Our Home Building Process

It's How Your Home is Built That Really Counts

Youngquist Homes understands that your home plays a big role in your quality of life. That's why our team receives continual education, developing skills to enhance the performance of every luxury townhome and custom single-family home we build.

As an ENERGY STAR® home builder partner, Youngquist Homes must meet guidelines for energy efficiency set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. These standards are monitored and inspected by a third party company throughout the entire building process. As a result, you'll live in a home with lower energy bills and more comfort than you ever imagined. Many homes might initially impress you with style and luxury appointments, but it's how your home is built that really counts for the long-term.

Tight Construction

Air sealing the building envelope is one of the most critical features of an energy efficient home. Air leakage accounts for 25–40% of the energy used for heating and cooling in a typical home. Based on recent trends for improved efficiency and higher indoor air quality, tighter building envelopes are expected to become standard practice for the building industry.

Interior Moisture Management

When warm air leaks into a home, it can come in contact with cooler surfaces where condensation and moisture can build, encouraging mold growth. Sealing the home's "envelope" provides tighter home construction and reduces the amount of humidity, dust, pollen, pests, and noise that can come inside, providing a healthier and more comfortable home.

High-Performance Windows

Energy-efficient windows employing advanced technologies such as Low-E coatings and improved frame assemblies are used to help keep heat in during winter and out during summer. Low-conductance materials such as synthetic vinyl perform better and are used in our homes to reduce heat loss and gains. These high-performance windows also block damaging ultraviolet sunlight that can discolor carpets and furnishings.

Fresh Air Ventilation

In new homes that are tightly sealed, builders need to make sure there is adequate fresh air for ventilation. It is better to use controlled or active ventilation than to rely on air leakage. Therefore, many ENERGY STAR qualified homes have an active ventilation system installed along with air sealing to insure that fresh air is provided.

Proper Framing and Insulation Systems

Proper framing prevents energy loss by providing an air barrier and insulation that is aligned and continuous. Well-sealed and properly insulated walls, ceiling, and floors help maintain even temperatures throughout the house and save you up to 20 percent on heating and cooling costs.

Right-Sizing HVAC Equipment

A highly efficient building envelope can significantly reduce the amount of energy needed to heat and cool a house. Applying conventional HVAC sizing standards may result in significantly oversized equipment. Oversized HVAC equipment is not better. It operates less efficiently, costs more, and can cause comfort and humidity problems. Properly sizing the HVAC equipment to account for energy efficient features will result in a more efficient system, a more comfortable house and lower costs.

Pressure Balancing

Testing pressure differences between rooms insures that extreme pressure differences will not be present under any condition. Extreme pressure differences can cause uncomfortable rooms, back drafting of combustion appliances, and increased airflow through wall assemblies.

Combustion Safety

Combustion appliances, those that burn fuels for heating, cooking, or decorative purposes, are sealed or power vented to prevent the build up of carbon dioxide in the home. Traditional brick fireplaces were once a home's biggest polluter. With the advent of direct-vent fireplaces featuring sealed combustion chambers, back-drafting of uncombusted carbon byproducts and fumes into the home is no longer an issue. This alone is one of the healthiest changes to affect home building in decades.