Blog : News

Clearwater Builders is pleased to be a partner in the purchase of a beautiful piece of land with lake and mountain views in Shelburne, Vermont.  There are 3 building lots and we are committed to building top-quality, moderately-sized, Energy Star rated homes of custom designs.

The lots are about 2.5 acres and border on conserved land to the west, thus protecting the beautiful views.  There is excellent southern exposure for passive solar gain or solar panels.  We began construction of the first house in December, and are making excellent progress thanks to temperate weather and an energized crew.  The finished house will be 3,000 s.f /- with the capability of adding additional living space over the garage or in the walk-out basement.  We are sourcing local wood and our craftsmen will custom build window seats, bookshelves, cabinetry, coffered ceilings, and other thoughtful details.

Click here to view updated photos.

We are very pleased to have finished up a very challenging renovation of an early 20th century camp.

Part of the challenge was the existence of mature gardens and landscaping that the owners had lovingly installed over the last 25 years.Unfortunately, dry rot and carpenter ants had undermined the structure, so before we could proceed with the dormer and upgraded mechanical systems, we had to spend weeks in a dirt crawlspace replacing footings, posts, and beams. We also jacked the sagging rafters and straightened walls and floors so that the new finishes would work smoothly.

The finishes were the fun part.

We used antique pocket doors, old furniture as vanities, red birch flooring applied in a herringbone pattern over radiant floors, reclaimed hemlock timbers as ridges, valleys, and hips,arched doorways, and there were many other details meticulously choreographed by the owners.

After 9 months the owners have happily reclaimed their home, and although we are still fine tuning some   details, it is on to another yoga studio, this one in Charlotte.

The garage-apartment is complete and the owners have moved in.

This project was a step in a new direction, in that the design and execution were focused on efficiency. Energy-wise, we employed blown in cellulose insulation with an interior skin of rigid foam board, designed to reduce any heat loss through framing members or electrical and plumbing perforations. We also worked with the owners to use only the highest rated appliances and fixtures, which resulted in short term [tax credits],as well as long term savings.The end result is an official 5 star energy rated home.

The small size also required careful planning in order to incoorporate the amenities of modern living into the interior spaces. Again there were daily decisions made with the owners to create the space they could comfortably live in while they fine tune the design of the permanent residence they plan to build.

We have finished up our challenging renovation of a 19th century timberframe.

This structure had been moved to its present location about 40 years ago, and had served as a residence for many years.The present owners recognized its gorgeous location and rustic charm, and wanted to preserve its unique features. Toward this goal, we installed an efficient state of the art combination wood-oil boiler to supplement the wood burning stoves, and added new insulation and windows from the exterior, which greatly improved everyones comfort. The new local white cedar siding spruced up the previously well worn exterior. Once the wide maple plank floors were installed,  the owners were ready for business.

The beautiful location and the knowledge that we were helping the owners reach their goal of having their own business made this a rewarding project. Their Yoga Retreat is open for business.

Our renovation of an old post and beam residence in Underhill is nearing completion.

We are installing the 4-9 inch wide brown maple flooring in the yoga studio. It is blending in handsomely with the 120 year old timbers.

The owner is looking forward to opening her yoga retreat in 2009.

We are happy to have a website.  Now you can view our quality work and stay up to day with some projects.  We have been building quality custom homes in Vermont for 25 years.  Check out the project gallery to learn more.

The garage-apartment is complete and the owners have moved in.

This project was a step in a new direction, in that the design and execution were focused on efficiency. Energy-wise, we employed blown in cellulose insulation with an interior skin of rigid foam board, designed to reduce any heat loss through framing or electrical and plumbing perforations. We also worked with owners to use only highly rated appliances and fixtures, which resulted in both short term {tax credits], and long term savings. The end result is an official 5 star energy rated home.

The small size also required careful planning to incorporate the amenities of modern living into the interior spaces. Again there were daily decisions made with the owners to create the space they could comfortably live in, while they fine tune the design of the permanent residence they plan to build.