Birch Bay View

Birch Bay View

Birch Bay View

 

As the name suggests, Birch Bay View sits right across the street from Birch Bay with epic views of the water and easy access to the beach.  Since the lot is within a tsunami zone, appropriate future-proofing was necessary. In this case, the zoning required that the house be raised 4’ off the ground. Fortunately, this just added more visibility of the scenery. The permitting process, which is always done in-house, took a full year in order to obtain the major variance.

While this home sits high above the water, the clients shared that while demolishing the run-down homemade cabin that used to reside on the lot, they discovered that their cabin, like many cabins on the road, was built on tree stumps instead of a proper foundation. Having such a large foundation on the new house isn’t ideal for the home’s carbon footprint, but at least this one will stand the test of time better than the stumps that came before it.

Lovingly nicknamed the trailer house, the lot size required that the house be long and skinny to fit on the infill lot, mimicking the client’s previous vacation trailer home a few lots over where they spent many years visiting while growing up. Birch Bay View was also designed to house the client’s children, grandchildren and friends for years to come. Although the first floor isn’t currently built to accommodate aging-in-place due to the front steps, the first floor is otherwise designed to be accessible when the clients are older. The home was designed to be able to easily install a ramp over the stairs in the future to make it fully accessible.

 

 

Specs

  • Overview:
    • 3000sf SFR
    • 7 bedroom, 7 bathroom
    • Net zero energy
    • Passive solar heating/cooling design
    • Insulation: R-29 walls & R-45 ceiling
    • Air Sealing: 0.59ACH
    • HERS Index: -4
    • Certifications: DOE Zero Energy Ready Home certified, ENERGY STAR certified, EPA Indoor airPLUS certified, anticipated Built Green 5-star certified
  • Mechanical:
    • Ventilation: Fantech Hero 250 with built in HEPA filter. Built-in humidity, temperature, and CO2
    • Heating/Cooling: Chilltrix CX-34; hydronic radiant floor heating downstairs and 2 fan coil unit
    • PV: 10.32kW solar array with Tesla Powerwall 3 backup battery
  • Selections:
    • Hardie lap, panel and shingle siding
    • T&G cedar soffits
    • Taylor Metal Easylock aluminum roofing with Alumiguard coating in Zinc Gray
    • Hemlock trim & doors
    • VOC and formaldehyde-free hickory flooring — Vintage Natural Hickory Northern Solid Sawn
    • Locally made custom cherry shaker cabinets
    • Quartzite countertops — MSI Calcatta Abezzo
    • LED lighting
    • WaterSense plumbing fixtures
    • ENERGY STAR appliances and induction range
    • Balanced range hood
    • No/Low-VOC finishes
    • Triple pane, Low-E coated, argon-filled locally manufactured vinyl windows
Forest Run

Forest Run

Forest Run

Out on a secluded lot in the County, Forest Run home is a peaceful retreat for retirement.  The lot entices you to pull up a chair and just listen to the birds, frogs, bugs and furry critters in the surrounding forest. Once inside, you feel a sense of coziness by the warm-toned finishes, but still have a great connection to the idyllic nature surrounding the home through the large and strategically placed windows.

Unfortunately, during excavation the foundation trench became a big muddy pond due to the clay-rich soil. This resulted in many days suited up in waders and rubber boots. During the foundation pour, we made the choice to use less fly ash in the concrete mix than we would normally because of the cold temperatures and soupy ground. For context, we try to use as much fly ash as we can to reduce the foundation’s embodied carbon. But sometimes compromises have to be made in order to create a more robust structure.

Overall, Forest Run was a fun project to do, with some twist and turns along the way. We are so honored to have built our second-time client another home!

 

Specs

  • Overview:

    • 1234sf SFR & 1152sf unconditioned garage/shop
    • 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom + bonus loft
    • Net Zero Energy
    • Aging-in-place design
    • Passive solar heating/cooling design
    • Insulation: R-29 walls & R-45 ceiling
    • Air Sealing: 0.46ACH
    • Certifications: DOE Zero Energy Ready Home certified, ENERGY STAR certified, EPA Indoor airPLUS certified, anticipated Built Green 5-star certified

    Mechanical:

    • Ventilation: Fantech Hero 250 with built in HEPA filter. Built-in humidity, temperature, and CO2
    • Heating/Cooling: Fujitsu 18RL mini-split
    • PV: 5.04kW solar array

    Selections:

    • Cedar siding & soffits
    • Lifetime warrantied asphalt roof
    • Fir trim & doors
    • GREENGUARD Gold certified oak flooring
    • Custom maple plywood cabinets
    • Quartzite countertops
    • LED lighting
    • WaterSense plumbing fixtures
    • ENERGY STAR appliances
    • Balanced range hood
    • No/Low-VOC finishes
    • Triple pane, Low-E coated, argon-filled vinyl windows
          Fox Net Zero House

          Fox Net Zero House

          Fox Net Zero Home

          Started in the winter, building the Fox Home was not without its challenges, but the challenges ended up working in our favor in the end and producing this beautiful and unique home. Right off the bat, after we poured the concrete slab, the weather turned and frosted. As we saved the slab from freezing using plastic sheets and hay, the wind kicked up and caused the hay to come into direct contact with the slab as it was curing. The hay interacted with the concrete and caused what turned out to be really cool color undulations which add to the home’s character. Now we are intentionally adding this option for future clients who want some extra pizzaz in their concrete floors!

          We always love when clients add their personal touches to a home as well, and in this case that personal touch was in the form of a repurposed trash receptacle laundry chute!

           

          Specs

          • Overview:

            • 1978sf SFR &  876sf garage
            • 4 bedroom, 2.5 bath SFR
            • Net Zero Energy
            • 1st floor aging-in-place
            • Passive solar heating/cooling design
            • Insulation: R-29 walls & R-45 ceiling
            • Air Sealing: 0.18 ACH50
            • HERS Index: -2
            • Annual Energy Cost Savings: $2,800
            • Certifications: DOE Zero Energy Ready Home certified, ENERGY STAR certified, EPA Indoor airPLUS certified, anticipated Built Green 5-star certified

            Mechanical:

            • Ventilation: Fantech Hero 250 with built in HEPA filter. Built-in humidity, temperature, and CO2
            • Heating/Cooling: Chilltrix CX-34; hydronic radiant floor heating downstairs and fan coil unit
            • PV: 9kW solar array with Enphase microinverters and battery ready

            Selections:

            • Thermatru exterior doors
            • Certified Cool Roof metal roofing
            • Birch doors and hemlock trim
            • Floor Score certified vinyl flooring & zero-VOC, anti-microbial underlayment
            • Quartz countertops
            • Thrifted plumbing fixtures
            • Europly maple cabinets
            • LED lighting
            • WaterSense plumbing fixtures
            • ENERGY STAR appliances
            • No/Low-VOC finishes
            • Triple pane, Low-E coated, argon-filled vinyl windows
                  Point Whitehorn Net Zero

                  Point Whitehorn Net Zero

                  Point Whitehorn Net Zero

                  Point Whitehorn Net Zero home is a modern, space-efficient, and economical home for the couple to spend quality family time in with their kids and eventually grow old in. The entire first floor is accessible for aging-in-place, leaving the second floor for family to stay over.

                  The stacked design and minimal undulations in the envelope helped make the most use out of every inch and get the best cost per square foot.

                  On the North side of the property is a wetland mitigation area that has been smartly sectioned off and adds an extra beautifully landscaped view with native trees, shrubs and wildflowers.

                   

                  Specs

                  • Overview:

                    • 1802sf SFR &  300sf carport
                    • 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath SFR
                    • Net Zero Energy
                    • 1st floor aging-in-place
                    • Passive solar heating/cooling design
                    • Insulation: R-29 walls & R-59 ceiling
                    • Air Sealing: 0.31ACH
                    • HERS Index: -2
                    • Annual Energy Cost Savings: $2,141
                    • Certifications: DOE Zero Energy Ready Home certified, ENERGY STAR certified, EPA Indoor airPLUS certified, anticipated Built Green 5-star certified

                     

                    Mechanical:

                    • Ventiliation: Fantech Hero 250 with built in HEPA filter. Built-in humidity, temperature, and CO2
                    • Heating/Cooling: Chilltrix CX-34; hydronic radiant floor heating downstairs and fan coil unit
                    • PV: 7.2kW solar array with Enphase microinverters and battery ready

                     

                    Selections:

                    • Thermatru exterior doors
                    • Lifetime warrantied asphalt roofing
                    • Birch doors and hemlock trim
                    • Floor Score certified laminate flooring
                    • Quartz countertops
                    • LED lighting
                    • WaterSense plumbing fixtures
                    • ENERGY STAR appliances
                    • No/Low-VOC finishes
                    • Triple pane, Low-E coated, argon-filled vinyl windows
                        South Hill

                        South Hill

                        South Hill Forest Hideaway

                        South Hill Forest Hideaway is placed on a one-of-a-kind lot in the heart of town yet privately tucked away in the woods with beautiful views. The forgotten lot was purchased by a couple who envisioned an accessible, aging-in-place hideaway to grow old in together, with a big emphasis on accessible. In order to achieve this dream, the home’s design and final finishes had to be carefully considered. The 1525 square foot home is all one level so that every room can remain usable and without worry about falling on stairs. In order to further fall-proof the house, the drywall and countertop corners are rounded, the flooring is made of a softer material, there is a walk-in shower with grab bars to hold on to and the washer and dryer are elevated higher off the ground. The houses most accessible bathroom was also designed to make accessing it with a wheelchair or walker a lot easier as it is 6’ wide and instead of a standard vanity, has a pedestal sink. All of the doors are 3’ wide and have lever handles which are easier to open than knobs.

                        Due to the lot’s topography, South Hill Forest Hideaway was built on a steep slope and required half of the house to be stilted while the other half has a slab-on-grade foundation.  For some contractors, stilt houses can be tricky to build, but TC Legend Homes has plenty of experience and expertise in this kind of build.

                        When it came time to tackle the tree retention plan, the homeowner joined in and got their hands dirty planting the 22 Douglas Fir, Western Hemlock, Western Red Cedar and Grand Fir saplings with love and care.

                        This home is a truly special hideaway!

                        Specs

                        • Overview:
                          • 1525 sqft
                          • 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom
                          • Half stilted and half slab-on-grade
                          • Aging-in-place
                          • Air Sealing: 0.64 ACH
                          • HERS Index: 35
                          • Certifications: DOE Zero Energy Ready Home certified, ENERGY STAR certified, EPA Indoor airPLUS certified, anticipated Built Green 4-star certified
                        • Mechanical:
                          • Ventilation: Fantech Hero 250H-EC with HEPA filtration. Built-in humidity, temperature, and CO2
                          • Heating/Cooling: Chiltrix CX34 + comfopost ducted heat & cool + fan-coil heater/chiller