While it might not be the most glamorous material, aggregate is concrete composed of geological materials such as gravel, sand, and crushed rock. The texture of the aggregate, whether it is coarse or fine, is determined by the size of the particles. The resulting concrete can be used in its natural state or crushed, based on the application. \u201cMost of our aggregate we use in home building comes from right here in the valley,\u201d Shively says. \u201cWe use it for foundations, patios, and driveways.\u201d<\/p>\n
It\u2019s written in stone: Masonry<\/strong><\/p>\n For many years, the cornerstone of mountain home design relied on using natural materials like river rock to evoke the surrounding landscape. \u201cWe use a lot of river rock from our local area, as well as moss rock from southern Wyoming,\u201d Shively says. River rock is most commonly used for stone veneer on a home exterior.<\/p>\n Where it all began: Wood<\/strong><\/p>\n Even though we\u2019ve come a long way from those original mountain cabins, wood that is harvested in Colorado can still be the source of beautiful, strong materials. \u201cBeams and posts can be sourced from local wood products,\u201d Shively says. Beetle kill pine is also a great option because the wood is harvested from trees that were diseased and had to be cut down, but the wood has beautiful color and character. \u201cI\u2019ve used quite a bit of beetle kill for interior finishes, trim packages, doors, and ceiling and wall paneling. It\u2019s beautiful wood, and it can be sourced locally.\u201d<\/p>\n Reuse, repurpose, recycle: sourcing salvaged materials.<\/strong><\/p>\n Another way to cut down on construction waste and to use materials that don\u2019t have to be shipped halfway around the world is to salvage materials that have already been used. There are a few different ways to go about this. Look for fine woods, bricks, and other high quality materials that are often found in home demolitions, particularly in older homes, like the remodels and demolitions that tend to occur in Old Town Steamboat. \u201cIf you see a demo site, contact the construction company to inquire about taking away some of the materials that we\u2019d otherwise have to pay to bring to the landfill,\u201d Shively says. Another great resource is reusable materials found at the Habitat for Humanity Restore (there are stores in Silverthorne, Eagle and Glenwood Springs). These stores get a lot of furniture and interior finishes from hotels and other commercial projects that are lightly used and high quality. There are also online sources like woodfinder.com that allow you to research sawmills and other wood products by zip code.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/steamboatsir\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/shutterstock_313703033-1024x683.jpg\")
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