Build Drees On Your Lot Division Offers the Best of Both Worlds
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Dallas . Fort Worth | February 2021
Drees
Tim Brown
Build
On Your Lot Division Offers
General Manager of Build on Your Lot
at Drees Custom Homes in DFW the Best of Both Worlds
[from the publisher]
Single close construction loans
•
•
Builder-Friendly Process
Dedicated Construction Lending Division for more than 25 years
“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,”
• New Build or Renovation Loans
may be a risky term in today’s homebuilding industry
• Up to 90% financing available
y o u b u i ld
CONTACT ME TODAY TO LEARN WHY BUILDERS Let us help this year!
REFER THEIR CLIENTS TO COLONIAL:
Tom Perritte, Mortgage Loan Officer
more homes Home builders in the 21st century are expected to have a basic understanding of physics and chemistry to
NMLS 621680
understand the physical behavior of a structure as a whole system and how each element used and how it is
O: 817.282.8892 ext 1620 | C: 214.663.6613
Tom.Perritte@gocolonial.com applied impacts energy efficiency, durability, comfort and indoor air quality.
www.GoColonial.com/TomPerritte
Rates and terms subject to change without notice. This is not a firm offer of credit, or a pre-approval. All applicants are
assessed following a completed application. Colonial National Mortgage is a division of Colonial Savings F.A. NMLS 401285
Mother Nature has her way of proving that corner, vie to get out, get away and get some fresh air…
she is always in charge and ready to challenge maybe even take up the sport of off-roading.
some of our good intentions, like tightly sealing
We hope you find this issue of Building Savvy thought-
a house, that can cause other problems that
provoking and inspiring as you plan for another
early implementers didn’t foresee. We can all
great year of home building in a marketplace where
benefit from what our industry has learned
opportunity is huge, but so are the challenges. Watch
through painful examples of defects and
the big players in the market to stay in tune with
failures, and our study of what has been done
A Division of MLA Labs, Inc.
significant changes ahead in our industry.
to prevent such problems from recurring.
• Foundation Plans
Thanks to our building associations, industry
Both Rebar and Post-tension Beverly and Steve Smirnis
Reinforcing Designs educators and innovative building product
beverly@buildingsavvy.com
manufacturers, we’ve come a long way in our
• Framing Design MLA Geotechnical has drilled over 100,000 steve@buildingsavvy.com
borings, providing over 51 years of data understanding of building science to the point
• Wind Bracing Design on the most expansive and highest (817) 975-7235
where most of us are very confident in saying
• Inspections risk soils in the nation!
that a newly built home is a better built home,
• Energy Code Compliance & Audits Soil Reports • or a home remodeled to today’s standards is
• HERS Rating & Field Testing better than one that’s unrenovated.
Geotechnical Investigations •
MLAW Engineers has designed over 400,000 2021 is a time to check that your products and
single-family residential, multi-family, custom Construction Materials Testing •
practices are up to date with best practices to
homes, and commercial projects. One reason for
our success is the ability to tailor an engineering Third Party Inspections • mitigate risks and deliver the highest quality
program to fit the needs of each builder, general product to your buyers. Begin with a review of
contractor, architect, or owner! Residential Lot Fill Testing (79 G) •
the structural process by reading this month’s
Residential and Commercial Focus Section. But with spring around the
www.mlaw-eng.com One Sto p Sh op 214-687-1736 www.mlageotech.com
Austin • Bryan/College Station • Dallas • Houston • Killeen/Temple/Waco • San Antonio
2 3
[industry news]
Growing home equity bodes well for the remodeling market. NAHB that in 2020, the top 10 builders captured 30% market share of new
reported total private residential construction spending up 16.1% single-family home closings. Comparatively, their share in 1989 was
higher in 2020 than in 2019. The Joint Center for Housing Studies just 8.7%.
Population Increase, High Demand and of Harvard University projections for 2021 show annual home
improvement spending growing from 1 to 13 percent in 42 major
Cities scramble to keep up with others that are more builder
friendly. Through November, the Dallas Builders Association
Low Supply, and Rising Costs of Labor and metropolitan areas, with the largest gains in the more affordable
metro areas in the Sunbelt. But rising home prices have others
estimates that permitting delays prevented Dallas from growing its
tax base by as much as $382 million and kept nearly 800 homes from
worried. The Urban Institute notes concern, however, that today’s
Materials Pose Significant Changes to the young adults who choose to rent or simply can’t afford to buy are
failing to build housing wealth, the largest single source of wealth for
being built. Immediate action to reduce the time in order to be on par
with other cities’ normal two to three week turnaround time is to allow
DFW Housing Market
representatives from Stantec, SAFEbuilt and Metrocode to assist the
previous generations.
City of Dallas with plan reviews. The city council approved a proposal
The Dallas Business Journal interviewed John Sebastian of for third party plan review, approving a $5 million, two year measure
Sebastian Construction Group, which builds at the highest end of bringing the three private sector vendors online with capacity to
the construction spectrum. He said that in the luxury sector, $300 process between 60 to 100 plans per day.
per square foot was a good budget to work with not so long ago.
Sebastian said that rose to $700 per foot two years ago and is now at Cities scramble to keep up with others that are more builder
$1,000 per foot. But that doesn’t mean that builders are making the friendly. Through November, the Dallas Builders Association
money, he said. The increase is due the steady increases in labor due estimates that permitting delays prevented Dallas from growing its
to the labor shortage, and the cost of materials. tax base by as much as $382 million and kept nearly 800 homes
from being built. Immediate action to reduce the time in order to be
on par with other cities’ normal
two to three week turnaround
time is to allow representatives
Brick masons earned an average of $39,291 in 2014, increasing to $64,730 from Stantec, SAFEbuilt and
H
Half a million people a year move to Texas with the
in 2017, the most significant increase example on a chart showing Metrocode to assist the City of
largest numbers coming from California, Florida,
Dallas with plan reviews. The city
Louisiana, Illinois, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Georgia
average annual wages of construction specialty trade contractors in Texas
council approved a proposal for
and Arizona, according to a recently released report produced by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. According to McKinsey’s third party plan review, approving
for the Texas Realtors Association. 200,000 of them “The Next Normal In Construction” analysis (June 2020), 41% of the a $5 million, two year measure
came from outside the U.S. Florida and Tennessee current US construction workforce is expected to retire by 2031. bringing the three private sector
vendors online with capacity to
ranked just behind the Lone Star State for relocation.
process between 60 to 100 plans
Core Logic reported that Dallas-Fort Worth had more
per day.
new single family home closings in 2020 than the
entire state of California. Zillow analysts say the Other major factors driving up the price of newly constructed homes Buyers invest in still affordable communities. While Frisco
North Texas housing market gained $38 billion in are the fact some building materials have doubled and tripled from led the nation in 2020 new home construction permits with 2,445
a year ago, the lack of available developed lots, and regulations and residential permits issue last year and Celina was a close second
value last year.
fees on the housing industry. place, buyers seeking better prices are looking at communities that
have typically not been big growth areas in the recent past. There,
January 2021 sales were the largest ever for the first month of the they may find what remains left in affordable home prices. The
year, further tightening home supplies and fueling price increases.
Changes Caused by the Affordability Crisis. personal finance website SmartAsset ranked the top 50 U.S. cities
Homes sold in an average of 42 days and median home sale prices where homebuyers under age 35 are most commonplace. The only
in January were $285,000. By the end of January, only about 7,800 DFW city made it into the top 10 was Mesquite, ranking fourth with
single-family homes were listed with area real estate agents. That’s National builders gain market share. Better access to credit a 45.5 percent homeownership rate among residents younger than
one of the lowest supplies of homes for sale in North Texas in decades, from their own balance sheets, economies of scale in land and 35. Mesquite’s median home value of just $129,100 was the primary
and more than 60% less inventory from a year ago, according to the material purchases as well as advertising and land holdings give reason. Garland ranked 17th on the list and Fort Worth was number
Texas Real Estate Research Center and North Texas Real Estate publicly-traded building companies many advantages. NAHB reports 36.
Information Systems. More than two dozen North Texas counties
reported less than a one-month supply of houses listed for sale.
4 5
[Training Tomorrow’s Workforce]
Built-To-Rent communities are on the rise. Calling the New Ways to Build are being explored.
single-family rental market one of the fastest-growing real estate Some say that technology designed to
The Future Won’t
segments, David Weekley Homes formed a new subsidiary, ICB improve the efficiency of the homebuilding
Construction LLC and is partnering with with Arlington-based ECM process is the answer to building homes for
Development to build rental house projects in the Dallas-Fort Worth the affordable market. Manufactured and
area. Echelon at Reverchon Bluffs community is being built on West modular homes constructed offsite, or built
Davis Street in Oak Cliff. The project will include 82 detached houses in a controlled environment not subject to
Build Itself
ranging from 1,574 to 2,166 square feet. The gated community outside elements, have benefits including a
includes a swimming pool and outdoor common areas. The houses faster process leading to lower costs, better
will have garages and small yards. ECM Development is building 61 energy efficiency and minimized waste. The
two-, three- and four-bedroom homes in a community at a public nation’s first 3-D-printed houses are making
park in downtown Arlington and another Arlington project, Eden waves.
Terrace , will have 120 detached rental homes in a gated community
with a clubhouse, fitness center and a pool near the River Legacy Continually escalating lumber prices may The Skilled Labor Fund, managed by the National Housing Endowment (a 501(c)(3) Foundation), and Ammunition, the Fund’s
Park north of Interstate 30.. open the door to other framing alternatives. Agency-of-Record, have launched a new creative campaign, titled “The Future Won’t Build Itself.” The new campaign’s
The American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) messaging seeks to (1) increase awareness of the need to get more people engaged in and interested in the trades and (2)
Yet another California move to Texas is that of AHV Communities, had been working to simplify and streamline raise funds to increase awareness of and training for the skilled trades to middle school, high school and vocational students
which recently relocated its California headquarters to San Antonio. the cold-formed steel provisions in the
across the United States.
Like most other housing sectors in Texas, the single-family built-for- International Residential Code (IRC) in hopes
rent construction market is expected to grow. Unlike most single- of making them more user-friendly. AISI has
family rental developers that turn existing homes into rentals or developed a survey to obtain feedback from
February marks NAHB’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) residential construction degree are eligible to apply. Texas Builders
purchase homes in bulk from builders, AHV Communities builds its builders and other industry professionals
Month,® a public awareness campaign to address the issues of Foundation fall 2021 scholarship applications are now available on
communities from the ground up for rental, with maintenance and on possible options moving forward. Steel
labor shortages. Educational initiatives within CTE include programs texasbuildersfoundation.org and due by April 30, 2021.
management on site as well as amenities such as pools and fitness framing currently has less than a 1 percent
where builders host students for a day at their place of business so
centers. AHV’s monthly rents are competitive with luxury apartment market share.
they can experience real-world examples of careers in action. Other
units. The San Antonio Business Journal reports that AHV has activities include Career Exploration Panels to highlight rewarding job
built more than a dozen communities along the I-35 corridor from opportunities available in residential construction. Equipment drives
Austin to San Antonio and plans to boost the company’s growth for donations to secondary and post-secondary institutions were also
further east. Eight AHV communities and 1,500 rental units are held, encouraging donations to give students access to appropriate
under development in all four major Texas metro areas, as well as in Read the latest issues and hot topic posts.
instruments for their future career fields. Some builders took part in
Seattle, Southern California, Denver and Nashville. Sign up for the Building Savvy newsfeed.
a Teach-In Week with lesson plans designed to create excitement for
Connect to our Social Media. middle school students about technical career pathways.
Quartz & Natural Stone Countertops This Plus More is All On
Working with Texas builders and community leaders to enhance or
Serving the DFW area TheSavvyList.com
add residential construction trades programs to high schools and
colleges across the state is one of the primary motives of the Texas
Builders Foundation, the charitable arm of the Texas Association of
Builders.
In Texas, occupations that require an Associate Degree or vocational
certification pay an average of more than $37,000 a year compared
to the average pay of less than $25,000 for those with only a high
(214) 957-8077 ajoyofgranite.com school diploma or less, thus prompting the Foundation to offer college
scholarships. Students who have been accepted or are enrolled in a
Texas technical/trade school or community college/university and
are pursuing a residential construction related trade certification or
6 7
and heat over the whole roof. Then, the control layer for rain on the roof
should be connected to the control layer for rain on the wall, the control
[focus section] If the insulation is placed on the inside of the structure, it fails to
protect the structure itself from heat and cold. Thus, the control layers layer for air on the roof connected to the control layer for air on the wall,
should be located on the outside of the structure in order to protect etc., to form one continuous protective shell over the entire structure.
the structure, says BSC. The “Perfect Wall” concept entails keeping Rather than risk the wall “recipe” being built just right and in a timely
the structure of a building within the conditioned envelope. manner, especially when the skilled labor force is still in short supply,
some builders are taking a harder look at alternatives to stick-built
framing. Rising lumber prices are another reason to explore alternatives.
In theory, there should be four control layers—the water control
Ready-to-install Structural Insulation Panel (SIPs) wall panels are made by
layer, the air control layer, the vapor control layer, and the thermal
bonding a sheet material — most commonly OSB— onto both sides of an
control layer—so that they wrap the building outside of the structural
expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam core. By themselves, these materials
components. For example, one way of controlling air and vapor
are not strong enough to support loads, but once they’re made into panels
would be applying a fluid-applied membrane system to the wall
they can be used for structural elements like walls, roofs, and floors.
sheathing. Thermal control is achieved by adding insulation to the
Building with Insulated Concrete Form (ICF) blocks filled with concrete
Structural Integrity
wall exterior. Claddings are not only an aesthetic choice. They also
to form the entire perimeter wall system is another option. But the fact
function as the water control layer and can act as an ultra-violet
remains that wood still makes the most sense for most builders and their
screen.
buyers, with over 90% of the homes built in the U.S. constructed with
Starts With the Frame, But
But building a perfect wall involves more than just sealing everything timber.
up as tight as possible. Moisture vapor movement through walls
The key to staying current on construction practices is an appetite for
occurs naturally, so it is important to design wall systems that can
Relies on “Control Layers”
continuous improvement. Savvy builders make it their mission to stay
manage moisture vapor. The goal is for the assembly to dry both
tuned to building science and open to new ideas while carefully vetting the
inwards from the control layers—and also to dry outwards from
cost and viability of alternative products and techniques.
the control layers. Vapor-impermeable exterior wall sheathing,
By Beverly & Steve Smirnis (insulating sheathing products) can slow the process even trapping
moisture in the wall cavity and should never be used on the inside of
Beverly Smirnis is the co-founder of Building Savvy
Light structural lumber milled from softwood trees (spruce, fir and pine) that are the assembly.
magazine and publishes its flagship Dallas/Fort
sawn and machine-planed to standard dimensions (2x4”, 2x6”, 2x8”, etc.) remains There’s also the control layers on the roof structure to consider. Worth edition. She and her business partner and
the material mainly used for construction of single family homes. Engineered BSC’s “Perfect Roof is sometimes referred to as an “inverted roof” husband, Steve Smirnis, have served as judges for the
posts and beams are commonly used for residential roof framing but are more since the rainwater control layer is under the insulation and roof International Builders’ Show Best of IBS Awards and
and more being used for structural framing particularly where wide spans are cladding. For example, underlayment is attached to the sheathing, judged numerous homes for builders association parade
hen we think of a home’s structure, needed. The added costs incurred by using engineered wood members can then topped with insulation, and then clad with the material of events across the country.
we first think of lumber. Wood frame often be recouped in labor cost savings; framers spend less time installing them choice, creating a continuous layer that controls water, air, vapor
construction remains an economical and sustainable and because the engineering beams are made with openings left for wires and
choice for residential construction for several reasons. pipes to pass through them, there are savings in time and labor costs later from
Properly managed forestry practices make wood a electricians and plumbers.
From entry level to the highest
renewable resource. Structural lumber reaching the end, you'll find it at North Texas'
Controlling moisture is fundamental to the proper functioning of any structure,
lumber yards today is more “on grade” than in years past largest independently owned
and it starts with the framing. In general, framing lumber with a moisture content
thanks to improved inspection processes which require appliance dealer.
up to 14% is considered acceptable. As long as the material is not carelessly
lumber producers to rate every piece of lumber as it is
handled at a yard or jobsite, it will dry out fine in a normal building cycle. The
produced, and “graders” are closely monitored by regional
Journal of Light Construction warns that fast construction schedules can
4 Tarrant Country locations
inspection groups. TEXASAPPLIANCE.COM (and worth the drive from surrounding areas)
contribute to callback problems when the house framing isn’t given adequate time
Arlington Showroom Forth Worth Showroom Hurst Showroom Arlington Outlet Showroom
Engineered lumber products make use of short pieces of to dry on its own before wall and ceiling finishes are installed. To avoid callbacks 1500 I-20 East 4786 Hulen Park Dr. 840 Airport Freeway 3401 W. Pioneer Parkway
(at S. Collins) I-20 & S. Hulen (at Precinct Line Rd) Arlington, TX 76013
wood that would otherwise end up in a landfill, making such as nail pops, drywall cracks, and open trim miters caused by moisture Arlington, TX 76018 Forth Worth, TX 76132 Hurst, TX 76054 817-299-2800
817-299-2800 817-299-2800 817-299-2800
them a good ecological choice; furthermore, glulam issues in the framing lumber, the Forest Products Lab recommends checking
products, created by gluing the thin pieces of solid wood We are the largest independently-owned local appliance dealer in North Texas.
the moisture content in about 10% of the framing as good practice before interior
together, are larger, straighter, more stable and easier finish and trim is installed.
to align. Advances in technology with engineered wood Unique appliance outlet catering to
But there is more to a wall, of course, than just the frame. The Building Science homebuilders, remodelers and home-flippers
now make wood a viable substitute for steel, so we’re
Corporation (BSC) calls the perfect wall an “environmental separator.” To keep the
now seeing more use of wood even in commercial Appliances at all price ranges
outside out and the inside in, the wall assembly has to control water, air, vapor and all the way to the highest-end brand names.
construction.
heat.
8 9
Tried and True Plans Ready To Go
[savvy builder] Behind the scenes of every major national builder is a team of experienced designers who have
So what has made buyers in the
designed a library of floorplans that have been tried and tested. Production builders know which
Park Cities and Hockaday Estates plans are best-sellers and exactly why that is so. This also means that any flaws that might arise
Production Versus Custom areas of Dallas, and established
West Fort Worth and Las Colinas
with a new plan have already been worked out. The Drees Build on Your Lot division of Drees
offers award-winning floor plans in DFW, priced from the $380s to over $1M (not including the
neighborhoods decide to build price of the lot). Their buyers enjoy the flexibility to modify the plan, add options and choose
Building— With Drees Build On Your Lot custom homes with Drees? from a wide variety of interior and exterior finishes—all in less time and at a fraction of the cost
of starting from scratch with a custom designed and built home. A plan that has already cleared
approval by local building authorities can also mean getting a building permit is faster and easier.
Program, Buyers Can Now Enjoy Benefits of Both Processes Designed To Save Time and Money, Avoid Mistakes and Surprises
Buyers benefit from the well-defined processes and buying power that a national builder brings
By Beverly Smirnis to the table. Potential buyers can visit a Drees model home to explore floor plans in person.
They can also use the Interactive Floor Plan tool on dreehomes.com to select a plan and review
options. The interactive tool allows them to make notes, place furniture, add
outlets and lights, and personalize selections from a vast array of pre-priced
options. Before making a final decision about which plan best suits their
needs, they can usually visit a model home with a similar design.
Next, Build on Your Lot clients are scheduled for two four-hour sessions with
the expert Drees Design Consultants at the one-stop Design Center. The Drees
team will guide buyers through the selections process. In DFW, the center is
centrally located just off State Hwy 161 in Irving. Drees Design Consultants
are equally experienced as the floorplan designers; having a pulse on the latest
styles and products and evaluating their long-term staying-power is vital in
the world of production building. The staff at the Design Center also includes
home technology experts versed at working with clients to determine their
wiring and home tech needs. Build on Your Lot clients can not only make all
their selections under one roof, but also benefit from Drees’ volume pricing
discounts that are passed along to them.
B
There are pros and cons in building with a uild on Your Lot means buyers can now build a new home with Drees outside its
“production” builder versus a custom builder. The existing Drees communities—on land they already own, in custom communities
Drees Build on Your Lot program was started in or in infill neighborhoods. The custom home program was rolled in Dallas-Fort
2007 to offer clients the best of both worlds. Worth in 2010, joining a network that now includes Build on Your Lot divisions in Austin,
Houston, greater Cincinnati, greater Cleveland, Indianapolis, Nashville, and Raleigh.
The Drees DFW Design Center
10 11
[savvy trucks & toys]
Off-Roading Promises
Fun and Adventure for Drivers,
Firm Contract Pricing
Opportunity for Automakers and the
Whether the client already owns a lot or needs help finding a site on
which to build the home they have designed, guidance and support
Tourism Industry
from an experienced team is available to them every step of the way. By Beverly & Steve Smirnis
Drees provides free site analysis to evaluate what improvements a
home site might need, such as tree clearing, utilities and grading.
Drees also buys the lot so buyers don’t have to take on a second loan,
and finances construction so buyers don’t need a construction loan.
A final step in the design process is a meeting held at the home site,
where the builder and client review all site features and address any
concerns involved with starting construction. Then, clients meet for a
final plan review with their builder. The process of making changes to
the plan and making all selections before ground breaks means that demonstrates how to use the various home systems, and offers tips
contract pricing is firm. There are no surprises. on how to maintain their home.
Permits are applied for and issued, and construction begins. The Tim Brown, General Manager of Build on Your Lot at Drees Custom
process is efficient and concise. Clients are scheduled for a Pre- Homes in DFW says they have completed over 50 of On Your Lot
Drywall Review to be assured that their home is being built just as homes locally since the launch of the program and anticipates to
they ordered it and address any questions they have prior to drywall complete about 20 in 2021. Brown heads the DFW team which
being placed. Then, about eight days before closing, a warranty also includes Market Manager, Tonya McNair, who manages Drees’
representative will inspect the home to ensure all construction custom projects in Dallas, Rockwall, and Collin counties and Market
items are complete. Just before closing, clients meet their warranty Manager Maureen Farris who oversees Tarrant, Parker and Denton
representative who provides them details about the 10-year counties. Brown says Drees’ activity is not limited to these counties.
Transferrable Structural Warranty Drees provides on every home, The custom home division is poised to build in the surrounding growth
areas in response to demand. « 2021 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon »
W
“Most builders are good at one or two things, but at Drees we herever you reside in Texas, you’re not far from adventure. Rocky Ridge
have a reputation for doing it all, be it quality construction, stylish Ranch near Denton is a 650-acre private facility featuring steep hill climbs,
Driving off road blends both the adventure of
stream crossings and jumps in wooded and open settings. Houstonites
design customer service or financial savvy,” said Brown, noting driving and the beauty of nature. Off-roading
can find 60 miiles of trails across more than 700 acres of piney woods at
that Drees consistently receives both national and regional is expected to be an industry worth $28 billion
General Sam’s ATV and Off-Road Park in Huntsville.
industry recognition for quality and excellence in construction, by 2024, promising a lucrative tourism market
business and sales practices. “This has translated well in for struggling rural areas as more and more Head south to drive the sand beaches near Galveston and Freeport at Crystal Beach,
growing our custom divisions across the country, and DFW is organized groups and driving clubs begin to Follett’s Island Beach, Quintana Beach, Surfside Beach. Lost Highway 87 or Metagroa
poised to be a huge contributor to its success.” form. Beach. There’s also 120-miles of beach driving on the Padre Island National Seashore in
Corpus Christi.
12 13
disconnectable front stabilizer bar, Fox
shock absorbers, rock rails, skid plates, and
The Barnwell Mountain Recreational Area is located high atop the 2021 Ram 1500 TRX is both an on- and off-road truck. a two-speed transfer case for better off-
Barnwell Mountains of East Texas near Gilmer, TX. The historic Behind Ram’s ability to tout the TRX as “the ultimate road gearing. Our tester was loaded up with
“Big Thicket” was once over a million acres that provided a perfect go-anywhere performance vehicle” is TRX’s thicker leather, premium LED lighting, premium audio,
place to hide out for fugitives. There are also tales of swamp frame adding six more inches of width over the standard all the safety group stuff, a hardtop headliner,
ghosts and spirits that haunt the trails you can drive along there. 1500 and sporting more high-strength steel for off- Ram’s Trail Rail™ system, and a spray-in
road jumps. The engineering team also designed new bedliner with a price tag of $67k.
Some of the most spectacular driving opportunities can be found
axles and incorporated Bilstein Black Hawk e2 adaptive
in West Texas in and around Big Bend National Park. Black Gap But off-roading isn’t just for hardcore driving
dampers, dual air intakes and custom 35-inch all-terrain
Road is a Jeep Badge of Honor Trail. Other off-road trails with enthusiasts or limited to trucks. The sport is
tires for their new beast, and powered it with FCA’s 6.2
scenic views of the Chisos Mountain Range and wide-open vistas one that caters to family time too. There is a
liter supercharged V-8 Hellcat engine to give it 702hp
of the Chihuahuan Desert include Christmas Mountain, the Dagger Jeep solution for every type of driver, and the
and 650 lb-ft of torque. The result is a truck that is a
Flat Auto Trail, Old Maverick Road, Old Ore Road, Paint Gap Road, Jeep heritage is something that sets the bar
desert plaything, a capable off-roader and a surprisingly
River Road, Glenn Springs Road and Grapevine Hills Road. Near for all off-roaders.
comfortable city driver all in one. « 2021 Jeep Cherokee Latitude LUX »
El Paso, Kermit Sand Hills and Red Sands feature drivable dunes
Surprising people with its off-road prowess, the Kia Telluride has earned a ton of attention and
Let’s say you are just the occasional off-roader
awards from the top auto reviewers. Kia’s largest SUV has three rows and seats up to eight
who also like to luxe it up a little in the city
passengers with a luxurious cabin, smooth ride and abundant technology and safety features
without blowing the budget. A Jeep Cherokee
that rival the more established brands in the large luxury SUV segment. Telluride’s standard
with new top-of-the-line Latitude Lux trim
3.8-liter V6 gets 291 horsepower with 262 lb-ft of torque and is paired to an eight-speed
might be the way to go.
automatic transmission. Off-roaders will want to opt for the all-wheel drive system that locks to
enhance grip; underbody skid plates are also added to the AWD. With AWD and the SX Prestige
Package adding premium leather upholstery and heated and ventilated second-row seats
Our tester had the standard 3.2-liter V6 engine
on top of the already premium SX features plus a towing package, the delivered price on the
putting out 271 hp and 239 lb-ft torque and
Telluride we test drove was $49K.
upgraded comfort, convenience and sound
packages at a delivered price of $36,355 while Hardcore or newbie, there couldn’t be a better time to join the weekend warriors in the sport
offering the same excellent off-road ability of off-roading! The competition to build off-road vehicles more capable than the competitors’
and maximum towing capacity as the Grand while making them safer for any level of driver to be able to scale a cliff side means more
Cherokee, its higher priced sibling. driving fun for all!
« 2021 2021 Kia Telluride »
“
up to 20 miles wide. The Texas Panhandle has trails along the The Jeep Gladiator is classified as a midsize pickup, but
Canadian River and Lake Meredith that attract off-roaders. it’s more like a Jeep Wrangler with a 5-foot cargo bed
than it is like any other pickup. We had the pleasure of Beverly & Steve Smirnis are members of the
A look at the line-ups of auto manufacturers across the board
driving the 2021 Gladiator Rubicon 4x4 with a diesel- Texas Auto Writers Association and the Texas
shows that they are well aware of the off-roading craze. Which
powered turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 (260 hp, 442 lb-ft) and Motor Press Association, reviewing vehicles and
vehicle you decide to purchase for your off-roading habit depends
8-speed manual transmission. Its suite of standard off- casting their votes at driving events where the
on a number of factors, but the bottom line is, there is a choice for
road features include a 4.10 rear axle ratio for increased Truck of Texas, Car of Texas and Off-Road Truck
any and all.
towing and off-road capability, 33-inch all-terrain tires, of Texas are some of the titles awarded. Follow
Named the 2021 Off-Road Pickup Truck of Texas by the Texas
Auto Writer’s Association and MotorTrend’s Truck of the Year, the
fenders with increased clearance, locking front and rear
differentials, electronically «The authors of this column were among the journalists first to drive the
2021 Ram 1500 TRX, helping Ram to earn the coveted 2021 Truck of Texas
their automotive blog on TheSavvyList.com/
TheSavvyDriver
“
title awarded by the Texas Auto Writer’s Association each year.»
14 15
The ground floor includes a three-car garage, a guest bedroom with an
[Savvy Special Report] ensuite bath and office, and a dog room. Take the floating spiral staircase
or use Garaventa’s home elevator to access the other floors. The second
floor is the dedicated owner’s suite, with a large master bedroom and
a spa bath that connects to a boutique walk-in closet. A lounge with a
walk-out balcony, the main laundry room, and an exercise room with its
own ensuite bath are also found on the second floor. Soaring 14’ ceilings
are found throughout the third floor, built for home entertainment with a
great room, music niche, and state-of-the-art kitchen featuring Signature
Kitchen Suite appliances; Plato and Wellborn cabinetry, Kohler plumbing
fixtures, and LG Hausys quartz countertops are featured throughout the
home.
A large outside terrace with a summer kitchen overlooks the treetops
from the top floor. It features a Struxure louvered roof system, Phantom
Screen retractable motorized screens, a Fire Magic Black Diamond grill,
and Brown Jordan Elements cabinetry with Cosentino Dekton tops.
The construction team members say that the process of building this system constantly monitors the indoor air quality within the
year’s New American Home during the pandemic taught them a host of home and automatically activates the system to bring fresh air
in and pull out VOCs, fine particulate matter, carbon dioxide, and
new things and further sharpened their skills on tried-and-true materials
humidity when levels go below normal.
and methods and opened their eyes to the capabilities of the industry’s
most advanced new building products. Mitsubishi’s Ducted Mini-Split HVAC system operates in tandem
with the Cosmos system and LG rooftop solar panels earn the
home a Green Building Certification. The system has no HVAC
Concrete masonry units were used to build the structural shell. Laticrete
air handler closets, thus freeing up more available living space,
Many “Firsts” for The 2021 MVIS Air & Water Barrier was spray-applied directly to the CMUs to create
a seamless barrier that a variety of cladding finishes can be directly
which is a huge bonus in urban development. Using short-run,
low-profile ductwork, the horizontal-ducted units are hidden
applied to. Not only does the Laticrete product block moisture vapor
above in the ceilings with drywall access panels allowing easy
International Builders Show (IBSx) and water, but it’s also nonflammable, low-VOC, and contains Microban
antimicrobial technology. Prosoco R-Guard FastFlash was used to create
accessibility. The system automatically changes between cooling
and heating modes to maintain consistent temperatures.
a durable, weathertight seal at critical junctures where dissimilar materials
and its 2021 New American Home® meet.
Other products used to achieve the home’s ultimate energy efficiency
Other innovative products used for the home include Sharkbite’s
EvoPEX push-to-connect plumbing system and their new
StreamLabs Control smart water shut-off valve, and OmegaFlex’s
rating include Fi-Foil FlexFoam, installed behind the drywall furring strips
TracPipe CounterStrike flexible gas piping with its AutoSnap
on the inside of the perimeter masonry walls. Next, a layer of Fi-Foil’s
fitting. Enovative Group’s AutoHot hot water recirculation
The 2021 New American he three-level 2021 New American Home is a noticeable departure from Kean’s 2017 and 2012
T
M-Shield was added for extra insulation. On the frame walls, Demilec
system will work with the Rinnai tankless water heaters to
Home,™ built for the 2021 New American Homes. The differences are not only limited to the fact that most of the visitors spray foam insulation topped with Fi-Foil’s HY-Fi hybrid insulation system.
provide on-demand hot water throughout the home. Eaton smart
to the home toured it, and the rest of NAHB’s International Builders Show, virtually. Another
International Builders Show HY-Fi works together with traditional mass insulation to increase thermal fixtures are featured throughout from the outlet receptacles to
difference lies in the fact that previous New American Homes, built by Kean and other superstar builders
in Orlando was the third resistance by adding reflective insulation that is designed to reduce the circuit panels and Control 4 takes the smart house to an
over the past 38 years, typically sprawl across generously sized lots in luxurious suburban single-family
New American Home built radiant heat transfer. It achieves a higher overall R-value while reducing ultimate level.
home neighborhoods.
by Phil Kean Design Group. the amount of traditional insulation required. Demilec was also used in
The 2021 New American Home is part of an urban luxury development of seven high-end custom attached between the floor systems and attic space to ensure a very insulated shell
Kean was also the contractor
and detached townhomes built on a redeveloped parcel of land in Winter Park, Florida. More than 100 prior to drywall. Finally, Aerobarrier, an innovative air sealing technology,
for the 2020 New American restaurants and shops are within walkable distance, and a commuter rail station is half a mile away. What Visit tnah.com to takes a guided virtual tour of the finished 2021
was used to seal around the air ducts and vents.
Remodel last year in Las can’t sprawl goes vertical this year. Each floor of the 5,536 square foot detached townhome offers a unique New American Home and view in-progress construction videos.
A Panasonic Cosmos Healthy Home System helps maintain a healthy
Vegas. living experience.
indoor air environment. Using carefully placed sensors, the Cosmos
16 17
[Savvy Idea Home Update]
Moen sites a “green kitchen trend.”
Final Tweaks to A
As we first announced last November, the 2021 Building
Savvy Idea Home is now under construction in Midway
Hollow. At press time, the existing home on the lot
the Plan ’ Permits, had been demolished with all major trees carefully preserved.
Foundation and framing engineering by MLAW Engineers was in
progress and final plans were in the hands of the City of Dallas
Engineering, and awaiting permits.
Design Selections…3808 Our goal is for the design and construction of the home to be a
collaborative effort with some of the industry’s best minds behind it.
Beechwood in Dallas’ Midway We thank George Davis, of George Davis & Associates, for the initial
consultation on the home’s floorplan and design and welcome Tim
The marketing photo for TruStile Door’s French Country line sports Benajamin Moore’s 2021 color of the year is Aegean Teal.
the green trend.
Hollow is Designed to
Lansford, of Luxury Homes of Texas, as the construction phase GC.
Final additions to the floorplan included a safe room next to the utility
Proud to be part of the design team for the
Showcase All The Latest room, designating an area for a future elevator shaft, an upstairs
Building Savvy Idea Home being built in Midway Hollow.
gameroom/media room adding 500 feet, and a large balcony from
and Best the second story hallway overlooking the pool. The plan now totals
approximately 5,028 square feet with four bedrooms and 3.5 baths.
The downstairs office and upstairs gameroom; either could easily
convert to a fifth bedroom if desired. Tim Lansford, Nick Smirnis
and Miguel Angel Ramirez of MARDLF Designs International worked
together on the final tweaks to the plan. Miguel’s ability to offer the
3D perspectives seen here were very helpful.
Meanwhile Pamela Patruno of Pamela Patruno Interiors has been
busy choosing the exterior and interior products and finishes that
will define the home’s style which will be a modern interpretation
of classic French Country. All members of the design team felt
like this carefully selected home style will reflect all the latest color
New or Remodeled Home Consultation, Space Planning, Color Consulting,
trends and buyer’s desire for warmth and wellbeing.
Problem Solving, Lighting Design Consultation, Staging
18 19The Savvy List - Building Savvy
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Dallas, TX 75229
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