Gibson HomeBuilders

I am confused by the show with the solar energy people talking about costs. If solar is $6.00 a watt and the power company is 12 cents a kilowatt, I still don't know enough to compare them. My impression is that the total cost of building a solar system is calculated into the cost of generating a watt of power divided by one user. The total cost of a power plant is calculated into the cost of generating a kilowatt (one thousand watts) divided by millions of users.

Jim was approached by a person that wanted him to build a house using a VA Mortgage. We had projected a closing date with the title company for the funding. when the title company found out the financing was to be VA they wanted to push out the date for several months. We were told it took months for a builder to be approved by the Department of Veteran Affairs. In less than ONE DAY Gibson Homebuilders/Jim was approved as a VA builder!! They faxed us the acceptance letter and followed it up in a few weeks with an official looking one. Jim credentials are excellent.

Our preferred building techinique is to build using 2X4 or 2X6 exterior studs for framing. The added feature is the insulation. We use at least 2 inches of closed-cell foam on all exterior walls. This added feature increases racking strength 200 times or more. The "R" factor is R7 per inch and acts as a vapor barrier to seal all exterior walls from moisture penetration. We use steel straps at 45-degree angles every 20 feet for wind bracing on the entire perimeter. The structure should withstand 180 mile per hour winds according to the Texas A&M reports with foam thickness of 2 inches.

Most of Jim Gibson’s clients seek him out when they are ready to build the home they want to retire in. They differ from younger homebuyers, who are typically most impressed with a home’s finish-out. Instead, Jim’s clients are looking for a home that is the culmination of all their dreams. They want a home that is comfortable to live in, easy to maintain and cost-efficient from the standpoint of utility bills.

Site Boring – 2 test holes bored to 20 feet. Core samples are sent to a lab to analyze soil content foot by foot.

Soil Analysis – Test results along with house plans are given to a foundation engineer. He then designs a foundation for each specific pad site.

Site Preparation – Pad site cleared and leveled, clearing only area of foundation, saving all trees and vegetation surrounding pad. If fill is used, it will be compacted and a compaction test performed. Compaction must be 95% to pour foundation.