal is to focus on functional, affordable, and beautiful design solutions that help build community.
Congratulation on the progress made on the Church Street Homes. This is going to be a vibrant and healthy community that not only enhances lives of those living in these units, but also the surrounding community.
What do you see as the biggest challenge the City of Harrisonburg is facing over the next 5 years? Please add your comments below!
Answers so far include:
Smart growth
Making decisions
While growth and housing are huge issues I’m going to go a little more big picture. What does Harrisonburg want to be when it grows up?
I think we need to deal with traffic issues. Push bike lanes, public transportation and becoming more pedestrian-friendly
We have taken 10 years to take baby steps. Of course, in the ten years (approximately) before that, there were no steps at all. (To clarify, I am speaking mostly of bike lanes and creating a more friendly biking/running community.)
The thing that concerns me is JMU building the parking garages, considering the number of students that live off campus, I think they ought instead to open more bus routes. The scooters are a disaster.
The temptation to force an identity that isn’t its own. There’s a historic, unique identity that exists, and we need to materialize that existing identity into the inevitable development (physical and social) that will come with growth. It’s probably easier here in the City to not fall victim to that, but is more difficult at the County level where land development is more open-ended and where the majority of new development will occur.
Not necessarily mistakes that have already been made here (well there is…entirety of east of 81 lol)…just a temptation to fight against as we grow. Examples would be Manasses, Fredericksburg, Cville. There’s a certain lack of character once you get out of the City as it becomes more sprawl based living and strip mall shopping (not saying it’s a bad thing, but can we tie community identity into it?). This is pretty grey, obviously, and is more dependent on individual developers/developments. Revising/Adopting new Code and DCSM would certainly help define that intent more.
We need to get rid of free parking. Make Main St ,around Court Square, a pedestrian mall, have free electric trolleys around town like Staunton. Reorganize HEC, to open it up to renewable energy.
I’d be interested to see what mixed commercial/residential zoning changes would do to reinforce the different neighborhood characters and boost walk-ability.
Making sure Harrisonburg and Rockingham County are resilient in every way which means exploring deeply where our weaknesses are, esp. Infrastructure.
The City needs to invest in the necessary infrastructure that will lead to smart, sustainable growth. 5 year short term “band aids” are no longer the solution. Generally stronger sense of fiscal responsibility is necessary to make that happen though.
They are not small business friendly. Taxes are too high and are just difficult to deal with. Businesses are moving out. Too much BS.
Steve Flora, who lives in downtown Harrisonburg, has enjoyed drawing cartoons and super heroes since childhood days, especially while sitting in church listening to his father preach. His formal art training consists of a few classes in high school and college, as well as lessons from local artist Judith Ligon, and his mother, Ann, a watercolor artist. Subject matter ranges from flowers to figure studies, but his love of the fluidity of surfing is a recurring theme in his works.
We have a special treat at this months First Friday Art Opening. Russ Eanes will join our event and host a book signing for his newly released book “The Walk of a Lifetime.”
Trekking 500 miles on the ancient Camino de Santiago was not just an item for Russ Eanes to check off his bucket list. It was a journey he had dreamed of taking for decades. At age 61, with his children grown, he was too young to retire but wise enough to know that he needed to reorient the hurried pace of his life. He left his work and took a sabbatical to “reset” himself and the first step was to head to the Camino. With everything he needed in a 16-pound pack and, equipped with a set of seven simple principles, he took off from St. Jean Pied de Port, France, to walk, as pilgrims have for twelve centuries, across Spain, to realize his dream. It was the Walk of a Lifetime. In a style that is part personal memoir and part travel memoir, he combines history, spirituality, coffee, culture and humor into an engaging journey of personal rediscovery. More information at russeanes.com.
About First Friday at the Depot:
Each month we host a new artist in our building’s 2nd floor gallery at the Chesapeake Western Depot at 141 W. Bruce St. (second floor entrance is on Chesapeake). Artwork will remain on exhibit through the month. Come view the show and get a tour the Depot! We will have food and drink available!
