I am excited to announce that Hybrid Homes has put a few more arrows into our quiver.
For the longest time, I had a problem with metal roofs, because I never met a company that did a great job installing metal roof. Recently, I made the call to hire a metal roof instructor to teach us how to install metal roofing because I really like metal roofs and have designed many homes that will have metal roofs. Once the word got out that we are installing metal roofs, the phone is ringing off the hook. We are currently booking up with installs of steel roofs for other builders and homeowners. What an exciting thing to get into! The metal roof industry has been ready for some new blood for many years, and here we are! We have a crew that will handle the metal roof installs, I hope that I am allowed to work on more metal roofs, because I think it is very fun and such a great skill set to have. Let me know if you are interested in learning more about our metal roof services..
Originally, Hybrid Homes built just ICF houses and installed all the ICFs for our projects ourselves until we got busy and had to hire outside installers to do our ICF work. Much like metal roofs, I was never perfectly happy with the work that was being done with regards to ICFs, so, I have made the decision (actually I made it last year) that we would invest in the equipment we needed to once again install our own ICFs. This has been a very important part of our business for many years, and to ensure that our reputation for high quality and our solid back bone in business continues at our high standards, we have a crew set up to install ICFs for us and for others too! We have been booked installing ICFs around the state and soon, we will start installing ICFs in other States also. If you are a homeowner looking to use ICFs, get in touch with me so we can talk! You will be amazed at what we will talk about!
Last year, I got really serious about designing homes for others. This part of the business has completely blown up for us. I am very happy about this! I love drawing houses and have been involved with and loving architecture since my very first architecture class over 20 years ago. I originally wanted to be an architect, but my young mind was wrapped around everything but architecture, so I took another route. Now, I get to draw houses again, and this time, I have the knowledge of building dozens of cutting edge houses, so the designs come easier than they ever have! Let me know if you need help getting an idea onto paper, we are never too busy to talk!
I have just started to discuss the possibility of a recruiting program. This program would be designed to find future stars for our company. I hope to find a handful of hardworking, passionate people who would like to learn an exciting trade. We would take our recruits through the building process and teach them not just how to do things, but why. More on this later, let me know if you know someone who would be interested in learning more about our recruiting..
It amuses me and concerns me greatly to see people writing about topics that they don't entirely know about. This has happened for as long as there has been a medium to write on. Remember, the world is flat conversation? The Internet is both good and bad, the bad part of the Internet, is that anyone can seem like an expert (a word I steer away from) by writing about topics. We are continuously learning with our design and build projects and it is very difficult to write about any topics without speaking about all sides of the story. I believe that comparing technologies, like I did in my book, can only be done by building them, seeing how they work, learning from each house, then improving on them. If I were asked what system is better to build with, ICFs, SIPs, Advanced Framing, Conventional Framing, Earth Shelter/Berming, Straw Bale, etc etc etc, My answer would be, "It depends". If you are writing about topics from within a tiny box, please understand that people read what you write and will see what you are writing as one sided and lacking in content. Please keep an open mind and realize that our job is to gather information from our customers and help them make educated decisions that help them to realize THEIR dreams, not ours.
There is more to cover, but that is for another post..
I hope everyone is doing great!
A B
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
Sunday, August 4, 2013
The latest Birch Perch Project Video
If you have not seen the latest Birch Perch Project video, here is the link! This episode shows you what we have been up to. Currently, we are siding the house with cement board siding and getting ready to have the inside of the house drywalled! The project is moving right along!
https://vimeo.com/70726010
https://vimeo.com/70726010
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
Green Unplugged
I am honored to announce that our Documentary "Sheltered: Underground and Off the Grid" has been accepted into the online film festival "Green Unplugged'. This global film festival reaches 60+ million viewers in over 3,900 cities and 230+ countries and territories around the world. More information coming, for now, this is the type of coverage we were hoping for to reach the entire world with the message to give more than you take and to use less energy.
I was contacted a few months ago by one of the people who put on this film festival to see if we would be willing to take part in this film festival. I jumped at the chance. I am excited to see the emails and messages from countries I never knew existed.
More information coming about this exciting opportunity
Adam
I was contacted a few months ago by one of the people who put on this film festival to see if we would be willing to take part in this film festival. I jumped at the chance. I am excited to see the emails and messages from countries I never knew existed.
More information coming about this exciting opportunity
Adam
Sunday, June 2, 2013
An international quote...
Greetings,
I have been asked to share a comment that I wrote to a senior official of an international group that is focusing on green building around the world. It is interesting to see how information is translated to other languages and cultures. I have held strong to my belief that we need to share information to create higher performance dwellings around the world. Even more than that, I have asked focus to be put upon the things that make the human race thrive: safe food, safe water, safe air quality, lower dependence on things like fossil fuels, etc.
Here is the quote...see what you think:
"...As with anything in life, there has to be someone who brings awareness that a problem exists. Once someone is aware of a problem or issue, they then can become more motivated to take action. Most people simply do not know, or worse yet, don't care that they or their dwellings are using extremely high amounts of energy! With the price of fuel sources going up, people from all over the world are now concerned about spending less on fuel. The 'green building craze' that is going on right now is a wonderful thing for prolonging our existence on this planet, but make no mistake, it is a very necessary thing for prolonging the time we have left using fossil fuel. We hope to leave for our future generations more than we took, but this is not possible at the current pace...
I have taught many classes on the history of building and in those classes, I talk about how civilizations built many thousands of years ago. They built on necessity and with what little resources they had back then. In the past 10 years, a city was discovered in Syria that is dated to over 6,000 years old and the buildings in the city were cited for passive solar (shading of the living areas during the hot months and allowing sun in during the cool months) and the buildings had cavity walls which helped to cool the dwellings during the hot days. That is simply amazing!! Why now are we applauded for using this technology that was used so many thousands of years ago? I believe that everything we need to know is written down somewhere, AND I believe that it is the responsibility of people like us to write down our findings and share those findings with future generations so that they can improve upon our findings. I take the primitive forms of these designs that archaeologists have found and use the technology of our age to improve upon the original ideas. Much like a song writer or musician will discover an ancient melody or ancient words and adapt those findings into a chart topping song! I believe it is detrimental to our world to hold onto information that can help our existence and livelihood as a specie. There should be no boundary such as competition, culture, etc. This applies only to Green Building, as what your topics are about. Everything else in this world needs to be handled by a higher power and is well beyond my knowledge or ability!!
Another great topic Ali, well done!
All the best!
Adam"
AB
I have been asked to share a comment that I wrote to a senior official of an international group that is focusing on green building around the world. It is interesting to see how information is translated to other languages and cultures. I have held strong to my belief that we need to share information to create higher performance dwellings around the world. Even more than that, I have asked focus to be put upon the things that make the human race thrive: safe food, safe water, safe air quality, lower dependence on things like fossil fuels, etc.
Here is the quote...see what you think:
"...As with anything in life, there has to be someone who brings awareness that a problem exists. Once someone is aware of a problem or issue, they then can become more motivated to take action. Most people simply do not know, or worse yet, don't care that they or their dwellings are using extremely high amounts of energy! With the price of fuel sources going up, people from all over the world are now concerned about spending less on fuel. The 'green building craze' that is going on right now is a wonderful thing for prolonging our existence on this planet, but make no mistake, it is a very necessary thing for prolonging the time we have left using fossil fuel. We hope to leave for our future generations more than we took, but this is not possible at the current pace...
I have taught many classes on the history of building and in those classes, I talk about how civilizations built many thousands of years ago. They built on necessity and with what little resources they had back then. In the past 10 years, a city was discovered in Syria that is dated to over 6,000 years old and the buildings in the city were cited for passive solar (shading of the living areas during the hot months and allowing sun in during the cool months) and the buildings had cavity walls which helped to cool the dwellings during the hot days. That is simply amazing!! Why now are we applauded for using this technology that was used so many thousands of years ago? I believe that everything we need to know is written down somewhere, AND I believe that it is the responsibility of people like us to write down our findings and share those findings with future generations so that they can improve upon our findings. I take the primitive forms of these designs that archaeologists have found and use the technology of our age to improve upon the original ideas. Much like a song writer or musician will discover an ancient melody or ancient words and adapt those findings into a chart topping song! I believe it is detrimental to our world to hold onto information that can help our existence and livelihood as a specie. There should be no boundary such as competition, culture, etc. This applies only to Green Building, as what your topics are about. Everything else in this world needs to be handled by a higher power and is well beyond my knowledge or ability!!
Another great topic Ali, well done!
All the best!
Adam"
AB
Saturday, June 1, 2013
From concept to reality...
Greetings!!!
As a big fan of marketing and trying to understand why people do what they do, I try to pay attention to 'tag lines' that companies choose to use. From concept to reality is one of those phrases that caught my attention, especially now that we design and build homes and other structures. When you are sitting at a computer and/or a drawing board, it can be difficult to understand exactly how room sizes and house placement can make or break a project. Taking a concept to reality can be a very rewarding process for everyone...it can also be a disappointing process if homeowners select the wrong people to work with...
We have had the pleasure to design and build multiple houses now. The dynamics are different in a design and build situation versus bringing a set of prints to a builder who seems to understand the grand vision. The difference I see is that every step is different now. When I design a house, I get to virtually build the house and go through changes multiple times, so that by the time we break ground, I understand the house and process so much more. Some builders/people may say, a house is a house and every house is built the same...that is when I would speak up and say that that is the difference right there! A house is not just a house! A house is a home to the individuals who live in them and they are as unique as the people who exist in them!
It is really amazing to design a house for a specific site, to go out and stake out the building site, and to make sure the house ends up looking like it grew right out of the ground. The design process can take several months, but when the excavators start and the building process begins, everything starts to make sense! I lead the team that builds each house that I design. Sometimes, the crew looks at me strangely because I say, 'Can't you see it?, Don't you understand that the house has to look like this?' To which someone on the crew will say, 'You're doing it again'. What I am doing is recalling the many, many hours of designing and drawings as I have had a unique, multi-angle view of the house we are building for several months prior to breaking ground. That is an incredible advantage! When we dig a hole for a foundation, that first scoop of dirt can have an effect on what something up on the roof would look like, or better yet, the view of the lake might not be as great if the foundation hole is not dug correctly!
I guess what I am getting at, is that having the leader of a team that has also developed the home plans, makes the building process go more smoothly and helps to dial the original ideas of the homeowners in. Most of the times, a designer will turn out a design that is a signature of theirs, and some people like that. It happens all the time. Issues can arise in that process, as the house is not tuned to the occupants energy, life style, and needs to thrive, it is tuned to getting the cover of a magazine or a design award. Those things help bring awareness to things and are great for marketing, but when the dust clears, the homeowners have to live in the home and that is when they start noticing the small things in their home that don't gel with their lifestyle.
If you follow me on Facebook, you will notice a daily picture of what we are building. This picture is taken from the same spot everyday so that the viewers can see our progress, and so that I can see how the house is shaping up versus the design an original ideas. Taking a concept to reality takes more than a crafty punch line, it takes commitment, strategy, passion, and empathy, among other things. What we design and build is intended to last forever and to give it's occupants an amazing, safe environment in which to thrive!
Enjoy your day and try to give more than you take today....
Adam
As a big fan of marketing and trying to understand why people do what they do, I try to pay attention to 'tag lines' that companies choose to use. From concept to reality is one of those phrases that caught my attention, especially now that we design and build homes and other structures. When you are sitting at a computer and/or a drawing board, it can be difficult to understand exactly how room sizes and house placement can make or break a project. Taking a concept to reality can be a very rewarding process for everyone...it can also be a disappointing process if homeowners select the wrong people to work with...
We have had the pleasure to design and build multiple houses now. The dynamics are different in a design and build situation versus bringing a set of prints to a builder who seems to understand the grand vision. The difference I see is that every step is different now. When I design a house, I get to virtually build the house and go through changes multiple times, so that by the time we break ground, I understand the house and process so much more. Some builders/people may say, a house is a house and every house is built the same...that is when I would speak up and say that that is the difference right there! A house is not just a house! A house is a home to the individuals who live in them and they are as unique as the people who exist in them!
It is really amazing to design a house for a specific site, to go out and stake out the building site, and to make sure the house ends up looking like it grew right out of the ground. The design process can take several months, but when the excavators start and the building process begins, everything starts to make sense! I lead the team that builds each house that I design. Sometimes, the crew looks at me strangely because I say, 'Can't you see it?, Don't you understand that the house has to look like this?' To which someone on the crew will say, 'You're doing it again'. What I am doing is recalling the many, many hours of designing and drawings as I have had a unique, multi-angle view of the house we are building for several months prior to breaking ground. That is an incredible advantage! When we dig a hole for a foundation, that first scoop of dirt can have an effect on what something up on the roof would look like, or better yet, the view of the lake might not be as great if the foundation hole is not dug correctly!
I guess what I am getting at, is that having the leader of a team that has also developed the home plans, makes the building process go more smoothly and helps to dial the original ideas of the homeowners in. Most of the times, a designer will turn out a design that is a signature of theirs, and some people like that. It happens all the time. Issues can arise in that process, as the house is not tuned to the occupants energy, life style, and needs to thrive, it is tuned to getting the cover of a magazine or a design award. Those things help bring awareness to things and are great for marketing, but when the dust clears, the homeowners have to live in the home and that is when they start noticing the small things in their home that don't gel with their lifestyle.
If you follow me on Facebook, you will notice a daily picture of what we are building. This picture is taken from the same spot everyday so that the viewers can see our progress, and so that I can see how the house is shaping up versus the design an original ideas. Taking a concept to reality takes more than a crafty punch line, it takes commitment, strategy, passion, and empathy, among other things. What we design and build is intended to last forever and to give it's occupants an amazing, safe environment in which to thrive!
Enjoy your day and try to give more than you take today....
Adam
Monday, May 27, 2013
The Birch Perch Video Series
Hello everyone!
The Birch Perch Project videos series has begun! We will show you how and why we use the materials and processes that we do. I have combined the information from my book entitled 'Build Green, Make Green, Save Green' into the video series. By doing this, you will begin to know first hand why we do what we do and how we won our national awards.
You can get a copy of 'Build Green, Make Green, Save Green' at www.adambearup.com.
By using the video series and my book together, you can have a study guide on how to build high performance homes. If you are not building in the near future but are still interested in what we are doing, the book will help to fill in the pieces and tell a more complete story of how and why we are doing what we are doing!
Here is the link to the first video in the 'Birch Perch' video series. This episode shows you what to expect when using Insulated Concrete Forms (ICFs) to build the basement walls of a home. Here is the link: https://vimeo.com/67052199
Enjoy!
The Birch Perch Project videos series has begun! We will show you how and why we use the materials and processes that we do. I have combined the information from my book entitled 'Build Green, Make Green, Save Green' into the video series. By doing this, you will begin to know first hand why we do what we do and how we won our national awards.
You can get a copy of 'Build Green, Make Green, Save Green' at www.adambearup.com.
By using the video series and my book together, you can have a study guide on how to build high performance homes. If you are not building in the near future but are still interested in what we are doing, the book will help to fill in the pieces and tell a more complete story of how and why we are doing what we are doing!
Here is the link to the first video in the 'Birch Perch' video series. This episode shows you what to expect when using Insulated Concrete Forms (ICFs) to build the basement walls of a home. Here is the link: https://vimeo.com/67052199
Enjoy!
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
The Birch Perch Project has begun!
Tomorrow we get our shipment of Insulated Concrete Forms (ICFs) and soon we will begin installing the ICF basement walls.
Some of you may recall that I used to install ICFs on all of our projects until we became too busy to install ICFs so we started to hire that portion of the project out. Recently, we made an investment in ICF equipment to once again install our own ICFs. This time, we can handle the volume and will not be hiring the ICFs out. We can also help homeowners who want to install their own ICFs, just email me and I will give you a call if you are interested!
The Birch Perch Project is a house the I designed in our design studio. This house will look like it grew out of the ground when we get done building it. Currently, I am working on drawing several projects and always have time to look at people's ideas. If you are interested in taking advantage of our design/build/DIY ICF and SIP services, please email me and I will be glad to talk to you about your project!
The Birch Perch Project is a house the I designed in our design studio. This house will look like it grew out of the ground when we get done building it. Currently, I am working on drawing several projects and always have time to look at people's ideas. If you are interested in taking advantage of our design/build/DIY ICF and SIP services, please email me and I will be glad to talk to you about your project!
Stay tuned to this blog or to my facebook page for up to date information on this exciting new Hybrid Home Project!
Adam
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
The Birch Perch Project
This week, we will begin clearing a site in Western Michigan, for our latest project, The Birch Perch Project. This project was designed by me in our new design studio and follows chapters of the book I wrote, Build Green, Make Green, Save Green. If you have read my book, then the weekly videos will be even more exciting to watch, because I will show you how to install ICFs and SIPs! You will learn more than ever on these videos, as this project is a project that most people could afford!
On the videos, I will seek to explain why I switched from all ICF houses to using SIPs for main floor and second floor walls.
We have once again become extremely busy, but are always able to take on new design and build jobs. I am so amazed at how much better designing the house and building the house is, opposed to building off a set of plans that someone else drew. The design process gets us in touch with the homeowners sooner so that the house ends up being so much closer to what the homeowners want. By the time we start building the house, we have been working with the homeowners for almost a year, and have gone over several revisions. As I lead the crew on site and build the house that I designed, the process is so much more fluid!
Stay tuned to this blog and to my Facebook page for updates on this new project.
For those of you who have been following the farm project, we are a week away from being finished. If you have not guessed it yet, that is where I live with my family. We plan to have a fully functioning organic farm with livestock, herb gardens, and year round produce. Can you imagine what your house warming gift would be from Hybrid Homes once the farm is fully functioning?
Happy Spring everyone!
Adam
On the videos, I will seek to explain why I switched from all ICF houses to using SIPs for main floor and second floor walls.
We have once again become extremely busy, but are always able to take on new design and build jobs. I am so amazed at how much better designing the house and building the house is, opposed to building off a set of plans that someone else drew. The design process gets us in touch with the homeowners sooner so that the house ends up being so much closer to what the homeowners want. By the time we start building the house, we have been working with the homeowners for almost a year, and have gone over several revisions. As I lead the crew on site and build the house that I designed, the process is so much more fluid!
Stay tuned to this blog and to my Facebook page for updates on this new project.
For those of you who have been following the farm project, we are a week away from being finished. If you have not guessed it yet, that is where I live with my family. We plan to have a fully functioning organic farm with livestock, herb gardens, and year round produce. Can you imagine what your house warming gift would be from Hybrid Homes once the farm is fully functioning?
Happy Spring everyone!
Adam
Monday, February 11, 2013
More Farm Project videos!
Here are the latest farm videos! You will notice that we blew through the phase II demolition and are now priming drywall. This is a big step for us, because tearing things down can take the wind out of your sails! In episode 7, you will get to see us in action as we make the new office, and episode 8, you get to see what that wood wall covering looks like. Remember, we wanted to take the wood off of the walls and run it through a planer and use it as the floor in the office. How does the wood look? Incredible! Check it out!
The Farm Episode 7 link: https://vimeo.com/58304102
The Farm Episdoe 8 link: https://vimeo.com/59369011
Enjoy!
Adam
The Farm Episode 7 link: https://vimeo.com/58304102
The Farm Episdoe 8 link: https://vimeo.com/59369011
Enjoy!
Adam
Saturday, January 19, 2013
The Farm Project - Episode 6 'Phase II'
The Farm Project has moved onto the second phase! Watch as our crew demos more of the old portion of the Farm House and see what they discover along the way! There are hints at how to restore the tightness of an old farm house and also how to restore the beauty and charm of an old farm house!
Here is the link to Episode 6, enjoy!
https://vimeo.com/57726029
Here is the link to Episode 6, enjoy!
https://vimeo.com/57726029
'The Farm Project' - Episode 5
The Farm Project is progressing. Check this link out to see Episode 5 of the Farm Project!
https://vimeo.com/57325370
https://vimeo.com/57325370
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