Houston Remodeling Guide - Editorial

HOMECertifiCate #00949

Sig 2 pg22-37 Rem 10_Layout 1 5/21/10 1:41 PM Page 30

HOUSTON REMODELING GUIDE / 2010 31

Houston Builders Produce

One-story 1950s home nowa two-story green home

greenRenovation

Nation’s First

WWith money getting tighter and people becoming more

aware of their own carbon footprints, the green move-

ment has reached new heights. It not only affects the

great outdoors, but the indoors as well.

The government is offering tax incentives to home-

owners for making green improvements to their

homes. More trees are being planted, and con-

sumers are asking for the most environmentally-

friendly products available.

In 2009, the National Association of Home Builders

began offering green certification at three different

levels. The nation’s first Certified Bronze Level Green

Renovation and Additions is right here in Houston, inside

the loop. The home is a Certified Green Home under

ICC 700-2008 National Green Building Standard.

“There’s been a change in the market ,” said remod-

eler Allen Griffin, CGR, GMB, CAPS, CGP, of Gryphon

Builders. “Where people used to tear down older inner

city homes and replace them with new construction,

By Sandra Meineke

Photos courtesy of Brad Carr, b-rad studios


32 HOUSTON REMODELING GUIDE / 2010

UP

10'-11" x 12'-11"

11'-1" x 15'-2"

16'-7" x 15'-0"

7'-4" x 11'-9"

450 sq ft

16'-0" x 15'-11"

8'-4" x 8'-1"

14'-2" x 13'-0"

22'-8" x 13'-0"

32'-0" x 4'-7"

17'-10" x 12'-11"

4'-6" x 8'-9"

2385 sq ft

BEDROOM

LIVING AREA

DINING

KITCHEN

LAUNDRY

MASTER BDRM

MASTER BATH

PORCH

FAMILY

BATH

LIVING AREA

LIVING

BEDROOM

Wood Floors

9' Ceiling

Wood Floors

9' Ceiling

Wood Floors

9' Ceiling

Wood Floors

8' Ceiling

Wood Floors

8' Ceiling

Tile

Flo

ors

8'C

eilin

g

WH

Center

CenterCenter

12'-0" x 13'-2"

3'-4" x 4'-11"

8'-4" x 2'-1"

9'-4" x 9'-0"

4'-5" x 2'-0"

16'-3" x 14'-3"

3'-9" x 1'-11"

5'-0" x 9'-7"

8'-6" x 9'-2"

15'-6" x 13'-1"

12'-0" x 2'-2"

6'-7" x 4'-11"

CLOSET

UTILITY

BATH

BEDROOM

FAMILY

OPEN BELOW

LIVING AREA

STORAGE

BEDROOMCLOSET

Vault Ceiling

BATH

CLOSET

25

" X 5

4"

Attic

Access

CLOSET

Floor PlanSCALE PAGE

3630 NewcastleHynes ResidenceDesign * Build * Remodel

A-3

Second Floor - 1/4" scale

First Floor - 1/4" scale

1/4"

Gryphon Builders

4125 Hollister Rd. Ste B

Houston Tx 77080

713-939-8005

www.Gryphonbuilders.com

UP

10'-11" x 12'-11"

11'-1" x 15'-2"

16'-7" x 15'-0"

7'-4" x 11'-9"

450 sq ft

16'-0" x 15'-11"

8'-4" x 8'-1"

14'-2" x 13'-0"

22'-8" x 13'-0"

32'-0" x 4'-7"

17'-10" x 12'-11"

4'-6" x 8'-9"

2385 sq ft

BEDROOM

LIVING AREA

DINING

KITCHEN

LAUNDRY

MASTER BDRM

MASTER BATH

PORCH

FAMILY

BATH

LIVING AREA

LIVING

BEDROOM

Wood Floors

9' Ceiling

Wood Floors

9' Ceiling

Wood Floors

9' Ceiling

Wood Floors

8' Ceiling

Wood Floors

8' Ceiling

Tile

Flo

ors

8'C

eilin

g

WH

Center

CenterCenter

12'-0" x 13'-2"

3'-4" x 4'-11"

8'-4" x 2'-1"

9'-4" x 9'-0"

4'-5" x 2'-0"

16'-3" x 14'-3"

3'-9" x 1'-11"

5'-0" x 9'-7"

8'-6" x 9'-2"

15'-6" x 13'-1"

12'-0" x 2'-2"

6'-7" x 4'-11"

CLOSET

UTILITY

BATH

BEDROOM

FAMILY

OPEN BELOW

LIVING AREA

STORAGE

BEDROOMCLOSET

Vault Ceiling

BATH

CLOSET

25

" X 5

4"

Attic

Access

CLOSET



A-3



1/4"

Gryphon Builders


Houston Tx 77080

713-939-8005


UP

10'-11" x 12'-11"

11'-1" x 15'-2"

16'-7" x 15'-0"

7'-4" x 11'-9"

450 sq ft

16'-0" x 15'-11"

8'-4" x 8'-1"

14'-2" x 13'-0"

22'-8" x 13'-0"

32'-0" x 4'-7"

17'-10" x 12'-11"

4'-6" x 8'-9"

2385 sq ft

BEDROOM

LIVING AREA

DINING

KITCHEN

LAUNDRY

MASTER BDRM

MASTER BATH

PORCH

FAMILY

BATH

LIVING AREA

LIVING

BEDROOM

Wood Floors

9' Ceiling

Wood Floors

9' Ceiling

Wood Floors

9' Ceiling

Wood Floors

8' Ceiling

Wood Floors

8' Ceiling

Tile

Flo

ors

8'C

eilin

g

WH

Center

CenterCenter

12'-0" x 13'-2"

3'-4" x 4'-11"

8'-4" x 2'-1"

9'-4" x 9'-0"

4'-5" x 2'-0"

16'-3" x 14'-3"

3'-9" x 1'-11"

5'-0" x 9'-7"

8'-6" x 9'-2"

15'-6" x 13'-1"

12'-0" x 2'-2"

6'-7" x 4'-11"

CLOSET

UTILITY

BATH

BEDROOM

FAMILY

OPEN BELOW

LIVING AREA

STORAGE

BEDROOMCLOSET

Vault Ceiling

BATH

CLOSET

25

" X 5

4"

Attic

Access

CLOSET



A-3



1/4"

Gryphon Builders


Houston Tx 77080

713-939-8005


UP

10'-11" x 12'-11"

11'-1" x 15'-2"

16'-7" x 15'-0"

7'-4" x 11'-9"

450 sq ft

16'-0" x 15'-11"

8'-4" x 8'-1"

14'-2" x 13'-0"

22'-8" x 13'-0"

32'-0" x 4'-7"

17'-10" x 12'-11"

4'-6" x 8'-9"

2385 sq ft

BEDROOM

LIVING AREA

DINING

KITCHEN

LAUNDRY

MASTER BDRM

MASTER BATH

PORCH

FAMILY

BATH

LIVING AREA

LIVING

BEDROOM

Wood Floors

9' Ceiling

Wood Floors

9' Ceiling

Wood Floors

9' Ceiling

Wood Floors

8' Ceiling

Wood Floors

8' Ceiling

Tile

Flo

ors

8'C

eilin

g

WH

Center

CenterCenter

12'-0" x 13'-2"

3'-4" x 4'-11"

8'-4" x 2'-1"

9'-4" x 9'-0"

4'-5" x 2'-0"

16'-3" x 14'-3"

3'-9" x 1'-11"

5'-0" x 9'-7"

8'-6" x 9'-2"

15'-6" x 13'-1"

12'-0" x 2'-2"

6'-7" x 4'-11"

CLOSET

UTILITY

BATH

BEDROOM

FAMILY

OPEN BELOW

LIVING AREA

STORAGE

BEDROOMCLOSET

Vault Ceiling

BATH

CLOSET

25

" X 5

4"

Attic

Access

CLOSET



A-3



1/4"

Gryphon Builders


Houston Tx 77080

713-939-8005


Second Floor

First Floor

UP

10'-11" x 12'-11"

11'-1" x 15'-2"

16'-7" x 15'-0"

7'-4" x 11'-9"

450 sq ft

16'-0" x 15'-11"

8'-4" x 8'-1"

14'-2" x 13'-0"

22'-8" x 13'-0"

32'-0" x 4'-7"

17'-10" x 12'-11"

4'-6" x 8'-9"

2385 sq ft

BEDROOM

LIVING AREA

DINING

KITCHEN

LAUNDRY

MASTER BDRM

MASTER BATH

PORCH

FAMILY

BATH

LIVING AREA

LIVING

BEDROOM

Wood Floors

9' Ceiling

Wood Floors

9' Ceiling

Wood Floors

9' Ceiling

Wood Floors

8' Ceiling

Wood Floors

8' Ceiling

Tile

Flo

ors

8'C

eilin

g

WH

Center

CenterCenter

12'-0" x 13'-2"

3'-4" x 4'-11"

8'-4" x 2'-1"

9'-4" x 9'-0"

4'-5" x 2'-0"

16'-3" x 14'-3"

3'-9" x 1'-11"

5'-0" x 9'-7"

8'-6" x 9'-2"

15'-6" x 13'-1"

12'-0" x 2'-2"

6'-7" x 4'-11"

CLOSET

UTILITY

BATH

BEDROOM

FAMILY

OPEN BELOW

LIVING AREA

STORAGE

BEDROOMCLOSET

Vault Ceiling

BATH

CLOSET

25

" X 5

4"

Attic

Access

CLOSET



A-3



1/4"

Gryphon Builders


Houston Tx 77080

713-939-8005


Sig 2 pg22-37 Rem 10_Layout 1 5/21/10 1:42 PM 2


they are now realizing that revitalizing older homes

makes sense economically. Remodeling is a better

option for the overall environment because much of

the old structure is reused and updated with the lat-

est technologies, compared to a tear down which

would all be in a landfill.”

Changing an older home into a green home often

takes minimal effort and expense. The Houston home—

a one-story, three-bedroom 1950s ranch style house in

Afton Oaks—has been transformed into a two-story, five-

bedroom, traditional style home that qualifies for green

certification. Remodelers saved the main components

of the home—slab, structure, wood floors and bricks—

and dispersed the new construction over the existing

structure—going up, not out. “There are many post WW II

production homes in the Galleria and Memorial areas

with close access to town,” Griffin said. “People are dis-

covering that it is better to revitalize than to rebuild. “

The homeowners didn’t specifically request a green

THESE PAGES: The first step in the design/buildprocess is creating a floor plan that meets the needs

and desires of the homeowner. Next comes the tear-down, where the roof comes off and the workbegins. The floors and interior elements that will berecycled have to be protected from the elementsduring reconstruction. Á After the roof and outsidewalls are removed, the newly-designed second

story begins to take shape.

“People are discovering that it isbetter to revitalizethan to rebuild. “



home. They just wanted a traditional, comfort-

able home where they could raise their fam-

ily. They wanted to get the children upstairs with

their own bedrooms, bathrooms and playroom.

The existing 8-foot ceilings were raised to nearly

10 feet. A stairway was added, along with trim

and elements inside. Crown moldings were

detailed larger than normal, and the down-

stairs powder room became the main focal

point. Built-in cabinetry in the powder room,

designed by Peggy Fuller, ASID/RID#3904, of

By Design Interiors, Inc., has the look of an

antique mahogany piece of furniture, which

fits nicely with the homeowners’ love of

antiques. The tub was replaced with an acces-

sible shower. Some windows were enlarged,

and all were replaced with Low-E (emissivity)

insulated glass with vinyl frames—designed to

be low/no maintenance. All floorings in the

home are wood or tile because of allergies in

the family. The new high-efficency HVAC sys-

tem also helps with allergies.

Other green features include low flow water

fixtures and toilets, centralizing the location of

the water heater and indoor paint stains and

finishes that are low VOC (volatile organic

compounds).

The project, led by Griffin, involved a num-

ber of local NAHB members. “Having long

term relationships with your team is critical to

pulling a project together,” Griffin said. “At one

point, because of weather and other issues,

we were weeks behind on our production

schedule. Everyone on our team understands

THESE PAGES: A spiral staircase connects the downstairs to the new second floor. The family room isdecorated with a mix of old and new furnishings. Á Above left, the small downstairs powder room was

functional but not aesthetically pleasing. Above right, the new antique-look cabinetry makes the powderroom the focal point of the home.


the importance of taking care of the client,

and they all worked beautifully together to help

us deliver the home on time.”

Included in the project were: BMC Select

(cabinetry, doors, millwork); Pella Corporation

(windows and doors); Casas Group (masonry);

Cangelosi (stone); Truss Plumbing (plumbing);

and Ferguson (bathroom accessories and fix-

tures). Interior designer Peggy Fuller, with By

Design Interior, helped the homeowners make

difficult decisions about the interior aesthetics

of the home.

The homeowners are delighted with the

workmanship and quality that went into every

detail of this major transformation. “We are

ending up with a new house essentially, while

maintaining the unique qualities and charac-

ter that made this our home to begin with. The

end result is a top quality home that our family

will enjoy for years to come.”

According to the NAHB Model Green

Homebuilding Guidelines—based on the

national standards—a builder, remodeler

or developer must incorporate a minimum

number of features in the following areas:

energy, water and resource efficiency, lot

and site development, indoor environ-

mental quality and homeowner education.

Some examples are:

•heating, air conditioning and ventilation

must be appropriately sized for an efficient

and properly ventilated home,

•fans in the kitchen and bathrooms should

cycle fresh air inside, and release stale air,

•low-VOC paints and finishes and wall

papers should be used as well.

This project took five months from design to

build out. The result is a newly-remodeled

Certified Green Home. l


Changing an older home into a green home oftentakes minimal effort and expense.

Newly-enlarged, energy-efficient windows bring the outdoors into the home, brightening a previously dark living room. Crown molding and triple-pane windowsgive a dramatic look to the recycled floors and furniture from the original home.


www.ezfloorsonline.com

RemodelerSpecials

UP TO12 MonthsNo InterestFinancing

W.A.C.

$100OFF

Purchase of $1500 or MorePresent at time of purchase.Not valid with any specials.

HandscrapedHardwoods

Installed All Trim Included

$519sq. ft.

GraniteCountertops

Installed, Including 11⁄2 “ Bullnose

$2999sq. ft.

HardwoodSpecial


$479sq. ft.

Carpet

Includes Installation, Padding& Removal of All Carpet

$129sq. ft.

Tile

Includes Installation

$289sq. ft.


$299sq. ft.

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