Category: California home builder

If you live in California, you're probably well-versed in the concept of water conservation, especially in the Valley. Everyone knows a big swath of lawn to water and mow isn't a great reflection of a sustainable ethos. In fact, drought resistant and water-efficient landscaping is even mandatory in some jurisdictions like Menlo Park. What you may not know, is that passive homes take a commitment to environmental conservation up a big notch. Passive and extremely high-performance homebuilding considers the entire impact of the home on the landscape, including the reverse – the effect of the landscape...


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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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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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Planning your home construction One of the first steps to building a new house is establishing a comprehensive and accurate timeline for completion. And if you’re planning a new custom home, you should think high-performance from the start. With all of the new green, sustainable technology available, you have an incredible array of options for building a new home that will greatly reduce your energy and water use. Plus, high-performance homes are healthier, smarter for the environment, and a great long-term investment. There are two distinct phases to consider when establishing a homebuilding...


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Building a custom home is an exciting experience – but it’s also a long journey, with many moving parts and different parties. One of the best ways to succeed in the construction phase of your new custom home is to ensure that you’re properly prepared with an accurate construction timeline and that you’re equipped with the best tools, custom home building team, and processes on your side. Communication is key A recent survey found that new-home buyers want more proactive communications about their home construction – and it's no wonder. Building your custom home will require...


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When we talk about thermal mass in the modern building movement, we’re referring to heavy building materials whose slow pace of temperature change makes them capable of storing immense amounts of energy. These sustainable building materials can play a remarkable role in your modern home: regulating indoor temperature, lowering your heating/cooling bill and enhancing your comfort. At Clarum, we consider thermal mass a powerful passive strategy to achieve superior, eco-friendly comfort. What is Thermal Mass, Scientifically? Technically, “thermal mass” describes how much energy (in joules)...


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Clarum is thrilled to announce the completion of our high-performance Menlo Park Modern Home! Smart innovation in home building High-efficiency framing. Super-insulation. Solar power. SIPS. All blended into modern beauty. (Go to our gallery to view the entire set of photos of this modern home.) This ultra-modern, two-story 2,800 square-foot home is located in a well-established Menlo Park neighborhood. And, it features all of the components of the Clarum Home passive design.  The four-bedroom, 3.5-bath home demonstrates all our standard high-performing components, including a heat-recovery...


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NOTE: This is a two-part series. Click here to read part 1. You can also download our complete Guide to High-Performance Home-building. Clarum Homes is leading the way in building high-performance custom homes that minimize the use of resources, greatly reduce harmful effects on the environment, and create healthier and more comfortable living spaces. We follow a set of best practices for high-performance insulation that you should consider – and speak about with your builder – when you’re ready to build a new custom home. Best Practices for Home Insulation Insulated Foundation It...


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Clarum Homes is thrilled to announce the completion of our Atherton Farmhouse! With a stunning main house, private guest abode, three car garage, and spacious pool, this 8,000 square foot farmhouse in Atherton, CA is the definition of luxurious sustainable living. We’re incredibly proud of this unique project, and invite you to come tour this state-of-the-art luxury home - so you see what all the excitement is about! Visit our Modern Farmhouse gallery to see more photos of this amazing dream home. The Clarum Difference At Clarum, we’re all about innovation – and this project...


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Building your very own custom home is an exciting experience - but it’s also a long journey, with many moving parts and different parties. One of the best ways to succeed in the construction phase of your new custom home is to ensure that you’re properly prepared with an accurate construction timeline and that you’re equipped with the best tools, custom home building team, and processes on your side. Transparency is Key The fact is, you’ll need to make a lot of important decisions throughout the construction of your new custom home, and every single one of them plays into the construction...


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