Custom Homes

The Kevin Roy Building Company understands the commitment when choosing a builder and we construct every home as if it was our own, because in many ways it is our home. A home built by The Kevin Roy Building Company represents our integrity, honesty and commitment to “do the right thing”. It's not only the things you can see, but the things you can't see, that create lasting value in a new home. The Kevin Roy Building Company offers value that you'll recognize immediately, but more importantly, for years to come. The best news is, with The Kevin Roy Building Company, enduring quality doesn't cost a fortune. Below are some of the things that truly set The Kevin Roy Building Company apart.

Quality in Construction: As our customers know, The Kevin Roy Building Company homes are constructed with the very highest building standards and quality materials. We are constantly researching and utilizing our years of experience to select products that will last for many years to come in our harsh New England environment. We strive to deliver the very best product at the fairest cost, because it is the right thing to do.

What Does it Mean to be Green?

Client demand and the development of completely green construction programs have fueled a boost in cost-effective building options for green home buyers. Certified green homes can carry initial reduced costs for buyers, and offer further cost benefits in terms of future living expenses.

Green building incorporates energy efficiency, lower cost materials, water conservation, waste reduction and recycling, and conservation-related landscape planning into its construction process. These factors create a greater possibility for homeowners to live comfortably, while also doing their part to preserve the area's resources and reduce their own energy consumption.

There are many factors to be decided in the design, construction and funding of your green home. First, you'll want to get in touch with us, a green building company, that can work with a green building program to begin the planning process. Here are some notable green home building programs:

• Energy Star Home Program: Homes qualified through this program are estimated to save $200-400 annually in heating and cooling costs.
• U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) for Homes: LEED homes are designed to fall into the country's top 25 percentage of new homes with the best energy efficiency, water efficiency, construction efficiency, use of land resources, and indoor air quality.
• American Lung Association Health House Program: builds energy efficient homes that are also allergen, radon and mold resistant for superior air quality.
• The National Association of Home Builders' (NAHB) Model Green Home Building Guidelines
• U.S. Department of Energy's Building America Program

Extra Benefits of a Green Home

Keep in mind that there are also many regional programs for green building worth looking into. Many green building programs throughout the country offer incentives for homeowners such as state-based tax credits, reduction estimates in total bill costs, and energy-efficient mortgage deals.

We can help you to begin pinpointing specific details in your design that will truly qualify your new home as a green home.

For most people, having a wind turbine on their property or a roof covered in solar panels isn't always feasible. However, by opting for specific building materials, appliances and design features, you can still create a certified green home. Here are a few possible building features you can incorporate into your green home plans:

• Building materials like recyclable plastic lumber, engineered wood and fiber cement siding are proven to be very durable, long-lasting and conservative of natural resources.
• Advanced framing, air sealing, and improved insulation (such as with blown cellulose), are all construction features that will cut building and energy costs by reducing drafts, improving thermal insulation, and reducing interior moisture and mold. Installing a high efficiency, well-insulated water heater will reduce energy and water costs.
• Installing double-paned windows with low emissivity, window and door flashing, and a correctly sized, pressure-balanced HVAC system will help to ensure the overall comfort and regulation of the home's temperature.
• Installing interior mechanical ventilation systems and ceiling fans, using low-pile or natural fiber carpeting, and applying low-VOC or low-toxicity paint and sealants will all help reduce air pollutants and improve overall indoor air quality.
• Purchased and installed home appliances like washers, dryers, shower heads and other electrical devices should be as energy efficient as possible.

 These are just a few of the many ways homeowners can ensure that their new home is a green one. Be sure to research and consult with us, your professional home contractor about all the ways you can save through a green building program, or about how you can transition your existing home into a green home.

Siding

If you're looking to have siding installed on your house or office, you will want to choose a type that is both aesthetically pleasing and functionally compatible with your building.

A quality siding will protect your home from harsh weather and prevent heat from escaping during the cold season. Popular materials include wood, vinyl, fiber cement, and metal or aluminum. As maintenance-free alternatives to traditional wood siding, vinyl and fiber cement have become increasingly prevalent, but technological advances have also improved wood's functionality, making it a solid choice in many instances.

We are a contractor with exterior design experience and  will closely examine every vital detail of your project, from the age of your home to the surrounding environment and climate, and come up with the right siding to match your needs and sensibilities.

Wood Siding

While often regarded as the classier, more aesthetically pleasing choice in home exteriors, wood siding can also be impressively durable and efficient. Of course, sustaining the appearance of any type of wood siding will require a little dedication from the homeowner, but the visual benefits and the increased value of a wood-sided home may make it worth your effort.

Pros

There are many types of lumber and designs utilized in wood siding, giving you a wide range of options to match your personal interests and the aesthetics of your home and surrounding environment. Lap siding, or "clapboard," is used for horizontal siding, and might be made from pine, redwood, fir, or a number of other naturally attractive and weather resistant woods. Wood can also be used for shingle siding or "shakes," which normally use cedar to create a natural looking, low-maintenance variation of wood siding. Whatever style you choose, wood gives you endless options in color via painting and staining, and because wood is a renewable resource, it makes for a good environmental choice, as well.

Cons

While wood siding can last a very long time and bring a sense of class and character to a home, it also is vulnerable to obvious factors like rot, insect infestation, peeling paint, and fire damage. The necessary upkeep for wood is pretty substantial, including paints, stains, and thorough wood treatments every few years. So, while initial wood siding costs may be only slightly more than vinyl siding, the costs over the life of the wood will be substantially more.

Whether you're interested in wood clapboard siding, wood shingle siding, or any other timber-based technique, the key factor is a willingness to maintain the look and quality of the wood over time. This effort will, in turn, help solidify the strength and efficiency of the siding, making it comparable to vinyl, brick, stucco, or any other popular siding material.

Aluminum Siding

Aluminum siding came into widespread popularity in the 1940's and 50's. There was a surplus of aluminum following World War II and new uses needed to be found for the material. It was around this time that researchers developed aluminum cookware, soda cans, and, of course, aluminum siding for your home. Aluminum siding is still in use today, but has significantly decreased in popularity after the introduction of vinyl siding.

Aluminum Siding Pros

Aluminum siding's two main selling points are the same today as they were in the 1950's: durability and affordability. Aluminum offers a more durable alternative than wood siding. By installing aluminum siding you're choosing a material that is resistant to fire, rot, insects, and weather. Aluminum siding also requires minimal maintenance, but its best feature is its cost-effectiveness. For metal siding there's no better deal than aluminum siding.

Aluminum Siding Cons

Aluminum siding doesn't rot, but it can chalk, fade, and dent. This means repairs will need to made in the future, and repairing aluminum siding can be difficult. Aluminum siding will also require painting over time. Aluminum siding provides little to no insulation, and the siding has been known to interfere with TV and radio signals. The greatest disadvantage of aluminum siding as compared with other siding options is the difficulty of replacing damaged sections. For many consumers, vinyl siding has replaced aluminum siding as the best inexpensive option for residential siding.

Vinyl Siding

Originally developed in the 1950's, vinyl siding currently stands as the most popular type of home exterior material in the United States, ahead of stucco, brick, wood, and aluminum siding. Not surprisingly, vinyl siding costs also tend to be the most affordable in the industry.

Pros

Clearly, the aforementioned affordability and availability of vinyl siding is tough to beat, but there are many other benefits, as well. Proponents of vinyl note that, unlike alternatives such as wood siding, there is no need for painting or consistent maintenance with vinyl siding. Vinyl is also a very versatile substance. Depending on your preferences and the manufacturer you purchase from, vinyl siding can vary considerably in thickness (.35 mil to .52 mil), profiles (panels, shingles, scallops, etc.), color (you name it), and finishes (including wood-like textures). Durability and weather resistance are also selling points for vinyl siding, which can successfully handle both extreme heat and cold.

Cons

While it's true that vinyl siding doesn't require paints or stains; it's not entirely maintenance free. Annual washings are still necessary, and some vinyl siding is vulnerable to harsh winds, as well as moisture building up under panels, leading to potential wall decay. There have even been reports of possible long term health and environmental risks tied to the manufacturing and disposal of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), the primary ingredient in vinyl siding, although vinyl siding itself is not believed to pose any health risks to homeowners.

Generally, vinyl siding is a fine choice for obvious reasons. It's a material that can mimic its competitors while costing less and requiring less regular maintenance. Whether it's truly as durable or aesthetically pleasing as real wood or brick, however, is another story.

Heating and Cooling Systems

Clean, comfortable air is something everyone needs and too many people probably take for granted. In many buildings, especially residential homes, the maintenance of heating and cooling systems, or HVAC systems, is often handled improperly, if not neglected entirely.

During any construction or remodeling project, an appropriate HVAC system (integrating Heat, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) should be strongly considered. HVAC systems control the temperature and humidity of the air in a building, making it essential to ensuring a home or office's comfort level over time and through the changing seasons. Heating and Cooling systems also typically need to be replaced every 15 to 20 years to function at their best.

As an expert HVAC installation contractor we have considerable skill with sizing HVAC equipment to existing ductwork, as well as a thorough understanding of the intricacies of proper ventilation. By choosing the right HVAC systems contractor today, you could be saving yourself the hassles of fluctuating temperatures, poor air quality, and higher costs tomorrow.