The Belhaven Plan
January 13th, 2012
Wilmington new home builder Mark Johnson Custom Homes has recently completed construction on a custom home in Wilmington. Click “The Belhaven” below to take a virtual tour of the beautiful 3,248sf home.
New Custom Home in Wilmington, NC
October 5th, 2011
Wilmington new home builder Mark Johnson Custom Homes is excited to announce that we have completed construction of The Angelique, a custom home in the Landfall community. We invite you to take a tour via the two minute video below to experience the home’s New England colonial style and old world charm. Simply click “The Angelique” below to view the video.
Custom Home Built in the Birkdale Community of Landfall
September 15th, 2011
Wilmington, NC home builder Mark Johnson Custom Homes would like to share a video of a custom home we recently built for a client in the Birkdale Community of Landfall.
Simply click “Birkdale at Landfall” below to view the video,
The Angelique
July 11th, 2011
Wilmington builder Mark Johnson Custom Homes would like to introduce our readers to The Angelique, a custom home we are currently building in the Landfall community.
This client, currently residing in California, brought The Angelique plan to us from Southern Living House Plans. We purchased the plan and had a designer redraw it locally with changes.
The 3800 sf home has a washed and aged tumbled brick exterior that offers a feeling of old world European charm. The dark brown windows will match the gutters to contrast the soft and creamy white color tone of the home’s exterior. Soft arches on a courtyard wall will be lit by large carriage lights and softened by natural green landscaping, leading overnight guests to their own entrance and private suite. Walnut colored operable composite raised panel shutters will complement the pallet nicely.
The interior of the home will be a study of clean lines, layers of soft white with gray tones. The chef’s kitchen will be set with Thermador stainless appliances that will contrast white cabinets and a subway tile backsplash. For a little flair, there will be black granite counter tops with a complementing carrara marble island. Mini crystal and nickel chandeliers will punctuate the setting with a perfect amount of accent lighting.
We invite you to visit The Angelique on our Flickr page to view the construction progress.
|
|
Energy Star Certification
March 10th, 2011
 Wilmington, NC home builder Mark Johnson Custom Homes recently completed an Energy Star certified home in Landfall. The home received a 61 on the HERS (Home Energy Rating System) index, meaning it is 39% more efficient than a code minimum home.
The estimated ANNUAL energy cost for the 3100 sf home is $1,897. After the final calculation, the homeowner stated, “Wow, we would have spent that amount in 4 months at our last home.” Basically, being 39% more efficient than code for this home equals $700+ savings PER YEAR. MJCH’s standard framing techniques, insulation package and HVAC system not only accommodate, but exceed Energy Star requirements. The return on investment is less than 15 months. If the homeowner stays in the home for 15 years, that’s $10,500 in savings and as our energy costs rise (and they will), the savings will be even greater. This also results in a more marketable home when it comes time to sell. At the end of construction, our Energy Rater, Above and Beyond Energy, removed the front door, added pressure to the house and calculated the air leakage. This test, along with various field visits, ensured a 5 STARS PLUS rating which is the highest level attainable. |
Exposed Aggregate Driveways
February 3rd, 2011
Wilmington, NC home builder Mark Johnson Custom Homes recently installed a grey exposed aggregate driveway using recycled sea shells at a home being built in Landfall. Exposed aggregate with broadcast sea shells gives concrete the elegance and beauty of the old south.
The process includes broadcasting and pressing recycled sea shells into concrete when wet, then removing the top surface when the concrete flashes (water evaporates) allowing the beautiful shells to appear.
Adding the Aggregate to the Concrete:
The most commonly used method is to seed the decorative aggregate onto the slab surface immediately after the concrete has been placed, struck off, and bull floated. This involves sprinkling the aggregate by hand or shovel uniformly onto the surface and then embedding it with a bull float until it’s completely covered by a thin layer of cement paste.
Exposing the Aggregate:
There are several exposure methods contractors can choose from, depending on the look desired and size of the project. Only the top of the stone is exposed while the rest remains permanently embedded in the concrete. The general rule of thumb is to remove the surface concrete to a depth no more than one-third the diameter of the aggregate particle. Brushing and washing is the oldest method and the simplest because it doesn’t require chemical retarders or special tools. You just wash away the thin layer of surface concrete covering the aggregate by spraying with water and scrubbing with a broom until the aggregate is exposed to the desired depth. The timing of the operation is critical, however, so this method is often better suited for small jobs. The work should begin as soon as the surface concrete can be removed without overexposing or dislodging the aggregate. You can test this by lightly brushing away the surface mortar in a small area with a stiff nylon-bristle broom.
Choosing Decorative Aggregate:
The color palette of an exposed aggregate surface is largely determined by the type of decorative stone that’s used. Aggregate selection can also have a big impact on the total cost of the project. Expensive aggregates are not always needed to achieve impressive results. You can also use manufactured materials such as recycled colored glass.
EPA Finalizes WaterSense for Showers
March 12th, 2010
Brunswick County, NC new home builder Mark Johnson Custom Homes would like to share with our readers an interesting article courtesy of EcoHome Magazine.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) eagerly awaited WaterSense label for showerheads was finalized on March 4, and manufacturers can now submit products for testing.
Like WaterSense certifications for lav faucets and toilets, qualified showerheads must meet performance specifications as well as flow rates. Units receiving the label will have a flow rate of 2 gpm or less—20 percent lower than the current federal standard of 2.5 gpm—while also meeting performance-attribute requirements for flow rate across a range of pressures, spray force, and spray coverage, which the EPA has defined based on its consumer testing.
The specifications apply to showerheads and handheld showers, but not to bodysprays. Showerheads and handhelds must be tested by an EPA-licensed certifying body to qualify for WaterSense.
A number of manufacturers are already offering showerheads that combine lower flows with improved performance, which means buyers won’t have to wait long to purchase certified fixtures. The EPA told EcoHome it expects labeled products to hit shelves as early as mid-April.
Moen, for example, is anticipating certification for its 1.75-gpm single-function Eco-Performance showerheads and Envi three-function Eco-Performance showerheads, as does American Standard for its 1.5-gpm FloWise units and Kohler for its 1.75-gpm Purist and Forte showerheads and 2.0-gpm MasterShower.
Katy Tomasulo is Deputy Editor for EcoHome. This article first appeared on www.ecohomemagazine.com.
California Adopts Statewide Green Building Codes
February 7th, 2010
Landfall, NC custom home builder Mark Johnson Custom Homes would like to share with our readers an article written by Stephani L. Miller of Custom Home Magazine regarding mandatory green building code for residential, commercial, and public projects in the state of California.
Why does this matter to our readers on the East Coast? It’s because a lot of our building codes related to energy efficiency follow that of Western states that have experienced the Energy Crises in the past. Items like occupancy sensors which are mandatory in California will likely be mandatory for us someday soon.
The California Building Standards Commission has unanimously voted to adopt the nation’s first mandatory green building code for residential, commercial, and public projects.
The California Green Building Standards Code (CALGreen), which will go into effect Jan. 1, 2011, provides guidance on the implementation of energy efficient and environmentally responsible building methods and aims to reduce the water consumption of all new buildings in the state by 20 percent, divert 50 percent of construction waste from landfills, and improve the overall indoor environmental quality of all buildings. According to the California Air Resources Board (CARB), the mandatory codes will reduce the state’s greenhouse gas emissions by 3 million metric tons in 2020. It also will help the state achieve its goal of 33 percent renewable energy by 2020 as well as help mitigate global climate change. More stringent voluntary provisions also are part of CALGreen, which the state’s government hopes communities will pursue.
Mandatory residential construction measures under CALGreen address nearly every aspect of the process, from site selection and development, reuse of pre-existing structures, energy efficiency, and indoor and outdoor water use to materials conservation, resource efficiency, and indoor environmental quality and comfort.
Courtesy of: CustomHomeOnline.com
New Photos on Facebook and Flickr
January 28th, 2010
Landfall custom home builder Mark Johnson Custom Homes encourages our readers to view recently uploaded photos of our projects, both past and present, on our Flickr and Facebook Fan pages. View our Photo Sets on Flickr and Facebook, including our luxury homes in Wilmington and Hampstead, NC. For more detailed information on these homes and available lots in Wilmington, NC visit our Inventory Page!
Basic Elements of an Outdoor Room
January 26th, 2010
Landfall luxury home builder Mark Johnson Custom Homes would like to share an informative article from ConcreteNetwork.com on how to design and what elements to include for the ideal outdoor living area for your home. Below are the ways to use concrete to build your perfect outdoor space and for more information on each, click here!
“Decorative Concrete Surfaces
Start by installing stamped, stenciled or stained concrete patios and walkways to establish the basic floor plan and design scheme for your outdoor room. You can even pattern your outdoor floor with a permanent, weatherproof rug that adds visual interest and helps define dining and conversation areas.
Cooking
Something to cook with, such as a barbecue grill or wood-fired pizza oven, and countertops for food preparation and serving are key elements in a well-designed outdoor kitchen. Concrete countertops offer the advantages of weather resistance and versatility, since they can be formed into any shape you desire to suit the space. A coat of sealer will simplify cleanup by protecting your countertop from stains. Other amenities, such as concrete bartops and outdoor sinks with plumbing, can expand your entertainment options.
Hearth
Wood-burning or gas fireplaces, firepits, chimineas and portable patio heaters extend the enjoyment of outdoor living well into the evening while creating a cozy conversation area for people to gather around.
Furniture
No outdoor room is complete without ample furniture for dining and lounging. Attractive high-quality outdoor furniture also provides a smooth transition from the indoors to the outdoors and helps define the space as an extension of your home. Concrete seat walls and cast concrete couches or chaises, softened with pillows or cushions, can be used as permanent, weatherproof outdoor seating.
Water features
If space and budget allow, installing a concrete swimming pool, spa, waterfall or pond can provide beauty, relaxation and tranquil sounds.
Architectural accents
Add elegance and character to your outdoor room with decorative details such as concrete statuary, fountains, landscape borders and cast stone columns.
Lighting
Use pathway and landscape lighting to add ambience, accentuate key architectural features, and extend outdoor enjoyment well into the evening.”
Information and Photo Courtesy of: ConcreteNetwork.com
