New Construction Includes Siding and Insulation

The last couple of weeks of new construction on our house have resulted in exciting changes, some quite attractive and visible and others interesting, necessary and soon to be covered with sheet rock.

            It took a while to decide on the material we wanted for the exterior of the house. Several factors played into this decision including cost, look, practicality, maintenance over time, and, location in a flood plain. Coming into the construction process, our material of choice had been field stone with concrete board. Even though that was the look we liked, thanks to the wisdom of our builder, Blue Moon Bay, we began to realize our first choice was probably not our best choice.

The factor that continued to play a major role in the choice was that our house is near the lake and is elevated above the flood plain but our detached garage is sitting on a slab foundation near the ground and is very clearly situated in the flood plain. The garage had to be built with materials governed by FEMA so they would stand up to any potential flooding and so that we could afford our homeowner’s and flood insurance.

All that being said, we decided to use vinyl siding for the house and the garage. We obviously wanted both structures to match and the siding is the only material that would work with the homeowner’s and flood insurance. Our builder and decorator helped us decide on a gray exterior that will be trimmed with white. The gray blends with the split-face brick used in the foundation. Most of the siding is in place and it looks great. Once again, we’re so grateful to have experienced people helping us to make not only attractive, but the right decisions for our circumstances.

During the installation of the siding, insulation is being put in place inside. The builder decided to use fiberglass insulation that is blown in for the perimeter walls. This type of insulation works best in our situation because the siding is being installed on the inside at the same time. This insulation has a sticky consistency and adheres to the walls well while at the same time the siding is being nailed in place on the other side of the wall.

The interior walls of the house have traditional rolled fiberglass insulation. So, final decisions on the plugs, light switches and plumbing were made before the insulation was put in place to avoid moving them and incurring additional cost.

With each week that passes we get closer to our completed house. The journey to arrive there has been exciting for our family. We’ve learned so much about the new construction and the careful, deliberate process that is in place to make sure the right decisions are made and that materials and scheduling each subcontractor is on track. I guess attention to each detail makes a house a lovely home. For additional information on our new construction in our Diamondhead community or on Blue Moon Bay builders call 501.520.9201 or 501.262.9310.