Gristmill Builders _______________________________________________________________________________________________
we distinguish ourselves is that we were one of the first companies to make extensive use of reclaimed material in the homes we build . As we do many spec projects on our own , we have the freedom to choose how we execute them , which enables us to use a lot of reclaimed materials .
“ From the beginning , I found reclaimed materials a cool alternative and started incorporating old doors into houses , using items from the salvage yard , such as fixtures , doors , and certain finishes . Moreover , we use components like siding we have taken down from buildings we dismantled , especially old barns as many of them are sadly coming down in Vermont , mostly due to neglect or removal by property owners who do not appreciate them . These situations offer great opportunities to repurpose the beams , siding , and other reclaimed materials that carry their own ancient wisdom and bring a unique energy to the project . In cases where the homeowners appreciate and embrace this concept , we can apply it to custom homes as well ,” he informs .
In the mountains , Gristmill Builders has just completed a house highlighting the success of this approach . “ All the siding outside was sourced either locally or from reclaimed materials , even though it was an expensive home . The building envelope was also efficiently built , as with most of our projects . Even though this home is fairly large , it consumes energy as efficiently as some smaller homes ,” he ends . ■
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