Posted on Feb, 17th 2012 By Todd Hallett
Typically I like to save my drama for my mama – not this time. This time I packed it all into this 2,800-square-foot Lean-designed home. This cost-efficient home is easy to build, value engineered, and developed on Lean standards.
The plan is miserly in terms of the massing. There are no
Posted on Feb, 2nd 2012 By Todd Hallett
Danger Will Robinson! Danger! The IBS plan review sessions are starting to get booked up.
Professional Builder is hosting House Review Live with six different leading Architects and Designers (including yours truly) from across the country to help you review your existing plans and elevations.
Posted on Jan, 24th 2012 By Todd Hallett
When it comes to trusses "Piggyback" is a four letter word. Piggyback trusses are little trusses that sit upon larger trusses to allow the roof configuration to reach a certain height/span. In general a piggyback system is very expensive and time consuming to put together. Piggyback systems can
Posted on Nov, 1st 2011 By Todd Hallett
Traveling around the country I see a lot of renderings - most of them leave a whole lot to be desired. The worst are the black and white CAD drawings with a computer generated tree or two to add some flavor. I also see a lot of 3D computer renderings that are cold and uninviting. Often 3D
Posted on Oct, 25th 2011 By Todd Hallett
Our lives are busy and getting busier. Some of the most popular new design trends focus on making life a bit easier. Simplifying access and flow to perform every day tasks is a hot topic in today's market.
The photos below illustrate two trends that are rapidly becoming very popular:
1.
Posted on Oct, 18th 2011 By Todd Hallett
"Baby step onto the elevator... baby step into the elevator... I'm in the elevator."
If you have not seen Bill Murray in "What about Bob," make some time for it — very funny movie. Murray plays a whacky character (big stretch) named Bob who has difficulty doing even the smallest of tasks. The humor
Posted on Oct, 10th 2011 By Todd Hallett
Imagine yourself walking into McDonalds and ordering lunch (if you are anything like me this would probably not be a huge stretch). You walk up to the counter and ask the cashier for a Big Mac. During your order you ask her to hold the two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles
Posted on Oct, 4th 2011 By Todd Hallett
Look ma! The war cry for young show offs world wide. I’m sure you have had a “look ma” moment or two in your life. I don’t know about you but mine typically ended with skinned knees and tears.
It was 1986 and my car du jour was a 1974 Monte Carlo with a 400 cubic inch motor and a 400 turbo
Posted on Sep, 27th 2011 By Todd Hallett
I have been fortunate enough to be working with Jeff Rutt and Matt Collins from Keystone Custom Homes, Perry Bigelow from Bigelow Homes, and several other great folks on a housing solution for Haiti.
The overriding concept is to help alleviate the housing crisis by providing qualified Haitians with
Posted on Sep, 20th 2011 By Todd Hallett
Eric Tiffin our magically talented Project Manager brought up the idea of writing about point loads this week. My first thought was that there may not be much to write about with this topic. He convinced me otherwise.
Ever get a call from a framer wondering where a header is going to bear? How
