Allan Edwards Builder Inc

Welcome to our Blog!

2012-05-21T16:55:00.003-05:00

A Blog (contraction for the term "weB log") is defined as a website maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, description of events, and video and photos.

Blogs provide news on a particular subject. The term “Blog” was first used in 1999 by Peter Merholz.

My Blog is an attempt to communicate information about my company, the local market, various custom sites we own, our design and trade partner team, how we build houses, and some ideas about “high performance building”. Each Blog we write has a label which categorizes it into certain area of interest. You can see these various categories at the top. If you click a particular topic, you can get back to Home Page by clicking “Home”.

Current Activity

2011-08-12T18:44:00.009-05:00

Custom Homes Under Contract:
6035 Blossom
3790 Purdue
323 E Cowan
1648 Columbia
1105 Rocky River
14 West Lane

Recently Sold & Completed Homes:
407 Terrace
322 E Cowan
830 E 41st

Lots Available:
12 Crestwood-50,000 sq ft
318 Terrace-21,600 sq ft
6027 Glencove-16,200 sq ft

Home Photos

2010-08-31T16:16:00.001-05:00

Please view a slideshow of homes we have built, at this site. For best results, click "Slideshow", then F-11 for Full Screen.

Hot Property on Terrace!

2010-08-25T06:18:00.000-05:00

We recently contracted to purchase a 21,000 sq ft lot in the Crestwood subdivision (near Memorial Park). This lot has a small ravine in the rear and in located in the 300 block of Terrace, the most prestigious street in Crestwood. This will be the 7th home I’ve built on Terrace Street. This could be the last opportunity for anyone who wants to build a new home on this street on a large lot.

When to Hire a Builder

2010-08-10T07:10:00.002-05:00

Since 1974 I have observed hundreds of clients planning, designing, and building custom homes. From these many experiences I have tried to examine what approach yields the best results for clients and produces a satisfying building experience.

Months and even years can be spent reading design magazines and various internet sites, touring homes, and dreaming of the perfect house, then several more months working with an architect designing a home. At the end of the design process, the two things I see clients most unsatisfied with are the length of time it takes to get to the actual construction stage, and the price of the house designed being over-budget. Often the latter problem is solved by simply hiring a cheap contractor, which of course leads to a whole other set of problems. I’ve seen some very unhappy endings. There is a way to avoid this, and that is by bringing a builder into the process at the design and planning stage.

The planning process should include establishing a construction budget, a pre-construction schedule and checklist, and a construction commencement date. There should be discussions regarding the cost-benefit of various materials, and if needed additional value engineering. An experienced builder who is involved in the planning phase can offer suggestions and answer questions regarding various building techniques as well as the cost, functionality, and availability of different building products. Building and Energy Codes are constantly changing, a builder can keep the design team and client apprised of the latest requirements. By having a builder do preliminary pricing at an early stage, the client can avoid lengthy and costly redesign. In my opinion and from experience, I believe having another set of experienced eyes involved to review and analyze the house is very beneficial.

I also have found that being involved from the beginning allows me to more fully understand what aspects of the house are most important to the owner, as well as grasping the architect’s vision. I have a more complete understanding of the house when I have been part of the entire process, and likewise, clients are able to gain an insight into the construction process.

Being a builder I value and place a premium on high quality construction, however I consider the design team, the design process, and the actual architectural design itself to be equally important for the client. When I participate in this planning process, I am careful to understand my role, I am not an architect and I always defer to the design team regarding actual architectural and interior design.

If you are considering building a custom home please contact me to discuss further. Making a builder part of the team in the very early initial stages will prevent downstream heartache and will save time and money.

Current Activity

2010-07-15T10:26:00.006-05:00

We currently own 4 buildable lots in the Memorial area which vary from 7,000 to 50,000 sq ft. in size We have 3 custom homes under contract that we are building, ranging from 5,500 sq ft to 10,500 sq ft. In addition to our existing contracts and lot inventory, we are also bidding 2 custom homes for architects and potential clients. We are receiving approximately 4-5 new leads per month from clients interested in building or buying new homes.

Some of our clients are getting traditional home mortgages. It appears that the required lender documentation is very strict and appraisals are often an issue because of the recent downturn as well as new federal guidelines. We have lenders who have recently loosened their requirements and are becoming more aggressive in making loans. Mortgage loan rates are at an all time low.

Material prices are stable, and many items have dropped in price considerably from 2008. Lumber recently spiked up in price but has since dropped. Labor prices are down 5-7%. Existing new homes for sale over $2,000,000 (specs) are slowly being absorbed in the market, several have sold or are sale pending this year. Some builders who are holding inventory are aggressively dropping prices, with much of the remaining stock of new homes having been picked over.

Technology for the Home

2010-06-15T16:42:00.006-05:00

Structured wiring for music, data, TV’s, computers, phones, faxes, lighting control, cameras, and security has made tremendous advances in the last 10 years. Most builders now routinely include some type of basic wiring in their homes. My company embraced “high-tech” wiring and functionality years ago, and we continue to include the most up to date and high quality wiring, equipment, design and planning, and integration available. We give clients an entire menu of options from basic wiring to total home automation and IP based integration.

The major industry association for contractors is the Custom Electronic Design and Installation Association (CEDIA). Based on their recommendations and my experience, I have compiled a list of 10 tips for homeowners to consider when building their home:

1. Wire for everything now – even wireless. Wiring is the cheapest component of even the most sophisticated system, so it is smart to wire for all future needs and possibilities.

2. Insist on an Integrated System. Make sure all equipment and controls can be connected together and operated with one, easy to use control system, such as a user-friendly portable touch screen. Sitting in your favorite chair using your iPad or other controls, you should be able to view your front yard via a camera, pull up your favorite music, surf the internet, adjust your air conditioning, and much more.

3. Integrate lighting and air conditioning and heating controls – Green meets convenience. System integration provides automatic energy-efficient adjustments, saving you time and money. Lighting control creates a stunning look in a house, as well as convenience. Excessive and ugly wall clutter (switches, volume control) are consolidated into clean looking touch pads.

4. Simplify your controls. In my experience, the most critical factor in an integrated home electronic system is ease of use. Simple, but powerful all-in-one controls are available for any system. They can be custom programmed for you and controlled by other portable devices and even through internet browsers from anywhere in the world.

5. Buy an experience, not a box or a bunch of wiring. It is critical that you and your builder team with an electronic systems contractor. You should be able to see and “test drive” the entire package and experience the thrill of a high performance system. See it, use it, before buying it.

6. Plan early. From my experience, the best way to develop a cutting edge electronic system is to be presented with an entire menu of all available options, from shade control to off- site monitoring via IP based cameras, from movie libraries to security control. You should consider every available technology, then visualize yourself actually living in the house, in every room, and envision how you would use that technology. Then prioritize what you want now, what you may want in the future, and plan for it via a detailed drawing and specification list. This allows your builder to plan for plasma TV’s (solid blocking in walls required), locate speakers, adapt HVAC equipment for integration, and much more that must be considered in the early stages of construction

7. Increase your expectations. Your home electronic system is a big investment and you deserve to be satisfied and even thrilled using it. The price of wiring, equipment, and controls have come down significantly, what cost $100,000 in 2002 now can be done for $20,000. Because technology is so affordable, push the envelope now, especially in the planning and wiring area.

8. Think “Green”. By utilizing green practices, you can save money by having a more energy efficient system. Your structured wiring system can work in harmony with your equipment in keeping your house comfortable, healthy, and operating at maximum efficiency.

9. Demand collaboration from your team. Hire the electronic systems contractor you can afford, and insist that your architect, designer, and builder, as well as certain subcontractors, work together as a team to plan and create the best system available within your budget.

10. Hire Allan Edwards as your builder! I have studied, researched, and implemented home technology for many years, and my company has the knowledge and experience to create the best team possible.

Published in Veranda

2010-06-11T17:38:00.000-05:00

A new home we built in Memorial is on the front cover (see Terrace Home) and interior of Veranda Magazine, April 2010 issue. It was a very special home and I was honored to be the chosen builder for such a beautiful home. More photos here.

What Is “Xeriscape”

2010-05-10T14:38:00.002-05:00

Xeriscape is a natural approach to landscaping that conserves water.
The word xeriscape comes from the word xeros (Greek for "dry") and landscape. Among other things, xeriscape encourages careful planning, efficient irrigation, soil improvements, the use of mulches and choosing native plants for the site. Native plants need less watering and less chemical intervention to remain healthy. Plants whose natural requirements are appropriate to the local climate are emphasized, and care is taken to avoid losing water to evaporation and run-off.

The use of appropriate plants is one of many ways that site development and landscaping can become more sustainable. Choosing permeable driveway and sidewalk materials, establishing rain gardens to control runoff and preserving deciduous shade trees to keep the house cooler in summer all are logical companions to xeriscape design.

Heavily landscaped homes in Houston on large lots can cost several hundreds of dollars a month to irrigate properly. We work with the leading landscape companies and our homes typically include a complete landscape, hardscape, pool, water features, irrigation, and drainage. Let our Landscape Architects design a beautiful and lush drought tolerant garden and landscape.

Energy Star Homes

2010-04-18T10:35:00.004-05:00

An Energy Star qualified home is a new home which uses at least 15% less energy than standard homes built to the 2004 International Residential Code (IRC).
New homes built under the Energy Star program must meet strict guidelines for energy efficiency. These include properly installed insulation, high performance windows, tight construction that eliminates air leakage in ducts and the building envelope, energy efficient cooling and heating systems, and Energy Star qualified appliances, lighting, and water heaters. In addition, builders must use independent, third party Home Energy Raters to verify compliance. The ENERGY STAR verification process helps identify and correct mistakes before they are hidden behind the walls. Visit this site to learn more: Energy Star Program.

How to Select a Builder

2010-04-10T08:40:00.004-05:00

First, you select your builder based on what you want to build. If you want a really cheap home, find a really cheap builder. If you want an energy efficient home, find a builder that builds energy efficient homes. If you desire a home with universal design features then find a builder with experience in universal design. If you want a drop dead gorgeous, cutting edge, high quality home, then find a builder who specializes in high-end homes and has a resume of that type of home. Basically, find the builder that can help you meet the criteria you are looking for in a home.

Second, find a builder with experience. I would not consider using a builder with less than 20 years of experience and less than 100 homes built. You just can’t beat experience and longevity in this business. I have built homes for 36 years and constructed 275 homes. I would also want to be sure a builder is financially solid and has long-term banking and vendor relationships.

Third, review the builder’s website. A website will help you understand the builder, their focus, the areas they specialize in, so forth.

Fourth, ask for and call references. Ask questions. For example, did you enjoy working with the builder? Are you happy with your home? Would you recommend the builder? What did you like about the builder? Did they build the home on time? Did they build your home on budget? Was the builder easy to work with? Was the selections process easy? Did you have any emergencies during the building process? What would you change? When you moved in was the home completed or was there a lot of work still left to do? How is the builder’s follow up after you have moved in?

Fifth, view the builder’s work. Visit a home under construction as well as completed homes. Have the builder point out his/her construction methods, techniques, and finishes, as well as the “little things” done differently from other builders.

Sixth, ask the builder how they manage their business and the building process. By this I mean the following:

Schedule of Construction – you should require one from your builder. It demonstrates that your builder knows how to manage the process, and it also allows you to understand the process. Further, when a home is built on schedule it should give you confidence that your home is proceeding as planned. Please note that changes to the schedule are acceptable as long as you understand why. That said, the builder should be able to provide you with a general schedule with a completion date.

On-Site Meetings – during the construction process you should have the opportunity to walk through the home at various stages to (1) provide direction on what you want, and (2) to understand that the home is being built according to your contract. Meetings between the builder and owner (or owner’s agent) should be at a minimum monthly, preferably 2-3 times a month.

Organization – ask the builder how he and his staff organize their work. What systems and processes do they use to coordinate their jobs and stay organized.

On-Line Project Management – ask your builder if an on-line project management platform is used. These days, clients are busy and often out of town, having a 24/7 on-line platform to review the progress and schedule of their home, as well as photos and videos showing the construction, selections, and documents is invaluable.

Seven, discuss with the builder how they manage the selections process. This can be the area that impacts you the most because it involves your time and decision making. You want this to be handled correctly and with ease. Your builder should give you an online “Decision Checklist”, tied to the construction schedule, that lists what decisions have to be made and the date by which they must be made. My advice, make your selections early.

Eight, I believe that you should use a builder that is a member of your local homebuilders association. This by itself doesn’t guarantee you have found the right builder, but what it does demonstrate is that you have found a builder that is concerned about (1) supporting the industry that supports him or her, and (2) that hopefully the builder takes advantage of all the wonderful educational opportunities offered by their HBA. A great deal of what I have learned can be traced back to the services (education and networking) offered by our local HBA. One more note for what it is worth, HBA’s do a great job in supporting the local community through charitable efforts. Give and you shall receive!

Nine, ask the builder how they will manage your money. What are deposit requirements? How and when are draws and advances made? How/when they will bill you for overages? What about change orders? How are allowances tracked and billed? What construction items are fixed and what items are variable (meaning can change), what is included and provided by the builder? Get all of this in writing.

Ten, pertains to insurance and a warranty. Your bank will require that your builder maintains general liability insurance and worker’s compensation insurance. What you need to do is review your builder’s warranty. Please know that the State of Texas requires builders to provide a warranty. As part of their warranty the builder should state that they are willing to come back to your home during the warranty period and address any issues. The builders warranty should be in writing. Talk to past customers to see how well warranty issues were addressed.

After you have thought through the above reasons for selecting a builder there is one more very good reason to hire a builder. Because you like and have confidence in the person and his/her team. You believe in them (again, after going through items 1-10 above). You are going to spend a lot of time with your builder, you need to trust them.

Building a home is a great experience. Know that your home is a reflection of you. Express yourself. Have fun. Ask lots of questions. Visit the site often. Get to know your builder. Refer him/her to a friend. Have fun.

Radiant Barriers

2010-03-28T10:14:00.005-05:00

Do radiant barriers work? Short answer, yes they do work.

First, tests by the Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) and other groups show that they work. Second, manufacturers are improving the quality of radiant barrier materials. Third, many decking manufacturers are producing roof decking products with a radiant barrier preinstalled, saving money on installation costs in new housing and redecking applications.

A radiant barrier is a layer of aluminum placed in an airspace to block radiant heat transfer between a heat-radiating surface (such as a hot roof) and a heat-absorbing surface (such as conventional attic insulation). In hot climates, benefits of attic radiant barriers include both dollar savings and increased comfort. Without a radiant barrier, your roof radiates solar-generated heat to the insulation below it. The insulation absorbs the heat and gradually transfers it to the material it touches, principally, the ceiling. This heat transfer makes your air conditioner run longer and consume more electricity. In summer, when your roof gets very hot, a radiant barrier cuts air-conditioning costs by blocking a sizable portion of the downward heat gain into the building. An aluminum foil radiant barrier blocks 95 percent of the heat radiated down by the roof so it can't reach the insulation.

River Oaks Country Club

2010-03-26T22:42:00.006-05:00

We recently signed a contract to do renovation work at the River Oaks Country Club.
This is the 2nd job we have contracted with ROCC. In 2009 we built a free standing building on their premises. The River Oaks Country Club has a total of 1,785 members. More information can be found at this website.

River Oaks Country Club

“Build Tight, Ventilate Right”

2010-03-23T21:10:00.002-05:00

The title explains it all, and is the favorite mantra of well respected Building Science expert Joe Lstiburek.
However, it is easier said than done and very few homes are really “built tight and ventilated right”. Obviously the “build tight” part is to prevent conditioned air from escaping the building envelope and un-conditioned (hot or cold) air from entering the building envelope. Air leakage can account for as much as 40% of energy loss in existing homes and 15-20% in new homes.

Even new homes leak. Many builders believe using house wrap (Tyvek) and caulikng plates is all that is needed to seal a house. The problem is house wraps are usually installed improperly, the joints are not taped correctly, windows are not completely sealed on all four sides, plates leak valuable conditioned air, and other penetrations are not located properly or sealed tightly. In addition, there are many other subtle places that leakage can occur.

How can leakage be determined? A couple of ways are using a door blaster test and infrared cameras. Special cameras are used to help detect problems areas in the building envelope, they show the differences in temperature in a wall or roof, pinpointing where heat losses are greatest. The images are valuable tools for identifying conductive heat loss, air leaks, and moisture problems.

Once a house is built tight enough to eliminate air leaks, the next question is “Won’t my house be too tight? Will I have a sick house?” Yes, with less circulation, stale air and pollutants can increase in a house. These pollutants can include carbon dioxide, smoke from cooking, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from cleaning materials and furnishings, moisture (which isn’t a pollutant itself, but causes mold and other problems), and other harmful chemicals. Without fresh air getting in to dilute those pollutants and replenish the oxygen we need, aren’t we going to suffocate? Shouldn’t the house be left leaky?

The concern is that a tight house without enough fresh air is a bad thing. But the solution—to keep the house leaky—is wrong. There are several problems with the idea of relying on a leaky building envelope to ensure adequate fresh air in a house.

If we increase insulation levels and put in better windows but leave the house leaky, the fraction of total heat loss coming from air leakage increases. Conditioned air leaking in means dollars leaking out. To make matters worse, the rate of air leakage is highest when the energy impact of that leakage is the greatest—when it’s very cold or very windy.

Second, air flow through your insulated building envelope may cause moisture problems. When warm air leaks out through cracks and gaps in your building envelope during the winter, that air cools off and may reach the “dew point.” This is the temperature at which water vapor (a constituent of all air) can condense into liquid water.

The dew point depends on the temperature as well as the relative humidity—the higher the relative humidity the higher the temperature at which the dew point will be reached. When condensation occurs within your walls or ceiling, stuff gets wet. Mold can grow—potentially making you sick—and cellulosic materials like wood can rot.

And third, the strategy of keeping your house intentionally leaky can’t even be relied on to provide fresh air. Air movement through a building envelope depends not only on the envelope leakiness, but also on the “pressure differential” across the envelope. When it’s windy, there’s a pressure differential—on the upwind side fresh air is pushed in through those gaps in the house, and on the downwind side stale house air is sucked out. And when it’s really cold outside, the “stack effect” pushes warm air out through the envelope high in the house and sucks in outside air near ground level.

The problem is that there isn’t always one of these situations to create that pressure differential we need for fresh air. On a day without much wind during the spring and fall months, when it’s not that much colder outside than in, the differences in pressure won’t be enough to cause much air exchange—even with a quite leaky envelope, so you won’t be ensuring fresh air.

We should make our houses “really, really tight.” But we also need to provide mechanical ventilation. With a ventilation system—which can be as simple as the continuous or intermittent operation of quiet bathroom fans with intentional air inlets, to a whole-house ventilation system—you will be sure of getting the fresh air you need. With an extremely airtight envelope and a mechanical ventilation system that controls exactly where and how much air is brought in and exhausted, you get the quantity of fresh air you need, you deliver that fresh air where it’s needed, and you get it consistently, whether it’s windy or not and no matter the outside temperature.

“Whole-house” ventilation is most effective because the fresh air is delivered exactly where it’s intended (bedrooms and living room, for example) and stale air is exhausted from the places pollutants are most likely to be produced (typically bathrooms and kitchens).

With whole-house ventilation, you can also capture heat from the outgoing air stream and transfer it to the incoming fresh air. This is accomplished with an “energy-recovery ventilator” or “air-to-air heat exchanger.”

ASHRAE Standard 62.2

2010-03-13T11:02:00.005-06:00

ASHRAE Standard 62.2-2007, Ventilation and Acceptable Indoor Air Quality in Low-Rise Residential Buildings, is the national ventilation standard of design for all homes 62.2 allows exhaust, supply, or balanced ventilation, meaning that a simple exhaust fan or supply fan can be used, or these flows can be balanced with both a supply fan and an exhaust fan, with or without heat recovery. It is up to the architect or builder to decide if filtration, tempering, or dehumidification is required, based on where the house or building is built.

The ASHRAE 62.2 fan sizing is based on total square footage of the home and number of bedrooms. The formula is; (total square footage of the home/100) + ((number of bedrooms+1) X 7.5 cfm). For example; a 2500 square foot house with 3 bedrooms needs ((3+1) x 7.5) + (2500/100) = 30 + 25 = 55 cfm.

Home Movies

2010-02-24T21:25:00.002-06:00

Go to "Home Movies" to see recent photos of our homes. For best view, click "HQ" and "Full Screen" in lower right. Then "Play" lower left.

Using Old Material in New Homes

2010-02-23T17:47:00.003-06:00

The use of reclaimed, antique materials can give a new house a special look. For years we have been using old-world fixtures, roof tile, doors, iron, pool coping, fixtures, cabinets, flooring, fireplaces, beams, iron elements, and much more. Whether its beams from old tobacco farms in the Carolina’s, roof tile from churches in Spain, or antique fireplaces from France, we have the sources who can supply and the artisans who can install these old artifacts and fixtures. There are special precautions that must be taken when using certain antique material with regards to building codes and preservation, we have that experience.

Building Contracts: Fixed Price or Cost Plus?

2010-02-16T18:20:00.008-06:00

When building a custom home, the type of contract used is a big decision for both the client and builder. In general, there are two types of contracts: Fixed Price or Cost Plus.

With a Fixed Price contract, the client knows their financial exposure. Their costs will only change if they make additions or changes, modify the original scope of work, or exceed the allowances listed in the contract. OR, the worst case scenario is if the builder is incompetent or downright dishonest and the owner is forced to change contractors in mid-stream. In the last 2 years we have been called in to complete three homes where the first builder was terminated or quit.

The disadvantage of a fixed price contract is that often builders will pad the bid their bid to cover for contingencies, substitute the quality of material after the contract is signed, or hire inferior subcontractors in order to save money.

With a Cost Plus contract, the builder’s fee is negotiated up front and the client knows the exact cost of that portion of the contract. The client also has more control over costs, and can freely make changes or upgrades. The builder is free to focus on delivering high quality construction without worrying about meeting his profit margin. And often a builder's fee is less on a Cost Plus contract than a Fixed Price contract.

We have a very disciplined, efficient, and transparent process to control costs. We establish budgets and work with clients to meet or beat the anticipated costs of the job. The procedural and accounting methods we use to manage budgets and job costs are unparalleled in the industry.

If you are building a custom home, be sure to evaluate the budgetary procedures we use and furnish to clients during the building of their home. We are happy to meet and make a presentation showing you the unique methods we use to control costs.

This New Home has reached its Expiration Date!

2010-02-07T06:17:00.005-06:00

There exists a unique anomaly in today’s local new home market. Most of the "new" homes on the market today are not new. In reviewing all new homes listed for sale on the local HAR report, the construction on some of these new homes were actually started as far back as 2006, many were built in 2007, and almost all were built in 2008 or before.

These homes were built on lots bought at the height of the local real estate market and when construction costs were at an all time high. Why buy one of these stale, picked over homes that have appliances, air conditioning systems, flooring, fixtures, roofing, and paint that are 2-4 years old? Also, the appraisal district often shows the year built on its records, thus at resale your new home will show built in 2006-2009.

We currently own lots with homes designed that will sell for $1,800,000-$5,000,000. These will have the latest design features, are energy efficient, and built to the latest and most current building codes.

So consider building a new home constructed in 2010 rather than 2006-2008. At a lower price! Contact us today regarding our available lots and our custom home building program.

Was Your House Built Before 1978?

2010-01-20T07:08:00.001-06:00

On April 22, 2010, a new EPA rule goes into effect for homes built before 1978. The Environmental Protection Agency announced its Lead Paint: Renovation, Repair and Painting rule – designed to reduce human exposure to lead-paint dust and chips during renovation activities – on April 22, 2008, and its enforcement date was set for exactly two years later.

Federal law will require that individuals receive certain information before renovating six square feet or more of painted surfaces in a room for interior projects or more than twenty square feet of painted surfaces on homes built before 1978. The new law will require contractors that disturb lead-based paint in home built before 1978 to be certified and follow specific work practices to prevent lead contamination. More information can be found at this site.

The two-year lead-in was expected to be long enough to implement a large-scale training and lead-safe certification program for remodelers who might be disturbing paint in homes built before 1978, when the ban on lead paint began. The EPA estimated that as many as 200,000 people could be certified in that 24 months. Problem is, so far only about 50,000 certifications have been awarded, although another 50,000 are expected to be on record by April 22, an agency official told USA Today’s Green House. The main reason for the lag that only about 135 training providers have been EPA-approved so far – not enough to meet demand either by remodelers or their prospective clients.

Read how contractors are struggling to meet the soon to be new government regulations. By the way, the fine for violating this law is $37,000 per day!

National Association of Home Builders

New Homes Sales-2009

2010-01-12T13:31:00.006-06:00

For major markets inside the Loop as well as Tanglewood and Memorial, there were approx 42 new homes that sold in 2009 over $2,000,000. As of Jan 2010, there are 73 new homes over $2,000,000 for sale in those neighborhoods.

Our Current New Homes & Lot Inventory

2010-01-06T12:34:00.011-06:00

Lots in Inventory:

12 Crestwood-Design in Progress for New Home-Available
322 E Cowan-Under Contract, Sale Pending
6035 Blossom-Design in Progress for New-Available
6027 Glencove-Design in Progress for New Home-Available

Custom Homes Under Construction:

Custom Home-Swanstrom
Custom Home-Mendenhall's
Custom Home-McGlothin

Currently Bidding Homes in these Neighborhoods:

Memorial - Piney Point
Memorial - Hunter's Creek
West University
River Oaks

Steel Windows & Doors

2010-01-06T06:21:00.006-06:00

The look of steel windows and doors is very unique. The aesthetic virtues achieved by use of steel cannot be duplicated in aluminum, wood or vinyl alternatives. No other quality is more readily associated with steel windows and doors than their narrow sightlines, this minimal aspect of steel windows and doors is derived from the incredibly massive strength of the material.

Steel windows and doors are stronger than any alternative material, they are three times stronger than aluminum. This advantage permits the use of immense glass lights, often in spectacular openings, while maintaining narrow sightlines. Hardware fastened to steel windows and doors will not pull out, and ventilators do not distort or rack with age.

Ask us about our experience in using steel windows and doors.

Steel Window Institute

Builder Reflections………

2009-12-06T19:36:00.018-06:00

I built my first custom home in 1974 and in some ways it seems like yesterday and in many ways that first house is only a distant memory. My first home was a 2 story design that I found in a plan magazine, it was built as a spec home. I was 23. It was located in the FM 1960 area, and I remember my Dad help me clear the wooded lot of the trees located in the building site area. I recently visited that house, and spoke to the current homeowner. Truly a walk down memory lane for me.

The 70’s was a decade where I learned the mechanics of how to build homes and run a building company. I was building 15-20 homes per year by 1980. My 2nd decade of home building began very well, but eventually deteriorated and overall the 80’s were tough years for builders. For me the 90’s were a time to rededicate myself to my original dream of being a premier custom builder. I worked hard to cultivate relationships with the top architects and designers, and continued my passion of building homes. In 2000, as we entered the millennium and my 4th decade in the building business, the market was improving and eventually rose to new heights. This prosperity allowed me to build beautiful homes for some wonderful clients at exceptionally high levels of quality and finishes.

As I am about to enter 4th decade of my home building journey, I am more excited than ever. I feel this industry is undergoing a transformation, clients are more sophisticated, knowledgeable, and demanding than ever. New strides in energy efficiency, green building, and technology demand that builders be experienced, informed, and efficient in their operations. Waste, inefficiency, and sloppiness is not tolerated today, builders not at the top of their profession will not survive. Clients expect high value, premium customer service, and an enjoyable experience when they build custom homes. My commitment is stronger than ever, and that is to be the best builder I can be for my clients, and deliver to them an exceptionally high quality home.

If you are considering building a custom home, contact me to learn more about my company and how we can make your new home unique and distinctive.

Allan Edwards

New Home Market Analysis

2009-12-02T17:03:00.007-06:00

New Homes Currently For Sale in Houston Area (inside Beltway):

$1,000,000-$2,000,000: 156 new homes for sale

$2,000,000-$3,000,000: 46 new homes for sale

$3,000,000-$4,000,000: 20 new homes for sale

$4,000,000-$5,000,000: 6 new homes for sale

$5,000,000 + 3 new homes for sale

(This information is based on our data. Please confirm)

Recycling an entire house — and saving money

2009-11-25T09:53:00.007-06:00

Construction waste, much of it from demolished buildings, takes up an enormous amount of landfill space.
In 2003, the Environmental Protection Agency estimated that U.S. building sites contributed 170,000,000 tons of waste to landfills. Rather than demolishing a house, this forward thinking architect formed a preservation group dedicated to saving buildings from the '50s and '60s called Houston Mod. Recently profiled in this Houston Chronicle article, Karen Lantz not only help recycle many items from an older home, but her client realized $70,000 in tax write offs!

Visit her Blog describing her efforts to not only help the environment, but also contribute useful material to the needy and non-profit organizations.

Crestwood Properites

2009-11-24T10:55:00.015-06:00

Our current lot inventory for custom homes in Crestwood:

1. 407 Terrace-SOLD
2. 12 Crestwood-50,000 sq ft lot
3. 6035 Blossom-7,700 sq ft lot
4. 6027 Glencove-16,200 sq ft lot
5. 322 E Cowan-SOLD

Homes We've Built (or building) in Crestwood:

214 Terrace
218 Terrace
335 Terrace
327 Terrace
306 Terrace
407 Terrace
407 W Cowan
321 W Cowan
309 W Cowan
322 E Cowan
323 E Cowan
8 Crestwood
6035 Feagan
15 Rains Way
19 Rains Way
6027 Glenwood

6027 Glencove-New Home for Sale

2009-11-12T14:46:00.007-06:00

This unique building site is our next exclusive project. It is a 16,200 sq ft lot located at the end of a cul-de-sac, adjacent to a wooded nature preserve in Crestwood-Glencove.
This new home will be designed by award winning building designer Robert Dame, and will overlook the Bird Sanctuary. The privacy and beauty of this site, along with the convenience of being close to downtown, the Galleria, and the freeway system makes is one of the most desirable locations in Houston. Sale’s price is anticipated to be $2,700,000, with the usual high-end quality offered by Allan Edwards.

Interior Doors

2009-11-11T20:04:00.030-06:00

Craftsmen in Wood

Most of our new homes have hand crafted doors made by Craftsmen in Wood.

This unique Arizona based company makes custom wood doors from premium and knotty alder, cherry, mesquite, walnut, mahogany, and maple. Interiors doors are built 1-3/4” thick, not the standard 1-3/8” used in most homes. And unlike single piece or two piece laminated stiles that have a tendency to warp, twist, and bow, Craftsmen in Wood doors are constructed with engineered stiles for added stability. All Craftsmen doors are mortise and tenon plus dowel construction.

Craftsmen in Wood has a large selection of hand rubbed custom finishes that add character and charm. These finishes have the patina of age... with hand glazing and burnishing, resulting in subtle shades that normally takes years to occur. They use a range of finish coats including wax and oil as well as a variety of distressing from wire brushing to hand scraping to gouging. Custom iron work and Clavos can be added in finishes such as rusted or black steel and oil rubbed bronze, copper, or steel. Craftsmen in Wood is also a distributor for Rocky Mountain Hardware.

We are proud to feature the finest door in the industry in our new homes.

Our New Project Manager

2009-11-06T21:18:00.006-06:00

R.S. (Dick) Davies will join our company as a Senior Project Manager Jan 1, 2010. Dick has been in the construction business for 37 years and is recognized as one of the top residential PM’s in Houston. His specialty is in supervising and organizing the construction of the larger higher-end custom home, and working closely with architects, designers, and homeowners in implementing the most challenging of designs. He most recently oversaw the construction of a 15,000 sq ft ultra-custom home. His construction knowledge, creativity, organizational ability, people skills, and experience make him a rare find in this industry. Allan Edwards Builder Inc welcomes him to our team!

Return-Air Problems

2009-10-16T21:03:00.003-05:00

What Happens When the Bedroom Doors Are Closed. "Musings of an Energy Nerd", by Martin Holladay.

Return Air Problems

Designing Homes for Hot Climates

2009-10-15T22:07:00.012-05:00

Martin Holladay, self-proclaimed "Energy Nerd" and Senior Editor of The Green Building Advisor, recently published a very timely article about designing energy efficient homes in hot climates

As he mentions, people who live in Florida or Texas often accuse energy-efficiency experts of having a cold-climate bias. They’re right: most energy-saving tips are written with cold-climate buildings in mind. In this article, he gives advice for building homes in our climate.

Appropriate Details Keep a House Cool

Houston's Most Desirable Neighborhood

2009-10-10T20:18:00.023-05:00

The Memorial Park-Crestwood neighborhood is Houston's most desirable neighborhood.

Memorial Park is a 1,466 acre park that has been called Houston's Central Park. There are Art Festivals, Biking Trails, Golf, and Wilderness Walks, as well as the Houston Arboretum and the Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens. And of course running, playgrounds, and ball parks. All of this in a wooded and peaceful environment only 5 minutes from downtown!

We have sold 13 new homes in Crestwood and currently own 3 lots, all ready for custom homes.

Air Barriers

2009-10-01T21:07:00.005-05:00

According to Energy Star, sealing the building envelope is one of the most cost-effective ways to increase the energy efficiency of a new home. The U.S. Department of Energy reports that up to 40% of the cost of heating and cooling a home is wasted by uncontrolled air leakage.

Air barriers block random air movement through building cavities as well as controlling moisture in a house. The most common air barrier material is house wrap, such as Tyvek. House wraps are wrapped around the exterior of a house during construction, applied to the plywood wall sheathing.

Air infiltration in a home is caused by pressure differences. These pressure differences are caused by wind, duct leakage, and mechanical equipment like clothes dryers and exhaust fans. Most leakage takes place through walls penetrations like electrical service boxes and wires, plumbing lines, AC lines, and vent pipes. Studies have show that all the cracks and openings in the average house is equivalent to a medium size window being left open.

Stopping air infiltration will reduce energy consumption in a house, which is why we install an exterior air barrier wrap over the structural sheathing. In our climate we want to control air infiltration, but because of our humidity and how our homes dry, we need the wrap to also be vapor permeable and breathable. We use Tyvek Home and Stucco Wrap on all of our new homes.

Terrace House

2009-09-26T07:02:00.012-05:00

I would like to compliment Murphy Mears Architects on the excellent architecture and design of this project (Terrace House). We were the chosen home builder for this amazing job, and enjoyed working with Kirby Mears and Eleanor Cummings in executing this design.

Go to:

Murphy Mears Architects

Satisfied Clients

2009-09-25T08:37:00.008-05:00

In my 36 years of building new homes, there is no better feeling than having happy clients. I received three emails last night from current customers:
Allan:

I went by the house and took the door guy food so he would finish the door weatherstripping tonight. He is the nicest guy. Michon and I really appreciate all the hard work you guys have put in to get the house ready for us to move in. Thanks,

Jesse
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Allan:

We checked out our job schedule on your website and it’s a great feature/communication tool. We’ll get in the habit of checking that regularly so that we don’t miss selections that are needed to keep the job going forward. Thanks a bunch!

Jan
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Thanks Allan. Laura and I couldn’t be more pleased. The architect is also very impressed and this experience has been a true pleasure so far. Please let us know if you need anything or have suggestions, your suggestions have been spot on so far.

Thanks!

407 Terrace--SOLD

2009-09-24T21:39:00.013-05:00

Check out our next new home available for sale. It is located in Crestwood, adjacent to Memorial Park, Houston's most desirable neighborhood. This 4,800 sq ft home was designed by Robert Dame, with interiors by Trisha McGaw. Landscape architecture by Oasis Landscape.

This house has a very unique multi-level floor plan. Features include a 400 bottle wine room, 3 car garage, elevator, tile roof, exposed beams, summer kitchen, pool with sun shelve, Venetian plastered walls, and much, much more.

Go to:

407 Terrace

Moisture Control & Perm Ratings

2009-09-21T22:21:00.008-05:00

Housewraps like Tyvek, placed behind brick or stucco, are a second layer of defense against wind driven rain. Also known as WRB (weather resistant barriers), they keep bulk water out of the house and they stop hot and cold air movement through the wall cavity. They also reduce air infiltration and potential drafts, but the most important thing they do is allow the free passage of water vapor so that wall cavities and framing lumber can dry to the outside of the building, reducing the threat of mold and rot.

Permeance ratings, or perms, reflect the measure of a material’s ability to transfer water vapor; the higher the perm number, the more permeable the material. For instance, 6-mil polyethylene sheeting has a perm rating of 0.06, which means that it does an excellent job of preventing the passage of water vapor. Current building codes require a weather-resistive barrier to match or exceed grade-D building paper, which has a perm rating of about 5.0. To meet this requirement, perm ratings for commonly available housewraps range from about 6.7 for Dow’s Weathermate Plus to 59.0 for Simplex Products’ R-Wrap.

Materials with higher perm ratings essentially speed the escape of trapped moisture. But higher ratings do not necessarily equal better housewraps because the methods of achieving a high perm rating can be different. For instance, some low-tech housewraps achieve their high perm ratings with mechanically punched perforations in the membrane. These perforations increase the passage of water vapor, but they also make the housewrap more susceptible to bulk water leakage. On the other hand, more advanced nonperforated housewraps such as HomeWrap and R-Wrap—offer even greater moisture vapor transmission (higher perms) than their perforated counterparts and are more effective at preventing the movement of bulk water.

HVAC Systems Part 1

2009-08-21T22:04:00.003-05:00

Some really good HVAC principles are explained on this HVAC Video. Many myths, such as "an air conditioner running continuously means high utility bills", are dispelled by this video.

HVAC Systems Part 2

2009-08-21T21:08:00.002-05:00

A continuation of sound heating and air conditioning practices in new homes.
HVAC Systems Part 2

How Air Affects a House-Part 1

2009-08-03T20:04:00.004-05:00

Natural and mechanical forces can pressurize a house many ways. Because air carries so much moisture, air barriers are important for indoor air quality as well as energy efficiency. The problem is, air is hard to see. In this Podcast Joe Lstiburek discusses air management in a house.

Podcast Green Building Advisor

How Air Affects a House — Part 2

2009-08-02T20:37:00.003-05:00

In this Podcast, Dr. John Straube goes into detail on the issue of air leakage condensation.

Podcast Green Builder Advisor

Reduce Air Leakage

2009-07-24T08:13:00.001-05:00

Building new homes that are tight and minimize air leakage should be a goal for every builder. This is important not only from an energy use standpoint, but also for moisture control. In Houston’s hot and humid climate the outdoor air is warmer than the indoor conditioned air, and that outdoor air almost always contains much more moisture than the indoor air.

A medium to large home can have AC systems with large blowers that draw and generate several thousand cubic feet per minute (CFM's). This can create a negative pressure situation. The system does not care where the air comes from, so in a leaky house that is poorly insulated or not sealed properly, those blowers will pull outside non-conditioned, moisture laden air into the house. This creates additional burden on the mechanical systems, as well as adding moisture to the house. When this humid air is pulled into the house, it comes in contact with cooler air and condenses, thus creating moisture and possibly mold issues.

There are many ways to solve this problem, but my experience and observation is that 99% of builders are unaware of these issues and are uneducated in Building Science. For years I have studied Building Science and related topics such as green building, energy recovery ventilation, air-moisture control, thermal breaks, drainage planes, ASHRAE 62.2, proper building envelopes, Home Energy Rating System (HERS), and much more. These listed topics only scratch the surface, but if you choose me as your builder, I am qualified and committed to build your new home with respect to these important issues.

Whole House Generators

2009-07-08T22:33:00.003-05:00

Generators are becoming very popular on new homes in the Houston area because of the potential loss of power during storms, particularly during hurricane season. Many homeowners were without power for several weeks during Hurricane Ike in late 2008.

A generator system consists of the generator, an automatic transfer switch, generator mounting pad, and the required electrical wiring and natural gas line. During the construction of the house and rough in of the electrical wiring, we determine the circuits, appliances, air conditioners, and other mechanical equipment to be serviced by the generator. These circuits are run to a dedicated panel to be serviced by the generator when power is lost.

Based on the load requirements of the equipment, appliances, and identified circuits, calculations are performed to determine the size of the generators. We have installed several generators and understand the necessary steps and requirements, including City permits, code compliance, and inspections. If we are building your new home please we are happy to evaluate your needs and estimate the cost to furnish and install a generator. Complete systems start at $15,000.