Construction Details

Site Preparation

Located house at the higher elevation in the back. No houses in the back and a clear
view of the lake in Huntington. The location afforded considerable (150 ft.) from the
road, higher elevation and excellent views in the back and of the front yard.
Soil testing by drilling 20 cores about 20-25 ft. deep at the site of the house. Based on
testing results (Pritchard Engineering) excavation of 10 ft. was required.
Pritchard Engineering prepared the excavation and foundation plan.
Soil was excavated to the required depth of 10 ft. Site was treated heavily for termite
protection and foundation trenches 3 ft. deep and 2 ft. wide were dug at the location of
all walls on the main floor. Foundation is located under all the walls on the main floor
including the porches. Foundation is reinforced concrete.
Conventional foundation using cinder blocks were installed all walls and porch
boundaries. The cinder block wall is estimated at 3-9.

Construction Details
General

All floor joists are 18 (1.5) trim joists spaced 16 on center (OC) and run across the
room (short dimension). Two layers of OSB were installed on both floors. The second
layer is orthogonal to the underneath layer (90 degrees rotated).
Walls are made with dimensional grade 2X4 lumber, with the two story section using
2X6 construction method.
Outer walls wrapped with Tyvek and sealed. Window openings sealed prior to
installation of windows.
Roof is constructed with 5/8 OSB with aluminum foil sheathing on the underside
(reduces solar heat intrusion into attic).
Entire outer skin is designer brick with white mortar using antique mason art technique.
Corners have architectural design features and window and doors have keystone insert.

Crawl Space

Porch joists are pressure treated 2X12 solid lumber sloped to the edge with a 2 fall.
All the wood members (joists and floor) in the crawl space were treated with sodium
penta-borate to ensure protection against termite, rotting and insects.
The entire crawl space is lined with two layers of 6 mil plastic sheathing and then a layer
of 12 mil vinyl sheet. The floor cover rests against the cinder block walls to allow for
regular termite inspection and periodic treatment in accordance with the termite
protection insurance contract.
The entire crawl space is lit with fluorescent lights operate from a single switch and on a
separate circuit.
Crawl space is ventilated by force draft and circulation fan capable of a 2 hour volume
change (crawl space volume = approximately 23,500 cu. ft.)
Three dehumidifiers with drain plumbing are installed to quickly lower humidity.

Windows, Doors and Skylights

All windows and doors are Pella Architect-Designer series (top of the line).
All windows are three-pane tempered low E-glass with venetian blinds encased
between the third pane and the vacuum insulated outer glass (two layers).
The glass in the door is similar to those in the windows three layer tempered low Eglass with venetian blinds.
The outside of the doors and windows are sealed aluminum with baked on enamel
finish.
The windows are double hung with tilt opening for ease of sash cleaning from the
inside.
Pella windows and doors used have excellent perimeter gasket to eliminate drafts.
Windows and doors on the outside are double sealed to the brick to provide additional
assurance against water leakage.
Three skylights provide ample sunlight to interior rooms.

Wiring and Insulation

All wiring in the 120V circuit used 12 gauge with ground. All circuits were designed not
to exceed 60% of circuit-breaker capacity.
Two circuit-breaker banks are installed for the main floor and one for the upper floor.
There are four240V circuits for Air-conditioners, one 240V circuit for the oven and one
for the range.
The outlets in the living room are switch controlled.
Lighting in the living, dining and master bedroom have cove lighting with rope lights.
Three circuits are installed for the crawl space. One circuit for low voltage lighting
(front) and one each for dehumidifier and lighting.
Outside fountain is switch controlled from the entrance foyer. Eave lighting below roof
is also controlled from entrance foyer. Low voltage lighting on the front stair shelf is
switch controlled from the foyer.
Selected light fixtures (chandeliers) have dimmer controlled switches. The front door
light, the carriage lights adjacent to garage doors and back porch lights have battery-less
programmable timer switches.
Phone and data (computer) wiring used Cat-5e cables and there are multiple outlets
(minimum of two) in every room.
Family room is wired for surround sound (7.1) system and an optical eye for remote
control.
The front and back porches have external speakers installed.
All phone and sound system wiring is consolidated in the future-smart central cabinet.
In this cabinet C-spire optical cable is located for high-speed internet, digital TV and
phone connections.
A two Cat-5e cable system from the future-smart cabinet provides connection to the
outside phone connection by the power box.
Home has installed security system with control center in the future-smart cabinet.
External connection by cellular phone capable of remote control by cell phone.

TV cable outlets (minimum of 2) in each room is provided with all cable connections
reaching the upper attic. A cable connection by the main power box is also provided.
All wall insulation was installed after sealing all possible draft locations (joints and
openings). The insulation is blown cellulose that will not compact. Insulation between
the main and upper floors was installed to reduce sound transmission between floors.
Internal walls adjoining bedrooms were insulated to reduce sound transmission.

Interior (Walls, Floors etc.)

All walls have rounded corners and the balcony ceiling in the family room has curved
edge.
All interior doors are heavy grade designer doors and are 8 ft. tall.
All archways have specifically designed profiles.
The entrance foyer curved staircase is Arcways designed and fabricated unit installed
in place as a single unit. All railings are wrought iron and were designed and fabricated
at Arcways.
All window treatments are designer inspired and custom made and installed. Fabric
used are mostly silk or high grade furniture fabric.
Wood floors, including stair treads, are solid maple (3/4 thick) that have a factory
applied finish coat (durable high wear coating).
All tile floors are top of the line Travertine installed by newer methods that utilize Kerdi
and Ditra to prevent cracking. All travertine floors are sealed with penetrating
sealer/conditioner and top-coated with durable finish coat.
The vanity is made using Antique furniture that have been coated with water resistant
varnish after proper cleaning.
All plumbing fixtures are designer series (with lifetime warranty) Kohler pieces. The
vanity bowls are travertine (bedroom 4 bath bowl is marble) bowls.
Shower stalls are travertine tile lined and sealed. Bath tubs are heavy gauge steel and
walls are lined with travertine. The Jacuzzi tubs (master baths) are compressed air blow
units to guard against algae and fungus.
All water lines are vinyl, mitigating freeze damage (burst) of water lines.
Cabinets (kitchen and laundry room) are solid wood and tops are designer granite
fabricated by Pierce Cabinets.
Central island (kitchen) has gas and electric (induction) range. The hood is double fan
Ventahood unit.
There are two laundry rooms one on the main floor and one upstairs.
Interior rooms, without windows, have skylights where possible.
Hot water is supplied by four 50 gallon gas water heaters located in attics at either end.
HVAC provided by four units. Two for the main floor (4 ton AC), one for the upper floor
(5 ton AC) and one for the Bonus room (3 ton AC).

Exterior Details

Porch tiles are solid slate (1/2 thick) installed using Kerdi and Ditra technique to
prevent freeze damage. Tiles are sealed annually with Diamond Clear coat to enhance
surface appearance and provide water proofing. Diamond coat easily applied with patio
broom with nylon bristles.
The two level hardscape in the back is made of two retaining walls (8 thick) made using
the Gunnite technique (used for in-ground swimming pools) installed by Sobley Pools of
Columbus, MS.
A French drain along the front porch and one in the back against the lower retaining
wall ensure proper drainage and prevent water intrusion into the crawl space.
Rain chains in the front allow the gutters to drain effectively into the French drain
system.
All landscaping done professionally by Carol nursery of Jackson MS. Stone freestanding
retaining walls (Arkansas Fieldstone) and rock creek were part of the original design and
installation. The lawn is a special Zyosia (BK Zyosia) strain that has finer texture and
better resistance.
Yard sprinkler system has 13 zones and was professionally installed by Wilson & Wilson
of Jackson, MS. Six additional faucets, connected to the yard watering are provided.
Mulched area was initially installed using 120- 140 cubic yards of hardwood mulch.
Subsequently in the past 8 years, build-up was performed 3 times using 80 90 cubic
yards of hardwood mulch. Total mulch depth is approximately 6 inches, which minimizes
weed growth.
The front has an extensive landscape lighting (12V) 2-loop system (enables constant
voltage; uniform lighting) that runs for 3-4 hours after sunset.
Added 15- 20 camellia bushes/trees (Camellia Forrest, NC), 7 Dogwood trees (2
Cherokee red, 1 pink and 4 white), and few fruit trees.

Other Details

Floor areas:
First Floor (HVAC) = 3,969 sq. ft.
Second Floor (HVAC) = 1,890 sq. ft.
Bonus Room (HVAC) = 601 sq. ft.
Total (HVAC)
= 6,460 sq. ft.
Porches (front, Back and Side) = 1,220 sq. ft.
Garage & Storage
= 1,090 sq. ft.
Total (Non HVAC)
= 2.310 sq. ft.
TOTAL Area
= 8,770 sq. ft.

Utilities:
Electricity, water, sewer and trash collection are in one bill. The electricity bill includes lighting,
air-conditioning (4 zones), and appliances. The landscape lights (front) and several timed lights
(run time: 3-4 hours) and crawl space ventilation fans contribute to electricity usage.