Hall and Wright Builders Blog

Bryan McGowin and Christopher Yerkes designed and built a ultra-energy efficient home on Fish Factory Road, Oak Island, NC 28461. Learn more about this unique house, view pictures, and follow it's progress!



Painting Starts
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Painting has started, we are using low voc (volitile organic compounds) exterior paint along with low to no voc adhesives and sealants.


 

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Two Car Garage Construction
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21' x 21' two car garage with a 14'x21' unfinished bonus room above.  The garage has a whole house generator hook up and an electric car charger.


 

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Recycled, Efficient Siding and Trim
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Siding has started! We are using Certainteed fiber cement siding and Miratec trim which are both made with post consumer products and will not shrink or crack.


 

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Sun Space
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The sun space has many benefits and applications in the performance of this house.

Gardening

Hydroponic growing tables are included in the sun space which allows the homeowner to grow a large portion of their own produce, herbs and flowers year round in a space that is perfect for the morning paper and a cup of coffee.  This space is over 20' tall so you can even have a tropical fruit tree growing in the sun space. The irrigation for the planting beds and the hydroponic tables is supplied by the rainwater harvesting system and is free of all chlorine and other contaminates that are found in the municiple water.

Integrated Ventilation and Air Purification System (iVAPS)

SIPS houses are extremely tight and the iVAPS allows for controlled air exchange and purification.  Air is brought into the sun space through a filter to eliminate most pollen and airborne particulates.  The sun space contains common house plants that NASA studies have shown to remove common airborne pollutants.  The air also takes on the fragrance of the herbs and flowers growing in the sun space.  The air is then introduced into the house where it is continuously circulated through a HEPA filter to remove any remaining contaminants.

Passive/Active Solar Assisted Heating

During the colder months the South facing sun space warms up during sunny days.  An industrial grade controller monitors the temperatures inside, outside and at the ceiling in the sun space.  When conditions are right, the controller turns on a fan that brings in heated air from the highest part of the sun space and introduces it into the house.  The system coordinates with the iVAPS to keep the proper pressure balance in the house.


 

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Windows and Dormers Installation
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The double hung low-e argon filled windows being installed.


 

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Construction on the Porch Begins
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Starting on the porches which will help cut down on the solar heat gain during the summer months.


 

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Roof Panels Installed in One Day
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Installed the roof panels in One Day! Only had to use the crane for 4 hrs. The roof is 8.25" SIPS and we use window tape and ice and water shield on all of our joints and on the ridge and all valleys. Next we install Titanium underlayment and then we install an energy star rated reflective standing seam metal roof.


 

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SIPs Panels are Up
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Panels are going up quickly!  Looks like it will be less than a 7 day build!


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Frame of Mind and Minding Framing
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One of the most attractive attributes of SIPs construction is the speed and ease with which it is framed. There are so many benefits to using SIPs which is why here at Hall &Wright we decided to specialize in them. When we first came across SIPs we thought it was too good to be true.  After doing many projects and installations we have cut our installation time way down.

This project on Fish Factory Road, Oak Island, was fully assembled after just 7 days of installation. That is why Hall & Wright are the right builders to call if you would like to take advantage of a SIPs built home.  We have ready to go floor plans available or we can engineer any existing plan to your specifications.

SIPs panels use 60% less wood product than conventional framing techniques and generate a significantly lower amount of job site waste. The home has been built on pilings and is a Structurally Insulated Panel home.  SIPs exteriors are 6.5" thick with a performance value of R38. When paired with an 8.25" thick SIPs roof which can boast an R50 value you can rest assured every part of your structure is working hard to save you money on utility costs.

Each panel is pre-cut offsite to ensure a perfect fit with minimal gapping and a tight interior envelope. The Expandable Poly-styrene core  sandwiched between two pieces of OSB ensures that your home is insulated and coverage is consistent throughout to avoid cold or hot spots in your structure. With such a great exterior shell, one can expect a quieter more comfortable interior. While in the initial design stages, Hall & Wright was able to take advantage of the fact that SIPs homes have no interior load bearing walls which maximizes design capabilities, flexibility and increases available storage.

Many of Hall & Wright's clients have friends or family members in the building industry;  Since SIPs homes go up quicker, and tend to be squarer and stronger than conventional, they are the perfect solution for the do-it-yourself-er.  We can come in, install your exterior shell and let you take it from there.  An energy efficient blank canvas is ready for you to customize and make your own.  We like to tailor make our projects to our clients needs.

As I mentioned, the 2300+ square feet of the Fish Factory Road project was installed in JUST SEVEN DAYS!

Call Hall & Wright today if you have a plan you would like to see Engineered for SIPs!


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Hall & Wright Aims High When Building Homes
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Starting off on the Right Footprint!

When Hall and Wright Builders talked about building a model home, they understood that the location was paramount for exposure and marketability.

This home is built on Fish Factory Road in Oak Island, North Carolina. There are several restaurants and other retail shops within walking distance. South Harbour Marina is  about a tenth of a mile out your front door as is the boat launch if you tend toward maritime activities.There is golf, tennis and community pools available if one elected to join the HOA and wanted to take advantage of the Barnes Bluff Amenities. At Hall & Wright we try to give our homeowners flexibility and this lot was ideal because joining the homeowners association  is optional.

It is located a few minutes from the newly expanded Brunswick Airport which can now accommodate commuter jets if you are of the jet setting persuasion.  The home is within two miles of two golf courses and there is a park complete with waterfront walking trails, jungle gym for the kids and a sheltered bay full of sailboats  just across the street.

Oak Island and all of her lovely beaches are a five to ten minute drive, as is the community rec center, senior center, fishing piers, Kayak launches and of course, a wide variety restaurants!

We took a holistic approach to this home and have built it to be ADA compliant, energy efficient, functional AND aesthetically appealing. The goal was to build a home where one could age in place, engage in the charming small-town community and take advantage of the latest in energy efficient technology for superior comfort and lower utility bills.

Check out our next blog to hear more about this amazing property and visit Intracoastal Realty Corporation, Oak Island to learn more about this latest project which just went on the market in the beginning of April. Construction is expected to be completed in June, just in time to start the summer at the beach.


 

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Features of a Hall & Wright Home
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Hall & Wright thought of it all...

Thank you for taking a moment to learn more about Hall & Wright Builders  and their latest project on Fish Factory Road in Oak Island, North Carolina.  As mentioned in the previous blog, Hall & Wright President, Bryan McGowin and Designer Chris Yerkes maximized the form and function of this home.  Passive solar design paired with Structurally Insulated Panel construction ensured that the structure would be approximately 40% more efficient than a conventionally built home. To qualify for an Energy Star rating a home must feature a minimum of 20% increased efficiency throughout various systems.  Hall & Wright goes above and beyond the minimum requirements by integrating multiple energy efficient  and conservation oriented systems in the home.

Rain catchments of up to 2000 gallons will be installed to provide water for irrigation and for flushing your low-flow commodes. These catchments will also provide water to the attached atrium's hydroponic planting beds which can grow enough produce to feed a family of four year-round. The 20ft ceilings also allow for fruit trees to be planted - how many homes can boast an indoor orchard?   Pair this with the proposed edible landscaping and you have the best victory garden in town.

The atrium is 14x14 and is not just for growing produce;  it acts as a heat source in the winter and a natural air filtration system year round.  Indoor air quality is important to Hall &Wright - they recognize the plight of families struggling with asthma, chemical sensitivities, allergies and other respiratory ailments and have integrated solutions into their homes.  Because of the efficiency of the SIPs exterior, the entire home can be heated and cooled with a Mini Split HVAC system and ductless circulation.  Just imagine, no more enclosed vents accumulating dust or allergens and what that might mean to a family member who struggles with respiratory issues.  The two car garage is also detached to further reduce possible air pollutants.  The HVAC is controlled by a central computer that has remote capabilities for your convenience. Imagine if you could turn the heat on from your car while commuting home to ensure a cozy, welcoming arrival on a blustery day.

Tune in for the next blog as I will go over additional features such as DC wiring, Photovoltaic panels and battery back ups to keep the lights and HVAC running in the event of an outage.

 


 

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Hall and Wright Builders are a Structural Insulation Panel Association member

Certified Green Professional