It’s Halloween time, but the truly scary theme, is a house that leaks air and leads to horrifying energy bills this winter. Mt. Tabor Builders can build an energy-efficient home that will provide long-term savings.
Spending a little more on good building materials now will save plenty of money over the life of the home. To accomplish this, you want a contractor who can build a strong, energy-efficient home that will last, saving money every month on utility bills. This surprised new homeowner Linda Berenstine this past summer.
“The house is really tight,” Linda said, of her Mt. Tabor-built home in Boonsboro, MD. “You don’t hear the rain or wind. Even in the hottest month this summer, my energy bill was only seventy-four dollars.”
The bill did not surprise Mt. Tabor Owner Willie Eby.
“Maryland (and its neighboring states) has an energy code that we had been meeting (and exceeding) long before it ever went into effect,” says Eby.
After doing plenty of background checks into work history, those wanting to build should evaluate builders based on two major criteria: craftsmanship and use of quality materials.
“If the bones of the house are right and you build it with a good window, good doors, and then the HVAC (Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning) system is really all you need to worry about,” Eby says.
A well-built home means the energy savings will be realized in the short-term and the long-term, even after the house “settles.” According to the website serve.gov, “A crack as small as 1/16th of an inch around a window frame can let in as much cold air as leaving the window open three inches.”
When Eby talks about “the bones of the house,” he is referring to the basic structure. Every Mt. Tabor-built home is built with 2×6 studs, rather than 2x4s. This allows the construction crew to exceed the insulation minimums – required by the state energy codes – in the walls and the attic, where most heat is lost in the winter. Using a combination of foam and fiberglass, Mt. Tabor achieves an R23 insulation rating, which ultimately means more money in its client’s pockets.
We Use Quality Products
Quality products are the second key to a home that saves money for the owner. Mt. Tabor uses top-rated Andersen Windows, Therma-Tru Doors and the GAF Shingle System roofing products.
Andersen Windows has been named ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year for multiple years. The gauge to know how good a window is, as it relates to energy-saving quality, is the NFRC rating. That rating applies to exterior doors as well. Mt. Tabor chooses to use Therma-Tru brand in new homes because 80 percent of all Therma-Tru products are ENERGY STAR® rated and NFRC certified.
However, it’s not just good enough to use high-quality products in building projects. Mt. Tabor’s crew consists of experts who are classroom-educated on the best way to install each of these building materials. Professional builders agree that well-made windows, doors and other such elements are the top reasons for long-lasting quality in a dwelling. This includes expert installation of those products.
Contact Us
For more information about building an energy-efficient home or addition, contact Willie and his team of professional builders. Contact them through this website or in their Clear Spring, MD office at 301-766-7161.