#1920sMakeoverATL Learning + Showcase House [Building Science + Luxury Design]
Click Below to Launch the Interactive Tour
About This Showcase House
History
For over 40 years, SawHorse has been known as “The Sign of Renovation in Your Neighborhood.” We introduced game-changing concepts in Atlanta, such as “Design + Build” and “Earthcraft House Renovation.” Now we demonstrate how ALL-Electric homes can be better for indoor air quality, human comfort and health, and low energy costs.
Design
We collaborated with our strategic design partners, LG Squared, known for “high performance” home designs. We invited our top manufacturing partners and local certifiers to create this showcase house with the hashtag #1920sMakeverATL. Rate It Green, the top green building rating directory, hosts the virtual tour, creates content for its members, and promotes our scheduled events. We will build this house to Earthcraft House and Passive House standards. Our partners will work with us to demonstrate how to make this home more energy-efficient, have clean indoor air, and go all-electric, making this house solar-ready.
Features
- Energy Efficiency– This house will have more insulation than any other house in the zip code. This will ensure minimal loss since the whole house will be wrapped on all sides with ROCKWOOL insulation.
- Luxury Design– High-Performance construction pairs well with luxury design. We are partnering with the top brands such as Cosentino, Helvex, Georgia Blinds, and Interiors,
- Comfort– Energy efficiency does not mean comfort is compromised. This house will have controls that maintain proper temperature and humidity for maximum comfort year-round. Ductless mini-splits by Mitsubishi plus whole-house dehumidifiers by Aprilaire will keep the latent and sensible loads at their designed set points.
- Indoor Air Quality– Recent world events have brought terms like “filtration” and “ventilation” to our vocabulary. We will make sure the air in the house is properly filtered with Aprilaire filters as it circulates through the house and as it enters our “fresh air” intake. Energy recovery ventilation by Panasonic will remove the bad air while bringing in fresh air so the new owners can breathe easily year-round.
- Durable Design and Construction– This house was originally built 100 years ago and is in disrepair. The materials and techniques that we are using will allow this house to last 200+ years. The key is moisture management around the foundation, in the walls, and on the roof. Moisture destroys buildings, and a well-designed system will allow a wood structure to last centuries.
Showcase House as an Evergreen Learning House
To show how this house works, we partnered with Mythos Media to create a 360-degree self-guided virtual tour of the house. This means that you can follow along step by step with us through 3 major phases of construction.
The current tour shows what the existing house looks like. We have created lots of content regarding what we have found behind the walls and some of the design solutions we have to fix the current problems in the house. As we progress with construction, we will create 2 more phases for the tour, including pre-drywall and the final reveal. You will be able to click on a button to phase through time to see how we fixed the existing issues on the house to ultimately create a high-performance masterpiece.
Most of the materials and designs are cutting edge, so that this tour will be live for 10+ years. We will embed new content and updates once we get more feedback from the owners as they live in and enjoy the house.
Scroll to the bottom of this page to see all of the content already created for this house to teach others about resilient design and construction.
#1920sMakeoverATL Project Partners
Thanks to the following project partners for helping us create this high-performance house to both Passive House and EarthCraft House standards.
ROCKWOOL
ROCKWOOL is the thermal protection partner for this house. We will be implementing the "Perfect Wall" on all sides of the house using this stone wool insulation. .
Aprilaire
Aprilaire is the filtration, ventilation, and humidity control partner for this house. Their whole house solution will enable our clients to breathe clean air.
Clean Vapor
Clean Vapor is the Radon and ground vapor control partner for this house. Controlling vapor from entering the house and keeping Radon out of the breathable air is critical.
Georgia Blinds & Interiors
Solar screens and blinds provided by Georgia Blinds & Interiors will help reduce the solar gain on the house. This will improve energy efficiency and privacy for this home.
Helvex USA
HELVEX is one of the leading manufacturers in the Americas with 70 years of experience in developing high-efficiency bathroom fixtures and fittings for both the Residential & Commercial Markets.
Cosentino
Cosentino is the parent company for brands such as Silestone and Dekton. We will be featuring these products in the kitchen, bathrooms, and outdoor living spaces.
Constructive Renovations
Construction Renovations is an REO company that handles the REO process from procurement to financing. They partner with GC's across the US to make homes better.
Rasmus Real Estate
Rasmus Real Estate is the Real Estate partner for this house. They specialize in helping buyers, sellers, and investors in finding real estate that has upside potential.
LG Squared
Jodi & Chris Laumer-Giddens are the lead architects and build science experts on this project. In addition to space planning, they will help with interiors & mechanical design.
Pure 365
Clean Indoor Air and Clean Water are essential to maintaining your health. Pure 356 is our partner to help determine which pollutants are present and remove them.
Mitsubishi Electric
Mitsubishi Electric is the world's leader in mini-split systems. These systems are ALL-ELECTRIC and are more than 2X as efficient as a standard code minimum heat pump.
rheia
Rheia's compact air distribution system is significantly faster to install versus conventional systems. Code compliant and located entirely within the home's conditioned space.
Media Partners
We want to thank all of the media partners for helping create and promote the #1920sMakeoverATL
Rate It Green
Rate It Green is hosting profiles for each of the project partners. They also promote the virtual tour, videos, articles, and other discussions created about this home.
Mythos Media
Without Mythos Media and its 360 cameras, we would not be able to share the different phases of construction with you. Their platform allows us to share dynamic content.
Get Regular Updates!
Sign up for updates on the #1920sMakeoverATL Showcase House. This list is managed by Rate It Green and will not be shared with others.
Rheem
The Rheem Proterra Hybrid Electric Heat Pump Water Heater is an excellent fit for our ALL Electric house. This is the most efficient electric water heater on the market.
Elite Water Systems
Elite Water Systems provides custom solutions for filtered air and water for premiums homes all over the US.
Your Brand Here
We are still in the design phase and have not finalized all of the selections for this project. See the list below to see if there is still room for your products in this house.
Education Partners
ON3
We are excited to have ON3 as a project partner. We will be creating a module for their platform based on some of the building techniques we are using on this house. If you are interested in using their platform for your company to train your team let them know "SawHorse" sent you to get a special deal.
Southface Institute
For more than 40 years, Southface Institute, a nonprofit 501(C)3 organization, has been a leader in the research, design and implementation of a regenerative economy, one that gives back more than it uses. Southface works in collaboration with a network of partner nonprofits, businesses, government agencies, universities and technical experts to implement sustainable, high-performance and scalable solutions in homes, workplaces and communities.
Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association
Founded in 1945, the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association (GAHBA) is a not-for-profit professional trade association dedicated to promoting, protecting and preserving the home building industry as a viable economic force in the Atlanta area with a membership of more than 1,000 residential builders and housing industry professionals.
There is still room to join the team!
Structure and Building Envelope:
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Windows
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Exterior Doors
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Sheathing
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Framing
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Weather Resistant Barriers
Finishes:
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Hardwood Flooring
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Interior and Exterior Paint
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Bathtubs
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Gypsum
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Door Hardware
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Cabinet Hardware
Mechanical Systems:
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Water distribution
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Kitchen Ventilation
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Recessed Lighting
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Decorative Lighting
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Kitchen Appliances
Exterior:
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Roofing
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Siding
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Decking
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Railing
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Paint
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Stone Masonry
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Brick Masonry
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Landscaping
In the PRESS
We just launched and already have lots of content created by our media partners and other content creators.
Webinars:
- SawHorse, Aprilaire and NWFA- “Humidity, Hardwoods, and Homes – The Building Science Approach to Protecting Your Investment”
- SawHorse, LG Squared and ROCKWOOL- “ROCKWOOL “Behind the walls” #1920sMakeoverATL”
Articles, Discussions @ Blogs:
Rate It Green:
- Our Path to Choosing Green Building Certifications: A Passive House and Earthcraft Home Renovation
- Common Framing Problems with Older Homes can Lead to High Energy Bills
- “Gas vs Electricity” Misperceptions Still Tipping the Scales?
- The Pre-Construction #1920sMakeoverATL Virtual Reality Green Building Tour is Live!
- Discussing Air Tightness and Blower Door Testing with Corbett Lunsford, Matt Hoots, and Chris Laumer-Giddens (Video)
- Asbestos Testing at the #1920sMakeoverATL Deep Energy Retrofit Project
- Radon and Vapor Control Layers in the 1920sMakeoverATL Showhouse: Pre-Project Testing (Video)
- Visit the #1920sMakeoverATL Showhouse with Chris Laumer-Giddens of LG Squared
- The Rheem ProTerra Hybrid Water Heat Pump – A Great Fit for the #1920sMakeoverATL Project (Video)
- Air Filtration at the #1920sMakeoverATL Showhouse – It Can Only Get Better from Here (Video)
- Going Electric for Heating and Cooling, and Water Heating, in a Residential Retrofit – #1920sMakeoverATL (Video)
- Showcase Opportunity – Join Matt Hoots on an Exciting 1920s Deep Energy Retrofit! Follow along with the #1920sMakeoverATL Project!
Videos:
Preconstruction- Design and Testing:
- FULL playlist of ALL of the videos created by SawHorse and partners
- Virtual Deep Energy Retrofit of 1920’s House in Atlanta, GA
- Leakiest House In Atlanta || Blower Door Test by Corbett Lunsford
- Mythos Media creates self-guided tour for Atlanta House
- Tour of 1920s Makeover ATL Project – Before
- Asbestos Testing to protect workers & homeowners from Mesothelioma
- Converting Furnace and Water Heater to ALL ELECTRIC
- The Importance of Air Sealing and the Leakiest House Ever Tested
- Advanced Blower Door Testing Tips for Historic Home Renovation
- Radon and Vapor Control Layers in a 1920s House || Clean Vapor
- Office and Sunroom Tour {Before}
- Whole house air filtration designed for PM 2.5 || Aprilaire MERV 13 Filters
- Too many levels in the existing basement || Simple New Design
- Basement Stair Renovation Plans || Too many stairs & A Surprise Under the Floor
- Come Learn about continuous insulation with ROCKWOOL || Behind the Walls
- Hybrid Heat Pump Water heat for 100-Year-Old House || Rheem
In The News:
Rate It Green Newsletters
- “Choosing Green Building Certifications: A Builder’s Perspective” – July 2021
- Important Conversations about Electrification – June 2021
- The #1920sMakeoverATL Project – Now a Passive House! – May 2021
Featured Testimonial
Sawhorse built our house. We wanted to have an energy-efficient house from the very beginning. They were the most knowledgeable in providing us with energy efficiency. Our monthly utility costs were cut by over half from the last house we had. The quality of the work done is excellent. They have followed up with us even after our house was completed correcting any problems that normally occur with any new house. We highly recommend Sawhorse.
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