NATURAL LIGHTING FOR CENTRAL TEXAS CUSTOM HOMES

May 17th, 2010

Planning and building a Custom home is really exciting especially when you have desired to own one all your life. There are innumerable decisions to be made while planning out the home. These include the builder selection, the architecture and the materials to be used. One important consideration is the extent of natural light that enters the house. Though the builder will present you different layouts and design plans for your dream home, the ultimate choice for selection would be with you.

Why Natural Lighting?
With an increasing awareness on saving energy, more and more home owners are becoming eco-friendly. What happens to a bunch of flowers kept in a dark room with no water or air? It gradually loses its energy and dies. Same is true for humans. We cannot survive without fresh air and ample sunlight. This means that our custom home must have a sufficient level of exposure to natural light.

Direct sunlight plays two important roles in a custom house. First, it adds energy into the home. You feel fresh, energetic and full of life when you see rays of the Sun enter your bedroom in the morning. You’ll always draw apart the curtains on a bright winter afternoon to let the lively natural light enter your dream home.

The second most glaring benefit of natural light is that it saves power and electricity. Why do you keep huge glass windows in the bedroom and the living? During the day, natural light acts as the substitute of the artificial power.  Natural sunlight is considered to be good for health and at the same time it helps preserves electricity.

Most home owners remove things blocking sunlight from the windows. In addition to keeping the windows clean, they also use light weight curtains, sheer or even blinds. These days, the double glazed patio doors and doors having glass are an upcoming trend.

In all, the role of natural light for your custom home can in no way be underestimated and all steps should be taken to make sufficient room for sunlight.

We at Dustin Dewald Custom Homes design and build Custom Homes in Killeen, Harker Heights, Copperas Cove & Fort Hood areas in Cental Texas.

Killeen Home Builders - Central Texas Custom Home Builders

LIGHTING TECHNIQUES TO IMPROVE HOME DECOR

May 10th, 2010

You may be undertaking a remodelling project or building a custom home. While the building materials and structural design are important factors, lighting can also make a huge difference in the appeal and ambience of your home. Using lights as a decorative feature can add an interesting touch to the surroundings.

Different styles of home lighting can be used to create varying moods and shadows or highlight certain areas of rooms. The same can also cast light on artwork or plants to bring out colours and hues. For innovative ideas and designer lighting, you need to think out of the box.

The home décor market offers many choices for lighting products that enhance comfort and style for custom homes. You must also consider the flexibility of such products and go for energy efficient, safe and sleek lighting. These days, home lighting fixtures come is very small sizes, which may sometimes be invisible to the eye. Some of these include halogen pendants, track and rope lights and wall sconces. Outdoor lighting can also be found in many designs that add warmth and highlight your property in a secure way.

One of the most popular home lighting styles is task lighting. This includes use of reading or table lamp that can be adjusted to avoid glare from casting shadows while you read, sew or do any craft work. Accent lights are another good option for emphasizing wall art, certain corners or plants. These help in creating a mood through use of spotlights, floor lights, wall sconces or directional lighting.

For the TV room, it is best to use ambient lighting so that you can see clearly without turning on the main light. Illumination works effectively for removing any shadows and adding warmth to a room. Lighting installed under shelves, coves and in valances can create a great effect. Attention attracting lighting is a smart way of adding glamour to a room. This includes chandeliers and tiffany style lamps that are good looking as well as sophisticated.

No matter which effects you plan to create, layering is important to balance the entire effect.

We at Dustin Dewald Custom Homes create unique designs for custom homes.

Killeen Home Builders - Central Texas Custom Home Builders

ECO FRIENDLY CUSTOM HOMES - KILLEEN, CENTRAL TEXAS

April 26th, 2010

The home building and construction market is abuzz with the latest trend of eco friendly custom homes. With increasing awareness regarding the environment and depleting resources, more and more people want to build green homes. As a result, eco friendly custom builders and realtors are catering to a wider audience and trying to incorporate green elements in construction projects.

On one hand, homeowners become more eco-friendly and utilize natural resources with green custom homes. The other aspect of such homes is lower cost of maintenance. This makes it an attractive option for building new homes as well as remodeling homes.

When you start looking for eco-friendly custom home builders, make sure that they emphasize on energy efficient designs and building techniques. This involves the following methods:

  • Utilization of natural resources in optimal manner for lighting up house, air circulation and heating purposes.
  • Creation of a new or remodeled structure along with a living roof is also a way of going green. This involves the use of tress, plants, shrubs and other natural things to block water as well as provide insulation for the roof.
  • Optimal and innovative use of electricity and other resources for cooling, heating and lighting systems installed in the house.
  • Alternative building materials like bamboo, wool and cotton can also be used in the construction process. These can renew quicker than synthetic materials.

Lesser the amount of energy consumed, more will be the eco-friendly nature of your home. An experienced green custom home builder considers the best possible ways of designing and building homes that are energy efficient and leave no negative effect on the environment. For homeowners, eco-friendly custom homes are much easier to sustain and safer than the conventional buildings.

It is also a great idea for those who want to exploit the natural resources to the fullest and rely on wind, solar or water energy for meeting their household needs.

For Eco Friendly Custom Homes in Killeen, Central Texas, contact Dustin Dewald Custom Homes

Killeen Home Builders - Central Texas Custom Home Builders

FINE DETAILS ABOUT ENERGY EFFICIENT CUSTOM HOMES

April 19th, 2010

A fast-emerging concept involves building of green or energy efficient custom homes. It is a practical option as well as crucial for preserving the earth’s resources. The environment is suffering from the impact of excessive energy consumption. Hence, energy efficient custom homes can help in reducing such consumption and saving the natural resources, besides cutting on costs for the home owner.

In the United States, it is a dream come true to have a house of your own. Recently, the government has devised a home rating program for custom homes built for energy efficiency. This helps customers in learning how to protect the environment and saving money. On the whole, the system measures and ranks the efficiency of a home on the basis of energy utilization.

Custom home builders are also recognizing energy efficient practices and products as a good way of cost-effective construction as well as saving the planet. For home-shoppers, this provides an opportunity to make an informed decision about the return on their investment in a property.

Energy efficient or green builders like Dustin Dewald Custom Homes use various techniques to conserve the resources while making custom homes. A lot of them will prescribe to ENERGY STAR standards for building energy efficient custom homes. This is a joint program that aims to save money and promote environmental safety through use of energy efficient methods and products.

Homes built in accordance with ENERGY STAR standards have proper insulation, efficient heating and cooling systems, high performance lighting, appliances, duct systems and windows. Moreover, the standards include indoor air quality, moisture control, ventilation and filtration to remove pollutants and maintain high air quality.

Along with energy conservation, custom homes also have a great advantage of bearing high resale value. The cost of living is lower while the advantages of energy efficiency and comfortable lifestyle are more.

We at Dustin Dewald Custom Homes have expertise in creating Energy Efficient Custom Homes using unique and attractive designs. We serve Killeen, Harker Heights, Copperas Cove and Fort Hood area in Central Texas.

Killeen Home Builders - Central Texas Custom Home Builders

INVESTING IN A CUSTOM HOME

April 12th, 2010

If you have been working all your life and saving money to build the home of your dreams, it is time to consider custom home building. Such homes can suit your individual as well as family needs and be as luxurious or practical as you want. The best way to make a custom home is to hire a custom home builder for the project.

Even before you consult a professional builder, you must select a site for your home. It may be a beach side location or amidst forests and mountains. In the city, your home can be located in a posh area or central regions. Some people like to build custom homes in the countryside to avoid the hustle and bustle of cities. Once you have decided the best geographical location for your home, you will be able to find a particular site for developing it. It is also important to visit the site, talk to people in the neighborhood and gather information about the area.

Apart from the rich class, most people building a custom home will require financial support. Usually, such a project will be costlier than a regular home. To begin with, mortgage and finance is available for the cost of site and building. Make sure that you have a good estimate of the total cost of custom home and select a reliable builder. Compare various mortgage plans and pick the one that suits your requirements.

When you start making the custom home, it is very important to choose the right builder. This step will ensure that your home is constructed by a reliable and professional firm. Look for qualities like commitment to work, design ideas, past experience and cost of building before taking a decision.

We at Dustin Dewald Custom Homes build state-of-the-art custom homes with unique designs. We build eco-friendly and energy efficient homes across Central Texas.

Killeen Home Builders - Central Texas Custom Home Builders

ALREADY BUILT MODEL HOMES VERSUS CUSTOM HOMES

April 5th, 2010

When it comes to owning a house, a person can either purchase land to build his own home or can buy from existing homes on sales. Before actually deciding on which option to choose, it is important to make sure you know about the pros and cons of both alternatives.

Already created homes are usually cheaper than custom homes. When you think of buying a home that is readily available in the market, you have to visit existing homes that are up for sale. Usually, people have moved-out of them or these were never lived in. In contrast, you can decide to undertake model home construction. Popularly known as a cookie cutter home, such a property will have a standardized structure and style that may be present in many other homes. To personalize your model home, you can pick the outside color, flooring, cabinets, door style and landscaping.

The process is much more flexible and personalized in case of custom home building. By hiring a reliable and experienced builder, you can get the perfect home designed according to your preferences and lifestyle. Either the builder will develop the customized home or you can provide the blueprints.

According to your specific needs, the custom home building can be customized and updated with desired features. This allows you to enjoy a great amount of flexibility while designing and building your dream home. In fact, you get to control and decide every minute detail pertaining to the home, be it doors, windows, flooring, closets, storage space, garage, kitchen or rooms.

You can use intelligent systems within your custom home like usage of natural light, natural ventilation system etc, which may not be possible with already constructed model home.

We at Dustin Dewald Custom Homes, build unique and state-of-the-art custom homes in Central Texas region.

Killeen Home Builders - Central Texas Custom Home Builders

BUYER’S GUIDE TO BUILDING CUSTOM HOMES

March 29th, 2010

To build your own home is a truly wonderful feeling. It is like turning your dreams into reality. For good results, you must contact a custom home builder who can guide you about the optimal resources, designs and costs involved. Before making any decisions, you will have to do research and gain know-how about the kind of property you are investing in.

In case of custom built homes, there is greater need for investment. It also requires more inputs and time to complete. For different custom home builders, the process of construction varies according to their ways of operating.

Over the past few years, the demand for custom homes has rapidly increased. As you screen custom home builder companies for your property, it is important to compare their services and project handling skills. Make sure that your home is built by a company that has experience and reputation in the industry and does not abandon your project before completion.

A noteworthy point is to be aware of the difference between normal building firms and custom home builders. Normal building firms may not have the required expertise to understand the nitty gritty of custom homes. To be sure, you must look for a builder that can create a unique home for you, from start to finish.

By verifying the elements listed below, you can select a reliable custom home building firm for your property and save considerable time, energy and money.

  1. Enquire about the number of custom homes built by the company in a year. This allows you to judge their experience and know the amount of time taken for completing a project.
  2. Don’t trust the information provided in the company brochure alone. Try to find the facts behind the marketing jargon. Good custom home builders will provide references on their own for customers to assess their work.

In the end, your wise and well-informed decisions can turn a custom home building project into a highly successful and memorable experience.

We at Dustin Dewald Custom Homes have years of experience in building unique Custom Homes in Central Texas region.

Killeen Home Builders - Central Texas Custom Home Builders

IMPACT OF ECONOMIC CRISIS ON CUSTOM HOME PROJECTS

March 20th, 2010

With the global economy still recovering from the recent economic downturn, people are reconsidering their plans in every aspect of life. Along with the financial system, the real estate and home building industry also suffered a major setback.

If you are undertaking a custom home project, it may be difficult to decide whether this is a good time to carry on or wait for the economy to recover. For making the right decision, you must understand the effect of economic factors on your plans, including:

Construction loans
At present, the fund flow is restricted and there is not much liquidity in the market. Lesser number of banks are providing loans for construction but there are several options that can be used to borrow money. It is best to consult your banker for these alternatives.

Credit score
Following the economic crisis, there has been a rise in the minimum credit score required for a good rating and getting a construction loan. This has been increased from 620 to 700 now. Instead of being discouraged by this change, you must make efforts to improve your rating and become eligible for borrowing.

Property Cost
Cost of property touched the rock bottom in recent economic depression. Also the cost of construction has fallen down considerably. If you have finance available, this is the right time for you to invest in your home.

Recession has given the right opportunity to invest in building up your dream custom home. It is advisable to take into consideration your current financial position and resources to fund your home. With markets picking up globally and packages given by government, there are various financial agencies willing give loans at reasonable costs.

We at Dustin Dewald Custom Homes build custom homes in Central Texas areas. For any enquiry, please feel free to contact us.

Killeen Home Builders - Central Texas Custom Home Builders

CUSTOM HOME LIGHTING - CENTRAL TEXAS

March 13th, 2010

The perfection of original custom home lighting comes with an amalgamation of creativity, calculation, and technology to make a living space entirely unique and personalized. The cost of efficiency must always be accounted for to make sure that a superior level and quality of lighting does not lie heavy on one’s pocket in electrical expenses. Custom home lighting must go entirely with the interior decoration and the daily lifestyle of the family in order to blend harmoniously and effortlessly into the many facets of daily life. Most of the lighting kits and box store fixtures fail to be up to the mark in many respects when it comes to the finer details of this complicated discipline of custom home lighting, as they lack long-term viability and durability. It is advisable to work with a professional team that is experienced and is extensively trained in the field of custom home lighting. When you are building your dream custom home, your builder takes care of the lighting needs and most of the time it is included in the quote.

  • Analysis of energy efficiency - While planning for custom home lighting, energy efficiency is kept under consideration. Various energy saving equipments are used to keep the energy consumption minimum. Also there is a general trend prevalent among people; they are resorting to store-bought fluorescent bulbs over lamps and overhead lights in places like the living room, bedroom, kitchen, and bathroom, these days. These lights result in saving lot of power and are comparatively much more sustainable.
  • Requirement analysis - A requirement analysis is made and appropriate lighting equipments, tubes and bulbs, fixtures etc are finalized. Finalization of the equipment is purely on the basis of how much and in which way lighting is required in the house.
  • Creation of layered lighting effects - Another upcoming trend is combining custom home lighting designs with the concept of home lighting controls in a way so as to lay down multiple layers of light that combine to create unique effects  in various portions of the home.  These layered lighting effects also have an impact on human emotions and moods.

Thus, using a proper combination of automation and manual controls, one can thus have an immediate, to a myriad of colors and special lighting effects throughout the house.

We at Dustin Dewald Custom Homes spearhead the design and implementation of lighting systems in the home. When we build a custom home, we take into consideration various aspects of lighting and our team of experts work to create the magic.

Killeen Home Builders - Central Texas Custom Home Builders

HOW TO CONSTRUCT YOUR CUSTOM HOME

March 8th, 2010

If you have decided all about constructing your dream custom home, but are in a dilemma where and how to start? Here is a list of how to go about for the construction of your dream home.

  • Location: The location of your home is the first and the foremost thing to be kept in mind. Based upon the location of your place of work, school for kids and so on, decide the location of your custom home. Also take into consideration the weather conditions desired.
  • Budget:The second most important point to be kept in mind is your budget. Estimate the amount of money you want to spend on the construction of your custom home. According to that you must plan the builder, the designer and the construction material which you would like to employ for the construction of your home so that you do not exceed your pre-set budget. You may need to play your home loan as well.
  • Builders:Pay complete attention to the credentials of the construction firm which you plan to hire. Check their market reputation and take a look at their previous works before you finalize your contract, keeping in mind the size of the home, the style of the design, amenities, allowances, the tentative schedule, and the anticipated cost.
  • Designing and building: Though most of the builders with good reputation would be excellent in space utilization and designing. It is advised to fully understand the design being created. You should give your inputs to create your home according to your requirements.
  • Specifications:Now that all the planning and pre-requisites have been taken care of and all the broad details have been specified; it is time to get into the actual details and intricate construction specifications like brick, stone, stucco, roof, floors, plumbing fixtures, doors, trim, hardware, etc.
  • Final plan and construction loan: After taking care of the broad as well as the intricate details, the final plan should be drawn, inclusive of all the major and minor costs and all the approved plans. This is when you should think of approaching a bank or a loaning firm for a construction loan. But, make sure that your final approved plan and complete budget are in place before taking this step.
  • Building: When all the above mentioned steps have been followed and the loan has been finally issued, you can start with the building of the house actually. Your inputs while building would always be helpful.
  • Completion and loan closing: Now that the construction of the home is complete, inspected, and ready for occupancy; you can move in your new home. The construction loan is paid by the mortgage and regular mortgage loan is paid as planned with the financing agency.

We at Dustin Dewald Custom Homes build custom homes in Harker Heights, Fort Hood, Killeen and Copperas Cove areas in Central Texas.

Central Texas Custom Home Builders - Fort Hood Area Custom Home Builders