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Blue Horse Building & Design
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Pro Spotlight: Tips for Building a Healthy Home
Environmentally safe materials are both beautiful and better for you, a Hill Country builder says
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Who: Fred Ballard of Blue Horse Building & Design
Where: Dripping Springs, Texas
In his own words: “The biggest payoff is when we visit homes and outdoor areas we’ve built and see people enjoying them in the way we imagined.”
Your home is your sanctuary, so it should be a healthy place to live. That’s the focus that Fred Ballard and Jake Bradley, owners of Blue Horse Building & Design in Dripping Springs, take with every aspect of the homes they build. “It’s important to look at the whole house as a system,” says Ballard, the company’s operations manager.
Where: Dripping Springs, Texas
In his own words: “The biggest payoff is when we visit homes and outdoor areas we’ve built and see people enjoying them in the way we imagined.”
Your home is your sanctuary, so it should be a healthy place to live. That’s the focus that Fred Ballard and Jake Bradley, owners of Blue Horse Building & Design in Dripping Springs, take with every aspect of the homes they build. “It’s important to look at the whole house as a system,” says Ballard, the company’s operations manager.
Finding healthy products. Everyone is sensitive to something, Ballard says. His company focuses on construction methods that incorporate proven alternative materials and quality-control methods to alleviate possible health problems. “We help people figure out how to get healthy results in a cost-effective way,” he says.
An unexpected partnership. Ballard got his start in construction helping his father build and repair barns on their own farm and for neighbors. After working in international sales, he was drawn back to construction. “It’s in my blood,” he says.
Bradley, who plans and oversees all the firm’s projects, started out building skateboard ramps and skate park features. “His experience is a huge plus, especially when it comes to barrel ceilings,” Ballard says. Each had his own business before they joined forces in 2002, merging their crews and focusing on custom homes.
Below, Ballard suggests three ways you can improve your home’s health when building or remodeling.
Bradley, who plans and oversees all the firm’s projects, started out building skateboard ramps and skate park features. “His experience is a huge plus, especially when it comes to barrel ceilings,” Ballard says. Each had his own business before they joined forces in 2002, merging their crews and focusing on custom homes.
Below, Ballard suggests three ways you can improve your home’s health when building or remodeling.
1. Actively Control Indoor Air Quality
Install a heating, cooling and ventilation system that allows you to regulate the amount of moisture, dust and mold inside your home. “We want to control how and when a home breathes,” Ballard says. “We want to know what the [incoming] air is and where it’s been.”
The team built this custom West Austin home for a family that wanted it to be as environmentally safe as possible. “They already had a healthy lifestyle and wanted to limit their exposure [to harmful elements] in their home,” Ballard says. A dehumidifier to manage moisture was a must for the hot and humid Texas climate; he also installed a ductless air-conditioning system to eliminate as much mold potential as possible.
See more of this project
Install a heating, cooling and ventilation system that allows you to regulate the amount of moisture, dust and mold inside your home. “We want to control how and when a home breathes,” Ballard says. “We want to know what the [incoming] air is and where it’s been.”
The team built this custom West Austin home for a family that wanted it to be as environmentally safe as possible. “They already had a healthy lifestyle and wanted to limit their exposure [to harmful elements] in their home,” Ballard says. A dehumidifier to manage moisture was a must for the hot and humid Texas climate; he also installed a ductless air-conditioning system to eliminate as much mold potential as possible.
See more of this project
2. Choose Easy-to-Clean Finishes
Look for interior finishes that are smooth and wipeable so allergens can’t easily settle in. Then spice them up with color and finishes to keep them from looking too sterile. “It doesn’t have to look like a hospital,” Ballard says.
That’s the last impression you’d get from this home in the Westlake neighborhood of Austin. The clients were attorneys who wanted a health-oriented home that also showed off their artistic sides. Ballard steered them toward hard finishes that were easy to keep clean. The team then worked with them to turn the entire space into a color-filled home, using finishing touches such as one-of-a-kind light fixtures and tiles made by the homeowners.
See more of this project
Look for interior finishes that are smooth and wipeable so allergens can’t easily settle in. Then spice them up with color and finishes to keep them from looking too sterile. “It doesn’t have to look like a hospital,” Ballard says.
That’s the last impression you’d get from this home in the Westlake neighborhood of Austin. The clients were attorneys who wanted a health-oriented home that also showed off their artistic sides. Ballard steered them toward hard finishes that were easy to keep clean. The team then worked with them to turn the entire space into a color-filled home, using finishing touches such as one-of-a-kind light fixtures and tiles made by the homeowners.
See more of this project
3. Opt for Natural Mineral Paints
Search for natural paint that doesn’t release volatile organic compounds (VOCs). “There are a lot more choices now, especially with the newer, lighter palettes,” Ballard says. “Plus, you can sleep in the house that night.”
An Austin couple chose mineral paints for their new home, seen here. “They had young children and wanted to make sure their house was safe,” Ballard says. They also used other alternative products, including formaldehyde-free exterior sheathing and cabinets. “You can still have the aesthetics, and it doesn’t cost much more than traditional products,” Ballard says.
See more of this project
More: For more information on Fred Ballard and examples of his work, visit Blue Horse Building & Design’s Houzz profile.
This story was written by the Houzz Sponsored Content team.
Search for natural paint that doesn’t release volatile organic compounds (VOCs). “There are a lot more choices now, especially with the newer, lighter palettes,” Ballard says. “Plus, you can sleep in the house that night.”
An Austin couple chose mineral paints for their new home, seen here. “They had young children and wanted to make sure their house was safe,” Ballard says. They also used other alternative products, including formaldehyde-free exterior sheathing and cabinets. “You can still have the aesthetics, and it doesn’t cost much more than traditional products,” Ballard says.
See more of this project
More: For more information on Fred Ballard and examples of his work, visit Blue Horse Building & Design’s Houzz profile.
This story was written by the Houzz Sponsored Content team.
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Blue Horse Building & Design creates beautiful homes that are welcoming and well crafted. The team members are great to work with. Choosing the right builder is one of the most important steps in creating a custom home that will bring you joy. A well built home is more than what appears on the surface and healthy materials are a must to protect your family.