Many times our buyers of our custom homes would like to know more about construction methods and terms. I prepared the following to help understand some common terms. Ron
Terminology: Construction Industry Terms
Arc fault interrupter circuits (AFIC) - When an electrical short occurs, the AFIC interrupts the flow of current to electrical devices.
Door hardware: locksets, hinges, stops, and latches - Door knobs of various types: privacy (e.g., for bathrooms), passage (e.g., for closet or other areas not requiring privacy), dummies (e.g., for closets), and entry (usually operable by a key, sometimes with two locks).
Electrical devices: single pole and three pole switches (3 way) - Single pole switches are used to operate a device from only one place; three or triple pole switches permit turning on or off from more than one location.
Ground fault interrupter circuit (GFIC) - GFICs provide instantaneous stoppage of current flow. They are required by code for kitchens, baths, garages, and other places where water may be near electrical devices.
Header - A header is a horizontal load carrying member over wall, window, or door openings.
HVAC grills and registers - Heating, ventilation, and air conditiO:ning registers are typically openings that furnish air into rooms; grills are openings for return airs.
Jamb- A jamb is the side or top frame of a door or window.
Joist (floor & ceiling) - A joist is a horizontal structural member, often at 16" on center.
Load and non-load bearing walls - Load bearing walls are those present where there is occupied area above and over which structural members break or are spliced. These walls require additional structure if openings are made or enlarged. Non-load bearing walls can be interrupted without the need for shoring or adding structural members.
Plumb- Plumb is a term to mean "perfectly vertical."
Plumbing: supply, waste and vent lines - Supply lines are those carrying hot and cold water; waste lines are for sewage; and vent pipes are oriented vertically to allow downward flow of sewage.
Studs (jacks, trimmers, kings, cripples, plates) - A stud is a vertical wall board.
Subfloor and underlayment - A subfloor is a structural component of the flooring system designed to assist in carrying loads; underlayment is typically a leveling and/or smoothing layer. They are horizontal members typically glued and fastened to floor joists.
Threshold - The threshold is the bottom portion of a doorway, the member against which the door blank closes.
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Monday, December 19, 2011
Merry Christmas from The Oaks Family to Yours!
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas in The Oaks! Starting in November Christmas lights started to go up throughout the Oaks. Neighbors were gearing up for our third annual neighborhood Christmas Light competition! Each night sounds of the season can be heard rising in the air and twinkling lights are shining bright!
On December 15 we enjoyed our annual neighborhood Christmas party at the home of builder Ron and Susan Nance. This was also the night that the winner of our Christmas light competition was selected and announced!
Aso Pogi, former professional football player and local resident of The Oaks, served as the judge. Pogi had his work cut out for him as so many homes looked gorgeous! Builder Ron Nance took Pogi around in his 1957 Chevy Nomad to view all of the lights on full display.
Oak Pointe Blvd. was graced with Santa Clause, life size nutcrackers and sounds of Christmas music rising in the air!
Ultimately Pogi narrowed it down to three homes. He named two runners up, The Jones home and The Duckett home. He then named Steve and Lynni Larsen as the first place winners of the competition!
The Larsen’s were honored to receive first place but called Rose Duckett up and said that they wanted to make an announcement. Steve said that when they moved to Oak Pointe Blvd. they instantly connected with their neighbors James and Rose Duckett. The Larsen’s and Duckett’s become more than just friends, they became as close as family.
In September James passed away and the entire neighborhood felt the pain. James was a good man who always kept a watchful eye on The Oaks. Steve said that last year he and Lynni had decided if they won the competition that they wanted to give their award to The Duckett’s. This year, they wanted to do the same and hand it over to Rose. It was a touching moment for everyone! We know that James was looking down smiling on the occasion!
During the evening everyone enjoyed Christmas Bingo and beautiful gift basket prizes made by our neighbor Linda Tessmer. Everyone enjoyed Christmas cheer and a good time with the neighbors!
From The Oaks family to yours, wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
The Oaks Development Company Dream Home Weekend was a Success!
The Oaks Development Company's third annual dream home event wa a huge success for local children's charity, Lawton Food 4 Kids! Over 750 people toured the home throughout the weekend. $3,812 was collected from admission and builder Ron Nance matched that amount making the total raised $7,624. According to Dr. Linda Dzialo, this was the best dream home event ever. Food 4 Kids provides chronically hungry elementary school children in Lawton Public Schools with backpacks full of nutritious food to take home over the weekends and on school holidays. Without this program many of these children would have little or nothing to eat aside from the free meals they receive at school.
The cost to fund Lawton Food 4 Kids will be approximatley $60,000 this year. It costs $200 to provide one backpack for one child for the year. The amount raised by The Oaks Development Company's Dream Home will provide one years worth of nutritious food for 38 Children.
In the dream home, also known as "The Lakeside Chateau", visitors were able to tour a 3100 squre foot luxury home reminiscent of a Mediterranean Castle. The castle turrett was a favorite of all who toured the home. Housing the study, this grand space is open to the sweeping curved staircase and grand two story foyer.
The dream home was fully furnished and accessorized by Brady's Design Center giving visitors the latest insight on interior home decor. Upstairs, visitors were able to relax in comfortable oversized theater recliners while experiencing a true home theater retreat staged by Audio Tech.
Builder Ron Nance has been an integral par of the Lawton business community for over a quarter century and contines to give back to the community as the builder of the Westbrook project for ABC's Extreme Makeover Home Edition and recipient of Lawton Homebuilders "Builder of the Year" two years in a row.
Monday, September 5, 2011
The Oaks Development Company's Third Annual Dream Home Benefiting Lawton Food 4 Kids Opens September 17th and 18th
The Oaks Development Company’s third annual dream home will open this month, September 17th and 18th. There will be a $5 admission charge to tour the home and all proceeds will go directly to The Lawton Food 4 Kids. The home located at 6803 SW Majestic Oak Blvd. will be open on Saturday from 10:00am to 5:00pm and Sunday from 1:00pm to 5:00pm.The home is situated directly on beautiful Oak Pointe Lake in Oak Pointe Addition, south on 67th street past Lee Blvd., right into Oak Pointe.
Food 4 Kids is a wonderful program that provides chronically hungry elementary school children in Lawton Public School’s with backpacks full of nutritious food to take home over the weekends and on school holidays. Without this program many of these children would have little or nothing to eat aside from the free meals they receive at school.
Over the past two years, The Oaks Development Company has raised over $10,000 for Food 4 Kids through their Dream Home tours. The proceeds were able to supply many backpacks worth of weekend nutritious food for chronically hungry children.
The name of this year’s home is The Lakeside Chateau. This 3,100 square foot luxury home will be fully furnished and staged by Brady’s Design Center with a state of the art home theater staged by Audio Tech. Visitors can view a fully equipped chefs gourmet kitchen, a grand staircase and castle turret, an outdoor living space staged by Easton’s Ace Hardware overlooking Oak Pointe Lake and all of the latest styles in home design.
Builder Ron Nance explains that he is excited to “give people the opportunity to see something they’ve never seen before in Lawton while supporting a truly worthy cause.” Nance continues to give back to the community as the builder of the Westbrook project for ABC’s Extreme Makeover Home Edition and recipient of Lawton Homebuilders “Builder of the Year” two years in a row.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Now Open in Oak Pointe, The BellaVita Toscana!
In Italian “Bella Vita” translates into “Beautiful Life”. At The BellaVita Toscana in Oak Pointe that’s exactly what you will experience, a beautiful life. From the beautiful gourmet kitchen to a Venetian plaster dome, you will find everything your heart desires for a beautiful life. The BellaVita Toscana features a wonderful layout on one level with 4 bedrooms plus a study or second living area, 3 full bathrooms and a 3 car garage. Beautiful double glass wrought iron doors welcome you into a stunning entrance foyer flanked by the study and formal dining room. The highlight of your next family gathering will be the breathtaking Venetian plaster dome and gorgeous chandelier adorning the formal dining room. Beyond the foyer immerse yourself in the beautiful gourmet kitchen open to the living room and breakfast nook. In the gourmet kitchen discover tons of custom built maple cabinets, gorgeous 3 cm granite countertops, huge work island, hammered copper sink, 5 burner gas cooktop, pot filler faucet, under counter microwave drawer and stunning stone cast vent hood. Outside, imagine wonderful evening conversation roasting smores in the backyard around the beautiful stone fire pit. Back inside, the secluded master suite is a true oasis. The gorgeous master bath showcases breathtaking glass tile work, 6 ft. oval Jacuzzi soaking tub, double sink granite vanity flanked by a beautiful arch, roman spa shower with waterfall shower head and body spray jets and a huge walk in closet with built in dressers and his and hers sides! On the other side of the house bedroom two features an en-suite bath with a seamless entry shower making it a wonderful second master suite perfect for parents, guests or kids. As an ENERGY STAR qualified home you will enjoy lower utility costs in a more comfortable living environment. Home is completely turn key with full lawn sprinkler, structured wiring for a technology ready home and more! With interest rates at historic lows now is the time to start making beautiful memories in The BellaVita Toscana!
Friday, August 5, 2011
Unbelievable Interest Rates This Weekend! 4.25%, 0 Point!
Wonderful news on interest rates this weekend. 30 year fixed rate VA is 4.25% and 30 year conventional fixed rate is 4.375%. This is with 0 point charge! That means you can purchase a $300,000 home with a VA loan, put $0 down and your total monthly payment would be approximately $1,800 INCLUDING taxes and insurance. If rates went up 1% to 5.25% the same monthly payment would be approximately $1,981. This could easily happen this month. It was just a matter of weeks ago that that’s exactly where they were. That means by taking advantages of rates TODAY you can lock in significant savings. Consider what that adds up to over the life of the loan.
Over the course of history 4.25% is an unbelievable interest rate and 5.25% is still an INCREDIBLE rate! It is rare that rates have ever gone this low. Consider where we are today, an entire percent lower than we were just weeks ago, almost $200 savings each month. When rates dip as low as they are today it is something to move on immediately!
In the 1980’s rates soared to 21%. At that time people considered a 9,10,11 or 12 percent interest wonderful! If you financed $300,000 at 12% interest today your total monthly payment would be approximately $3,411! Think about that for a little bit. Today you will pay almost half the price of what people considered “good” during that time.
No one knows exactly where rates will be next week, next month or next year. They have been relatively low for a couple years now and we have been spoiled but don’t forget the past and how LOW they are now. Inevitably they will go back up.
In Lawton, The Oaks Development Company dominates the new home luxury market. Now is the time to get into a comfortable luxury home in our beautiful lakeside community. This weekend we have 8 gorgeous homes open for viewing. Save yourself the regret and invest in something NOW that you want to stay in for many years to come! Think 10years from now. What will you wish you had done today?
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