“Built to code” sounds like a quality claim. It is really a legal minimum. Here is what the Virginia building code is, who enforces it, what the inspections check, and where we go beyond it on every home we build.
Donald A. Gardner Architects has been designing houses out of Upstate South Carolina since 1978. We build 13 of their plans around Lake Anna. Here is who they are, why their designs translate well to Central Virginia, and what we typically modify on every Don Gardner build.
When you’re building a custom home, you’ll hear a lot of claims. “Energy efficient.” “High quality.” “Built to last.” But how do you know if a builder is actually delivering on those promises—or just using them as marketing? That’s where third-party certification comes in. And for custom home construction, the National Green Building Standard (NGBS)