2018 Builders Association of Metropolitan Pittsburgh Awards

At this year’s 2018 Building Association of Metropolitan Pittsburgh (BAMP) Holiday Party and Award Presentation, Bachman Builders won in several categories:

• • Best Single Family Detached Home in the price range of $450,001 – $550,000
  • Best Kitchen Remodel in the price range of $100,001+

Best Single Family Home of the Year – $450,001 – $550,000

This Energy Star home was built for a couple with two young children who had specific goals for their dream home. They wanted the ageless value of an all brick exterior combined with an open floor plan where the family could interact seamlessly. The all brick exterior was accented by a stone entry. We then added custom cut sandstone keystones that celebrated both features by tying the materials together. Furthering the cohesion, the sandstone is echoed inside on the great room fireplace.

Wide drywall arches with rounded corners create soft subtle room definition without creating separation between the rooms. A large informal dining room off the kitchen offered the most functionality, through which this family truly enjoys their home. The space has wonderful views of the rear yard and a side exit to the covered patio. The patio was placed behind the garage, so the roof would not darken the great room or dining room.  Built in shelving in the entry way adds a unique touch while the attractive and very functional mud room helps keep the children’s belongings away from family spaces. The master suite, complete with luxury bath fixtures, huge his and her closets, and a private dressing room provide a welcome respite for this busy couple.

Scoring a HERS rating of 55, this home proves it is not just about good looks. Sub slab insulation including a thermal break between the slab and foundation wall, R-10 basement insulation, closed cell sprayed insulation in high risk areas and a Tyvek house wrap system create a very tight envelope. High efficiency equipment was installed, including an HRV heat exchange unit, a multi stage furnace with two zones, a 16 MERV air cleaner, a power vent hot water heater, LED lights and a radon fan.

Best Kitchen Remodel – Over $100,001

The clients fell in love with views from the back of their home of an open meadow surrounded by hills when they bought it several years ago. But they never felt at home in the colonial kitchen.  Their personal taste yearned for a more open, contemporary look to their kitchen and great room. The small door and bay window didn’t provide the dramatic visual impression of their rear vista the clients yearned for.

By removing the bay window and small door and installing a four-unit wide sliding glass door instead we were able to deliver an unencumbered view to the outside. But, their vision of openness wasn’t complete until we removed a post and wall between the breakfast room and the great room. The effect was completed with natural light from added skylights. Practicality was also a priority here, since the clients and their children spend a great amount of time creating innovative meals in the kitchen. The original kitchen had a small cooktop tucked into the corner. The new design placed a much larger one on the rear wall with plenty of counter space on either side. Care was taken to make the island as large as possible while still leaving enough space for multiple cooks to interact simultaneously. Contemporary selections were chosen at every phase, including the thin, clean Dekton counter tops, new door and trim styles and even the stain color for the re-finished floor.

The brick was removed from the great room fireplace and a flat horizontal fireplace installed. The clear finished maple shelves and mantle were installed with hidden supports instead of cleats to create a clean floating look. The client was able to provide us with the original building plan, but that didn’t completely prevent hiccups. When the ceiling was opened to install the skylight shafts, it was discovered that the beam was in a different location than shown on the original prints. Requiring that all the ceiling joists remain and not be cut around the skylight frames. The solution was to install wider skylights and wrap the joists with drywall. Since some of them were doubled, they were all furred out to be equal.