Dienst Custom Homes

Designing A Home – Tip 2

diensthomes — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 14:13:09 +0000

Don’t forget the sun when designing your new home! The position of the sun can affect your home design in many ways, depending on the direction your home faces. A home with a southern exposure will be warmer in the winter but hotter in the summer. Place windows to take advantage of natural light, which allows for better energy conservation. And if you particularly enjoy sunrises or sunsets, then design places into the east or west sides of your new home to spend time doing so.

Aerating, Fertilizing and Overseeding Aren’t the Only Things You Should Be Doing This Fall

diensthomes — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 14:00:10 +0000

Fall is finally upon us. Gone (hopefully) are the weeks upon weeks of 90+ degree weather and humidity. When fall hits most people’s thoughts tend to be about their yard; aerate, fertilize and overseed. Fall is definitely the time to put some TLC into your lawn but it’s also a great time to inspect your home and make sure it’s ready for winter. We recommend homeowners check the following every fall:

Clean the chimney and fireplace
- Hire a chimney sweep to remove build up of combustible creosotes from the chimney, hearth and firebox. If you don’t use a fireplace more than a couple of times per year this may only be necessary every couple of years.
- Always be sure to check the flue for obstructions and proper operation before start up. Bird nests or debris can be a problem.
- Also, test your damper to make sure it works properly. Always open the damper before starting a fire and close it when the fire is completely done. Open dampers are a major contributor to high heating and A/C bills.
Check your insulation
- Check your basement, crawl space and unfinished storage area to be sure batted insulation is secure.
- Ensure that weather stripping around doors is properly seated and in good repair.
Check your HVAC
- Check the ducts and registers for blockage and use you vacuum’s crevice tool to remove dust from return grills and registers.
- If you have a service contract with your HVAC contractor, schedule their semi-annual home inspection.
Shut off your irrigation pump
- Shut off and winterize your irrigation system before the first freeze.
- Disconnect water hoses from hose bibs and store to prevent damage from freezing.
Remove your screens if desired
Adjust your low voltage outdoor lighting clock for daylight savings changes
Check outdoor flood lights to make sure they’re not burned out.
Change the batteries in your smoke detectors
Organize the garage
- Move anything indoors that may freeze such as paints, caulks and adhesives.
- Discard hazardous materials according to local rules and guidelines. Call your local waste disposal department for information.

Designing A Home – Tip 1

diensthomes — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 00:30:47 +0000

Ceiling Considerations! It’s difficult to find a house plan these days that doesn’t have a vaulted or two-story ceiling somewhere on the plan. These tall ceilings may seem to add drama to the home but they also add unnecessary complexity to the structure and therefore can increase the cost per square foot without adding living space or making the home more beautiful. High ceilings also add energy costs for the life of the home. When designing your new home take the time to really consider your ceiling heights!

Welcome to our Blog.

lemmondsDESIGN — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 10:45:34 +0000

Dienst Custom Homes is an enduring builder with a legacy of over 20 years of building distinct homes that fulfill their client’s dreams. Many of their award winning homes can be found in communities throughout the region such as Lake Norman, Davidson, Charlotte in-fill and South Charlotte as well as Springfield in South Carolina. Dienst Custom Homes’ foundation has been built on integrity, financial stability, personalized service and meticulous detailing.

Led by Jocelyn Dienst, Dienst Custom Homes has won not only enthusiastic rave reviews from clients but also national and regional awards for the quality and beauty of the homes they help their clients create.

Almost anyone can build a house, but to build a home to the level of detail that Dienst and their clients expect and deserve is what they mean when they say that Dienst Custom Homes is “Distinction Defined”.