You may have heard that the HVAC industry is going through a big refrigerant change. What does this actually mean? A refrigerant is the chemical inside your air conditioner or heat pump that moves heat from where you don’t want it, to where you do. It’s what makes cooling possible. The new generation of refrigerants (like R-454B) have a much lower global warming potential. In fact, it’s about one-quarter as potent as the older R-410A. Because refrigerants contribute significa

This year, I set a goal to finally tackle a few long-overdue home efficiency upgrades, and at the top of the list was my attic. If you’re looking for one of the most impactful places to improve your home’s efficiency, start here. It’s not glamorous, but it makes a big difference. If your home has uneven temperatures between rooms, high heating and cooling bills, drafty spaces, or even ice dams in the winter, there’s a good chance your attic is part of the problem. It’s one of

After nearly a decade as a site superintendent, I’ve led countless new home demos and pre-closing walks. I’ve had this conversation with many peers and construction managers over the years, and one area consistently rises to the top as the most challenging: the attic. Whether it’s a single-story or two-story home, attic access is rarely simple. If it’s a scuttle hole, you need the right ladder. If it’s a pull-down stair or small door, it’s still not exactly convenient. The sp

Once upon a time, there was a large homebuilder growing faster than anyone thought possible. New communities rose quickly, trades multiplied, and schedules stayed full. From the outside, everything looked strong. But inside the kingdom, a dragon was forming. The dragon fed on small mistakes. A missed flashing detail here, a rushed insulation install there, inconsistent framing practices across distant markets. At first, the damage seemed manageable. A few callbacks. Some unha

With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, I thought I’d share some advice based on my experience of nearly 30 years of marriage: Asking the right questions of the right individuals helps alleviate disappointment, distress and even financial loss. This lesson rings true in a relationship… and in homebuilding. Let me explain. My wife and I will celebrate 29 years of marriage this year and when we were dating, it seemed very important that I chose wisely on how to celebrate

Buying a home is often one of the biggest financial decisions you'll ever make. The preparation and research that goes into the purchase of a new or existing home can take months, if not years. Ultimately, the long-term impact of owning a home is substantial when you consider the full cost of ownership.   So, how much does it really cost to own a home? And what influence does a builder or designer have on the full cost of ownership?   We often view the builder or designer's r

Capital drives every industry, but in homebuilding, the kind that matters most isn’t financial. It’s innovation capital: the trust, knowledge, and courage to invest in progress before it’s safe.  True innovation capital grows when a builder risks trying something better; when a supplier shares data instead of guarding it; and when a trade invests in learning a new method. These are the transactions that redefine what’s possible.  We’re passionate about growing this capital..