Mark Johnson Custom Homes Blog

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.

The right light – the right touch

Wilmington builder Mark Johnson Custom Homes would like to share an article courtesy of GEAppliances.com about lighting for your kitchen.

Good light helps make any kitchen safe and comfortable. Natural light is important, but think about the places that natural light won’t reach or light well. Consider cloudy days, and remember that much of the work will be done in the evenings.

As a rule, you should provide a mix of three lighting modes.

• Ambient light – For overall room illumination, typically provided by ceiling, track or recessed lighting fixtures. The number and placement of fixtures should provide even illumination without dark spots or “hot” spots.
• Task lighting – For shadow-free, concentrated lighting of food preparation and other kitchen work activities. Typically comes from under-cabinet fixtures or strips, or hanging fixtures such as pendent lights.
• Accent lighting – Contributes a decorative element and helps create focal points such as a dish display, a favorite painting, or an eating area. May come from high-intensity recessed or track lights, or hanging fixtures.

Each of these modes should be separately controlled, so the proper mix of lighting can be selected for each activity in the kitchen. Dimmers for ambient and accent lighting will enable you to alter the mood or look of the kitchen, as well as the overall lighting level.

And of course there is a choice of light type. Often a combination of these types is the best plan, utilizing the advantages of each.

• Incandescent – The traditional choice for its warm effect. Produces quite a bit of heat.
• Halogen – A brighter, “whiter” light for the same or lower wattage. Longer life than standard incandescent.
• Fluorescent lamps – Now includes a variety of colors and warmth, to create the same effects as incandescent. Lamps are available for use in all types of fixtures, as well as the traditional tubes. These use less energy; produce less heat, longer lasting.

Wilmington Custom Home Builder Mark Johnson Custom Homes would like to share with our readers a helpful article about how the proper use of programmable thermostats during cold winter months can help save energy and money.

Did you know that the average household spends more than $2,200 a year on energy bills – nearly half of which goes to heating and cooling? Homeowners can save about $180 a year by properly setting their programmable thermostats and maintaining those settings.

Did you know that properly using a programmable thermostat in your home is one of the easiest ways you can save energy, money, and help fight global warming? A programmable thermostat helps make it easy for you to save by offering four pre-programmed settings to regulate your home’s temperature in both summer and winter – when you are asleep or away.

• The pre-programmed settings that come with programmable thermostats are intended to deliver savings without sacrificing comfort. Depending on your family’s schedule, you can see significant savings by sticking with those settings or adjust them as appropriate for your family.
• The key is to establish a program that automatically reduces heating and cooling in your home when you don’t need as much. Use the programmable thermostat calculator to see what you can save with set-back temperatures that work for your family. The pre-programmed settings for a programmable thermostat are:

1. Keep the temperature set at its energy savings set-points for long periods of time (at least eight hours), for example, during the day, when no one is at home, and through the night, after bedtime.
2. All thermostats let you temporarily make an area warmer or cooler, without erasing the pre-set programming. This override is cancelled automatically at the next program period. You use more energy (and end up paying more on energy bills) if you consistently “hold” or over-ride the pre-programmed settings.
3. Units typically have two types of hold features: (a) hold/permanent/vacation; (b) temporary. Avoid using the hold/permanent/vacation feature to manage day to day temperature settings. “Hold” or “vacation” features are best when you’re planning to be away for an extended period. Set this feature at a constant, efficient temperature (i.e. several degrees warmer temperature in summer, several degrees cooler during winter), when going away for the weekend or on vacation. You’ll waste energy and money if you leave the “hold” feature at the comfort setting while you’re away.
4. Cranking your unit up to 90 degrees or down to 40 degrees, for example, will not heat or cool your house any faster. Most thermostats, including ENERGY STAR qualified units, begin to heat or cool at a set time, to reach setpoint temperatures sometime thereafter. Units with adaptive (smart/intelligent) recovery features are an exception to this rule — Adaptive recovery units are constantly calculating the amount of time required to heat or cool the house, so that it reaches that temperature when the homeowner programmed it. By “examining” the performance of the past few days the thermostat can keep track of the seasons. In this way, your house is always at the comfort levels when occupied, but saving the most energy when unoccupied.
5. Many homes use just one thermostat to control the whole house. If your home has multiple heating or cooling zones, you’ll need a programmed setback thermostat for each zone to maximize comfort, convenience and energy savings throughout the house.
6. If your programmable thermostat runs on batteries, don’t forget to change the batteries each year. Some units will indicate when batteries must be changed.

Article Courtesy of: www.EnergyStar.gov

Architect Sarah Susanka on designing houses that feel spacious but don’t waste space.

Wilmington, NC home builder Mark Johnson Custom Homes would like to share with our readers a helpful article written by Evelyn Royer in ECOHOME Magazine that gives tips for “rightsizing” your home.

Wilmington, NC home builder Mark Johnson Custom Homes would like to share with our readers an article courtesy of RealtyTimes.com regarding cost-effective projects for your home.

Buyers are hit hard by first impressions, and sellers take advantage of this fact, aiming to amp up their curb appeal.

This is, after all, where they get the most bang for their buck. According to the latest Remodeling Cost vs. Value Report, the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) reports that “nine of the top 10 most cost-effective projects nationally in terms of value recouped are exterior replacement projects.” These exterior projects are outperforming their remodeling counterparts.

Interior projects should not be forgotten, however. These spaces earn returns on costs, as well. Many times interior updates can make you stand out from the competition in your area. It is simply that in today’s economy, “remodeling projects, particularly higher cost upscale projects, have been losing resale value in recent years because of weak economic conditions.” (NAR)

With curb appeal projects, however, a little money can go a long way. Topping the list? Steel entry doors are returning 102.1 percent of their cost upon resale.

What other projects are sellers tackling? While most projects don’t bring the profit returns of steel entry doors, sellers have some other great options for attracting buyers.

• Siding and window replacements – 70 or more percent of costs recouped
• Midrange garage door replacement – 83.9 percent of costs recouped
• Upscale fiber-cement siding replacement – 80 percent of cost recouped
• Wood deck additions – 72.8 percent of costs recouped

“It’s important to remember that the resale value of a particular improvement project depends on several factors,” says National Association of Realtors® President Ron Phipps. “Things such as the home’s overall condition, availability and condition of surrounding properties, location and the regional economic climate contribute to an estimated resale value.”

Yet, says Phipps, “Curb appeal remains king – it’s the first thing potential buyers notice when looking for a home, and it also demonstrates pride of ownership.”

Article Written By: Carla Hill, RealtyTimes.com

Information Courtesy of: Remodeling.hw.net

With all the rain we have had in the past month, Wilmington, NC home builder Mark Johnson Custom Homes would like to share with our readers our method of waterproofing a second story floating deck that has a finished ceiling beneath it. 

 After framing the upper deck subfloor with a slope, we install a rubber membrane on the subfloor that wraps up and over any doorways leading to the second story floating deck.

The rubber membrane is then installed to completely cover the subfloor.

Any penetrations coming through the deck floor (such as handrail posts) need to be wrapped with the membrane.

Next, we install the floating deck system. This involves placing (but not fastening) treated 2×6 boards flat on the membrane. The reason it is called a floating deck is because it isn’t fastened to the framing beneath. We then cut treated 2×4 boards down to basically form a wedge. The purpose of this is to keep the finished decking where you stand flat and level. Remember that the subfloor decking still slopes under the membrane so the water that drips through the deck boards will still run down the membrane and away from the house.

The picture below is the finished floating deck before paint and handrails are installed.

This view (before paint and handrails) shows the finished ceiling beneath the second story floating deck.

Wilmington, NC home builder Mark Johnson Custom Homes would like to share an article courtesy of Yahoo! News that gives 9 things to consider when deciding whether to build a new home or purchase a resale.

As the mortgage crisis continues to inundate the market with distressed properties, today’s house hunter has no shortage of cheap, foreclosed homes to pick through. But despite all those deals in the previously-owned home market, consumers shouldn’t overlook the potential benefits of building a new home.

1. Customization: Many home builders allow buyers to participate in the process of designing their property, which helps create a living space specifically tailored to the consumer’s tastes.

2. Building Envelope: Newly constructed homes use energy more efficiently. They tend to have a tighter-sealed building envelope that helps prevent conditioned air–cool air in the summer, warm air in the winter–from escaping.

3. Green Appliances: More energy-efficient mechanics of the house help reduce utility bills.

4. Fewer Repairs: The features of newly constructed homes will hold up better than those of existing homes, which may have experienced years of wear and tear.

5. Less Maintenance: Today’s new homes are engineered specifically to minimize maintenance requirements and many products on the market promote less maintenance requirements.

6. Warranty: Builders agree to take care of the repair work that becomes necessary in newly constructed homes for at least the first year.

7. Fire Safety: Newly constructed homes often include fire safety features that may not be present in properties built years ago.

8. Concessions: Especially in today’s sluggish housing market, buyers may be able to squeeze more concessions out of a home building company than an individual seller.

9. Financing: New home buyers may be able to take advantage of mortgage financing perks.

Wilmington, NC new home builder Mark Johnson Custom Homes would like to share with its readers The Cypress Lane house plan, courtesy of Sullivan Design Company.

Enjoy one-story living in this beautiful 3260 sf home. The plan includes 3 bedrooms, 3.5 baths and a private bonus room over the garage, perfect for guests. For more information, including the floor plan, visit the Mark Johnson Custom Homes inventory page.
 
All homes built by MJCH are energy efficient. This plan boasts a significant energy efficiency package which is estimated to be 25% more efficient than a code minimum home. These standard features include radiant barrier roof sheathing, a recirculating tankless water heater, bath fans with humidity sensors, 15 SEER Trane heat pump with programmable thermostat, R-23 blown-in-blanket insulation in 2×6 exterior walls, raised foundation slab construction and air barriers behind knee walls.

Wilmington, NC home builder Mark Johnson Custom Homes would like to share with our readers an interesting article written by Carla Hill with RealtyTimes.com about today’s mortgage rates.

You’ve heard it all across the media. Interest rates are at historic lows. If you are new to the mortgage process, these figures and statements give you little frame of reference. Let’s take a moment to look at where interest rates have been over the last few decades, and what today’s rates really mean for homebuyers. Interest rates are affected by a gamut of factors. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, “Lower interest rates make it easier for people to borrow in order to buy cars and homes. Purchases of homes, in turn, increase the demand for other items, such as furniture and appliances, thus providing an additional boost to the economy. Lower interest rates mean that consumers spend less on interest costs, leaving them with more of their income to spend on goods and services.” And this is, after all, what you want people to do in a down economy. You want them to reinvigorate the economy with spending. The Fed continues, “If the rates that consumers and businesses have to pay to borrow rise too rapidly, however, spending may decline, leading to an economic slowdown.” So, it is a intricate dance the powers that be must perform in order to steer the economy the best they can. They, namely the Federal Reserve and Banks, are seeking stable prices, high employment rates, and sustainable growth in the economy. 30 years ago, in 1980, when many first-time home buyers parents were making home purchases, Freddie Mac reports that the 30-year fixed rate mortgage hit a staggering 16.32 percent. Let’s compare that in relation to today’s interest rate, averaging around 4.5 percent.

• In the most basic terms, a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage for $100,000 at 16.32 percent, will cost you around $1,450 a month.
• For the same mortgage at a 4.5 percent rate, you’ll be paying $580 a month.

The difference is astounding, and this is the main reason the media is shouting news about interest rates. If you are in the position to buy, now could very well be the time.

Article Courtesy of RealtyTimes.com.

Wilmington, NC home builder and remodeler Mark Johnson Custom Homes would like to share with our readers some simple steps to making the move to a new home as easy as possible for your pet.

Experts agree that pets thrive on routine. But how can that routine be maintained during a move? There are some simple steps that you can take to make the transition from old home to new home easy on you and your pet.

The first step is to visit your current veterinarian. If you are moving out of the area, be sure to request your pet’s medical files, this way your new vet will know of any conditions your pet has been treated for and when they’ll be due for their next vaccinations. Be sure that if your pet is on any medications, that you’ll have enough of the needed prescriptions to last until you visit your new vet.

While you’re at the vet, consider microchipping your pet. A microchip is a small transponder, as small as a grain of rice, that is implanted just under the pet’s skin. The Humane Society says, “Microchips provide an extra level of protection in case your pet loses his collar and tags.” The cost is relatively inexpensive, especially when you consider that one chip can last up to 25 years. Along these same lines, update your pets ID tags with your new address or phone number if necessary.

When you are beginning the actual process of moving boxes and transferring your belongings to your new residence, consider first prepping, a pet friendly area in your current home, and then in your new home. You can designate one room that will be out of the way of movers. Fill the room with the pet’s favorite toys and bedding, as well as their food, water, and if applicable, litter box. Your home is your pet’s sanctuary, and for the time being, this room will be their connection to this.

Once you’re living in your new home with your pet, the best thing you can do is maintain your routine. If you usually walk your pet in the mornings, make the time to continue this tradition. If you come home at lunches to let your dog out, be sure that either you or a reliable pet walker are there for your dog. This is also not a time to change your animal’s eating habits. Keep with the same brand and type of food as before the move.

And finally, you’ll need to search out your new hot spots. This means pet supply stores, veterinary offices, dog parks, and pet sitter and walker servicers.

If you are new to your area, feel free to ask your real estate agent for recommendations for a new vet, as well as where the aforementioned local hot spots might be, such as local establishments that are pet friendly.

Article Written By: Carla L. Davis, RealtyTimes.com