Castle Homes – Green Building
While every home we craft is as unique as its owner, some things come standard with all Castle projects: superior architectural integrity, professional project management, attentive client service and adherence to strict budgets and timelines. Castle Homes has been Nashville and Middle Tennessee's preferred custom builder and home renovator for more than 15 years because of these unwavering standards of
Exterior Doors
Exterior doors have three main functions; security, style and insulation. And unlike interior doors, they have to stand up to the ravages of sun damage, extremes of heat and cold, wind, and swings in humidity without warping, shrinking or swelling. They also have the added challenge of having one half subjected to exterior conditions while the other half is exposed
Window Materials
Wood and Clad Wood The most common material for windows is wood, either alone or clad. One of the great advantages to wood besides the incomparable beauty, is that it can be milled into virtually any custom shape. If you don’t want a standard window, wood is for you. Also on the pro-side, it has great insulation value and if
Anatomy of an NFRC Label for Windows
The US Department of Energy partnering with the National Fenestration Rating Council have developed the NFRC label. It summarizes all of the main points that are important in deciding which windows will work for your home and your climate. These ratings apply to the whole window, not just the component parts. NFRC labels gauge energy performance and provide a way
Insulation Materials
You mean there’s something other than the PINK stuff? For years, the standard material for insulation has been fiberglass batt. Think Pink Panther. And while fiberglass batt may be the right insulation for either part or all of your project, it’s worth taking a look at newer materials that are transforming the way we insulate. Fiberglass Fiberglass insulation is
Framing Choices
Framing is like the skeleton of your home. It is the structure around which your home is built. Its strength and thermal bridge qualities are the two of the main concerns when choosing framing. Advances in engineered wood and SIPs have made them very interesting alternatives to traditional stick framing. Dimensional Lumber The most common framing material in residential construction,
Roofing Choices
Sun, rain, snow, and wind exposure all day, every day for years - and it’s supposed to look great and function flawlessly. Here’s a look at some of the more “exotic” options in roofing. Please remember when looking at installed costs, the complexity of the roof line design can cause big swings in labor costs. Slate CHARACTERISTICS: Natural stone, noticeable
Exterior Materials – Fiber Cement
In many instances, especially here in Nashville where we have hot, humid weather, fiber cement board is replacing wood as a facing material. Fiber cement board is a mixture of 90% cement/sand and 10% wood fiber. Fiber cement boards are much heavier than wood. Fiber cement boards come in siding, shingles and panels with textures that range from wood, stucco
Exterior Materials – Stone
Used effectively for thousands of years, stone is one of the most beautiful options in siding. Given its expense, many people choose to use stone as an accent and blend it with another siding material but if you have the budget, a stone exterior will take your home to another level. In Tennessee, many types of limestone are locally available
Exterior Materials – Wood
Solid wood siding can be used as boards, shingles and shakes. Wood siding can be made from many species of wood including cedar, yellow poplar, redwood, white pine, spruce, and Douglas fir. Note: with redwood and cedar, corrosion can occur from the nails unless you use stainless-steel nails. Regardless of the species of the wood, it is imperative that all
