Compare the Difference

Whey do we build a better home?
Read below to find out why.

FRONT PORCH DETAILS:

Our Homes: Our front porches are designed with low maintenance Timbertech decking and are trimmed in AZEK white board. The porch beams are also trimmed in AZEK white board. We provide round 10" diameter fiberglass columns. Our porches are trimmed with numerous recessed ceiling lights and 2 coach lanterns. We feature brick steps to grade. Vinyl lattice and brick columns wrap the front porch. All of this provides a look that yells "QUALITY."

Theirs: Most builders construct their front porches on concrete block foundations using a concrete slab for the decking. Their porch beams are usually constructed with 4" x 4" posts that are wrapped in a vinyl sleeve. The porch beam is simply wrapped in an aluminum sheathing which usually shows wrinkles and seams in the aluminum. This finish isn't a quality look which causes you to go "Wow."

EXTERIOR DOORS AND WINDOWS:

Our Homes: We choose to provide upgraded Therma-Tru fiberglass doors for our front and garage entry doors. Therma-Tru fiberglass doors are weather resistant with the added benefit of being designed for dent resistance. On most of our models, the front door is enhanced through the addition of left and right side-lites and a glass transom above the door.

To further upgrade our homes, we provide as a standard feature Low-E Anderson double-hung tilt-wash windows with grills and screens. Both window sashes are operable and tilt inward for easy cleaning. To compliment our Anderson windows, our sliding glass doors are also made by Anderson Windows and Doors.

Theirs: Most builders choose to offer as a standard door system a lower quality steel front door. These doors are easily dented through normal use. Their windows are usually a standard clear glass vinyl window without the provision of Low-E qualities.

FRAMED FLOOR SYSTEM

Our Homes: Though the engineering specifications allow for us to frame our floor systems using 9 ½" engineered I-beams, or even worse, by using 2"x 10" framing lumber, we elect to strengthen our floor systems by installing the larger 11 7/8" I-beams. The engineered I-beams help to prevent the warping and cupping that is prevalent in standard framing material. Also, the larger sized I-beams work to reduce floor bounce as well as to provide a stronger sub-floor for the support of finished flooring materials. We install our I-beams 16" on center apart from one another.

Again, many builders are electing to space the I-beams either 19.2" apart or 24" apart. Although the constructions standards may allow for such spacing, the result leads to a flexing of the floors; unacceptable to our standards. We also elect to install the upgraded Advantage sub-flooring material in lieu of the inferior OSB flake board or plywood. Advantech is engineered to resist water absorption. Since water absorption in the sub-floor is a leading cause of floor squeaks, we help to eliminate this problem by upgrading to the Advantech product. All in all, our goal is to provide a sub-floor that's works to reduce the chances of squeaking and bouncing floors. QUALITY!

Theirs: Many builders (especially the large production builders) elect to build right at the minimum engineered standards. As such, they use either the old 2" x 10" framing for their I-beams, or they use the minimally required 9 ½" I-beams. Flexing floors with the potential of developing squeaks is what will result. Also, they choose to save money by using the inferior plywood or OSB material instead of upgrading to Advantech.

GARAGES

Our Homes: Our homes are built with either a 16' x 8' oversized garage door or we design our homes with multiple garage doors based on the model. In all cases, our garage doors are from OVERHEAD DOOR, 'The Banner Collection.' These doors are polystyrene insulated (R-9.83), hot-dipped galvanized steel protected with two coats of baked-on polyester paint. Unlike most other builders, we provide as standard a belt driven LiftMaster garage door opener with two remotes for each of the garage doors.

All exterior walls and ceiling in the garage are insulated with R-11 fiberglass batt insulation. The walls and ceiling are drywalled, taped and sanded.

Theirs: Garage doors are usually of a lesser, non-insulated quality. The door openers are almost always an option. Insulating and dry-walling garage walls and the ceiling is almost always an option.

FLOOR COVERINGS

Our Homes: We provide a generous floor covering allowance that enables our customers to select fine floor covering finishes. Generally, we budget to allow our customers the option to select 3 ¼" wide, natural oak hardwood, sanded after installation, and finished with 3 coats of hard polyurethane. Most builders may allow for hardwood installation also. However, their standard would be the pre-finished 2 ¼" wide oak hardwood. Pre-finished hardwood has a factory finish applied prior to the installation of the hardwood on the job. This is generally a lesser quality installation of hardwood than having the finish applied on the site after the installation of the hardwood.

We also budget for ceramic tile installation in the bathrooms. Carpet is usually budgeted for installation in all bedrooms and in a great room or family room. We use Shaw Foundations Best Bet I 38 ounce carpet as our standard. Under the carpet we install an upgraded 8 lb. carpet pad.

Theirs: A combination of builder grade carpet, vinyl flooring, and maybe pre-finished 2 ¼" hardwood flooring is allocated in the builder's budget. These finishes are far inferior to what we provide to our buyers. Usually, the customer would end up upgrading this allowance, thus paying more for their floor coverings.

KITCHEN CABINETS, VANITIES, AND COUNTERTOPS

Our Homes:We provide Merillat Deluxe I cabinets and vanities from REICO Kitchen & Baths. These cabinets feature solid Merillat quality controlled construction including dove-tailed joints in the drawers. Our standard kitchen budget provides for beautiful crown molding over the top of the cabinets. 42" wall cabinets are included as standard. Most models feature center islands or peninsulas. Many trim features are included as standard in our budget.

Our kitchen countertops are manufactured from Silestone stone product. Silestone has proven to be a dependable countertop material that is stain resistant and harder than granite. We use high gloss cultured marble vanity tops as our standard in the bath rooms.

Theirs: Inferior cabinet manufacturers, no crown molding, 30" high wall cabinets, and laminate over OSB constructed countertops are the norm with most other builders. Choice of style and options is usually an ad-on!

Other Features Which Distinguish Lighthouse from Other Builders

• Interior and exterior drain-tile to sump pump in basement foundations
• 9' Ceilings on first floor for most models
• Recessed lighting in kitchen, family / great room, and master bath as standard
• Heatilator 'Calibur Series' direct vent gas fireplace with mantel, marble surround and hearth.
• Natural Oak hardwood stairs to second floor from foyer; (most builders offer carpet grade stairs)
• Oak rail and ballisters for stairs and second floor landing
• Beautiful master bedroom suite with 'Jacuzzi' tub on raised platform finished with ceramic tile on platform
• Ceiling fans in all bedrooms, family room, bonus room / bedroom
• Multiple zoned HVAC system, either 2 zones or 3 zones depending on model
• Certainteed 'Heritage Series' 30 year architectural tabbed shingles
• Upgraded Certainteed 'Mainstreet Series' vinyl siding. Some models are upgraded to Certainteed T-5 or Certainteed 'Tru-Comfort' vinyl siding
• We install fiberglass batt installation in the attic. Most builders use blown-in installation. Wind currents in the attic can shift wind blown insulation around, exposing drywall.
• Poured concrete garage slab using concrete footers, wire mesh, and re-bar for strength. Many builders use only wire mesh for concrete strength, no re-bar or footers.