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Phoenix Custom Home Builders

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Rust: A Timely Look for Your Home

Rusted Trellises add a timely look to this home improvement project.Everyone loves the aged homely look of rusted metal, whether it be for home improvement or even on classic vehicles. In this case, we had three steel trellises for a project home in Phoenix, and the owners wanted a classic rust look. However, the ones we had were brand new and it would have taken a few weeks or maybe even months. If you’re desiring this look immediately this recipe is for you!

 

Let’s start with a shopping list. Surprisingly this effect is relatively cheap and quick to make. You might even have the ingredients around the house. For simplicity, I went to Walmart and they had everything I needed in one place, nonetheless any local hardware store should have these items in stock.

 

You will need:

  • 1 spray bottle of degreaser (I used Purple Power but any will do)
  • 1 bottle of white vinegar
  • 1 bottle of hydrogen peroxide
  • Table salt
  • 1 spray bottle
  • Fine grit sandpaper (optional)

 

Procedures

Now that we have our ingredients let’s begin by prepping the metal for the spray. It’s best to do this outside, preferably in the sun; I placed them on my gravel driveway and doing so left no mess. (DO THIS AWAY FROM METALS YOU DO NOT WANT TO RUST, IT MAY JEOPARDIZE THE INTEGRITY OF THE METAL)

 

Once the metal is dry, use the degreaser. Make sure to use it extensively, because any oil left on the surface will prolong the rusting process. Let the degreaser sit until it’s dry. Then we can take the spray bottle and fill it with vinegar and cover the metal completely. You don’t need to let the vinegar dry to move on to the next step.

 

I used the leftover vinegar in the spray bottle, (it was about ¼ full), and mixed in the hydrogen peroxide and left some out to add salt. I added about 4 tbsp of salt, but these amounts are not required or specific, as long as there is a considerable amount of each inside. Now we spray the metal with the mixture and you should be able to see some results immediately. The peroxide will act as a catalyst and begin to foam. This reaction will oxidize the metal immediately turning it red. It doesn’t look like it but this is rust. Keep spraying to make sure you get full coverage, but leave enough of the mixture to continue for a couple of more times. After the initial spray let it dry by air.

DIY Rusted steel trellises.

 

Final Touches

After drying, you will notice an aged and rusty look; you can stop here because the results are inevitable. But to insure that the look lasted for the meantime I continued to spray and let the metal dry about 4 or 5 more times. Each time you should notice the rust effect is getting better with each spray.

 

If you are getting areas that are not rusting, try sanding it down and spraying it with the mixture again until it does begin to rust. After it begins to look how you desire let it dry completely. (NOTE, this rust may look legit, but it is delicate and light, and may rub off easily. However, it will rust in the end.)
Grab a pair of gardening gloves to protect your hands, and place your metal object where desired, and enjoy your newly aged home accent that is sure to impress!

Custom aged look with DIY Rusted Trellises.

Exploring Trends: Waterfall Countertops

As a custom home builder one of our goals is to deliver just that – a custom home. Nonetheless, trends heavily influence the various features of our homes. One such trend is know as “waterfall” countertops. Below you will find a picture of one such countertop:

Custom Kitchen Remodel with waterfall countertops

While we love this look, we have heard mixed opinions about this style. And although this look will not compliment every home, it certainly makes a statement in the right setting. Let’s take a look at some of the Pros and Cons of this trendy style.

Pros

  1. The sides of your cabinet are more resilient and require minimal upkeep. Scratches commonly occur on wood cabinetry, where as a quartz or marble “waterfall” does not scratch easily.
  2. The look will grab the attention of your guests. It is a trend, yet it is still obscure enough to impress friends, family and neighbors alike. The whole area will appear well-framed and sleek by this selection.
  3. The style is supportive of modern flare, but can also tie into more rustic interiors. Additionally, your interior designer will be able to help you determine if a piece like this will work in your space.
Custom home remodel in Phoenix

Cons

  1. The more material used, the more expensive the project becomes. As you may have guessed, this style brings a higher cost. It can cost over twice the amount for standard countertops on larger jobs.
  2. Additionally, having outlets becomes more difficult when the surface is a thicker – not to mention in stone. Adding this feature will not cost more on the electrical side, but there might be a fee for cutting the stone. The appearance of an outlet on the vertical slab can be undesirable if the slab and outlet cover have conflicting colors. A basic white cover usually will not cause a problem, but it is certainly something to plan out beforehand.

Ultimately, it really doesn’t matter what anybody else thinks about the style. Since it is your home, and you should let your style show. Rustic, modern, contemporary, eclectic; whatever it may be, it is beautiful because it is yours. One of the most amazing parts of building custom homes is how the same design element can turn out completely unique in each home.

Live edge wood, waterfall countertop

Solar Roofing: Impact on Luxury Home Building

Tesla's Solar roof on a luxury home.

All politics aside, it is clear that if renewable energy were affordable, it would be a great investment. Since the early years of electronics, sourcing the power has been an integral factor in everything from design to functionality. Often as a child I would look at a little solar powered calculator that converted the light from the classroom into energy. A few minutes exposed to the light and it worked like a charm. I remember thinking, “Why don’t we have cars that use this technology?” As years have gone by such a thought is not only possible, but simple. The only problem is the cost of such revolutionary technology.

However, for those of us that for whatever reason find ourselves drawn to solar power, Elon Musk of Tesla announced a potential solution: the solar roof. An elegantly simple concept really; use the otherwise useless surface area of the roof of a home to produce electricity. And instead of installing solar panels after construction, maintain beauty by building with roof tiles that contain photo-voltaic cells. A roof with as many solar cells as there are tiles would be able go off the grid entirely.

Tesla’s vision is to have homes completely self-powered by solar roofs and connected to batteries to store and renew energy. But how is this any different? Won’t you run into the same cost issue as before? Musk suggests that you won’t. In fact, he predicts that the cost to install a solar roof and the savings on your electrical bill, will equate to less than the cost of a standard roof. Musk also assures that the product will last longer and look as good — if not better than — a traditional roof.

Smooth Glass gives this custom home a contemporary lookSolar roof tiles come in all styles to compliment all kinds of custom homes.

Tesla has published no information on the cost of these solar tiles, but this information is anticipated to come in early 2017. Once this information is released it will be interesting to see how much it will cost for the tiles to be installed and who will be installing them. We do know, however, that the “Powerwall 2” — Tesla’s home battery — costs $5,500.

Conclusions

So what does all of this do to the custom home industry? Well, it adds just one more option. Even those who are spending $1.5 million on a custom home do so on a budget. A homeowners often decide whether to buy high-end appliances or the hardwood floors they picked out. Given the opportunity, would you rather save $25,000 initially or buy a roof that will eventually pay for itself? If the roof installed at the time of construction cost 60% more than a traditional roof, would you buy the Tesla solar roof and start saving money after 10 years or so?

Nevertheless, I imagine that many people will wait to see how things pan out before they invest in a product such as this, but how amazing is it that we have the option. Just imagine having your dream home without ever having an electric bill. Let us know on Facebook what you think about this revolution in home building.

We’ll keep you updated on any announcements from Tesla/SolarCity regarding this technology.

 

The Entertainer’s Dream Home For Sale

A custom home built in Queen Creek

Halo Development has been building this lovely Santa Barbara style home in the Pecans community in Queen Creek; and now, it is up for sale. Although the home nears completion, a serious home buyer can still select several finishes.

The picture below is a rendering of this home created prior to changes during the construction process. We selected darker roof tiles, but this image gives a good idea as to how the landscape can turn out. The yard is open, spacious and has several mature pecan trees that the rendering does not display.

Rendering of a custom home in Queen Creek.

Features

Truly, this home is the entertainer’s dream. Every aspect has been developed in conjunction with a Professional Design Team. Upon entering the home, you will find a large Great Room, Dining/Living Room, and an incredibly spacious kitchen. The kitchen has top-of-the-line appliances including a Wolf 48″ range with infrared griddle. This lovely home also features a Media Room with Pool Bath, and a large office with a private entrance. The back patio is so spectacular that you must see-to-believe how grand and amazing it is! Moreover, this home includes: a brick fireplace, exposed beams, dome and barrel ceilings, full arches, arched windows, a giant “drive-thru” Master Shower, rope lighting, pre-plumbing and wiring for central vac and smart home features, and a gas fireplace in the Master.

Furthermore, this is one of the most incredible neighborhoods in Arizona. Each home is immaculate and the community is full of wonderfully friendly people waiting to be your neighbor. Currently, the listed price for this home is $1,050,000. And with a down payment you can choose some of the remaining finishes. Plus, Halo Development will be there during the entire home purchasing process and will see this home through to completion.

Please contact Zack Webster with any inquiries or to schedule a walk-through at 480-528-3020 or email him at zwebster13@gmail.com.

Additionally, to see our finished homes click here or see our houzz page.

Backyard of luxury custom home in Queen Creek, Arizona.

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