Personally design your custom home on your piece of western North Carolina

So many exciting decisions went into selecting your new Smoky Mountain homesite. But Ultima Carolina’s commitment to you doesn’t stop with your piece of gorgeous North Carolina mountain land, or with the premier amenities in your new community. As you take on the next phase to design your own custom home to the last detail, Ultima Carolina can refer homebuilders that we trust to suit your every desire and satisfy your every concern.

One of the latest trends in custom homes is Green Building, which you can employ from the ground up with materials and systems that help build a healthier home, stay kind to the environment, and increase your home’s efficiency by reducing water and energy costs. Many of our builders are “Certified Green Builders” that are committed to superior quality and craftsmanship, as well as environmentally friendly practices. Tankless water heaters, better insulation and use of recycled or reclaimed materials are just the start of your options.

Green Building includes so many facets of community development and home building these days. The core of green building is strong construction practices that give your home a solid building envelope that properly allows for the ventilation of interior household materials. This process is the foundation for building a stronger, healthier custom home for you and your family.

Sustainable Site Planning
Green building starts with sustainable site design that incorporates practices like Storm water & soil management, landscaping with native vegetation create an ideal platform for your new home. Here are just a few other landscape techniques that can make your Smoky Mountain homesite blend perfectly with its stunning surroundings.

• Sustainable storm water systems allow runoff to percolate into the ground and recharge groundwater.
• Saving topsoil on a construction site to reapply after construction promotes regrowth of flora and reuses the rich soil that has always been a part of your home site.
• Xeriscaping is a water conserving approach to landscaping. It uses drought resistant native plants and perennial ground covers. This process helps keep the native habitat healthy for flora and fauna.
• Identifying native and endangered flora and fauna is key in the Xeriscaping process. In some cases, temporary replanting until construction is complete and/or placing erosion control protects and preserves native species while you build.

Sustainable Building Design
Green building continues with in-home systems like passive heating and cooling, as well as sustainable water use. These ensure low impact on the surrounding natural environment. This is just one of the areas the Architectural Committee looks at when approving a new home in an Ultima Carolina community. Part of the allure of the Western North Carolina and Eastern Tennessee mountains are the views of plants, trees and animals you’ll live among here. Respect for that environment allows other living beings to enjoy a more natural environment as the human population grows.

• Passive heating & cooling uses our planet’s main source of energy, the sun. Facing a home to maximize use of the sun for heating in the winter, and using trees and angled eves as natural ventilation prevent the sun from over-heating your home in warmer months
• Sustainable water use incorporates less potable water and reduces the amount of fresh water from aquifers, rivers and reservoirs.
• Incorporating smaller footprints requires fewer materials and uses less energy to heat and cool.
• Insuring your indoor health means products that are free of chemicals such as Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s), formaldehyde and endocrine disrupters that would pollute the air you breath.

In-home energy reduction
Planning for energy consumption is one of the most lasting effects of green building. The use of energy efficient appliances, systems, electronics and lighting can greatly reduce utility bills and energy consumption once you are living in your new custom home.

Your dream home
These are just a few facets of green building to consider. At Ultima Carolina, we strive to provide each customer with a home that is well built and incorporates everything you need to make your dream home a reality. Most home building approaches build from the outside in: they begin with four walls and a roof. Our approach places you first, consulting with you every step of the way, so that your vision becomes your healthy and beautiful mountain dream home.

Purchasing in an Ultima Carolina community offers a unique opportunity to build your dream home with our in-house designer, who is here to help every step of the way. From building plans for Architectural Review, to interior and exterior material and design selections, our designer ensures that you get what you envision, and will work with you and your builder to assure a seamless building process. From cabinet and custom furniture design, tile selection and design, to wall textures, custom drapery, furniture layout and purchasing.

Please contact our office for more information and to speak with our in-house Designer and Construction Coordinator.

Consultants as Distinct as you are:
Builder’s Showroom and Design Studio
Garrell Residential Design