INDUSTRY PROFILES
Building Blocks
BUILDER:
John Goodwin COMPANY:
Stono Construction CREDENTIALS:
John began his career in home building in 1999. Prior to co-founding Stono Construction, he served as Director of Construction for a Fortune 500 home building corporation and a large privately held firm, in addition to other management roles within the industry. He has also served on the Board of Directors at Charleston Habitat for Humanity since 2015.
What is unique about this home? We were one of the first builders to use Henry Blueskin, a self-adhered air and vapor barrier membrane (home wrap), on a residential home built downtown, as well as alternating exposures on lap siding with woven corners. Because of those features and others, this home won the 2019 Carolopolis Award for new construction from the Preservation Society of Charleston.
How did you ensure that the homeowners were getting everything they wanted in a custom home? We must give credit here to Laura Altman at LFA Architecture, since she was actively involved in the project. We held weekly meetings with her, and our clients also attended some of those at certain intervals during the job. Since the owners were usually out of town, detailed meeting minutes with progress pictures were provided for all to review.
What advice do you have for homeowners wanting to build their own home? Do a significant amount of due diligence to make sure that building on the prospective lot will not result in unexpected costs. Many things can affect the total cost basis. Sub-soil conditions, flooding/FEMA implications, setbacks, easements, wetlands, clearing, drainage, utilities availability, HOA or BAR requirements to name a few. Spend time preparing. There is no substitute for proper planning, including design work up front to help reduce cost and time overruns during the construction phase. Make a detailed list of must-haves and do research on them. For more information, call Stono Construction at (843) 805-4141 or visit stonoconstruction.com.
76 • CH+D • Summer 2020