Best Practices for Residential Construction

When it comes to both new construction and remodeling practices, Building Codes are merely a starting reference. Selecting the proper details and materials for any sustainable and energy efficient home, addition or remodeling project can be a daunting task. Additionally, it seems that Building Science professionals cannot agree on the best approaches to create high-performance homes.

For well over 30 years, SWA has been developing solutions for difficult residential construction details and been instrumental in helping to enact code changes that permit the wide-spread use of these advanced strategies. SWA has also been a driving force in the quest to improve residential energy performance.

With a systems-approach to design, SWA has helped many builders and developers understand the interaction between the building’s envelope and equipment. By educating professionals about how their homes work as a system. SWA has played a key role in making homes work better and in advancing the built environment into the 21st century.

SWA’s staff of expert residential professionals, including a practicing Residential Builder, have authored several ‘Best Practice” residential handbooks. These practical guides provide assistance to a wide-range of design and construction professionals, ranging from Affordable Builders/Developers to large Single and Multi-family Project Teams. Regardless of the project or size, selecting the right materials and installation techniques before construction begins can save time and money. An interest in avoiding costly litigation and call-backs is often reason enough to challenge ‘old’ practices.

Through many successful partnerships with state and federal agencies, including the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Department of Energy, SWA has been involved in the design, construction, testing and monitoring of numerous demonstration projects across the country. These prototypes serve as a showcase for the use of both new and time-tested technologies that result in highly efficient, durable, attractive homes and remodeling projects. If you would like more information on using the best practices before construction begins, please email BldgConstr@swinter.com.