Important Things to Know Before Building a Custom Home

There is something about planning the design and choosing the elevation of a custom home that sparks the imagination. After all, it is the closest many people will come to ever living in their dream home. 

However, bringing the dream to life requires a lot more work and sacrifice than many people anticipate. From ensuring energy efficiency while guaranteeing aesthetics to creating a durable home that also provides versatility, there is a lot that must be taken into consideration to get the home just the way you want it while also building for long-term value. Keep reading to find out about some important consideration points to keep in mind before building a custom home.  

The R-Value of Your Framing Is Crucial

With the United States eyeing a net-zero economy by the year 2050, energy efficiency is a top priority in the home construction industry. While current homeowners are in line with this eco-friendly trend for its potential to help them save on their utility bills, there is no denying that the home’s energy efficiency will also directly impact resale value as buyers get more serious about going green.

As a result, many modern custom homes are bypassing traditional wood framing panels in favor of insulated concrete forms (ICF) construction. ICF framing uses double-insulated, steel reinforced panels that lock in place, with concrete poured on site to guarantee a solid, continuous insulation frame. The result is a frame that stays ahead of all building codes and energy efficiency standards, providing an R-value of 23.5 that leaves wood-panel homes outdated for those owners who have zero-energy goals.

Traditional Siding Materials Require a Lot of Attention

Many homeowners like the rustic appearance of traditional framing materials such as brick and wood planks. While these products do provide a homey appearance and do a good job of protecting the home when new, they require a lot of attention to maintain their insulative properties. Masonry must be regularly sealed to prevent water absorption, while wood siding must be painted or treated at least every other year to prevent moisture and UV damage. As a result, modern custom homes are being built with low maintenance siding options, such as steel log or fiber cement. These innovative products can be manufactured in a wide array of finishes that are nearly indistinguishable from masonry or wood but come with none of the upkeep requirements. In most cases, these inorganic siding products will maintain their best-in-class fire ratings, impact ratings, and aesthetics for at least 50 years with nothing more than occasional pressure washes necessary on the part of the homeowner.

Heating and Cooling Efficiency Should Be a Priority

Sticking with the energy efficiency theme, modern custom homes are being built to reduce reliance on HVAC and other forced air systems. Homes are being strategically designed with south-facing orientations for frequently-used rooms, large windows to better leverage the sun’s natural energy, and innovative awnings and window treatments to better control temperatures during times of high solar radiation. 

In addition, many homes are choosing to install a radiant heating system beneath the floors. A radiant system slowly releases heat up through the flooring in a consistent, stove-like manner throughout the day. It eliminates cold pockets traditionally seen in forced air systems and because it directly heats a point of contact, requires much less energy to raise the temperature of a room a few degrees than do systems that circulate air.

About a Quarter of All Heat Is Lost Through the Roof

Although many homeowners realize the importance of wall insulation, roughly a quarter of all heat is lost through the roof of a home. As a result, it is a good idea to build a custom home with insulated roofing systems. These innovative systems join the roofing material with the roof’s substructure. Using advanced sub-framing girts, roof insulation eliminates the thermal bridges commonly found in roof fasteners, providing better thermal performance of the home that will greatly reduce energy lost through the roof.

Open Kitchens Are All the Rage

There is something to be said for smaller, closed off kitchens if you are an empty nester or entering retirement age. Having everything conveniently located on the four walls around you limits the amount of work to be done.

However, the open concept for your kitchen is one you want to employ if you are raising a family or have intentions of hosting get-togethers with any kind of regularity. The open kitchen ties together adjoining areas of the house, increases natural light flow, and creates a more friendly ambience over kitchens that are more sequestered. Some trending features in open kitchens include large islands with nonporous quartz countertops, pass-through windows to connect the kitchen with the deck, and open shelving to put china and cookware on full display.

Keep These Points in Mind Before Building a Custom Home

Building a custom home involves a lot of moving parts to get right. Therefore, it is crucial that you don’t overlook any of the aforementioned points during your own custom build. From guaranteeing the R-value of the framing to creating a breathtaking open kitchen that has staying power, carefully consider all of the most important things to know before building a custom house.

 Andrea Erickson is a contributor to Innovative Building Materials. She is a blogger and content writer. Andrea is focused on helping fellow homeowners, contractors, and architects discover materials and methods of construction that increase property value, maximize energy savings, and turn houses into homes.