Homes By Hamrick





Homes exclusively listed by Sandee Hamrick Coldwell Banker Triad (336) 996-8503 Web Site


	Home \| Energy Star \| Gallery \| Properties \| Request Info \| About Us

From Home Place - April, 2004 - Cindy Hodnett

Local builder introduces new mold-resistant homes

Danny Gough (from left), Sandee Hamrick and Don Hamrick study plans of a home that features healthier more energy-efficient construction.

The term is "performance building," and it refers to the trend of builders meeting buyers' demands for new homes that are healthier, more comfortable, more energy efficient and friendlier to the environment. In today's market, engineering and testing new homes for health, durability and comfort ranks as high on the "must have" features list as the number of bedrooms and the school district, and savvy builders are taking note.

In the Triad, performance building is often limited to the upper end of the market. However, one local builder is now focusing on first-time buyers and first-time move-up market with homes priced from the low $100,000s to $250,000. Don Hamrick of Homes by Hamrick is building North Carolina's first Mold Resistant Energy Star Home and offering standard features that address a buyer's concerns about mold, air quality, comfort and energy efficiency in a price range affordable for many budgets.

According to industry experts, the implications of the emerging mold issue for the housing market and the economy are serious. In 2002, homeowners' insurance companies paid out at least $3 billion in mold-related claims and insurance departments in 39 states have already approved mold exclusions in homeowner-insurance policies.

Caused by water from excessive humidity, leaks, condensation or flooding, mold often presents both health hazards and headaches for homeowners. Hamrick employs specific features that address the mold problem by controlling moisture and humidity. Some of his mold-resistant techniques include:
•On site water management. It is estimated that a 1-inch rainfall on a typical 2,500 square foot roof can produce up to 1,500 gallons of water on the ground around the house. Roof overhang design, gutters and downspouts along with proper site grading around the home prevents rainwater from accumulating next to the foundation.
•A water-managed foundation uses techniques to prevent the buildup of groundwater against the foundation. It does so by using an air-gap technology, which eliminates hydrostatic pressure. With no driving force to push the water through the wall, there will not be any moisture penetration. Perimeter drainage system at the footing provides positive drainage of water away from the foundation.
•Sealed vapor tight crawl space. Although it has been customary for years to install vents in crawl space foundation walls, recent research provides plenty of evidence that they don't work. A sealed and conditioned crawlspace is a better choice if you want to control moisture and mold growth in a home.
•Special framing techniques reduce waste, optimize insulation coverage and minimize cold spots where condensation and mold.
•Window Pan Flashings. There are two kinds of windows used in new homes - those that leak now and those that will leak later. Windows need a dependable back-up system known as a pan flashing to channel water back outside and not into the wall where mold and wood rot could develop.
•Vented (pressure equalized) rainscreen. Our climate is characterized by more than 40 inches of annual rainfall and driving wind. A vented rain screen is a system that equalizes pressure behind brick and siding. This design is absolutely the best insurance against weather penetrating into the wall cavity.
•High-performance insulation. While most new homes typically incorporate fiberglass insulation, urethane foam provides more than 200 percent better insulating value and forms an airtight barrier. Stabilized cellulose is an excellent insulating material also, consisting of 85 percent recycled content. It enhances the fire resistance of the structure and reduces noise. Both products will not promote mold growth.
•Variable air-conditioning equipment with a humidity-sensing thermostat is designed to control temperature and humidity. When humidity control is more important than cooling, the system adjusts to remove six to seven times more humidity. However, this system only works when there is a need for cooling. Since there are a significant number of hours every year when cooling is not needed, it is necessary to use a dedicated dehumidifier for this purpose.
•A dedicated dehumidification system is used to keep the entire home within the recommended range for comfort and health.
•Pressure balancing. Pressure balancing is another important consideration for comfort and health. Many new homes do not include return vents in bedrooms, making it impossible for air to circulate freely when doors are closed. Positive pressure drives warm moist air into wall cavities where mold can grow hidden from view. Returns in these rooms help balance pressure throughout the home, enabling air to circulate more freely. With appropriate balance there should be no more than a three-degree difference from the thermostat setting and any room in the house.
•Vented range hood. Cooking adds substantial amounts of moisture and odors to the indoor air. Many homes use inexpensive "non-vented" range hoods, which pass the air through a charcoal filter before it blows it right back into the kitchen. Although the filter may remove some grease and odors, it does nothing to remove moisture. For better health, it is imperative that high-level moisture be vented to the outside.
•Better quality bath fans. Although bath fans have been a standard part of most bathrooms for years, most are noisy and ineffective in removing moisture generated from showers and baths. Better quality bath fans cost $75-$150 more but are effective in removing moisture with very low noise.
•Direct-vent gas fireplace. There has been a dramatic increase in the installation of house-vented (vent-free) logs and fireplaces. These are the kind that don't need a chimney. Common sense will tell you that what used to go up the chimney is now going into the air of your home for you to breathe (sort of like leaving your car running in your living room). House-vented fireplaces and logs produce water vapor, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxides and other undesirable combustion products. A typical house-vented fireplace or log set burns about 30,000 btu/hr. It releases nearly 27 cubic' feet of carbon dioxide into the air you breathe every hour. Twenty-seven cubic feet is the equivalent of the amount of CO2 produced by 54 people at rest. House-vented fireplaces also generate lots of moisture. Typically, 1 gallon of water vapor is released into the air every 21/2-3 hours you burn them. Direct-vent fireplaces remove all flue gases from the house and use outside air as a combustion source. Direct-vent fireplaces are healthier, safer and don't add unwanted humidity tothe home.
•Manifold plumbing distribution. The manifold water distribution system is the most efficient water-management technology on the market. Recognized as one of the most significant advances in plumbing technology, the manifold system services each plumbing fixture with a dedicated water line from the central manifold plumbing control unit. The system equalizes pressure making it possible to use multiple-fixtures simultaneously without dramatic temperature or pressure changes. It uses less water and conserves more energy than other systems. Fixture repairs are easier to make because each fixture has its own shut-off valve. The system uses 90 percent fewer joints, which reduces the risk of flooding from plumbing leaks.
•FloodChek washer hoses. Washing machine hose failures cause $150 million in damage each year to homes in the United States and Canada. Traditional washing machine hoses may seem strong, but hot water can embrittle rubber to failure. The results can be devastating. FloodChek reinforced washer hoses come with a 20-year warranty against such failure.