CONSTRUCTION GRADE CODE DEFINITIONS
Grade A - Excellent
The Grade "A" residence is a unique structure which has been designed by an
architect. The best quality materials and the highest level of workmanship
available at the time of construction are found throughout. Typically there will
be special features such as unusual shape or design, an imposing entrance,
elaborate windows and/or staircases, cathedral ceilings, and archways.
Aesthetically pleasing or special purpose features and rooms are often included
in such properties even though they add considerably to the construction cost. A
residence of this quality often has almost as many bathrooms as bedrooms.
Usually this grade residence will be a building style 07 - Mansion and property
class 250 - Estate.
Grade B - Good
The Grade "B" residence is a well constructed home which is usually large in
size. It is typically custom built to specific plans, either individually or in
a group (possibly even in a sub-division). It is usually found in a neighborhood
of quality homes with larger lots. A Grade "B" home is best categorized by the
utilization of very good workmanship and high quality construction materials. It
is designed with greater concern for efficiency and less concern for aesthetic
qualities than the Grade "A" home. Rooms will be large and arranged in a most
efficient manner. The kitchen will have abundant counter and cabinet space with
built-in appliances. Also, abundant closet space, good quality appliances, and
good quality heating and plumbing fixtures are common items in this structure.
Grade C - Average
The Grade "C" home is the most commonly constructed grade residence. The
newer Grade "C" residences are commonly subdivision homes which may be mass
produced in many areas. The construction materials and workmanship are standard
for the year in which the residence was built, as are the arrangement and
quality of doors, windows, plumbing, and heating. The house is generally
adequate with regard to reasonable comfort but there are few expenditures for
purely ornamental purposes. Vinyl and ceramic floors and walls are common in
kitchen and bath. Closet space is usually adequate. While these homes are
generally constructed on site, they can be pre-cut or prefabricated in whole, or
in part, in order to permit efficient construction.
Grade D - Economy
The Grade "D" residence is an economic type of housing which can be
characterized by the use of lesser quality construction materials. The design is
quite basic with no expenditure for decorative detail. Lightweight materials and
inexpensive exterior finish such as fiberboard, concrete block, asbestos siding,
or lower grade aluminum siding with no protective backing are common. Gutters
and downspouts are eliminated. Insulation is likely inadequate. Interior finish
is minimal. Baths and kitchens are usually finished in low cost materials with
limited cabinet and counter space. Closet space is generally inadequate.
Electricity and plumbing are barely adequate.
Grade E - Minimum
The Grade "E" residence is the poorest quality residence. It is constructed
of inferior quality materials and lacks a full complement of features that are
generally considered to be essential in providing year-round living
accommodations. It is a structure that may have been designed without heating
facilities, with few or no interior walls, single-thickness exterior walls, and
single-thickness floors instead of the standard double thickness. The few
structures that are built in this fashion (unfinished walls and ceilings and
minimal structural components, plumbing, heating, and electrical wiring) are
usually seasonal or temporary residences, but some may be year-round homes.
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