Top Posts of 2015: What Builders are Building

BY STEPHEN MELMAN on DECEMBER 24, 2015 • (0)

With the end of 2015 approaching, NAHB’s Eye on Housing is reviewing the posts that attracted the most readers over the last year. In May, we published survey data regarding home construction trends.

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Based on a December 2014 survey of builders, the Walk-in Closet in the Master Bedroom and the Laundry Room ranked as the top two features builders are most likely to include in new 2015 homes. Scored by a choice of Very Likely equal to 5 and a Not at All Likely choice equal to 1, these top two features rated at 4.9 and 4.8 respectively. Some 98% of the builder responses rated the Walk-in Closet as a 5 or 4, and a slightly smaller share of 96% rated the Laundry Room as a 5 or 4. Both features speak to improving organization and storage characteristics of new homes.

Among the most likely features for 2015, energy figured into four of the top ten. Low-E Windows rated 4.8, Energy-Star rated appliances came in at 4.5 and Energy-Star rated windows rated 4.4 along with the Programmable Thermostat.

The Great Room is a combination kitchen-family room-living room, and it continues as a favorite feature, coming in fourth with an average rating of 4.7, with 94% of the builder respondents giving the Great Room a 5 or 4 rating. Another top feature is a first floor Ceiling Height of 9 feet or more, rating 4.4 and a 84% share of 5 and 4 ratings.

Rounding out the top ten features with equal 82% rating shares of 5 or 4 are the 2-car garage and the Granite Countertop in the kitchen.

For the average new home, an additional organization and storage feature included the Bathroom Linen Closet, rated at 4.2. Increasingly popular, the Front Porch rated at 4.2 along with the Double Kitchen Sink and Exterior Lighting. The last feature enhances the appearance of new homes and improves security. Other popular organizational features included the Walk-in Pantry rated at 3.8, the Mudroom at 3.6 and Garage Storage rated at 3.5.

The least likely features builders plan to include in 2015 new homes include Outdoor Kitchens, laminate countertops, two-story rooms and carpeting. Outdoor Kitchens have cooking and refrigeration equipment as well as sinks. A much more popular feature prior to the recession, builders rated the Outdoor Kitchen only 1.9, with 76% assigning a 1 or 2.  The Outdoor Fireplace also rated poorly at 2.1 with 70% assigning a 1 or 2.

Laminate countertops rated 2.0, and the Two-story Family Room and Foyer rated 2.3 and 2.5 respectively. Specialty rooms rated poorly, with the Sunroom at 2.1 and the Media Room at 2.3.

Walking/Jogging Trails rated 2.6 with 52% assigning a 1 or 2. The Whirlpool in the Master Bathroom and Carpeting on the main level rounded out the ten least likely features expected to be incorporated into new homes built in 2015.

 We are proud to report of the top 15 items on the list above Copper Creek Homes includes these as standard features.

www.coppercreekhome.com

LED Lighting and your home

LED: Lighting the Way to a Waste-Free Future

NEWS Nearly 70 percent of light bulb sockets in the U.S. still contain an inefficient bulb—but that is all about to change. 

Dan Cronin

Environmental Protection Specialist, ENERGY STAR Program, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

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LIGHT IT UP: By switching to LED bulbs, you can brighten any space while dimming your effect on climate change.

Already, newer technologies, like Energy Star certified LED bulbs, use 70-90 percent less energy than incandescent bulbs and last 10- to 25-times longer. And with the prices of LED bulbs dropping dramatically—under $5 in some stores—it is more worthwhile than ever to consider your options.

LED-ing the way

Making the switch to LED bulbs will save energy, reduce your electric bill and help protect the environment from climate change. A single Energy Star bulb could save you $75, and last 20 years. If every American home replaced just one light bulb, we would save $455 million in annual energy costs and prevent nearly 6 billion pounds of greenhouse gas emissions per year—equivalent to the emissions from 550,000 cars.

"...Energy Star label works as a “seal of approval” for LED bulbs, to ensure that they can deliver on brightness and match the light of traditional bulbs."

You may be wondering why Energy Star is being linked to LED bulbs with almost every mention. The reason is simple—for the best LED experience, it is important to always look for the government-backed Energy Star label. With greater access to innovative LED technology, consumers are discovering that all LEDs are not the same. Only bulbs with the familiar blue label are independently certified, undergoing extensive testing to assure they perform as promised.

Look and “see” change

Just like early CFLs, LED technology has its challenges—in particular suffering from limitations affecting brightness and light distribution. But the U.S. EPA’s Energy Star label works as a “seal of approval” for LED bulbs, to ensure that they can deliver on brightness and match the light of traditional bulbs.

More than 100 years after Thomas Edison patented his incandescent light bulb, wholesale change to a new, more innovative, energy efficient lighting technology is finally a realistic possibility. The time is right to introduce the LED bulb to your household. 

Downtown Vancouver WA main street #7 on the list!

http://www.onlyinyourstate.com/washington/wa-town-streets/

7. Vancouver

Joe Mabel / Wikipedia

Joe Mabel / Wikipedia

The 'Couv has a wonderful downtown area worth exploring! Between the numerous restaurants and independent shops along the main street, there's always somewhere new to check out. If you're craving for some good Italian food, be sure to stop by and taste an appetizing bowl of pasta from La Bottega.

Downtown Washougal Business

http://www.columbian.com/news/2015/nov/16/an-up-and-coming-downtown-in-washougal/

An up-and-coming downtown in Washougal

Forward-thinking development, new group have city poised to take the next step

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  Jeremy Chitwood of Salem, Ore., checks out the view from Amnesia Brewing while enjoying lunch Thursday afternoon in up-and-coming downtown Washougal. A new downtown association is trying to build on the recent success Washougal has had in attracting new businesses and customers. (Photos by Amanda Cowan/The Columbian)
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  Scot Morrison, who lives in Vancouver but works in Washougal, takes a stroll at the intersection of Main and Love streets during a break in his day Thursday in downtown Washougal. (Amanda Cowan/The Columbian)
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  Ash Labowski-Sugata of Vancouver, left, picks up some lunch at The Sushi Joint as Hannah Pongon, right, also of Vancouver, waits for her order at Our Bar on Thursday in downtown Washougal.

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By Brooks Johnson, Columbian staff writer

Published: November 16, 2015, 6:10 AM

WASHOUGAL — Wes Hickey is quick to quote a proverb when talking about downtown Washougal.

“A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in,” he said.

The local developer is taking the long view on downtown as it moves from what it could be to what it needs to be. And he’s not alone.

“We’re working at creating the foundation here so there’s something to build off going into the future,” said Hickey, the principal of Lone Wolf Investments. “It’s going to take a while to work up to there. But as more business comes in, it creates an energy and critical mass that people are drawn to. And slowly but surely we’re getting there.”

Hickey’s properties — including the Town Square and Incubator buildings — are a major footprint in the center of Washougal, and they’re nearly at capacity. What comes next is getting foot traffic and new partnerships.

“We’re a bedroom community to some, and we’re trying to introduce them to an emerging downtown,” said Rene Carroll with the Downtown Washougal Association. “It’s one of the best-kept secrets, even among people in Washougal.”

A year after officially forming, the association is still in its early stages.

“We’re still trying to figure out, what does our community want?” said association board president Courtney Wilkinson. “We know the discretionary income is there; we know the young families are there. We’re trying to connect to the community and the business owners.”

She said the group hopes to start collecting dues from businesses to become a bigger presence, but first they’re going to prove what it can do.

Wilkinson and Carroll recently spent a sunny afternoon indoors poring over Small Business Saturday swag to give to downtown shops to promote one of the busiest shopping days of the year.

Door mats, bags and pennants adorned with the #ShopSmall hash tag covered the floor of Wilkinson’s office at Country Financial, each pile topped with a sticky note marking a destination — Amnesia, Lulu’s, 3rd Heart.

Where there are successful downtowns, there are successful downtown associations, Carroll said.

“If you went back 10 years and look at Camas, it’s not what it is today,” she said. “But they have emerged. We’re a few steps behind them.”

Not to say there’s a competition. Carroll, a Papermaker by birth, said the two cities work together to benefit everyone in east Clark County and beyond. But Washougal’s downtown needs to set itself apart.

“It comes down to finding that brand and finding that identity,” Carroll said.

City officials say they are supporting the association however they can, though it will need to lead its own charge.

“Looking back in 30 years, they’ll see this as a pivotal time,” City Administrator David Scott said. “What we can do is set the fertile ground … for private developers.”

That means planning for the kind of growth Washougal wants and promoting the town in new ways.

“Between us, the port and Camas, we’re trying to blow our own horns more than we ever have before and bring around our own destinies,” Washougal Mayor Sean Guard said.

Pendleton and Lone Wolf own much of the land and buildings downtown, Guard said, and he’s thankful they are forward-thinking with their properties.

Hickey said a new Main Street development might kick off in March, bringing nine housing units atop 2,000 square feet of retail space to a vacant lot.

That could help downtown reach what he called the 10/10/10 goal — 10 unique places to eat and drink, 10 different retailers and 10 places open past 6 p.m.

“In some extent, you see that in Vancouver, where they’ve struggled to develop consistently block by block,” he said.

But in Washougal, city boosters believe the stage is set for success.

“There’s a real opportunity for Washougal to become a true gem of a community within the metropolitan area,” Hickey said. “It’s going to come down to land-use planning and creating a true sense of place on this side of the river.”

Things to consider when building a new home with Copper Creek Homes Vancouver WA

5 Things to consider in your

 New Home with 

Copper Creek Homes

So here’s the Top 5 Things to consider in the New House.

1. More Windows.
Copper Creek Homes is  a HUGE fan of natural light though. We love a super bright house. But there’s some spaces that could really use just a little more natural light.  During framing we will walk the home with you to determine if we should add any extra windows.

2. Laundry Tub.

Right now we have nothing in our laundry room but our washer and dryer, not even shelving or cabinets yet. But the one thing I yearn for is a laundry tub. Not for pre-treating stains or anything like that. Mostly just to have a place to wash out my paint brushes. As you know I love to paint: furniture, the walls, crafts… so a designated place to wash out my brushes would have been ideal. And my kitchen sink would thank me.

3. More Outlets in the Basement.
Right now we only have one outlet in the basement and it’s near our sump pump. Since I built abasement workshop for all of my tools, I have extension cords running across the floor (don’t worry, the tools aren’t plugged in all the time with the kiddo). But if I want to use the treadmill I have to unplug one extension cord for another and move things around. Hmm… now that I think about it this part of the problem doesn’t happen quite that often. Guess I need to hop on the treadmill more often.

4. Add Another Water Spigot. 
This wouldn’t be a huge deal except our sun room extends off the back of the house. This makes it nearly impossible to get our hose to stretch to cover the entire backyard. Eventually we will get a sprinkler system, but that’s so far down my list. I mean like not even on our radar right now. But maybe I could get more into gardening if I could actually water the plants? Eh, probably not.

5. Added an Extra Cabinet on that Weird Kitchen Wall.Yeah I know I keep harping on this but it would have been so much easier if I had the builder add a cabinet in this bare spot. Cabinets are so expensive and a pain to replace to redo down the road. Plus the countertop would have been extended to cover that area for barely any extra cost. I did add a $67 metal shelving unit for now, but this space is still haunting my dreams.

 So what are some things that we’re glad we cheaped out on?

1. Vinyl flooring. 
I get compliments all the time on them. And they’re super easy to clean.

2. Laminate countertops.Granite is quite expensive and laminate has tons of options these days.

3. Lighting. 
We can always upgrade as we go and I love finding deals (like our $100 Costco crystal chandelier or our kitchen pendants that are really foyer lights).

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And things we’re happy we upgraded?

1. Three car garage.Tons of storage. Enough said.

2. Designer ceilings. 
You can’t really add a vault down the road so easily. Glad we did that to our sun room upfront.

3. Cabinets.
We didn’t spend a lot on upgrading the cabinets, but it made a huge difference. Glass fronts at thebutler’s pantry was $50 a door, quite a steal if you ask me. Extra drawers in the bathrooms provides tons of organization. And we upgraded to 42 inch tall kitchen cabinets with crown molding. Definitely a lot more storage there!

Build an ADA compliant home that will fit your family’s needs today and for years to come.

http://www.coppercreekhome.com/ada-options.html

Open spaces, wider hallways, intuitive appliances and variable height countertops are just a few ADA compliant or universal design features that work to make life a little easier. At Copper Creek Homes, we believe that your home should always be a comfortable place to live, no matter what life changes come your way.
Designing a new custom home that incorporates many universal features will help make living in your home easier now and if you or a family member experience a temporary or long-term disability. A home that is safer and easier to live in provides both short and long-term benefits to your family.
Today’s ADA compliant or universal design homes encompass a wide range of accessible features to benefit your family’s needs and abilities throughout their lifetime. There are many universal design features to consider including in your new home and often the options can be overwhelming.
Whether you need:

• a wheelchair accessible home
• an ADA compliant home   (Americans with Disabilities Act Standards for Accessible Design)
• a universal design home
• a retirement home
• or an aging in place home

At Copper Creek Homes, we’ll give you great tips on universal design and barrier-free features.
An ADA compliant new home benefits your entire family and enables visitors with mobility issues to visit your home. With a little bit of extra-planning you can build in features that enable you to live in your home longer as you age or enable a family member to live with you.
An ADA compliant home is easier to build. And often, it is more cost effective to include universal design principles into a new home than to modify an existing home. For example when we grade the Homesite we can grade it in a way to lessen or eliminate stairs in the home. When our customers meet with our Cabinet maker they can design the cabinets to work for them.
From young families to baby boomers, this growing trend of universal design homes make sense. Whether you have a special needs child, temporary or long-term illness or an aging parent who may need to move in with you an ADA compliant home allows you and your family to better function independently at home.
“Approximately 77 million Baby Boomers are surging toward retirement and with today’s increased life expectancies and lifestyles many retirees are planning to live in their home or build new homes that will encompass their needs as they age.”
A wheelchair accessible home can look just like any other home on the exterior by using a step-free entrance or a properly designed incline that blends with the natural surroundings.
Accessible features may include a covered porch, wider side walks, lever handles on doors, entry intercom system, additional exterior lighting and wider doorways to accommodate a wheelchair or walker.
Wheelchair accessible features inside your home include barrier-free areas to maneuver easily throughout, wider hallways, wood flooring, non-slip tile and dense-weave or low pile carpeting.
Other universal design features for your ADA compliant home include user-friendly bathrooms and kitchens.
When you are designing an accessible bathroom you may want to include some of the following features:
curb-free or zero-entry shower
tiled shower seat to provide resting areas
an adjustable slide-bar showerhead or multiple heights showerhead
higher, elongated toilet with ample clear space on one side
decorative grab bars around shower and toilet areas
knee space under vanity and or sinks
Features to consider including in your universal design kitchen:
variable height work surfaces
front mounted controls on appliances for easy access
long handled faucet installed at side or back of sink 
cabinets with drawer slides on shelves to enable easier reach
under cabinet lighting to add more light to countertop and cooking areas
side by side refrigerator
adjustable height cabinets and sinks
At Copper Creek Homes, we will work closely with you to determine the best ADA compliant features to include when building your home. These design features will help your family and provide easier access to visiting relatives or friends with mobility issues.

We’ll provide you with great tips on what to look for when choosing a floor plan, especially if you’re considering universal design, a wheelchair accessible home, an aging in place, retirement home or simply looking for a home that’s easy to live in now and in the future.

At Copper Creek Homes we can re-design any of our plans to meet ADA standards here is a link to a few that have already been designed. 

                                                                                                   

   ADA Home Plans

Copper Creek Homes Receives 2015 Best Businesses of Washougal Award

Press ReleaseFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Copper Creek Homes Receives 2015 Best Businesses of Washougal Award

Washougal Award Program Honors the Achievement

Washougal, September 17, 2015 — Copper Creek Homes has been selected for the 2015 Best Businesses of Washougal Award in the Real Estate Services category by the Best Businesses of Washougal Award Program.

Each year, the Best Businesses of Washougal Award Program identifies companies that we believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and our community. These exceptional companies help make the Washougal area a great place to live, work and play.

Various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choose the winners in each category. The 2015 Best Businesses of Washougal Award Program focuses on quality, not quantity. Winners are determined based on the information gathered both internally by the Best Businesses of Washougal Award Program and data provided by third parties.

About the Best Businesses of Washougal Award Program

The Best Businesses of Washougal Award Program is an annual awards program honoring the achievements and accomplishments of local businesses throughout the Washougal area. Recognition is given to those companies that have shown the ability to use their best practices and implemented programs to generate competitive advantages and long-term value.

The Best Businesses of Washougal Award Program was established to recognize the best of local businesses in our community. Our organization works exclusively with local business owners, trade groups, professional associations and other business advertising and marketing groups. Our mission is to recognize the small business community’s contributions to the U.S. economy.

SOURCE: Best Businesses of Washougal Award Program
CONTACT:
Best Businesses of Washougal Award Program
Email: PublicRelations@BestBusinesses.biz
URL: http://www.BestBusinesses.biz

www.coppercreekhome.com

Copper Creek Homes New Resource Page is live.

Our New Resources Page is Live!

Security Cameras by Global Security and Alarm.com

How Secure Is That Security Camera?

Aug 06 2015

Connected video cameras are getting a lot of attention lately. They've become smaller and more powerful, and let you check in on your home anytime, from wherever you are. 

Are they really security cameras, though? 

If they're not provided by a security dealer and connected to a genuine security system, the answer is: probably not. Here's why. 

There's no monitoring service 

Imagine that there's a burglary at your house while you're out. Your standalone camera will capture the footage and alert you in real time! But what if you're out at dinner, or in the gym? Or taking a nap on vacation? Or on a plane? Even if you spot the alert within a few minutes, it's too late. 

That's why real security cameras are connected to a security system which connects in turn to a24/7 monitoring station. In the event of a burglary, trained security professionals assess the situation and can call the police. Meanwhile, the camera will automatically capture and securely store footage of what happened in the cloud. 

The camera is too vulnerable 

If your camera is badly positioned and easily unplugged, it's not a security camera. 

Installation makes a huge difference . A security camera installed by a professional can be mounted on a high wall or even out of sight. Positioning a camera in just the right place, to capture a broad range of activity, is critical. 

A security camera typically minimizes its power supply's vulnerability with tamper-resistant features such as in-wall wiring or battery power. Others include water and ice-resistant protection for use outdoors – after all, that's where burglaries start. 

It doesn't understand what's happening 

Security isn't just about catching something bad – it's about peace of mind. True security cameras, as part of a Smart Home Security system, enhance it. 

Part of this includes minimizing false video alerts by understanding context. 

An Alarm.com-powered security camera has access to context from the entire security system. It knows your arming status, door and window status. It knows if your smart lock is open, and who opened it. 

This makes it far more discerning when it comes to alerting you about activity. If you really need a video alert every time your front door opens, you can still get one. But if you just want a single daily alert when your kids get home from school, your security system will filter out everything else. It has the intelligence to figure it out. 

To find out more about Alarm.com's video security solutions, click here.   

Pre-Insulation Cleaning of a Copper Creek Home Camas WA

Copper Creek Homes Vacuums the entire home, removing all dust and debris at the same time the plates are caulked and the exterior outlets are foam sealed along with any holes coming from the outside of the home, this is all done before Insulation.

Gas Ranges vs Dual-Fuel Ranges

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Most homeowners are familiar with gas and electric ranges. However, there are some lesser-known facts about dual fuel ranges, which consumers and professional chefs typically consider the best cooking appliances to invest in. Currently about half of Copper Creek Homes built in the last 2 years have Dual-Fuel Ranges installed in them.

The difference between gas ranges and dual fuel ranges is pretty simple. Gas ranges heat the cooktop and the oven with gas. Dual fuel ranges heat the oven with electricity and the cooktop with gas.

The advantage of dual fuel ranges is to have the precise temperature control of electricity to heat the oven instead of the temperature fluctuations that often happens in gas ovens. A gas range could be the right choice for your home, or a dual fuel range could offer you the precision temperature control you desire.

Homeowners are faced with a tough decision when deciding to purchase a new range. Most of us only go through the process of buying a new stove once in our lifetime and have limited budgets. If you already have a gas line in your kitchen, or are considering having one installed, you may be weighing the options between purchasing a gas range or a dual fuel range.

In terms of upfront purchase price, a gas range will be a more affordable option compared to a dual fuel range. As a general rule, cooks who enjoy making entrees do not need the exact temperature control in a convection oven as much as cooks who enjoy baking.

Gas ovens will cook meats and vegetables correctly and evenly. But the hardcore baker will get more practical use from a dual fuel range and may be more likely to notice the difference between a regular gas range and a dual fuel range than the average at-home cook.

A true convection oven in a duel fuel range can make baking a joy, especially at high altitudes. Baking complex desserts is a science, and an exceptionally stable oven temperature can help home pastry chefs make perfect éclairs or tiered cakes.

Kitchenaid 30-Inch 5-Burner Dual Fuel Convection Slide-In Range with Baking Drawer

The Right Choice for Your Kitchen & Your Budget

In some cases, especially if you do a lot of baking, it might be worth investing in a more expensive dual fuel range. In others, a gas range will suit your cooking style perfectly. It is important to ask yourself a few questions before you make a decision:

• How many nights a week do you actually cook (warming up leftovers does not count)?
• Do you like to entertain guests and throw dinner parties frequently?
• What do you cook and how often?
• Do you plan on cooking more or less frequently in the near future?
• Do you think savings after purchasing a gas range could be better spent elsewhere in the kitchen?

Just because you do not currently bake a lot or cook at home regularly does not mean that a dual fuel range would be a waste of money. It might be perfect for the times you go all out in the kitchen, or it might give you the incentive and extra edge you need to stop going out as much and cook at home more often. Take time to think about what you really need and what matters most, and invest in the perfect type of range for your household.

www.coppercreekhome.com

Heatnglo Slim Line Fireplace a Standard in all our homes.

http://www.heatnglo.com/Products/SL-750-Slim-Line-Gas-Fireplace.aspx

SlimLine fireplaces fit where others don’t. Slender profiles with slim, flexible venting options offer an array of unique installation possibilities. TR models offer full flames, authentic log sets and moderate warmth. TRS models provide greater heat output and enhanced flames with an upgraded ceramic burner, brick interior and detailed log set.

• 16,900 – 30,800 BTUs
• 36-inch viewing area (28, 32 and 42-inch viewing areas also available)
• Multiple fronts, finishes and mantel options for a unique style
• Choose TR or TRS models for different options; detailed brick interiors, an upgraded burner, enhanced flames or increased heat output