South Face Homes is the sustainable home building division of Sustainable Technology Institute. We do things a little different than you’re used to. Take a look at what you can expect from a custom home from South Face Homes.
Home Plan: – Craftsman Style, 4 Bedrooms, 2 ½ Baths
Lot Clearing
The lot will be cleared with 20 feet minimum clearance on all sides of house. Driveway area will be cleared to a minimum of 12 feet width. The drain field will be cleared as needed. All undisturbed areas will remain in their natural state.
Driveway
The driveway will be gravel
Well and Septic
The well will be drilled and meet Health Department requirements.
The Septic is a 4 Bedroom Gravity Fed Conventional System installed per Health Department Regulations.
Foundation
Brick and block foundation on top of reinforced concrete footings around perimeter of house. Foundation vents are standard. Oversized, lockable metal crawl space door. 4” perforated drain tile at exterior of foundation that drains water away from house. Black Poly vapor barrier covers the crawlspace floor.
Termite Warranty
Soil is treated for termites and carries a one-year guarantee from the date of application.
Framing
¾ inch tongue and groove high-grade Advantech OSB subfloor, glued and nailed
2 x 6 stud walls 24” on center on all exterior walls/interior walls are 2×4 16” on center
9’ Ceilings on 1st Floor, 8’ Ceilings on 2nd Floor
OSB sheathing on exterior encapsulated with air barrier paper.
Stick frame and Truss Roof System
2’ Overhangs on front and rear of home
Insulation
Insulated beyond code requirements and includes Air Seal Package
R-21 fiberglass batts in exterior walls
R-19 fiberglass batt in crawlspace
R-40 blown cellulose in attic
Roof
30 Year Architectural Shingles with Ridge Vent
Siding and Exterior Finishes
Vinyl Siding – Double Five Lap Premium Grade Siding
Exterior Trim is White
Wide Craftsman Style Window Trim and front porch columns
Stone veneer under and above front porch
Windows and Doors
Front Door is Craftsman Raised Panel stain grade fiberglass door with 4-lite window. Door to rear deck is sliding glass door. Pedestrian Door in Garage is half glass door.
Energy Efficient Windows are Insulated, Vinyl, Double Hung, Tilt Out, with low E, Argon Gas and prairie- style grills between the glass. Screens are included.
Overhead Garage Doors are White, Carriage Style with Windows, Insulated Steel, Auto Door Opener with two remotes.
Interior Doors are 5 Panel Hollow Core Craftsman Style Doors with Brushed Nickel Hinges.
Porches and Decks
Front Porch is Pressure Treated Wood with Brick Piers and Craftsman Columns. Steps are Pressure Treated Wood.
Rear Deck is Pressure Treated Wood with Pressure Treated railings
Sidewalk
Stamped Concrete walkway from front steps to driveway
Grading and Landscaping
Disturbed areas will be graded with seed and straw applied. Landscaping bushes and mulch are included in bed between sidewalk and house. It is purchaser’s responsibility to water and maintain – no warranty on grass and shrubs.
Flooring
3 ¼” inch wide red oak Site Finished Hardwood installed on entire 1st floor. Foyer to have a hardwood cherry border accent.
*The floors will be finished with two coats of polyurethane, however for an added charge- the purchaser has the option of picking a stain color
Carpet in all bedrooms with 6 lb pad.
* Purchaser can choose color from builder selections
Hardwood Stairs with black aluminum Craftsman Style pickets and stained oak newel post and handrails.
Tile in all the Baths and Laundry Room. Tile around Tub in Master Bath. Tile Backsplash in Kitchen
Interior Paint
One Flat Wall Color (Purchaser’s Choice from builder’s selection if not already chosen) and Bright White Semi-Gloss Trim Color.
Ceilings painted Ceiling White.
Bathrooms painted with washable surface paint
Interior Trim
Craftsman Trim package includes 5 1/4” Ogee Baseboard, 1”x 4” Flat Casing Trim throughout with top trim detail. Windows have sills on 1st floor. Oak shoe molding installed throughout hardwood floors.
Hardware
Brushed Nickel Interior door handles, hinges, towel holders, paper holders and shower curtain rods installed.
Cabinets and Countertops
White Cabinets in Kitchen and Baths
Level 1 Granite Countertops in Kitchen and Full Baths.
Half Bath has Pedestal Sink.
Appliances
Stainless Steel Appliances including:
Microwave Hood
Dishwasher
Range (wired for electric, however purchaser can upgrade to propane range for an additional fee)
Electrical
House is wired with upgraded 400 amp service (prepares you for future pool or outbuildings)
Recessed, Pendant and Undercabinet Lighting in the Kitchen, Ceiling Fans in the Family Room, Master Bedroom and Rec Room. All other bedrooms have ceiling fan electric boxes installed for future fan installations. Bath Fans in all Bathrooms. Smoke Detectors per code. Ceiling Lights in Garage. Electrical receptacles by front and back door and 4 receptacles in Garage. Cable/TV connections in most rooms throughout house.
Plumbing
Kitchen – Undermount Stainless Steel Sink, single lever Faucet with Sprayer, Garbage Disposal, Refrigerator Ice Maker Hookup
Master Bath – Double Bowl Vanity with Granite Tops and Undermount Ceramic Sinks, Raised Height, Dual Flush Elongated Toilet, Fiberglass Soaking Tub. Fiberglass Shower with Glass Door.
Hall Baths – Granite Tops with Ceramic Undermount Sinks, Raised Height Elongated Toilets, Fiberglass Tub/Shower.
50 Gallon Electric Hot Water Heater installed in Garage.
Faucets are Brushed Nickel throughout.
2 Hosebibs –back and front of house.
HVAC
Two Zone 14 Seer Heat Pumps
Ductwork meticulously sealed with mastic as an energy efficient upgrade
Shelving and Mirrors
Closets, Pantry and Laundry room all have Ventilated Shelving, All Bathrooms will have Sheet Mirrors above Vanities with Oval Mirror in the Half Bath.
Solar Energy System
4480 watt solar electric panel system installed on rear roof of home
Microinverters installed with remote system monitoring (clients can view real time energy production from their computers and/or smart phones)
Solar Tax Credit of $4,260 available to buyer
Warranty
Standard Builder One Year Warranty
Upgraded Energy Saving Features of this Home:
This home will have utility bills that are less than half of a standard new construction home. The yearly energy savings for this home in most cases equates to at least one mortgage payment per year.
Exterior walls:
The 2×6 exterior walls used to construct this home provide a unique upgrade with many benefits. Most new construction homes use 2×4’s and this allows for R-15 insulation. The 2×6 walls in this home allow enough space for R21 insulation. In addition, this thicker insulation allows for a very high level of sound proofing. And 2×6 walls make for a stronger home structurally. The wider window sills allow for small potted plants and other decorative items that would not fit on a standard 2×4 wall window sill.
Roof:
Upgraded “raised-heel” roof trusses are incorporated into this home. This allows for a higher level of insulation to be placed around the perimeter of the attic. The roof trusses also allow for a 24” overhang that provides better protection from wind blown rain.
Framing and Air-Sealing Upgrades:
Building an energy efficient home is more than just upgrading the level of insulation. All exterior walls of this home have been sealed with a product called zip tape. This tape is installed prior to the installation of the air barrier paper and serves to disallow the movement of outside air into the home. Prior to the installation of attic insulation, the attic is thoroughly air sealed with spray foam. Scientific research suggests that properly air-sealing a home can have even a larger effect than upgrading the insulation.
Overhangs and Cantilevered Second Floor:
It is rare to encounter new homes with a 24 inch roof overhang. Standard homes have 12” overhangs. The overhangs on this home provide two benefits. In the air-conditioning months, the overhang will reduce energy costs by blocking direct sunlight from sending unwanted heat into the home. Secondly, the overhangs keep the weather away from your home when it rains. The cantilevered second floor of the home provides shading for 1st floor windows.
Crawl Space:
Most builders dig a hole for a crawlspace and use drain tile as a measure for directing water away from the home. Holes in the ground with new homes above them have a tendency to have high moisture levels that can impair indoor air quality and invite other issues that can be easily avoided. This home has a raised crawl space level that prevents the development of moisture in the crawl space.