Lights without switches. Heating systems that need no fuel. Exterior walls that slide open at the touch of a button. Modern homes can feel incredibly futuristic.
But no matter how much new technology a home includes, one thing remains the same: it has to be comfortable.
“It’s not hard to find homes that look incredible and incorporate amazing gadgetry, but are unpleasant to live in,” says Steve Pryce. “Rooms that overheat on hot days or are freezing in mid-winter: that’s just unacceptable in a modern home.”
Steve and his brother Matt co-own Prycon Custom Building and Renovations, and for more than 30 years they have been at the forefront of custom home construction.
“The pace of new technology is relentless,” says Matt. “There are so many amazing new systems and tools available to us now. The challenge is to stay on top of the possibilities without losing sight of the goal: to build beautiful, comfortable homes.”
Design drives change
Architectural tastes have always been a factor in new home construction, sometimes requiring new building techniques and materials to bring a client’s vision to life. That’s certainly the case these days, particularly given the preference for homes with multiple exterior finishes.
“I can’t recall the last time we built an all-brick house,” says Steve. “These days it can be a combination of brick, stone, wood siding, stucco, composite materials, and cement board, with perhaps some wood accents and enormous walls of glass.”
The look can be amazing, but it poses some design and construction challenges. Each of those materials will heat or cool, expand or contract under different conditions; moisture will pass through them at a different rate; so too will heat. Every transition between materials is a potential point of weakness in the building envelope.
“You have to have an intimate understanding of how these materials work, and pay careful attention to the details,” says Matt. “The transitions between each surface needs to be thought out and executed with care.”
“Ultimately, the level of comfort within each room needs to be the same, regardless of what’s on the exterior wall at that point.”
The science of building
Building science continues to advance in response to these changing needs. Zip system offers a structural panel that completely seals the building; ICF has moved beyond foundations and now can be extended right to the roofline; mechanical systems offer ever more sophisticated ways of moving air through the home.
“In some cases, we’re using technology that was developed for industrial applications, like a ‘curtain of air’ to keep glass walls comfortable to the touch in any weather,” says Steve.
Engineering reports – once a rarity – are now routinely required to ensure that everything will work as promised. Prycon’s team of employees pursues advanced training and certification. Specialized subtrades are brought in as needed. “We have an excellent network of industry partners we work with,” says Matt.
Some advances in technology have brought savings or shortened timelines. Gone are the days of installing hundreds of feet of communications cable, or hard-wiring alarms and stereo systems – now those are all handled wirelessly. Panelized wall and roof systems can come together faster than old-fashioned stick framing, closing in the structure in less time.
“The solutions are there,” Matt says. “As long as you stay on top of the technology, and understand how all the different systems will integrate with each other.”
Useable and comfortable
Comfort isn’t just a matter of temperature and humidity, of course. The technology needs to work for the homeowner, not the other way around.
Much of the technology itself is invisible once the house is completed – it’s only the effects that are felt. “The average homeowner doesn’t care what we built the walls with, or whether we installed a heat pump or a geothermal unit. They care that their home is comfortable, beautiful, and energy efficient,” says Steve.
In the same way, he adds, they don’t want to have to worry about how the invisible lighting controls work, or get bogged down trying to navigate the integrated home automation system that controls the sound system, blinds, and gas fireplace. “They just want to be able to set it and forget it, to control the whole house with verbal commands, an app, or an easy-to-understand touch pad.”
After all, when construction is complete, what really matters is the family that settles into the home, delighting in a place of beauty, ease, and comfort.
TEXT A. WAGNER-CHAZALON
PHOTOS ANDREW FEARMAN
