We’ve completely changed the floor-plan. Rethinking the space, we’ve created a Master Suite with a walk-in closet and a large, private master bath – complete with Caesar-stone counters and high-end fixtures. The second bedroom on the main level can be a child’s room, guest room, or office. The second bath on this floor has been remodeled with beautiful tile and fixtures.  By changing the layout of the entry, we made the space more elegant yet still found a way to add a coat closet.  The larger arch-way from the living room to the kitchen, allows great flow.

The home now has a living room with great access to the kitchen which is completely remodeled with gourmet appliances, granite countertops, a walk-in pantry, and lots of light.  A window from the dining area to the living room offers a more open feel – perfect for gatherings with friends and family.

Downstairs, we have completely remodeled the family room – with an elegant plaster fireplace. The bathroom on this lower level, the 3rd bath in the home, has the same stylish tile work and fixtures as the main floor baths. Two big bedrooms have been created as well as a large walk-in storage area.  On the upper level, we have transformed an unfinished attic into a large bonus room.

What’s more is this lot is very large (1/3 acre) with amazing trees and mature landscaping.  Sit on the south facing deck just off the dining room and enjoy everything this home has to offer.

Other features include: flat driveway, room for your RV or 3rd car and 2-car garage. If you’d like to see the house, let us know or contact our Realtor Sunny Bliss.

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The Downside of Cement

Basic concrete is a mixture of cement, aggregate, and water.  Manufacturing cement takes a lot of energy.  For every ton of cement manufactured, about 6.5 million BTUs of energy are consumed.  In the production of each ton of cement, about one ton of carbon dioxide is released.  Experts estimate that cement production contributes to about 7 percent of carbon dioxide emissions from human sources.  For every ton of cement that is replaced by an alternative substance, we save enough electricity to power the average American home for 24 days, and reduce carbon dioxide emissions equal to two months use of an automobile.

Using Fly Ash

Fly ash, which is the particulate matter collected by pollution-control equipment from the smokestacks of coal-burning power plants, can be used as a substitute to cement.  In addition to being a substitute for cement, using the fly ash diverts this power plant bi-product from the waste stream.  Mixes in which up to 25% of the cement is replaced by fly ash are quite common.  The concentration of fly ash in the concrete for the  Desert Rain foundation has 2-3 times the amount of fly ash traditionally used.

Increasing Performance

When cement cures, it leaves behind some hydrated lime.  Adding fly ash allows that lime to cure as well, making the concrete stronger and less porous.  In general, the resistance of a concrete structure to corrosion, depends on the water-tightness of the concrete. The water-tightness is greatly influenced by the amount of mixing-water, type and amount of supplementary cementing materials, curing, and cracking resistance of concrete.  High-volume fly ash concrete mixtures are able to provide excellent water-tightness and durability.

This house is in a great location – just a few blocks from shopping and restaurants on Newport Avenue. It’s on a very large lot with well established trees and landscaping.  We’ll be listing it with a Real Estate shortly, but until then feel free to contact us for more details.

Chemically Free

Fortunately the chemical compounds that are used to treat PT have been improved over the years.   Several common waterborne preservatives are: Alkaline Copper Quat (ACQ-C, ACQ-D, ACQ-D Carbonate), Micronized Copper Quat (MCQ), Copper Azole (CBA-A & CA-B) and Sodium Borates (SBX/DOT).   In an effort to avoid the use of Arsenic, Chromated Copper Arsenate (CCA-C), is no longer commonly used.   None-the-less, chemicals are still required to make Douglas Fir or Ponderosa water resistant.  On the other hand, Juniper is naturally more resistance to decay than even Redwood or Western Red Cedar.  In fact, Western Juniper is the most pest and rot resistant wood species in the Pacific Northwest.

Environmental Benefits of Harvesting Juniper:

A Juniper in its peak of growth can consume over 100 gallons of water per day, causing already scarce water resources to run dry.   Western Juniper is an opportunistic and invasive species, literally taking over land and water resources, and disrupting fragile ecosystems.  Since the days of modern fire suppression in Central and Eastern Oregon, Juniper has grown.  Within the last 150 years Western Junipers range has increased over ten-fold.  Agencies, non-profts, and watershed councils have spent years and considerable taxpayer dollars developing strategies to reduce Juniper populations with limited success.  For decades it has been cut based on the needs of grassland, watershed, and forestland restoration/reclamation projects.  We have only recently begun to commercially harvest Western Juniper.

A Sustainable Outlet

The negative effects of unchecked Juniper growth have many people looking for sustainable outlets.  Small companies in our region have cut and milled Juniper for furniture, fence posts, etc.  But until very recently, it has not been used as a structural component in the construction industry.  Last year, the Building Codes Division passed a Statewide Alternative Method document that allows juniper heartwood to be used for applications where other naturally durable woods are accepted, including as sill plate.  There are specifications:  the wood used has to be heartwood; sapwood is permitted if 90% or more of the width of each side of the board is heartwood.  The Deschutes County Building Division confirms that Oregon State code applies in Bend and builders are allowed to use juniper as an alternative naturally durable wood.

A First for Bend

Although the use of Juniper is allowed, Deschutes County hasn’t heard of any local projects that have done so yet.  So…Desert Rain should be the first to do so in Central Oregon and will be perhaps only the second in the state.

If you’re a fan of magazines and books, start with an empty binder and some binder tabs and start clipping. Subscribe to some design and home magazines or let your friends know you are collecting magazines and ask them to save their old copies for you. Do you prefer browsing online? We found a great site: www.houzz.com. You can create an online idea book in just a few minutes. We thought we’d try it out too, so we created an idea book focusing on modern details:



….engaging the broader building industry in the deep conversations required to truly understand how to solve problems rather than shift them…

What’s appealing about the Living Building Challenge is how much it talks about building not so much just from a structural or technical standpoint but also from a philosophical, even metaphysical standpoint. For instance the challenge is described as: “A visionary path to a restorative future” And it is “at once a philosophy, advocacy platform and certification program”. The challenge clarifies: “It defines priorities on both a technical level and as a set of core values, it is engaging the broader building industry in the deep conversations required to truly understand how to solve problems rather than shift them.”

Despite how abstract the Living Building Challenge might sound, it is definitely performance based. Thus, while having specific, measurable, technical goals, it “leads teams to embrace regional solutions and respond to a number of variables, including climate factors and cultural characteristics.”

And speaking of being performance based – The International Living Future Institute has just announced that it unveiled a Net Zero Energy Building Certification program. This new initiative will surely help foster the idea that all buildings should “perform” and be self sustainable, much like the Earthship model has tried to emphasize, and like the Passive House concept emphasizes as well.

The Desert Rain project is designed to meet the Living Building Challenge.  You can see more about this project:http://timberlinebend.com/category/current-projects/desert-rain-construction/

You can read the McGinnis’s entire post at: http://thenewyorkgreenadvocate.blogspot.com/2011/10/international-living-future-institute.html

The original fireplace

Remodeling at the West Hills project is progressing smoothly and we feel good about the revisions to the layout of this Bend home.

Removing one of the 3 original fireplaces

We want this home to be comfortable with  spaces that bring family and friends together.  Our vision for this home is to give the main floor a more open feel.  Access to the living room will go from one small doorway to a larger walkway to the kitchen and half-wall connected to the dining area.  The usable space in the dining room was drastically limited by a rounded, brick fireplace. The  home originally had 3 fireplaces utilizing the same  flue. Two were on the main floor – one in the formal living room, one in the dining room, and one was in the garden level family room.

If you are considering doing a remodel, we hope you’ll consider Timberline Construction of Bend!

Timberline Construction is excited to be starting an extensive remodel of a home in the West Hills neighborhood in Bend.  Every room in the house will be updated, and many will be dramatically revamped.  We’re pleased to be working with Christian Gladu on the new design.

A Lighter, Brighter Modern Kitchen

While functional, the kitchen in this home was cramped and dated.  We plan to make it more open, add an island, and convert part of an awkward entry area into a walk-in pantry.  As you can see, this is not a superficial renovation.

Making Space for a Master Suite

This home was originally a 3 bedroom, 2 bath, with all 3 bedrooms and only one bath on the main floor.  We are transforming the garden-level basement, which was mostly unfinished, into a space that will include a family room, two bedrooms, a bath, laundry, and ample storage space.  By adding these extra rooms downstairs, we are able to remake one one the existing, main-floor, bedrooms into a Master Bath – creating an entire Master Suite.

Stay tuned for updates as this project progresses!

This home, constructed with SIPs (Structural Insulated Panels), also features radiant flooring, custom cabinetry and concrete counter-tops.  Special care was given at every step along the way to ensure that non-toxic materials, including  a special recycled insulation product and all of the paints, stains, and surface sealers.

The reason we live here

This home has magnificent mountain views and is nestled in the sustainably minded Shevlin Commons neighborhood. The beauty and peacefulness of the setting complemented by special features in this home such as outdoor living spaces and a zen garden.

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Green? A little or a lot.

When clients tell us that they want to build a “green” home, they are often unaware of the numerous, third-party, green certifications or the variations and options that are available under many green building programs.  The SHP process, involving course work and a certification exam, has provided Timberline Construction with the ability to better navigate green building programs (Earth Advantage®, LEED, Living Building Challenge, Passive House, etc) and help our clients determine the extent to which they are willing to go.  We can now better identify our clients’ criteria for choosing green building programs such as health, energy efficiency, or sustainability, as well as explaining the potential limitations of site, design, and budget.

Integrated Designs Process

The SHP certification also enhances Timberline Construction’s roll in any Integrated Design Process (IDP). We are long-time advocates for IDP, a philosophy that brings builder and designer/architect together at the on-set of any construction project.  We believe our clients benefit from IDP – materials can be  selected for their aesthetic and performance  qualities; building techniques and systems can be chosen to meet budgetary, environmental, and design criteria. Integrated Design broadens the scope of expertise available to our clients and leads to more satisfied homeowners.