Arnold Custom Builders Blog

Brutalism is Coming Back: 2024 Home Trend Predictions from Zillow

Fri, 03 Nov 2023 17:26:10 GMT

It’s time to get rid of the white farmhouses and embrace raw materials and nature. According to Zillow’s 2024 Home Trend Report brutalism and sensory gardens are two of the top search terms. Although both concepts focus on making a space feel impactful and intentional, they couldn’t be more opposite.

Brutalism, which first emerged in the 1950s, is a minimalist, stripped down design style with an emphasis on the use of rigid lines and shapes, concrete, and raw materials. This means it can be seen as a blank canvas appealing to minimalist and creative owners who can furnish to display their personalities.

New ParagrSensory gardens are full of soft, gentle textures, scents and colors focusing on nature’s therapeutic traits to stimulate and engage all five senses. This concept brings mindfulness to the forefront by connecting with nature and encouraging you to be aware of your surroundings. aph

Sensory gardens are full of soft, gentle textures, scents, and colors, focusing on nature’s therapeutic traits to stimulate and engage all five senses. This concept brings mindfulness to the forefront by connecting with nature and encouraging you to be aware of your surroundings.

10 Foundation Maintenance Tips

Fri, 03 Nov 2023 17:00:52 GMT

Most foundation problems can be prevented with proper foundation maintenance. To prevent more significant and more expensive issues, you need to regularly inspect your foundation. This list will help you learn how to properly maintain your foundation.

1. Perform regular foundation inspections

To catch problems early, you need to perform regular inspections. At least twice a year, walk around the home's perimeter and look for cracks or potential signs of water damage. The interior should also be inspected for cracks in the walls or ceiling, doors that don’t close properly, or windows that are out of line. These can indicate a shift in the foundation.

2. Install root barrier

If there are large trees on or near your property, you should consider protecting against root penetration. Large tree roots grow at least three times the length of their canopy radius. A root barrier helps to protect against this and is made of metal, plastic, or thick rubber that is installed around your foundation and goes at least three feet down.

3. Keep your gutters and downspouts clear

When gutters are full of leaves and other debris, they can no longer do their job correctly, causing water to pool around your home. Cleaning your gutters should be a regular part of overall maintenance.

4. Level the slope around your home

The ground around your home should slope away from your house, not toward it. Leveling the slope can be done by adding fill dirt to the low side of your house and grading it to slope away from the home. The slope should, at a minimum, be 6 inches for every 10 feet.

5. Maintain trees on your property

Trees can also pull moisture from the soil, which can dry out the areas around your foundation. If you are considering planting new trees, you should consider the size it may grow and where to plant it. Planting anything too close to your home could potentially cause foundation issues further down the road.

6. Maintain consistent moisture levels

Cracks can be caused by the soil around your home being too dry. When the soil is too wet, it can push against your foundation and cause cracking. Keeping a consistent moisture level in the soil helps to avoid both. You can implement a water control system one of two ways: installing an underground foundation watering system or utilizing an automatic sprinkler system. Installing a rock bed can also help make sure moisture reaches the foundation instead of the soil.

* Note - many owners plant beautiful flower beds in the front, and the back is left neglected. Think about the sponge on your sink, how it swells when one side gets moist, and the other is flat. This is what your home will do if moisture is trapped in the flower beds and not consistent around the house.

7. Don’t plant too close

Consider planting anything sturdy, i.e., a bush or shrub at least two feet from the foundation's edge. This ensures that both the roots and drainage from watering go where it’s supposed to.

8. Repair known plumbing issues

The most significant problem is a leak that releases water into the ground, potentially softening it beyond optimal moistness.

9. Have a sound drainage system

One leading cause of foundation problems is poor drainage. Water can cause the soil to expand and put pressure on your foundation. Your foundation can be lifted or moved due to water around it; this is known as foundation upheaval.

You can protect your home by installing gutters and downspouts, which should guide water at least 5 to 10 feet away from your foundation and flow into the yard away from your home.

10. Thermostat and vacations

Temperature can also affect your foundation, especially the temperature inside your home. Don’t just turn off the thermostat when going on vacation, leave it on a low setting to ensure your home doesn’t go above 90 F or below 60 F.

Price Per Square Foot Myth

Wed, 10 Feb 2021 21:40:59 GMT

Why to worry with generic price per square foot quotes !

Being a custom builder, we have never built two of the exact same homes. Each of the homes we build varies so vastly that it would not be advantageous to either ourselves or our clients to have a set price per sq ft. Our clients come to us with their vision of what will make their home perfect for them and we price each one of them individually, piece by piece.

To provide just a few examples of variations that we encounter on a regular basis, one client may want a home with a full stone exterior, the next shiplap siding and the next Hardi 4x8 sheeting. One may want a simple kitchen with 20 linear feet of cabinets and 80 sq ft of butcher block countertop, while another may want an extravagant kitchen with 60 total feet of cabinets and an island with a bar top, all covered in high-end granite with a granite backsplash.

Our clients may want their flooring to be engineered hardwoods, stained, and scored concrete or a simple carpet. They may want a standing seam metal roof or plain shingles, bays of windows, shiplap covered vaulted ceilings with wooden beams, a built-in double oven and refrigerator and a professional 6 burner cooktop stove or just a standard 30 electric smooth top. The sky is the limit and we have done it all.

Each client has their own ideas and needs, and they can range from a simple starter home to their dream home, and we can make each of them a reality. With that being said, we would love the opportunity to discuss more about the unique vision you have for your new custom home, so we can tailor it to fit your exact needs, budget and desires. We look forward to working with you.

Best Tiny Homes in Corpus Cristi, Texas

Mon, 28 Sep 2020 20:08:08 GMT

Arnold Custom Builders Tiny Homes are number one in quality and options.

Tiny Houses are popular in Corpus Cristi,Texas and Arnold Custom Builders Tiny Homes are a top choice. They have an in house design staff working with custom tiny homes and site built residential home designs. The Home and Garden Show, celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, showcases the 24' Matthew tiny home model and the 28' Shelbi tiny home model with the roof top deck.

What is an engineered foundation, and do I need one?

Thu, 12 Sep 2019 20:08:08 GMT

Engineered Foundation basics !

An engineered foundation is a foundation design developed by a Professional Engineer (PE). We take our custom home designs and send them to the PE, who then determines the type of foundation needed for the project.

Types of Foundations are:

Slab on Grade
Pier and Beam
Post Tension
Footing and Stem Wall
Grade Beam

These are a few types, but we mainly have used the slab on grade for over 30 years without incident in our area.

The design is also based on weight bearing capacities based on soil composition. The different types of soils are:

Sands and Gravels

o Drains water

o High strength

Clays

o Poor water draining

o Expands and contracts

Silts

o Suffers from poor drainage

o Easily erodes

Normally the engineering firm we use will send someone out to visit the site after we dig test holes and will evaluate the soil characteristics. If he has additional questions, he will request a more in-depth geotechnical report.

Why is the Engineering of a foundation so important?

The cost of repairs dwarfs the cost to engineer it from the beginning. Even a minor repair can cost 5 to 10 times the cost of the report from the engineer. Major repairs can be 100 or more times the cost of the report.

Check out our next article about why just engineering the foundation is not enough!

5 Kitchen Cleaning Tips

Mon, 19 Aug 2019 20:08:08 GMT

Helpful tips and tricks for cleaning kitchens

Many do not think about the different types of cleaning and protection of surfaces. Below are a few tips and tricks :

Protecting Hardwood flooring:

In front of the sink and dishwasher plus work stations, breathable area rugs add a layer of protection to hardwood flooring in those areas.

Dishwasher:

Be sure to consult your owner’s manual if there is any doubt about using the products and methods of cleaning mentioned in this brief overview.

Every 2 months treat for scale build-up. Hard water minerals deposited inside the appliance may cause a heavy build-up of film.

For Mold: Remove all dishes, silverware, and pan. Measure 1 tablespoon of bleach into the machine, and run for a full cycle.

For rust: Again in an empty machine, measure about ½ container of Tang powdered drink mix into the dishwasher. Run for a full cycle letting the citric acid in the product help to loosen hard water deposits as well as helping to clean any scale.

For stains: Measure 1 cup of white vinegar OR 1 cup of baking soda. Put one of those into the machine, and run for one full cycle.

If your specific manufacturer approves, the CLR product may also be used to clean up calcium, lime, and rust.

Garbage Disposal:

To keep your garbage disposal running at peak performance, whether you have a batch or a continuous feed, food items not recommended for grinding are grease, egg shells, potato peels, corn husks, pasta, rice, and coffee grounds. Neither should plastic or paper be fed into it. Take care that dish cloths near the sink do not accidentally fall into the grinder. Never put your hand into it, and do not use bleach.

Avoid overfilling by feeding items in at a rate that is easily managed by the machine. Leave the cold water running and the power on until the grinding is complete.

Routine regular maintenance: Be sure to check your owner’s manual for specific manufacturer’s recommendations.

Yearly: feed in some ice cubes

Monthly: pour in a mixture of baking soda, white vinegar, and hot water

The Best Way to Clean Window Screens

Wed, 01 May 2019 19:20:45 GMT

The Best Way to Clean Window Screens

1. Remove the screens. Use a marker to designate which way to reinstall them.

2. If very dusty remove debris with a shop vac or a clean, dry rag that is lint-free.

3. Using warm water with just a bit of dish washing liquid (several drops) apply mixture with a soft-bristled brush. The screen may either be placed flat on a surface or standing on its edge.

4. Rinse soapy water using a gentle spray from a hose before the soap film has a chance to dry.

5. Identify the front from the back (has a rubber cord around the frame) of the screen.

6. Use the lint-free cloth to gently pat the screen to dislodge water that may be caught in the screen mesh.

7. IMPORTANT: if you pat on the front side of the screen the cord holding it to the frame may come off.

8. Once the water has been removed wipe down the frame with the cloth and replace according to the orientation marks that you made.

What is the difference in Tiny Home Inspections

Wed, 24 Apr 2019 19:24:31 GMT

RVIA vs NOAH vs PWA / PWA-TH

While the tiny house movement catches the country off guard with its over 900% increase over the past decade, the idea of alternative housing continues to grow while industry standards struggle to catch up. This leaves holes in major parts of the building and homeownership process that are making tiny house dwelling difficult for many.

The ability to safely inspect and certify your home during the building process, save digitized images and videos for future use, as well as properly insuring your tiny house are leaving folks in the wake of the movement with houses or plans, designs and dreams but nothing to do with them.

Robin Butler, CEO of NOAH Certified weighed in on the business of proper inspections, meeting and exceeding business codes, and pleasing municipalities after his experience working in the tiny house business since 2015 and many years prior in residential home building and dealing with permitting, plans review, building inspectors, and building and zoning departments.

Within the tiny house industry, there are three major players in inspections and certifications: RVIA, PWA, and NOAH. As with many entities, there are pros and cons to each company so let’s see how they measure up.

RVIA

RVIA has been involved in the recreational vehicle industry for many years. Their program is only available to manufacturers who have a facility and the resources already in place. They do not have a program for someone wishing to DIY their tiny home build, or for schools or educational use. The initial set up is pricey (over four times the cost of PWA or NOAH), however a large manufacturer producing a lot of units may turn out better in the long-run.

A major difference with RVIA is that they do not personally inspect each individual tiny house. Once the manufacturer is approved; random inspections occur about every 90 days, and no more than four times in a year. A Quality Assurance Person, employed by the manufacturer, utilizes a checklist called a ‘Traveler’ to perform inspections. The RVIA inspector reviews this when he arrives, and inspects whatever is on the line. There is a disciplinary regimen if he finds issues with the manufacturer that varies depending on the seriousness of the deficiency. RVIA is adamant about informing the buyer that this is an RV certification only and only for temporary habitation. RVIA does not pursue the full-time dwelling necessary for tiny-housers.

PWA/PWA-TH

PWA and its subsidiary PWA-TH are two separate companies. Chuck Ballard, the president of both PWA and PWA-TH, has been instrumental in the writing and consultation of RV standards for many years.

PWA has a program for manufacturers similar to RVIA where the manufacturer is certified to build multiple units; and the facility and whatever is being built there is inspected periodically. They do state they have a DIY program, but many report struggling to reach the company by phone for a consultation or questions during their build process. PWA does not have staff who visit the home to do inspections during or after the build process. The DIYer fills out a form and takes photos to determine qualification for certification. The DIYer is supposed to receive consultations by phone, but, as reported, DIYers cannot easily get these consultations fulfilled.

PWA-TH defines a Tiny Home as an RV and ‘certifies’ the home to the RV standards.

They go on to say a “Certification Label is a statement from the manufacturer or oversight authority that the product is manufactured to the applicable codes and standards.” Furthermore, “This certification label can be sourced from any of several Certified Agencies such as PWA, or an Industry Association.”

What makes a Certified Agency?

Under Legal Guidelines, PWA states:

PWA’s website indicates they are a Certified Agency because their “evaluation and certification staff meet the requirements of ASTM E-541.” However, as of January 2019, ASTM E-541 no longer exists (see diagram below). ASTM E-541 was Withdrawn with No Replacement.

PWA is also not a Trade Association.

Foremost Insurance does not offer access to their insurance for a tiny house certified by PWA or PWA-TH, although there are other insurance possibilities.

For smaller builders, PWA’s cost is roughly in line with NOAH, and about one fourth the cost of RVIA.

NOAH

In 2015, NOAH first investigated the standards and certification of tiny homes on wheels only to find that RVIA was the only resource available. PWA had not yet entered the tiny house industry. Many tiny houses on wheels were being built without any oversight, inspection, or certification. NOAH was born out of this need and as a solution to the void in the tiny house industry.

The NOAH Standard includes the standards from the RV Industry NFPA 1192, ANSI 119.5 and NFPA 70 (NEC) and adding energy and structural standards from the home building industry.

Once standards were developed, NOAH needed a way to inspect in a factory in California and a backyard in New Jersey. Their process evolved so that the builder (whether manufacturer or DIYer) downloads an app on their smart device and the inspector directs every step of the inspection from the other end.

NOAH uses only InterNACHI Professional Certified Inspectors and inspects each THOW (Tiny House on Wheels) individually. Inspections are performed as the home is being built. These inspections are digitized and stored. Additionally, according to Mr Butler, “our free consultation is easy to set up, as are questions to be answered. Our goal is superior customer service and our phones are answered by real people and not automated systems.”

It is up to each local jurisdiction to determine how long you can live in your tiny home on wheels. Because NOAH digitizes and stores the inspection of the build and adds structural and energy to the NOAH Standard, NOAH Inspected, and Certified tiny homes are more likely to be accepted to be lived in full time as a residence as well as to obtain proper insurance.

Because each tiny house is inspected at critical stages of the build and because NOAH digitizes and stores these inspections for use by the city and county building departments, their units have a better chance of being “grandfathered in” once the municipalities figure out this growing tiny house movement.

In one case, a homeowner had an issue with mold on the inside of her home. When she approached the building and zoning departments about putting a THOW in her yard as an ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit), she was first met with resistance. The tiny house in question was a NOAH Inspected and Certified THOW. NOAH gave the building department the digitized inspection of the home and the Chief Building, Chief Electrical and Chief Mechanical inspectors reviewed the NOAH photos and videos, with inspector notes of the build. They could see the rough electrical and the insulation, etc. They then performed an onsite inspection of the home. Based on their findings they allowed the home as an ADU with a few minor changes and an engineered foundation and utility hookup.

RVIA nor PWA could not have provided such records of the home. Additionally, NOAH is the most affordable of the three inspection companies.

Another municipality is allowing a tiny to be built in Colorado and brought into their county in North Carolina base on NOAH inspection process and NOAH as the third-party inspector of the home as it is constructed.

For further inquiries, tiny home manufacturers and DIY builders are encouraged to contact each of these inspection and certification companies themselves, ask questions, and check out their websites. Below you will find a comprehensive graph of basic accommodations offered or not offered by each company.

Four Reasons to Go Tiny

Wed, 10 Apr 2019 19:28:10 GMT

There are many reasons to go tiny, whether it’s reducing your carbon footprint, wanting a mobile office, or just wanting to live simpler. I get asked all the time why I decided to live in a tiny home or why somebody would want one, so here are my top 4 reasons why to go tiny.

1. Efficiency. Tiny homes are more energy efficient than a regular sized house, not only due to their size but also due to there being less entry points. Less entry points to the home means less heat that can escape or come in and cause your air-conditioning to have to keep turning on and off. This keeps your utility bills down and money in your pocket. Think about it, would you rather be paying to heat up a 2000 – 3000 square foot house in the winter or a 200 – 300 square foot house. It’s a no-brainer. The same thing for lighting. Inside and out the cost to light up an entire full sized house is much more than the cost of lighting up a tiny house. My tiny house has 4 main interior lights and a bathroom light and that keeps the entire home well lit. Opposed to paying to light an entire home you’re essentially paying the equivalent of lighting one average bedroom.

2. Customization. The best part about a tiny house is that ours are completely customizable. It can be your permanent home or a guest house. It can be an office or a weekend camper. The possibilities are endless with these tiny homes. A tiny home would be the ideal addition to your pre existing home as an extra bedroom or guest house. Since they’re mobile and aren’t adding square footage to your home you won’t be getting charged additional property taxes.

3. Off The Grid. Living in a tiny home you also have the ability to live completely off the grid. Between mounting some solar panels that can power your entire home and using a rain water collection system you can take your tiny home anywhere. It’s also not uncommon to find a tiny home with a composting toilet. This means you can pack up and go wherever the adventure takes you.

4. Financial Freedom. Tired of paying a mortgage on a large house or paying rent for an apartment month after month that you’re never going to own? Maybe you should look into tiny homes. With loans that can be as low as $300 - $500 a month you can save plenty. You will also save a significant amount when living in a tiny home opposed to a regular home because you aren’t getting charged additional property taxes on your tiny house. Either way you decide to go whether off the grid or not the amount you will be spending on utilities is also tiny when compared to a regular sized home. With the financial freedom you gain from saving so much on the cost of living you can stop working so much to pay your bills and actually start living.

Seven things to look for in a Tiny House on Wheels (THOW)

Tue, 09 Apr 2019 19:31:39 GMT

Quality

Quality in tiny homes is quite variable and is often reflected in the price. Look at the small details and big things like the construction materials used.

Energy Efficiency

Tiny houses need to be energy efficient due to the small size, but this is an area where some builders skimp. Our selection of products and building methods allows us to achieve the highest energy efficiency in the industry.

Windows

Looking at windows is a quick way to determine both quality and energy efficiency. We use Pella Ultra Low-E Argon Gas windows as a standard feature and are the highest quality and most energy efficient on the market.

Trailer

The THOW trailer provides the structural support and rigidity for your tiny house, but since you cannot see it some builders use a less expensive trailer which may not be correctly designed for this purpose. We use Trailer Made Trailers which are the most expensive but the best in the industry using higher gauge galvanized steel beams on sixteen inch centers and supports that with a lifetime warranty.

Exposed Plumbing

Most builders run the electrical and plumbing where it is exposed and is subject to damage when the house is being moved. We cover the bottom of the trailer with a steel belly pan that protects all the electrical and plumbing.

Construction Methods

We use Spray Foam insulation which provides the best insulation values, but also adds rigidity to the entire structure making the walls and ceiling a single strong structure. This allows us to achieve the highest energy efficiency.

NOAH certification

National Organization of Alternative Housing (NOAH) certification means the tiny house complies to the highest codes and best building methods. Most builders do not have NOAH certifications, something that we feel is an absolute must have. The body content of your post goes here. To edit this text, click on it and delete this default text and start typing your own or paste your own from a different source.