The RoofThe roof is like the icing on the cake. There are eight basic roof shapes and hundreds of variations. They are gable, shed, hip, gambrel, mansard, gambrel, flat and butterfly. We are going to talk about flat roofs. “Pitch” or slope...

TRUSSESThe sky’s the limit. The first load of trusses is now on the ground. Take the opportunity right now to sign your name on several trusses so that your new home truly belongs to you. This is an exciting time that you will remember forever.&...

CMU WallsYour home is starting to grow. The one of the most important steps is planning where to store the CMU blocks. A standard 8 x 8 x 16 block weighs between 30-35 pounds. The block mason needs to move blocks a minimal distance to perform th...

The FoundationThe surveyor has chalk lined the building boundaries and staked where the building is going to be located on the property. Next the contractor will dig out where the foundation footings go using a trencher. After the rough footing...

Wood or CMUWood construction offers affordability, design flexibility, and energy efficiency, while CMU (concrete masonry unit) construction excels in durability, sound insulation, thermal mass, and security. Wood's strength, lightweight, a...

Inspections Your building inspectors are your friends even though you may have concerns about your relationship in the beginning. Remember they have probably forgotten more than you know because they do it every day. The inspector’s goal is to p...

Something DifferentA peek insideThis newsletter is not about inspections as we had planned. Instead, it’s a recent interview that provides an inside look at Dix Design Group. As custom designers and builders the discussion is about thinking and belie...

Clearing the LandIt’s time to play in the dirt.The surveyor is your new friend. They have laid out the property boundaries and have staked where the building is going to be located on the property. The first staking is going to be temporary so that y...

Architect and General Contractor or Design/Build You're about to make a decision which you will live with for the next year or two. If you decide to go the architect and GC (general contractor) route you will have challenges to deal with. Y...

Finding your dream waterfront locationWhere is the perfect location for me?Remember our rule about not spending more than 25% of your budget on the land. First let us decide where we want to be. Florida’s East Coast is quite lovely and covered w...