As students of our craft, we are obsessed with continual testing to perfect our approach. In this behind-the-scenes look, our Founder and CEO, Sam Fertik, takes us on-site in [LOCATION] to explore two key mock-up walls and explain why they’re essential to every Carbon Home. A month later, we return to see the finalised versions and learn how they informed pivotal design decisions.

Laying the Groundwork: A Concrete Veneer Mockup in Progress
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This mockup represents the foundational concrete veneer of the home. It’s made up of MDO (Medium Density Overlay) plywood with a smooth, resinous coating and fibreglass pencil rods with clamp pieces to hold everything in place. Behind that is a mockup of the ICF (Insulated Concrete Form) wall that is an exact replica of what the actual house will be built of. This mockup isn’t complete yet - but it’s an essential step in getting everything perfect for our [LOCATION] homeowners.

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Material Matters: Trialling the Black Tusk Basalt Wall

Nearby, Sam highlights the black tusk basalt stone wall that will complete the finished exterior. This wall combines both smooth finishes (ideal around doors and windows) and projected surfaces that bring the material to life when sunlight hits from the south and east. Why is this important? Because it allows our clients, architects, and landscape designers to experience the look and feel of the materials in situ - under real light, on the real site. It's a crucial step in confirming that this finish is exactly right for the project.

Finalised Mockups, Confident Choices

Just a month later, we return to [LOCATION] to see the completed mockups. The concrete wall now features a cast finish with a smooth surface and a post-panel kerf cut. While the latter wasn’t structurally required - thanks to meticulous mix engineering and rebar design - having both options side by side helped the team evaluate the aesthetic in real time. In the end, the kerf cut was chosen for its subtle shadow line, adding a premium visual detail. Even though this wall will largely be hidden in the final build, the team obsessed over every element - because to us, every detail matters.

From Mockup to Masterpiece

For us, mockups aren’t optional - they’re essential. We create mockups on every site, for every Carbon Home - because they’re the clearest path to smarter decisions, aligned expectations, and a home built with unwavering intentionality.

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