In keeping up with the never-ending search for sustainable “green” building products I have been looking into the Rammed Earth method of building construction. This method has been gaining popularity in the South Western United States. Using it involves the process of combining moist (filtered) soil and a combination of sand, gravel, and clay. The mixture is rammed together in layers (as shown here in this diagram) I found this diagram on iagram.com

This style of construction has been around for thousands of years (sections of the Great Wall of China were built using this construction method). Check out this You Tube video and let me know what you think…..

In this months client spot light, Salt City Home Designs is pleased to feature one of our custom homes nearing completion. This home is a beautiful rambler nestled in a historic section on the east side of Salt Lake City.  Working with the homeowners on this plan was such a rewarding experience. We were able to overcome a years worth of hurdles and in that time make some good friends.

The kitchen in this home was a major focal point of the design….and I must say it turned out to be exquisite.  The general contractor did a wonderful job in capturing both the designs essence as well as the homeowners vision for this space.

The box beam ceiling and the open floor plan lend themselves to be an entertaining highlight. My clients believe family to be very important and so they were looking for a space that would include everyone in the meal time process.

The high ceilings and warm colors give this home a grand and open feel. The arched doorways and wonderful master bedroom suite are truly enticing.  

I am always pleased to see a home come together so well. I am happy to see a client grow as the design and building process unfolds. These homeowners have been wonderful to work with, and I wish them the very best in their new home!!

The further I have looked into the shipping container construction the more intrigued I have become. There are a number of big architectural and residential design firms grasping this concept. One report that I read stated that it can cut the building cost down by up to 60%.

I am seriously contemplating putting together a small home office using this technique. I think if I were to try it for myself I would be a better advocate for or against the concept.

Here is one more clip I was able to find…. Please take a minute and watch it!

This week I stumbled across an article on MSN entitled “Amazing homes and offices built from shipping containers.”

The concept is absolutely brilliant!! The idea is being explored in Europe and Australia.

Here is a clip from Modern Marvels…..its only a few minutes but please take the time to watch it!

This is something that Salt City will be investigating further!

Spring is just around the corner and this is the time when most people start to contemplate adding on to their house, building that cabin in the mountains, or pursuing their dream home. A few things to keep in mind; most city municipalities will be getting busier so the time it takes to get your permit will be lengthened.

Also take the time to explore the contractors and sub-contractors that you will be using on your project. We of course have a number of excellent contractors that we can provide for any project, BUT if you are using your own, make sure he (or) she is credible. Take the time to go and look at some of their work. Ask past clients what they think of the person you are contemplating using. And don’t be afraid to get multiple bids on your project. Even if you are set on using a particular contractor it never hurts to see how they stand up to another bid.

Be careful when you do get your bids…..cheaper does not always mean better. I have a good contractor friend who recently was out-bid by nearly $15,000 on a project. When researching the reasons as to why my friend was so much higher it turns out that he had done a cost plus bid and his competitor had turned in a flat fee bid. This is like comparing apples to oranges (you just can’t compare). My friend turned in a cost plus bid (meaning he factored in his price, which the owners pay for up front….but everything beyond that is subject to what the owners want and what the project may surprises them with) any money left over in the end goes back to the homeowner.  He had tried to put enough into his bid to handle any and all surprises on the 1920’s remodel job. His competitors bid was a flat fee bid (which means you pay a flat fee weather the contractor spends that much or not there is no ‘money back’ at the end). Also with flat fee bids, if you make any changes the contractor will charge you for it…and if he finds any surprises in construction…he will charge you for it.

Both bid styles have their good and bad points, but remember you need to compare apples to apples. If you are getting cost plus bids, they all need to be cost plus…and vise-a-versa with flat fee bids.