Category: health

Are you looking to own a home? If yes, you may be wondering whether to build a new home or buy a new used house. Based on the fact that the prices of buying a new home can be quite high, your first option might be to purchase a pre-existing residence. However, you might be surprised by how much you might save if you decide to build your own. Indeed, one of the best things about building a home is that your wants and needs are completely fulfilled. Here are several things to keep in mind that are perks in building new versus buying an existing home. It will feature cutting-edge design Whether...


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As one of the worst fire seasons on record sweeps across California, many are facing the threat of losing their home – or are sequestering inside to avoid smoke. As drier, hotter conditions escalate, these outbreaks pose a greater threat to communities in harm’s way. Displacement is inevitable for many, and quality of life is still severely impacted for everyone else. Fortunately, there are many steps we can take in the near term to mitigate the risks of fire damage to our homes — and stay healthy in the event we need to hunker down. From the outside in, these are some of the key fire...


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Not surprisingly, one of the primary concerns of the modern homeowner is the health and safety of their family. And it makes sense: even before shelter-in-place restrictions, the average American already spent up to 90% of their time indoors. Our current era has introduced new motivations for a healthful approach, and has brought some key wellness-related trends to the forefront in new custom homes. Fortunately, at Clarum, this was a priority for us long before COVID-19. One of our values is to create healthy environments: we’re committed to going beyond aesthetics when it comes...


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Whether you find yourself with an abundance of time on your hands or busily working remotely, we have all been spending a lot of time at home lately. As you work on planning your new home build, it’s a good time to consider how to add some of the excitement and comfort usually found when you go out. A great benefit to working with a custom home builder is the flexibility to design a home that fits your lifestyle. High Performance Homes are built with cutting edge sustainability features which offer unmatched cost savings and comfort. They also offer the opportunity to combine technology with...


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For many people the idea of sustainability has been a concept without a tangible connection but that is quickly changing. Now that we are all spending so much time indoors, it’s clearer than ever how important it is to be intentional about our space. Having a home office might have been a nice-to-have before but, with remote work becoming more common, a home that supports the new ways we live and work will be essential.   From how it’s laid out to where you get your power, building a sustainable home is about building a home that takes care of you and your family. Passive and Passive...


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When an architect, designer, and builder set out with the intention of building a high-performance home, they often determine a sustainability goal based on an established certification program. These third-party certification programs define the parameters and expectations of the custom home’s ongoing energy savings. They include suggested materials, recommend efficiency engineering practices and can demand applied environmental quality controls. There are some popular and emerging high-performance home certification programs on the market today. Homeowners are increasingly familiar with...


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It’s no wonder that residents in California are inspired by nature: between gorgeous coast lines and breathtaking mountains the Golden State provides a landscape unlike any other. With this in mind, it makes sense that some of the most enviable homes in Silicon Valley are inspired by natural elements. In fact, incorporating materials found in nature and designing your home to soak up the benefits of your natural environment is good for your health—both physically and mentally. At Clarum, we work with our clients to design homes that blend in seamlessly with the unique California landscape—all...


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At Clarum, we believe your home should be comfortable, beautiful, easy to maintain – and above all, create a healthy environment for you and your family. And it makes sense: the average American spends 90% of their time indoors. Because of this, it’s key to pay attention to the health and sustainability factors of materials and construction practices when building your modern home. Where a home’s materials are sourced from is important, as well as the manufacturing methods of the products. When our team at Clarum selects home building materials, we consider questions such as: are the materials...


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When looking for healthy flooring options, there are two major culprits to avoid: toxicity and dust. Unfortunately, many flooring options will involve either or both. At Clarum, we believe your home should be comfortable, beautiful, easy to maintain - and above all, should create a healthy environment for you and your family. Our approach to flooring is no different. Avoiding a toxic or dusty floor Believe it or not, many home improvement products contain chemicals which have been linked to asthma, birth defects, learning disabilities, reproductive problems, liver toxicity and cancer....


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One important consideration for your family's health and comfort is the prevention of mold in your new home. In the natural world, mold serves a valuable role. Inside the home, however, it’s anything but healthy. Mold produces allergens, irritants, even toxic substances, and can cause serious health problems. Control moisture, prevent mold While mold spores can be found almost anywhere; these actually aren’t harmful in themselves. The problems arise only where they can find a moist place to grow. So, the key to preventing mold? Controlling moisture. There are several ways to do this when...


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