We have included this supplement to the Stoney Creek marketing information to better inform prospective buyers of the Pillar Development difference in Stoney Creek. We encourage people searching for a new home to ask about all these features when looking at homes not built by Pillar Development.
Foundation
We build all of our homes on crawl spaces. It’s easier and cheaper to build with “concrete slab-on-grade” construction. But concrete wicks moisture. With Ellensburg having such a notoriously high water table, we feel that keeping moisture away from your valuable interior finishes is the best construction practice.
Framing
We frame all of our floors and walls at a minimum16 inches on center, sometimes 12 inches on center. Code requires 24 inches on center. We feel that no matter what the code says, 16 inches or better is a minimum for a sturdy floor or wall. We try to eliminate “bounce” in all of our floors.
Siding
Our fascia is pre-primed, solid wood. We have chosen not to use oriented strand board for fascia material because it has proven to not hold up as well over time in a wet condition. On the fronts of our homes, we use cementous lap siding instead of oriented strand board. Cementous siding has proven itself in the harshest climates, does not promote mold growth, and is primed on all sides before application. It accepts paint better, therefore saving the homeowner money long-term.
Exterior Flatwork
All of our driveways and patios are exposed aggregate. We feel you should be just as proud driving up your driveway as you are eating dinner in your new home. We have chosen not to use a simple broom finish or asphalt on the driveways and patios.
Landscaping
Landscaping is sometimes overlooked when buying a new home. Even our most affordable homes have ample amount of plants and grass.
Fencing
We have chosen to throw in the rear property line fence as part of the standard package. We feel that added privacy goes a long way.
Front Porches
We believe that a homeowner shouldn’t have to spend time repairing items down the road. Our front porches are exposed aggregate concrete, not wood. It’s no fun replacing a wood porch 10 years from now after the boards have rotted away.
Gutters
Yes, Ellensburg is a dry climate, and many homes have no gutters. We have gone the extra mile and installed gutters over front porches where water can shed off on to the walkway. This is a big deal when it snows. Snow melt that hits a walkway, then freezes that night, can be disastrous.
Garage Interiors
We go ahead and paint the interior of the garage to give it a cleaner look.
Interior Millwork
In the Stoney Creek “Buyer’s Choice” package, we use hemlock millwork that has been pre-finished before it arrives to your new home. Our doors are all six-panel, pre-painted white. In the “Good Sense” package, we offer a photo finish millwork with the same white, six-panel doors.
High Tech Wiring
All of our phone and TV jacks are wired together and run back to a main panel. Some call this “Smart House” wiring. The panel allows you to install modems, modules, servers, etc. Each room can “talk” to the other rooms. Some popular after-market features are security cameras, wireless or wired internet, DVD modules that allow you to view DVDs in multiple rooms, and hundreds more.
Appliances
Our “Buyer’s Choice” package features stainless steel appliances. Our “Good Sense” package gives you the choice of white or black.
Interior Finishes
We encourage you to visit our floor covering and countertop supplier to investigate our finishes on your own. You’ll find that we often choose materials a few steps up from the “builder” lines that go into many new homes built today.
