The key to any successful construction project is quality workmanship and maintaining a good relationship with inspectors. It's essential to avoid cutting corners, always be respectful, and provide inspectors with what they need. But what do you do when two inspectors visit your job site at different times and disagree on what needs to be done?

This situation leads to frustrating delays. On the Cereza project, we encountered just such a scenario. The conflicting opinions of the inspectors forced us to escalate the issue to the head building official for resolution. This meant we needed revisions from the engineer, which we had already obtained but now had to resubmit to the city.

The approval process took an additional five weeks, partly because our submission coincided with someone's vacation. Such unexpected hurdles are part and parcel of the construction world.

Ahhhh, construction...

Creating an outdoor space not only adds an extra layer of protection to your home but also provides a serene retreat from the elements, whether you're basking in the warm glow of a sunny day or seeking shelter from a stormy, frozen winter. When that space is constructed by skilled craftsmen, it becomes a truly special haven.

Imagine stepping onto a beautifully crafted cedar porch, where the rich aroma of the wood mingles with the fresh outdoor air. This inviting space becomes an extension of your home, offering a perfect spot to unwind with a good book, enjoy a cup of coffee, or gather with loved ones for meaningful conversations.

A cedar porch, with its natural resistance to decay and insects, promises longevity and durability, ensuring that your sanctuary remains a cherished part of your home for years to come. The warm, reddish-brown hues of the cedar planks add a touch of elegance and warmth, blending seamlessly with the surrounding landscape.

Whether you're watching the sunset on a summer evening, listening to the gentle patter of rain, or sipping hot cocoa while wrapped in a cozy blanket during winter, a well-built cedar porch enhances these moments, making them even more memorable. The craftsmanship that goes into building such a space reflects a dedication to quality and a passion for creating something truly extraordinary.

So, when you choose to invest in a cedar porch, you're not just adding an architectural feature to your home; you're creating a timeless retreat where memories are made and cherished. It's a space that invites you to slow down, breathe deeply, and appreciate the beauty of the outdoors from the comfort of your own home.

How do you give a window visual depth in a wall but also make it a durable, airtight installation?

Making the decision of building a new house or remodeling your existing house is incredibly difficult especially if you don’t like your existing house and there’s nothing really wrong with it. So how do you make this decision? We talk with David W., the owner of Jake’s house, about his decision to build a new house in a different area, even though he was perfectly happy or almost perfectly happy, and his existing house. Join us for a conversation with one of our clients.

What do you need to know to build a foundation for your new home or Accessory Dwelling Unit? In this video, Dave talks to Brett, the Project Manager at our Cereza Passive House, about why the house has a much different foundation than the ADU and why this makes perfect sense, considering the goals for the two buildings are completely different.

Interested to know how to spend your money wisely while building a next-generation home? Watch this video from our "Building a Better Way with Earth Bound Homes" YouTube channel.

While not a Passive House, this project is stunning for its architecture, designed by Fergus Garber Architects. The new custom house will be an amazing home for our clients and their family, and one of the defining features is the beautiful and strategic use of arches and curves which are seen throughout the home, including this staircase.

However, these amazing architectural elements require craftsmanship and a bit of artistry, as trees usually grow quite straight, and if you want a curve, you have to carefully build it with a lot of pieces of that straight wood.

If you want to know more, watch this video and see how a curve can make "ho-hum" into "WOW! ".

https://youtu.be/SE6dmyjgbgY?si=hYOwFcY9EDlddLJ7