CLICK ABOVE TO SEE FLOOR PLAN AND ADDITIONAL DRAWINGS
We have finally decided to build our dream home in the mountains and we want to document the entire process so people have a better understanding of what we do and what to expect when you decide to build in Fern Mountain. Completed in the Fall of 2009, we would love for you to come stay in our mountain home for a weekend and experience our beautiful development and the many activities of the Laurel Highlands. Please visit our RENTAL WEBSITE for more information on renting our Luxury Home In The Mountains.
STEP ONE - CHOOSE YOUR LOT
Probably the most difficult part of the entire process is choosing the perfect lot to build your dream home.
Beautiful Wooded Lots
Breathtaking Mountain Views
Deciding between a breathtaking mountain view or a beautiful wooded lot can be a very hard decision. We are always available to show you a property as many times as you need.
Please contact us for current availability and pricing on all our properties. We are always available to help you make this exciting first step in the building process. Please contact us today to get started.
Partly Wooded Lots
Scenic Mountain Lots
STEP TWO - CONSTRUCT ROAD, CLEAR LOT FOR HOME AND SAND MOUND (first week)
Constructing the Driveway
Once you have decided on a property and the location you want to build your dream house, we can get started cutting in the driveway, clearing the lot for your house and begin constructing the sand mound. This typically takes one to two weeks depending on the weather. During this time we also begin working with the home owner to design the exact house you want to build on your lot. SEE SOME OF OUR MANY HOMES TO CHOOSE FROM. We customize every home to suit each home owner. You can choose an exact layout from one of our plans, revise one of our plans to suit your needs, or bring us a plan of your own to build. If your house is a timber framed house (like this model), we work directly with Riverbend Timber Framing to design the house of your dreams. We will now start the design process and producing the plans and architectural drawings of your house (similar to the ones shown at the top of this page).
Constructing Sand Mound for Model Home
Gravel Hauled In for Driveway
Sandmound Almost Complete
Want A Large Boulder Positioned At Your Entrance? We Will Customize Your Driveway.
Clearing Area For "Model Home"
STEP THREE - EXCAVATE FOUNDATION, POUR FOOTER AND WALLS (third week)
After the area for your house is cleared, we can excavate for the foundation. Excavating for the foundation typically takes 2 to 3 days. Then we set the forms, and pour the footer and concrete foundation for your home. We use poured concrete walls for all our foundations in Fern Mountain. These cast-in-place concrete walls provide stronger, drier, better basements for the home owners and are virtually maintenance free. A typical schedule for poured concrete foundations is 3 days. At this stage, Riverbend Timber Framing will start the kiln-drying, cutting, and finishing process of the timbers for your home. You will choose the type of wood (Douglas Fir, Oak, Hemlock, Pine, Cedar, Cypress, etc) and the pre-finishing you desire. We have all our timbers pre-finished prior to construction to preserve the beauty and a lifetime of durability.
Foundation Ready for Footers and Walls
Footer Poured for Model Home
Forms Installed for Foundation Walls
Walls Poured for Model Home
STEP FOUR - CONSTRUCT MAIN FLOOR, DRILL WELLS, BEGIN BACKFILLING (fourth week)
Constructing Main Floor System
Once the foundation is poured and the forms are removed, we will place the floor joists and begin preparation for setting the large Timber Frames for the house. At this time we will begin backfilling around the foundation and drilling all the wells for water and the geothermal heating/cooling system. At this stage we begin running the underground utilities (electric, sewer, cable, phone, etc.) into the utility room typically located in the basement. We can also begin framing the basement if you choose to have a finished basement. The finished timbers are also shipped to the job site towards the end of this stage. Riverbend Timber Framing is located in Michigan and typically ship all the timbers for our jobs in 2 to 3 days.
Drilling For Geothermal Heating/Cooling System
STEP FIVE - ERECT LARGE TIMBER FRAMES FOR YOUR BEAUTIFUL NEW HOME (fifth week and most exciting week)
This is the week we all look forward to the most. The home owner is excited to see the large timbers erected and we (the contractor) enjoy the process of constructing the large timbers. Typically we will have all the timbers put together and standing in three days (rain or shine). Once the large timbers are in place we will begin placing the Structurally Insulated Panels (SIPs) on the roof and walls. Placing the SIPs typically takes another three days.
Placing Second Timber Bent
Placing First Timber Bent
Placing Cross Beams Between Bents 1 & 2
All Interior Timbers Erected
Our Timber Framing construction process includes the use of Insulspan structural insulated panels. The panels are engineered with the timber frame to determine the size and thickness required to support all loads (snow, ice, wind, etc.). This structural insulating panel system greatly reduces the energy costs you will experience over the life of the home. With the uncertainty of energy costs in the future, these panels are becoming a must in residential construction especially when combined with our Timber Frame and the use of Geothermal Heating/Cooling. If you ever have the desire to see exactly how these panels are fabricated, please contact us and we will arrange a tour of the plant so you can see the detail and professionalism that goes into the fabrication process.
All Panels (SIPs) In Place and Porch Timbers Erected
STEP SIX - COMPLETE EXTERIOR OF HOME (WINDOWS, ROOFING, SIDING) (sixth week)
Fireplace Stone Work
Once the Panels are in place and the porch is finished (or close to finished), we will complete the exterior of the house (windows, roof, siding, stone work, soffit & fascia, etc.). We typically use 50 year shingles for our projects; however, 30 year is also an option. Whether it is windows, siding, or roofing, we have a very large selection of colors and styles for you to choose from. You can choose any type of siding for your home such as log, stone, vinly, Hardie Cement board, or any type of wood siding. This Model Home has 50 year shingles and Hardie cement board with a stone entrance. We also begin work on the interior of the home at this time (hard wood flooring, cathedral ceiling, fireplace stone work, framing, kitchen, etc.)
Porch Siding (Hardie Shingle Siding)
Finishing Exterior of Model Home
Wood Paneling On Interior Wall
STEP SEVEN - COMPLETE INTERIOR OF HOME & FINALIZING EVERYTHING FOR THE HOME OWNER (eighth week - final step)
We're almost there. This is the final step in our construction process. Once the exterior is all complete, we finish everything on the interior. The walls are plastered, hardwood flooring finished, kitchen completed, cathedral ceiling finished, fixtures installed, etc. Our typically construction schedule from start to finish is 8 to 10 weeks. We are very proud of all our homes that we build and love to show people what we can do. We hope everyone stops by to see our Timber Framed Model Home.
Finished Great Room With Fireplace
Completed Loft Area
Completed Kitchen
View From Loft Area
For more information & photos of our Model please visit our "Vacation Rentals"
Thank you for your interest in Fern Mountain. I hope this gives you a better idea of what is involved when you decide to build in Fern Mountain. Please stop by anytime to tour our "Dream Model Home", someone is always available to show you around (Look for our Signs). We use our Model as a vacation rental and if you are ever interested in renting our place for the weekend, please visit our RENTAL WEBSITE. If you rent our model and decide to buy a place in Fern Mountain, we will subtract your rental cost (up to $5000) from the price of your lot. Also once you decide to build in Fern Mountain, you can use the model free of charge until your dream home is complete. Please contact us for more information.
Contact Information:
Bill Steele Steele Construction Inc. 724-593-7203 (Business) 724-640-6387 (Cell) wsteele@FernMountain.com
