Architect, Designer, Engineer – The Differences and Which Do I Need

By David Porter AIA - consulting architect to the Garlinghouse Company since 1989
Since I am a licensed architect, I would be remiss if my answer wasn’t just, “of course, you need only an architect.” But, nah, for your use in designing a house, that isn’t necessarily so.
I will first explain the differences between these professions […]

Building Green

By David Porter AIA - Consulting architect to the Garlinghouse Company since 1989
By now, you have probably heard loads about everything “green” - building green, living a more “green” lifestyle, and on and on.  “Green” is the new, overly used, buzzword thrown at you from twenty directions each day.  What is this new-fangled movement, what […]

Being Well Insulated

You know it’s there, but you rarely give it a thought-unless the temperature inside your house won’t stay at a comfortable level.
We’re talking about the insulation in your home’s walls, attic, and beneath its floors. If there’s not enough insulation, it can be added to an existing home. However, the best time to make […]

Insulated Concrete Forms (ICF)

by Bruce Arant, Editorial Director for The Garlinghouse Company
I’ve lived in “Tornado Alley” all of my life. That being the case, wailing tornado sirens, along with the chirping of birds and the buzzing of bees, have become just another familiar sound of springtime (although, not quite as calming). At 2:30 am, on the night before […]

Avoiding Common Problems with Your Builder

Building a house is a lot of work for the builder, but it’s also a lot of work for the homeowner. Here is some seasoned advice to help smooth the construction process.
The homeowner’s work begins with hiring the builder, or general contractor, which is where many projects start to go wrong. Yet, problems arise even […]