Custom Designed Wooden DoorMy favorite brand of standard residential exterior doors is Thermatru for their durability, insulation, and weatherstripping. Andersen also has an extensive line of pretty good doors. You may also have your architect design a wonderfully creative front entry door and line up a good craftsman.
Shingles Fiber CementA wood alternative siding such as fiber cement siding is able to match the traditional look of wood, with substantially lower maintenance expenses. It is extremely durable, dimensionally stable, and resistant to everyday “dingsâ€. As is the case for natural wood, fiber cement must be primed and painted or stained. However, the material’s superior paint adherence properties reduce the frequency of recoating. The only additional maintenance required is simple cleaning; the exterior may be washed with a garden hose to remove dirt and debris as necessary.
Although a wood alternative siding like fiber cement mimics the traditional appearance of wood, its physical properties provide several advantages. All wood and wood-based products absorb water when exposed to moisture; the ensuing expansion places continuous stress on the material over time. More importantly, the subsequent growth of internal mold and fungus can foster decay that goes unnoticed until the damage requires expensive replacement. In comparison, fiber cement does not experience this type of swelling and warping and does not rot. The product also remains impervious to woodpeckers or wood-boring insects.
Fiber cement resists the damaging effects of ultraviolet (UV) rays and does not succumb to the stress of freeze-thaw cycles. Another important attribute that sometimes goes unnoticed is the material’s non-combustibility – an especially important feature when considering siding products in locations where fire hazards are a concern. Due to its superior durability and resistance to damage from extreme weather conditions, the material can be used in virtually any climate.
Certainteed Batt InsulationThe CertainTeed company seems to be the USA company with the highest density, highest R-value batt insulation for exterior walls. Their 5.5 inch fiberglass batt yields an R-value of 21. That is 2 points higher than most other batt insulation. This still is not enough to rate your wall with LEED, but it helps.
Stone Veneer 2There are a staggering number of textures of stone veneer available to an architect for the application to a wall of a home. In every region of the world, these textures reflect the types of stone available in that region, as well as the aesthetic sensibilities of the local population. Add to that a number of surfaces that were invented by manufacturers to resemble some natural stone. A stone veneer can be genuine cut stone applied by masons one stone at a time. A stone veneer can be genuine cut stone assembled into panels that install more quickly in the field. A stone veneer can be panels made of synthetics or concrete shaped, surfaced and colored to resemble stone. Again the possible textures seem to be endless. If you like the idea of applying stone veneer to your home, there are many places where this will enhance the beauty and endurance of your structure. It is a worthy component to consider when designing your architecture. Here are some examples to click and enlarge.
When I began drawing construction plans for clients in Maine 25 years ago, building inspectors in most of Maine did not pay a lot of attention to details, and often, didn’t ask to see any plans, not even for entire homes. When they did, builders could scribble something on letter paper, or even pretend they know how to plan using a cheap CAD system, and get a permit based upon the certifications of the sub-contractors, rather than based upon a smart design and construction plan. As a result, a lot of pretty stupidly planned and poorly constructed homes decorate a lot of the state of Maine.
A lot of people don’t like having to work a little or pay a little to get a permit to build. They look at it like over-regulation, or asking Daddy for permission. Those same people generally don’t have the ability to tell the difference between a bad idea and good one when it comes to design or construction. They should be happy that someone is involved who is trying to protect one of the largest investments anyone ever makes…home construction.
Building inspectors are not your enemies. Building codes are written to help protect you. They are concerned with safety and preservation of value through proper construction. Good builders have terrific skills, but usually almost no training in design and not enough in engineering. They know how to follow a plan, mostly, but planners and architects have gone through training aimed at smart design and proper engineering and following building codes.
Registered architects can be expensive. That is because there are not many registered architects in Maine, they are very busy with large projects, and they don’t fool around with clients who resent having to call them in the first place. But planning is important. When you let someone draw a plan for you, you will find ways to improve your design, and the plan will help the builder achieve his goal smoothly and quickly. This will save you time and money, often saving you more money than you spent on the plans. Furthermore, you need a plan to get a permit.
The word is out that building inspectors in Maine are much more picky and diligent this year. If you want to build something, you will need a proper plan to get a permit in most regions of Maine. The good news is that you don’t have to hire an expensive architect for every little job. PencilJazz, Mark Saintonge, worked under architects for 10 years and has been designing small homes and remodels for 30 years. I always get the permit, but my fees are lower than the average architect. Give me a call and let’s talk about your dreams. I can help.
Denim Insulation is, yes, made of recycled blue jeans. It is put through a process to make it flame retardant, fungus resistant, and mostly water resistant, and to bond together the fabric shreds into a batt. Denim has the same insulation value as fiberglass, without the itchiness and danger of the the fibers in your lungs. Denim can often pass the test of LEED certification in a house that is “green”. Also, denim insulation has higher sound insulation values than fiberglass. The denim batts don’t always expand to their optimal thickness without some coaxing, but the will cooperate. Frequently, you can save money as denim is also typically less expensive than fiberglass. I can imagine that denim, and other recycled fabrics, will be used more often in the future to manufacture insulation. It’s a great idea.
When I began drawing construction plans for clients in Maine 25 years ago, building inspectors in most of Maine did not pay a lot of attention to details, and often, didn’t ask to see any plans, not even for entire homes. When they did, builders could scribble something on letter paper, or even pretend they know how to plan using a cheap CAD system, and get a permit based upon the certifications of the sub-contractors, rather than based upon a smart design and construction plan. As a result, a lot of pretty stupidly planned and poorly constructed homes decorate a lot of the state of Maine. 
Denim Insulation is, yes, made of recycled blue jeans. It is put through a process to make it flame retardant, fungus resistant, and mostly water resistant, and to bond together the fabric shreds into a batt. Denim has the same insulation value as fiberglass, without the itchiness and danger of the the fibers in your lungs. Denim can often pass the test of LEED certification in a house that is “green”. Also, denim insulation has higher sound insulation values than fiberglass. The denim batts don’t always expand to their optimal thickness without some coaxing, but the will cooperate. Frequently, you can save money as denim is also typically less expensive than fiberglass. I can imagine that denim, and other recycled fabrics, will be used more often in the future to manufacture insulation. It’s a great idea.
