Construction Archives

Floor Plans are the First Step

There are a few things to consider when first thinking about building a custom home. One of the top priorities is floor plan. The first choice when it comes to floor plans is open or closed. Deciding whether you prefer each room being designated by walls or not. To aid you in this decision, your home builder will discuss your lifestyle and needs quite a lot. Knowing what your daily routine is, what you enjoy doing, and how much space and storage you require helps determine the best set-up for your home. Of course, the best part of building your own home is that you can lay out your home however you want it. The advantage of working with an experienced builder is that they have seen just about everything. Their advice on what works and what doesn’t in real life is invaluable.

Design Theme is the Next Choice

Once the layout is determined, what each room will be and what it will look like is next. Sometimes this is done by an interior designer that is employed by the builder. Other situations require homeowners to hire an outside vendor or independent contractor. Either way, the visual aesthetic is the fun part of building a custom home. Again, the experience of the professionals should be taken to heart. Even though it is easy to get swept up into wanting everything possible in your custom home, sometimes less is best. An interior designer will also likely interview the persons building the home in order to help create the perfect home. Especially when building and designing a home from scratch, every room should be a sanctuary.

Material and Durability are Important to the Best Custom Home Builder in NJ

Quality construction and longevity of all aspects of a home are important. The best custom home builder in NJ takes this very seriously because there are many homes constructed in areas with extreme weather and above average usage. One specific example are custom homes built on the Jersey shoreline. Not only is there salt in the air, higher than normal moisture levels, a great risk of flooding, and extreme winds, but many of these homes are vacation rental properties.

From the environment point, very specific materials must be used in order to construct a home that will last for many decades. Due to the salt and extra moisture, many common building materials need to be avoided because they are likely to corrode and rot. Many custom home builders in NJ also use impact-resistant glass for homes built on the shore where winds are strongest. Flying objects are a common sight during wind events at the beach so builders keep that in mind when designing homes there.

In terms of rental homes, durability is key. These homes are put under more than normal usage and stress with renters coming and going all summer long. Sand can wreak havoc on floors so material choice is crucial. Hardwood floors, for example, are not a good idea for these homes because scratches are likely. Great home builders include outdoor showers in rental homes too. Much of the sand can be washed off before even entering the home with this amenity.

Examples of beach house design from custom home builder in NJ

It’s knowing these details that make the difference between an average home builder and the best custom home builder in NJ.

Custom home builder in NJ, family sitting on porch steps of white house with black shutters

When you begin the journey of building your own home, there is an almost endless list of decisions to be made. But decision number one is what type of home you want. From ranch to Tudor, colonial to contemporary, there is a home design for everyone. The key to building your own custom home is selecting the right builder. The best thing about working with an experienced custom home builder in NJ like Monetti Custom Homes is that you’ll be able to customize just about everything in your home.

Select the Right Custom Home Builder in NJ

Make sure when you are deciding on which builder to go with that the builder is going to listen to your ideas and desires. Some builders only like to build certain types of buildings and may try to push your decisions one way or another. The only time a builder should try to talk you out of something is if it is not structurally sound or they have experience in why what you want would not work. We would suggest having multiple conversations with each builder that you are researching to give you a good idea if you will work well together. Also, review their portfolios to see if their designs and tastes mesh with yours.

Types of Homes

The list of home design types is nearly endless. We’ve chosen a dozen types for this article and we’ll give a brief overview of each.

Ranch

Also known as rancher, this style home is very popular in the US. A few of the key characteristics are being a single story, having a long, low-pitch roofline, attached garage, and having an asymmetrical rectangular, L-shaped, or a U-shaped design.

Bungalow

Typically, a single-story home, but may have a half or partial second story built into the sloped roof. This is one of the smaller designs of homes with a limited number of rooms which makes them easy to maintain

Cape Cod

There can be a few variations of this style. You can have a full, half, or three-quarter cape. No matter which type of cape you have there are a few standard features. The Cape Cod design is symmetrical with steep roofs, gable dormers, and a simple exterior.

Colonial

One of the key characteristics of a Colonial home is symmetry. They are most often multi-level homes in a rectangular shape with steep, side-gabled roofs.

Federal Colonial

Sometimes also called an Adam style home. This is a large style home with wings extending off both sides of the main structure and commonly has more decorative accents than other colonial styles.

Georgian Colonial

A strict box shaped home. Typically has a line of 5 shuttered windows across the second floor. Normally has a paneled front door with a decorative crown adorned by columns. This style home is always symmetrical.

Dutch Colonial

A bit different than other colonial styles, a Dutch colonial has a broad gambrel roof. Typical of the colonial style though, the front of the home is symmetrical on either side of the front door which is often covered in a decorative portico. Sometimes referred to as a barn home due to how much it resembles a barn.

Spanish

Not very popular in New Jersey, Spanish style homes are more prevalent in desert areas like Arizona and New Mexico. Typically, they are covered fully in stucco with flat, clay tile roofs, have extended patio areas that extend the living area, and contain lots of arches in the design.

Tudor

When you see a Tudor home, you know it. It is a very distinctive design. Most known for having steep, pitched roof with multiple dormers with varying heights, a majority of the exterior is covered in brick, but with decorative half-timber details, and tall, narrow, multi-pane windows.

Craftsman

The craftsman style is similar to the bungalow style in that use’s natural materials like wood and stone. They commonly have low pitched roofs and large front porches.

Victorian

The design of a Victorian home is based solely on beauty, not function. A Victorian home is asymmetrical with a lot of architectural details, large porches, and bright colors.

Log Cabin

Ok, this one hardly needs a description. Most often found in wooded areas, the log cabin is a very specific type of home that very few are looking for. They are very rustic in appearance and the interior walls look just like the exterior. Size and design are totally up to the homeowner

Knowing What You Like Helps You Choose a Custom Home Builder in NJ

That’s really only a handful of home designs. Having a general idea in your head before you talk to a custom home builder in NJ is a good idea. This gives you and the designer a jumping off point. Having some solid starting points will make your conversations a lot easier and much more productive. If you have a preference for something as specific as a log cabin, this will certainly limit the builders that you can work with. Knowing what you want will help you narrow down your choices of builders. A lot can be learned from perusing a builder’s portfolio. If all the homes look the same, they are maybe not the best custom home builder. You want your custom home builder in NJ to be open to your ideas, your wants, and your needs.

We have tips and information on all sorts of subjects so be sure to check out our other articles. Come back often to see what’s new!

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Custom Home Builder in NJ Talks Interior Design