BUILDING WITH SCIENCE
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR YOU? DOWN BELOW IS SOME EXCELLENT INFORMATION ON WHY WE ARE THE TOP CHOICE FOR YOUR BUILDING NEEDS.
DESIGN
EXPRESSION THROUGH DESIGN. YOUR HOME REFLECTS WHO YOU ARE. SHOWCASE YOUR PASSIONS THROUGH YOUR ENVIRONMENT. SURROUND YOURSELF WITH COMFORT AND PEACE.
WATER IS YOUR ENEMY
EVEN THE STRONGEST FOUNDATION CAN BE COMPROMISED BY HYDRAULIC PRESSURE. PROPER GRADING, DRAINAGE, AND HYDROLOGIC BARRIERS ARE ESSENTIAL FOR LONGEVITY.
CONCRETE WILL CRACK. THE ANSWER IS "YES."
CONCRETE, LIKE DIRT, UNDERPINS YOUR ENTIRE STRUCTURE AND MUST BE DONE CORRECTLY. USING A GRAVEL SUBGRADE CAN REDUCE HYDRAULIC FAILURES. RIGID INSULATION CAN THERMALLY ISOLATE YOUR FLOOR, MAKING YOUR HOME MORE COMFORTABLE. THE CONCRETE MIX AND SLUMP ARE CRITICAL AND SHOULD BE DISCUSSED WITH THE CONCRETE SUBCONTRACTOR. ENGINEERING SPECIFICATIONS WILL DICTATE THE CORRECT RATIOS. AVOID ADDING EXCESS WATER, AS MOST CRACKING RESULTS FROM IMPROPER SLUMP.
UNDERSTANDING SOIL: THE MOST IMPORTANT BUILDING MATERIAL
ALL CONSTRUCTION BEGINS WITH SOIL, CONSIDERING ITS BEARING CAPACITY AND PLASTICITY. IDENTIFYING YOUR SOIL CONDITION IS CRUCIAL. EACH SITE PRESENTS UNIQUE CONDITIONS AND VARIOUS OPTIONS FOR BEARING CAPACITY. KNOWING THE BEST FOUNDATION FOR YOUR SPECIFIC SOIL TYPE IS ESSENTIAL FOR SUCCESSFUL CONSTRUCTION.
CREEPY CRAWLIES
PROTECTION AGAINST THESE PESTS IS ESSENTIAL. WHILE SPRAY TREATMENTS FADE OVER TIME, SEALING CONCRETE PENETRATIONS IS OFTEN OVERLOOKED.
WOOD FRAMING: MORE IS BETTER, RIGHT?
ADVANCED FRAMING CAN INCREASE THERMAL RESISTANCE BY 30% WITHOUT INCREASING WALL DEPTHS. TRUSS HEADERS ALSO SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVE THERMAL PERFORMANCE.
EXTERIOR SUBSTRATES: PROTECT THEM QUICK!
ENSURE PROTECTION FOR EXTERIOR SUBSTRATES TO PREVENT SWELLING AND CREATE AN EFFECTIVE AIR BARRIER. LIQUID MEMBRANES OR PRE-APPLIED MEMBRANES ARE EXCELLENT OPTIONS FOR CREATING THE PRIMARY WEATHER-RESISTIVE BARRIER (WRB).
IS MY ROOF WARM OR COLD?
WARM ROOF CONSTRUCTION DEMANDS PROPER ASSEMBLY TO PREVENT CONDENSATION. PLASTIC MEMBRANES DEGRADE UNDER PONDING, BUT SILICONE COATINGS DO NOT. PROTECTING YOUR COATING CAN SIGNIFICANTLY EXTEND YOUR ROOF'S LIFESPAN AND REDUCE HEAT TRANSFER THROUGH ABSORPTION. IMPROPER VENTILATION OF A WARM FLAT ROOF CAN LEAD TO ROT BY LOWERING THE DEW POINT, CAUSING UNSEEN CONDENSATION.
EXTERIOR FINISHES: SO MANY CHOICES
EXTREME CLIMATES DEMAND MATERIALS THAT WITHSTAND HIGH HEAT WITHOUT FAILING. BUILDING ORIENTATION ALSO INFLUENCES CHOICES. ALL CLADDING SHOULD INCLUDE A DRAINAGE PLANE TO ALLOW VAPOR TO ESCAPE. CEMENTITIOUS PRODUCTS ARE IDEAL FOR HIGH HEAT BUT LESS SUITABLE FOR HIGH HUMIDITY. WOOD PERFORMS POORLY IN HIGH HEAT BUT THRIVES IN HUMID CLIMATES. LOW-E SOFT COAT DOUBLE-PANE WINDOWS ARE ESSENTIAL, WHILE LARGE WESTERN EXPOSURES MAY REQUIRE TRIPLE PANES.
EXTERIOR SEALING: THIS DETERMINES YOUR OVERALL COMFORT
PROPER SEALING INCLUDES AIR, THERMAL, RADIANT, AND LIQUID BARRIERS, WHILE ALLOWING VAPOR TO ESCAPE. MASTERING THIS TECHNIQUE WILL ENHANCE COMFORT, REDUCE NOISE, AND LOWER ENERGY CONSUMPTION. KEEPING DIRT AND INSECTS OUT WHEN DOORS AND WINDOWS ARE CLOSED IS CRUCIAL. AIR EXCHANGES PER HOUR (ACH) IS AN IMPORTANT METRIC FEW PEOPLE ARE FAMILIAR WITH. DO YOU KNOW YOUR ACH?
INSULATION R VALUE: THE HIGHER, THE BETTER, RIGHT?
AIR SEALING IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN HIGH R VALUES. EFFECTIVE HEAT TRANSFER PREVENTION REQUIRES A COMBINATION OF THERMAL, CONVECTION, AND RADIANT BARRIERS. IDEALLY, A THERMAL BARRIER WITHOUT BRIDGING OR BREAKS SHOULD BE USED. OPTING FOR POLYISO INSTEAD OF POLYURETHANE FOR EXTERIOR INSULATION PROVIDES A CONTINUOUS THERMAL, AIR, AND RADIANT BARRIER, ALSO SERVING AS A SECONDARY WEATHER-RESISTANT BARRIER (WRB). BUILDING CODES REQUIRE ACH TO BE UNDER 5, BUT UNDER 1 IS IDEALLY NEEDED.
PLUMBING: IS YOUR WATER HARD?
NEW CODES MANDATE LOW-FLOW FIXTURES AND HOT WATER RECIRCULATION. ENSURING CORRECT RECIRCULATION BEFORE CONSTRUCTION IS CRUCIAL. IN THE AGE OF FOREVER CHEMICALS, WATER FILTRATION IS MORE VITAL THAN EVER. 1:1 REVERSE OSMOSIS SYSTEMS, TOUCHLESS, AND VOICE-CONTROLLED FIXTURES ARE CURRENT TRENDS.
ELECTRICAL: THE FUTURE IS NOW
TRUE LOW VOLTAGE LIGHTING. RGBW LIGHTING. MOTION CONTROL. LIGHTING AUTOMATION. LIGHTING IS ADVANCING RAPIDLY INTO THE FUTURE. LED 24V STRIPS AND SLIM FIXTURES, COLOR-CHANGING LIGHTING CONTROLLED BY SENSORS, ARE GAINING POPULARITY. CAR CHARGERS ARE IN DEMAND. ENSURE YOUR WIRING MATCHES YOUR AMPERAGE. CONSIDER SOLAR PRE-WIRING AS AN OPTION.
DRYWALL: IT'S NOT ALL THE SAME, RIGHT?
ENSURE YOUR WALLS ARE STRAIGHT BEFORE COVERING TO OPTIMIZE DRYWALL PERFORMANCE. USING LVL OR FINGER-JOINTED STUDS CAN HELP MAINTAIN WALL STRAIGHTNESS. HAVE YOUR DRYWALL CONTRACTOR CONFIRM WALL STRAIGHTNESS BEFORE INSTALLATION. OPT FOR GLASS-COATED DRYWALL IN WET OR TILE AREAS WITHOUT TAPE OR TEXTURE. USE EXTERIOR-GRADE DRYWALL ON EXTERIOR CEILINGS. DRYWALL, LIKE STUCCO, CAN BE FINISHED WITH TEXTURE OR SMOOTH. RENEW DRYWALL TRAPS VOCs FOR UP TO 75 YEARS.
FLOORING: IS THAT WOOD?
NEW VINYL FLOORING SIMULATES WOOD EFFECTIVELY AND IS COST-EFFICIENT. LARGE FORMAT TILE IS TRENDY BUT TWICE OR THREE TIMES THE COST OF VINYL OPTIONS. A MOISTURE BARRIER IS ESSENTIAL FOR CONCRETE FLOORS. TILE ON WOOD REQUIRES AN ISOLATION MAT AND MORTAR BED. MOVING FLOORS CAN CAUSE CRACKS IN FLOORING, AND BELOW-WOOD MOISTURE CAN LOOSEN FLOORING. GLUE-DOWN WOOD IS POPULAR, WITH MOST GLUES INCLUDING A MOISTURE BARRIER. STAINED CONCRETE IS AN OPTION BUT NEEDS SPECIAL CONSTRUCTION CARE.
HEATING, VENTILATION, AIR CONDITIONING: DON'T FORGET THE VENTILATION.
WITH PROPER BUILDING, YOUR SYSTEMS CAN BE DOWNSIZED AND EXTREMELY QUIET. OUR GOAL IS TO MAKE YOUR CLIMATE CONTROL SEEM INVISIBLE. UNDERSTANDING THERMODYNAMICS AND CAREFUL PRE-PLANNING ARE CRUCIAL FOR HIGH-PERFORMANCE SYSTEMS. EVERY BUILDING ELEMENT IMPACTS HVAC PERFORMANCE. NEW CODES NOW REQUIRE VENTILATION SYSTEMS THAT CAN EXCHANGE INDOOR AIR WITH OUTDOOR AIR IN LESS THAN 3 HOURS. AIR-TO-WATER HEAT PUMPS CAN ALSO HEAT YOUR WATER AND STORE SOLAR ENERGY.
PAINT: IT'S NOT ALL THE SAME, RIGHT?
NEW DRYWALL AND WOOD REQUIRE PRIMING BEFORE PAINTING. LATEX DRYWALL PRIMERS ARE GENERALLY AFFORDABLE AND EFFECTIVE. PRIMING SEALS THE SURFACE AND PROVIDES AN EVEN BASE. AFTER PRIMING, INSPECT FOR DRYWALL IMPERFECTIONS AND MAKE CORRECTIONS. PAINT WITH HIGHER SOLIDS OFFERS BETTER COVERAGE BUT CAN BE MORE EXPENSIVE. YOUR CHOICE OF SHEEN DETERMINES DURABILITY: HIGHER SHEENS ARE EASIER TO CLEAN BUT SHOW IMPERFECTIONS MORE. USUALLY, TRIM, DOORS, AND SHELVES HAVE HIGHER SHEEN THAN WALLS, WHILE CEILINGS HAVE LOWER SHEEN. OPT FOR LOW-VOC PRODUCTS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY.
TILE SURROUNDS: I'VE SEEN SOME PRETTY CREEPY STUFF!
PROPER SEALING IN SHOWERS IS CRUCIAL BUT OFTEN DONE INCORRECTLY. GLASS MAT DRYWALL HAS SIMPLIFIED THE PROCESS, YET ERRORS PERSIST. CURBLESS SHOWERS REQUIRE RECESSED FLOORS AND THOROUGH PRE-PLANNING. MOSAIC TILES ARE IDEAL FOR SLOPED FLOORS, AND LINEAR DRAINS ARE IN VOGUE, ALONGSIDE SPA-LIKE BATHS. MOSAIC ALSO MAKES A GREAT BACKSPLASH.
MILLWORK: LESS IS MORE
MODERN MINIMALIST DESIGNS ARE TRENDING IN MILLWORK, FEATURING FLAT, HANDLELESS CABINETS AND CLEAN DOOR LINES. MODERN FARMHOUSE KITCHENS ARE ALSO HIGHLY POPULAR. SHADOW LINES ON TRIM ARE PREFERRED. FLOATING VANITIES ARE CURRENTLY IN VOGUE.
ACCENT WALLS & CEILINGS: THE FUN STUFF.
ENHANCING WALLS IN YOUR POWDER ROOM, MASTER BEDROOM, OR LIVING AREA CAN MAKE YOUR HOME DISTINCTIVE. OPTIONS INCLUDE STONE VENEER, WOOD PANELING, WALLPAPER, AND TILE. BACKLIGHTING CAN HIGHLIGHT THESE FEATURES EFFECTIVELY. SALT WALLS, TRANSLUCENT STONE, AND PRINTED STRETCH MATERIALS ARE ALSO CREATIVE CHOICES. STRETCH PVC CAN ADD DRAMA TO CEILINGS AS WELL.
COUNTERTOPS: SO MANY CHOICES.
COUNTERTOP OPTIONS ARE VIRTUALLY LIMITLESS. ENGINEERED PRODUCTS LIKE DEKTON AND QUARTZ OFFER DURABILITY AND NATURAL STONE APPEARANCE. POPULAR NATURAL STONES INCLUDE GRANITE, MARBLE, AND SOAPSTONE. CONCRETE, WOOD, TILE, STEEL, AND BACKLIT GLASS/ONYX ARE ALSO AVAILABLE. EACH MATERIAL HAS ITS PROS AND CONS, BUT STONE OR ENGINEERED STONE ARE OFTEN PREFERRED. WATERFALL EDGES ARE A CURRENT TREND.
GLASS IS LAST
SHOWER GLASS AND MIRRORS ARE ESSENTIAL TO FINISH YOUR PROJECT. FRAMELESS OR EUROGLASS SHOWERS ARE HIGHLY POPULAR. BACK-PAINTED GLASS MAKES STYLISH BACKSPLASHES. MIRRORS WITH INTEGRAL LIGHTING ARE IN DEMAND. GLASS CAN BE PATTERNED, MIRRORED, SHADED, AND SHAPED TO SUIT YOUR STYLE.
SO WHAT DOES THIS ALL MEAN FOR YOU?
​RIGHT ANGLE CONSTRUCTION OFFERS CUTTING-EDGE HOME CONSTRUCTION SOLUTIONS WITH A FOCUS ON SUSTAINABILITY, ENERGY EFFICIENCY, AND MODERN DESIGN. FROM SUPERIOR INSULATION AND EFFICIENT HVAC SYSTEMS TO INNOVATIVE MATERIALS LIKE POLYISO INSULATION AND ADVANCED FRAMING TECHNIQUES, EVERY DETAIL IS OPTIMIZED FOR COMFORT AND LONGEVITY. THEY PRIORITIZE QUALITY WITH SOLUTIONS THAT MINIMIZE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT AND MAXIMIZE HOMEOWNER SATISFACTION.
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