Photography by Andrea Ceraso
Sam Fertik moved to Pound Ridge with his wife, Julie Levitt-Fertik, and their then two year old daughter Emily, in 2022 – looking for a super suburb to raise a young family…and a place to make a splash showcasing his Carbon Custom Builders next-gen building techniques and capabilities. …They’re now ensconced in the spectacular home Sam’s Carbon Custom Builders constructed on Upper Shad… Emily will start elementary school next year…and Sam and Julie are expecting a second child in May!
The Fertiks’ home is a masterpiece of engineering, architecture, and design.
The home includes 7,000 square feet of living space – with 5 bedrooms, 6 bathrooms, a massive dining room and even more impressive kitchen/pantry and adjacent family room, a living room, an office, a playroom, and gym – and an additional 4,750 square feet of basements, with a full machining and workshop and a hoist for lifting heavy objects from the basement to grade level, and an oversized 3-car garage.
The home is constructed utilizing insulated concrete forms, known simply as ICFs, which consist of a recycled plastic skeleton embedded in 2 panels of recycled EPS foam insulation, with a core of 8 inches of reinforced cast-in-place concrete, for a total assembly that’s 16 inches thick – and over 1,000 yards of concrete were employed in this build! This system, rated at R70, is at least 4X more energy efficient than the standard ‘stick-built’ wooden code-compliant equivalent.
Giant windows all around comprise an astonishing 50% of the total square footage of the house walls, yielding a tremendous flow of light and making the inside feel open and airy notwithstanding the super-thick concrete structure. All the glass is triple-pane and imported exclusively from Europe, and while no glass can be as energy efficient as the ICF walls, these windows are rated at R8 – or about 3X more energy efficient than a more standard top-of-the-line double-pane window.
LUNAWOOD thermally-modified Spruce siding dressing the exterior of the home is pre-baked to take the moisture out. It’s a great look – modern and country at the same time – and way more bug and mold resistant and maintenance-free than standard wood or manufactured siding.
The HVAC is based on a geothermal system, with radiant floors, as well as forced air for heating and cooling – and the additional cost of this set-up will be recouped, after accounting for tax credits, over only two years – with significant ongoing energy and maintenance savings thereafter.
The roof is entirely standing-seam aluminum, which is more resilient than a standard shingle roof – and will last decades longer.
The water and air systems involve special filters and self-testing mechanisms that ensure the purest water and air supply possible. All plumbing materials have been screened to be as plastics-free as possible.
Lime plaster on interior walls works to passively sequester carbon and filter air. No potentially toxic glues or VOC paints are used.
Floors throughout the interior are American White Oak, and all millwork is custom-built with European White Oak and American Walnut.
All-in, the house is about 10X more energy efficient – and carbon neutral – than just about any other house in town! …And the whole thing is bug and rodent-free, with no organic material decaying in the walls, and absolutely free of toxins that seep from plastics and other inorganically manufactured products!
And the entire home is mastered with a SAVANT integrated smart home system that runs the USAI lighting system together with all security, visual media, sound, energy, and water and air filtering systems throughout the house.
“I’m a bit obsessive,” Sam admits – with a proud smile. “I believe that homebuilding is, ultimately, about the living experience in the finished product. Every homeowner wants, and deserves, the peace of mind of knowing their water and air are as pure as can be, and that they are as safe and secure as possible.”
The Backyard
The backyard at the Fertik house demonstrates the same attention to detail that Sam employs in everything he does. The 1500 square foot outdoor patio has outdoor lighting that can be adjusted to be appropriate for a small gathering around the fire pit or a large outdoor gala, and the hidden sound system is capable of pumping-out concert quality acoustics. The food and beverage facility includes a state-of-the-art BBQ, a wood burning Argentine grill, a top-of-the-line pizza oven, a sink, and ample counter space for food prep and service. The outdoor vegetable garden is set in a bed of attractive and functional Corten steel walls – instead of the less attractive and short-lifespan lumber usually utilized. And the outdoor walls and walkways are built with granite and local stone and, of course, superior concrete construction underneath.
“It’s all about the feeling and mood of your home,” Sam continues. “That includes your health and wellness. We use a lot of windows to bring-in a ton of natural light – but we also employ lighting systems that adjust to the circadian rhythm and project in a warm LED spectrum. Our homes are extra-quiet and calm.”
“While our building techniques can add incremental upfront costs, the extra expense is often recovered in energy cost savings rather quickly…and it’s the only way to produce the level of quality that is our standard,” Sam boasts.
“As a very rough rule of thumb, we can get a house done at a cost of approximately $1,000 per square foot – and all the costs are completely transparent to my customer.”
“…And I want to emphasize the way we work with clients,” Sam entreats. “While we think of ourselves as artists rather than builders, and prefer projects that we think are interesting and different…our mission is to achieve the customer’s vision. I often say ‘When our clients’ vision meets our approach, extraordinary homes are built.’”
“We seamlessly take any project from start to finish,” Sam commits. “We can find the land or fit the project to land you’ve already acquired. We have a lot of local knowledge and can take the project through the planning and approval process – without hiccups. We’re happy to work with the architect of your choice, or bring the right one to the table. As a construction manager or owner’s rep, we can take total charge of every aspect and detail of the project, but we’re pleased to have you as involved as you want to be. Importantly, we are a builder, not a contractor, and keep costs and delays down by working with our own team of highly qualified tradesmen and laborers. Most of our work is new build, but we take on substantial renovations as well. …We like to build cool projects for cool people…and make dreams come true!”
While Sam is incredibly focused on each and every project, Carbon Custom Builders expertly manages multiple large-scale projects. Currently, his team is building a 20,000-square-foot estate in Greenwich, featuring a guest house, tennis court, pool, spa, and extensive estate landscaping. Simultaneously, they’re also spearheading a modern architectural masterpiece perched on a cliff in North Salem, designed in partnership with the renowned firm Olson Kundig, with three more under development.
I couldn’t be happier with the decision to have moved to Pound Ridge…and must say we’re really enjoying living in this great home!Sam Fertik
“I invite anyone thinking about building a home to come by and have a look at what we can do…and how comfortable your new home can be,” Sam says.
As featured in the January/February 2025 issue of Bedford & New Canaan Magazine