The two previous blog posts have pointed out the historical background and the guiding principles of biophilic design, but how might you apply that to your own home or residence? For this blog, we will approach biophilic design from the perspective of building a new home so that we…
Many people build Deltec homes as vacation homes to rent out on sites like VRBO or AirBnB. Vacationing in a Deltec is a great way to see firsthand what living in one of our round houses is like. Here is a list of some of our favorite homes that…
While there is a long and studied history of biophilic design, what does that mean for design today? The simple answer is: a lot. Biophilic design is rapidly gaining popularity as people become even more interested in creating healthier public spaces, commercial buildings, and homes that promote heathier living….
Living in our built environment: The current world is littered with examples of humans building structures and spaces that meet functional needs or demonstrate its power over nature. From windswept grand plazas to sunless city street corridors leading to soulless grey cubicles lined up in matrixed rows or windowless…
Most of us can control (at least, to some extent) the quality and safety of the water we drink, the food that we eat. These days, we are even forced to exert greater control over what surfaces we do or do not touch, and the physical distance we must…
Written by: Matt Oblinsky, PE, Director of Engineering for Deltec Homes Leigha Dickens, HERS, Green Building and Sustainability Manager for Deltec Homes Steve Linton, LEED AP, President for Deltec Homes In the first two articles in this series, we explored the general way that high winds can damage homes…
With hurricane season upon us, it is more important than ever for homeowners to prepare their abodes for hurricane-force winds, tropical storms and possible flooding. Starting from the ground up to design a home that resists hurricane-force winds is the ideal option, but for existing homes there are still…
Deltec Home’s 2019 Sustainability Report is hot off the presses! You can click here to see the new, full color report in full. Inside this report: Learn about our ongoing use of 100% renewable electricity in our facility, and read more about some of or waste reduction programs. Check…
Being in quarantine, especially for parents of young children, is a new normal that most are not used to. Ideas for keeping the kids busy are running low, but fear not, we’re here to help! Over the years, we’ve participated in several events in our community and have found…
By: Leigha Dickens, Green Building & Sustainability Manager To me, off-grid homes have always been about a certain kind of longing. A longing to live a life that is simpler, more self-sufficient and more rewarding. A longing for a better way, one that respects our connection to the natural…
In 2018 over 20,000 new homes projects across the US and Canada were designed as “ready for zero” or “zero energy” homes. That means they were designed to be highly energy efficient and ready to produce most of their energy needs through renewable energy. These homes, many of which…
So you’re preparing to embark on a journey to build a new home. And you’d like to ensure the process is quick so you can get straight to enjoying your amazing new home. One question you may be asking yourself is how can I design and build my home…
In a world with a changing climate, how we design our homes matters. Reduced environmental impact has long been a huge focus of sustainable, or “green” building. Yet our homes are also critical in protecting us from the environment when that environment turns harsh. Shelter is one of our…
Deltec Is Celebrating Third Party Green Building Programs with a New Rebate Program Third party verification is so important in new home construction. It can be the difference between a key detail that is handled correctly or is forever missed, dogging the home with energy efficiency or durability issues…
It was November 27th, 2016. Gordon had gone to his cabin in Gatlinburg to decorate for Christmas. When he got there, he was amazed at the vibrant fall colors in late November. “I texted this photo to friends who were coming over that evening to celebrate a birthday. They…
Leigha Dickens, Green Building and Sustainability Manager, Deltec Homes The Energy and Environmental Building Alliance (EEBA) is one of the oldest organizations in the US dedicated to sustainable and energy efficient practices in the built environment. Every year, some of the nation’s most innovative builders gather in their annual…
Matt Oblinsky, PE, Director of Engineering for Deltec Homes Steve Linton, President for Deltec Homes The intensity of recent hurricanes such as Dorian, Michael, Irma, and Harvey has increased our awareness of the raw power of the forces of nature. When combined with the measured effects of climate change…
The devastation in the Bahamas from Hurricane Dorian is truly heartbreaking. The primary reason for building homes the way we do is to keep our homeowners safe during catastrophic storms like Dorian was. We’re extremely grateful that all of the homeowners we have spoken to are all safe and…
This just in! The Department of Energy has recently announced the award winners for their 2019 Housing Innovation Awards. We are so thrilled to announce that our recent Ridgeline project, the first Zero Energy Ready Home in our area, was selected as one of this year’s winners! According to…
As Deltec’s green building manager, I get lots of questions from our clients about green building, from all kinds of angles. I love answering them! But sometimes, I come across industry news or thoughtful articles that answer these questions far better than I could have. Below I share 5…
Our president, Steve Linton, recently sat down for an interview with Ursula Jorch for her podcast, “Work Alchemy.” Ursula’s podcast features over 150 interviews with business leaders and innovators, including Seth Godin, Marianne Williamson, and Soledad O’Brien, taking a deep dive into how businesses can have a positive impact…
We’ve written here before about the benefits of a green building certification to homeowners for energy bills in particular, such as the assurance that your builder is following many of the best practices known to building science, or that common issues that cause high energy bills are caught by…
The Department of Energy would like builders to up their game. Though it is worth celebrating the average 20% greater energy efficiency advertised by the Energy Star for Homes program, these days it’s possible to build homes that are even more energy efficient than that. It’s even possible while…
BY LEIGHA DICKENS, GREEN BUILDING & SUSTAINABILITY MANAGER AT DELTEC HOMES It was a conversation that occurred in a car ride, on our way back to Deltec from attending a Benefit Corporation meeting, when Steven Linton, our company President—and one of my most respected mentors in sustainability—said it. We…
As an RN and aging-in-place care manager, Kathleen took her home design into her own hands when she decided to build a Deltec in Carolina Beach, NC. “I saw a larger plan that I liked years ago and spent about nine months on my own figuring out how to…
Building on the success of our flagship round homes featured in our 360 Collection, we are pleased to announce a new partnership with Piggs Brothers, Inc. This partnership marks a great opportunity for us to showcase the ultimate resilience of our flagship round design. Piggs Brothers—a Certified B Corp,…
By Steve Linton, President of Deltec Homes We had the opportunity to host a large group of business owners last month who were at all different stages of their journey in exploring or becoming a B Corp. Our B Corp journey was recent enough that I remember how many…
With the shell set finished in two days, the student crews put the siding up on an especially exciting new Ridgeline build here in Deltec’s home city of Asheville, NC. Based on the Ridgeline F, this build marks an exciting new phase in a collaboration between the Asheville Housing…
By Steve Linton, president of Deltec Homes Why is it that most American homes have so many walls on the inside? I was recently having a cup of coffee with an old professor of mine and he made the most fascinating statement: “I hate walls.” Hate walls? What? Why?…
When chef-turned-organic farmer, Evan Chender, decided to make the move from New York City to Weaverville, NC—following stints in Italy and Denmark—he knew one thing for certain: “It was important for me to live on my farm,” he said. The owner of The Culinary Gardener, which provides specialty produce,…
Our 50th year in business was quite a success! Here, we wrap up some of our favorite highlights: Top Milestones Celebrating 50 years! This year was a huge year for Deltec: we celebrated our 50th anniversary! Since 1968, we’ve been committed to innovation, quality & the environment. To commemorate,…
By now you’ve watched me argue against the common reasons people fail to seek green certification on their home, and you’ve read my follow-up detailing common problems that can happen in homes that don’t bother to certify. Intrigued, hopefully you’ve then gotten a better understanding of the process of…
When you have a view like this, how could you build anything other than a Deltec? Located in Sonoma County, California, this home is 2,546 square feet made up of two stories of our 1,000 model, a 16′ x 32′ crescent wing used as a master suite and a…
By now, you’ve seen my arguments in defense of green building certification programs, and you’ve even seen some of the problems that can arise in homes that don’t certify. Now that you’re convinced of the importance of green certification, it’s time to take a little time to help you…
If you’ve been on our website or read about Deltec, chances are you’ve seen a thing or two about green building, or about its components: energy efficiency, air quality, material sustainability or building durability. But have you heard about an umbrella term that encompasses many of these topics, the…
When Deltec homeowners, Jean and Gordon, decided to build a second home, they knew it had to be in a country setting. Having both grown up on a farm — Jean in the Irish midlands and Gordon on the Canadian prairies — they were drawn to a rural setting tucked away…
Over the past several years, there has been an increase in multigenerataional homes across the country. In fact, Pew Research found that in 2016, a record of 64 million people—20% of the population—lived with multiple generations in one home. With the aging baby boomers and more millennials moving back…
By Leigha Dickens, Green Building and Sustainability Manager for Deltec Homes Last month, I listed common reasons I hear from those who build homes but don’t get them certified through a third party green building certification program—arguing that with certification you end up getting a better house out of…
One thing—among others—that makes Deltec homes unique is that nearly all of the materials we use craft each home come from the United States. In fact, each Deltec is 99.9% made in America. The .1% is one single stainless steel nail vital to Deltec construction that, despite our ongoing…
When Peter and Jenna decided to build a new home, they wanted the layout to take what they loved, and what they didn’t love, from their former addresses—including a Victorian flat in San Francisco, built in the 1870s. Deltec’s Ridgeline model and its open floor plan fit the bill….
(Flawed) Reasons People Don’t Use Green Building Certification Programs By Leigha Dickens, Green Building and Sustainability Manager for Deltec Homes If I had a dollar for every time a client chose not to certify their new Deltec through a third party green building program (e.g. Energy Star for Homes,…
We recently noticed a comment on a picture of one of our round houses that read “it’s weird” and it got us thinking…Yes! That’s true. We want to personally thank that person because they get it. This compliment reminds us of a great quote: “Convention is the enemy of…
Some of our customer stories transport us to exotic destinations, demonstrate the extraordinary turns that home building can take and once again illustrate how Deltec homes play key roles in people’s most adventurous life objectives. In this feature we’re sharing the story of a couple living their dream on…
When a hurricane forms and the trajectory is forecast, everything goes into high gear. Planning and preparing for the next hurricane is something best done ahead of time. Below are some important tips and guidelines that we have collected from FEMA to help you prepare. Ready.gov is a great…
In recent years, the reputation of prefabricated homes has shifted from an affordable alternative to traditional building, to a high end modern option that is disrupting the home building industry. Since 1968, Deltec Homes been the leading provider of unique, luxury prefab homes. This list shows a few variations…
New Deltec homeowners, Matt and Kim, have lived in Asheville with their family since 2002. Not long after their arrival to the gorgeous Western North Carolina city—not to mention Deltec’s home base—they purchased a lot in their dream neighborhood. Having owned the property for 10 years, they were eager…
As you may know, Deltec Homes is an international company. We’ve shipped homes all over the world and with that means we’ve developed great knowledge about new home construction in pretty much any location you can think of. It also means we have a lot of people outside of…
You may already know that Deltec Homes became a Certified B Corp in 2016 (and if you didn’t know, guess what!?! We became a Certified B Corp in 2016!). Being a B Corp is about more than just calling yourself one. Every two years, we undergo an assessment from…
This week, we ventured high into the rugged peaks of the Western North Carolina Mountains to interview some of our more…unique Deltec homeowners. These particular homeowners have always been very reclusive. It’s hard to blame them for this since their species, the Carolina Northern Flying Squirrel, is considered federally…
We take great pride in how energy efficient our homes are. But let’s be honest, we can only go so far. That’s why after years of research, we’re excited to announce our newest home feature that will truly change the industry as we know it:
Having lived all over the place, and after relocating from Washington DC to Eastern Tennessee, Mark and Nancy knew exactly what they wanted and what they didn’t want in their new home. Once they started searching, it was clear that an existing home wouldn’t fit the bill, so they…
“What we do is unique…” That’s typically how we begin the answer to the question “what does Deltec Homes do?” Because it is. Even though we’re based in Asheville, we are an international homebuilder so a lot of our business comes from outside of Western North Carolina. Therefore, we…
Some may not realize that Deltec Homes actually began by building our round structures for resort and commercial developments. Since then, our primary business has shifted to residential homes, but we’re still very much involved with commercial projects. We’ve built everything from schools to medical offices to yoga studios….
This has been a very exciting year at Deltec Homes! As we approach 2018 (i.e., our 50th year!), we reflect on some of our 2017 highlights: Launching the Solar Farmhouse While we were confident there was going to be a great reaction to the launch of the Solar Farmhouse…
For our next Featured Home, we’re heading to South Dakota to visit Alan & Jamie, Deltec homeowners who built a 1500 model on a basement with an 8′ x 8′ connector to a two-car garage. Among other features of the home is an open floorplan, our pre-stained tongue &…
Meet our Director of Planning & Design and Director of Sales, Mark Bloomfield & Dallam Hart! They both started working at Deltec in 1997 and we think you’ll agree that the 20 year friendship is very apparent. Learn more about these employees and others on our Staff Page. …
After an exciting career traveling the world while working for the US Embassy, Ben and Elaine N. were ready to build their dream home. They decided on a quiet, lakeside community on the shores of Lake James in North Carolina. Ben and Elaine’s first step was to attend a…
It may come as no surprise that many of our homeowners build a Deltec as a vacation rental. We find that all of the benefits that come with a Deltec (i.e., panoramic views, hurricane resistance, very little maintenance) make for the ideal rental property. Whether you’re looking to go…
Meet our Project Managers: Chad, Kerry and Andrea. They’re the ones who help our customers design floorplans, select options, schedule production…pretty much everything! Learn more about these employees and others on our Staff Page.
As a bat biologist who got his start exploring caves in college, Chris Sanders has always had a deep-seated respect for the environment. It follows, then, that when it came time to build on his property in central Pennsylvania, energy efficiency and sustainability were top priorities. Less obvious might…
In this month’s Meet the Staff video, we talk Mel Brooks movies, first cars and darts. Enjoy getting to know Sales Consultants David Ledford & Mark Bennink! Learn more about these employees and others on our Staff Page.
The House A custom 1500 square foot round home in Mars Hill, NC. Open to the public to allow our costumers to come and see what net-zero living feels like in the round! HERS Score: 7 Certifications: Energy Star for Homes, NC, GreenBuilt Platinum and Net-Zero Certified Projected Yearly…
The House A custom Ridgeline model from our Renew Collection in Asheville, NC HERS Score: 6 Certifications: Energy Star for Homes, NC GreenBuilt Platinum and Net-Zero Certified, winner of Asheville Parade Of Homes Greenest Home Award Projected Yearly Energy Savings: $1450 (compared to typical new construction) The Story Amy…
Philip, a retired C.P.A. from Atlanta, was thinking about building a timber frame house on his newly purchased property in Montreat, NC. That was until he met a couple who lived nearby that quickly changed his mind. They invited him to their custom-built, Deltec home in Black Mountain and…
This month we’re introducing you to two more Sales Consultants: Tim Riddle and Tom Mitchell. We’re especially fond of their reminiscing on question #3 Learn more about these employees and others on our Staff Page.
In recent years, the reputation of prefabricated homes has shifted from an affordable alternative to traditional building, to a high end modern option that is disrupting the home building industry. Since 1968, Deltec Homes been the leading provider of unique, luxury prefab homes. This list shows a few variations…
Click images to enlarge When Scott and Sam decided to build a new home, they knew exactly what they wanted. Living in Asheville, an area that helped establish and still embraces Arts and Crafts design and architecture, they wanted a home that embodied this traditional style, but with a…
We’re excited to kick off a new video series where we’ll be introducing you to the people behind every Deltec home. As a national company, we don’t get to meet everyone we talk to on a daily basis, so these videos will feature members of our sales team, planning…
You’ve likely heard the terms “prefabricated”, “modular” or “panelized” when it comes to home building. Although they’re sometimes used interchangeably, there are actually distinct differences between these types of construction. Prefabricated Prefabricated homes (or “prefab”) is a broad term that refers to several different types of building. Technically, any…
As you’ve seen in previous blog posts, a lot of people are curious about how long it takes to build a Deltec home. We demonstrate various timeline scenarios on our Building Timeline page, but recently we’ve had a lot of questions about how fast a Deltec can be delivered….
With a view like this, how could you not build a round house? Sitting about 1000 feet above the town of Boone, North Carolina on Howard Knob Mountain, it’s no wonder creating a panoramic view was a top priority for homeowners George and Terry. “We needed a home to…
As we begin 2017, we reflect on what a whirlwind year 2016 was. It has been a great year here at Deltec and we want to wrap it up by highlighting some of our favorite moments. 1. Becoming the First Certified B Corp Prefabricated Home Builder One of the…
In recent years, prefabricated building has gained more and more recognition as a “better way to build”. In addition to being faster and more energy efficient, prefab homes can be customized to fit your needs and personal taste. Whiles the rest of the world is just now catching up,…
Join us on December 7th for our blood drive with the American Red Cross! See below for details.
Everything doesn’t have to be bigger in Texas! This right-sized home features 2075 total square feet, 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and plenty of outdoor space. The homeowners chose our 1600 round model and 24′ x 20′ Crescent Wing, which they use as a sun porch to further blur the…
Timing is important! That’s why one of the first things people ask, and one of the first things we try to explain, is how long it typically takes to build a Deltec, from breaking ground to moving in. Answer: The time frame from deposit to move-in day can vary…
Hurricane Matthew devastated the Caribbean and coasts of Florida, Georgia, South Carolina & North Carolina. We had about 100 Deltec homeowners in its path & have reached out to all of them. Thankfully, everyone we spoke to is safe and sound. Thousands of people on the East Coast, however,…
When you see a home under construction, does it look like the picture on the left? That’s pretty common with traditional stick-built construction. In fact, with traditional on-site building, about 25-30% of construction materials are sent to the landfill. Mind you, that’s material you pay for! When you build…
This month’s featured home takes us to Tennessee! Don & Linda built our 1600 model with a 16’x16’ connect to an 800 round garage. The home features a finished basement, 3 bedrooms/3 bath, wrap around porch & amazing metal roof. When asked why they chose a Deltec for their…
We’re excited to share some new photography of our Model Home & Innovation Center. Why do we call it Model Home & Innovation Center? The net-zero energy home serves as both a showcase for prospective buyers, as well as a research and development tool for us to study energy…
