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.

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

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!

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

Landfall custom home builder Mark Johnson Custom Homes encourages those in the area this Valentine’s Day to take advantage of all that the Cape Fear area has to offer! The Wilmington/Cape Fear Coast Convention and Visitors Bureau released a press release this morning detailing how you can celebrate in the Wilmington, NC area. Below is a list and for more information, click here!

• 30th ANNUAL N.C. JAZZ FESTIVAL
• 8th ANNUAL WILMINGTON CHOCOLATE FESTIVAL
• HOLD-YOUR-HONEY-TIGHT HAUNTED TOURS
• VALENTINE HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGE RIDE.
• SWEETHEART CRUISES ABOARD THE HENRIETTA III
• WILMINGTON GARDEN SHOW
• BIRDING TOUR
• THAT’S A MORAY! VALENTINE DINNER
• 60th ANNUAL CAMELLIA SHOW & SALE

Landfall builder Mark Johnson Custom Homes would like to share a recent article from Professional Remodeler’s Editor in Chief, Jonathan Sweet, on the Home Star, or “Cash for Caulkers”, program. Sweet outlined the five issues below on what will hopefully boost energy efficiency and jobs, and to read each in more detail, click here!

1. WHAT WOULD THE MONEY GO FOR?

2. WHAT’S THE POTENTIAL IMPACT?

3. WHAT’S BEHIND THE PROPOSAL?

4. DOES THE PROPOSAL COMPETE WITH THE AMERICAN CLEAN ENERGY AND SECURITY ACT?

5. WHAT’S THE LIKELIHOOD OF HOME STAR GETTING PASSED?

Landfall luxury builder Mark Johnson Custom Homes has experience with Energy Star Appliances – we used them in our Energy Star Certified home in Wilmington, NC! And we’d like to keep our readers informed on the latest developments for Energy Star windows, doors and skylights. As of January 4^th, 2010 they will need to meet new performance levels. It will still be easy to find these high-efficiency products: just look for the ENERGY STAR label. And remember, Energy Star qualified windows, doors and skylights reduce energy bills by about 7-24 percent, increase comfort, and come in a variety of shapes and sizes to achieve precisely the look you’re after. For more information on the new requirements, product benefits, federal tax credits, FAQ’s and more, visit their website!

Landfall new home builder Mark Johnson Custom Homes is a proud member of the National Association of Home Builders and encourages our readers to sign up for their quarterly e-newsletter, HouseKeys. HouseKeys is designed specifically for consumers and gives their readers “consumer news from America’s home builders”. Below is a list of articles from their latest issue and sign up to receive it straight to your Inbox by clicking here!

• Is There Still Time to Qualify for the $8,000 Tax Credit?
• Connecting the Green Dots
• Prepare Your Home and Yard for Winter This Fall
• Making Home Improvements? Check Out These Tax Credits
• “The View” Names North Carolina Home Builder the Ultimate Volunteer
• Understanding Your Home Remodeling Contract
• What’s in Your Toolbox?

Landfall Green home builder Mark Johnson Custom Homes is excited to share a new website from Team Strickland at Coldwell Banker Seacoast Realty for our LEED Platinum Green Home in Landfall. This ICF home in Wilmington, NC is Energy Star certified and the LEED Platinum rating is the highest attainable rating for a home from the U.S. Green Building Council. This is the first LEED Platinum home in Wilmington, NC so out of all of the current Wilmington, NC homes for sale, this is the “Greenest” by USGBC standards! Visit www.2002Kenilworth.com for detailed information on the home, its Green features, photos and more!

Landfall custom home builder Mark Johnson Custom homes would like to ensure that New Hanover County residents are aware of a new disposal law for paint waste. Below is a statement from the Cape Fear Green Building Alliance’s latest newsletter, and to read their previous newsletters, click here!

“The New Hanover County Department of Environmental Management has implemented a new policy on paint waste. Paint waste is defined as latex and oil-based paints, lacquer thinner, spray paint, paint strippers, mineral spirits, varnishes, wood stains, used brushes and rollers, etc. The new paint waste policy will be as follows:

Homeowners and contractors are instructed to solidify their paint waste by removing the lid and placing it in an open area or by adding an absorbent material such as sawdust, kitty litter, sand, etc. Once the paint waste has been solidified, they should place it in their trash cart or dumpster along with their regular trash. If homeowners or contractors arrive at the Landfill or Wastec facility with solidified paint waste for disposal, they will be charged the current tip fee for municipal solid waste. If homeowners or contractors arrive at the Landfill with liquid paint waste for disposal they will be directed to the Wastec facility and charged the current tip fee for municipal solid waste. For more information, call 910-798-4400.”