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Cost-to-Build Quality Definitions
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| Foundation| Item | Economy | Standard | Above Average | Premium | | Foundation Shape | The home's footprint has 4 corners. | The home's footprint has 6 corners. | The home's footprint has 8 corners. | The home's footprint has 10 corners or more. | | Offsets | None. | One or two offsets and/or cantilevers. | Several offsets or cantilevers. | Multiple offsets and angled sections with cantilevered areas such as bay or bow windows. |
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| Roof| Item | Economy | Standard | Above Average | Premium | | Type | Straight gable. | Gable or hip with one or two overbuilds. | Gable or hip, with several overbuilds and/or dormers. | Gable, hip, or combination. Multiple overbuilds to accommodate shape of the home with several dormers as well. | | Style | Manufactured roof trusses or conventional stick frame. | Manufactured roof trusses or conventional stick frame. | Manufactured roof trusses or conventional stick frame. | Conventional stick framing (due to the complexity of shape). | | Slope | Less than 6/12. | Less than 6/12. | 6/12 to 8/12. | Often 8/12 or higher. | | Material | Asphalt shingle (3-tab). | Architectural shingle. | Architectural shingle. | Metal tile or shake. |
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| Exterior| Item | Economy | Standard | Above Average | Premium | | Siding | Vinyl or aluminum siding. | Medium-grade vinyl or aluminum siding, manufactured hardboard or natural wood (based on climate). | Depends on style of home (Cape Cod vs. colonial vs. contemporary): high-grade vinyl or aluminum siding, manufactured hardboard or natural wood. | Depends on style of home (cape cod vs. colonial vs. contemporary): any siding is highest quality of vinyl, aluminum, manufactured hardboard, or natural wood. | | Veneer | Small amount of brick or stone veneer (like wainscot). | Often masonry veneer on up to 25% of the home. | Masonry veneer on up to 50% of the house or stucco finish on entire home. | Often masonry veneer or stucco finish on entire home. | | Decoration | None usually. | None usually. | Columns, pediments or ornate handrail on porch. | Quoins, keystones, columns, pediments, or ornate handrails on porch standard. | | Other Exterior Features | 4 exterior doors, 1 sliding patio door. | 4 exterior doors, 1 sliding patio door, skylight or transom windows. | 4 exterior doors (including 1 double door or door with sidelights); 1 sliding patio door; skylight, transom, bay or other specialty window; decorative exterior shutters. | 6 exterior doors (including at least one 8-ft. double door or door with sidelights); 1 sliding patio door; skylight, transom, bay or other specialty window; decorative exterior shutters, copper gutters. |
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| Interior| Item | Economy | Standard | Above Average | Premium | | Wall Material | Gypsum drywall. | Gypsum drywall. | Gypsum drywall. | Gypsum drywall. | | Wall Coverings | Paint or inexpensive wallpaper. | Paint with some wallpaper in bath or kitchen. | Paint with high-end wallpaper in bathrooms/kitchen. Wallpaper borders and natural wood paneling common in some rooms. | Paint with high-end wallpaper or ceramic tile in bathrooms/kitchens. Wallpaper borders and faux finishes as accents are normal. Natural hardwood "judges"-type paneling common in some rooms. | | Molding | Minimal moldings. | Chair railing or crown molding in one or two rooms. | Painted or stained moldings (which can be slightly oversized) or chair railing in several rooms. | Multi-piece chair rail, crown molding and baseboards common, usually oversized, painted or stained with highest-quality multi-coat. | | Extras | None/minimal. | None/minimal. | Some built-in bookcases or entertainment center, built-in speaker system, recessed lighting. | Columns, built-in bookcases and entertainment center, built-in speaker system, recessed lighting, curved or ornate staircase, ornate door and window casings. | | Doors | Hollow-core legacy-style. | Hollow-core colonist style. | Hollow-core colonist style to stained birch. | Typical solid 6 or 8 panel. | | Ceilings | Standard 8-ft. ceiling. Blown acoustic texture finish. | Vaulted ceilings in some areas. Blown acoustic texture finish. | Vaulted or tray ceilings common with possibility of exposed structural or decorative wood beams. Paint finish. | Vaulted or tray ceilings common as well as 9-12-ft. ceilings throughout with possibility of exposed structural or decorative wood beams. Paint finish. | | Floors | Low end "economy" or "builders grade" carpet and sheet vinyl. | Varied (based on decor), limited to medium-grade carpet and sheet vinyl with ceramic tile, hardwood, or laminate flooring in limited areas. | Varied (based on decor) usually a mixture of high-quality carpet and sheet vinyl with some ceramic tile, hardwood, and/or laminate style flooring. | Varied (based on decor) but will usually be a mixture of very high end carpet (i.e., wool), ceramic tile, imported marble or slate, and select hardwood. |
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| Cabinets/Fixtures| Item | Economy | Standard | Above Average | Premium | | Cabinets | Solid pine or other soft wood to pre-fab modular box style from particle board with "photo finish" veneer. | Solid pine or other soft wood to pre-fab modular box style from particle board boxes with hardwood frames and door fronts. | Solid pine or other soft wood to pre-fab modular box style from particle board boxes with hardwood frames and door fronts. | Solid hardwood to pre-fab modular box style made from solid hardwood and hardwood veneers. | | Cabinet Door Fronts | Standard. | Could have flat recessed panel style. | Often raised panel door and could be cathedral style or have glass panes. | Raised panel doors, could be cathedral style or have leaded or beveled glass. | | Countertops | Plastic laminate. | Mostly plastic laminate with possible hardwood edging. Some granite or marble accents. | High grade, flat-laid or post-formed laminate style top with hardwood edging installed. Solid surface material, ceramic tile or granite or marble accents common. | Highest quality solid-surface material with decorative edging, or solid natural marble or granite. | | Bathroom Vanities | None. | None. | Bathroom vanity tops cultured marble with integrated sink bowl. | Bathroom vanity tops can be cultured or natural marble with an integrated sink bowl. | | Bathtubs | One-piece fiberglass tub and surround. | Bathtubs are cast iron with ceramic tile surround or one-piece fiberglass tub and surround. | Often cast iron with ceramic tile or cultured marble surround, possibly a jetted tub and/or separate shower unit. Often have glass doors installed. | Usually cast iron with a cultured or natural marble tile surround. Jetted and/or oversized "garden" type tubs, as well as large walk-in shower areas surrounded by cultured or natural marble common. All bathtubs and showers have high quality glass door installed. | | Faucets | Faucets are inexpensive chrome-plated style. | Faucets are medium grade chrome plated or polished brass style. | Faucets typically a higher-end chrome-plated or polished-brass style with decorative handles. | Faucets are highest quality chrome, polished brass, or even gold plated and commonly have decorative handles. |
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