Praise for Rod!

Here's something we would like to share about our design experience with Rod:

We'd been thinking that before retirement catches up with us we ought to build an energy star home, single story, less than 1,000 square feet, on a radiant slab, with a metal roof and natural wood siding. But it wasn't clear how we would get from this general idea to a set of permit-ready drawings. We browsed lots of pre-cooked plans for small-footprint modulars, log kits and SIPs homes that might be adapted to our very modest budget, but we didn't find what we were looking for. Then we discovered the website of Creative Constructions. We really liked what we saw there, and what we later heard at an introductory meeting. So we decided to take the next step, and see if Rod Lambert could help us turn our ideas into a buildable plan. Rod visited our site, talked with us about the project, looked at our sketches, and posed a lot of well organized questions. More exchanges followed, and in time he produced a schematic that addressed our needs and wishes very sensibly. In fact, it was such a great little plan that we turned directly to refining the details. That was quite a lot more work, actually, and for a number of weeks sketches were flying back and forth at wireless network speed. Throughout the process Rod welcomed our participation, made it easy to share ideas and questions, and provided just the right amount of guidance. The end result was a permit-ready plan that we were very pleased with. But the real confirmation of Rod's expertise came later, as our new home began to take physical shape and we could walk around inside it, feeling the rightness and coherence of all the ideas and choices that went into the plan. Sweet!

Pat Lia and Geo Kloppel

an addition for Aunty in ithaca

This fall we had the privilege of designing and buildng an attached mother-in-law unit for some great clients on the south side of Ithaca.

The work started with an intese bit of demolition requiring a large U-haul moving truck to remove the debris-2 trips in fact. Once the house was prepped for the new addition.. no small task we began the creative process of attaching new to old. After a few days we were framed in and things were looking up! For a number of reasons, additions can be more difficult than straight up new construction. Site access is often one of those reasons.

This project had next to impossible site access. Fortunately arrangements were made with the exceedingly friendly neighbors to allow us to use their adjoining backyard to bring in a skid loader for the drilling of he foundation holes. These neighbors were in fact more excited about the addition it seemed than the client was! Maybe you had to be there....

Anyway, the limited access made for a lot of carrying marterials the 30 yards or so around from the front of the house and of course the aproximately 6000 lbs of debris out. Oye Veh!

Even so, building is for the most part enjoyable work. But what i enjoyed most about this project, was how much it meant to the family we were doing it for. They told us each day how much they appreciated our efforts and how pleased they were that the addition was fianlly being built. You see, the family was struggeling to continue to share their living space with a well meaning great aunt who had come to live with them a couple years earlier. They loved the relative, they just couldn't take the accompanying lack of privacy much longer. They had considered building an addition a year before, but felt that it would be too expensive for there budget. Much to their delight, our estimate came in around 25% under what they had previously been quoted. Their desire to stay in their home by "adding on" for the aunty was now possible and quickly becoming a reality! The simple but nicley appointed independant apartment was completed with hardwood and tile floors, a full kitchen and bath, and simple pine trim throughout. Aunty just loves it!

The home owner writes "As soon as the project started, they moved so efficiently and professionally. We were pleasantly surprised at how much they could get done in a short period of time. Further, as they got closer to finishing, we saw that not only was this going to be done in a timely fashion, but also the work was clearly of the highest quality.

as I sit and write this brief note, my aunt is comfortable in her new independent apartment, close but not too close, and my wife and daughter are playing cheerfully with the privacy that we dreamed of. We couldn't be happier!!!"

Bob and Denise's addition- part 2

With the addition finished, Denise writes this...

"We love our addition! We have already moved in. We love the light, the stained cement floors (great idea Rob!), the skylights, the high ceilings and the energy efficiency. I also like it that the house was built by a team of people that put a lot of heart into everything they do. Rob, Rod and Kerrie have great friendly energy and are eminently trustworthy. If we ever have another build project we would not hesitate to call them."

Laura and Steve's White Hawk house

In winter 2007-2008, Creative Constructions framed one of the first houses to go up at White Hawk Ecovillage.

The back of the house with many windows faces the sunny south to optimize solar energy.

SIP's were used in the construction of this house.

Rob and his tools.

Inside walls go up.

The Woinoski's recently wrote this...

....Just had to mention how much we LOVE our home! Almost everyone we know has already turned their heat
on, but we (even through the COLD last night) haven't had to! This morning when
we woke up it was 28 outside and 62 in here! It's amazing how well the house
retains the heat it gains during the day! Yesterday we actually had to open the
windows to cool it down b/c it got over 70! Very exciting :)

We are going to see how long we can comfortably go without heat. For us this means we will wear sweaters and pants and socks and if we're still cold, then it's not comfortable and the heat comes on.

Also, we should mention that we got our first electric bill - they estimated our use for Sept (no real meter reading) at THREE TIMES what they actually found we used when they came out to read the meter! 3x!!! Our average usage is 7kwh per day, and we haven't been trying to conserve - but we might soon and see what happens :)

So, just wanted to put this out there. We LOVE how energy efficient this house is, it's saving us money - big time!!! Many thanks to Rod for designing such a great home, to Rob, Rod, and Kerrie for assuring tight construction, to Beauty for the vision of White Hawk, and everyone else for helping make this happen!

Chuck and Andra Benson's House

At Chuck and Andra Benson's house in Lansing, NY, Creative Constructions worked with Brent and Diana Katzman of Balance Studio to do much of the finish work on the Benson's new house.

"They are delightful to work with, great personalities and highly skilled—perfect combination." -Andra Benson

Reclaimed barn wood turned bedroom sliding door.

Loft interior.

The garage Rob and Rod built- mid framing.

Andra working with the team.

Kerrie's tile work.

Dan Evett's House

Throughout the winter of 2006/2007 Creative Constructions built Dan Evett's new SING log home in Danby, NY.

"He said that he could build a house for me but he would rather build my house with me." -Dan Evett

Dan learning about wiring at his house.

Nice view from the first floor.

Rob working on the SING logs.

Second floor.

Rob and Mary putting in the windows.

Almost done.

Kerrie working on the bathroom.

The finished house from the back.

Ray and Eva Ackerman's deck

In Spring of 2008, Rob built this deck for Ray and Eva Ackerman on the east side of Ithaca.

Ray and Eva say "If you want the job done right on time and within cost there is no friendlier contractor to work with. I give Rob and Kerrie two thumbs up and five golden stars."

Testimonials

Patricia L. and Geo K. write about Rod's design work.... "Throughout the process Rod welcomed our participation, made it easy to share ideas and questions, and provided just the right amount of guidance. The end result was a permit-ready plan that we were very pleased with."  To read more praise for Rod go here.

Chris W. says... "We are both very happy with the work Rob did in coordinating and managing this complicated project at a time when you were very busy with other projects...Thanks for all you have done to make our home much more enjoyable to live in!"  Go here to read more.

Laura W. says she... "just wanted to put this out there. We LOVE how energy efficient this house is, it's saving us money - big time!!! Many thanks to Rod for designing such a great home, to Rob, Rod, and Kerrie for assuring tight construction, to Beauty for the vision of White Hawk, and everyone else for helping make this happen!" Go here for more.

Denise P. says "We love our addition! We have already moved in. We love the light, the stained cement floors (great idea Rob!), the skylights, the high ceilings and the energy efficiency. I also like it that the house was built by a team of people that put a lot of heart into everything they do..." Go here or here to see more.

Robert L. says "As soon as the project started, they moved so efficiently and professionally. We were pleasantly surprised at how much they could get done in a short period of time. Further, as they got closer to finishing, we saw that not only was this going to be done in a timely fashion, but also the work was clearly of the highest quality..." Go here to read more.

Dan E. writes "Rob's good humor and positive attitude were the deep current that made the project possible. If you want to be an integral part of creating your new home you can not do better than than work with Creative Constructions." Go here or here to see more.

Andra B. writes "They are very multi-talented, efficient and focused on the work, always taking direction well and complete all projects with quality care. But the best attribute of Creative Constructions is how much Rob and Kerrie care about the homeowners’ dreams and concerns." Go here or here to read more.

Ray A. writes  "If you want the job done right on time and within cost there is no friendlier contractor to work with. I give Rob and Kerrie two thumbs up and five golden stars."  Go here for more.