Remodels, Remodels and Remodels….
Where did the summer go?
Merlin Custom Home Builders kept busy with remodels and water damage repairs. Remodels are a special challenge for builders. We’re never sure what structural, plumbing or electrical problems are hidden behind the walls. Merlin Custom Home Builders’s experience, skills and knowledge means we can guide our clients through a remodel budget process that includes a detailed look at the financial implications involved before we start the work. Once costs are understood and we have a budget, we rebuild the home with the fine craftsmanship for which Merlin Custom Home Builders is known.
The custom home in Mt. Charleston – a quick 45 minute drive from the Las Vegas heat – is progressing on schedule. This homeowner has been involved in the build process from early planning to the latest details. He helped jackhammer rocks during excavation, nailed studs as walls went up, and discussed the fine points of construction methods and materials with trade contractors. Our team enjoys working with a homeowner who has such a positive outlook, and doesn’t mind getting his hands dirty in sharing the experience of making his dream home.
The custom home in MacDonald Highlands is a stunning contemporary home on 2-1/2 acres at one of the highest lots in Las Vegas overlooking the entire Valley and our famous Strip. It’s nearing completion, on time and in budget. Our homeowner trusted the design team to deliver a home that takes full advantage of these views while keeping the home energy efficient. We started up the innovative gas fired chillers to cool the house last month, and along with the 30kw solar panel system, this home was designed to deliver great energy savings. At each visit, our homeowner compliments the craft hands on their attention to detail. The details absolutely exemplify the artistry and craftsmanship of this contemporary home.
We’ve been awarded the first penthouse build-out at Veer Towers South at City Center. MGM will use this as the show piece to sell the unfinished units at City Center. We’re excited to be a part of this process, working with a world class architect and design team. We’re just months away from starting construction of this amazing project.
These are a few highlights from our busy summer… we welcome the cool autumn days to continue our projects with a little less heat!
Most “green building” conversations emphasize energy efficiency. By contrast, the issue of water — its scarcity, purity, and significance to sustainability — is often overlooked or discounted.
That’s because in North America, we take water for granted; not only is it cheap, it is relatively abundant and clean. But while an average bathtub may hold 40 gallons of water, many people in developing countries survive on 8 gallons of water or less per day. In fact, an estimated 800 million people worldwide lack access to safe water supplies and 3.5 million people die each year from water-related disease.
Domestically, recent seasonal and longer-term droughts in several areas have triggered restrictions and household quotas on water use. In fact, average residential water rates have climbed 10 percent nationwide since 2009.
As a professional custom home builder who looks out for the welfare of our homebuyers and our community, we accommodate requests and comply with all building code requirements to reduce a home’s water consumption.
In many cases, we can use low-flow plumbing fixtures including toilets, faucets, and showerheads, to automatically reduce water use without our homeowners noticing much (if any) difference in their convenience and performance. The latest clothes washers, dishwashers, and water heating systems also use less water (and save energy, too). All of those products are readily available and generally affordable.
But as much as these “embedded” water savings reduce consumption, there is more that we can do. We encourage homeowners to keep their water use in check with some simple changes to their lifestyle habits.
One easy way to save water at home is to limit your showers to no more than 10 minutes and avoid filling the bathtub unless absolutely necessary. Turn off the bathroom faucet while brushing your teeth or shaving.
In addition, homeowners can save water by running only full loads of laundry and dishes. If you have to hand-wash some dishes in the kitchen, fill one basin with soapy water (to clean/scrub) and another with clear water (to rinse) rather than continuously running the faucet.
As much as those lifestyle adjustments can reduce water inside your home, making some changes outside can be even more impactful. Easy stuff, such as using a broom instead of a garden hose to clean off your driveway or patio and washing your car less often (or at a carwash which recycles its water) can save hundreds of gallons of water a year.
But the real culprit of outdoor water waste is landscaping, and especially turf grass areas. If you can adjust or replace your lawn sprinklers with more targeted, rotating heads that limit overspray and set up a drip irrigation system for trees and shrubs, you’ll see a significant reduction in your water use.
With that, consider putting your irrigation system on a timer and setting it to run in the early morning to reduce evaporation.
You can also buy and install small rainwater catchment systems from a home improvement or hardware store, which can be used for seasonal flower beds or hanging plants instead of using potable water for those needs.
With so many areas in the developing world so desperate for clean, healthy drinking water, and our costs continuing to rise, can we afford to take water for granted?
Warm Regards,
Steve Jones & Bart Jones
Merlin Custom Home Builders
6408 S. Arville Street
Las Vegas, NV 89118
702.257.8102 – Phone