Harmon Builders

Insulation

2012-01-31T16:12:00.000-08:00

Today, we discovered a unique article that discusses green insulation and safety. We encourage you to read it here.

Winter Season

2012-01-22T16:26:00.000-08:00

Are you looking for ideas and tips to help protect your home during the winter season? You may want to get some some tips from this article here.

Miller Project's Exterior Treatments

2011-11-17T10:08:00.001-08:00

The Miller home renovation is not only an energy efficient design, but a beautiful home addition, including a family room, a spacious master bath and bedroom, and a large walk-out basement workshop. All of this seamlessly joins with and enhances the original structure.

The Cushwa brick used on the facade of the two story addition is the same brick from the same manufacturer as the original home. With the patina of age, their look should become even more indistinguishable from one another.

SmartSide siding is used on the upper portion of the exterior of the single level family room, with the brick on the lower wall. The siding is a pre-primed wood composite product. It is used similarly to Hardi Plank, but compares favorably on "green" factors. It is less expensive, offers a better warranty, is lower maintenance, and is easier to work with. You can even have it pre-painted by the distributor. The Smart siding on the Miller home is painted in a low-VOC paint.

Metal roofing on the single story room is a stunning contrast to the brick. The green paint, also visible on the metal awning, is reflective, which helps to keep the room cool in the summertime, when the rays of the sun come down directly. The awning shades the windows on the facade without the soffit, and adds striking detail.

Passive Solar Heating

2011-10-30T08:48:00.001-07:00

Passive solar heating is one of many scientific approaches the Miller home design uses in order to be more energy efficient.

When the leaves have come off the trees, winter sunlight shines on dark tile flooring and helps to warm the room. In the photo, the room is shown in the warmer months, when shade from the foliage and the more overhead angle of the sunlight is preventing the tiles from absorbing the solar heat. This keeps the room at a comfortable ambient temperature for the warm season.

The tiles are laid on top of an extra thick slab for insulation. A radiant heating system is installed in the ceiling. This is different from the more commonly seen radiant floor systems, so that the benefits of the passive solar heating can be realized. If a more common in-floor heating system had been used, the solar benefits would have been wasted, as the tiles can only hold a certain amount of heat (just as a battery is only able to hold a certain capacity of charge).

Low-E (low-emittance) windows are double panes of glass with argon gas occupying the space in between. The gas reduces heat transfer better than air. These are used on north, east and west facing windows. A special coating is added to these on the south facing windows, designed to reduce heat loss while admitting high solar gain. The use of windows has the added benefits of utilizing natural sunlight rather than energy-consuming electric lighting.

Careful attention to provide a well insulated space, as highlighted in the previous post, is essential for retaining the heat gained in the passive solar techniques. Additionally, although there is a small climate control unit, the Miller family notes that the insulation was so effective that the room stayed cool and comfortable during the summer. The cooling unit would only be needed for a group gathering.

Insulated Walls

2011-10-27T08:40:00.000-07:00

The Miller renovation was an exciting project to be involved with for many reasons. The scientific approach involved in combining different products to achieve the best possible benefits for both the Miller's home comfort and their concerns for the environment was especially interesting.

One of the priorities established in the Miller home renovation project was high quality insulation. This was achieved using various products, like the SIPs (oriented strand board on both sides of a foam core) in the roof structure that we highlighted in our recent newsletter. Another pre-engineered product is the highly insulated Thermomass wall we used in the foundation structure for the rear walk out basement level of the home.

Thermomass walls consist of 4" thick Styrofoam panels, sandwiched between two layers of concrete (a cross section is shown in the photo). They are held together by a fiber composite connector, and the exterior provides waterproofing. The end result is an incredibly strong structural component that is virtually weatherproof and has a high level of thermal resistance. The Styrofoam core is recyclable, too.

Another insulation product incorporated into above ground portions of the walls is a foam spray. The quantity required depends on the climate in your geographic area, as well as the part of the home to be insulated. An American company called Foam It Green is a manufacturer of this type of spray insulation. Like Harmon Builders, the company is a member of the U.S. Green Building Council. Foam It Green has been recognized with a TerraPass for balancing their carbon footprint.

Home Builder Project

2011-10-26T14:04:00.000-07:00

Harmon Builders recently completed a job for the Miller family that incorporated many energy saving features in the design. We were able to experience working with a variety of interesting 'green' products and achieve a beautifully designed space, inside and out. This was a very exciting project to be involved with as a home builder, as we discovered even more cutting edge materials and techniques. We hope to bring the advantages of passive solar heating and natural cooling strategies and our experience with different products to more clients.

Custom Tiger Maple Bed

2011-09-02T13:38:00.000-07:00

Paul Harmon of Harmon Builders, LLC, custom-designed and built this one-of-a-kind, Tiger maple platform bed. It was designed to accentuate the beautiful grain patterns in the wood, and with a modern Mission style flare, in mind!

Construction & Design

2011-07-03T12:47:00.000-07:00

We're very proud to announce that the Lucy School's new 'Green Building', has recently been awarded, "LEED for Schools, Platinum Certification". Paul Harmon was pivotal in the cabinetry phases of the construction/design on this project. We're so proud to have been a part of this monumental accomplishment with you!

Custom Cabinetry

2011-02-28T13:32:00.000-08:00

A Frederick City family came to us in search of custom cabinetry that would afford them the luxury of efficient storage while also serving a niche to stow their TV and stereo systems in. The original trim work around the fireplace was also redesigned and replaced with a simple decorative mantel piece; the hearth received a whole new look too, with Soapstone.

Advantages Of Building Your Own Home

2011-02-17T13:24:00.000-08:00

Custom front porch

2010-10-09T13:31:00.001-07:00

Builder/Craftsman: Paul Harmon of Harmon Builders, LLC and Jason Airing (Lead Carpenter).

Architect Design: Marc DeoCampo of The DeoCampo Design Collaborative.

Historic Trades Fair

2010-09-10T09:54:00.000-07:00

We will be at the Schifferstadt Architectural Museum tomorrow for a Historic Trades Fair (Saturday, September 11, 2010) from 9-5pm. Location is right at the Schifferstadt Museum at 1110 Rosemont Avenue, Frederick, MD 21701. We will be featuring some of the furniture and cabinetry work that Paul and our company has built, along with a slide show and photos of other completed historical preservations, home additions and custom home projects as part of the Frederick County Homes Trades Fair. We were invited by one of the areas prominent Architect firms. This event is planned to coincide with the City of Frederick’s “In the Streets” Festival.

Remodeling Photos

2010-08-20T16:03:00.001-07:00

Bathroom Renovations

2010-08-11T15:54:00.000-07:00

Green home remodeling: How to remodel for a green home

2010-06-29T13:06:00.000-07:00

Custom Kitchens

2010-03-16T13:26:00.000-07:00

U.S. Green Building Council and the Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC).

2010-02-27T09:42:00.000-08:00

Harmon Builders, LLC is a member of the U.S. Green Building Council and the Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC). We have a LEED certified associate who can perform a 'Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design' evaluation to qualify your new building or home project for those customers seeking LEED certification for tax credits, etc. LEED certification provides independent, third-party verification that a building project meets the highest green building and performance measures.

Winter Tips & Safeguarding your Home

2010-01-26T15:30:00.000-08:00

Have you ever had your home tested for Radon? Radon is a radioactive gas that occurs naturally underground from rock such as granite or quartzite. It is important to know the levels of Radon in your home that may be emitting from the ground, into your basement and throughout the rest of your home. There are inexpensive Radon test kits that can be purchased directly from this web site. FYI: An individual home can measure contrasting Radon levels from the next, so, it is a good idea to check the status regardless of what your neighbor's/area readings may be. Early detection can be critical to you and your family's future health! Its Winter and we're experiencing colder than normal temperatures. Here are a few steps that may help you save on your heating and electric bills during the winter months and to further safeguard your home. Check your outdoor heating units in the cooler months, to be sure they're operating well. The unit fans can become frozen when ice melts onto the unit and then is followed by subsequent freezing temperatures. Simply pour boiling water onto the ice while the fan is off, will free the fan and allow it run properly again. Check the condensate (water) line from the exterior to interior unit of your HVAC system. With below freezing temperatures, this water line can freeze and then potentially overheat the condensate pump located near your basement HVAC unit. Check gutters for any debris from trees, etc., after a storm and snow/ice thaw. Clean gutters can improve water flow and lessen the backup of debris in icy months. Place a rolled-up blanket or cylindrical bean bag at the site of an exterior door threshold if you experience a draft. This can help keep the cool air out and keep warm air from escaping. These items may seem obvious but can help save you money on your monthly utility bills and avoid any future home repairs. An ounce of prevention...is worth a pound of cure!

Green Business Quarterly Magazine

2010-01-15T19:46:00.000-08:00

Harmon Builders was selected to appear in the winter 2010 issue of Green Business Quarterly magazine. The company was nominated for its approach to innovative green building, history, concept and motivation in today's 'green' building market. GBQ has created a lively and respected forum for green companies throughout the country. These efforts and recognition for companies like Harmon Builders are the future and cornerstone of sustainable building and business.