#building process

[nova-moon13]

[customhomebuilder-posts]

How a Custom Home Builder Can Help You Achieve Sustainable Living

As the demand for eco-friendly living continues to rise, more homeowners are seeking ways to incorporate sustainable features into their new homes. Partnering with a custom home builder is one of the most effective ways to achieve these goals. Custom home builders offer the flexibility and expertise needed to integrate various sustainable and eco-friendly elements into your new home design. Here’s how a custom home builder can help you achieve sustainable living, making your dream home both stylish and environmentally responsible.

1. Energy-Efficient Design and Construction

1.1 Optimize Home Orientation

Custom home builders can strategically orient your new home to maximize natural light and reduce energy consumption. By positioning your home to take advantage of passive solar heating, you can significantly reduce the need for artificial lighting and heating. This approach involves careful planning of window placement, roof overhangs, and insulation to harness the sun’s energy effectively.

1.2 Incorporate High-Performance Insulation

High-performance insulation materials, such as spray foam or cellulose, are crucial for maintaining energy efficiency. Custom builders can choose insulation that minimizes heat transfer, keeping your home cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. This reduces the reliance on heating and cooling systems, lowering your energy bills and environmental footprint.

2. Sustainable Building Materials

2.1 Select Eco-Friendly Materials

Custom home builders can source sustainable building materials that are environmentally friendly and durable. Options include reclaimed wood, bamboo flooring, and low-VOC (volatile organic compound) paints. These materials not only reduce the environmental impact of construction but also contribute to healthier indoor air quality.

2.2 Use Recycled and Reclaimed Materials

Incorporating recycled and reclaimed materials into your home design can significantly reduce waste and environmental impact. For example, using recycled steel or reclaimed brick for construction reduces the need for new raw materials and minimizes landfill contributions. Custom builders can help source these materials and integrate them into your home’s design seamlessly.

3. Energy-Efficient Systems and Technologies

3.1 Install Solar Panels

One of the most effective ways to achieve sustainable living is by incorporating solar panels into your home. Custom home builders can design and install a solar energy system tailored to your property’s needs. Solar panels can generate clean energy, reducing your reliance on fossil fuels and lowering your utility bills.

3.2 Implement Smart Home Technologies

Smart home technologies, such as programmable thermostats and energy-efficient lighting, can enhance your home’s sustainability. Custom builders can integrate these technologies into your new home, allowing you to monitor and control energy usage more effectively. Features like smart irrigation systems and energy-efficient appliances further contribute to a sustainable lifestyle.

4. Water Conservation Measures

4.1 Install Low-Flow Fixtures

Water conservation is an essential aspect of sustainable living. Custom home builders can install low-flow fixtures in bathrooms and kitchens, including faucets, showerheads, and toilets. These fixtures reduce water consumption without sacrificing performance, helping you save water and lower utility costs.

4.2 Design Efficient Landscaping

Sustainable landscaping is another key component of eco-friendly living. Custom builders can design landscaping that requires minimal irrigation and uses native plants that thrive in your local climate. Implementing rain gardens or permeable paving can also help manage stormwater runoff and reduce water waste.

5. Green Certifications and Standards

5.1 Achieve LEED Certification

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification is a widely recognized standard for sustainable building. Custom home builders can guide you through the process of designing and constructing a home that meets LEED standards. This certification ensures that your home incorporates various green building practices, from energy efficiency to sustainable materials.

5.2 Follow Local Green Building Codes

Many municipalities have adopted green building codes that promote sustainability. Custom builders are familiar with these codes and can ensure that your new home complies with local regulations. This adherence not only contributes to sustainable living but also may qualify you for tax incentives and rebates.

6. Long-Term Durability and Maintenance

6.1 Choose Durable Materials

Sustainable living isn’t just about the initial construction; it’s also about long-term durability. Custom home builders can select materials that are not only eco-friendly but also durable, reducing the need for frequent repairs or replacements. For instance, fiber-cement siding and metal roofing offer long-lasting performance with minimal maintenance.

6.2 Plan for Future Upgrades

A custom home builder can design your home with future upgrades in mind. This forward-thinking approach allows you to incorporate additional sustainable features or technologies as they become available, ensuring that your home remains energy-efficient and environmentally friendly over time.

Conclusion

Partnering with a custom home builder provides numerous opportunities to integrate sustainable practices into your new home. From energy-efficient designs and sustainable materials to advanced technologies and water conservation measures, custom builders offer the expertise and flexibility needed to achieve your sustainability goals. By incorporating these features, you not only contribute to a healthier planet but also enjoy the long-term benefits of reduced utility costs and enhanced home comfort.

Whether you’re building your first home or designing a dream home, working with a custom home builder allows you to create a property that reflects your commitment to eco-friendly living. Embrace the chance to make a positive impact on the environment while enjoying a beautifully crafted home tailored to your unique needs and preferences.

[pippynsworld]

Happy New Years friends!

[reasonsforhope]

Given the misinformation that's been going around and will be going around, thought this might be helpful to some people

For a lot of reasons, I'm very good at this/at searching, to the point where I have worked as a professional fact-checker for two different publishers. So, here goes:

My Article Fact-Checking Protocol

Thorough Version

Read the full article. Keep an eye out for emotionally loaded words, and all-or-nothing language

Keep an eye out or anything that sounds too good to be true, and in contrast, anything that sounds so awful it must be true

Run the website/source through the amazing Media Bias/Fact Check. They'll tell you about a publication's bias and history of accuracy

Go to the website's home page and read through the headlines. Look at what topics they cover/prioritize, sensationalist headlines, and whether they're framing anything in a way that feels odd/off to you

Do a search related to the topic. This can be keywords, a question, or even just copy-paste the article title (Recommended: use DuckDuckGo so the results don't change based on what Google thinks they can sell you)

If multiple highly credible sources that say the same thing pop up, and there's no major societal biases that might affect the coverage of the topic in those sources (e.g. anything related to the Israel-Palestine conflict/Palestinian genocide, no matter which side), then I'm done!

If there are major societal biases, or I can't get a consensus of sufficiently credible sources, then I do some combination of:

(1) search the topic again + the words "controversy" and/or "fake"

(2) search the opposite of the topic, or do some sort of other filtered search

(3) look up a sufficiently credible news outlet with the opposite point of view of my source, and see what they have to say

(4) if it's a big enough topic, start by looking up 2 of the top national papers and 1 major paper for your region (I usually do the ones in the US, because that's where I am In the US: the LA Times, the Washington Post, and the NY Times)

Adjust "news" to "relevant type of source, e.g. tech, environmental" as relevant for all of the above options

If no red flags come up, and it's a topic I understand enough to smell huge bullshit,

Then I'm usually done!

If there are red flags, or I actually need a certain amount of detail/understanding, then it gets more complicated, but that would be a whole other thing to break down and such

or

tl;dr

Quick Version

Read the full article. Keep an eye out for emotionally loaded words, and all-or-nothing language

Keep an eye out or anything that sounds too good to be true, and in contrast, anything that sounds so awful it must be true.

If I don't know the website:

Run the website/source through the amazing Media Bias/Fact Check. They'll tell you about a publication's bias and history of accuracy

If I trust the source, but something else pinged my radar:

Do a quick web search to verify anything that sounds suspicious or too good/bad to be true (Recommended: use DuckDuckGo)

[aysrin]

despite everything, it's you! (+ extra hat closeups below)

[starry-bi-sky]

Out of Context Stuff for a Danyal Al Ghul au i haven't posted - Pit Beast Danyal

Damian, 13: Look, Danyal, -- I am so sorry for everything that happened between us in the League, I hope you can forgive me.

Danny, 10 (allegedly): (has been secretly plotting to murder Damian this whole time, is still gonna do it obvs, but is going to make it significantly less painful now)

Danny: I-- of course, older brother. :]

--------

Bruce: what do you have there, Damian?

Damian:

Danny: (a hulking 10ft pit beast standing beside him, growling idly with ram horns gouging out his eyes and a second set of horns jutting into the air, spines down his back, and a long, spiked tail with an animalistic, skull-like face)

Damian, who smuggled him in (they've made amends): a smoothie, father

----------

Damian: this is my little brother Danyal, i murdered him when he was five. He festered in rage for the last half-a decade, took over a League mountain base in Switzerland, murdered everyone inside and then tried to murder me when I went to investigate with Drake.

Danny: hello!

Damian: we're cool now

----------

Damian: thoughts on resurrection

Danny, (a full ghost): i will succeed in murdering you if you try it

Damian: we'll put a pin in it then

----------

Danny (still instilled with League values): why don't we just murder him??

Damian, on patrol (Danny followed him): we don't murder people, Danyal

Danyal:,,,,are you sick, Dami?? Have you been possessed? Why not!?

(There is raucous laughing through the comms)

----------

Danny, five, pre-death: Dami! :D

Danny, dead, vengeful: Older brother (:

Danny, post-forgiveness: Dami! :]

-------

For some actual context: Danny is fully dead in this au, its a result of the classic DPxDC Demon Twins "death duel" trope but instead of Danny getting revived, he stays fully dead. Danny was five, Damian was seven. His ghost lingered though, and due to the proximity of the pits his ghost steadily absorbed the ambient energy it was letting off. The pits are not corrupted ectoplasm in this au, it's just liquid ecto.

Which means Danny's corruption from an angry and hurt little ghost boy to an unrecognizable monster is from his own doing. It's a result of him stewing in his hurt and anger for years, it physically warped him. He's very powerful. Danny can travel between League Bases but chose a small, out-of-the-way base in the Swiss mountains to fester in and then just. Never Left.

His influence steeped into the very foundations of the building, allowing him to transform and warp the rooms and hallways for his own bidding, Meaning he could turn it into a seemingly unending labyrinth if he so wished to, and block the entrance.

Eventually, blinded (both metaphorically and physically) by his own rage, Danny grew powerful enough to appear physically in the living realm and attacked everyone in the base, slaughtering them all and leaving the base abandoned. He attacks anyone who dares enter -- whether that be other league members, or the unfortunate hiker who stumbled across the base. His conscious is steeped into every nook and cranny of the building, there is nowhere you can hide where he can't find. Nobody leaves without his explicit say so. Nobody ever does.

Him appearing as ten years old before Damian in the skits above is his own physical doing. First it was to prevent Damian from being suspicious of him. Damian initially thought Danny was revived with the pits, he was too busy with his own training afterwards to notice that Danny never showed up again, and when he did notice, he assumed it was because Danny was too ashamed of his loss to face him. He'd always forget to ask about him.

Then it becomes a personal choice to appear as ten. It's how old he would've been had he been alive.

danny forgiving Damian is kinda for an offshoot branch of the main au. Whereas the main au takes the form of a ps4 first person horror game where Damian and Tim are investigating the Base for Plot Reasons. There's no sign of the rumored "monster" living inside until the end, where Danny, who was found inside the Base and has been happily "helping" them look around, manages to persuade Damian into splitting off from Tim in order to "show him something."

This something turns out to be Danny revealing that he never really forgave Damian for that fight, and he reveals through a horrifying transformation, that he was the monster the whole time. Which the game subtly hints at throughout as Danny's strange behavior becomes harder to ignore.

First from his insistence to only refer to Damian as "older brother" (when before the duel he always called him Damian or Dami), to him right off the bat denying the existence of a monster when questioned. ("There's no monster here, older brother. It's just me.") To other various things, like his knowledge of the outside world not matching up to modern times or things going on with the league outside of the base, or what happened to the other league members.

This whole idea was inspired by the song "Scylla" from Epic the Musical, with Danyal being the voice of Scylla as well as Odysseus, while Damian stands as Eurylochus. The instrumentals after Scylla says "hello" is him turning into the pit beast, and Scylla's "drown in your sorrow and fears" part is danny, as the pit beast, snarling at Damian while he attacks him.

There's a Good Ending, a Bad Ending, and a True Ending. The Bad Ending results in Damian being killed by Danny, it happens when Damian decides not to question or suspect Danny and treats him kindly. The Bad Ending is a cutscene, where Danny kills Damian quick and painlessly.

Meanwhile the Good Ending is Damian killing Danny. This is a boss fight, and it happens when Damian treats Danny coldly and suspiciously the whole time. Danny as a result, decides to make Damian's death painful as he had planned to, which is why it's a boss fight because it only causes him to double down on his anger.

The True Ending is Damian escapes with Tim. It happens when you treat Danny warmly up until the last minute, where when Danny proposes to Damian that he wants to show him something, Damian goes to talk to Tim and finally, reluctantly agrees that something is off with Danny, and that he'll be careful going in. It starts off with the boss fight until a third through, where it then changes to a cutscene where Tim manages to get the door open and Damian escapes out. It's then a chase scene down a never-ending hallway as the building actively works to keep you trapped inside. But you eventually make it to the exit so long as you avoid all the projectiles and doors.

Remember when I mentioned that Danny only lets people leave when he wants them to? That's where the treating Danny kindly throughout the game comes into play. It causes him to second guess himself and, eventually, reawaken and strengthen the love and admiration he had for Damian prior to his murder. It's why in the Bad Ending he kills Damian quickly -- because by then, he loves him enough that he doesn't want him to suffer, but is still so consumed by his rage and need for vengeance that he kills him anyways. That quiet part is what allows Damian (and Tim) to find the exit, because some part of Danny still loves Damian enough that he wants him to live.

The True Ending ends with a cutscene of Damian and Tim tumbling out into the snow/grass outside of the base. Damian looks up back to the entrance to see Danny standing there. But rather than a ten year old boy, there's a little five year old Danyal Al Ghul instead. He stares at Damian emotionlessly, blood seeping from his chest, staining his clothes, and little, bloody sword in his hands and tearstains on his cheeks, before he turns away and disappears back into the building.

[itsawritblr]

World building.

[pharmasrightarm]

Hello hello!! I just wanna start off by saying how GORGEOUS your art is! Truly inspiring. I was wondering what your process was? Again, your art is truly impressive

Thank you!! Oh man, it was a saga and you've opened a can of worms because my favorite thing to ramble about outside of sad gay space robots is our unholy overlord Photoshop (warning for length)

Hatching workflow: step 1: have too many Doré artbooks The refined process is thumbnail > cleaner sketch > black-and-white base OR 3D render > cut out whites > clean up edges > mask out each building/section > hatching lines with the upcoming layer setup

One:

And another:

Below is the layer setup I use for hatching! First I separated each element into its own folder, with its own mask—

Then used this structure in each folder— I just want the hatching lines to appear black when on lit areas, and white on shadowed areas (as opposed to having to draw part of a line in white and another part in black). So, after separating the lit and shadowed sides, I copied the "Light" layer, clipped it on top of a folder of hatching lines, and inverted its layer mask.

(*I draw on layer masks because it's easier to recolor lines + toggle between drawing and erasing with the "X" shortcut (I have fore- and background colors set to black and white for layer masks))

Sometimes I do a pass of grayscale values and overlay that layer on top as a reference while hatching.

I've two main brushes: one choppier and one smoother and tapered at the ends (for thin lines, 2px-3px). Really thin horiz/vert lines are just the Pencil at 1px.

Black-and-white workflow with 3D:

Tbh at first I only intended to make that one lurking Drift illustration. But I cower from 3D like it’ll kill me, so I turned it into a 3D assignment. First I used that "separate ways" piece to make myself model at low stakes (I just made items from the comic backgrounds and jammed them together), then I modeled the Dead End wide shot and got the final lurking Drift comp from that.

1. Drew enough detail to model (>see the 5th image in this post)

2. Used fSpy to generate a Blender camera that matched my perspective

3. Shoved together the barest essentials of the clinic set in Blender (setting the 5th image in this post as a background image in Viewport)

4. Rendered at hi-res twice: once with lighting, once with Freestyle outlines.

5. Changed clinic design in the close-up, so I went back to revise the wide shot.

In conclusion, my hobby is wrangling Photoshop to minutely speed up the extremely tedious and niche thing I can't stop myself from doing If anyone's got a faster way to do any of this, tell me!!

here's a gif for funsies because I get 1 more image on this post

[lamaery]

Art for the Stormlight RPG World Guide for Kholinar, the Warcamps and Herdaz.

They kickstarter is going midblowingly well and by now not only the no° 1 RPG kickstarter of all times but maaaaybe it'll even get to be the most successful board games kickstarter... 👀 (this fandom really never ceases to amaze!) 55 Hours still to go. The kickstarter ends on Thursday night (Or Friday morning if you are in Europe). So if you are interested you can still join (and add late pledges later 😉) There is also this lovely chat I had with Argent not too long ago, if you want to listen to us (well mostly me) enthusiastically rant about world building and making art for the Cosmere RPG for way too long. 😅 (But you can see some of the progress that went into some of these pieces here.)

[flamingpudding]

Little Snippets #3

"Okay most importantly stay quiet and don't touch anything." Jason commanded as he stealthy snuck into one of Bruce's safe houses that had a weapon stash. "We don't want to trigger an alarm and alert the old man."

"You're saying that to the wrong guy dude. I am Ghost I can't really trigger any of that-" Danny started but was then cut of by Jason.

"Don't touch anything. The old man is paranoid..."

"Again, me ghost, well Halfa." Danny pointed out exaggerating when pointing at his self.

Jason rolled his eyes under his helmet as he turned to break into Bruce's newest safety lock on the weaponry in an attempt to make Jason stop 'borrowing' from him. "We got a deal kid. Don't touch anything."

"Yea, yea, you blow up the likely very illegal governmental GIW facility and help me free the others, and I will agree to meet someone..." Danny mutters, staring at something interesting he kind of really wanted to poke.

"Kid." Jason said warningly, not even needing to look to know Danny was about to touch something he shouldn't.

"Relax." The Halfa waved him of. "I am a ghost. It's not like anything will-"

Alarms started blaring when Danny's finger touched the object of interest, and Jason facepalmed, his hand smacking against his helmet.

[fishcalcart]

Another fanart for coffee and mayhem by @sevi007 bc I’m at part 18 and I still haven’t stopped thinking about part 3 chapter 2 with the blanket

[customhomebuilder-posts]

5 Common Mistakes to Avoid When Hiring a Custom Home Builder

Building a custom home is an exciting journey that allows you to design a space tailored to your personal tastes and lifestyle. However, selecting the right custom home builder is critical to ensuring that the building process goes smoothly and that the final result meets your expectations. Here are five common mistakes to avoid when hiring a custom home builder, along with tips on how to navigate these pitfalls effectively.

1. Failing to Research and Vet Builders Thoroughly

One of the most common mistakes is not doing enough research when selecting a custom home builder. Choosing the wrong builder can lead to delays, budget overruns, and subpar quality.

1.1 Verify Credentials and Experience

Ensure that the builder you are considering is licensed, insured, and has a solid track record. Look for builders with experience in constructing custom homes similar to what you envision. Check online reviews, ask for references, and visit past projects to gauge their quality of work.

1.2 Assess Reputation and Reliability

Research the reputation of potential builders in the local market. Reputable custom home builders will have positive feedback from previous clients and a history of completing projects on time and within budget. Avoid builders with a history of complaints or unresolved issues.

2. Not Defining Clear Expectations and Budget

Miscommunication about expectations and budget can lead to misunderstandings and financial strain. It is crucial to establish clear terms before starting the project.

2.1 Set a Realistic Budget

Discuss your budget in detail with the builder and understand what is included in the price. Consider all costs associated with the project, including permits, materials, and unexpected expenses. Ensure the builder provides a comprehensive estimate that covers all aspects of the construction process.

2.2 Communicate Design and Functional Requirements

Clearly outline your design preferences, functional needs, and any special features you want in your new home. Use detailed home designs and specifications to avoid ambiguity. Ensure that both you and the builder have a mutual understanding of the project scope and expectations.

3. Overlooking the Importance of a Detailed Contract

A well-drafted contract is essential to protect both parties and ensure that the project proceeds smoothly. Many clients make the mistake of not paying enough attention to the contract details.

3.1 Include Detailed Specifications

Ensure that the contract includes detailed specifications of the custom home, including materials, finishes, and construction methods. This will help prevent disputes and ensure that you receive exactly what you agreed upon.

3.2 Outline Project Timeline and Milestones

The contract should outline the project timeline, including key milestones and deadlines. This helps manage expectations and ensures that both you and the builder are aware of the schedule. Include provisions for handling delays or changes in the timeline.

4. Ignoring Communication and Transparency

Effective communication with your custom home builder is vital for a successful project. Lack of transparency can lead to misunderstandings and complications.

4.1 Establish Open Lines of Communication

Set up regular meetings or updates with your builder to discuss progress, address concerns, and make decisions. Ensure that communication channels are open and that both parties are comfortable with the level of interaction.

4.2 Address Issues Promptly

Address any issues or concerns as soon as they arise. Delaying communication can lead to unresolved problems and potentially affect the project’s outcome. An open dialogue helps maintain a positive working relationship and keeps the project on track.

5. Neglecting to Verify the Builder’s Quality Control Measures

Quality control is crucial to ensuring that your custom home meets your standards and expectations. Some clients overlook the importance of verifying the builder’s quality control practices.

5.1 Review Quality Control Procedures

Inquire about the builder’s quality control procedures and inspections. A reputable builder will have established practices for monitoring and maintaining construction quality throughout the project. Ensure that they conduct regular inspections and address any issues promptly.

5.2 Assess Workmanship and Materials

During construction, periodically inspect the work being done and the materials being used. Ensure that the workmanship meets your expectations and that the materials align with your specifications. If you notice any discrepancies, address them with the builder immediately.

Conclusion

Hiring a custom home builder is a significant decision that can greatly influence the success of your dream home project. By avoiding these common mistakes—thoroughly researching and vetting builders, defining clear expectations and budget, ensuring a detailed contract, maintaining open communication, and verifying quality control—you can help ensure a smoother building process and achieve the custom home you’ve envisioned.

Whether you are embarking on your first home project or designing a dream home, taking these steps will help you make informed decisions and collaborate effectively with your custom home builder. A well-managed project and a strong builder-client relationship will result in a successful construction process and a home that perfectly fits your needs and desires.

[degenerateshinji]

li tianxi in my more painterly style + lu guang inplick colour study !!

[chebyshevptera]

“actually jay didn’t make the bounty fly it was his dad” respectfully whatever plant you’re smoking i think you need to stop

[cozylittleartblog]

9th annual nick valentines day (ft. soup again) + doodle i made last year that i forgot about, from when bethesda gave us that free update

[bignose-clangen]

Ok I have plans on changing a few names for roles in the clans and also changing up what they do a bit ... but I'm having a hard time deciding on names for the roles so I wanted your opinions/ideas!

The roles that are not changing are:

Leader, Warrior, Apprentice, Elder

The roles I am changing are:

Deputy? I kinda want to change the name to 'Second' but I could just stick with tho og, so I'd like to know which yall like better!

Medicine Cat: i always change the name for this one, I'm thinking about 'Doctor' this time though I could just stick with my go to of healer.

Queen: im making Queens the caretakers of the clan, they help raise kits but also act as the clan therapist and caretaker for all, making sure everyone is happy and healthy! I was thinking of changing the name 'Nurse' to go with 'Doctor' however that might not be fitting? So I could go with Caretaker? But that doesn't role off the tongue as well :/

Mediator: the Mediator role has been merged with the queen role basically, and I am replacing Mediators with what I am currently calling 'scholars'. Cats who dedicate themselves to learning as much as they can about clan history and the natural world (ex: types of plants, animals, etc.) And sharing this knowledge with the clan (especially the youth). Id love ideas for names for this role! Do yall like scholar or should I do something else??

Quite literally this is the only thing I am undecided on... I have the wonderful first chapter planned out I just need to decide the role names lol