- ½” OSB (oriented strand
board) (plywood)) sheathing applied to 100% of
all exterior walls
a. Building Code: Required only on
exterior house corners.
b. Benefit: Tremendous additional
structural strength to prevent any “racking” of
exterior walls
- 100% TyVek house wrap on
all exterior walls
a. Building Code: Not required
b. Benefit: “Breathable” exterior vapor
barrier to prevent water damage to exterior
structural walls from outside sources, while
allowing interior water vapor to osmoses through
TyVek membrane. TyVek greatly minimizes air
leakage from inside to outside and provides a
“wind barrier” to protect inside environment
from outside winds reducing utility costs.
- 1 1/8” tongue & groove
plywood 2nd floor sub-floor decking
a. Building Code: Requires ¾” sub-floor
decking
b. Benefit: Greatly increases structural
strength of house. Adds additional “sound
barrier” between 1st and 2nd floors.
- “Cool-Ply” (radiant
barrier) roof decking
a. Building Code: Not required
b. Benefit: Eliminates 97% of radiant
heat from sun resulting in attic temperatures
being lowered by as much as 50 degrees
Fahrenheit reducing summertime cooling cost by
as much as 17%.
- Seven (7) 1,600 cubic feet
per minute (cfm) temperature activated
(individually) powered attic ventilation fans
a. Building Code: Requires only “passive”
(non-powered) attic ventilation
b. Benefit: Hot attic air will be
replaced by cooler outside air at a total rate
of 11,200 cfm through perforated eaves to reduce
summertime cooling costs. (11,200 cf is
approximately double the volume of the master
bedroom)
- All drywall in house is
5/8” thick. Additionally, all drywall is both
screwed and glued to framing members.
a. Building Code: Requires 5/8” drywall
in garage and under staircases to act as a “fire
barrier”. All other areas can be ½” drywall.
Does not require drywall to be glued.
b. Benefit: Additional fire safety
throughout the house. Added structural strength
to house. Gluing will reduce any future drywall
movement to prevent hair-line cracks as house
ages.
- All showers/tub surrounds
are lined with 5/8” “Fiberock” (trade mark of US
Gypsum Corp.) a fiber glass reinforced material
that is 100% waterproof.
a. Building Code: Requires the use of
“green board” in shower/tub surrounds
b. Benefit: Best material available today
for use in “wet” tiled areas. The 100%
water-proof material will minimize long-term
tile, grout, mold and
deodorization
problems characteristic of prolonged shower use.
- Two (2) dedicated holiday
lighting circuits (20 amp) in house eaves
controlled by indoor electrical switches.
a. Building Code: Not required
b. Benefit: Ease of holiday lighting
installation/control with no overloading of
circuits
- Three (3) 50 gallon high
efficiency hot water heaters linked in “series”
with a recirculation pump.
a. Building Code: Single 50 gallon hot water
heater
b. Benefit: Total available hot water is
approximately 175 gallons. Each hot water
location will have immediate hot water (no
waiting for hot water to “travel” through the
plumbing lines) and the entire 175 gallons is
available at any one location.
- Media Room is
sound-proofed.
a. Building Code: Not required
b. Benefit: Segregation of noise
- Structured Wiring
(telephone/computer/satellite/stereo) in every
major room of house (including rear patio) with
termination in two (2) distribution panels.
a. Building Code: Not required
b. Benefit: Easy networking of all
computers in house. All rooms are pre-wired for
Net Stream digital controls/sound. Media Room
and great room are pre-wired for Dolby Surround
Sound.
- Four (4) Security Cameras
(front door, side door, motor court, rear
patio/pool).
a. Building Code: Not required
b. Benefit: Visual identification of
visitors prior answering door(s). Easy visual
reference(s) to motor court area and rear
patio/pool area.
- Intercom (via full duplex)
for front door and side door integrated with
telephone.
a. Building Code: Not required
b. Benefit: Door chime activates unique
telephone ring and telephone is full duplex for
conversations with front/side entryways.
- “Keyed” programmable
electric lifts for light fixtures in entryway
and family room.
a. Building Code: Not required
b. Benefit: Ease of cleaning/light bulb
replacement with security of use.
- Honeywell VisionPRO 8000
programmable touch-screen thermostats (5).
a. Building Code: Not Required
b. Benefit: Each of five (5) HVAC zones
can have a unique daily schedule with three (3)
start and stop times to decrease utility costs.
Touch screens make programming easy.
- Pentair IntelliTouch I9+3
Digital Pool/Spa Controls.
a. Building Code: Not Required
b. Benefit: All swimming pool functions
(including lighting) can be
programmed/controlled from touch screen inside
of house. Additionally, controls can be
“transferred” to touchpad located on spa
decking.
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