In spite of the challenging economic environment we are operating within, we’re reminded that the next meaningful shift will be initiated through a dedication to continual improvement, an openness to change, innovative environmental & social responses and a connection to positive values that support each other and the community we share.

For the past two years, our team has met the current challenges with a dedicated effort to re-design the architecture of our organization, to refine and re-organize our systematic approach to the art of custom homebuilding and to implement new systems and ways of doing what we do…at the same time, emerging with a far broader level of understanding and awareness of the services and quality that we provide to our client experience and the fine homes we build. We have accomplished a lot and we are all proud and grateful for the support we give and receive from one another.

In this issue, you will get a sense of new happenings at Structure Home, new improvements, including StructureSource™ and The Journey Schedule, as well as our beautiful, new corporate office in Warner Center. oH

The sun is shining again and it is time for all of us to embrace the flow of nature…where everything is emerging, growing, and blossoming…refreshed and renewed.

Robert Kleiman and Mark Sapiro, Co-Founders

We've Moved!

Exploring the Journey

Introducing StructureSource™; Structure Source is a word we use to capture our approach to building homes and lifelong relationships with our clients. The intention of the StructureSource system is to enhance the building experience by providing a one-source resource for the total management of design, construction and final completion phases of the custom home building journey. StructureSource™ also means our being a RESOURCE of information, products and trades related to home construction, improvement and maintenance. For years into the future, our clients are encouraged to use our resources and expertise for improvement, repair and related home services as well as our input about design and best building practices. By continually expanding the resource base, collecting and organizing product information and evaluating the performance of the resources, a vast library of quality products and services is maintained and offered to past, present and future clients.

We have also recently refined and unveiled a new Structure Journey Schedule which is a comprehensive project management schedule – a blueprint for the entire path of your custom home’s development. This schedule provides an easy to read and comprehensive checklist for Homeowners, Project Managers, Design Consultants and Subcontractors to plan, manage and track the progress of all required design selections throughout the life of our projects. The Journey Schedule also improves the achievement of optimal results in terms of quality, cost and time efficiency, information flow, convenience and fulfillment. This unique format is the result of Structure Homes’ many years of experience in custom home building, applied to the goal of refining and implementing methodical systems to simplify the complex journey to your new home.

Our goal with the implementation of StructureSource™ and the Structure Journey Timeline is to create a consistently good client experience one where well informed decisions, predictable results, enduring quality and efficiency are shared by all.

The Green Room

The building industry is littered with a variety of drywall products that meet different criteria depending upon the needs of the consumer. How do you know which one is right for you? It can be confusing to identify a product that will serve your specific needs and will perform well in relationship to other elements in the home. As an example, a “green” drywall product does not necessarily mean it is a healthy product as well. In general, drywall products are created to mitigate for sound attenuation, clean air, and mold prevention. One example of this is a “green” drywall product made by Temple-Inland that is called Greenglass Gypsum. As stated in the summer 2009 issue of Ecohome magazine, this product is fiberglass-faced gypsum sheathing made with approximately 90% recycled content from coal-burning power plants and includes TemShield mold & moisture protection. While this may be an environmentally responsible “green” product, for someone who is chemically sensitive this would not be the best choice.

GreenEboard is another drywall option produced by Southern Cross Technologies, Inc. This product is made with Magnesium OxyChloride blends, Perlite, reinforced mesh and recycled wood. It can be used as a wall board in limited applications to take the place of products that may promote the growth of mold or mildew. The company promotes it for use when a consumer is considered to have multiple chemical sensitivities. A competitor of Green-Board is Eco Rock, a product that has been analyzed and recommended as a LEED certified product, as it attains 0.5 points on the LEED rating scale. Eco Rock contains 80% pre-consumed recycled content just like the Greenglass product described above and also has mold preventing chemicals.