All homebuyers want their new home to turn out just as they envisioned, built on schedule, and for the agreed upon price. As a Professional Builder, we want exactly the same thing. That’s what makes the preconstruction meeting so important. This is a time for builder and client to ensure all of the new home’s details are clear and agreed upon. Clients who get the most from the preconstruction meeting know what to expect and come prepared to fully participate.

The preconstruction meeting is the first of three important meetings that happen during the building process (the other two are the pre-drywall walkthrough and the job close-out or “punch list” meeting). The meeting is typically scheduled after the contract has been signed, and shortly before ground breaking. This is a chance for the client to confirm product selections and make last-minute corrections before the project gets underway. Think of it as the construction equivalent of the airline pilot’s preflight checklist.

Depending on the size of the project, the meeting typically lasts 1 or 2 hours. Attendees include the job site superintendent, the company owner or owner’s representative, and the client. Regardless of who will act as the primary decision maker or point of contact during the project, it is important to have husband and wife in attendance. Having both parties at the meeting helps eliminate uncertainty and minimizes surprises once building gets under way.

Topics covered may vary depending on the project, but usually include a review of the floor plan and client selections: the type of siding, structural options like dormers and bonus rooms, mechanical upgrades like a custom air filtration, and any number of other items. The builder may also go over the site plan: how the home will be oriented, where concrete work such as driveways, sidewalks, and air conditioning pads will be located, how rain water will drain from the lot, and what trees, if any, need to be protected. Legal issues such as property lines and easements may be covered as well.

The builder will re-confirm the company’s general policies and review the process for making changes once construction begins. If something isn’t as expected, this is the time to ask questions. Errors and misunderstandings are easier, less costly, and less stressful to correct now than they will be once construction begins.

Some prep work will usually need to be done before this meeting. The client should prepare for the meeting by making timely selections, especially if there are special-order materials with long lead times. The client should also prep by carefully reviewing the plans and specifications, and preparing a list of questions. The list of questions is important. Now is the time for clarity down to the smallest detail. Is there a floor drain in the garage? Where will the hose bibs, outdoor lights and attic hatch be located?

Clarity on procedures are also important. Who should the clients call with questions once construction starts? Can the clients visit the site during construction? If so, when and what are the rules?

Done well, a good preconstruction meeting eliminates the uncertainty and puts everyone on the same page. It goes a long way toward ensuring a trouble-free project and a smooth landing for everyone.

Bierman was on-site this week filming video highlights of the project which will be on Southern Living’s website soon as was Castle Homes Founder/President Alan Looney and CH Production Manager Brett Wright. Bierman said he was extremely pleased with the outcome of the project which represents one of Southern Living’s most complex projects to date.

Southern Living Editor Lindsay Bierman center, with Castle Homes’s Alan Looney and Brett Wright, checked out Castle Homes work in the pretty library of the Southern Living Idea House at Fontanel opening the end of June.

Nestled in the beautiful Middle Tennessee hills and just ten minutes from downtown Nashville, Fontanel is the former home site of Country music legend Barbara Mandrell and family. Castle Homes was selected by Fontanel Properties LLC, Dale Morris and Marc Oswald, to build the beautiful farmhouse style home flanked by four other charming guest retreats located below Mandrell’s original home, Fontanel, which is also open for tour.

The low-maintenance exterior of the beautiful farmhouse style Southern Living Idea House makes this a smart building option says Castle Homes President Alan Looney. (Photo by Reed Brown Photography)

Castle Homes has shown “careful attention to enduring quality and beauty” said Bierman about the home project.

“For all the challenging logistics, including an incredibly tight deadline, the house is impeccably built and crafted down to the very last baseboard,” Bierman said.

Some of the must see highlights of the building project include:

• Wood harvested from an early 1900s Louden, Tennessee barn is used for clever sliding doors opening to the gourmet kitchen.
• Gorgeous black walnut kitchen counter with a gourmet’s dream of a three-bay, stainless steel sink which has been bead-blasted for a weathered patina.
• Cable railing wraps the 2,800 square feet of porches with an earthtone MoistureShield all-weather decking made of 95% recycled materials.
• Galvalume metal farmhouse roof has a LP TechShield radiant barrier underneath which will help reduce monthly air conditioning bills.

These are just some of the inspiring building ideas you’ll find at the home tour open Wednesday – Sunday, June 29-December 29, 2013. Be sure and check out the neat interior design ideas on Southern Living’s Pinterest board which picked up 6,000 new followers within hours of its posting!

For tickets and tour information, visit the Southern Living Idea House website.

St. Jude’s Ambassador Mae McNally visited the nation’s only 2013 Southern Living Idea House at Fontanel being built by Castle Homes. (Photo by Sarah Lee)

After a tour by Castle Homes Superintendent Josh Smith, Fontanel’s Laura Lacy, St. Jude Ambassador Mae McNally were serenaded by Steven Whitson at the Southern Living Idea House. (Photo by Sarah Lee)

Friday was an exciting day for the nation’s only Southern Living Idea House at Fontanel in Nashville which Castle Homes is honored to be building. St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the benefiting charity of the national event, has named six-year-old Nashville patient Mae McNally as a patient ambassador for the exciting project. Mae, her mom and her sisters, Lucy and Winn, were given a VIP tour by Castle Homes site superintendent Josh Smith.

Mae will also be on hand to help the design team choose the patient art to adorn the walls of the Southern Living Idea House Resource Center and help plant the garden. Her experiences will be highlighted in special blog posts on southernliving.com. Her involvement will help bring to life the lifesaving mission of St. Jude throughout the house for the thousands of people expected to visit this year.

Mae, who was born in Nashville, was diagnosed with Wilms tumor, a cancer of the kidney, when she was just four years old. Mae’s family initially sought treatment at a local hospital. When her cancer returned Mae’s family went to St. Jude where children fighting cancer and other deadly diseases are treated with pioneering research and exceptional care. After undergoing extensive treatment Mae has recently been deemed cancer-free and was able to return home.

Southern Living Idea House St. Jude Ambassador Mae McNally and her sisters pose by the reclaimed sliding barn doors Castle Homes just installed as main house kitchen doors. (Photo by Sarah Lee)

“Partnering with Southern Living on this exciting project, allows an opportunity for the public to help more patients like Mae receive treatment at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital – where no family ever pays the hospital for anything,” said Richard C. Shadyac Jr., CEO of ALSAC/St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. “Mae, whose charming personality and infectious joy make her a great fit for this project; will serve as a tangible link at the Idea House to the many children receiving groundbreaking treatment at St. Jude.”

Castle Homes will complete the build of the Idea House by mid-May and then project designer and Southern Living Contributing Editor Phoebe Howard takes over the interior design. It will be open to the public for tours beginning June 29th on Wednesday-Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tickets are $12. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Artwork created by St. Jude patients will be showcased in the Idea House which is located at 4105 Whites Creek Pike in Nashville, TN 37189. A feature on the home is scheduled to appear in the August issue of Southern Living.

Southern Living® Plant Collection Garden Lifestyle Expert Carmen Johnston to be at Brentwood Home Depot Saturday May 4

Johnston is part of the team helping to create the garden in the courtyard of one of the most unique sites for a Southern Living Idea House to date.  The gardens are wrapped by the Idea House site which has a main building, guest home, two charming bunkies and a garage with a caretaker’s apartment. The five structures will all be packed with incredible building and design ideas as part of the inspiring tour with a portion of the proceeds benefiting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

On Saturday, Johnston will be demonstrating spring-inspired decorative ideas for the new versatile container gardens from the Southern Living Plant Collection.

“On their own, these ready-to-go color containers offer consumers beautiful fuss-free flowers anytime and anywhere they want instant style. They also make an ideal gift for Mother’s Day! If interested, I will assist attendees in creating a complimentary handmade gift tag for the Designer Series Container Gardens,” Johnston said.

Castle Homes will complete the build of the Idea House by mid-May and it will be open to the public for tours beginning June 29^th on Wednesday-Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tickets are $12. A feature on the home is scheduled to appear in the August issue of Southern Living.

A Nashville-based design-build firm, Castle Homes earned the 2012 Southern Living Custom Builder of the Year Award. With Fontanel Properties, LLC as project developer, the 2013 Southern Living Idea House team includes architect Historical Concepts, interior designer Phoebe Howard, Page|Duke Landscape Architects with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital as the benefiting charity. Continue to follow the build here.

Southern Living celebrates the essence of life in the South, covering the best in Southern food, home, garden, and travel.  Reaching more than 16 million consumers each month, Southern Living connects consumers with the region’s rich culture through a variety of print, digital, mobile, tablet and event platforms.  Headquartered in Birmingham, AL, the rapidly expanding Southern Living brand is part of Time Inc., one of the largest content companies in the world and the largest publisher in the United States. TimeInc. is a Time Warner company.

Castle Homes has completed the Southern Living Idea House which will be featured in August issue

The beloved porch is the focal point of the latest issue of Southern Living magazine where editor Lindsay Bierman reflects about the simplicity of life. A good porch no doubt plays an important role. “While the rest of the world has fixed on all the ways we can stay “connected,” it turns out that the South has been at the forefront of the hottest new trend sweeping the country: finding ways to stay rooted.”

One of the best ways people are staying rooting is spending time on the porch with family and friends. The upcoming Southern Living Idea House at Fontanel, which Castle Homes has just completed, accomplishes this with 2,800 square feet of porches and patios!

These spaces are being dressed-to the nines by nationally renowned designer and Southern Living columnist Phoebe Howard. You are going to be inspired by porch vignettes throughout the main farmhouse and the four additional guest retreats full of pretty candles, Ballard Designs all-weather wicker furniture, gorgeous farm tables and beautiful Southern Living Plant Collections containers of flowers.

As you look past the dreamy settings, you are going to want to notice some of Castle Homes’s favorite building elements which make a huge impact to the great porch experience.

The Farmhouse style Southern Living Idea House, built by Castle Homes, has four additional guest retreats for visitors to tour beginning June 29.

As major proponents of all-weather, sustainable materials, Castle Homes used MoistureShield decking of the Idea House so annoying splinters or badly faded wood will never be a problem. Available in a variety of colors, the decking is made of 95% recycled content and is easy to clean.

A clear porch view of the rolling hills of Fontanel is made possible by Castle Homes innovative use of cable railing.

When your view is the gorgeous hills of Fontanel, you certainly don’t want your sight obstructed by wooden railing if possible. For years Castle Homes has been looking for just the right project to use cable railing. This building innovation balances safety with the desire for clean lines of vision to the scenic courtyard.

Another problem solving building innovation are the decorative downspout gutter chains. Fashioned like small pots, the water artfully falls from the galvalume metal roof.

Bevolo Sconces

The icing on the pretty porch cake are the striking copper Bevolo sconces scattered strategically throughout the porches. Gas lanterns flank the door but the perimeter fixtures feature pink ambient lighting. U.S. made in Louisiana, the pink lighting cast a prettier nighttime glow and is an energy efficient bulb. According to Bevolo, the sconces are “projected to last 300 years and lights feature are most energy efficient burners in the world. “

One of our most popular porch projects to date was the 2011 Southern Living Showcase Home built by Castle Homes in Brentwood, Tennessee. An all-weather gorgeous Skimstone concrete floor with a pretty Modello design is the backdrop for the outdoor living space with a charming fireplace and screen tight sliding doors opening to the pretty backyard.

Castle Homes’s porch from the 2011 Southern Living Showcase Home in Brentwood has earned a spot in over 5,000 idea books on Houzz.

The nation’s only Southern Living Idea House at beautiful Fontanel in Nashville is open Wednesday through Sunday from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. from June 29 through December 29. For more information, visit Southern Living’s website.

A Nashville-based design-build firm, Castle Homes earned the 2012 Southern Living Custom Builder of the Year Award. With Fontanel Properties, LLC as project developer, the 2013 Southern Living Idea House team includes architect Historical Concepts, interior designer Phoebe Howard, Page|Duke Landscape Architects with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital as the benefiting charity.

Visitors to Nashville’s newest tourism destination will not only experience the legacy of a beloved country music star, they’ll take home ideas about how to make their next home renovation or construction project as elegant as possible.

Between June and the end of the year, up to 110,000 visitors are expected to tour the Southern Living Idea House, which will showcase the latest in luxury home building and interior design. The house and its complementary structures are being built by Castle Homes at Fontanel, the 136-acre estate that was home to Country Music Hall of Fame member Barbara Mandrell.

Nashville’s selection as the location of the nation’s only 2013 Idea House is more evidence of the city’s influence on popular culture these days, from the ABC television show “Nashville” and the national attention being given to the city’s restaurants to the growing popularity of country music.

“Country is cool now,” said Frank Craige, who is managing the project for Southern Living, the Birmingham-based publisher of Southern Living Magazine. “You have a small-town feel (in Nashville) with the Hollywood, songwriting aspect.”

Idea Houses built in other locations have typically attracted between 30,000 and 40,000 visitors. Craig expects that number to double or triple at Fontanel.

“We’re at a destination in a destination city,” he said. “People plan their vacations around these houses.”

After the house closes to tours at the end of December, it will reopen as both an event space and the city’s only five-star bed and breakfast, said Marc Oswald, who along with business partner Dale Morris owns Fontanel.

“When I say five-star, wait until you see this. It’ll be in a league of its own,” said Oswald, who is perhaps best known as the manager of country stars such as Gretchen Wilson, Big & Rich and Cowboy Troy.

Guests at the bed and breakfast, which Oswald said will offer all the amenities of a luxury micro-hotel, will be able to enjoy hiking and biking on Fontanel’s forested grounds, visit the 27,000-square-foot log mansion that was Mandrell’s home, watch hand-crafted spirits being made at the new Pritchard’s Distillery on the grounds, dine at Café Fontanella and take in top-name performers at the Woods Amphitheater.

Guests can book individual suites or rent the entire retreat, he said. The Idea House will also become Nashville’s newest luxury event space.

“We’re already booking weddings,” said Oswald. “I would compare it to the five-star hotels at California wineries.”

The Idea House will showcase modern amenities and materials inside an authentic-looking farmhouse, said Alan Looney, president of Castle Homes.

“It’s almost like stepping back in time, but it’s a modern structure,” he said.

The tin roof, natural limestone foundation, locally made mahogany doors and solid cedar beams on the porches will contribute to the historic look. Under the roof, though, is LP TechShield, a modern radiant barrier that prevents the sun from heating the interior. The double-pane windows are filled with argon gas for insulation. The exterior walls of all five buildings contain Tyvek Therma Wrap to reduce heating and cooling costs, said project manager Brett Wright.

In the farmhouse, interior walls are wood-clad. They aren’t as smooth as drywall, which is exactly the point, he said.

“We don’t want it to be too perfect,” said Wright.

The aged-copper chimney and the fireplace constructed with half-sized bricks laid in a herringbone pattern will contribute to the historic look. So will the four 24-foot-long beams made with reclaimed wood in the ceiling of the great room.

The Idea House’s amenities are thoroughly modern and include a Sub-Zero refrigerator and freezer and a 48-inch Wolf dual fuel cooktop and range. Other suppliers whose products are featured include Lennox, Sherwin Williams, Sunbrella, Rinnai, Bevolo Gas & Electric Lights, and Shaw Floors.

A five building complex surrounding a pretty quadrangle garden area, the Generational Farmhouse style main home is complemented by charming bunkies, a guest house and garage with a caretaker’s residence according to Alan Looney, president of Castle Homes.

Stepping inside the main farmhouse, the formal keeping room has a soaring 18 feet ceiling. Castle Homes’s Production Manager Brett Wright said architects Historical Concepts have incorporated four 23 feet long beams into the ceiling design.

The large Keeping Room offers plenty of entertaining space in the Southern Living Idea House at Fontanel being built by Castle Homes in Nashville.

While researching old farm beams, Wright visited Eagle Reclaimed Lumber in Murfreesboro.

“It is standard for Castle Homes to weave an interesting architectural element into a house. Many times, we find unusual newel posts. Reclaimed beams, over a century old, will add an intriguing element to the open Keeping Room ceiling,” Wright said. “Over 100 years ago, the beams were used to keep the walls stable and from spreading. In the home today, the beams will be used decoratively to help bring definition and add charm.”

During the research visit, Wright found a Civil War era oak peg used to tie together wood beams.

The antique peg from Eagle Reclaimed Lumber is a great reflection of craftsmanship from the era.

Wright was amazed at the craftsmanship in the antique peg and how it didn’t mushroom when pounded into the beam.

“It’s not mushroomed at all on the end where it would have been pounded into the beam. It shows great skill in making sure the hole was created in an exacting fashion so it was a snug fit,” Wright said.

The craftsmanship reflected in the repurposed and well-harvested materials are a good choice for the important project. “From a construction standpoint, it is really neat to be able to showcase this work well-over 100 years later,” Wright reflected.

The nation’s only 2013 Southern Living Idea at Fontanel in Nashville will be open for tour mid-June through December.

Castle Homes, a Nashville-based design-build firm earned the 2012 Southern Living Custom Builder of the Year Award. With Fontanel Properties, LLC as project developer, the 2013 Southern Living Idea House team includes architect Historical Concepts, interior designer Phoebe Howard, Page | Duke Landscape Architects with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital as the benefiting charity. Continue to follow the build here.

Southern Living celebrates the essence of life in the South, covering the best in Southern food, home, garden, and travel. Reaching more than 16 million consumers each month, Southern Living connects consumers with the region’s rich culture through a variety of print, digital, mobile, tablet and event platforms. Headquartered in Birmingham, AL, the rapidly expanding Southern Living brand is part of Time Inc., one of the largest content companies in the world and the largest publisher in the United States. TimeInc. is a Time Warner company.

In the spirit of learning about these new technologies, we profile a rising star in the world of heating and air conditioning: Geothermal (or “ground-source”) heating and cooling systems. Simply, a geothermal system uses the temperature of the ground to condition the air that is distributed through the house using conventional ductwork.

To transfer ground temperature to the home’s central air distribution system, a closed loop of narrow, flexible pipe is installed at least 8 feet underground, vertically or horizontally.

The temperature of the ground is about 68 degrees. Conductive, non-toxic fluid is pumped through the pipe and is heated or cooled (depending on its temperature) by the constant temperature of the ground. When that fluid returns to the surface, it transfers its temperature to the air being blown into the home’s ductwork.

That’s exactly how conventional, air-sourced heat pumps work, except that those systems use the temperature of the ambient outdoor air, which is far less predictable and constant than underground temperatures.

In winter, for instance, if the thermostat is set at 72 degrees, the heating coils in the pump only need to boost the incoming ground-conditioned, 68-degree fluid by a few degrees to achieve the desired temperature. The outdoor air temperature that day, however, is likely much colder, which requires far more energy from the pump’s heating coils to warm it sufficiently.

Because this type of ground-source system requires far less supplemental heating or cooling measures to achieve desired indoor temperature and comfort levels, it uses less energy. In turn, there’s less wear and tear on the heat pump, allowing it to operate at optimum efficiency for a longer period of time and with less maintenance.

Cost and payback: Until 2016, the Federal Government is offering a 30% tax credit on geothermal systems with no upper limit. This covers both the cost and installation of the units. These credits apply to both new construction and existing homes. The cost to install a geothermal system and the savings vary. Hypothetically, if a Geothermal system costs twice as much as a conventional air-sourced system, and cuts the monthly energy use and cost in half, there will be a substantial return on investment within a few years.

People with geothermal systems also report better and healthier indoor comfort, especially in the height of summer or winter when a conventional heat pump has a hard time conditioning the outside air to the desired indoor temperature.

Geothermal heating and cooling systems may not be for everyone or every new-home condition, but they are a proven, energy-efficient option that delivers better performance and lessens environmental impact.

It wasn’t that long ago that a window was a window … was a window. Basically, a hole in the wall fitted with a wood-framed pane of glass that allowed a view to the outside and provided a little bit of daylight into a house.

Over the past 25 years, windows have changed dramatically. Not only are they far more energy-efficient than their predecessors, they are available in a wide range of styles, frames and glass options. Today, professional builders and homebuyers are able to precisely align a window’s energy performance, cost, and style to achieve an optimum solution for any home.

Among an increasing variety of window frame materials, here’s how the tried-and-true measure up to the next generation:

Aluminum: Light, durable, easy to maintain, and generally inexpensive, aluminum-framed windows remain popular across the country and where cost is an important consideration.

However, metal is more thermally conductive than other window frame materials. It can be difficult to maintain a steady level of indoor comfort and reduce heating energy demand with an aluminum window. This is of particular concern in extremely cold weather.

In those conditions, the thermal conductivity of a metal-framed window may also cause condensation that can result in latent moisture damage to the overall window and adjacent materials. Aluminum frames with so-called “thermal breaks” or spacers that separate the indoor and outdoor frame sections can improve energy performance.

Wood: Wood-framed windows are popular for their aesthetic qualities; wood also is a very good insulating material, with low thermal conductivity.

The problem with wood is maintenance, especially the part of the frame that’s exposed to weather. And, despite their insulating qualities, wood windows react to changes in ambient moisture and temperature, which may cause them to stick (when they swell in hot, humid weather) or create gaps (when they shrink in cold, dry conditions).

To address those issues, the exterior profile (or face) of wood-framed windows are often fitted with a vinyl or aluminum cladding that protects the wood frame from weather damage and reduces climate-caused fluctuations in the frame’s integrity. A cladding also maintains the aesthetic qualities of wood, as the indoor section of the frame remains exposed and natural.

Vinyl: Window frames made from polyvinylchloride (PVC) combine durability, low thermal conductivity, and moisture resistance. They are generally affordable.

To improve energy performance, some vinyl windows are infused or fitted with insulation material within their mostly hollow frames.

The issue with vinyl windows is aesthetics. They are available in a limited number of colors, usually white or light hues, which may not be compatible with the rest of a home’s exterior finish materials.

Composites and Fiberglass: The latest generation of window frames seek to address the deficiencies of their predecessors. So-called “hybrid” frames combine various wood-based materials to achieve better stability, while wood-plastic composites boost thermal performance and durability.

Fiberglass, meanwhile, can be molded, shaped, textured, and colored to look like wood, but with far superior durability and strength and better insulating value. To date, fiberglass appears to be the window frame material of the future, with few downsides.

That being said, composites and fiberglass-framed windows are generally more expensive, but also promise to deliver better and longer-lasting performance.

As a professional builder, it is important that we educate ourselves about the increasingly diverse options available for residential windows. This enables us to advise our homebuyers about their choices and support them in making informed decision about their new home.