Keeping Your Cool with Smart Home Updates

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.

The unseen hero of a custom home: proper air sealing

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

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.
Enhanced indoor comfort: Drafts and cold spots around your house could very well be air leaks in your thermal envelope.
Improved indoor air quality: Air leaks are sources for dust, pollen, pests, and even fumes to get into your living space.
Effective moisture control and increased durability: Leaks allow moisture to move through your walls, which can lead to mold, rot, and pests.
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.

Benefits of Vegetation Around Your Home

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!

2021 Virginia Building Code impacts on New Construction

by Charles Hendricks | Nov 29, 2024 | architecture, Building Science, Commercial Architect, Indoor Air Quality

The 2021 Virginia building code changes have had a significant impact on residential homes in Virginia starting in January 2025. These changes, aimed at improving energy efficiency and safety, have led to increased construction costs. One of the most notable changes is the stricter energy efficiency standards. Homes built after 2021 are required to meet higher insulation standards, use more efficient HVAC systems, and have tighter air sealing. While these changes will lead to lower energy bills in the long run, they increase upfront construction costs. They also increase the building science complexity on your home. If you don’t understand the impacts of these changes you could create a mold or rot issue in your new home. You also need to pay special attention to the indoor air quality of this new tighter house.

Additionally, the 2021 code also introduced stricter requirements for fire safety, accessibility, and plumbing systems. These changes, while necessary for safety and accessibility, also contribute to increased construction costs. The exact cost increase varies depending on the specific project and location, but it is estimated that the 2021 code changes can add anywhere from 2% to 10% to the overall cost of a new home. These increased costs will have a dramatic impact on already rising construction costs. Knowing the changes and how to mitigate the impact of them on the final budget will be critical moving forward.

For homeowners considering building new or renovating, it’s important to be aware of these code changes. While they may increase the initial cost, they can also lead to long-term savings and a more sustainable home. Consulting with an architect can help you understand the specific costs / benefits associated with the 2021 code changes and how they may impact your project.

10 Things To Do Around Your Home This Fall

by Charles Hendricks | Sep 18, 2024 | architecture, Building Science, Indoor Air Quality

The beautiful Virginia leaves are changing to oranges and yellows, and fall is upon us. As we slip into cozy, chilly days, now is a good time to prep your home for the colder winter days ahead. It’s also a good time to make sure your home is healthy for the increasing amount of time we spend indoors. To get you started, here are 10 things you can do for your home this fall to help you improve its energy efficiency and safety and save you money.

The good thing is, you don’t have to do everything on this list to save yourself money and make your home safer, even just doing one or two things can help! So if doing all of these isn’t realistic for you, try doing one or two this year. Consider this a starting point for future updates.

1. Seal Windows and Doors

Ensure your home is energy-efficient and reduce the outdoor allergens in your home by sealing gaps around windows and doors. You can add weatherstripping to stop the air leaks, and a quick caulking job can prevent drafts and reduce your heating costs in winter. Use a windy day to help identify air leaks, or give us a call and Charles can help you find leaks with a free energy-audit.

2. Inspect and Clean Your Gutters

Late fall is the perfect time to clean out debris from your gutters to prevent blockages and water damage. All the leaves and twigs that have accumulated can create blockages which can lead to stagnant water, which attracts pests and provides a place for mold to grow. Once the temperatures dip below freezing, sitting water will freeze and expand, which can cause cracks in the gutter system and damage to your home’s exterior. Cleaning out your gutters can protect the structural integrity of your home and help avoid expensive repairs in the future. For more detailed information, check out American Home Contractors blog: “How to clean gutters in Virginia?“.

3. Check and Upgrade Insulation

Check the insulation in your attic and crawl spaces to make sure your home stays warm. Consider upgrading to more energy-efficient insulation if needed. More on insulation on our blog post: “Insulation in your attic can determine your comfort in your living room“.

4. Trim Trees and Shrubs

Before the winter storms, trim any deadwood and overgrown branches that could fall and cause damage to your home or power lines during high winds, heavy ice, or snow.

5. Check and Clean Dryer Vents

Lint buildup in dryer vents is a common fire hazard. Clean your dryer vent thoroughly to reduce the risk of fire, speed up drying time for each load, and help save electricity.

6. Service Your HVAC System

Schedule a professional inspection for your heating system to ensure it’s working efficiently. Replace filters and clean ducts for better air quality. Leaves can also pile up around your outdoor heat pump which can drastically reduce the efficiency of the unit, so make sure to check outdoors too.

7. Inspect The Fireplace and Chimney

If you have a fireplace, now is the time to clean and inspect your chimney. Ensure it’s free from debris or creosote build-up for safe use during the colder months.

8. Check Your Home’s Exterior for Damage

Look for cracks, gaps, or damage to siding, brickwork, and foundation. When water seeps into small cracks or gaps in the siding, brickwork, or foundation, it can freeze during cold temperatures. As water freezes, it expands, causing the cracks to widen. Repeated freezing and thawing can lead to significant structural damage, like crumbling brickwork, larger gaps in siding, or even foundation shifts. Addressing small issues now can prevent larger problems as temperatures drop.

9. Test Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors

If you’re making your way through the list, why not ensure all your safety alarms are functioning properly? It’s always a good idea. Replace batteries and test the devices to ensure that they’re working when needed.

10. Winterize Outdoor Faucets

Disconnect hoses, drain outdoor faucets, and install insulated covers to prevent frozen pipes during winter. This small task can prevent major plumbing issues. Forbes Home gives a quick and easy How-To in their beginner guide: “How to Winterize Outdoor Faucets“.

90% of homes in the US are not designed

by Charles Hendricks | Aug 5, 2024 | architecture, Indoor Air Quality

A high percentage, 90% or more, of the houses built in the United States are not designed by an architect. Builders and developers that have expertise in efficiency of building make the design decisions. These homes do not look at quality of life, value added to the occupants, energy efficiency, or even the land they are sitting on. These houses don’t maximize the potential for natural light or think through how a particular family might live in the spaces created.

A house designed by an architect can significantly improve the daily lives of those living in the home. First is the functional layout of the house, which, when working with an architect, will go through careful consideration. The client is asked many questions about how they live and how they want to live. This is a time to dream of what could happen if the house you live in facilitated the life you want. Think about getting a home that captures the view of a sunrise while you comfortably sit and sip your morning coffee. What about when all the family comes together to celebrate and the home is sized to adapt, making a large group feel welcome and comfortable where daily the spaces are just right for your small family.

Architects will also focus on the aesthetic appeal of the whole home, details within the home, and help coordinate space to space. Thinking through bringing in natural light and ventilation will make the home warm and inviting. Of course, there is also the focus on building science that helps with indoor air quality and energy-efficiency. With an architect you will get the right spaces in the right places for how you imagine your dream life. The architect will balance budget concerns with quality goals. They will look at the land and how the house should sit in that space and make the home as future flexible as possible.

In a home designed by an architect there will be little things that you might overlook that make life easier. Window in the right place and right size, HVAC system that cleans the air you breath, and a kitchen that allows for gathering. The home will be a lifetime home and not just your new home.