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The Total Program Steps

Design Review and Construction Modification Monitoring
Prior to construction, a plan review would be conducted by EnviroHome and CAPRIi engineers to identify any plan or design concerns. Manual J load and other structural calculations would be performed as needed to verify the design and any changes to the plans made by the owner and/or subs. Energy calculations will be reviewed and recalculated, if necessary. Once confirmed, the home design would be locked on the inspector’s (EnviroHome’s copy) plans so that any departures during construction would be immediately identified and their impact evaluated in a timely fashion. Departures from the plans would be brought to the attention of the superintendent immediately. Our engineering department would be available to evaluate the impact of the plan changes immediately. Our engineering department is also available to preform load calculations (Manual J) , energy calculations, and mechanical system design.

100 Percent Inspection Coverage - Code, Defect, and Moisture Entry
EnviroHome and CAPRI inspectors will be present whenever needed. Instead of being present only at specific stages of construction, the inspectors will be present at every stage of construction. This should eliminate the possibility of anything being undetected and/or anything being disturbed by follow-up sub-contractors. The CAPRI and EnviroHome inspectors will provide Code inspections as well as Moisture Entry/IAQ inspections services. Private provider inspection services can also be provided if necessary.

Waterproofing/Damp/Draft Proofing
It is our strong belief that the shell sealing processes are too important to be left to the shell, glazing, and painting contractors whose primary objective is getting the job done as quickly as possible. We have recognized that the water/draft/damp proofing processes require almost a full time presence at the site to address all of the critical seal points as they come up during the construction process. In a typical home, there are over 160 separate water/draft/damp proofing steps that come up during the various stages of construction. It is our belief that the only way to address all of these points and to ensure that nothing is being missed is by doing these services in-house. It’s the attention to details and the implementation of redundant measures that eliminates all of the leaks, not just some of them. Our waterproofing technicians will be available at all times during the construction process to make critical point seals. Our inspector will follow directly behind the technician to verify the work. Additionally, if waterproofing measures are disturbed by follow-up subcontractor work, the inspector will be on-site to identify and notify the technician where touch-up work is necessary. The waterproofing measures will be photo documented by the EnviroHome inspector. Finally, by doing the water/draft/damp proofing in-house we will be able to certify the soundness of the seal through leak testing.

Window/ Door/Shell Leak Testing
Leak testing will be performed on all job sites to document that the windows and door openings are tight. The windows will be tested before installation (mechanical seal verification) and after installation (installation seal verification). Shell seal testing will be performed as needed. The ASTM standards will be followed in the conducting of the leak tests.

Construction Cleaning
Many indoor air quality (IAQ) problems can be traced back to the accumulation of dust and debris that is left in the house during construction (under cabinets, behind baseboards, inside duct work, etc.). The only way to eliminate the problem is to clean during the construction process so that the dust, dirt and debris is not trapped behind cabinets, under floors and baseboards, and in A/C system components. As part of the program, the floors would be cleaned prior to installing cabinets and baseboards. The A/C system supply and return openings would be sealed immediately after installation.

Prior to closing, a final cleaning would be performed and include HEPA vacuuming and wet wiping of all surfaces. The A/C system supply and return openings would be opened and HEPA vacuumed. A/C intake plenums would be HEPA vacuumed after installation and prior to enclosing (sealed intake plenums, etc.).

Closing Inspection, Certification, and Warranty
Prior to closing, a final inspection would be conducted and would include the following steps:
  • Final Code/Moisture Entry/Defect Inspections
  • Baseline Indoor Air Quality Testing
  • A/C System Balance Verification
  • Best Construction Management Practices Certification (Provided to Builder at Closing)
  • Moisture Entry/Construction Defect Warranty

    • At closing the builder will be provided with a Best Management Construction Practices Certificate and a Moisture Entry/Construction Defect Warranty.

    Homeowner Follow-up Services
    Additional services would be provided directly to the homeowner after closing. These services are designed to ensure that the home maintenance is being kept up which would provide for the early detection of problems. By providing these services directly to the homeowner, it would smooth the transition from builder maintenance to homeowner maintenance.

    Warranty Inspection (conducted in month 11)

    Homeowner Warranty (Provided after completion of the Warranty Inspection)

    Bi-annual Update/Maintenance (year 2 to 20)
  • Re-inspection
  • IAQ Testing
  • A/C System Service and Maintenance
  • Waterproofing Touch-up
  • Re-certification


    • Warranty Inspection
    Between month 11 and 12 a re-inspection of the house would be conducted. Any waterproofing deficiencies or touch-up would be addressed at this time. The Moisture Entry Warranty will be issued to the homeowner upon completion of the Warranty Inspection. The warranty may be maintained on a year to year basis provided that the annual re-inspections are performed and the homeowner complies with the maintenance issues outlined in the warranty and identified in the reinspections. Waterproofing measures will be touched up annually as part of the re-inspection activities.

    Warranty
    If implemented in its entirety the Total Program provides both builder and homeowner warranties that can be maintained indefinitely if the homeowner so chooses. The program will ease the transition from builder to homeowner responsibility for maintenance issues. The program will also eliminate the need for homeowners to hire outside, over zealous, inspectors whose sole objective is to make a name for themselves in the neighborhood so homeowners keep calling.