Higdon House Dinner Concert this Thursday For more information & tickets You are really missing a local treasure if you haven't been to the Higdon House Inn in downtown Greensboro lately, and this Thursday they are hosting a dinner and concert on the lawn with the Big Daddy's band, featuring Chris Hilsman from Pilot Builders on drums.  Join us for a night of fun and great music in the scenic victorian venue built in 1810 and now used as a wedding venue and bed & breakfast.  Reserved seating only and the evening starts at 7pm.  We hope to see you there! Building Success 101 Q: What is an "insulated" window? A: Modern windows are often referred to as "insulated" because of technology that retards, blocks, or slows the transfer of air through the unit. Most people are familiar with fiberglass or other types of insulation material in a wall cavity. In a window, the "insulation" is a combination of several factors. Most common are windows with at least two panes of glass enclosing a 'dead' airspace between them. The airspace may also be sealed to contain a clear, odorless gas (commonly argon), which is heavier than air and thus an even more effective insulator. Better yet, one or both inside surfaces of the glass can be permanently laminated with a clear coating that further retards thermal transfer and protects the home interior against solar heat gain and damaging ultraviolet rays. For more technical information, click here.

The Beauty of Natural Light Walk into any new home and you'll immediately notice a big difference from many older homes: an abundance of natural light. Because of poor thermal performance, windows and glass doors in older homes were necessarily scaled down. Today's builders, however, are able to take advantage of advanced technologies, a wider range of sizes and styles, and a number of new products and creative applications to capture natural light. For clients who prefer a modern look, glass walls are certainly possible to maximize natural light. For those preferring traditional housing design, professional builders usually work within historic housing forms to increase interior natural light. Window and door manufacturers have helped this effort by providing a wide variety of products to match traditional house styles. For example, a roof window (or series of these units) over the center of the kitchen can bring in a tremendous amount of natural light without having an adverse impact on a traditional facade. This is especially true if that room is on the back or side of the house and thus out of view from the street. Unlike skylights, roof windows can open to vent stagnant or hot air and odors. They have a flat design, only slightly raised above the roof finish, which further reduces any intrusive appearance. For smaller interior rooms, such as a water closet, walk-in shower, or storage area, traditional approaches to bringing in natural light are almost impossible, or at least impractical. Tubular skylights offer a solution. From a small, unobtrusive opening in the roof, light enters a tube lined with mirrors and reflective material that reflect light into the room below. These small devices pour large quantities of light into tight spaces, making them feel more spacious and comfortable. Fixed or operable transom windows may also be used to bring natural light into interior rooms. Set above passage doors to bedrooms and bathrooms or even in interior walls, transom windows can carry natural light from rooms on the outside perimeter into otherwise dark, inner spaces. A kitchen backsplash can be used creatively to increase natural light. Glass block or fixed panes of glass may be installed in the space between the countertop and the wall cabinets. Light is brought onto the work surface without sacrificing kitchen cabinets for a large window expanse. When homeowners prefer traditional architectural styles, experienced home builders will assist homeowners with design and product solutions, made easier with the wide array of technologically advanced windows and doors now available. With new products to choose from and some creative design work, home owners are simultaneously able to enjoy their home style of choice and the aesthetic and cost-saving benefits of natural light. Warm Regards, Chris Hilsman / Douglas Tumlin Pilot Builders, Inc. 951 Harmony Rd. Suite 203 Eatonton, GA 31024 Ph. 706/484-9888 Fax 706/484-9889 info@pilotbuilders.com www.pilotbuilders.com c. 2009 All rights reserved. Our passion is to work with good people, to help bring forth their dreams in a pleasant home building experience, and enjoy the extraordinary life that we have around here. All in a place they can proudly call home. It's that simple. Click here to subscribe to this newsletter. Click here to unsubscribe from this newsletter.