As this guide has already pointed out, the natural elements in this region are often extreme. Because of that, homes need to be built with added attention to the excesses of heat and cold that come with living in the Wet Mountain Valley. Over the past decade, local custom home builder Seth Denlinger, owner of Old Country Construction, has continually sought new ways to build efficient homes and integrate those technoloÂgies with the traditional building techÂniques he grew up with. Denlinger is now a Certified Passive House TradesÂperson, meaning he has completed courses on how to build extremely energy-efficient homes. The following question-and-answer interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Tribune: How did you get into conÂstruction, and what keeps you striving to improve your custom home buildÂing business?
Denlinger: My dad was in construcÂtion, so I grew up around this industry. I have been in the industry in one way or another since I was 16. I started my own business while living in Montana. The business began small, focusing on handyman-type tasks and smaller building projects. However, over time, I continued to learn and gradually developed the skills to build larger projÂects. We specialize in custom homes, remodels, and additions that are incredibly energy-efficient.
Tribune: What do you like about the custom home part of the business?
Denlinger: I would say that the great thing about custom homes is that I get to work closely with the cliÂents on what they need and dream about. I have a great crew of four guys, and we have consistently grown our ability to perform detailed work that is a great fit for custom home construction. It has proven to be suitable for us and our clients.
Tribune: Custom homes always go through certain fashionable phases. What are some of the trends people are building around here, and what are they looking for in a house when they meet you for the first time?
Denlinger: I would say that the trends here do not move quite as fast. There is always a rustic style, influenced by the mountains, with a lot of large timbers. There are always the classics, such as the colonial style, which varies depending on the location. AdditionÂally, some are interested in modern looks, featuring shed-style roofs and darker-colored doors and windows. We really like the timber-framing look, and it complements our old-school building philosophy well. We can source those big timbers from the region, as there is an excellent mill in the San Luis Valley.
Tribune: Tell me what a high-perÂformance building is.
Denlinger: I would say that is one of our big focuses. I have taken trainÂing, and the cornerstone of high-perÂformance or passive house building is a better building envelope. I am now a Certified Passive House Builder, and I hope to take the classes soon to become a Certified Passive House Designer as well. The goal of this type of building and design is to create a custom home that achieves excepÂtionally high energy efficiency while also ensuring the home is healthier and more comfortable. For example, PasÂsive House standards aim to achieve energy usage that is 75% less than what current building codes require.
Tribune: Thatâs really interesting because large homes are often built with how to heat or cool them coming into consideration later, which can cause huge monthly bills people donât expect. When I was helping to build houses in 2008, some of the homes we constructed along the Front Range of Colorado were enorÂmous, with underpowered forced-air furnaces that were energy hogs.
Denlinger: Exactly. Compare those energy-hog homes with a 1,650-square-foot home built to a passive house standard, which can be heated and then maintained at that temperature with energy usage equivalent to that of one hairdryer. This is possible due to the methods we use in building. Even just a standard window, you can stand next to it and know that it is a cold spot in the house. That is why using triple-pane windows and doors with the proper shell around them can eliminate that cold area.
Additionally, many homes attempt to capitalÂize on passive solar energy. It has been quite the buzzword in the past few years, with a focus on placing windows on the south-facing parts of the house to collect solar energy. However, if they are not high-quality windows when night falls, you simply lose all the heat that the windows gathered during the day.
Tribune: What are some of the challenges and solutions with building houses here in the Valley that the average person looking to build might not think of or recognize?
Denlinger: The number one mistake I see people making is not having a professional look at their lots before they purchase the land. People rightfully find a spot with a really cool view, but they donât realize how much the initial infrastructure is going to cost just to get the driveway excavated. And so when they buy the lot, they line up a builder to come to start the project and are informed that because of the rock, or the slope of the land, or whatever, they are shocked at the price. I would advise that people get a builder lined up before buying if they are looking to build in the near future. Most professionals are willing to go out and look at the land with the customer. That way, a lot of land can fit into the overall budget of the custom home. Too often, the cost per square foot of a home is the cost the customer considers rather than everything else that goes into the land.
Another mistake I see is that people go and get plans drawn before they have selected a builder, and often, the builder has knowledge of the region. A designer might suggest ideas that do not work well with the land or environment. So, having a builder who can look over plans and bring their own local knowledge to the table helps a lot.
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Tribune: Thanks for your time and a fascinating conversation. What are some final thoughts you would have for readers who are looking at building in the region?
Denlinger: The five pillars of passive house building really apply to all homes. Number one is the entire building envelope. A well-layered envelope is the key. Number two is airtight construction. Number three is fresh air exchange and heat recovery ventilation. Number four is the mitigation of any heat bridges that might suck air out of a home. And number five is high-performance windows and doors. What I also say is that you donât necessarily have to build to PasÂsive House standards to achieve a high-performance and comfortable home, but I do think these five pilÂlars of building help a lot in creating a better home.
Tribune: Air exchange systems are a topic most people donât really talk about enough in construction.
Denlinger: Yeah, so much of the building rests on ventilation, just leaking out and in kind of randomly. The human body does not breathe through our skin in random spots; we breathe through our mouth and nose, and itâs controlled breathing. The same applies to a house. A high-quality air exchange system is going to give you cleaner air than you could get in a typical home and not waste the heat from the air that is being exhausted out of the house. We can capture around 75% of the heat that would normally be vented out of a home. The last thing I would menÂtion is that insulation R-values are not worth what they claim on the package if you are not getting a good airtight seal on the house. Excellent insulation is of little value if the windows are leaking.
To learn more about Old Country Construction, give Seth Denlinger a ring if you are interested in a beautiful, high-perforÂmance home with old-school building quality at 719-458-4184.
â Jordan Hedberg
