Building a house that feels like home from the moment one enters the front door is a real joy.
In ways that are not always immediately visible, there’s more to comfort than plush seating, luxurious pillows and warm accent lighting. According to Ryan Graham, vice president of operations for Graham Builders in Honolulu, thoughtful design and construction not only provides beauty and customization, it provides decades of contentment and enjoyment for the family.
“That happens through personalization — design and building a home for specific individual or family needs,” explains Graham.
He shares the story of a new Oahu home recently constructed by Graham Builders for a multi-generational household. With three generations of one family under the same roof, the homeowners were concerned about privacy, acoustics and comfort.
“We installed QuietRock (a sound-reducing drywall) and sound-abating insulation between the floors to mitigate sound transfer from grandkids running around upstairs,” Graham recalls. “We also installed upgraded fiberglass windows for longevity, and worked with the homeowner to install smart home technologies for effi-ciency and convenience.”
The standard interior doors installed by Graham Builders in every home are a comfortable 3 feet wide, as opposed to the accepted standard of 2 feet 6 inches.
Graham Builders also uses radiant roof sheathing in its projects, as opposed to standard plywood because roof sheathing reduces heat transfer to living areas, which decreases energy consumption.
“High design and material standards are really important to us,” says Graham. “And we’re conscientious about avoiding shortcuts and quick fixes.”
EDUCATION FOR CONFIDENCE AND TRUST
Understanding the importance of homeowner confidence and trust, Graham encourages those who are planning construction projects to educate themselves as much as possible.
“Most people who embark on a home construction project are unprepared for the rigors of the process,” he says. “I think this is due to their misunderstanding of ‘construction’ as a simple process — easily defined and quickly built.”
As a service to the community, Graham Builders hosts a free seminar designed to help homeowners efficiently navigate the design and construction processes. Called Building Your Home For Life, each seminar presents information that isn’t typically part of the conversation between builders and homeowners.
What most people don’t realize, Graham explains, is that every construction project is unique — a one-off, custom undertaking that requires intense planning to circumvent any problems that might arise during building.
“Problems equal cost while building, so it’s smart to educate yourself so you’ll be aware of pitfalls and red flags during planning that may have an impact during construction,” he suggests. “A home construction project is one of the biggest investments in one’s lifetime, so it makes sense to gather and analyze all available information before committing to a design/builder.”
A leader in the design and construction of multi-generational homes and aging-in place design, Graham Builders is the recipient of the Better Business Bureau of Hawaii Torch Award for ethics in small business. Its next free Building Your Home for Life seminar is scheduled for March 12. Register now at grahambuilders.com or call 808-593-2808.
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