Picture putting your ice-cold glass of water on the counter on a hot summer day. What does it do? It sweats, causing the moisture from the air to condense (or sweat) on the cold surface. A similar process can happen in our homes, most of us just don’t know it. This process can lead to some homes having mold issues in their basement walls. In a typical (non-ICF foundation) basement, the outside walls are constructed with wood studs, fiberglass insulation, and sealed with a vapor barrier. If moisture is inside that wall assembly it will condense (or sweat) on the cold concrete wall behind it and lead to mold growth. An ICF foundation prevents this condensation from happening. Similarly, one might feel air coming in through outlets, switches, windows, and other penetrations on exterior walls. Quam’s house does not have this issue due to Cornerstone’s special sealing techniques.
never have to worry about water leaks or mold growth within your walls.
In most standard builds, code requires “damp-proof” walls, which means water can still seep through if the wall develops a crack due to soil pressures and settling. However, in Orth’s builds, he ensures the outside walls are water-proof, so you
It also allows the homeowner to learn a little more about the home building process. Learning what costs go into different elements and which aspects are more flexible for changes. By updating selections in real-time, the homeowner
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Project Management
The build process was straightforward and easy, thanks to a dedication to customer satisfaction, but also thanks to an online construction management software system Cornerstone Specialties uses. This software allows for constant communications between builder and homeowner. Explaining the system, Orth said, "Say you have a question about your kitchen faucet, you can go to the section about plumbing and type in your questions. Then I get the information and I can post selection options. The homeowner can then select whatever they want, at midnight if they want, since it all goes through the online software." This software gives the freedom to not have to meet in-person for every single detail and it saves time on both ends.
knows exactly what they are getting in the house and at what costs. This ensures that there will be no surprises, something Quam was very thankful for. "It felt that we really had a partnership in building this house. It wasn’t just me saying, 'No, this is what we are going to do.' We worked through problems. I think it was a great build," Orth said.
Family Function
In designing and building this home, energy-efficiencies were guaranteed, but the Cornerstone Specialties team also ensured the home was efficient, in terms of how the family would use it. "We spent a lot of time up-front getting all the details right. [Orth] learned all about how our family functions and had a lot of suggestions and changes, in addition to making sure that I could sleep at night, knowing this place isn't going to fall apart like my previous house," said the homeowner. Included in the home is a workspace for Joan, a home gym for her daughter to practice her figure skating exercises and a main-floor bedroom available in case her
parents ever need to move-in later in life. There's an incredibly insulated basement with ample room for her children to have friends over in the long winters, even including a kitchenette area for pizza parties, baking and beverages. Quam's home has all the style and amenities of any modern-day constructed home, but with the added bonus of energy efficiency. This space is proof of the eco-options that are available in our region. Looks like you don't have to sacrifice style and taste in order to live consciously after all.
Cornerstone Specialties Gary Orth cornerstonespecialties.com (701) 729-9991 Cabinets: Clearwater Custom Cabinetry Builder: Cornerstone Specialities, Gary Orth