October 26, 2009 – Roanoke, Virginia – When Lynda and Paco Pinto-Torres, college professors in the Roanoke area, decided to build their dream home, they did what most people do and started shopping around for the type of design and amenities that best suited them. They found what they were looking for in Nationwide Custom Homes and their first visit was not to a home site, it was to the company’s internet site. Their second visit was with Nationwide’s Len Partridge and Linda DePierro, who worked with them to accomplish the custom details of their Bedford County home.
Nationwide Custom Homes, a division of national systems-built manufacturer Palm Harbor Homes, celebrates 50 years in building homes and the Pinto-Torres home is another milestone – it’s the first systems-built home in the United States certified to both the NAHB Guidelines Green Certification as well as Energy Star certification. All Nationwide homes are built NAHB Green and Energy Star ready as part of their standard specifications.
The 2,500-square-foot home, nestled within farm land and with a panoramic view of the surrounding mountains, is the Sugar Hill model customized in numerous ways for the Pinto-Torres vision of their two-story home with front and rear wraparound porches. The home’s placement also allows for use of solar energy, a requirement the couple had. In addition, the home has energy-efficient windows and full glass doors throughout the home.
The home has Energy Star certified appliances, a high efficiency HVAC system, low volume faucets and shower heads, and low Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) paints and sealants which minimizes any harmful compounds that would enter the atmosphere. The home also was built using numerous materials made from recycled materials such as the floor truss system and dry wall. The construction was done to minimize soil disturbance and be environmentally friendly.
“We decided to custom build with Nationwide because of the cost effectiveness and the efficient footprint of the home design,” said Paco Pinto-Torres. “The best thing is that the design fits into the surroundings.”
Professors for more than 25 years, the couple moved to the area from Florida. Lynda was born and raised in the area. They especially liked the beautiful scenery of the Blue Ridge Mountains and the kind, respectful neighbors. The home’s interior is warm and inviting, with natural Bruce maple hardwood floors, a maple staircase, an elegant entryway to the den with a wood-burning fireplace. The kitchen is spacious and includes a large custom pantry. The design incorporated the glass-front upper cabinets and spacious windows in the kitchen area for more natural lighting.
Systems-built homes provide a controlled environment in which to build a home to the homebuyer’s specifications. Don Aheron, vice president of engineering for Nationwide Custom Homes who has been with the company for 15 years, said this type of home construction provides many more benefits.
“We are much more efficient than other forms of construction, allowing us to better protect and preserve our planet for our children,” Aheron said. “Unlike other forms of construction, we have a team of well over 100 associates that will be involved with the planning and construction of your home to make sure you get what you want the way you want it.”