Durability

Exterior Doors – One of the most common maintenance items on a home is re-finishing the exterior doors. The changes in heat and humidity we experience in Dallas cause wood doors to warp crack and fade requiring caulking, painting/staining, and adjustment on a regular basis. For several years, we have installed wrought iron front doors and fiberglass patio doors in all of our homes. These materials do not warp and crack with changes in heat and humidity and require little or no maintenance. The costs of these doors has come down in recent years as they have become more prevalent and we have worked with our suppliers on costs to the point that they are minimally more than we were paying for wood.

Roof Shingles – For about 7 years most of the roof shingles we have installed are 50 yr. hail resistant fiberglass shingles or tile roofs which are typically used on Mediteranean style homes. Most of our competitors use 30 yr. fiberglass shingles without a hail resistant rating. The Class IV hail resistant rating on the 50 yr. shingles we install costs several thousand dollars more but is less expensive in the long run. We provide a certificate to the homeowner which can be provided to the home owners insurance company for a discount that is typically in the 20-50% range depending on the insurance company. Also, if your home is in a hailstorm, you will not have pay the deductible to have the roof replaced.

Foundations – All foundations are engineered and vary depending on the soil conditions as reported by the geotechnical engineer. In some cases we have built homes on pier and beam foundations which allow for movement of the soil in the crawl space area. Most of the foundations are concrete slabs in which we have treated the soil to reduce the potential expansion of the soil. Use of 36” deep or more perimeter beams reduces the possibility of expansion as well by making it more difficult for surface water to get under the slab and cause uplift. Piers are frequently used and are important in situations with potential settlement due to fill dirt or large trees with root systems that can pull moisture from the soil under the slab. For additional strength in concrete we add fiber and use of a curing compound.

Second Floor Systems – 20” truss systems designed by an engineer have many benefits including sturdy support for quiet and space for AC ductwork to easily run between the floors. Trusses do not require the drilling of holes through the support members to run the ductwork. Additionally, the ductwork can be run with less tight turns allowing the system to function more efficiently. Advan Tech engineered wood (1 1/8” thick) is used for the second floor decking as it is highly rated for strength, stiffness and moisture resistance resulting in a quiet floor.

Building Envelope - Some of the construction practices for all of our homes used to reduce the possibility of moisture entering through the exterior building envelope of the home and causing damage such as wood rot and/or mold. Since brick and mortar are porous and do not stop water and moisture from entering into the walls, the building envelope must be constructed to prevent moisture from entering the walls. It is important to maintain an air gap between the brick and stone and the walls so any water can flow down to the brick ledge and exit through the weep holes and not get trapped. This means designing the home with a wider brick ledge where thicker stone is use. Additionally all our homes wrapped with DuPont Tyvek house wrap which does not allow moisture to penetrate in but allows for the flow of moisture from inside to the outside. All exterior doors and windows are sealed with waterproof taping. Many of our competitors do not do all of the above and some do none of the above.

Pavers – We frequently use concrete or travertine pavers for walkways, patios and driveways. They cost more than regular broom finish concrete and exposed aggregate but are competitive with stamped or patterned concrete. Drives and walks are not engineered and do not have the beams, steel, etc. and are more likely to crack from shifting in the Texas clay soils. If the pavers shift, it is not very noticeable depending on the amount of movement. The cost of fixing is very minor and involves adjusting the pavers as opposed to tearing out concrete, hauling it off, and pouring new concrete which can be very expensive.

Hand Trowel Texture – We typically use hand trowel texture on all the walls in the living area of the home. Repairing any damage to the walls is easier and less noticeable than having to match the sprayed texture from a specific machine. show that t