BEETLE-KILL WOOD GETS SECOND LIFE IN MOUNTAIN CABIN
INTEGRATING ENVIRONMENTAL SENSIBILITIES INTO THE BUDGET
By Joan Christensen / Photos by Carter Photographics

The Millers used as many environmentally friendly materials, tactics, and technology as their budget permitted, such as the solar panels installed by Simply Efficient Solar and Wind..

Most everyone in Grand County agrees that the infestation of pine beetles is an aesthetic and environmental calamity. But from the devastated forests emerged an abundance of timber that would otherwise rot or burn in a wildfire. Walker and Susanne Miller decided that beetle-kill pine was just what they wanted in their new mountain home.

Determined to use as many environmentally friendly materials, tactics, and technology as their budget permitted, the Millers collaborated with architect Scott Munn and contractor Kent Zastrow from Granby to integrate their environmental sensibilities into a mountain home with beetle-kill wood as a primary element. “We wanted to make sound ecological and economic decisions,” explains Susanne.

Their commitment to the earth isn’t new. Walker was raised by environmentally conscious parents in a unique rammed-earth home with radiant heat in Greeley. These energy efficient structures have thick walls made of dirt and concrete to keep the interior warm in winter and cool in summer. His experience and the couple’s mutual love and regard for the outdoors served as a guidepost for their decisions.

HISTORICAL LAND: The Walkers were intrigued by a wooden water tower, part of an old YMCA camp built in the 30s.

They chose a lot in Ouray Ranch in a neighborhood that was the old YMCA camp, including the lodge built in the 30s by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). “There was something historical about this area, and that old water tower on the hillside above the house drew us to this lot,” recalls Susanne, pointing to the rickety structure. Walker claims the primary attraction is that home “is a hop, skip, and a jump from where I like to fish.” A river, lots of trees and two nearby small ponds where their youngest grandson can learn to fish clinched the decision.

“Walker and Susanne didn’t want a trophy home, they wanted something family-oriented and very practical,” said Munn. “Environmentally friendly design decisions were very important to them, and our firm philosophy is to ensure that these elements are implemented as creatively as possible.”

Family Focus
The Millers have three adult children and six grandchildren, and a top priority was for each adult couple to have their own bedroom. Two comfortably sized guest rooms and a shared full bath are on the upper level where beetle-kill wood frames the windows and serves as shelf space. The lower level is a walkout basement anchored by a game room with a ping-pong table. It leads into the “kid cave,” where bunk beds accommodate all six cousins. The lower level also has the third guest suite, utility room, and garage.

The Millers wanted their new home to have modern luxuries without the large carbon footprint.

By building on three levels, the Millers got the living space they wanted on a smaller footprint. “Going vertical allowed us to reinterpret the traditional mountain cabin by adding some contemporary touches,” said Munn. “We included some asymmetrical roof lines that provide flair to the design while still allowing it to look like the home has been there for awhile.”

Beetle-Kill Rules – Beautifully
Entrance to the tri-level home is on the main level, and beyond the short hallway is the sun-splashed great room. Its two-story vaulted ceilings’ extensive use of the beetle-kill pine is evident throughout. Most planks were obtained and milled locally, and are distinctive because of the telltale smoky blue shading in each board. The tongue and groove ceiling features local beetle-kill wood, and every window throughout the home is framed with the reclaimed pine.

A soaring moss-rock fireplace in the corner of the great room rises above a wood-burning stove graced with a mantle built from a dying tree. A custom-made dining room table, built by local craftsman Steve Palm, combines art and function. The master suite, a small powder room and an office/fly-tying room are also on the main floor.

Other Eco-Smart Choices
For electricity, the Millers had nine photovoltaic solar panels installed on the roof with space for nine more. They are connected to the Mountain Parks Electric grid and they hope to ultimately generate enough solar energy to meet their needs, selling the excess to help defray natural gas costs.

BEETLE-KILL BEAUTY: The tongue and groove ceiling features local beetle-kill wood, and every window throughout the home is framed with it. The versatile pine was also used for custom shelves in the master bath and guest bathrooms.

To achieve an R-57 rating for their roof insulation (the higher the number, the greater the resistance to cold or heat), they opted for structural insulated panels (SIPS). Two plywood panels are filled, sandwich style, with several inches of soy-based foam.

“Another way we chose to spend our money was buying windows with a lower ‘U-Factor,’” says Walker. The double-paned windows are treated with a special glaze, and while building codes require a .35 rating, the Millers opted for windows that delivered a .28 (the lower the U-Factor, the better). “They are more expensive than typical windows, but you get better insulation.”

Given Walker’s experience growing up, they selected radiant heating for the floors – a system that uses liquid heated by a highly efficient boiler and circulated in plastic tubing through Gyp-Crete® and concrete floors for even heating.

The Millers chose cork for the kitchen floor because the bark is peeled, sparing the tree from being cut and allowing it to regenerate. The bedrooms and staircases have sumptuous carpeting made from recycled plastic.

By creating a vertical layout for the home, it allowed the architect to reinterpret the traditional mountain cabin by adding some contemporary touches.

The wraparound deck was built with recycled composite material offering durability, low maintenance, and rugged good looks. A section of the deck will be screened-in to bring the outdoors inside.

“It’s not a very big home, but having the outdoor living spaces connected to the main living and dining areas, you have a sense of flowing continuity between indoors and outdoors,” added Munn. The square footage is 3,394, including the garage.

The exterior walls were treated with Lifetime, a product requiring no maintenance after initial application. It was used on the timber surfaces to accelerate the aged look, and allows the exterior to blend into the natural setting and established neighborhood.

“The design made it rewarding and challenging, as we worked to keep costs down and still maintain the quality we are accustomed to delivering,” said Zastrow. “The Millers understood the costs necessary to build a truly efficient home, and I appreciated their desire to keep everything about the house, materials, and contractors as local as possible.”

Using their environmental ethics and a clear vision of their priorities, the Millers balanced their philosophy with their budget. It all added up to an energy Star Version 2 qualified home with a HERS Index of 57, which is 43 percent better than the standard new home rating (100).

“There’s a lot of heart in this house,” declares Susanne. “And Walker’s always wanted a place where he could stay night after night so he could go fishing day after day.”

READ MORE STORIES FROM THIS ISSUE:
• The History of Grand Lake Lodge: Elegant Hotel Rich in Grand County History
• Mountains, Musical Magic ... and a Small Miracle: Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre
• Re-Doing the View: Remodel Accentuates Fabulous Views with New Kitchen
• Green Parade: Recycling Opportunities in Grand County
• Summer 2011 Articles