Building your dream house? Don't let it turn into a nightmare. The Southface Homebuilding School teaches the essentials that will give you the knowledge to make competent building decisions with confidence.
For over a decade this unique Homebuilding School has attracted men and women from across the country interested in contracting or building their own energy efficient house. People who have never picked up a hammer as well as seasoned builders, young people anticipating their first home and senior citizens considering their retirement home all arrive at Southface to share in an incredible learning experience.

The strength of the Homebuilding School is our instructors: architects, engineers, builders, carpenters, plumbers and electricians. These professional men and women are knowledgeable in their fields and are skilled at working with owner-builders.

The Southface Weekend Homebuilding School is for those who just don't have time for the nine-day version, but want the same quality instruction in a condensed format. Of course, there's still plenty of information on construction financing, scheduling, managing subs, and building material performance and durability, as well as guidelines to achieve energy savings through special construction and design techniques. And, it includes a site visit to help you observe first-hand the building principles taught in the classroom.

The Southface Homebuilding School 9-day course. The coursework is intense, and the schedule is rigorous:

  • mornings are spent in the classroom where building pros "hammer" in the facts and theories, and
  • afternoons are spent in hands-on practice where these facts and theories are put to test with "hammers."

Course schedule and fees subject to change
Class size is limited to 25 attendees

  • Weekend course rate:
       $400 Individual
       $750 Couple
  • 9-Day course rate:
       $750 Individual
       $1,400 Couple
  • $15 Discount for current Southface members at Friend Level

Cancellation Policy:

Processing fees prohibit us from refunding prepaid registrations.  Your registration may be transferred to the very next class session (without experiencing additional fees).


Questions?

Contact our Education Coordinator:
Nadine L. Lang
404/604-3597
or by email - hbs [at] southface.org

Online Registration
2008 Training Dates in the Atlanta Area

Weekend Workshop
Feb 14-17
June 12-15


 

Photo album of past nine-day homebuilding schools

Weekend Course
Day 1: Thurs Evening
-Welcome
-Tour
-Design Lab

Day 2: Friday
-Managing Construction Process
-Energy Efficiency I & II
-HVAC

Day 3: Saturday
-Foundation
-Framing
-Roofing
-Interior & Exterior Finishes

Day 4: Sunday
-Plumbing
-Electrical
-Site Visit


9-Day Course
Day 1: Saturday
-Welcome/Tour
-Intro
-Sustainable Design
-Foundations
-Framing
-Roofing

Day2: Sunday
-Interior & Exterior Finishes
-Overview of Tools
-Hands on Worksite

Day3: Monday
-Managing the Construction Process
-Construction Site Visit

Day 4: Tuesday
-Energy Efficiency I & II
-Hands on Worksite

Day 5: Wednesday
-Plumbing
-Hands on Worksite

Day 6: Thursday
-Electrical & Wiring
-Plumbing & Electrical Lab

Day 7: Friday
-Overview of High Performance with
     ENERGY STAR
- Financing: Energy Efficient Mortgage
-Hands on Worksite

Day 8: Saturday
-HVAC
-Hands on Worksite

Day 9: Sunday
-Hands on Worksite
-Evaluation, Certificate