The Construction Process

Phase 1 - Pre-Construction Meeting: A representative of Harding Construction & Sustainable Solutions will visit the home to discuss your remodeling or home performance project. During this initial meeting, we listen to what you really want and need from your home. We will discuss issues such as comfort, health, sustainability, return on investment and function within your home.

Phase 2 - Design, Plan and Permit:Once we have discussed the concepts of the remodeling project, we will take the time to put them on paper. This is the point when we can be creative with your project and transform ideas into a well-laid out plans to provide a roadmap for you, city officials and us. Depending on your project, we will either draw the plans in-house or work closely with preferred designers we highly recommend and trust. The relationships we have built with designers are the key to the project as they help insure the plans do not exceed the budget and are built to our green and sustainable standards. This is the most important step within any building project.

During this period we look beyond the aesthetics of the remodel and offer solutions. For example, we may recommend building the new structure to an even multiple and slightly adjusting the location of windows in certain areas to conserve lumber. We closely scrutinize the home's thermal mass and its position in relation to the sun and prevailing winds to achieve effective passive solar heating and cooling. We always suggest building the roof to face the sun to effectively accept solar photovoltaic and solar hot water panels.

Phase 3 - Breaking Ground, Deconstructing and Starting Over: We're always aware that it is your home first and our construction site second. During the entire remodel of your bathroom, kitchen, room addition or new home, floor coverings are laid in areas of foot traffic while hallways and doorways are sealed with tape and plastic and filtration fans are operating to control dust. All of these measures help keep us from affecting the home's indoor air quality. Typically, we begin a project by strategically dismantling and salvaging anything that could be reused or donated to Habitat for Humanity. All refuse that cannot be donated is put in dumpsters or appropriate trash bins to be recycled.

Phase 4 - Framing, Plumbing and Electrical:Demolition and deconstruction of the project is now complete. We pour footings and the foundation using concrete with recycled fly ash. We install a moisture barrier on the floor of the crawl space and frame the structure using FSC or SFI certified lumber and large glued beams made from rapidly renewable resources. We pay close attention to detail to make sure all framing lumber is level and plumb. Extra time is spent to make sure seismic hardware is installed from the foundation to the roof so the house is safe and can survive an earthquake.

Phase 5 - Mechanical Systems: To the laymen's eye, the job can sometimes seem slow because the majority of the work is not as visible as everything completed prior. The roof sheathing and radiant barrier are now in place. Copper or PEX plumbing systems are well planned-out and installed. Electrical wire systems are run through the ceiling to walls and under the home. Prior to installing the mechanical heating and ventilation system, we measure and calculate exactly how much heat or air is needed per room based on the size of the wall, windows, and direction the room is facing. This allows for the unit to be properly sized, which will conserve resources and in turn save you money on your utility bill.

Phase 6 - Insulation, Drywall, Siding, Shell Sealing and Testing: After many city inspections, we seal all the penetrations and air gaps within the framing prior to insulating. There are many options to choose from when insulating your home. All types of insulation have their pros and cons as well as cost differences. Regardless of the insulation type chosen, we take great care to make sure the installation of the insulation is done correctly to achieve maximum performance. We install ⅝" instead of ½" drywall for better thermal mass, sound-deadening, and fire stopping qualities.

Once the drywall is installed we test the shell and ventilation system within the house. Testing at this stage, prior to installation of attic insulation, allows us to measure whether or not the house is too tight and will need additional ventilation or whether it still needs to be tightened.

Phase 7 - Finish Work: At this point the home has really taken shape. A lot of time is taken at this phase to make sure the finish materials brought into the home do not affect the home's indoor air quality. We install Energy Star certified appliances, rapidly renewable or FSC certified flooring and moldings, formaldehyde free cabinetry, zero VOC paint, tile, low-flow water fixtures, LED lighting, CFL lighting, green countertops and green interior doors.

Phase 8 - Landscaping: We design and install features to deter invasive species and minimize demand for water and synthetic chemicals. Rather than installing concrete walkways, we install permeable hardscape materials and we reduce light pollution by directing outdoor lighting downwards.

 

 

Phase 9 - Final Home Performance Test:We perform a final test to the shell, combustion appliances and ventilation system to make sure nothing was compromised during the installation or manufacturing of any finish items and the home performs to its full potential.

 

Phase 10 - Completion: At this point we provide homeowner's manual full of the home's green features and benefits including important safety and maintenance procedures.