by Charles Hendricks | Oct 10, 2025 | Accessibility, aging in place, architecture, Building Science, Charles Hendricks, Custom Home, Green Building, Indoor Air Quality, Interior Design
A lifetime home is an incredible design opportunity for us to take on with our clients. As we started this Rockingham County custom home it became very clear that our clients wanted intentional and meaningful spaces. Our designs focused on quality of life and we are using the architecture to provide a backdrop for a lifetime of memories. In our design kick-off meeting we discussed daily habits, life values, and dreams for the kind of childhood their child could experience. We laughed about stories they remembered growing up and the special places that they remembered. This is the heart of a custom home design process for us, we want to know our clients so we can join them on their journey to finding their dream home.
We gave a homework assignment to find inspirational photos of places they loved and the types of spaces that will give them energy. We balanced their goals and desires with building science and functional solutions for living spaces. We included thoughts of fun spaces, healthy and invigorating spaces, and spaces that will sooth their souls. As the design process unfolds we developed some visuals to verify the home we are designing is their dream home.
We have also visited their building site and worked to balance the slope of the land, water drainage, views, and arrival sequence for guests. This holistic process of learning our clients dreams takes time and attention. There is empathy and care infused in every decision we make along the way. It is a true gift to be able to do this and call it work. We love solving the design puzzle for our clients. We don’t just create blueprints, we infuse our clients values into their projects. Stay tuned for more photos as the design progresses.
by Charles Hendricks | Sep 15, 2025 | architecture, Building Science, Green Building, Indoor Air Quality
It can be tricky to find the right architect for your environmentally sensitive dream home. Building a custom home is a journey. Building a truly environmentally sensitive home is a quest. You’ve likely spent countless hours researching everything from geothermal heating to the embodied carbon of concrete. Now, the most crucial step is finding an architect who can translate that passion into a home that is both a beautiful sanctuary and a model of sustainability that fits the local environment. In our case, a mixed humid climate.
Your architect should be someone that understands the national research, building science, and local climate balanced with the abilities and standards of available local contractors. They will work with the land, the climate, the materials, and your lifestyle to create a single, integrated system. As you interview potential partners for this quest, here are the five key questions that will help you find the right architect for your dream home:
Finding the right architect is about finding a co-creator who shares your values. Their answers to these questions will tell you everything you need to know.
by Charles Hendricks | Jul 31, 2025 | architecture, Building Science, Green Building, Indoor Air Quality
The Crawl Space Conundrum
We often find crawl spaces where insulation is improperly installed in the floor above, leading to significant problems. High moisture levels are a frequent culprit, causing insulation to pull away from the subfloor above, severely diminishing its effectiveness.
For optimal results, we recommend encapsulating the crawl space. This involves insulating both the walls and floor, combined with installing a robust vapor barrier. This strategy effectively manages moisture, prevents insulation degradation, and ensures your crawl space contributes positively to your home’s energy efficiency and healthy indoor air quality.
Attic — The Hidden Energy Drain
Another frequent discovery is an attic lacking sufficient insulation to meet current minimum energy code standards. This problem is often compounded by construction debris left on top of the insulation, which compresses it and drastically reduces its performance. Even if insulation is present, its quality and depth might not meet today’s code requirements.
Examples like these underscore a critical lesson: the quality of construction materials and their proper installation are paramount to achieving true energy efficiency. Investing in the right materials and ensuring correct application from the outset can prevent significant energy waste down the line.
Good, But Not Great: Room for Improvement
we do encounter insulation that is installed to a good depth for the age of the house, with proper vent baffles to keep it in place while allowing airflow. While this might seem adequate, it’s crucial to note that if it’s not airtight, it’s not performing at its peak potential. Even well-installed blown-fiber insulation can allow for air leakage, reducing its overall effectiveness.
While good depth and proper venting are essential, achieving an airtight seal between uninsulated and insulated spaces is key to maximizing insulation performance.
by Charles Hendricks | Jul 18, 2025 | architecture, Building Science, Green Building, Indoor Air Quality
As summer heats up, we’re all looking for ways to stay cool and comfortable without seeing our energy bills skyrocket. The good news? Small, strategic changes around your home can make a significant difference in keeping the heat out and your wallet happy. The key is to identify and address those often-forgotten areas where your home’s insulation and air barrier might be compromised.
Attic Access Points
This is perhaps one of the most overlooked areas in many homes. Your attic access, whether it’s a pull-down stair or a scuttle hatch, functions as an exterior door. If it’s not properly sealed and insulated, it’s a direct gateway for hot, humid attic air to seep into your living spaces. Ensure it has weatherstripping around the perimeter and a thick layer of insulation on top.
Missing or Inadequate Insulation
Take a peek in your attic and crawl spaces. Are there any areas where insulation is sparse, compressed, or missing altogether? Gaps in your insulation allow heat to transfer easily into your home. Adding or topping up insulation in these areas can significantly improve your home’s thermal performance.
Hidden Air Leaks
Beyond obvious gaps, air can leak through tiny cracks around pipes, wires, and vents that penetrate your home’s exterior walls or ceiling. Use caulk or expanding foam to seal these often-invisible culprits.
By taking a proactive approach to your home’s insulation and air sealing this summer, you’ll be well on your way to enjoying a cooler, more comfortable living space and more manageable energy bills here in Harrisonburg.
by Charles Hendricks | Jul 5, 2025 | architecture, Building Science, Green Building, green term defined, Harrisonburg Architect, Indoor Air Quality
Building a new custom home is an exciting venture, filled with many decisions about design, finishes, efficiency, features, and function. There are many very visible elements that you will decide on through the design process. There is also one less glamorous but equally vital component that deserves your attention: air sealing. Often overlooked and forgotten, proper air sealing is a significant element in the comfort, longevity, and durability of your new home.
What is air sealing?
Air sealing is the process of closing off any gaps, cracks, and openings in your home’s “thermal envelope.” This includes the outer walls, foundation, and roof. These small imperfections, often found around outlets, lights, windows, doors, and plumbing/electrical penetrations, collectively add up to a significant potential for uncontrolled air infiltration. This could be the equivalent of leaving a 3’ x 3’ window open in an average home.
The benefits of an air sealed home
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Superior energy efficiency and lower energy bills: Air leaks allow outside air to leak in and inside conditioned air to leak out, resulting in your HVAC working harder to keep up.
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Enhanced indoor comfort: Drafts and cold spots around your house could very well be air leaks in your thermal envelope.
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Improved indoor air quality: Air leaks are sources for dust, pollen, pests, and even fumes to get into your living space.
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Effective moisture control and increased durability: Leaks allow moisture to move through your walls, which can lead to mold, rot, and pests.
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Reduced noise pollution: A tightly sealed home is quieter, keeping external sounds outside.
Make air sealing a priority in your new home
While air sealing might not be on the selection list for your new custom home, it should be part of your performance standard. We use a project manual to set the standard each new home should achieve. Building code now also requires a blower door test to show how much air leaks through your thermal envelope. That is a minimum and should be done by a third-party inspector who has calibrated their equipment within the last 12 months. While building code allows builders to self-perform this test, that may not give you the answers you need to ensure the performance you should get in your new custom home. This is one very important design element that will help protect your investment and its long-term performance, comfort, and value.
by Audrey | Apr 14, 2025 | architecture, Building Science, Charlottesville, Green Building, Harrisonburg Architect, Indoor Air Quality
How can vegetation be beneficial to a site?
By: Emily Scognamillo
Every spring, people eagerly anticipate the flowers and plants coming to life. It is a well-known fact that humans enjoy being closer to nature, as it provides a sense of relief and well-being. Vegetation, such as flowers, trees, and grass can benefit a building site. Not only does it help the user by improving mental health while increasing productivity, but it also provides ample advantages to the site and the surrounding community.
For example, vegetation plays a crucial role in soil erosion and stormwater management. Trees and plants help stabilize the soil to prevent erosion and flooding, and filter harmful sediments to prevent pollution. While the roots control the soil, the plants themselves can improve the air quality from pollution as well. By absorbing carbon dioxide from surrounding cars and releasing oxygen, this creates a healthier community. Additionally, trees provide natural cooling by offering shade, which lowers the surrounding temperature. Providing vegetation can result in a building using less air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter. Bushes, plants, and trees provide a barrier against harsh winter temperatures, allowing the building to stay warmer.
Overall, incorporating vegetation into your site not only supports the community but also increases your comfort and the sustainability of your structure. Starting a garden, no matter how small, is a simple way to make a difference in your community.
Celebrate National Gardening Day today!
