A Good Hood

Homeowners are fans of vented range hoods, which clear the air in kitchen design.

A range hood has both form and function in the updated hearth of a home, says Alana Busse, National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) Central Coast and Valleys Chapter president and a designer at Westside Remodeling Inc., based in Thousand Oaks, California. "More people want to cook like a 'top chef' at home, and invest in a big, beefy range or cooktop, instead of a traditional electric stove," Busse says. "The properly ventilated range hood not only removes cooking grease, moistures and odors from the kitchen, it is required to vent gas burners."

Before a kitchen design can get cooking, you need to plan how best to ventilate it. The style of a range hood is secondary to the substance of its performance. Busse says you must start with the home of the range. "The size and location of the cooking source in the kitchen determines its best range hood partner," she says. "A range hood's performance is measured in cubic-feet-per-minute (CFM), so the higher a range hood's CFM number, the more air it will remove."

A large, six-burner gas range can require a hood with a maximum output of 1,200 CFMs, but Busse says the hidden ductwork is as essential as a range hood's CFM number. The venting of a range hood may determine the layout of a kitchen and the configuration of appliances.

"The chance of build-up is greater in a 20-foot run of venting ductwork, than in a 5-foot run directly vented through an exterior wall," she says. "Generally, the size of a range hood should mimic the dimensions of the cooking source, but the higher it is installed from the cooktop surface, the less efficient it becomes at capturing smoke and particles."

The typical installation distance between a cooktop's burners and the hood is about three feet. But a standard height installation for a range hood may not work for the tall cook, so it's essential to choose a model with adequate power to remove air effectively.

If you choose a strong range hood fan, building codes may require a makeup air system in your home's heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) system. High-powered range hoods can take out large volumes of air, and if air is not replaced at the same rate it is expelled, a vacuum effect can be created in the home.

All of the planning around the range hood is secondary if it is never pressed into service, says Molly Erin McCabe, co-owner and founder of A Kitchen That Works, based on Bainbridge Island, Washington.

"Range hoods are designed to remove moisture, grease and particulates from your home, and prevent these things from being breathed in and adhering to your walls, cabinets and furnishings," McCabe says. "If the range hood isn't used, homeowners might experience moisture-related issues, such as mold, and higher maintenance requirements for paint, wallpaper, cabinetry and furnishings."

The time to turn on the range hood isn't when water is boiling or food becomes blackened. "Make a habit of turning on your range hood before you begin cooking; that way, when you need it to be venting, you've already created an airflow," McCabe says. "Also, don't snap off the range hood as soon as you're done cooking; really allow it to clear the air, so to speak. Some range hoods even come equipped with a timer, so you don't have to interrupt a meal to flip a switch."

McCabe says homeowners make a lot of noise over the loudness of a range hood's fan. A range hood's sound output is measured in sones -- an internationally recognized measurement of loudness -- and each is marked in a product's description.

One sone is roughly equal to the sound of a refrigerator running; while conversations take place around 4 sones. As a rule, the higher the range hood's CFM rating, the louder the unit is when running. Range hood fans typically have three to six speeds; so to mitigate noise, purchase the most powerful range hood you can afford and run it on a lower speed.

If the cooking surface is on a kitchen island, the capture area of the exhaust fan should be larger to compensate for the fact that the fan will be drawing air from an open space. But along with technical considerations, homeowners need to consider a range hood's aesthetics. An island cooktop with a large hood vented to the ceiling can visually fight with hanging light fixtures, so an inconspicuous downdraft fan system might be the best solution.

Range hoods have evolved from utilitarian stainless steel to the ubercool wrapped in cabinetry, and come in all shapes and sizes: from a straight-sided box to sleek, tapered styles. "A wall-mounted range hood can be housed in cabinetry that becomes the modern-day mantle in the kitchen," Busse says. "The range area is often a focal point of the kitchen, with an eye-catching backsplash on the wall visually connected to the hood venting."

The backsplash between the hood venting and range is prime visual real estate and allows homeowners to make a personal style statement. Materials such as stone, metal, ceramic tile and glass should add interest, but be practical to clean.

McCabe also wants to shed light on not only buying the proper range hood, but the importance of maintaining it, as well. Many range hood models come with a warning light that indicates when it's time to clean filters, which can be as easy as running them through the dishwasher. "Expect to pay about $1,000 for a high-quality range hood, which should include lights, so what you're doing on the stovetop is well-illuminated," she says. "Homeowners can showcase their design range by incorporating the hood venting into their overall kitchen aesthetic."

Under the (Range) Hood

To find a certified kitchen professional, go to the National Kitchen and Bath Association's website: www.nkba.org and type in your zip code under the "Find a Professional" link under the DESIGN tab.

-- AKitchenThatWorks.com

-- WestsideRemodeling.com

(For editorial questions, please contact Clint Hooker at chooker@amuniversal.com.)

Homeowners thinking outside of the traditional wood-framed residential box are pouring on the creativity when building houses with precast concrete walls.

Not only used in below-grade applications, concrete shows its durability and energy efficiency from the ground up in new home construction, says James Baty, executive director of the Concrete Foundations Association, based in Mount Vernon, Iowa. "It's hard to beat concrete's thermal performance, storm resistance and sustainability qualities," he says. "A concrete home built with the proper supports can easily last 200 years and, as in 'The Three Pigs' fairy tale, can withstand nature's 'huffs and puffs' better than the house made of sticks."

Concrete is comprised of cement, which is a fine powder made from limestone, clay and/or shale. When mixed with water, cement binds aggregates, such as sand and gravel, into solid concrete through a chemical reaction called hydration.

But Baty says today's concrete isn't that of your grandfather's generation -- technological advances build a better, stronger and firmer concrete -- especially when it comes to the precast variety.

Superior Walls of America, based in New Holland, Pennsylvania, is a 35-year-old company with a dozen licensees in the United States and Canada, and has been an innovator in precast concrete building systems since its inception, says company president Jim Costello.

The precast concrete process is one in which wall panels are fabricated to architectural plans in factory-controlled conditions and assembled on-site, Costello says. "Instead of pouring concrete into forms on the construction site, our products are steel-reinforced concrete walls with insulation inside, for the highest energy efficiency," he says. "Precast concrete walls are up to 10 1/4 inches thick and can be up to 12 feet tall with custom-made holes so forms are easily bolted together to create a tight seal."

A specially formulated concrete that can withstand up to 5,000 pounds per square inch after a full 28-day curing process, precast concrete wall panels need not remain a utilitarian gray color. Texture can also be achieved in precast concrete walls shortly after being poured into forms through stamping -- a process by which patterns are pressed into wet concrete. Colorants can be spread over the top of stamped, wet concrete so the outside of panels can emulate stones or bricks. Or, after the house is built, skilled masonry workers can affix stone or brickwork to concrete panels.

Foam insulation is layered in each precasted form, and acts as an impervious barrier to water and air. Precast concrete forms serve as a solid wall structure, and are bolted together for below-grade applications and multiple story homes. When fit together according to architectural plans, the precast concrete walls create a tight building envelope, which wins awards for energy efficiency.

"There's a higher concentration of concrete homes in Europe, while concrete homes in North America can range from 15 percent to 25 percent more on front-end costs than traditional new construction that uses wood," Baty says. "But we are finding that more people are considering building concrete homes in storm-prone coastal regions and in places where tornados are prevalent."

An energy-efficient home in Litchfield, Connecticut, constructed with Superior Walls precast concrete wall panels, was recently declared a winner in the state's sixth annual Zero Energy Challenge. The residence, built by Revival Homes LLC of New Hartford, tied in the category for the home with the "lowest projected annual net operating cost."

The precast concrete walls are structural, but also serve as the finished surface on the outside of the home. Since the low-maintenance concrete panels will not burn or rot over time, they add to the durability and energy efficiency of the home.

Precast concrete panels have vertical steel rebar inside each stud and insulated access holes for ease in wiring and plumbing. Inside the home, galvanized steel stud facings are ready for drywall or plasterboard finishing, so interior walls conceal the solid stone-cold nature of concrete.

Meticulous planning is essential when choosing to build a concrete home made of precast walls, because once poured, walls are set in concrete. "The beauty of concrete is that it can be formed in all different shapes," Costello says. "A house in the round, or geodome, made of concrete is attainable if an architect can plan it, then we can cast it and build it."

Set in Concrete

For precast concrete information, go to SuperiorWalls.com.

(For editorial questions, please contact Clint Hooker at chooker@amuniversal.com.)

Rustic charms roost in timber-framed homes that resemble barns. Rooted in American agrarian architecture, barn home designs have an expansive "cathedral" quality, says Kevin Durkin, president and founder of Heritage Restorations, based in Waco, Texas.

"Barn-style homes are popular for their large, open areas and classic farmhouse architectural style," Durkin says. "The beauty of the interior of a barn home is that it can be contemporary or rustic."

Cupolas, steep-pitched roofs, exposed timbers and expansive open interiors are some of the key architectural elements found in barn homes. Built using timber frame construction, barn homes are built strong with lengthy wood posts fashioned in a horizontal and vertical framework using wooden peg or mortise-and-tenon joinery techniques. This timber frame bears the entire weight of the structure, which makes load-bearing interior walls unnecessary and cathedral ceilings possible.

By contrast, most new home construction is "stick-built" using 2-by-4-inch or 2-by-6-inch boards. When nailed together, the boards make the studs, joists and rafters that distribute the weight load from the roof. This type of construction requires plaster or drywall to hide the inner workings of a home's studs, joists and load-bearing walls.

"From the 1700s, it used to be that every farm had a barn before American agriculture began becoming mechanized in the 19th century," Durkin says. "For 20 years, our company has been disassembling these old barns -- before they fall down -- and reassembling these old barns as someone's new home."

With other office sites in Connecticut and Montana, Heritage Restorations has rebuilt 340 barns into residences across the world. Other companies such as Barn Pros, based near Seattle; Yankee Barn Homes, in Grantham, New Hampshire; and Sand Creek Post & Beam in Wayne, Nebraska; also specialize in timber-frame construction, but use modern materials and have customized factory-built components, which eliminate the need to cut wood on the jobsite.

Durkin says his barn-building company believes in green building -- the construction of homes in a way that conserves natural resources and emphasizes energy efficiency. "Although these barn homes are expansive inside, they are really the 'anti-McMansion' in terms of sustainability," he says. "Not only are we reclaiming and repurposing these old barns, there's no replicating the patina of these old-growth, hand-hewn timbers."

Energy-efficient windows and the use of structural insulated panels (or SIPs) create a tight barn-building envelope. SIPs are a product that provides insulation, an interior finish and outside sheathing, while still allowing the timber framing to be admired from the inside.

The square-footage of a barn home doesn't have to be expansive and as "broad as a barn door" to be livable. Durkin says they've designed barn homes that range from 900 to 5,000 square feet, with an average size around 1,200 square feet.

"In its simplest form, a barn is a 'big box' that can be configured any number of ways to suit the homeowner," Durkin says. "Some people want a loft built for bedrooms and actual barn doors that open up to the outside." Construction costs average about $200 per square foot, but can be a barn-raising $400-plus per square foot, Durkin says.

A contemporary take on a barn home's classic "country" design has elements found in modern construction, including vaulted ceilings and exposed beams. Modern barn home designs should begin with solid craftsmanship, whether it requires repurposing an original barn or just bringing a bit of "old soul" using exposed wooden elements into a newly constructed home.

Indoor-Outdoor Living

A modern barn-home style allows for the space to be both uncluttered and contemporary. Incorporating natural elements -- such as stone and wooden timbers -- into an airy atmosphere anchors the design and creates a warm and cozy feeling in the space.

Natural light is enhanced in the space with window treatments that are barely there, or just bare, so outdoor views are unobstructed. Large barn doors can lead to an outside deck, patio or porch for seamless entertaining.

Barn-Raising Space

In addition to a primary residence, a barn can be built for both work and play:

-- A barn home office can be a space that is both professional and productive, including an easy commute and large area to hold meetings.

-- A barn-style artist-in-residence studio can be a creative space flooded with natural light from windows, and expansive enough to work on large-scale artistic projects.

-- A guest barnhouse is a sweet suite for visiting friends and family, with enough space and privacy to accommodate loved ones.

-- A party barn is a social outbuilding for friends who are in for a good time.

"A barn really bespeaks of an age when people were tied to nature and made things by hand. When you are surrounded by a structure that harkens back to this time, it becomes easier to unplug and relax," Durkin says. "If people ask, 'Were you raised in a barn?' we like to take it as a compliment."

Farm Out for More Information:

-- Timber Framers Guild: TFGuild.org or 360-746-6571.

-- Heritage Restorations: HeritageBarns.com or 877-354-2276.

(For editorial questions, please contact Clint Hooker at chooker@amuniversal.com.)