Leading St. Louis Builder Donates Labor and Certification Costs for Veteran’s New Home

For owners Jeremiah and Kristy DeGuire of Eureka, Mo., building their dream home included special needs and a concern for the environment. Their new 3,470-square foot home in the Pleasant Valley neighborhood is not only compliant with the standards of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) but also Energy Star-certified.

St. Louis builder Stockell Custom Homes & Construction worked with the DeGuires to specially craft a custom home to accommodate Jeremiah DeGuire, a disabled veteran who relies on a wheelchair. The new home includes low thresholds, three-foot wide entries and doors, a step-free main level, elevator, accessible master bath and roll under kitchen counters and cooktop.

Sustainable, energy-efficient construction and indoor air quality were also key elements of the owners’ dream for their home. As a landscape architect and business owner specializing in sustainable design, Kristy DeGuire shares a similar commitment to environmentally friendly construction practices and resources as the Stockell team.

“My business is focused on the idea that great landscapes nourish, restore and connect, so it was very important that we care for the environment in the design and construction of our home,” said Kristy, president of DG2 Design.

Accordingly, the home is equipped with a custom-built, ground source geo-thermal system, fresh water humidifier, high-efficiency air cleaner and specialty electrical, plumbing, caulking and insulation.

Besides providing a more comfortable and healthier living environment, these Energy Star features are also saving the couple an estimated $2,362.00 per year in energy costs and earning them the federal builder tax credit.

As a way of thanking DeGuire for his military service, Stockell Custom Homes covered the cost of the certifications to keep the home on budget. The Stockell team partnered with Welsch Heating & Cooling Company for HVAC and both companies donated a portion of the labor. In addition, the equipment manufacturer, GeoComfort, provided the a significant discount for the family.

“The construction of the DeGuire’s new custom home included a lot of accessible features that will significantly improve Jeremiah’s mobility in his daily life,” said Stockell. “When we needed to stretch the budget to finalize the Energy-Star upgrades and certifications, many talented people stepped up to give something back to this family who has served our country and sacrificed so much. It’s been gratifying to be a part of building this home.”

 

My husband and I hired Stockell Custom Homes to build our family’s custom energy-efficient and wheelchair-accessible home,” said DeGuire. “Our new home has the latest Energy Star building techniques, is ADA-compliant and on budget. Furthermore, our home achieved one of the lowest HERS (Home Energy Rating System) Index scores in the St. Louis region over the last 10 years. We are grateful and happy that we trusted Stockell to build our new home.”

For a free consultation or additional information, contact Stockell Custom Homes at 636-938-5333.


Welsch Heating & Cooling has been successfully meeting the HVAC needs of St. Louis residents, organizations and businesses since 1895. This veteran, family-owned company prides itself on excellent customer care and attention to detail from its motivated professional staff. A firm supporter of civic responsibility, Welsch is also a member of multiple industry and commerce associations such as the Air Conditioning Contractors of America, Better Business Bureau and Home Builders Association of Greater St. Louis.

DG2 Design brings together design and experience into a landscape architecture firm that has sensitivity for the environment and the client’s value and needs. In addition to architecture experience, we also bring first-hand knowledge to the challenges that those in a wheelchair face and overcome daily. This helps us create environments that ensure the safety and accessibility to others.