Circle G Ranch Project Update

Until today, we were ahead of schedule on the addition project in Circle G Ranch in Tempe. With the rain scheduled for the next three days, we will have to postpone further work until next week. We will install windows & skylights next week and the roof will get dried in. Framing on the existing house to tie into the new structure will commence once the house is dried in. As you can see from the progress photos, we didn't waste anytime to get the new structure framed.

New Front Elevation, inclusive of four car garage, entry tower, office and two bedrooms

Tie-in of existing roof line with new bedroom

New four car garage

Original entry to be removed

New entry tower

Hands-Free Kitchen Faucets.......COOL!

Last summer we had a client ask us to retrofit their existing kitchen sinks with foot pedal controls for their kitchen faucets. Something you might see in your doctor's office, or a lab but not very common in a residential kitchen. I was doing some new product research and came across these great new hands-free kitchen faucets that don't operate with foot pedals...

Kohler. The Wellspring Touch less hands-free beverage faucet incorporates Tripoint technology, a sensing system that mimics that of an auto-focus camera, measuring the distance between the user's hands and the faucet for accurate activation and less likelihood of false activation. Homeowners can manually set the temperature for cold drinking-water delivery; the unit also can be connected to an under counter filtration system. The faucet is available in a range of traditional and contemporary styles, and in several finishes. 800-456-4537. http://www.us.kohler.com/.

Delta. Utilizing Touch2O technology, the Pilar pull-down kitchen faucet turns on and off via a tap on the spout or handle. The unit, which also operates manually, includes a handle to adjust flow rate and temperature. An indicator light identifies when the technology is activated and when batteries need to be replaced. The faucet features a 360-degree-swivel high-arc spout, a two-function pull-down spray head, and Diamond Seal technology that eliminates leaks and drips. 800-345-3358. http://www.deltafaucet.com/.

Danze. The Parma Dual kitchen faucet operates manually or via a hands-free sensor. The unit turns on when hands are placed in front and turns off when hands appear a second time; homeowners can program it to turn off automatically after a set period of time. The contemporary-style unit features clean lines and comes in polished chrome or stainless steel. 877-530-3344. http://www.danze.com/.

Brizo. The Pascal Culinary faucet offers two forms of hands-free operation—touch control or an electronic sensor—as well as manual operation by pulling on the high-arc spout. Temperature and flow can be adjusted via a single-handle valve. The technology shuts off the faucet within two seconds of the hand or object being removed from under the spout. A push-button diverter behind the spout switches the flow from spray to stream. The unit is battery-operated, but it may be hardwired. It comes in polished chrome and stainless steel. 877-345-2749. http://www.brizo.com/.

New Green Products

I came across these products in my research for an upcoming project for a client. We are all looking for ways to be greener and these items all fit that bill.

Ecodrain - The EcoDrain shower heat exchanger warms cold water in the home's supply line with grey water from the shower. Installed directly under the shower, the devise uses a turbulator to stir the waste water in order to maximize heat exchange. Two walls of separation between fresh water and grey water ensure the two sources will not mix. According to the manufacture, their studies show the product can save 46 percent of the energy used in a typical shower.

Rainwater Hog - The Rainwater Hog makes harvesting water easier with a versatile, modular system of compact units that can be used individually or together in previously unheard of spaces. The 47-gallon units can be installed verticall or horizontally and are narrow enough to fit along small walkways, against walls, or under a deck. Their modularity allows for gradual unit expansion and use in multiple locations.

Perfect Flush - Brondell a manufacturer of environmental friendly toilet related products is launching it's new product, Perfect Flush. The aftermarket unit equips existing toilets with dual-flush technology. The two-button control fits nearly all existing toilets and can be installed in less than 30 minutes (according to the manufacturer- our plumber has yet to install one) The device can be adjusted to change the amount of water used in a half flush and also can alter the amount of water a toilet uses in a full flush. Its batteries last about two years. Perfect Flush will be available in January of 2009.

Kitchen Design

I have been working with three different clients in Carefree to get designs completed for their kitchen remodeling projects. GW Custom Homes Remodeling Division is helping clients design new kitchens with our latest architectural rendering software. This tool has given us the ability to help our clients design their kitchen in a virtual world. Making changes on the fly, simulating acutal views within the house and utilizing manufactures libraries of the latest appliances and finish selections are just a couple of the unique items we can accomplish with this powerful tool.

Sub-Zero and Wolf have recently published a new set of web based videos that display great design and showcase their products. The Trade Videos, as they are called are a great resource for someone looking for great design ideas.

Circle G Ranch - Project Update

I am a week behind in posting this update. Had to send my camera into the shop to get cleaned. Thank you Tempe Camera! Great work on cleaning my Nikon D-70. Didn't want to post with out update photos.....

The project in Circle G Ranch was delayed for a week when the neighbor informed us that the addition was not being built within the limits of the lot set-backs. Even thought this project required a variance from the City of Tempe (#ZUP08077), and the city approved the project, we were delayed a week so that a complete boundary survey of the property could be completed. As expected, the placement of the new structure was right were the plans called for and the neighbor ended up loosing six or so inches of what they thought was their property line.

Footers and stems were poured last week and the slabs will be poured this week. Framing will start on the entry, bedroom and garage additions the week of Thanksgiving. We will be able to make up our week lost to the neighbor's complaint by expediting the framing.

Circle G Ranch Custom Home Addition & Remodel - Tempe, AZ

GW Custom Homes Remodeling Division has started work on a new project in Circle G Ranches in Tempe. This project consists of adding two secondary bedrooms and a new garage to the existing home, built in 1979. The new plans were designed by Tessa Jones at The Phactory in Tempe. The project started this week and the first phase is scheduled to be complete in late January. I will post updates of the project so please check back on our progress.

Master Bath Remodel / Carefree, AZ

GW Custom Homes is putting the finishing touches on a master bath remodel for the new owners of a home in Carefree. The house on Stagecoach Pass is nearly 30 years old. Prior to the current owners purchasing the house, the previous owners had added an attached guest house. Other than this new addition, the house was in original condition and was showing it's age.

In early August, the homeowner contacted GW Custom Homes via our website indicating that they were moving from New York to the house in Carefree this October. He indicated that they were interested in having the master bath remodeled and wanted it completed prior to their moving in.

The team at GW Custom Homes Remodeling Division went to work and quickly prepared a budget for this project. The owner agreed to travel from New York to Carefree to make all of the necessary selections for the project and finalize the scope of work. By the end of August, the owners had finalized the project scope, completed the selections and signed a contract for GW Custom Homes to complete the work. It was understood that their moving truck would be arriving the last week of October and the house needed to be ready to move into.

The project was completed the third week of October, inclusive of add-ons that the owner had requested and a complete electrical service change which was necessary to bring the house up to code.

Below are photos of the original condition as well as update photos from the second week of October. Final photos will follow next week.

Original Master Tub

Original Master Vanity

Original Master Bath

Original Water Closet (Converted to New Shower)

New Master Bath Underground Plumbing

New Master Vanity

New Master Tub

New Master Shower

Pool Ramada / Kitchen - Cave Creek, AZ

GW Custom Homes recently completed a small project for a client in North Cave Creek (actually just North of Cave Creek in the County - not too far from the new Gold Mountain Estates subdivision on Continental Mountain).

The scope of this project entailed constructing a new patio Ramada ,which included fabrication of a bridge across the pool spillway. Although this may sound pretty straightforward, the project site on the side of the mountain created some unique challenges.

Building permits were issued back in February of this year, work on the project was started in March and was completed in July. Site work, retaining walls and steel fabrication extended this project beyond the length of what one might expect this project to require. All in all, no time was wasted. The project came in on budget.

I would like to thank Ken Bartels , the Architect on the project and the home owner for providing us the opportunity to build the project.

Photos of the project are posted below:

Presite - Existing Pool

Presite - Existing Pool Equipment

Retaining Wall Footing Excavation

Bridge Footer Excavation

Retaining Wall Footer

Bridge Footer

Retaining Walls & Waterproofing

Backfill & Pad

Bridge Steel

Bridge Concrete

Masonry Walls / Columns

Bridge Flagstone

Beams & Truss Installation

Roof Framing

Hood Framing / Electrical Rough

Boulders Install

Finished Bridge

Finished Ramada

Finished Appliances

Why Can't I Find the Time to Add to our Blog?

The road to hell is paved with good intentions.... It is my understanding that Dr. Samuel Johnson as quoted in Boswell's Life of Johnson 1775 coined this phrase.

When starting this blog in March of 2008, my intentions led me down the path of trying to add new posts to the blog on a weekly basis. With my observations in the media that the residential construction market was extremely slow, I figured that time to add to my posts would be easy to come by.

Well I can't argue that the residential construction market is not slow in some areas. But unfortunately for our little blog, since March GW Custom Homes has bid more than $12M in new remodeling/renovation & addition projects. From Carefree, Cave Creek, Desert Mountain, Paradise Valley, Arcadia, The Biltmore, Moon Valley and even a project in Circle G Ranch in Tempe, we are working with home owners on projects ranging from bathroom remodels to whole house remodels/additions. Many of these projects involve adding square footage to existing residences, including second story additions.

I am confident that as the summer progresses, our business will remain strong. We have built a very healthy backlog of work in our remodeling division.

In my effort to continue with relevant info for the custom home buyer & our remodeling clients, I have created a list of blog topics I am working on. I have included these topics below and welcome your input. Please email me if you have any thoughts on topics you believe be beneficial. Keep reading and keep looking for new posts!

UPCOMMING BLOG TOPICS

• Remodeling vs. Home Building -
• Selecting a Builder -
• Selecting a Remodeling Contractor -
• Cost vs. Value - Remodeling -
• Bidding Projects, Avoid the pitfalls -
• From My Experience - Notes and items learned from recent projects
• Current Projects - Updates and Photos of current projects
• Recently Completed Projects -
• Design Build - Why?
• Hiring an Architect -
• Hiring an Interior Designer -
• Selecting a Building Lot -

An Introduction to GW Custom Homes

Growing up, I spent all of my summers working for my father's company (a custom home builder in Carefree). Starting at the ripe old age of 8 years old, hot summer days were spent with my brothers sweeping and cleaning houses under construction. As I got older, I worked thru the ranks of the different trades - site work & excavation, concrete, masonry, framing, roofing and drywall to name a few. By the time I graduated high school I was well versed in the trades and the residential construction business. At that point I realized that the opportunity to go to college was probably a good thing. After all, I didn't want to continue down the path of my Father, building houses. After four years at ASU, seven years in Chicago working for a major business consulting firm and getting married, I decided that building houses is what I was destined to do. In 2002 my wife and I returned to Arizona and I founded GW Custom Homes.

GW Custom Homes builds on average three new homes per year. Our homes can be found from Paradise Valley to Desert Mountain. Hillside homes from five to fifteen thousand square feet are what we do best. We work with the area's top architects, interior designers and landscaping designers to hand craft one of a kind luxury homes.

I am very selective of who we choose to build a new home for. I choose to build only a few homes per year so that our clientele and their homes get the necessary attention to detail. Most of our competitors can build a house, but our attention to continually developing systems and processes to facilitate a wonderful experience for our clients, set us apart from the competition.

Most of our custom home clients are Business Owners, CEOs, Attorneys, Doctors and CPAs. More than half of our clients reside out of state while we build their vacation or second home in the Phoenix area.

The team at GW Custom Homes that makes everything happen was carefully selected. I have employed only the most experienced and reputable staff to assist me. Our superintendents, project managers, accounting and customer service staff all have a minimum of 15 years experience in the high-end custom home business. Our lead superintendent has been building custom homes in North Scottsdale for more than 20 years. Our subcontractors and vendors are the best in the business. We demand a lot from our subs and in return we keep them very busy. They only work in the high end custom home markets and for the most part work with just a few other builders of similar stature.

In the end, our goals are very simple. GW Custom Homes is here for the long haul. We are here to make a profit and continually serve our customers. We strive to build the best quality homes at a fair price. In doing so, we provide our customers a positive and enjoyable experience while planning and building their new home. We stand behind our work and our clients love the homes we build for them.