ABOUT RUPP BUILDING
Since 1979, Ed Rupp has been committed to creating unique custom and spec homes and ensuring a positive building experience for all of his clients. Known for leading edge design and products, this commitment has brought Rupp Building a reputation for innovation, outstanding style, on time possession dates, and great resale values.
Ed Rupp is also a home designer and has designed some of the area’s finest homes. He can take a customer’s ideas and turn them into a full set of buildable blueprints. Home styles have been from traditional to ultra contemporary and they all offer fine Rupp touches. Rupp homes are also very energy efficient and quiet.
Watch a video showcase of our work
BUILDING A REPUTATION
Standard features built into a Rupp home:
Drain tiles. We use Forma Drain footing form drain tiles, which place tiles next to the footings, not on top. Then the tile is covered with about 16" of 2" washed gravel and covered with landscaping fabric before it is covered with dirt. Purpose: to ensure a large porous area around the tile so water will flow freely into the tiles. The landscaping fabric greatly reduces the flow of mud into the washed gravel and still allow water flow.
Backfilling of foundation. The garage, basement, stoop, area in front of garage, and under all slabs are backfilled with 1" roadstone and compacted during installation. No dirt is used under concrete slabs. Purpose: to reduce settling and cracking of cement slabs.
Steel re-inforcing Extra re-bar is installed in the foundation and garage floor. Basement slab and driveway have wire mesh. Garage slab - rebar 2' o.c. each way. Purpose: to reduce cracking.
Framing. We use and recommend Fir 3/4" T&G plywood for our floors - NOT OSB chip board. We normally use Andersen windows and patio doors, and 30 or 40 year textured shingles, and ThermaTru exterior doors with clad frames. We install factory made aluminum garage doorframes, not coil wrapped 2x6.
Insulation package. All of our attics are insulated to R50 with blown fiberglass, walls are 2x6 with R20, foundations and frost walls are insulated with foam on the outside of the foundation with R10 Dow foam. This keeps the concrete foundation tempered from heat and cold.
Air infiltration. Before insulation is installed, all wiring holes, gaps, and pipe openings to the exterior will be Tilled with foam sealant. This prevents drafts through switches and
outlets, it also reduces sound transfer. The basement slab is caulked to the foundation.
HVAC. We build all Energy Star rated homes with high efficiency equipment or geo thermal and zoned systems
Sound proofing. All bathrooms and laundry room have sound insulation in the walls. Water pipes and drains that are installed next to or over a finished room will be sound insulated.
Garage. Totally finished and painted walls and ceiling. Walls insulated to R13 and ceiling R19 blown fiberglass.
Vapor barrier, 6 mil poly is installed on exterior walls under the drywall and is less likely to tear and get damaged than 3 or 4 mil poly.
Painting. All finished ceilings are painted and walls get 2 coats high quality eggshell latex enamel, high grade paint. All woodwork gets 3 coats of varnish. Garage is painted. Closet shelves are neatly caulked, sanded, and painted and always 2 shelves or more per closet. Great work from Montgomery Painting.
Drywall. The best finish available from Iowa City Drywall. Many of our homes feature round drywall corners and knock down ceiling texture.
Clean-up, Rupp Building's workers are directly involved with clean-up. This total clean-up helps us to look at every part of the house to ensure all touch ups are completed.
Radon. We install Forma Drain on parts of the interior footings and connect it to a 4" PVC pipe and run it into the attic. Purpose: if a future radon problem exists, a simple blower can be installed in the pipe to easily cure the problem.
Warranty and service. We guarantee all workmanship and materials for 1 year,
Rupp Building will guarantee workmanship if problems arise from faulty work for
1 years.
Rupp Building has been building fine homes since 1979 and has always strived
to use the finest materials and subcontractors, as well as to offer great service
after the house is completed. We can offer many references and would take
great pride in building a home for you.