Universal Design Tour

by Joel Barkman

During the upcoming year I will be celebrating 25 years of being in business. It has been my great privilege to serve this and the surrounding communities during that time, and I have plans in place for another 25 years &emdash; God willing.

Anyone who has lived in a home or had one built, purchased one already built, or remodeled an existing home can tell you that our homes are a reflection of who we are. Homes tend to change in style, size, and shape as we ourselves change over time &emdash; both individually and collectively.

Weather we choose to change or weather we are being forced to, I believe that we are seeing yet another paradigm shift in the home building industry. There are those who wish to return to "business as usual" like it was in the boom days. Building, selling, and trading homes as just another commodity &emdash; with very little pause for reflection.

My clients and friends will agree that that version of "business as usual" has never been my version, nor was it shared by the men and women with whom I served during my tenure as the Fauquier Chapter president of the Northern Virginia Building Industry Association.

The latest survey by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) was compiled with the goal of defining what "business as usual" will look like moving forward &emdash; because I know how much you really love industry surveys.

I say that in jest of course, as many look with a fair amount of skepticism at survey results, which of course can be skewed to present one side or another of a certain argument. But who can argue the following findings: "Debt is bad," referencing the latest consumer survey research.

"There is a visceral fear or distaste for being obligated…, and this does have an important bearing in how [we] think about housing." This sentiment was explained to an audience of builders, developers, building scientists, architects, environmental engineers, landscape companies and manufacturers earlier this summer.

In sharp contrast to the boom years, when the economy was going strong and there didn't appear to be much risk in taking on more debt, but "risk is back on the table," said speaker J. Walker Smith, executive chairman of The Futures Company. Consumers believe that "you can't get to a better life by taking on financial risks and they are more attentive to the consequences."

With good reason, according to recent surveys about three-quarters of today's consumers say they are aware of the need to identify and manage risk; 61percent say they have cut back on spending because of concerns about the future and 60 percent are concerned about the state of the economy in general.

The challenge for builders and designers is to take the risk out of building and remodeling. One way to do this is through sustainable design &emdash; physically and economically.

It makes very little sense to use cheaper building materials that do not have a very long life, and will overtime, need to be replaced or will require intense and costly maintenance. Likewise, it makes even less sense to build and design homes that incorporate all the "latest and greatest" new products if the home will not be affordable in the end.

Removing the risk of owning a home will fall somewhere in between, and I believe that it starts with a smart design. It shouldn't be about how much square footage I can cram into a house for the maximum amount of money I can borrow. I have always advised my clients to examine their lifestyle and build from there, using their budget (what they are comfortable spending) as a guide.

A well thought-out floor plan, advanced framing techniques, higher insulating values, "lifetime" materials that require little or no maintenance, energy efficient equipment / home systems &emdash; all make for a quality home that will last for many years to come.

You should never have to worry about what's behind the walls &emdash; but what about what's down the halls? The "best" house in terms of quality, efficiency, curb appeal, and value is worth very little if it does not meet the needs of its occupants.

This leads back to Design. One philosophy that I am glad to see catching on is called "Universal Design," which I have discussed in the past and is something that I feel very passionate about.

"Universal Design" is the term used to describe the philosophy of safety, comfort, and sustainability at home. The principal notion is that feeling safe and comfortable in your home has little to do with your age or ability. The ideas behind the "Universal Design" concept cater to people of all ages &emdash; children and adults alike.

My team and I are nearing completion of a new home in Nokesville that has been constructed using these principals. The owner of the home, who himself has a way with words, often iterates that his home is to be designed and constructed with three main objectives in mind: energy efficiency, sustainability, and "Universal Design."

This I feel is the recipe for quality built homes, and I believe the movement toward better homes is a response to our current economic and social climate. As a community we desire to be more responsible with our finances and as a community we desire to be good neighbors.

Our homes, if they are to be a reflection of who we are, should be built to be lived in. Very simple design solutions can assure us that our homes will serve us now, as our families grow, and as we ourselves grow older.

Such as proper access to the home's interior and exterior, accessible rooms, adequate lighting, well lit hallways and stairs, placement of controls for cooking appliances, and removing trip hazards at doorways and thresholds.

Other aspects such as countertop heights, cabinet placement, ample hallway widths and door openings, right-height switches, stylish grab bars for safe bathing, and just plain smart designing will benefit adults and children alike.

To see all of these features in action and to meet the home's owner, I'd like to invite everyone to tour our new "Universal Design" home in Nokesville. The home tour will take place September 8th from 5pm &emdash; 8pm and will showcase energy efficiency, sustainability, and of course, "Universal Design."

The tour is complimentary, but please do contact me to RSVP as drinks and hors d'oeuvres will be served.

In the meantime, when it comes to redefining "business as usual" &emdash; just "Ask a Builder."

As always e-mail your questions or comments to joel@goldenrulebuilders.com or write to "Ask a Builder" at P.O. box 294, Catlett, VA 20119.

Barkman is past president of the Fauquier Chapter of The Northern Virginia Building Industry Association.

Read Joel's column weekly in the