Craftsmanship is the Greenest Component in Homebuilding

There are a lot of terms floating around like “green building”, “sustainable building”, “energy efficient homes”, etc.  All of which have at least some merit in improving the way homes are built.  However, navigating the minefield of what we will call “green building” almost inevitably becomes a confusing and overwhelming endeavor.

Several years ago, I was in charge of purchasing materials and labor for one of the nation’s most respected homebuilders.  We took on the challenge of determining the best ways to build the most “green” house possible within reason of being sellable.  Almost always, green changes come with a price tag.  We understood that in our middle to upper middle price point, people are willing to spend more for a green home, but only to a point.  You could build an extremely green home, but very few are willing to pay several million dollars for an ugly 2 bedroom subterranean box.

The project turned into a six month study filling several large binders with spreadsheets, data sheets, comparisons, reports, etc.  Worse yet, if you tried to determine the “greenest” product or method to any component of the home, you would end up with more questions than answers.  To add insult to injury, the more answers you tried to find, the more questions you would end up with.

Here is a typical example of how it went.  One representative for a product would come in and explain how their product was the best and most environmentally responsible because they did or didn’t use some particular process or chemical that improved the sustainability or eco-footprint by whatever percentage.  The next representative would come in and explain how that was all wrong because it took more energy to produce a certain substance in the manufacture of that product and that this other product was the way to go.  That gave us a nice research project for one of the purchasing assistants to find out who is on the level.  That usually led to a cost benefit spreadsheet because both claims had at least some validity to them.  With hundreds of components going into a house, it got maddening fast.

So, where did all of this ultimately lead us?  Though wading through the massive amount of propaganda got to be a lot like wading through the filthy sewage plant of a political election, we did ultimately find that if you back up a step to look at the big picture, there is an elegantly simple answer to the question “How do we build the most ‘green’ house possible within a reasonable cost?”  The answer is good old craftsmanship.

Is it really that simple?  Of course not, but that one word should be the navigational true north to building a home.  The most green home is one that functions efficiently and does not have to have major parts periodically replaced.  The longer it lasts, the more environmentally friendly it is.  For example, an HVAC system that is properly sized to the home, installed with quality materials, and the installer took the time to use mastic to seal all the joints and hung the ducts with two stainless screws through galvanized straps instead of one drywall screw through nylon straps is going to last longer and be more efficient than the system that was hastily installed with cheap materials, unqualified labor, but boasts a greater energy rating on a compressor.  The fact that it was poorly installed nullifies any advantages.

Though some products were clearly better, like finger jointed studs are great for vertical applications because they are straighter and essentially made from scraps, it really depends on the quality of installation.  Finger jointed studs will fail when installed in a horizontal application.  Paying our insulating company to take the time to slit and wrap the insulation around electrical wires or staple it against the subfloor to eliminate air gaps not only made the home more efficient, but made the home more comfortable overall for the homeowner.  After all, isn’t it more green to buy a screwdriver that is made from high quality materials and lasts a lifetime in the hands of a qualified professional than it is to buy one from the discount store that breaks after a kid with a summer job uses it as wrench condemning it to a landfill?

Rod Gunter is Operations Manager at Gunter Building Solutions and has over 20 years of experience in the homebuilding and cabinetry industries.  Rod has been responsible for building over 200 homes above the $500,000 price point.  Rod has trained large groups including all the major home centers on selling skills, construction techniques and sustainable natural wood products.  Rod resides with his family in Holly Springs, North Carolina.  Gunter Building Solutions owns WoodAirGrille.com which produces wood return air filter grilles and wood return air vents.

Drill Centering Guide

Drill centering jigs are certainly nothing new.  However, finding one off the shelf for an odd size drill bit can be quite a challenge.  We needed one specifically for a large metric drill bit that had to be dead straight and dead center for our return air filter grille frames.   It had to be substantial enough to endure drilling 25 – 50 holes per day and we needed to be able to see the point of the bit enter the wood due to where the markings are located on the material.  The one thing we had going for us was that it would almost always be used in conjunction with a drill press.  Additionally, we had to be able to account for slight variances in the thickness of the material since the holes were drilled prior to the finish milling stage.  This is what rendered our previous jigs and stops ineffective at maintaining the level of accuracy we needed.

The design we settled on was simple to build and has worked exceptionally well.  Since the entire jig is only 7” long, we use nothing but scraps that were lying around so you could certainly use different materials or sizes based on your needs or what you have available.  We needed to drill 14mm holes 22mm deep into ¾” frame stock.

The key to the jig was the top piece that serves as the drill guide itself.  I used a 3/8” thick x ¾” piece of aluminum bar stock cut to 7”.  I used a press mill, but a drill press vice or a simple stop held down with a C-clamp would due.  The precise center was determined by placing the tip of the bit on the metal, spinning it by hand just enough to make a mark, then rotating the bar stock 180° and making another mark with the tip of the bit until they matched exactly.  (Fig. 1)  Once the 14mm hole was cut, I used a countersink bit to flair the hole so it would be easier to insert the bit when the jig went to work.

The process was repeated for the ¼” holes placed 1” from either end of the aluminum bar stock for the pivot bolts.  (Fig. 2)  I repeated the process again for the 2 clamping members made from 3/4” square aluminum box channel using the top drill guide bar stock as the template for the hole spacing. (Fig 3)  Using the same method, a center hole was cut along with 2 outer holes 3/8” from either end of 2 pieces of ½” square box channel which was cut to a length of 2 ¾”. (Fig 4)

Now that all the components were ready, it was time to modify the hardware and assemble the jig.  (Fig. 5)  I could have tapped the ½” box channel, but I wasn’t confident that it would be strong enough for long term repeated use.  Therefore, the 2 opposite surfaces of a pair of hex nuts were filed down to fit in the box channel.  (Figs. 6 & 7)  Placing washers between all of the pivot points, a pair of ¾” long ¼” hex bolts were used to connect the top drill guide to the center hole in the ½” steel pivot sections with the hex nuts previously inserted.  Four 2” long ¼” hex bolts were used to connect the clamping members to the pivot sections, again using washers at the pivot points.  Two ¼” hex nuts torqued against each other on each bold secure the apparatus together allowing it to pivot without becoming loose.  (Fig. 8)  Nylon insert lock nuts would work just as well or better, but again, I was using what we happened to have around.

Finally, a piece of ½” x 1/8” steel bar stock was bent around a 5/8” bolt to create a finger hook to easily pull the jig tight to the work piece.  (Fig. 9)  It was secured with some self –tapping screws.

The jig has held up well with several hundred holes drilled so far.  It has produced a notable quality improvement due to the jig compensating for variances in the thickness of the wood. (Fig. 10)  The jigs production speed is equal or better than other jigs we have used, particularly when you factor in making adjustments for the inaccuracy of the former methods.

Rod Gunter is General Manager at Gunter Building Solutions and has over 20 years of experience in the homebuilding and cabinetry industries.  Rod has been responsible for building over 200 homes above the $500,000 price point.  Rod has trained large groups including all the major home centers on selling skills, construction techniques and sustainable natural wood products.  Rod resides with his family in Holly Springs, North Carolina.  Gunter Building Solutions owns WoodAirGrille.com, a leading manufacturer of wood return air filter grilles and wood return air vents.

Three Finishing Details Homebuilders Frequently Overlook

Many builders, including myself, have few reservations about improving the basic structure of the house during the building process.  The minimal cost of pre-wiring an unfinished space, a little additional sound deadening insulation between walls or a few extra LVLs under the bonus room in case the homeowner ever decides to buy a pool table certainly make for a better house, but go largely unappreciated by the homeowner.  Let’s face it, the sales department has a point.  If the customer can’t see or touch it, they usually don’t perceive the value and the temperamental fancy shower door will almost always win in the budget meeting.

I confess there have been times when I wanted to put a prospective buyer in his place for commenting to his wife about the cheap doorbell button when walking into a 7,000 square foot brick house built to survive a hurricane with the best of everything including the commercial 6 burner range they will never use.  Of course the minor insult to my pride quickly diminishes.  Look at what the perspective buyer has to compare against.  At some point all of us have walked into one of those big square box shaped houses that boast hardwoods, granite tops and a lot of square footage.  However, you walk in the kitchen and the floor is spongy because they didn’t add any extra floor joists to support the weight of all the entry level tile and granite.  One of my old sales managers used to always say they are “just putting lipstick on a pig.”

By now, it appears that most quality custom builders have upgraded their doorbell buttons, but when I walk into a house today, there are still things that set off that little “pig wit lipstick” alarm in the back of my head.

1)      Return air grilles.  Frequently located in the main entry way or within the wainscoting in the dining room, it never ceases to surprise me how many high end homes have the same rattling stamped steel return air grilles that you readily find in any low end production built apartment, or mobile home for that matter.  The homeowner is reminded of this every time they dig their fingernails under that stubborn clip to change the filter.  To top it off, nearby is the solid wood supply register neatly molded into the floor.  Why would a builder not put in something more appropriate to elevate the quality of the home.  WoodAirGrille.com offers wood return air filter grilles and wood return air vents that not only have the quality look and feel, but open smoothly like a door to remind the homeowner that no detail went overlooked.

2)      The garage steps.  With so many garages being finished with various floor coating and storage systems, you have to chuckle when you climb up those 3 steps built out of leftovers from the deck.  I am not suggesting oak staircases with wrought iron rails, but perhaps putting a few dollars into composite treads will at least show that there was some thought put into it.  The garage steps are the ones that the homeowner is using when bringing armloads of groceries into the house, so if you have the room, perhaps make them wider with nice deep treads.  Give them a solid platform to stand on while trying to free up a few fingers to open the door instead of fighting to keep their balance on something that doesn’t feel solid.  Add risers and close the sides so there is no place for dirt to accumulate.  We put wide solid stairs in my parent’s garage with low risers and the difference was dramatic.  What caught me off guard was that it was noticed by nearly everyone who went in and out through the garage.

3)      Wire shelving.  It is very surprising how many high end homes are still putting in wire shelving.  It’s not even the nice wire shelving.  It’s the really cheap ones.  Don’t get me wrong, I understand there are advantages to wire shelving, particularly in certain places, but not in the kitchen pantry, master bedroom and the downstairs coat closet.  This goes back to the perception thing.  There are too many people out there who have seen these pull away from the wall.  It doesn’t matter that it was overloaded or not installed correctly.  “Those fall down” is the only thing most remember. 

The good news is that these are inexpensive upgrades.  They are all geared to avoid the question in the homeowner’s mind “If they skimped on this, what else did they cheap out on?”  On the other hand, these are all items that your sales agent can use as selling points the customer can tangibly see and feel.

Rod Gunter is Operations Manager at Gunter Building Solutions and has over 20 years of experience in the Homebuilding Industry.  Rod has been responsible for building over 200 homes above the $500,000 price point.  Rod has trained large groups including all the major home centers on selling skills, construction techniques and sustainable natural wood products.  Rod resides with his family in Holly Springs, North Carolina.  WoodAirGrille.com is owned by Gunter Building Solutions, LLC.