LUTKUS CUSTOM HOME INC

The house was quite different from usual in that it is in the "superinsulated" category. This meant that a lot of the details of construction of the exterior shell were different  from what most builders have experience in doing. We designed the whole house and had an engineer specify some of the structural components and produce stamped engineering drawings. We had no expectation of finding a contractor with prior experience in building a house of this type, so we focused on finding one who would understand that the house was indeed unusual in construction and that we would have to work well together to get the house built with proper attention to detail in critical areas. This would prove to be a learning experience for both us and the contractor and his crew.

We selected Dave on the strength of other reports on work he has done and on several talks with him. Dave was always polite in his conversations with us, kept us informed, and presented alternatives to us on various aspects of the project as it went forward. We made decisions on such things as they came up and together kept things moving along. In general, Dave selected subcontractors for various parts of the project, but in a few instances presented a couple of choices and let us choose. We did some subcontractor selection on our own and kept Dave informed as to who we were using and why. In this sense, the whole project was a cooperative effort, and we were more involved in a few things than might have been the case in a more typical construction project. Overall, the project went to completion fairly smoothly, without any strained relations as can happen over the course of a long and costly project like this.

We should mention Jed Richardson, Dave's lead framer and interior carpenter, and Kurt Snow, whom Dave brought on early in the project, and both of whom were on board through to completion. Both were easy to work with and did excellent work. Jed in particular was unusual in that he was well versed in framing and also adept in finish carpentry work. We sometimes communicated directly with Jed and Kurt on various things, and that went well also.

The house has turned out well, and has earned a Five Stars Plus Energy Star rating by the NH Electric Coop. The blower door test result was among the tightest the Coop examiner had measured, and this, too, reflects on Dave and his crew and their working with us to get the exterior shell detailed properly. Toward the end they started referring to the house as "heats with a candle."

Dave has earned our recommendation to others. We would use him again if we were to do another building or renovating project.