Glaze Construction -NC Custom Home Builders, General Contractors, Green & Energy Star

March 23, 2010 - PRLog -- Glaze Construction specializes in design and building quality custom homes in the Hickory – Morganton - Lenoir North Carolina Area.  This NC construction company exceeds expectations, and has a highly respected reputation and has maintained a solid relationship with all of their clients, even after their homes are completed. When they have the opportunity to meet new clients, they provide a list of references, whose homes they have custom built and completed.  Many clients don’t visit their homesite on a regular basis and remain worry-free because they believe in close communication and strong relationships. Clients have confidence that they are part of each step of the project and they are assured everything is running smoothly as the builder will communicate through email, telephone, and providing numerous digital photographs throughout the construction project.

Find a lakefront lot to build your house at http://www.nclakefront.com  

How to Choose a Contractor?  Here are 9 suggestions:
1. Plan for Success: Don’t jump at the lowest bid, surveys have shown that people who hired the lowest bidder generally got poor work.
2. Get an Estimate: The estimate should list product, material, and labor costs and a timetable. Material and product allowances should give prices and quantities. Compare services and prices before making a final decision.
3. Get References: Obtain references from recent and older jobs. Reputable contractors will be happy to provide names and contact information for satisfied customers. Then check the work to see how it’s holding up.
4. Call Local Vendors: Find out names of local business that furnish construction supplies. From lumber to concrete, call at least two or three and find out if your contractor pays his bills on time.
5. Check the Better Business Bureau for filed complaints.
6. Call State Licensing Board: Many contractors claim to be excellent. You should call the state licensing board to see if your contractor has ever been in trouble. NC Licensing Board 919-571-4189 - Susan Dixon.
7. Check your contractor out with http://www.contractorcheck.com.
8. Obtain a contract: A written contract will specify what will be done to complete the job, associated costs, and the payment schedule. Never sign a blank contract or one with blank spaces.
9. Stick with original construction plans: Making changes to plans after work begins could lead to cost overruns and delays.

The hot topic in building these days is Energy Star and Certified Green Building.  It is very important today to select a builder and general contractor that are familiar with Certified Green Standards and Energy Star Compliance by the National Association of Home Builders National Green Building Program.  Many builders in North Carolina are becoming a Certified Green Professional (CGP) Builder. Keep reading to learn more below….

But what exactly makes a home green?  
Green building means improving the way that homes and homebuilding sites use energy, water, and materials to reduce impacts on human health and the environment. Building a green home means making environmentally-preferable and sustainable decisions throughout the building process-decisions that will minimize the environmental impact of the home while it is being built and over the many years it will be lived in.

What should homebuyers look for first in a green home?  
Energy efficiency is the place to start. That's because the energy used in homes often comes from the burning of fossil fuels at power plants, which contributes to smog, acid rain, and risks of global climate change. So, the less energy used, the less air pollution generated. And the easy way to make sure a new home is energy efficient is to look for the blue ENERGY STAR mark, the government-backed symbol for energy efficiency.  ENERGY STAR qualified homes are independently verified to meet strict guidelines for energy efficiency set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. These homes save money on utility bills, provide a more comfortable living environment with better indoor air quality, and help protect the environment.

Typical features to look for in ENERGY STAR qualified homes include:
1. An Efficient Home Envelope, with effective levels of wall, floor and attic insulation properly installed, comprehensive air barrier details, and high-performance windows;
2. Efficient Air Distribution, where ducts are installed with minimum air leakage and are effectively insulated;
3. Efficient Equipment for heating, cooling, and water heating;
4. Efficient Lighting, including fixtures that earn the ENERGY STAR; and
5. Efficient Appliances, including ENERGY STAR qualified dishwashers, refrigerators, and clothes washers.
These energy efficiency improvements save homeowners money — about $200 to $400 per year on utility bills. More importantly, monthly energy savings can easily exceed any additional mortgage cost for the energy efficiency improvements, resulting in a positive cash flow from the first day of home ownership. As a result, the cost-effectiveness of ENERGY STAR improvements can help offset additional costs associated with other green home features.

Key Components of a Green Home
Green homes incorporate environmental considerations and resource efficiency into every step of the building and development process to minimize environmental impact. The design, construction, and operation of a home must focus on energy and water efficiency, resource efficient building design and materials, indoor environmental quality, and must take the home's overall impact on the environment into account.

Find land to build your home at http://www.nclakefront.com

Builder’s in this area service the Unifour, which is Catawba County, Alexander County, Burke County, and Caldwell County.  Towns in these counties include Connelly Springs, Granite Falls, Hickory, Lenoir, Newton, Conover, Wilkesboro, Taylorsville, Valdese, Rutherford College, and Morganton.

List of Custom Home Builders in the area:
Grogan Construction
Dan Hefner Construction
DM Euro Construction
Glaze Construction
Granger Built Homes
Greathouse Jones Construction
Higgins Building Group
Homes by Gerald Kamp
JCM Custom Homes
Jeff Keever Construction
Jim Goble Construction
Moss Marlow
Providence Home Builders
Rollins Home Builders
Ronnie Simmons Construction
Scott Curtis Construction
SW Associates
Terry Reitzel Construction
White Rock Construction
Zagaroli Construction

Beautiful Communities in the Lake Hickory, Lake James, and Lake Rhodhiss area include:
1780
Anchors Landing
Bear Cliff
Black Forest
Broadwater Landing
Cottage Park
Crystal Falls
Diamond Pointe
Doe Run
Dry Creek
East Shores
Gold Creek
Governor’s Harbour
Gunpowder Point
Harbor Ridge
Harbor Town
Hawksbill
Hayes Mill Landing
Holiday Shores
Iswa Pointe
Lake View Hills
Laurel Pointe
Laurel Ridge
Lawson's Creek
Mallard Cove
Mallard Pointe
Marion Lake Club
Moore’s Ferry
North Lakes
Old Wild Life Club
Old Wildlife Club
Olde Mill Landing
Oliver’s Landing
Paradise Harbor
Pisgah Preserve
Plantation Point
Plantation Pointe
River Club
River Ridge Run
River Bend
Rock Barn
South Pointe
SouthPointe
Sunset Point
The Arbor
The Pointe
The Settings at Lake Rhodhiss
Waterglyn
Whistle Peace
Wilderness Edge

While many clients are at first drawn to Green Building for reasons of principle, they also find that Green Building makes sense economically. A Green home can substantially cut energy and maintenance costs while at the same time increasing the comfort and health for those who inhabit it. As a result, Green Homes tend to have increased value.

Find property to build your house at http://www.nclakefront.com

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About NClakefront.com Realty - If you're looking for property in a lakefront community in North Carolina, you've come to the right place: NClakefront.com Realty. Visit http://www.nclakefront.com for available lake homes and lots.