Custom Mountain Homes Blog

When you are building a new home, building an energy-efficient home in Woodland Park, CO is one of the smartest decisions you can make.

With rising energy costs, dramatic temperature swings,

When it comes to buying or building a home, energy efficiency is more important than ever. Almost all homebuyers look at the price of the home, the mortgage interest rates and the taxes on the home. B...

When you build a new home in Woodland Park (or anywhere, really), choosing or designing the perfect floor plan is one of the most important aspects of the process. Nothing frustrates homeowners more t...

The process begins by clearing and leveling the site, removing any debris, trees and underbrush to prepare for construction, Next, we dig out the basement, laying the groundwork for the foundation.

Why build a custom home instead of buying a production home or an existing home? Building a custom home can be a rewarding and exciting venture. But don't take our word for it. Here are 23 reasons why...

Wondering about the cost to build a custom home in Woodland Park, Co? In this article we dive into the costs and what drives them. In Woodland Park, like everywhere in the United States, the cost to b...

Nestled in the heart of Colorado, against the breathtaking backdrop of Pikes Peak, lies Woodland Park, a town that effortlessly blends the allure of mountain living with the warmth of a close-knit com...

Care, patience and a little bit of knowledge can make the difference between a lush healthy lawn and an arid brown eyesore. But proper lawn care is more complicated than setting out a sprinkler every ...

A large percentage of heat escapes through the attic and the walls of a home. However, a new approach to insulation can make a big difference.

By taking a few extra steps, builders can toss out the notion that basements are cursed to be dank, cold, musty storage rooms. 

 Maybe the fact that your house is always cold has nothing to do with your furnace. Your attic insulation plays a larger role in your homes overall comfort than you might think.

Your bathroom exhaust fan has an important job to do. Often overlooked, it doesn't get the maintenance it needs to continue running at top performance. Here are 7 tips to keep your bathroom exhaust fa...

An airtight and insulated home does not necessarily mean a well-ventilated home. When a home is well-sealed, it can become a virtual plastic bag, trapping dust, moisture, odors and chemical pollutants...

Heat registers--every home has them but we give so little thought to them. But a lot of thought and planning goes into them when building your custom home.

Everyone has their own idea of what makes a home comfortable. I like the temperature to be set at 70 degrees, he likes it at 62 degrees. You may have your own idea, but the HVAC in your home has to pr...

In new home construction and in retrofits, proper duct system design is critical. Many existing duct systems lose a lot of energy from leaks and poor insulation. Efficient and well-designed duct syste...

Leaks in the heating and cooling duct systems can be frustrating for homeowners who were hoping to have a tight, energy-efficient home. If the ductwork for the home's environmental conditioning system...

Fireproof roofing materials can considerably slow the spread of wildfires and shield metropolitan areas from more serious destruction. WUI-approved fireproof roofs are resistant to igniting during a w...

Vegetation Management includes the thinning and removal of natural vegetation surrounding your home. The Colorado Springs Fire Department recommends creating at least 10 feet of separation immediately...

Check out this handy guide from the Fire Department and CSFD Wildfire mitigation, before lighting anything outdoors.  Whether it be a bonfire, open fire, fire-pit, firework, or camp-fire, you need to ...

Being prepared is the key to being safe in an emergency.  Why would this be different for our beloved pets?  This handy guide will help you prepare and organize BEFOREHAND so your pets have a better c...

Planning for an evacuation should occur well before an emergency happens. Because a wildfire is a dynamic event, time may be limited. It will be important for you to think clearly and act decisively d...

Would you know what to do in the event of an emergency?  The following are some guidelines and recommendation to help you and your famil prepare for disaster.

Creating a 'defensible space' around your home is one of the most important and effective steps you can take to protect you, your family, and your home from catastrophic wildfire.  Defensible space is...

 Firewise Construction involves using non-combustible building materials and keeping the area around your home free of debris. The following .pdf will describe each concept and offer alternative build...

Nearly every state has been devestated by wildfires in the last century. More than 140,000 wildfires occur on average each year.  Since 1990, more than 900 homes have been destroyed each year by wildf...

Mountain residents often worry about the quality of their water.  Some people think of mountain water as the purest on earth, while others argue the effects of high levels of bacteria and othe contami...

Grassfire Mitigation includes vegetation management, property management and prevention. The Colorado Springs Fire Department recommends creating at least 10 feet of separation immediately around the ...

Insurers and homeowners share a common goal of reducing exposure to losses from wildfires and ensuring that consumers have adequate homeowners coverage in place to recover from financial losses that c...

The pounding of rain or hail, the fury of wind and the weight of snow and ice test the strength of a tree’s limbs, trunk and root system. The care you give your trees before and after a storm can be t...

Edible landscapes combine fruit and nut trees, berry bushes, vegetables, herbs, edible flowers and ornamental plants into aesthetically pleasing designs. The designs can incorporate any garden style a...

The trees you choose to landscape your home not only add beauty, they can help cut energy costs by providing shade in the summer and buffering cold winds in the winter. Trees clean the air, reduce noi...

Using porous pavement for a home's driveways, walkways, and patios has numerous benefits for the environment. For one, it helps recharge groundwater by allowing rain and snowmelt from paved surfaces t...

There is more to a home than its walls, insulation, and foundation--yards offer homebuyers space to relax, cook out, and enjoy nature. Homebuilders can think of a yard as an additional room of the hom...

It’s too easy these days to live almost exclusively in a climate-controlled, electronic world. Your days are spent going from air-conditioned house to car to workplace, with your ear glued to a cell p...

Care, patience and a little bit of knowledge can make the difference between a lush healthy lawn and an arid brown eyesore. But proper lawn care is more complicated than setting out a sprinkler every ...

After you have bought the new home of your dreams from your builder, you will probably immediately start thinking about personal decorating touches that you can add. When considering these personal to...

By following the best framing techniques when installing windows in the home, you can save time and money. Framing takes up a good part of your lumber costs; if done incorrectly, it can lead to expens...

The way in which you install windows in a home greatly affects how well those windows perform. You need a good seal—one that guides water around the window opening and keeps the interior wall protecte...

After you have bought the new home of your dreams from your builder, you will probably immediately start thinking about personal decorating touches that you can add. When considering these personal to...

With the current emphasis on energy-efficient windows, the National Fenestration Rating Council has designed an energy-performance label to guide contractors and homeowners in their search for the per...

Choosing the best water heater for your home has become more challenging in recent years as new designs have swept the industry and rising energy costs have raised consum-ers’ eyebrows. In spite of th...

Many current buyers are interested in homes that are energy efficient and economical to operate, which are factors that can be dramatically affected by a home's hot water usage. According to the DOE's...

A home's water heater affects both the comfort level in the shower and bath, as well as the monthly utility bill. If a conventional heater is the wrong size, hot water may run out too soon, while cons...

The design of products and environments to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design. The authors, a working group of architects, ...

A recent study by the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) showed nearly 80 percent of Baby Boomers surveyed said they planned to remain in their current homes into their retirement years. Ac...

Even if retirement is a few years down the road, it’s not too early to start planning for your home of tomorrow. While you probably have made arrangements for your financial future, you may not have g...

The life expectancies of the components of a home depend on the quality of installation, the level of maintenance, weather and climate conditions, and the intensity of use. Some components may remain ...

Composite decking is made from recycled hard wood fibers and recycled polyethylene fibers from items like grocery bags, milk jugs, and PVC vinyl. The wood fibers protect the decking from UV damage and...

High performing low-flow toilets currently available are engineered to use less water and use it more powerfully. Today's high-performing models do remove waste as efficiently, or more efficiently, th...

Each year, thousands of gallons of wasted water go down the drain in American homes, and with them, thousands of dollars for homeowners, utility companies, and taxpayers. A significant amount of this ...

A plumbing manifold gives homeowners control, efficiency, and reliability in their water distribution system, making daily life far more comfortable. Every family depends on consistent pressure and qu...

Greening a home goes above and beyond just replacing windows and installing a programmable thermostat. Energy efficiency can be found in all facets of the home — from the foundation to the roof. Here ...

Weather is a relentless bully. It seems to focus its stormy strength on a home's most vulnerable areas, attacking over and over again until rain and moisture infiltrates, and eventually damages, the h...

Determining the correct size of residential heating and cooling equipment is key to achieving comfortable interior conditions — temperature and humidity — and saving on initial and operating costs.

With today's energy costs, it's impossible to justify installing only basic thermostats in a new home. Modern thermostats not only decrease energy consumption, but they can also increase the comfort i...

There's nothing like a cold bathroom floor to wake you up first thing in the morning. Most of us simply accept cold, uncomfortable tile floors as a necessary evil, and we buy slippers and carpets to c...

Natural gas is commonly used in homes as an energy source. And like any energy source, it must be used correctly to be efficient and safe.

Most sportsmen (and sportswomen) will agree—a bad day fishing is STILL better than a good day at work. But fishing for cables to wire a home office can be a bad day for any homeowner.

For some it may be something as simple as remote or automatic control of a few lights. For others, security may be the central application. Still others may choose to install advanced controllers or u...

Decisions that are made while framing the house can affect the new homeowners in unexpected ways. For instance, how you frame an exterior corner will affect how well the house is insulated -- and that...

Builders can lose a lot of sleep worrying about gaining a competitive edge while constantly improving the quality and durability of the homes they build. But luckily, there are new techniques like OVE...

It's a problem that can find its way into any new home, and it accounts for an estimated 14,000 deaths each year. Odorless, tasteless, and radioactive, radon gas is an issue to be taken seriously by b...

 A joist is the structural skeleton of the floor. Without joists there would be no floor. Framers commonly install solid sawn floor joists. However, new technologies have led to a new joist, one with ...

The framing for most homes is wood. The problem is that wood is not a very good insulator. So we use what are called "ladder panels" when we attach interior walls to exterior walls. This allows us to ...

Showers, tubs, and fireplaces are all areas of the home especially susceptible to uncomfortable drafts. Trying to resolve a complaint after construction can be costly and difficult.

The construction of crawlspaces has gone through an evolution of building science that turns the conventional practice on its head. Venting a crawlspace can actually do more harm than good. It can com...

Acoustic wall framing is the "best practice" for reducing unwanted noises from traveling through the walls of a house, from both inside and out.

Proper backfilling of the foundation is one of the first steps in good residential construction. The method used can have long-lasting consequences on the life of a new home. This is especially true w...

Good drainage is important to ensure your home and basement stay dry. As ground water rises or excess rain comes down, a french drain will take the water away from the foundation.

A common misconception is that heat always rises. Heat is in constant motion, moving from warmer areas to colder areas until an overall equal temperature is established. To manage the movement of heat...

Fireplaces, whether they are wood-burning or gas, are both fashionable and functional additions to many homes. Families gather around decorated hearths for holiday celebrations as they build lifelong ...

To build a wood deck or a synthetic deck, that is the question. Each has its pros and cons but which is right for you. There is a lot to be said for maintenance free. But are they really? 

Think stucco finish can stop rainwater and moisture in its tracks? Think again. Stucco finishes are actually porous, which means that water can get sucked up through the pores and enter into the walls...

Window replacement is one of the most common home improvements people make in any type of house, but it takes special skill to blend the repairs into an existing stucco surface.

House wrap is an important feature that protects your home.  It creates an air and moisture barrier that boosts a home's energy-efficiency and creates a healthy, comfortable indoor environment.

When you are considering the type of look you want for the exterior of your home, fiber cement siding is a solid choice offering a fire-resistant, high quality, long lasting solution. Compared to wood...

No matter what the exterior of your home is (brick, stucco, etc.) you need something between the exterior and your interior walls to keep water out. That's where flashing comes in. 

Many people choose stucco for the exterior of their home because they like the idea of "low-maintenance." But stucco is made with cement as your driveway or sidewalks. With expansion and contraction d...

Home offices are becoming less of a luxury and more of a necessity with more people telecommuting or running their own businesses from their house. The number of Americans who work from home is in the...

It’s official!  You’ve dropped your youngest child off at college and are returning back to an empty nest. While it is can be bittersweet to see your child leave home in search of independence and adu...

Each year at the National Association of Home Builders’ International Builders’ Show, the Best in American Living Awards (BALA) provide recognition to builders and design professionals who have acco...

While many older homes have not been built to be energy efficient, and you may not have the money to retrofit your home to today's standards, there are plenty of ways you can easily conserve energy an...

Not many people think about what they will need in their home as they age. As you build your custom home, you might want to consider what you will need to stay in your home until you are ready to leav...

If you love natural light in your home but don't enjoy the extra heat in the summer, this tool from the Lighting Research Center allows architects, builders, and others involved in the design of your ...

Can you imagine living in a 175,000 square foot home?  That’s how large George Vanderbilt built his North Carolina home, the Biltmore, in 1895. With 250 rooms and 43 bathrooms, the home had more space...

It’s too easy these days to live almost exclusively in a climate-controlled, electronic world. Your days are spent going from air-conditioned house to car to workplace, with your ear glued to a cell p...

Most homeowners will agree that it’s just not summer without the sizzle of the grill. But running back and forth from the kitchen to the barbeque can get old quickly. Outdoor kitchens make life easier...

Spend lazy Saturday afternoons browsing the pages of Architectural Digest or Dwell, wishing you had the budget to hire an interior designer to replicate their artistic interiors? Well-designed rooms d...

The entry to your home is often the first thing visitors see when they arrive at your home and can set the tone for what comes next. Whether your building a quaint and cozy cottage or a palatial estat...

You don’t have to live in the mountains of Montana to enjoy log home living. You can find them in cities and towns across America; they include amazing amenities and options not found in the log cabin...

From the foundation to the sidewalks and patio, concrete is a large part of your custom home. Here is what you need to know about concrete curing.

To have your kitchen countertops show their best and last for a long time, its best to know how to care for them. Each material has different cleaning methods. This article from HGTV will provide info...

Countertops for your kitchen and baths come in many options. Before choosing you'll want to be know how well they'll last and how to care for them. This article from HGTV gives information on the many...

When clothes are taking a long time to dry or do not seem to be drying at all, running through this checklist from GE Appliances can help you determine the cause.

Asthma, allergies, dizziness, fever, headaches and more can often times be attributed to poor indoor air quality. Installing a central vacuum system in your new custom home can help.